Chapter 76
76
As soon as they left I did two rounds of laundry, scrubbed the house and pelted into Aldi to stock up for the week, basically doing everything that had been neglected during the previous demanding days.
While it was still light, I walked to the beach, then had an early dinner at Ben’s with Courtney and Angelo. Back at home, I watched an excessively poor movie, then went to bed.
The next time I woke up was Monday morning. I put on jeans, boots, three T-shirts and a hoodie—but no bra , a small reward to myself for the hard work on Ben’s exhibition. I was swaddled in so many layers that no one would guess. Who knew, if it worked out, No Bra Monday could become a thing.
I opened the front door to check the weather—cold out there. But dry and, crucially, not windy . It was safe to cycle to work. Stopping at Café Grumpy to pick up my Americano, Catreen called, “Anna! Have you heard the news?”
“What news?” Aber’s sheep had escaped again and eaten eight winceyette nighties off Augustina Mahon’s washing line?
“Rose Tolliver’s shitheap on the hill is getting a major glow-up! It’s gonna be a luxury hotel.”
I froze.
“Investors, big money, all happening,” she said. “Between Kearney’s Farm and now this, M’town has hit the big time! Anna…? You okay?”
All plans abandoned, I stepped into the street. My hands trembled as I rang Joey.
“Anna?”
Shaking with anger, I asked, “What the hell, Joey? Rose’s shithole? When were you going to tell me?”
“I couldn’t—”
“What will it do to Brigit and Colm’s place? It’ll steal all their business!”
“Anna, wait, take a breath. They’re totally different. Kearney’s Farm is a retreat, that’s its identity. The Shithole on the Hill will be—what was Claire’s phrase?—‘death by upholstery’? But the two customer profiles will boost each other—”
“Well, congratulations!” My heart going like the clappers, I ended the call.
My phone lit up—Joey. I rejected it. He rang again. Same.
Two nights ago, he’d told me Rose wasn’t a threat. He’d sworn I could trust him. But all along, all fucking along, he’d been in bed with Rose. Maybe not literally—although how did I know? May be literally!
I needed to call Brigit to see how they were doing. “Brigit! What the hell is Joey at— ”
“Listen, don’t freak out, it’s all good.”
“ How? It’ll take all your business!”
“There’s market space for both places. Joey did tons of research. He did all the numbers backwards and forwards. It’ll work, he says.”
This was too much. Way too much. “Brigit, could you cope if I didn’t come in today?”
I hadn’t taken one sick day in the last eight months. I’d worked far more hours than I was paid for. If she refused, it would break my heart.
“Sure.” Her voice was soft. “You’ve been working so hard. Take a duvet day. See you tomorrow.”
My bike abandoned outside Café Grumpy, I made my way along Main Street, trying to walk off my shakes. Townspeople greeted me with their usual nosy warmth, keen to discuss the exciting developments. But I gave wobbly smiles and kept moving.
The Broderick was my destination; I needed Courtney. No way could she be blamed for missing the rumors—with Ben “drilling” her day and night, she’d had a lot going on.
It might be an idea to check she was actually at work but then I’d have to stop walking and I couldn’t manage that.
Fucking asshole with his dilating pupils and “I’ve been mad about you since forever”! I’d been fine. Happy! Adjusting to this new chapter of my life, enjoying living here with my new friends, my bicycle clip, my unkempt hair. And once again Joey Armstrong had come along and fucked things up on me.
And you know what? It wasn’t just him. I’d fucked things up on me by ever having anything to do with him. When someone shows you who they are, believe them! He’d shown me who he was the very first night I’d met him, when he’d gone home with my sister.
To my shock, Lyudmila was on reception. “No Courtney?” I asked.
“In Dublin with Ben, going on TV show.”
I’d forgotten. And she couldn’t be disturbed—Ben was too needy. But I was in trouble. There was a real danger of me going home for my car, then driving up the hill to Rose.
As if I’d manifested her, there she was, the Lady of the Shithole, carrying her bucket of cleaning materials.
“Congratulations, Rose,” I called, my voice too loud.
“Thank you.” She looked pink-cheeked and happy.
“Very noble of you to come in and work this morning.”
“Poor form to let my colleagues down.”
I moved closer. “All paid off in the end, didn’t it?”
“Many times I’d given up hope but—”
“What was it this time?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“A Mozart recital? A sonata on his flute ? Whatever you did, it worked.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You and Joey.”
She seemed concerned. “Joseph has nothing to do with my project.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha.”
“Some months ago, after the debacle with Dan, I offered the opportunity to Joseph. He turned me down.”
“What?”
“He turned me down.” Something in her tone was…generous?
“Why?”
“I’m not privy to Joseph’s innermost thoughts.” She looked concerned. Kind, even. “Perhaps you should ask him that question?”
Six missed calls from Joey and five unread texts were on my phone. So? He’d done nothing wrong? But my feelings hadn’t yet caught up with the facts. I was too accustomed to being disappointed by him and too weary to think clearly.
I retrieved my bike, went home and called Jacqui. But she didn’t pick up. Moments later a text arrived: At work. Bizzy Bizzy. Will call asap.
Unable to climb the stairs, I pulled off several of my layers and curled up on the couch, pulling the throw over myself. I shut my eyes.