Chapter 11
ELEVEN
Ciara and Maureen spent the following morning unpacking and sorting everything into the right cupboards.
The kitchen now had the basic equipment for cooking a meal, the fridge was stocked with the food they had brought, even if it was in dire need of a complete restoration.
The bedrooms looked quite cosy with the beds made up with duvets and pillows.
Only the living room was a little bare, but that could be fixed with rugs and throws and perhaps some more lamps.
‘We need to get some things to make the living room look lovely in any sales brochure,’ Ciara said.
‘I think we should go to Enniskerry and see what they have in that interior design shop we passed on the way here,’ Maureen suggested as they took a break over a cup of coffee in the kitchen.
‘I’d say that shop would be madly expensive,’ Ciara protested.
‘We only need a few rugs and cushions to brighten things up. No need to spend money on things we’re not going to keep.
We should go down to Wicklow town and see if there might be a charity shop or maybe go into Dunnes and see what they have. ’
‘But I’d like to help you get a few really nice things,’ Maureen argued.
‘I can easily afford a rug or two and some lamps. You can use them in your flat afterwards. Why don’t we go down to Powerscourt for lunch in the Avoca café and then do a little browsing in the shops there? My treat, of course.’
‘Oh, Ma, I don’t want you to spend a lot of money on me,’ Ciara said. ‘You might need to keep it for a rainy day.’
‘Don’t be a boring stick-in-the-mud,’ Maureen chided.
‘I want to have some fun before I die. And the most fun I can think of is doing up this little flat, even if it’s just temporary.
I can’t wait to get stuck into that bookshop, too.
And the garden could be made into a lovely space.
And,’ she added, ‘I have put money aside for that rainy day you mentioned, just so you know. But let’s not worry about that now. ’
‘Okay,’ Ciara said, smiling at her mother, who had seemed so glum before they came to Cherrywood.
That sorrow seemed to have left her as they embarked on their new adventure and Ciara realised how much Maureen needed a change of scene, if not a change of life.
‘I formally allow you to spend money on this flat and maybe even to buy gardening tools. I know you’re dying to start digging up the garden. ’
‘Oh I am,’ Maureen said, looking happy. ‘But first we have to do something about that bookshop. We have to remove the shutters and get some light into it. Who knows what we might discover there?’
‘Nothing much,’ Ciara said, ‘except for a pile of old books.’
Maureen put her cup on the table with a bang. ‘That sounds defeatist to me. I think the shop has potential.’
‘For what?’ Ciara asked with a touch of irony.
‘It could be made charming,’ Maureen said and got up.
‘And irresistible for someone who would want to come here and run a little bookshop. It could actually clinch the sale. Come on, Ciara, let’s go and see if we can get the shutters off for a start.
I suddenly feel an urge to get it done once and for all. ’
‘Oh, okay,’ Ciara said and rose from the chair. ‘I’ll just let Brian out so he can enjoy the sunshine in the garden.’
‘He might dig it up, but what does that matter?’ Maureen said cheerfully. ‘It’s such a mess of weeds anyway.’
Ciara called Brian and let him out into the sunny garden, where he immediately rolled in the grass.
She smiled as she watched him, closing the little gate and then rounding the corner of the house as a car pulled up outside the shop.
Ciara stared at the man who stepped out of the car, smiling at her.
‘Hi, Ciara,’ he said. ‘I was in the neighbourhood, so I thought I’d come and see how you were doing.’
‘Ronan, eh… hi,’ Ciara stammered, feeling her cheeks turn red. She had hoped to see him again and now it was as if her thoughts had brought him here by some sort of telepathy. ‘Nice to see you,’ she said, trying to pull herself together.
‘Hello there,’ Maureen said behind Ciara, holding out her hand. ‘I’m Maureen Doyle, Ciara’s mother.’
Ronan shook Maureen’s hand. ‘Nice to meet you, Mrs Doyle. I’m Ronan Burke, the genealogist who dealt with Martha Fitzgerald’s will.’
‘Genealogist?’ Maureen asked, looking confused. ‘What’s that?’
‘I specialise in finding missing heirs mentioned in wills,’ Ronan explained. ‘A bit like a detective, really. It took me nearly a year to find Ciara, as a matter of fact. There wasn’t much to go on in Martha’s personal history, you see, like a family connection.’
‘Oh, I see,’ Maureen said, studying Ronan. ‘But you did and now we’re here. And so are you,’ she added with a little smile hovering on her lips.
Ronan looked suddenly awkward. ‘Yes, well, I was in the area, and I was curious to see what Ciara would do with the place. I tried to phone, but there was no signal.’
‘It’s hopeless up here,’ Ciara said with a frown. ‘I’m wondering if we can stay here if we can’t communicate with the outside world. I’m sure there were landlines everywhere in the old days, but they don’t exist any more.’
‘No,’ Ronan said. ‘But I’m sure there’s a solution somewhere.’
‘I hope so.’ Ciara studied Ronan for a moment. ‘You look different,’ she said.
‘Maybe because I’m not wearing glasses?’ Ronan asked, looking a little self-conscious.
‘Oh yes, that’s it,’ Ciara exclaimed. ‘Contact lenses?’
Ronan nodded. ‘Yes. I’m trying to get used to them.’ He looked at the shop. ‘So what are your plans for this place?’
‘Well, right now, we’re planning to take the shutters off the windows of the shop,’ Maureen said. ‘And we need someone strong to help us, so you’ve come just at the right moment.’
Ronan looked relieved. ‘Of course I’ll help you,’ he said and shrugged off his denim jacket and put it in the car.
Then he walked to the shutters. ‘They’re just two pieces of corrugated iron, which have been attached with nails that look very rusty.
’ He grabbed one of the shutters and pulled at it, making it come off, crashing to the ground in a shower of dust and cobwebs.
‘Well, that was easy,’ he said, rubbing his hands together.
‘You should wear gloves when you do that,’ Maureen remarked.
‘I know,’ Ronan said and walked to the boot of his car and opened it.
‘I think I have some old leather gloves here. And maybe even an old walking stick that I can use to get the other shutter off.’ He found the gloves and put them on, then groped around in the boot for a while until he came across a walking stick.
‘Here we are,’ he said, waving it in the air.
Then he walked to the window and managed to wrench the other shutter off with some difficulty before it too crashed on top of the first one.
‘Brilliant,’ Ciara exclaimed, looking into the old shop window. ‘Look, there are books stacked there that we didn’t notice before. Must have been just before the shop was closed.’
‘It looks like a Christmas display,’ Ronan said, peering into the window. ‘Romances and biographies and children’s books all stacked in groups, with some dried leaves that must have been holly once.’
‘There’s a book about Gay Byrne,’ Maureen said. ‘Must have been published just after he passed away.’
‘When was that?’ Ciara asked.
‘About six or seven years ago,’ Maureen said. ‘He was a very popular radio and TV presenter.’
‘Of course,’ Ciara said. ‘We know that. Don’t remember much about his programmes, though. The Late Late Show, wasn’t it?’
‘He was the heart and soul of RTé,’ Maureen said with reverence. ‘I was so sad when I heard he had died.’
‘Seven or so years ago? This means the shop was still operational around that time,’ Ronan cut in. ‘And then, when Martha went into the nursing home, it was closed down. Nobody has been here since then.’
‘Oh,’ Ciara said. ‘That makes me sad. I wish I had met her…’ Her voice trailed away while her eyes filled with tears.
Maureen put her arm around Ciara. ‘Don’t be sad, darling. I know how you must feel. But this woman meant for you to have the shop and the money, whatever the reason. So you must make the best of it.’
‘You don’t have to do anything with it now,’ Ronan said.
‘Look through what there is and then decide. This village is sad and forgotten, but maybe it could be woken up out of its Sleeping Beauty phase…’ He stopped.
‘I don’t know why I’m saying this, really.
It’s just that I felt such a sense of peace as I drove up here.
This part of Wicklow has great vibes and a kind of historical feel that’s unique. ’
‘Maybe it’s just a matter of time before it’s discovered,’ Maureen said. She looked at Ronan for a moment. ‘I think you two should go and check on Brian. He might need water and a little cuddle. I’ll see you inside the shop in a moment. Can’t wait to look around now that there’s daylight in there.’
‘Good idea, Ma,’ Ciara said, suspecting her mother was trying to give her and Ronan a chance to talk on their own. There was something in Ronan’s expression that told her he had come all the way from Dublin to tell her something important. ‘He seems a little unsettled, actually.’
‘Brian?’ Ronan asked behind Ciara as he followed her around the back of the house. ‘I thought that was your boyfriend.’
‘No, he’s my dog,’ Ciara said with a laugh. ‘His full name is Brian Boru. A great big Irish wolfhound, to be precise. Very spoiled and very precious. Like a big baby, really. I don’t have a boyfriend,’ she added.
‘Oh,’ Ronan said. ‘I thought he was when you talked about him the first time we met.’
‘I’m sorry if I misled you,’ Ciara said. ‘I tend to talk about Brian as if he was a person.’
‘So you’re single, then?’ Ronan asked in a casual tone.
‘Yes,’ Ciara replied, feeling suddenly tense as they reached the gate.
‘Sorry,’ Ronan said. ‘I didn’t mean to pry at all.’
‘It’s okay,’ Ciara said, flattered by his interest in her relationship status.
‘I know you’re involved with someone called Elaine, anyway.
’ Without waiting for a reply that she didn’t want to hear, she walked into the garden where they found Brian asleep in the sunshine.
Ciara called him and he lifted his head and then got up and trotted towards them.
Then he sniffed at Ronan, who shrank back, looking nervous.
‘He’s really friendly,’ Ciara said.
‘And big,’ Ronan said with a shaky laugh.
Brian sat down as if to make himself smaller. Then he licked Ronan’s hand.
‘He likes you,’ Ciara said. ‘He’s trying to make you feel less scared of him.’
Ronan carefully patted Brian’s head. ‘Hi, big fella.’
‘Come on, let’s sit on that old bench,’ Ciara said.
They waded through the tall grass to the rickety bench and sat down while Brian sank at their feet. Ronan gave Brian’s head a pat and let out a little laugh. ‘Can’t believe I thought he was your boyfriend.’
‘Well, he’s a boy and my best friend,’ Ciara joked. ‘Don’t you have a dog?’
‘No, never did. It’s not practical in our area. The house is big but we sold off part of the garden to our neighbours a while back. Partly because I don’t have much time for gardening.’
‘What about your parents?’
‘They’re… It’s a difficult situation.’
‘Oh,’ Ciara said. ‘I see. No need to tell me if you don’t want to.’
‘But I do.’ Ronan turned to look at her. ‘I want to tell you what’s going on.’
‘Okay. I’m listening.’ Ciara nodded, waiting to hear him telling her he had a girlfriend, but when she saw the despair in his eyes she knew he was going to tell her something tragic.