Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
Ciara’s dilemma was on her mind all through the rest of the day.
But when they came back to the bookshop after a visit to Wicklow town to buy food and look in on a shop that sold household items, she found Oisín, dressed in shorts, T-shirt and trainers, sitting on the old bench in the back garden, talking to a delighted Brian Boru.
He looked up as Ciara came around the corner. ‘Hi there, I was wondering when you’d be back. I was out for my run and thought I’d call in. Brian here was getting very lonely, so I thought I’d stay with him until you came home.’
Ciara scratched the dog behind his ears as he leaned against her, licking her hand. ‘Thank you, Oisín, that was kind of you.’
‘I’m very fond of him,’ Oisín said, shooting Ciara one of his thousand-watt smiles. ‘As I am of you, actually. I really came to ask you if you’d come to dinner with me tomorrow night.’
‘Like on a date?’ Ciara asked, trying not to be drawn in by his green eyes and handsome face. She was surprised by his question as she hadn’t thought he was that interested in her.
‘Yes, a date,’ he replied, his gaze steady. ‘Just the two of us in a restaurant. I think that qualifies as a date.’
‘Of course,’ Ciara mumbled, her face hot. She looked away for a moment and then back at Oisín, who seemed to expect an immediate answer. ‘That would be very nice,’ she said. ‘Where are we going?’
‘A nice little fish restaurant in Wicklow town, overlooking the sea,’ Oisín replied. ‘It’ll give us a chance to get to know each other. I thought we’d talk about the bookshop and what you plan to do with it. And other things you should know.’
‘Like what?’ Ciara asked.
‘Things,’ he said, looking mysterious.
‘I don’t really know what to do about the bookshop,’ Ciara said.
‘But maybe you have a few ideas?’ And maybe I can find out what he knows about Martha and Madge and who the father of the baby was, she thought to herself.
Are those the ‘things’ he mentioned? Ma said she had a feeling he knows more than he let on…
‘I might, you know,’ he said, his eyes drifting to her wrist. ‘That’s a nice bracelet. Looks familiar, though. Where did you get it?’
Ciara looked at the bracelet, the semi-precious stones glinting in the sun. ‘I found it in a box in the house. I think it belonged to Martha.’
‘Yes, she used to wear something similar,’ Oisín said. ‘It suits you. Goes with your lovely blue eyes.’
‘Thank you,’ Ciara said, feeling herself blush again to her annoyance. Why did he make her feel like a silly schoolgirl?
‘You’re welcome,’ Oisín said, getting up. ‘We can do a little brainstorming about the shop tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll be here at seven to pick you up, if that’s okay.’
‘Lovely,’ she said, smiling at his enthusiasm.
‘Grand. See you then,’ Oisín said. ‘I’ll be off up the road to the tower now. Must continue my run. Say hi to your mum.’ With that, he jumped over the gate in one easy stride and was gone before Ciara could reply.
Ciara went in through the back door with Brian at her heels, finding her mother carting a load of groceries up the stairs. ‘Hold on, Ma, I’ll give you a hand,’ she said and took one of the bags from Maureen.
‘Thanks,’ Maureen panted as they climbed the stairs together. ‘I keep forgetting I’m not twenty-one any more. Who were you talking to?’
‘Oisín,’ Ciara replied, as they arrived in the kitchen with their bags. ‘He asked me out on a date tomorrow evening.’
‘Did he?’ Maureen said. ‘What did you say?’
‘Of course I said yes,’ Ciara replied. ‘How could I resist that smile and those green eyes?’
Maureen suddenly looked delighted. ‘I think he’s perfect for you.’
‘Why?’ Ciara asked, surprised by her mother’s sudden endorsement of Oisín.
‘He’s a real trooper, I think. A strong man who’ll always defend you. And he’s a very talented artist as well. An O’Toole with a castle and everything.’
Ciara laughed as she put the milk into the fridge. ‘Oh, Ma, you’re such a romantic. Oisín is good looking, but I’m not stupid enough to fall for a pretty face.’
‘He’s a lot more than that,’ Maureen countered. ‘I’m sure you’ll come home after your date feeling very differently.’
‘I’m not sure about that. In any case…’ She stopped. ‘What did we decide on for dinner?’ she asked, changing the subject to get the spotlight away from her love life.
‘Chicken,’ Maureen said, smiling. ‘I know what you were about to say. You can’t hide your feelings from me, you know. I think I know who makes your heart beat the fastest.’
‘Well, it’s hopeless, so let’s forget it,’ Ciara said, taking the chicken pieces out of their wrapping and putting them on a plate.
‘Never say never,’ Maureen quipped. She put the vegetables they had bought on the draining board in order to wash the earth off the carrots and potatoes.
‘You won’t be lonely here on your own tomorrow night?’ Ciara asked, suddenly feeling guilty for having accepted Oisín’s offer of dinner without thinking about her mother.
‘Not at all,’ Maureen assured her. ‘I have Brian to keep me company and I will do a little gardening in the evening sunshine and put on the radio and listen to music. I’ll be grand for a few hours.’
Ciara nodded. ‘Good. Oh, and don’t forget to reply to the tea party invitation. I’m sure there’s no rush as it’s weeks away, but better to reply straight away.’
‘I haven’t forgotten,’ Maureen said. ‘Funny how our social calendar is filling up with invitations here in the back of beyond. I was never so in demand.’
Ciara let out a giggle. ‘I know. I was thinking the same thing. Maybe we should update our wardrobes?’
‘We’ll just do casual chic as usual,’ Maureen joked. ‘Which means wearing our everyday clothes with a little twist.’
‘Like what?’ Ciara asked. ‘A hat?’
‘Not quite, but we can do a lot with a scarf and a bit of costume jewellery.’
‘There was some vintage stuff in Martha’s box of dreams,’ Ciara said. ‘We can play around with that. But what am I going to wear tomorrow night?’
‘Your new T-shirt and the black linen trousers I bought for you last summer,’ Maureen said. ‘And your denim jacket.’
‘You’re right,’ Ciara agreed. ‘That’s a great combo. And it won’t look as if I’m trying to impress anyone. Now let’s feed Brian and then cook the chicken. Then we can go for a little walk before we settle in for the evening. What do you think about that, Brian Boru?’
Brian wagged his tail so hard he knocked down half their shopping from the table.
Maureen laughed as they picked up frozen peas, bread, potatoes, tomatoes and a packet of oatmeal from the floor. ‘Lucky I washed the floor before we went out this morning.’
‘Did you?’ Ciara asked. ‘That was nice of you. Thank you.’
‘No problem,’ Maureen said. ‘It’s my home too. For the moment, anyway,’ she ended, looking a little hesitant.
‘For as long as you want, Ma,’ Ciara said, feeling a dart of love for her brave mother. She knew Maureen wanted to be part of this adventure and although Ciara didn’t want to be ordered around, she knew the change of scene was good for her mother’s mental health.
‘That’s very kind of you, darling,’ Maureen said warmly.
‘Actually, Ma,’ Ciara started, ‘I’ve been thinking about the situation with the shop and everything.’
‘You’ve come to a decision?’ Maureen stopped in her tracks and looked expectantly at Ciara.
‘Yes,’ Ciara replied and sat down at the kitchen table. ‘Sit down, Ma, and I’ll tell you.’
Maureen pulled out a chair and sat down. ‘Go on,’ she said.
‘Well, after reading Madge’s letter and discovering that she was my grandmother, I felt suddenly that this is where I should be.
Where Martha meant for me to be, I mean.
’ Ciara paused for a moment. ‘I’m going to quit my job and give my landlord notice and move here to find out more – I just can’t leave yet.
I know you’ll think I’m completely mad and try to stop me, but I really feel—’
‘Of course I’m going to stop you,’ Maureen interrupted. ‘It’s a completely mad idea. You can’t give up your job just like that.’
‘Oh.’ Ciara stared at her mother, taken aback by what she had just said. ‘What do you mean? I thought you were beginning to love this place.’
Maureen nodded. ‘Yes, that’s true. It’s a lovely place. Peaceful and far away from everything. A real haven. But Ciara, think about what I said before. I meant it. You can’t give up what you have for an impossible dream. Never mind what that Martha Fitzgerald wanted.’
‘What about what I want?’ Ciara asked, shocked by her mother’s negative reaction.
‘Wouldn’t it be fabulous for us to do up the bookshop and run it together?
I can’t think of anything better than moving here with you and doing all that.
’ Ciara took her mother’s hands. ‘Oh Ma, it would be fantastic. Wouldn’t it? ’
‘No, Ciara,’ Maureen protested, pulling her hands from Ciara’s grip. ‘It would be a huge risk for you.’
‘But…’ Ciara started, bewildered. ‘I thought you said you wanted to change your life and do something exciting.’
‘Yes, but I meant just to come here with you for a bit, not throw away everything we have for an old bookshop that might never take off,’ Maureen replied.
‘But you wouldn’t have to sell your house, just rent it out short term,’ Ciara argued. ‘That way, you’ll have a safety net should what you call a crazy adventure crash and burn.’
Maureen shook her head. ‘Ciara, this is not about me, but about you. It would be insanity for you to do this and I’m not going watch you ruin your life. That’s final.’
‘I see,’ was all Ciara managed before the tears stung her eyes.
‘That’s very disappointing. I thought… well, never mind.
’ She got up and ripped off a piece of kitchen paper from the roll on the counter and blew her nose.
‘I’m sure Dad would agree with you, as he was so worried about Martha and what she might do. ’