Chapter 2 #2
‘That’s what I felt, too, the first time I came here,’ Claire said. ‘It was like seeing something from a fairy tale.’
Marian kept staring up at the house, feeling overwhelmed with the fact that she was here at last and that she would be living here for a while.
How long that would be, she had no idea, but it felt good to know she could stay as long as she wanted.
She needed time to herself, and also time to get to the bottom of who Theo was involved with.
She knew from the letters she had found that he had been serious about a woman some time ago, but not when or where she lived.
That was something she needed to find out – but not yet.
Right now, she wanted to meet her relatives and simply drink in the atmosphere of this magical place.
‘Come on,’ Claire urged. ‘Let’s get your stuff upstairs. I have lasagne waiting; it only needs to be heated up. We’ll have a glass of wine and then you can have a bath and go to bed. How does that sound?’
‘Heavenly,’ Marian said with a happy sigh. ‘It was a very long trip.’
‘I know,’ Claire said. ‘I did it once, remember? When I came to visit you and then I slept for what seemed like days.’
‘You were like a zombie,’ Marian said with a laugh. ‘But then you perked up when the kids got you to come to the beach.’
‘Oh, yeah,’ Claire said, smiling. ‘They tried to teach me to surf but I kept falling off that dratted surfboard. And that was when we were still on the beach. Surfing – forget it. I was too old even then to try it.’ She paused and shook her head. ‘Anyway, how are the kids?’
‘Oh, they’re fine,’ Marian said. ‘All grown up, or so they say. Rebecca is trying her hand at journalism at a magazine in Sydney and Conor has just qualified as an engineer and is working with a firm in London. He’s on holiday in California right now, so he can’t come to the wedding.’
‘That’s a pity,’ Claire said. ‘But I understand why it would be difficult to change his plans.’
‘Yes, he couldn’t rebook his ticket,’ Marian said.
‘They’re at the age when they only keep in touch with parents when they’re in trouble, or need money.
I miss them terribly.’ Her eyes filled with tears as she thought about her children, who seemed to have grown up so fast. ‘I miss us being a family,’ she said.
‘You know, that routine of picking them up from school, doing homework at the kitchen table, picnics on the beach and watching them playing soccer and doing Irish dancing, all that stuff that seemed so tedious then.’
‘I know what you mean,’ Claire said. ‘Even if I never had that. But now, I’m involved with the Fleury grandchildren and I try to help out when they need me.
There are six of them, so I’m often asked to babysit or to pick up from school or preschool.
That way I get a little bit of family life and it’s lovely. ’
‘I’m really looking forward to meeting them,’ Marian said, cheering up at the thought.
They got out of the car and took out the luggage, carrying it into the house.
Marian looked around the huge entrance hall with its black and white floor tiles, the vast fireplace and the antlers on the walls.
It was grander than she had imagined and it oozed the atmosphere of years gone by.
Then they used the lift to get to the second floor and had to lug the bags up the remaining flight of stairs.
‘They only got the lift that far,’ Claire explained. ‘The attics seemed unimportant, so anyone wanting to get any further has to work hard. But wait till you see my little flat. It’s really lovely and I’ve been so happy up there.’
‘Will you miss it?’ Marian asked as they arrived at the door.
‘In a way,’ Claire said. ‘I’ll miss living at the top of Magnolia Manor. It’s such a special place.’
‘I can’t believe I’m here,’ Marian said. ‘It’s like being in a movie.’
‘And tomorrow you’ll meet all the stars,’ Claire said with a grin. ‘But they’re wonderful and they’ll love you. Rose said only yesterday that she was looking forward to getting to know you. And Naomi and Sophie, Lily and Rose’s little girls, said they want to meet my big sister.’
‘I still can’t believe we’re like one big family,’ Marian said. ‘Auntie Rachel would be so pleased.’
‘I know,’ Claire said and took a key from her pocket. ‘It’s so fabulous. But now, let’s get you and your stuff inside.’ She unlocked the door and then opened it wide to reveal a tiny hall that led into a cosy living room. ‘Here we are. Small but perfectly formed.’
Marian walked through the hall and into the tiny but bright living room, looking around at the window with stunning views of the gardens and the bay beyond, the kitchen alcove with a round table and two chairs and the bedroom that she could glimpse through another door.
The rooms were not spacious but charming with bright yellow walls, cream curtains and a colourful rug in front of the miniature fireplace.
There was a sofa in front of the window that folded out into a bed, which Claire said was very comfortable.
‘So where is Pierce?’ Marian asked.
‘He still lives in the granny flat behind my boss Karina’s house,’ Claire explained.
‘Oh, yeah, she’s his sister as well,’ Marian said, remembering what Claire had told her.
‘That’s right. Pierce comes here occasionally but he finds the place too small for us both. And now he’s camping in the new house while it’s being done up.’
‘So I didn’t push him out?’ Marian asked.
‘Not at all. In any case, he felt we needed to have girls’ night in when you arrived.’
‘That’s was kind of him.’
‘That’s the way he is,’ Claire said with a happy sigh. ‘Oh, and the bathroom is off the bedroom if you want to have a shower.’
‘Oh, lovely,’ Marian exclaimed. ‘I’ll have quick wash and get into my pyjamas, if you don’t mind.’
‘Of course not,’ Claire said. ‘I’ll get into my jammies too and then we’ll eat and catch up and then you can go to bed when you feel like it.’
‘Like the old days,’ Marian said. ‘When I was fifteen and you were ten and refused to go to bed if I was still up.’
‘So you’d pretend to get ready for bed,’ Claire said. ‘Only to get dressed again to go out with your friends when I was asleep.’
Marian laughed. ‘Oh yes, I did. But it didn’t fool you. Lucky we had Auntie Rachel to mind you when our parents were away.’
‘We were blessed to have her,’ Claire agreed with a fond smile.
‘And then she was there for me when Mum and Dad died. But hey, let’s get our jammies on and I’ll heat up the lasagne.
’ She carried one of Marian’s bags into the bedroom and put it on the bed and Marian followed with the rest of the luggage.
Then Marian had a shower in the tiny bathroom and when they were both in their pyjamas, they sat on the sofa and ate the lasagne accompanied by a glass of red wine.
Claire held up her glass. ‘Here’s to our reunion. I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed you.’
Marian clinked glasses with Claire. ‘I missed you like crazy, too, darling Claire. I’m so happy to be here with you. It seems like a dream that I will finally meet all the Kerry Fleurys at last.’
Claire took a sip of wine. ‘They’re really lovely. And they will love you too.’
Marian finished her mouthful of lasagne. ‘So Sunday lunch tomorrow? What time?’
‘Around one o’clock,’ Claire replied. ‘But first we’ll go to mass in Dingle town and then we’ll have coffee with Pierce and Karina at the little café near the church. Then lunch and then we might go down to the beach with the kids if it’s warm enough. I hope that’s not too much for you.’
‘Oh, I’m sure it’ll be fine,’ Marian said. ‘I just want a good night’s sleep and then I can cope with anything.’
‘You do need it,’ Claire said and drained her glass. ‘Gosh, this is nice. One of Pierce’s best. Do you want another glass?’
‘No, I’m fine,’ Marian replied. ‘One glass is enough for me right now. I feel a bit wobbly after the trip.’
‘Then just finish the food and you can go to bed,’ Claire said, getting up from the sofa. ‘Karina made the lasagne; she really is the most incredible chef. I’ll have another glass and then I think I’ll watch a movie on my computer. It’s only eight o’clock, so I’m not sleepy yet.’
Marian laughed. ‘Interesting role reversal. I’m going to bed and you’re staying up.’ She finished her helping of lasagne and pushed the plate away. ‘That was delicious. Karina is a very good cook.’
‘She’s brilliant,’ Claire said. ‘And I love working for her. We get on so well.’
‘And the Fleurys?’ Marian asked, more interested in her distant cousins than Claire’s boss. ‘Do you get on with them all?’
‘Oh yes, absolutely,’ Claire said. ‘They’re terrific.
We’re very close all of us and fiercely protective.
We never reveal any kind of secret to outsiders.
What happens in the family stays in the family, if you see what I mean.
All the Fleury secrets I found out have never been told to anyone in town.
Nobody in the family shares anything remotely confidential to anyone. ’
‘I like that idea,’ Marian said. She yawned. ‘I’m sorry, but the jetlag is catching up with me.’
‘Off to bed with you,’ Claire ordered. ‘I’ll clean up.’
Marian rose from the sofa. ‘I’ll just brush my teeth and then I’ll cuddle in under that lovely duvet.’
‘Night, night,’ Claire said and threw Marian a kiss. ‘Sleep tight.’
‘Night,’ Marian said, smiling at her sister. ‘See you in the morning light.’
Then she went into the bedroom and sent a quick message to Theo that she had arrived safely.
That done, she closed the curtains and after brushing her teeth, sank into bed, and put her head on the pillow.
She could hear faint birdsong through the open window and, in the distance, the gentle sound of waves against the shore.
She drifted off to sleep, the long, tiring trip slowly receding from her mind.
She thought briefly of what Claire had said about the family, that they closed ranks against the outside world if anyone was in trouble, and…
what happens in the family, stays in the family…
Which Marian had understood meant that nobody revealed what was confidential.
Her conversation with the stranger she had met during the flight to Dubai suddenly popped into her mind.
She had told him the story of the Fleury family and he had seemed very interested.
Had she revealed any important facts or secrets?
she wondered. She couldn’t quite remember exactly what she had said.
She had been sleepy after two glasses of wine and possibly rambled on for a while before she went to sleep.
He had probably drifted off, too, while she droned on.
Oh no, she thought, suddenly panicking. Did I tell him things that should be kept in the family?
Then she dismissed the idea, feeling slightly less worried.
Even if I did, I’m sure he forgot all about it, she said to herself.
I’ll never meet him again, anyway. Then sleep finally took over and she slept soundly all night, dreaming about Magnolia Manor, the family she was yet to meet and the Fleurys who had built this beautiful house.