Chapter 12
TWELVE
‘How did you guess?’ Pierce asked.
‘Because everyone is talking about him,’ Marian said. ‘I just read his latest book. He’s a good writer, I have to say.’
‘He’s amazing,’ Pierce agreed. He walked across the room and sat down in his easy chair by the window and then swivelled around to face her.
‘So we have to do our best for him. I’d like to see if we can’t get him on The Late Late Show and that morning radio show on Newstalk.
Then we have to contact The Irish Times and all the major newspapers to get them to review the book.
Create a buzz around it, if you see what I mean.
You could do that when I’ve spoken to the author. ’
Marian nodded. ‘Yes, of course.’ She tried her best not to show the turmoil his announcement had caused. There will be plenty of buzz once the book comes out, she thought bitterly. More buzz than anyone might wish for, especially Sylvia.
It seemed so ironic that Marian, who was trying her best to stop the rumours that might spread, now would be working with the very author whose book would be the source of those rumours.
‘In any case, he’s coming here for a chat with me tomorrow,’ Pierce continued.
‘And after that, we’ll just communicate by email and texts.
We’ll draw up a plan and contact the media and then wait and see.
Pity he contacted me so late. He is going to publish the new novel in late August, only a month away.
We’ll have a job trying to get any kind of TV or radio slots. ’
‘That’s true,’ Marian said, beginning to see a ray of hope.
Maybe they could delay the publication of this novel somehow?
‘They have everything booked months beforehand. But maybe we could convince him to change the publication date? Like two months later or something? I mean, he is self-published, so he can pick any date for the book to go live.’ She looked expectantly at Pierce, waiting for his reaction.
She saw a chance to buy time so that she might convince Sean to rewrite parts of his novel.
Two months would give her a window of opportunity to make it happen.
Pierce looked thoughtful. ‘You have a point there. Of course we need more time. I’m going to get onto my contact at RTé and The Irish Times this afternoon.
I’ll see what they say and then if they give me an idea if they can do anything and when they can do it.
And I can then suggest to John Peters he hold the publication until the mainstream guys are ready. ’
‘He just has to change the date on the preorder,’ Marian said. ‘And then tell the bookshop he’ll be signing at the beginning of October instead.’
‘Exactly. I don’t think that will be a problem.’ He smiled at her. ‘Brilliant, Marian. Thank you for your very helpful suggestions.’
‘You’re welcome,’ Marian said. ‘Happy to be useful.’
‘Useful? You’re a lot more than that. You really have a knack for marketing. And all the media people you’ve been in touch with like you a lot. This past month has probably been the best period for me since I set up my agency.’
‘That’s wonderful.’ Marian smiled at him, wishing she could tell him everything, but that wouldn’t be wise.
‘I think you can go home now,’ he said. ‘It’s nearly lunchtime anyway.’
‘What about these emails?’ Marian asked, gesturing at the computer screen. ‘Don’t you want me to deal with them?’
‘I’ll do them,’ Pierce replied. ‘I have to look at John Peters’ new novel on and read the description and so on as well. Off you go and enjoy the beautiful day.’
‘You’re going to look at the new novel on ?’ Marian asked, beginning to panic again. ‘And you’ll read the description of the Kindle preorder?’
‘Yes. Why do you look so startled?’ Pierce asked, confused.
Marian tried to look unperturbed. ‘I’m not startled, just excited at hearing we’ll be promoting the most popular author around here.’
‘Yes, so am I,’ Pierce agreed. ‘I’m thrilled that he wants us to do his publicity.
I have no idea how he found us. We have only done publicity for cookery books and self-help books until now.
I’m ready to try something new, though.’ He paused.
‘But go and have your lunch. Oh, and before I forget, Claire is going to get in touch with you about our housewarming that’s finally happening.
We just decided and it’s going to be on Sunday afternoon.
Barbecue on our new deck. But she’ll fill you in on the details soon. ’
‘That sounds like fun. Looking forward to it already,’ Marian said as she got up from the desk. ‘I’ll go and have some lunch now. I have an appointment with Sylvia later today, so I’d better not delay.’
‘Maybe you could tell Sylvia about our housewarming party?’ Pierce asked. ‘I know she likes gold-edged invitation cards, but this is a family affair and very casual.’
‘I’ll tell her to expect an invitation,’ Marian said. ‘I’ll just say this is a save-the-date kind of thing.’
‘Perfect,’ Pierce said. ‘You know your way around older women.’
‘Well, as I am one myself, it’s not too hard,’ Marian quipped.
‘Older than what?’ Pierce enquired. ‘Aren’t we roughly the same vintage?’
‘“Roughly” is the word,’ Marian said. ‘Give or take five years or so. But now I’m off.’
‘See you Sunday. I’ll keep you posted about John Peters and his reaction to your suggestions.’
‘Just don’t tell him it came from me,’ Marian said as she walked to the door.
Pierce smiled. ‘Of course not. I have all the brilliant ideas around here. Officially.’
Marian said goodbye and left the office and got into her car that was parked outside.
Then she took out her phone and composed a text for Theo.
She knew they had to meet and talk, but it was so hard to figure out what she was going to say.
She desperately wanted to see him, now that she had realised that they had both been at fault.
They needed to talk about their innermost feelings again, the way they used to when they were first married.
They had been so close then, but with time had drifted apart, each in their own world, which seemed so wrong now.
Marian thought for a moment before she started typing her reply.
Hi Theo, I was surprised to find out you were on your way here, but I’m at the same time delighted.
Of course we need to talk. I’m staying in Claire’s old flat at Magnolia Manor, only a few minutes’ drive from Dingle town.
Call me when you’ve arrived and we’ll decide where to meet. See you soon, Marian.
Was that too cold? Too unfriendly? Did it send all the wrong signals despite her saying she was delighted to hear from him?
Well, whatever, she didn’t want to give him false hope, she decided, and hit send and immediately regretting not having added at least an x or two.
Then she added a heart as an afterthought.
That done, she threw her phone into her bag and started the car, trying to forget about her crumbling marriage, and turned her mind to her meeting with Sylvia.
How could she explain to the old lady that the sins of her youth that she had kept secret were about to be revealed?
Marian felt her stomach churn at the thought, and she hoped with all her heart that Pierce would manage to get Sean to delay the publication of his novel.
Then she would try to meet him again and plead with him to somehow change his story so that it would no longer be obvious that it was about the Fleury family – or apparent where the story had come from.
Marian rolled down the window, having realised that it was indeed a beautiful day with clear blue skies and brilliant sunshine.
She stopped outside a little café on the Strand with views of the bay and decided to have lunch there before she headed home.
There was an outside seating area with small round tables which would be a nice place to have a sandwich.
She pulled into the last parking space just up the street and then walked down to the café and bought a ham sandwich and a bottle of water at the counter before settling down at the last available table outside.
Once seated, she unwrapped the sandwich, took a big bite and a swig of water and looked out at the stunning view of Dingle Bay, enjoying the warm sunshine.
A soft sea breeze played with her hair and caressed her face, making her close her eyes for a moment and feeling a sense of peace.
Then she opened them again as a seagull’s plaintive call woke her out of her trance and all her worries tumbled into her mind, reminding her that she would have to face Theo very soon.
Marian had tried to push all thoughts of her marriage out of her mind ever since she arrived without success.
Despite the heartache, she had enjoyed having time to herself but now she felt as if her break away from him and their problems had come to an abrupt end.
It had been such a treat, to reunite with her sister, get to know their new-found family and settle into life in this beautiful part of Ireland.
Marian had fallen in love with Kerry during the very first few weeks here.
It was not only the fields of brilliant green, the waterfalls in hidden woodlands, the winding rivers through the beautiful landscape, or the majestic cliffs that towered over the wild ocean.
All that was a mere backdrop to the welcome of the people she had met every day.
Her kind brother-in-law who had offered her an interesting job was another reason she felt so happy here and she knew she would never leave.
The only way she and Theo could heal together was if he could agree to settle here with her.
It seemed selfish and harsh to demand that he give up his country for her, but those would be her terms.