Page 71 of Our Song

‘Great to meet you,’ he says.‘And thanks a million for having me over.Both of you.’

‘You’re very welcome,’ says Jeanne.

Katie grins at him.‘You know we don’t have a personal chef, right?Will that be okay for you?’

‘I don’t have a chef!’protests Tadhg.‘Back me up here, Lol!’

‘Ah,’ says Katie.‘But did you just tell Laura that because she’s such a woman of the people?’

‘Shut up, Katie!’I say, as Tadhg and Jeanne laugh.

And I know that the rest of the evening will be all right.

We sit around the table eating posh crisps and drinking wine as the ragu does its final simmer.Tadhg asks Katie and Jeanne questions about work and life and family and seems genuinely interested in the answers.He and Jeanne end up in a deep conversation about architecture – his sister Rosie does PR in Paris for a big French architect and it turns out Jeanne knows some of her colleagues.After a while, Katie ceremonially carries over the Le Creuset to the table and dishes up a feast so delicious that we all agree it was worth the hours of cooking.

‘Who needs a chef?’says Katie.

‘Not me,’ says Tadhg.‘As I’ve said.’

‘As you’vesaid,’ says Katie.

‘Well,’ says Tadhg, ‘you’ll all have to come over sometime and see for yourself.’

‘Is that an actual invitation?’says Katie.

‘Course it is,’ says Tadhg.

‘I’ll hold you to that, Timothy,’ says Katie.

I’m mopping up the last dregs of sauce with some delicious crusty bread from the bakery in Marino when Jeanne says, ‘Laura, I almost forgot to tell you!You know my friend Steve?Yesterday I went for lunch with him and his brother Will who works in an ad agency.’She mentions the name; it’s one of the most prestigious and cutting-edge agencies in town.‘Will told me they’re looking for new senior copywriters, and your name’s on the top of their list of potential hires.I know you’ve got that gig at Leafe lined up, but will I give him your phone number anyway?They might make you a better offer.’

‘Oh!Um, wow, sure, that’d be great,’ I say.‘Thanks a million.’

And a few weeks ago, thiswouldhave been great.More than great.This would be a dream job, even better than Leafe.So why is my heart sinking at the prospect?

I’ve been thinking of this time with Tadhg as a fortnight that I can get through and then move on and pay Katie and Jeanne a nice pile of money for their windows.But until now I haven’t really been thinking of the reality of life after this fortnight.And the reality is writing ads.Which I love doing!It’s just …

It’s just that I’ve discovered that the old Laura, the rock-star Laura, might still exist after all.And writing ads might not be quite enough for her.

‘Great,’ says Jeanne.‘That agency’s meant to be a good place to work, no?Will said they’re taking the team to Moveable Feast this year, and those tickets are like gold dust.’

‘Oh,’ says Tadhg.‘You know, it hasn’t been announced yet so keep it to yourself for now, but I’m playing there this year.I can get you tickets if you want.’

‘Oh my God, really?’says Jeanne.

‘Of course!’says Tadhg, glancing at me, and I realise I never told Katie and Jeanne about his offer.They were out when I came home that evening, and then Dave’s call pushed it out of my mind.

Katie stands up and claps her hands.‘All right!You two’ – she points at me and Tadhg – ‘go into the sitting room while Jeanne and I prepare the next course.’

‘Is she always such a bossy host?’says Tadhg, as we take our glasses and a fresh bottle of wine into the front room.Katie makes a shoo-ing motion at us.

‘Pretty much,’ I say.I do wonder why it takes both of them to put the posh cheese on a board and pop an apple crumble in the oven.Are they giving me and Tadhg alone time?Or do they just want to talk about him without me?

When we go into the sitting room, Tadhg closes the door behind us.

‘I take it you didn’t tell them about me asking you to play the festival?’he says.But not in an accusatory way.

I sit down at one end of the couch and he sits at the other end of it.

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