Page 12 of The Granddaughter's Irish Secret
‘That’s true,’ Sylvia said. ‘I don’t actually have the key. I think it’s in a bunch at the site office. I’ll see if I can find them for you.’
‘Thanks, Granny.’ Rose kissed her grandmother’s cheek before she got up. ‘I’ll be off soon. I’m a little tired after my first day here. And I’m sure you’ll want to go to bed soon, too.’
Sylvia patted Rose’s cheek. ‘Yes, I do. Let’s call it a night and think about all this. Tomorrow is another day. Now let’s go out and look at the sunset before we go to bed.’
Rose followed her grandmother out and joined the others on the terrace. The baby had woken up and was all smiles and gurgles in her father’s arms. She was indeed a beautiful baby, with dark curls and big green eyes fringed with long lashes. A dimple appeared in her cheek as she smiled at Rose, and she felt her heart melt as she smiled back at her little niece.
‘Do you want to hold her?’ Dominic asked.
Rose hesitated. ‘If you show me how. I don’t want to break her.’
‘She’s quite solid.’ Dominic held the baby out to Rose. ‘Just make sure you support her head.’
Rose took the baby in her arms, a little awkward at first, but then settled Naomi in the crook of her arm. ‘Oh,’ she said, putting her face against the downy head, breathing in the sweet smell of soap and milk and baby oil. The infant looked up at her with wonder and then smiled again, a smile only for her aunt. Rose felt a surge of love and the beginning of a bond that would last the rest of their lives. ‘I love you,’ she whispered into a tiny ear, and was rewarded with what sounded like a chuckle.
‘Oh, she’s laughing,’ Lily exclaimed, rushing over to look at her baby daughter. ‘Did you hear that, Dom?’ She took the baby from Rose and held her tight. ‘She loves you.’
‘And I love her,’ Rose said, overwhelmed by the emotions of connecting with the little girl. ‘I never knew babies were so adorable.’
‘When they’re not screaming in the middle of the night,’ Lily remarked. ‘But then they smile and coo and you forgive them anything.’
‘Of course you do.’ Rose patted the little bundle on Lily’s shoulder. ‘I’ll babysit any time you want. But maybe you could give me a crash course first?’
‘I will,’ Lily promised. ‘Come over on Sunday and you can practise changing her nappy.’
‘Brilliant.’
The baby started to whinge and Lily put her back in the pram. ‘I think we’d better go. It’s nearly bath time and, to be honest, I’m really tired.’
‘Me too.’ Dominic shot Rose an apologetic smile. ‘We have to sleep when we can. We’ll slip away, if you don’t mind. Maybe you can explain to everyone?’
‘Of course.’ Rose kissed them both and watched while they carried the pram down the steps, then wheeled it around the corner to their car. She stood there and enjoyed the salt-laden breeze from the sea, looking up at the darkening sky where stars were beginning to appear one by one, breathing in the smell of woodsmoke from a fireplace somewhere nearby. She thought about the baby and how it felt to hold her, wondering if she’d ever have one of her own. But even if she didn’t, she’d still have her niece, and could be the fun auntie who taught Naomi to walk in high heels and try makeup and do things that were slightly risqué… She smiled at herself and wondered what Lily, who had always been a little straightlaced, would think of that.
During the next few days, Rose familiarised herself with the building project and looked into all the files, deciding what to do first. The website needed to be finished and she had to contact the web designer and then work out a marketing plan. Thenthere were the furnishings to be ordered and the bathroom and kitchen equipment installed. She also wanted to run up a plan for selling to the vintage shop. So much to do in a very short time.
Rose was so busy she nearly forgot about the wedding, but was reminded of it when the jewellery shop in Killarney contacted her.
‘Hi,’ the woman said. ‘Is this Rose Fleury?’
‘Yes, it is,’ Rose replied, sitting up straighter at her desk in the living room.
‘This is O’Hara’s Vintage Jewellery. I’m calling about your necklace you left with us for cleaning. The topaz and pearls set in white gold?’
‘Oh, yes,’ Rose said. ‘Is it ready?’
‘Yes,’ the woman replied. ‘But…’ She paused. ‘There’s something else I have to tell you about it.’
‘What’s that?’ Rose asked, suddenly worried by the tone in the woman’s voice. ‘It’s not broken, I hope? I mean, it’s very old and it’s been in the family for generations, so it’s quite precious.’
‘Hmm, yes.’
‘A beautiful piece don’t you think?’ Rose said. ‘Very well made, I always thought.’
‘Oh yes. Very well made,’ the woman agreed. ‘For a copy.’
Rose froze. ‘A copy? What do you mean?’
‘I mean it’s fake,’ the woman replied.
