Page 25 of The Granddaughter's Irish Secret
‘I suppose so.’ Gavin shrugged. ‘But whatever. It would never have worked with us anyway.’
‘You’re right. It wouldn’t. I know that now. But then… I had such hopes and dreams,’ Rose said, tears welling up as she remembered that awful day. ‘And you stepped all over them.’
Gavin’s eyes softened. He touched her cheek. ‘Oh Rose, I’m sorry. I really am. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?’
‘No, nothing.’ She looked at him for a moment. ‘All I can say is that I think it was lucky in a way. You leaving me like that pushed me to come here. And that is the best thing I’ve done fora long time. Dublin was not really me at all. Nor were you and all these fancy people. Some of them are really nice, but I don’t really fit in with them. I was always a Kerry girl at heart. Maybe that’s what you didn’t like.’
‘No,’ he protested. ‘There was nothing I didn’t like about you. It was just… Well, I met this woman who…’ He shook his head. ‘I won’t go into all that. I didn’t behave very well, I know that.’ He smiled his brilliant smile she had once thought was so alluring. ‘You have changed, you know. You look even prettier and a lot stronger than before. That dress, your new hairdo, that necklace that make your eyes sparkle like sapphires… wow.’
‘Thank you,’ Rose said, finally able to smile at him. ‘You look well too.’ She was surprised that she was over Gavin, much quicker than she’d expected. Was it her new job, the Kerry air or possibly even Noel?
‘Do you forgive me? For everything that happened?’ he asked, his face brightening. ‘Can we be friends?’
‘I suppose I forgive you,’ she said, after a moment’s reflection. ‘But I won’t forget. And I don’t think we can be friends. Yet.’
‘No, I suppose not.’ He took her hand. ‘Thank you for forgiving me. I’ll never forget you, Rose. How about that dance now?’
She stepped away, looked across the dance floor and saw Noel waving at her. ‘Sorry, Gavin, but I want to dance with Noel. I promised I would.’
He nodded. ‘Of course. He’s a lucky fella.’
‘I’m the lucky one. I do like him a lot,’ she said, realising to her surprise that it was true. Her feelings for Gavin were fading fast, and Noel’s support and kindness had been such a comfort. ‘Bye for now, Gavin.’
‘Bye, Rose. I’m glad we had that talk.’
‘Me too,’ she said, before she gave him a sad little smile and walked away, her step light and her mind at peace. She had finally closed that chapter.
‘Hey, Rose,’ Noel said when she reached their table. ‘I’ve had a word with the bride and the band and they agreed to play some Irish dance music. How about a jig or two? That’s a dance I know I can handle.’
‘Brilliant,’ Rose exclaimed. ‘I used to take Irish dance classes when I was a teenager. I thought you did too?’
‘I was ten when I had to give it up,’ he said, laughing. ‘I was too tall for the lineup at the dance school competitions. But I still remember the steps.’ He held out his hand as the band started to play a lively Irish tune. ‘Come on, girl, let’s have a go.’
Delighted at the chance to shake herself up and turn her mind away from Gavin, Rose kicked off her high heels, took his hand and they bounced onto the dance floor in time with the music. They were soon joined by other guests, and the floor was suddenly thronged with people dancing and whooping and laughing until the music stopped. Still laughing, everyone returned to their places declaring the idea ‘pure genius’. Some people came up to Noel and clapped him on the back, offering to buy him drinks. Rose looked on as the bride and groom, Louise and Aiden, started to dance again as the band played another tune.
‘Oh, gosh,’ Rose said as she collapsed on her chair. ‘That was exhausting but such fun. Thank you, Noel.’
He grinned and wiped his forehead with a napkin. ‘Don’t know what got into me. I didn’t murder your toes, I hope?’
‘You didn’t step on them once.’ Rose grabbed a jug of water and filled her glass, then held the jug out to Noel. ‘Here. Have a drink. You’ll need it.’
A phone suddenly pinged.
‘Was that your phone?’ Rose asked Noel.
He pulled it out of his inside pocket and looked at it. ‘No, not mine,’ he said.
‘Oh, must be mine, then.’ Rose took her evening bag that was hanging on the back of her chair. She pulled the phone out and saw a text message. ‘It’s from Vicky.’
I remember now. The woman wearing a necklace similar to yours was called Melanie Blennerhassett. Such an unusual name that it stuck in my memory. Hope you’re having fun at the wedding and Noel isn’t boring you silly. Talk soon Vx
‘What did she want?’ Noel asked.
‘Nothing important.’ Rose turned off her phone and put it back in her bag. ‘Just asking if I was enjoying the wedding.’
‘And you are,’ Noel stated. ‘I can see that. And I could also see you talking to your ex. How did that go?’
‘Oh, fine,’ Rose replied, her mind on the text message.Melanie Blennerhassett, she thought.That name sounds familiar… Where have I heard it before? I’ll google it later…
