Page 82 of The Girl with the Irish Secret
Vi sat on the sofa in the living room, wondering if Finbarr would find the old lady he had mentioned. And if he did, would Vi be able to contact her? Or was she too old to remember anything about Kathleen?
While she waited, Vi started to tidy up the breakfast dishes, keeping her phone on the table. Then it rang, making her jump. But it was not the man from the dance studio, but Nora asking if she was all right and if she needed anything from the shop. ‘As you don’t have a car, I’ll pick anything up for you,’ Nora offered. ‘Or you might come with me into town, if you like.’
‘Oh eh,’ Vi said, feeling she wanted to stay where she was in case Finbarr called. It would be awkward to take that call when she was out and about. ‘I’ll leave it for now and go later. Granny said she’d call in. I could do my shopping with her. Thanks foroffering, though, and for making the house so nice for me when I arrived. I’ve only been here a week but I feel at home already.’
‘You’re very welcome,’ Nora said. ‘I’m glad you’re spending time with your granny. She needs a little care and attention right now.’
‘I have a feeling you’re right,’ Vi said, remembering the sad look in her grandmother’s eyes just before they’d said goodnight that first evening. ‘Is it Arnaud? Is she sad that he’s not willing to spend the winter with her in Ireland?’
‘Partly,’ Nora said. ‘But also the girls. They’re both a little frazzled right now. They need cheering up, I think. But don’t tell them I said that.’
‘I won’t,’ Vi promised. ‘Not that I’ll meet them any time soon. I’m sure seeing me would not make them feel any better.’
‘Oh, that old stuff.’ Nora sounded annoyed. ‘I wish they’d come off their high horses. I’d bang their heads together and get them to behave if I could.’
Vi laughed. ‘I don’t think that would improve their humour. But I’m glad you’re on my side.’
‘I wish there was no side,’ Nora said. ‘I love all you girls as much.’ She sighed. ‘Well, I’d better get going. Have fun with your granny and I’ll see you soon.’
‘Thanks, Nora,’ Vi said. ‘Bye for now.’
‘Bye, sweet pea,’ Nora said and hung up.
The phone rang again as soon as Nora had signed off. Vi picked up and saw that it was a Dublin number. It had to be Finbarr calling her back.
‘Hello?’ she said. ‘Is that Finbarr?’
‘Yeah,’ he replied, sounding amused. ‘It’s me. Hey, I got the name of the old lady I was talking about. Her name is Fidelma Sheridan. She is ninety-four, she told me, and she is as sharp in her mind as a tack. Told me all about her dancing days all those years ago. And she just read about the movie inThe Irish Times,she said. It appears she knew Kathleen well in the old days. She was only fifteen when she met Kathleen but they became friends during that time. I asked her if she would mind talking to you and she said she’d be delighted. So I’ll text you her number and you can call her yourself. She’s great gas, actually.’
‘Oh, that’s incredible,’ Vi said, nearly breathless with excitement. ‘You’ve been hugely helpful. I’ll call Fidelma as soon as I can. I’m really looking forward to hearing what she has to say about Kathleen.’
‘I’d call her after two o’clock in the afternoon,’ Finbarr said. ‘She says she has a snooze after lunch and then she’s in good form. She’s looking forward to talking to you.’
‘I can’t wait to talk to her,’ Vi said. ‘I don’t know how to thank you for all your help.’
‘Ah sure, it was nothing,’ Finbarr said modestly. ‘Us Kathleen fans have to stick together. But if you’re ever in Dublin, call in and say hi.’
‘Of course I will,’ Vi promised.
‘Great. Nice to chat to you, Violet. I’ll text you Fidelma’s details as soon as we’ve hung up.’
‘Brilliant.’
They said goodbye and Finbarr sent a text with the old lady’s number nearly straight away.
Vi looked at the name and number, thinking what a stroke of luck it had been to call the dance studio. It was amazing to have got so much information straight away. She couldn’t wait to hear about Fidelma’s memories of Kathleen O’Sullivan’s early days as an actress. She might remember what Kathleen was like in those days. What had been her hopes and dreams? How had she reacted to the talent scout’s invitation to go to Hollywood? Vi hadn’t explained to Finbarr that she was the actress who was going to play Kathleen because then the spotlight would be onher. Better to be a little bit anonymous, at least for the time being.
8
Vi’s thoughts were still so full of what she had learned that she was only listening with half an ear to what her grandmother was talking about during their drive into Dingle for lunch a few days later. She had tried to contact both Lily and Rose but only got their voicemails, so she had left a short message to each of them, saying she would be at the gatehouse and would love to see them. There had been no response from either of them, but Vi knew they were busy and maybe also wary about meeting her, so she decided to try to forget about the rift and enjoy spending time with her grandmother. Mending all the fences would be a long process in any case, and she wanted to be patient with her sisters. Especially if it was true that they were both a little stressed.
The view out of the window of the car was an added distraction, as it was a glorious winter’s day with cold winds but bright sunshine from a clear blue sky. The spray of the green-blue waves lashed the shores and the seagulls squawked above them as they got out of the car that Sylvia had parked near the harbour.
‘Oh,’ Vi said as the wind whipped her hair around her face. ‘I’d forgotten how the air feels here when it’s windy. Cold but still soft, salty and sweet at the same time. I love it.’
‘Yes, it’s very special,’ Sylvia agreed as she locked the car. ‘A lot of people don’t understand why I love stormy weather so much. But I know you share that strange feeling. We’re winter girls, aren’t we?’
‘We are,’ Vi said, smiling at her grandmother, who was looking fit and energetic today, her cheeks rosy and her brown eyes sparkling. Her grey hair, cut in a chin-length bob, blew around her face and then settled again into the same perfect shape. She was dressed in a white polo neck under a bright red down jacket and blue trousers, which made her look both chic and warm. ‘And you look like the perfectly dressed Kerry woman, ready for any kind of weather.’
