Page 24 of The Book of Irish Secrets
‘That’s very chivalrous of you,’ Claire said. ‘But I’m sure I wouldn’t come to much harm around here, all the same.’
‘Of course not,’ Pierce said as they started to walk into the chilly night. The rain had stopped and the wind eased and the stars were clearly visible in the dark sky. ‘But I enjoy your company and I’m going the same way. Great evening, wasn’t it?’
‘Lovely,’ Claire agreed as she fell into step with Pierce. ‘They’re a very nice family.’
‘They are,’ Pierce said. ‘Noel is one of my best friends. We went to school together. He was a few years below me but we played on the same football team.’
‘Gaelic football?’ Claire asked.
‘Of course. Good old GAA and all that. They’re very big around here.’
‘And Rose?’ Claire asked. ‘Was she in the same school?’
‘No. She and her sisters went to Coláiste Íde. That’s a girls’ boarding school where they learn all subjects in Irish and become strong women.’ He laughed. ‘As if those Fleury girls need it. They’re strong and feisty all on their own.’ He turned to Claire. ‘You remind me of them, actually. You have that independent aura. I bet you don’t suffer fools gladly or take rubbish from anyone. Are you sure you weren’t a Fleury woman in an earlier life?’
‘Quite sure,’ Claire said, feeling a tiny frisson at his question. Did he know how close he was to the truth about her? ‘I did take lot of rubbish from someone for a long time,’ she continued, ‘so no, you’re wrong there. I was a bit of a doormat with my ex-husband.’
‘Well, that’s a different matter,’ Pierce said. ‘Marriage, I mean. I got it wrong, too, for a long time. And then it all blew up in my face. But at least I got a lovely daughter out of it, so something good came out of that misery. You’ll meet her in a few weeks. She’s going through that awkward teenage phase where you think everyone is against you. But she’s a great kid and she’ll be fine in the end. I just have to be patient and suffer in silence.’
‘I remember what that teenage anger was like,’ Claire said. ‘I was a total pain when I was that age. Everything was about me and it was all my mother’s fault. But my great-aunt Rachel was a great help. She listened to me and then said something that woke me up.’
‘What was that?’ Pierce asked, intrigued.
‘She said that the most self-destructive things in life are feeling sorry for yourself and being envious of others. Both of which I was very good at,’ Claire said with a laugh. ‘So then Itried my best to follow her advice. I think I behaved a bit better after that talking-to.’
‘Your great-aunt sounds like a wise woman.’
‘Oh, she was,’ Claire said wistfully, the loss of her beloved great-aunt hitting her like a stab in the chest. ‘I could talk to her about everything and she always listened. All through my life, really, until she died a year ago. She was a real granny substitute after my real grandmother died. I miss her terribly.’
‘I’m sure you do,’ Pierce said softly, touching her shoulder gently. ‘Our grannies and aunts and uncles are wonderful people to have in our lives when we grow up. I don’t know how I would have managed through my teens and early twenties without my grandfather. And now I wish he could be here to guide me through the parenting of a young girl who is a little lost and lonely under that tough surface. The shrugs and the eye rolls and the “whatever” are all an act under which they bleed.’ He shook his head and laughed. ‘Goodness, I sound like something from a sobby movie. Don’t mind me, I’m just having a little moment of angst at the thought of being with Jo for a few weeks while her mother is away with her new partner.’
‘That must be very difficult.’ Claire suddenly felt sorry for Pierce. He was obviously sad about his wife being with someone else and his daughter having to suffer as a result. It was hard enough to be a teenager these days without having to deal with one’s parents’ divorce and then having to accept a stepfather. ‘I know there is nothing I can do and it’s none of my business. But let me know if there’s anything at all you might need help with.’
Pierce looked down at her as they walked. ‘That’s very kind of you, Claire. And I will give you a shout if there’s anything you can do, like having coffee with her, or taking her with you to Magnolia Manor when you work there. She likes that place and you’re a cheery person. I think you’d be great with Jo. She likesmeeting new people.’ He paused. ‘There is something else you might help me with,’ he continued.
‘Like what?’ Claire asked.
‘Could you try to convince Karina to do that cookbook? She’s dragging her heels about it, saying she doesn’t think it will sell and it would be a lot of work to put it all together. But I know she’s wrong. I think it will be a very popular book with a bit of publicity in the right places. I mean, just look at all the followers she has on both Instagram and Facebook.’
‘I agree,’ Claire said. ‘And I know she has all the recipes she’d need in a folder I just created for her on her computer. I think it’d be a huge success.’
‘Yes, it would. But she won’t listen to me,’ Pierce said with an exasperated sigh. ‘I’m only her kid brother, so what do I know?’
‘You know a lot from what I’ve seen,’ Claire remarked. ‘I’ll talk to her and tell her what I just said.’
‘Thank you,’ Pierce said, looking relieved. ‘She might listen to your voice of reason.’
‘I’ll do my best,’ Claire promised, happy she could do something to return his kindness.
They had arrived at the B&B and Claire took the key to the front door from her bag. ‘Well, goodnight. I had a lovely evening. Thanks for escorting me home.’
‘I enjoyed the chat.’ Pierce looked up at stars that glimmered against the ink-black sky and took a deep breath. ‘It’s a heavenly evening with a touch of spring again. Can you smell it?’
Claire nodded. ‘Yes there is a touch of wet earth and grass in the air and it’s getting milder. I hope it lasts.’
‘Me too. It’s St Patrick’s Day in about a month. Do you have any plans?’
‘No, I haven’t thought of that yet,’ Claire replied. ‘We have Sylvia’s birthday party soon, so I’m all caught up with the preparations. I think it will be my baptism of fire.’
