Page 17 of The Book of Irish Secrets
‘Unbelievable,’ Claire said, still savouring the last few bites of succulent lamb and the rich taste of carrots and onions. It was truly the best Irish stew she had eaten for a very long time. ‘That mammy, whoever she was, cooked a mean stew. I think I might have had something similar at a Sunday lunch at my granny’s when I was ten.’
‘Yeah, me too.’ Pierce took a swig of his pint. ‘It made me remember my mother’s cooking. But I think it has to do with the Kerry lamb. It has a particular flavour you don’t get anywhere else. I must get Karina to try it and then do her own version. I’m sure she could pull it off.’
‘She probably could,’ Claire agreed. ‘And turn it into a huge success.’
‘Of course she will. She has that knack. Not something I’m that good at.’ Pierce pushed away his plate. ‘After that, I need to take a break before we have the apple crumble with vanilla ice cream.’
‘Oh gosh, I’m not sure I have room for that,’ Claire exclaimed. ‘I’m stuffed.’
‘Yes, me too. But the apple crumble is delicious and not to be missed. How about we share a portion?’
‘Great idea,’ Claire said, beginning to enjoy her impromptu meeting with this nice man. There was a warmth to him that she found both attractive and comforting. ‘I have to watch what I eat. I gain weight easily.’
‘So do I.’ Pierce patted his slight paunch. ‘I indulged a bit over Christmas and now look at me. Can’t get rid of it. All Karina’s fault, of course.’
‘Do you live with her?’ Claire asked.
‘Yes and no.’ Pierce drained his pint. ‘I live in what was supposed to be the granny flat at the back of the house. Karina built it for our mum. But she died before she could move in so then when my wife and I split up, Karina offered it to me. It was good for us both and we could comfort each other after a hard time with Mum’s illness and my divorce.’
‘That must have been so sad to cope with all at once,’ Claire said. ‘I know a little of what you must have been through. I…’ She stopped. ‘Oh, never mind,’ she added, feeling this was not about her. Pierce had looked so sad and lonely when he spoke about his mother and his divorce and she didn’t want to add her own sorrows to the conversation.
‘Go on,’ he urged, looking intrigued. ‘You’ve been there too?’
‘Yes, but let’s not go into all that.’ Claire sipped the last of her Guinness. ‘I don’t want to get into a pity party.’
‘Or a competition about who’s the most miserable?’ Pierce filled in, shooting her that lovely smile. ‘You’re dead right. Let’stalk about something less depressing.’ He waved and shouted: ‘Hey, Brian, bring us some apple crumble, willya? With two spoons.’
‘Coming up,’ Brian shouted back.
‘He’s a great lad,’ Pierce said and turned to Claire. ‘So tell me, what brought you to Dingle?’
‘I wanted to run away from home,’ Claire replied. ‘I mean, I felt I needed to change my life for the better. And I had always wanted to come to Kerry so I thought I’d get away from Dublin for a while.’
‘No kids, then?’ Pierce asked.
‘No,’ Claire said. ‘I’ve never been that lucky. Anyway,’ she breezed on, not wanting to get into the subject of children, or the real reason she had come to Dingle. ‘My best friend Finola saw Karina’s ad and told me I’d be perfect for the job. Not that I am, but the job is perfect for me, if you see what I mean.’
‘I thinkyouare perfect for Karina,’ Pierce said. ‘She’s very unpredictable and chaotic. You seem very organised and a little driven. And you also seem to be able to cope with the unexpected and can handle difficult people. Those are rare talents.’
Claire stared at him. ‘How do you know I can handle difficult people? Did you read my covering letter?’
Pierce smiled. ‘I did. That bit about making people feel everything is your fault was a real punchline. That’s the best way to handle an angry client. With a little bowing and scraping and a touch of irony that they usually don’t get.’
‘Well, I worked at an insurance company,’ Claire said. ‘That method worked well then. Both with clients and mean bosses. Of which I had many in the twenty years I worked there.’
‘I’m sure,’ Pierce said at the same time as Brian arrived with a plate of apple crumble topped with a scoop of ice cream, and two spoons.
‘Thanks, Brian,’ Claire said. ‘That looks delicious.’
Pierce grabbed a spoon. ‘Let’s see who gets to the middle first.’
‘I bet you will, Pierce,’ Brian said. ‘But I won’t put any money on it.’ He winked and disappeared.
Claire picked up her spoon and took a small scoop of apple crumble with a little ice cream. It was truly delicious, the slightly tart apple combined with the crumble topping that had a caramel crunch and then the vanilla ice cream adding a further taste sensation. ‘Delish,’ she mumbled through her mouthful.
‘Oh yeah.’ Pierce was already into his third spoonful and pulled back and swallowed. ‘I don’t want to make a pig of myself, so I’ll slow down.’
Claire took another spoonful and savoured it slowly but then felt so full she had to give up. ‘Sorry,’ she said, putting her spoon on the plate. ‘That’s all I can manage.’
