Page 32 of The Book of Irish Secrets
‘Do you have his number?’ Pierce asked.
‘No, not his new number. He changed it when he moved to Spain. I only have his email address. But I need to speak to himnow,’ Claire said, the panic rising in her chest again.
‘Maybe your friend Finola has his new number?’ Pierce suggested. ‘I mean, he must have found out where you are from her.’
‘Yes, maybe,’ Claire said, taking her phone from her bag. ‘I’ll call her and ask if she knows how to contact him.’
Pierce nodded and got up. ‘Okay. I think you need a little space. So I’ll leave now and pay the bill on the way out. Hopefully you’ll be able to get your ex-husband’s number so you can callhim. Then you could ask him to come here so you can talk about whatever he wants to discuss. I’m sure you want to clear this up so you won’t have to meet him again.’
‘Oh, yes, I do.’ Claire nodded. ‘Thank you for being so understanding, Pierce.’
Pierce nodded. ‘You’re welcome. Been there myself, so I know how you feel. I’ll see you later in Gleesons’ at the dinner with the gang.’
‘Pierce,’ she said as he moved away, ‘I will tell you everything soon, I promise.’
‘Take your time,’ Pierce said. ‘There’s no need to tell me anything if you don’t want to. Now find your ex and sort it all out. You’ll feel better when it’s done.’
‘Okay,’ Claire said as she dialled Finola’s number. ‘I’ll keep you posted on developments.’
‘Oh, you don’t have to,’ Pierce said. ‘I’ll know just by looking at you. Right now you seem really upset. So if you smile I’ll know all is well again. Good luck,’ he said before he walked out of the room.
‘Thanks again,’ Claire started but then Finola answered so she turned her attention away from Pierce’s retreating figure. ‘Hi, Finola.’
‘Claire?’ Finola said, sounding surprised. ‘What’s up? I thought you said you’d be at the parade or something?’
‘I was and it was really nice,’ Claire said. ‘But something has happened and I need to talk to you.’
‘About what?’ Finola asked.
‘About Hugh,’ Claire said. ‘He’s here in Dingle looking for me. Did you tell him where I was?’
‘What?’ Finola gasped. ‘Hugh? In Dingle? But he’s supposed to be in Spain. And no, he hasn’t been in touch with me at all. And if he were, I wouldn’t tell him where you are.’
‘Oh,’ Claire said, feeling confused. ‘I thought he might have contacted you and that you told him…’ She paused, trying to think of a way he could have found out. ‘Well, whatever. In any case he’s here and going around asking about me. No idea what he wants but I suspect he will try to persuade me to sell the house.’
‘Yes, that’s probably it,’ Finola agreed. ‘I was surprised when he was so relaxed about it.’
‘I have to find him and make him leave,’ Claire said. ‘But I don’t have his new number. Do you?’
‘No, but…’ Finola paused. ‘I think I have his mother’s landline number. She still uses it as far as I know. I’ll give her a call and ask if she has Hugh’s number and then text it to you.’
Claire heaved a sigh of relief. ‘You’re the best, Finola. I don’t know what I’d do without you.’
‘Oh, you’d manage,’ Finola said. ‘But what about the house? Are you going to agree to sell it?’
‘I don’t want to. It’s such a big step for me,’ Claire said. ‘But I might have to pretend to agree with him only to placate him for the moment. I mean, imagine if he goes around town telling people my real name is Fleury? That would be a disaster.’ Claire felt near tears as she thought of the consequences.
‘I know,’ Finola said. ‘I’d hate for that to happen. And you know what? If you sell the house, I’ll be grand. I can rent something for a while and then maybe finally buy a little flat somewhere. I have enough put by for that, you see. Could be a good thing for me to do. So please don’t worry about me.’
‘That’s good to know,’ Claire said.
‘So I’ll get in touch with my aunt and ask her if she has Hugh’s number,’ Finola said. ‘I’ll text you when I’ve spoken to her.’
‘Great.’
‘Bye for now,’ Finola said and hung up.
Claire picked up her now nearly cold tea and took a sip. Then she nibbled on the scone while she waited. A few minutes later, there was a text message from Finola.
