Page 33 of The Book of Irish Secrets
I got my aunt on the phone and she gave me Hugh’s number. Actually, she was the one who told him where you were. She’s a huge fan of Karina and saw your name on her blog and told Hugh. I’ll send you the number in a separate text.
‘Oh,’ Claire said to herself as she read the message. So that’s how Hugh had found out. She had no idea her name was on Karina’s blog. It must be something Karina had done recently. Claire shrugged and dialled the number in the text message Finola had just sent. It rang several times while Claire held her breath, waiting for Hugh to answer.
SIXTEEN
And then he did. ‘Hugh O’Hanlon,’ his deep voice said. That voice that had made her heart beat so fast she thought she was going to faint all those years ago when she had been so in love with him. It still gave her chills to hear it but for a very different reason.
‘Hello, Hugh. This is Claire,’ she said when she could speak. ‘I just heard you were looking for me…’
‘Claire,’ he said, sounding emotional. ‘Yes, I was looking for you. I asked around, but nobody knew anything about you.’
Claire laughed. ‘Well, people in Kerry wouldn’t tell a Dubliner anything about anyone even if they knew. But they told me someone had asked about me and I guessed it was you.’
‘Yes, it was,’ Hugh said. ‘There’s something I need to talk to you about. But not like this, on the phone. Can we meet somewhere?’
‘Yes, of course.’ Claire paused. ‘Where are you?’
‘At a pub near the harbour. On the Strand, I think it’s called.’
‘Then you’re quite close. I’m in the lounge at the Skelligs Hotel. Do you think you could find it?’
‘Yes, I know where it is,’ Hugh said. ‘Won’t take me long to get there. Is that where you’re staying at the moment?’
‘No. I’m somewhere else,’ Claire said, not wanting to let on that she was now living at Magnolia Manor. He would see the connection straight away and start asking awkward questions. She had spent many nights confiding in Hugh about her struggles with her identity, and the Fleury family, during their marriage. But now she didn’t trust him. She had a fear of him telling anyone that she was a Fleury by birth. Claire shivered as she thought of what that could lead to. ‘Never mind, just come over and you can tell me what’s brought you here.’
‘Okay,’ Hugh said. ‘I’m on my way. I’ll see you in about ten minutes or so.’
It took less than that for Hugh to arrive, breathless, at the Skelligs Hotel. Claire gave a start as he burst into the room, looking wildly around for her. Then he spotted her on the chair by the window and walked towards her, beaming. ‘Claire! How nice to see you.’
‘Hi, Hugh,’ Claire said, getting up to greet him. Then she felt awkward, not knowing if she should shake hands or maybe kiss him on the cheek.
Hugh seemed to sense her hesitation and stopped in front of her and smiled, running a hand through his short-cropped hair. He was deeply tanned which made his teeth look whiter than ever in that smooth, practised smile she remembered so well. ‘Hi there. You look great.’
‘So do you,’ she replied. ‘Spain obviously agrees with you.’
‘Yeah, well, it’s grand. But sit down and we’ll talk.’
Claire sat down. ‘Do you want tea or anything?’
‘Coffee would be great,’ he said to the waitress who had just reappeared.
She nodded. ‘And do you want more tea?’ she asked Claire.
‘Yes, please,’ Claire said. She pushed the plate with Pierce’s untouched scone towards Hugh. ‘Here, you might as well have this. My friend had to rush off so he didn’t have time to eat it.’
‘I’ll be back with more tea and the coffee in a minute,’ the waitress said and walked away.
Hugh turned to Claire, ignoring her offer of the scone. ‘So… Let’s talk, then.’
‘Yes. Go on,’ Claire urged.
‘Well,’ Hugh started, ‘it’s like this: I’m getting married again.’
Claire smiled. ‘That’s great news. Congratulations.’ She suddenly felt she meant it. Hugh getting married again set her free in an odd way. He would forget about her and what she was doing and start a new life with someone else. ‘I’m really happy for you,’ she said.
‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘I hope you’re not upset.’
‘Why would I be?’ Claire asked. ‘We have been divorced for three years. And before then, we weren’t that happy at all. You did me a great favour by leaving or we’d still be miserable.’
