Page 2 of The Widow's Irish Secret
‘So he’ll be spending more time at home?’ Tricia asked.
‘That’s right. Once he’s finished with the film in Cornwall. Our plan is to open a production company, to work locally as much as possible.’
‘I’m sure Jack is pleased about that,’ Tricia remarked.
‘Of course. That’s why we decided to get married now. I’ll be home a lot and we can plan everything together. And now that you’re coming, it’ll be even better.’ Vi looked at the screen again. ‘But there is nothing there that would suit you. Too far away if we’re to plan a wedding at Magnolia Manor together. Maybe…’ She paused. ‘You know what? I have an idea that could work a lot better. Look up houses for sale instead, and you’ll see what I mean.’
‘Okay. Not that I had planned to buy anything at the moment.’ Tricia put in the appropriate words into Google and clicked on the first link that came up. She scrolled down for a moment and then stared at the picture of a little house with a slate roof that looked eerily familiar. ‘Is that… Oh yes, it is. The gardener’s cottage.’
‘That’s right, Mum,’ Vi said, looking excited. ‘It’s just come up for sale. Granny didn’t want it to be sitting there a total wreck, so she was hoping someone would buy it and do it up.’
‘Oh,’ Tricia said. ‘I had no idea.’ She knew the house well as it could be seen from the manor house that had been in the family for generations. The manor had been her home when shemarried Fred, and the girls had all spent their early childhood there. Until the tragedy happened and Tricia’s life changed forever. ‘That cottage is near the big house,’ Tricia said, looking at the photos.
‘On land that belongs to the Fleury estate,’ Vi filled in. ‘Down the lane from the manor house, just off the path to the pier where…’ She stopped, looking suddenly appalled. ‘Oh. I’m sorry, Mum. Didn’t mean to…’
‘The pier where Fred used to moor his boat,’ Tricia mumbled. ‘The boat that killed him and Liam.’ She put her hand to her mouth, feeling tears stinging her eyes, all the memories of that horrible day coming to the surface.
Vi touched her mother’s shoulder. ‘Mum, I’m really sorry. How thoughtless of me. I can see you’re upset.’
Tricia looked at her daughter and touched Vi’s cheek. ‘Not your fault. You don’t remember what happened. You were just a toddler. You wouldn’t have any idea of how it felt and how I still feel, even after more than thirty years. That’s why I haven’t spent much time at Magnolia. It is still so hard.’
‘Maybe a cottage for rent at Ventry isn’t so bad after all,’ Vi suggested.
Tricia didn’t reply while she stared at the image of the cottage. ‘No, that’s too far away from you. You were right about that. And maybe I should go back and face the fear. Lay the ghosts, so to speak. That little house is so pretty,’ she continued, looking at the slate roof, the whitewashed walls with rambling roses and the tiny front garden that could be made as lovely as it had once been. ‘Fred wanted to do it up, you see. And we had planned to start just after we were married. But then I got pregnant with Lily and…’ She kept staring at the photo. ‘Maybe I could do what we had planned after all. It could be healing rather than upsetting to live there.’
‘Mum, you don’t have to,’ Vi protested, putting a hand on Tricia’s shoulder. ‘We’ll think of something else. In any case, that house is for sale and not for rent and it needs a lot of work to make it comfortable.’
But Tricia wasn’t listening. ‘This place is going for a song, so I think I might be able to afford it,’ she said as if to herself. She made a quick calculation in her head, wondering if she had enough to buy it. The farm was up for sale and once it was sold and all taxes paid, there wouldn’t be a lot left. She was handy with a hammer and good at fixing things so she could do a lot herself. She had a little nest egg that she hadn’t planned to touch, but maybe… ‘The shed at the back looks like it could be made into something,’ she continued. ‘Maybe it could join the house and make it bigger…’ She was lost in thought, weighing up the possibilities. She had been in the cottage a few times many years ago when Fred was considering doing it up for them to live in during the first year of their marriage. She could see from the photos that it still had the same kitchen with a woodburning range and those old solid oak cupboards. The living–dining room had a big fireplace and lovely views of the little bay. It should be restored carefully without ruining the period feel or the charm. Tricia suddenly felt excited at the prospect. Maybe this was a chance not to be missed? Something to occupy her mind, a new project and then the wedding…I could buy the cottage, do it up and then sell it, she thought. It could solve all of her problems. She looked at the screen again, at the dear little cottage that seemed to speak to her and urge her to come and do it up and make it liveable again.It must have a history; old houses always do, Tricia thought, her heart beating faster.
‘Please, Mum,’ Vi pleaded. ‘Forget I said anything. You don’t have to go back to all that pain.’
‘I’m not so sure,’ Tricia argued. ‘Maybe going back is a way to go forward?’ She nodded, as a steely determination seemedto come from nowhere. That little house carried with it too many memories, but it was the perfect hideaway. Remote and beautiful but very rundown. Nobody would think of looking for her there.
‘Yes. I can do this,’ she murmured. ‘I can face the past. If Sylvia could, why shouldn’t I?’ She suddenly felt a dart of excitement mixed with fear, knowing she had come to a turning point in her life. If she didn’t take the right path now, she might regret it for a very long time.
2
It didn’t take long to finalise the deal. The next morning, Tricia rang the estate agent handling the sale of the cottage and put in an offer a little above the asking price, just to make sure it would be accepted. Tricia wasn’t worried about the money, not right now anyway. It would clear out all her savings, but she needed to take the plunge. She told the nice woman at the agency that her name was Patricia Ryan, hoping it was a common enough name. ‘That’s not my full name, but it’s what I will be known as for the moment,’ she said. ‘I want to keep a low profile until the sale goes through. I hope you understand.’Not only that, she thought.I don’t want anyone from Sean’s family to find me…
‘Of course,’ the woman said. ‘We don’t actually reveal the name of the buyer anyway. A lot of famous people have been buying property around here. They often want to be incognito until everything is finalised.’
‘That’s great. Not that I’m famous in any way,’ Tricia said with a laugh. ‘Oh, and I want to get access as soon as possible,’ she added. ‘My daughter is getting married and the wedding is in the area, so it’d be great if I can be there in good time.’
‘That shouldn’t be a problem,’ the woman said, ‘as you’re a cash buyer. But don’t you want to view the property first? And perhaps have a survey organised? It’s an old house and there could be problems…’
‘I know it very well,’ Tricia replied. ‘I’ve seen it many times and I know what it will take to do it up.’
‘A lot of hard work and more than a little bit of money,’ the woman said with a chuckle. ‘But worth it in the end. It’s in a lovely location. So if you’re sure, we’ll contact the seller and then, if they agree, we’ll start the conveyancing with the solicitors.’
‘Excellent,’ Tricia said, her spirits rising. ‘I’ll talk to my solicitor and organise the downpayment as soon as I hear back from you.’ She hung up, crossing her fingers and saying a silent prayer that her offer would be accepted and she could start planning her move.
While she waited, she called the hairdresser’s and asked for an appointment for a cut and colour as soon as possible. As luck would have it, they had a cancellation and Tricia could come in that very afternoon. Happy to have something to distract her, Tricia went along to the little salon around the corner that didn’t charge too much and came out two hours later, her hair cut in a short, layered bob and the roots touched up to give her back the gleaming blonde head of hair she had always been so proud of. It made her look a lot brighter and years younger.Whatever happens next, she thought, as she looked in the mirror noticing how her blue eyes sparkled,I feel better and more confident than I have for a very long time.
And then it all happened very fast. Everything fell into place as soon as Sylvia had accepted the offer a few days later. Tricia announced the purchase that very evening at dinner with Jackand Vi at a little restaurant near the flat. Tricia often had dinner there as it was cosy and intimate and never too crowded. ‘Sylvia has accepted my offer and I’ve paid the downpayment and signed the contract. So it’s all going ahead,’ she said. ‘Isn’t it exciting?’
Looking worried, Vi stared at her mother. ‘Mum, are you sure? It’s a huge undertaking and then you’ll have to face a lot of painful memories. The wedding will be stressful for you anyway and then this, on top of it.’
‘I like a challenge,’ Tricia said with a grin. ‘And you know how I love to paint and decorate. I can do a lot myself and I’m sure Dominic can find me workmen who don’t charge too much to do what I can’t.’ She turned to Jack. ‘You’re very quiet. Do you think I’m mad as well?’
