Page 22 of The Widow's Irish Secret
Nora looked thoughtful. ‘Did it upset you to see him again?’
‘Well…’ Tricia thought for a moment about how she had felt about coming face to face with Cillian. Nora didn’t know that they had met in Dublin a few years after Fred’s death and started seeing each other quite often, just as friends.
But then, when Cillian seemed to want more out of their friendship, she had pulled away. Even though she found him madly attractive, her mind and heart had been too full of memories of Fred. She was still raw after the tragedy. She knew then that she wouldn’t be ready to start a relationship with anyone for a very long time. If ever. She had also been worried it might upset Sylvia that she was dating Fred’s best friend. That was an added reason to pull away.
She knew Cillian was hurt when they had parted and they had not been in touch ever since. Then a few years later, she had met Sean and they had married and she had moved to Donegal and his farm. ‘I wasn’t upset,’ she said after a moment’s deliberation. ‘Just a little startled and nostalgic, perhaps. We actually went on a date or two after Fred passed.’
‘Oh,’ Nora said, taken aback. ‘I had no idea you had dated. It wasn’t long after Fred’s death that the girls were all settled at school and you moved to Dublin for work.’
‘Yes,’ Tricia said. ‘It was when I moved to Dublin to find a job so I could start supporting the girls.’ Tricia had bought her small apartment once she had enough money to afford a mortgage. The girls’ boarding school fees were paid from Sylvia’strust fund, but all the extra costs had to be found after that. Tricia remembered how hard she’d had to work to find the rest. And then there were the school uniforms and sports equipment and books and the orthodontist and all the expense that always arises with teenagers. ‘But it was all worth it, me moving away, and their time at school, wasn’t it?’ Tricia asked Nora. Sometimes she had wondered if she’d made the right choice.
‘Of course it was. They’re wonderful young women,’ Nora filled in. ‘It was a tough time for you but you came through it.’
‘Oh, we had good times too,’ Tricia argued. ‘Lots of fun outings and weekends when we just hung out and watched movies and ate pizza. And then Sylvia had them for the summer holidays and I got to have a break. It was during one of those summers that Cillian and I met and started to see each other.’
‘It must have been nice for you both to talk about Fred and all the memories you shared,’ Nora suggested. ‘Cillian missed Fred terribly. They were best friends since college and real soul mates.’
‘I know.’ Tricia finished her coffee and put the mug on the table. ‘But as we were still mourning him in different ways, we couldn’t really comfort each other.’
‘Maybe he wasn’t looking for comfort?’ Nora said.
‘But I was,’ Tricia filled in. ‘That was the problem. I didn’t give him a chance to show me who he really was and what he felt about me.’
‘But now you want to give him that chance?’ Nora asked.
‘Not really,’ Tricia said, looking away from Nora’s probing gaze. ‘I’m just looking for some kind of closure. After what I’ve been through, I really don’t want to get into any kind of romance. That chapter is closed for me.’ She paused and looked back at Nora. ‘In any case, the reason I want to see him is that I want his help to do a little research into the history of my cottage. I’d love to know all about who lived there before andwhy the cottage was built where it was. I know I can look into the Magnolia archives but that doesn’t tell the whole story.’
Nora nodded. ‘That’s a good idea. To ask him to help, I mean. That’ll make you connect again doing something together.’ Her phone pinged and she pulled it out of her pocket. ‘That’s Sylvia wondering when I’ll be there.’ Nora got up. ‘I’d better go. I’ll get Cillian’s sister to give him a message to get in touch.’
‘Brilliant,’ Tricia said. ‘That’s exactly what I wanted. How did you know?’
‘I read you like a book,’ Nora quipped. ‘Thanks for the coffee. See you soon, pet.’
‘Thanks for your help.’ Tricia got up to see Nora out. ‘I’ll keep you posted.’
‘What about the cottage and all the work you’re going to do?’ Nora asked as she got into her car. ‘Is Dominic going to do it?’
‘No, someone called Ted O’Reilly,’ Tricia replied. ‘Retired builder who does stuff like that for a hobby. Very nice man.’
‘I know him. Lives in Anascaul.’ Nora started the engine. ‘He’ll do a good job.’
‘I hope so. He’s starting next week. Hey, let me know if Sylvia needs any help with the party. She’s being very secretive about the arrangements.’
‘She just wants it to behershow and nobody else’s. I’d better go. Bye.’
Nora drove off, waving through the open window.
Tricia laughed and shook her head. Typical of Sylvia to take over all the arrangements for Vi and Jack’s engagement party. But at least it would take the spotlight off the wedding so the young couple could get a free hand arranging it the way they wanted.
Then her thoughts drifted to Cillian and what Nora had said. It was true that Tricia had been looking for comfort from Cillian, forgetting he was also grieving for his best friend.How selfish Iwas, only thinking of my needs and never considering his, she thought.Can I ever make up for it, or is it too late?She hoped not and that maybe, even if they would not connect romantically, they could be friends again the way they were when Fred was alive. Whatever happened, she was ready to take the risk, even if it would open old wounds.
Tricia didn’t have to wait long to see Cillian. He rang that evening, telling her he got her number from Sylvia.
‘I told her we had met up and she thought it would be a good idea if I called you,’ Cillian explained.
‘Oh, great,’ Tricia stammered, a little shaken by hearing his voice. ‘I was going to try to get in touch with you anyway. But you beat me to it. I’ve been busy with the work at the cottage, washing down walls, prepping it for painting.’ She had been startled by his contacting her like this and wondered for a moment if he had called her only because Sylvia had suggested it, or for another reason.
‘Great minds think alike,’ he said, sounding amused. ‘You’ve been busy. I hope I’m not disturbing you?’
