Page 8 of The Widow's Irish Secret
‘Lovely to see you again,’ Nora said and hugged Tricia back. ‘Welcome back.’
‘Thank you, Nora.’ Tricia smiled at Nora, noting how good she looked. With her strong features, thick greying hair, lovely brown eyes under black eyebrows, she was a handsome woman with great warmth and charm. Only a few years older than Tricia, Nora had been a great support after the tragedy, helping Tricia to cope and being a second mother to the little girls who had just lost their father and grandfather. She had also provided practical help, cooking and keeping things tidy, organising the funeral, answering the phone and talking to all kinds of people who called to the house. Tricia had often wondered what they would have done without Nora and Martin, her husband. They had remained friends and kept in touch all through the years after that.
‘Now that you’re here, you’ll have to catch up with the old gang,’ Nora said. ‘We still have our book club meetings once a month.’
‘More like a wine club than anything to do with books,’ Sylvia remarked with a wink, handing Nora a glass.
‘We do discuss literature, though,’ Nora said with pretend primness. ‘And we go to see a movie sometimes too. It’s all about culture, really.’
‘Sounds like fun. Can’t wait to catch up with everyone. Cheers, Nora,’ Tricia said and clinked her glass against Nora’s.
‘Cheers.’ Nora smiled and took a sip and then sat down between Vi and Tricia. ‘How’s my little movie star?’ she asked. ‘I hear Jack proposed. Congratulations, pet. Show me the ring.’
Vi held up her hand and showed Nora her beautiful ring. ‘Isn’t it lovely?’
‘Fabulous,’ Nora said. ‘He has good taste.’
‘That’s not the only news,’ Vi said. ‘There’s something else to announce as well. I’m going to be shooting in Limerick in an Irish production very soon so I can commute home practically every day depending on the shooting schedule.’
‘Oh, that’s excellent news, sweetheart.’ Tricia turned and looked at her daughter. ‘What kind of part is it?’
Vi grinned. ‘You’re looking at Inspector Colleen O’Dea, the new female sleuth in a detective series that might run for a long time.’
‘That’s wonderful,’ Tricia exclaimed. ‘I’m so happy for you.’
Vi beamed at her mother. ‘It’s very exciting. Limerick is only an hour or two from Dingle, too, so it’s perfect timing.’
‘Congratulations,’ Sylvia interjected. ‘Now we have another thing to celebrate.’
‘So when’s the wedding?’ Nora asked. ‘Have you set a date yet?’
‘Yes,’ Vi said, glancing nervously at Sylvia. ‘We want to get married on the twenty-second of August.’
‘What?’ Sylvia, who was carrying a platter with roast chicken, potatoes and vegetables to the table, nearly lost her grip. Nora rushed to help her and they managed to put it all on the table.Then Sylvia turned to Vi, who was cowering at the other side of the table. ‘You picked the date? Without telling me?’
‘I told Mum,’ Vi said. ‘And we were going to tell you tonight, which we just did.’
‘Well, thank you very much,’ Sylvia snapped. ‘I suppose you’re planning to hold the reception in the ballroom as well?’
‘No…’ Vi glanced at Tricia. ‘We’re having a small wedding and the party is going to be in the orangery, if Lily agrees. We thought we’d have a barbecue if the weather is nice and…’
‘Fab idea,’ Lily exclaimed, looking excited. ‘Of course you can have the orangery. I’ll do it up with decorations and flowers and make it super cute. How many guests?’
‘We think about sixty,’ Vi replied. ‘Just family and close friends. And no dressing up, except me, of course,’ she added with a giggle.
‘Sixty guests? And a barbecue? Not what I’d call suitable for a Fleury,’ Sylvia remarked, looking put out. ‘Did you know about this, Tricia?’
‘Well, some of it,’ Tricia confessed. ‘I think it’s?—’
‘Terrible,’ Sylvia interrupted. ‘A small wedding? With a barbecue? For a Fleury wedding? What will people think?’
‘I don’t care what “people” think,’ Vi said, making quote marks. ‘It’s our wedding and this is what we want to do.’
‘And you didn’t consider me at all when you put together this plan?’ Sylvia asked.
‘But it’s not about you,’ Tricia said hesitantly, feeling she couldn’t stay quiet any longer. ‘It’s about Vi and Jack and the most important day of their lives.’
‘That’s why it has to be a fitting event for a Fleury bride,’ Sylvia retorted.
