Page 23 of The Widow's Irish Secret
‘No, I was just watching the evening news.’ Tricia turned off the TV and sat back in the sofa, tucking her feet under her. ‘I’m glad you rang. I was asking Nora if she had your number.’
‘We both want to meet up, it appears. At least I do. How about you?’
‘Yes, I think that would be good,’ Tricia said, feeling only a little calmer. ‘We need to talk. Are you staying nearby?’ She tried to steady her nerves while she waited for his reply, wondering at the same time why he wanted to see her.
‘I’m staying in my campervan that I parked behind my sister’s house. Not ideal as she’s not thrilled to have me there. Cramps her style a bit to have an old weirdo around the placeand a campervan parked in her neat and tidy garden. You might remember what she’s like.’
‘I do,’ Tricia said, trying not to laugh. Cillian’s sister Orla, as far as Tricia remembered, was very particular about appearances and her house and garden were always neat and perfectly tended. A campervan outside her house would not be what she wanted the neighbours to see. ‘I wouldn’t call you an old weirdo, though.’
‘She does,’ Cillian quipped. ‘And worse. I’ve heard her on the phone to her friends. I think I’ll have to move somewhere else soon or there’ll be war.’
Tricia couldn’t help laughing now. ‘That’s hilarious. But you’d be welcome to park your van at the cottage I’ve just bought. Only there will be a lot of noise as I’m having it done up.’
‘I heard,’ Cillian said. ‘You bought the gardener’s cottage from Sylvia. How did that happen?’
‘By accident,’ Tricia replied. ‘A happy one, really.’
‘That’s good to know.’ He paused and then cleared his throat. ‘So… how about us meeting up somewhere? Lunch? Dinner? A drink, or…’
‘Or…’ Tricia thought for a moment. She didn’t feel like meeting him this first time at a public place and not in any way that could be interpreted as a date. Then someone would notice them and the gossip would start. ‘Hey, why don’t you come to my cottage tomorrow?’ she asked on an impulse. ‘I’ll be there trying out some different colours for the rooms before I start to redecorate. I got these little sample pots from a paint shop in town. You might help me choose.’ She knew he must remember how she and Fred had been planning to do it up. Maybe this would be a chance to come to terms with the past, to show him that she had healed from her grief and was cherishing the happy memories. She was going forward and she wanted him to know it.
‘Oh, okay.’ Cillian sounded surprised. ‘That’ll be fun. I’d love to see inside that house. I remember how…’ He stopped. ‘Well, you know.’
‘Yes.’
‘You’re very brave,’ he said in a soft voice. ‘It must be tough at times to be there with everything you must have been through.’
‘Not the way you think,’ Tricia said. ‘I’m doing this for me. And for Fred too.’
‘He’d be happy you’re finally realising that dream you both had. Must be a good feeling.’
‘It is.’
Cillian was silent for a while. ‘I’ll be there tomorrow. What time?’
‘Lunch time?’ Tricia suggested. ‘I’ll bring sandwiches.’
‘Great. I’ll cycle over as the weather seems to be holding. See you then, Tricia. And thanks for inviting me into your space.’ He hung up before she had a chance to ask what he meant.
But then, when she thought about it, she knew. Her space, her memories of Fred were personal and private. She hadn’t shared them with anyone, keeping them in her heart all this time. Lily and Rose had childhood memories of their father, special to them. Vi didn’t remember him at all as she had only been two years old when he died. That must be difficult for her but she seemed to have come to terms with it. Sylvia had been a great help, going through photo albums with Vi and sharing her own memories of Fred with her youngest granddaughter. That was something Tricia hadn’t been able to do so she knew she owed Sylvia huge thanks for helping out.I must talk to Vi about her father, Tricia thought, feeling guilty.I must not let my own sorrow get in the way. And now that I feel more positive and stronger, I can tell her what a wonderful man he was and how proud of her he would be.
But before she talked to Vi, she would be meeting Cillian at the cottage. She was glad she would now have a chance to make amends for the cold shoulder she had given him in the past. They would start with a clean slate and leave the past behind them and maybe become friends like before. But that would demand a lot from them both.
13
After breakfast the following morning, Tricia prepared for the day ahead that might be full of tension. She had promised Cillian sandwiches so she took a look in her fridge to see what she could put together. There was cheese, a jar of pickles, mustard, ham and tomatoes. Perfect. Tricia remembered how Cillian used to love pickles and mustard with practically everything. So she made a couple of sandwiches using the sourdough bread from the bakery. Then she found two blueberry muffins in the breadbin that she had bought for Vi. Promising herself she’d replace them, Tricia put them into the picnic basket, adding two apples from the fruit bowl. Then she put two bottles of beer into a cool bag and made coffee to put into a thermos flask she found in a cupboard.
It all reminded her of picnics she had prepared for the three of them when they were off hiking or just going to the beach. What a strange feeling it was to do this. Nostalgia mixed with a tender feeling of continuing a tradition she had thought she had left behind. But this time there would only be the two of them. Fred was gone – really gone. She no longer had that sensation of him standing between her and Cillian and she hoped it wouldstay that way. In its place was a kind of nervous anticipation and something else. Was it hope of a new beginning for them both? Just as friends for now, but it was a good start.
Tricia stopped in her tracks for a moment, wondering if she was getting into something that she would find hard to handle. Then she told herself sternly to enjoy this moment, this day and stop worrying about what might – or might not – happen.
The clouds scudded across the sky, the sun playing hide and seek, peeping out now and then only to disappear again as Tricia walked over to the cottage carrying her bag. It was nearly time for lunch. She had spent most of the morning preparing the picnic and then agonised about what she would wear, trying on different trousers and tops before settling for jeans and a navy shirt. After all, she was not going on a date, just having lunch with an old friend. A friend with whom she shared so many memories and who she still found attractive despite what had happened between them in the past.
She saw a bike leaning against the fence as she approached the cottage. Then Cillian, similarly dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt, came into view at the door, partly obscured by the large shrubs.
He smiled as she opened the little gate. ‘Hi there. Good to see you again.’
She returned his smile, her heart suddenly skipping a beat from pure joy at being here with him. ‘Hi. Nice day too.’
