Page 45 of The Widow's Irish Secret
‘Can’t you cancel that?’ he asked in a gruff voice. ‘Maybe have them later on?’
‘I can’t disappoint them. They have been excited about it since Sunday.’
‘Of course you can’t,’ he said, looking mollified. ‘I understand that. I just felt we needed to talk. We finished on a bit of a bad note the last time I was here.’
‘Yes we did,’ Tricia agreed, feeling a slight chill as she thought about it. ‘But if you’re prepared to tell me about what you’vebeen keeping secret, I think we could start off again and get to know each other properly. Trusting each other, for a start.’ She studied him for a moment to see his reaction but was disappointed to see him frowning.
‘I can’t,’ he said. ‘And your lack of understanding is making me feel bad.’
‘Your lack of trust is doing the same for me,’ she countered. ‘So it wouldn’t be a good time to go off together anyway.’
‘Yes, but I only have these few days,’ Cillian said. ‘Then I have to come back to finish up before the big reveal. When the news hits the media, we’ll have to do interviews and explain what’s going on before the press arrives here to take a look at what we’ve found. I had hoped we could be alone for a bit and talk before all that happens. The calm before the storm, so to speak.’
Tricia sighed. ‘I understand all that, Cillian. But this situation between us is not improving things. Can we leave it at that for the moment?’
‘I suppose,’ he mumbled.
‘Good.’ She walked closer to the campervan. ‘But hey, can I see inside? It looks like a hell of a van.’ She wanted to cheer him up and make him understand that the impasse between them was temporary, even if it felt bad right now.
‘It’s not just a van, it’s my home,’ he said, looking slightly happier. He got out and opened the door at the side. ‘I’ll give you the grand tour. I bet you won’t be able to resist coming with me when you see how comfortable it is.’
‘Well, I…’ Tricia started but stopped. ‘Maybe I will, one day,’ she said. Just to make him feel better, she climbed into the van and looked around, impressed with the interior that was like a mini-home with a sofa and table at one end and a little galley kitchen at the side and a tiny shower room at the far end. It was all very plush and well designed in blues and greens, with a few red cushions and a throw on the sofa that folded out intoa bed, Cillian explained. The driver’s and passenger seats were upholstered in what looked like dark blue velvet and the large windscreen was like a picture window. ‘The interior is gorgeous,’ Tricia said as she looked around. ‘Very inviting, I have to say.’
‘I knew you’d love it. Wait till you see the views as we drive along,’ Cillian said. ‘It’s like being in a movie with special effects.’
‘I’m sure it is,’ Tricia said as she was about to get out. ‘And I know I’ll love it when we do that trip. But right now it’s impossible.’ She climbed back down just as her phone pinged and she fished it out of her pocket. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked at the text message. It was from Terence.
23
Tricia, you don’t have a chance of winning this case. I have found evidence to prove that you acted illegally. I have contacted my solicitor about the matter and it will have serious repercussions if you don’t agree to settle.
Cillian, who had got out after Tricia, stood looking at her for a moment. ‘What’s the matter? You’re as white as a sheet all of a sudden.’
She pushed the phone into her pocket without replying. She had no idea what to do. None of her plans to raise funds in Kerry had come to anything; the house still needed work and the painting hadn’t been authenticated. She was at a loss and felt as if she had come to an impasse. She had had such high hopes for her new life, but everything was crashing down before her.
‘You look as if you’ve seen a ghost. What is it that scared you so much?’ Cillian continued, stepping out of the van, and placing a hand on her arm.
‘I can’t tell you,’ she said. She felt suddenly a wave of shame as she thought about the terrible mistake she had made that now looked like a crime.
‘And you said I was keeping secrets from you.’ He looked into her eyes. ‘Trish, you’ve accused me of keeping the truth from you, but you’re doing the same to me, can’t you see that?’ Tricia looked into his lovely hazel eyes and breathed in his special scent of salt and sea and a hint of sandalwood from the soap he used. She wished she could go with him on the adventure he had planned and she also wished with all her heart she could tell him about the trouble she was in. But there was no way she could reveal how foolish she had been, not until it was all over. Nor could she pull out of the arrangements she had made with Rose and disappoint the little girls who she knew were so excited to come for a sleepover at their granny’s new house.
‘Oh, Cillian,’ she whispered. ‘I wish I could tell you but I can’t.’
‘Why not?’ he murmured against her hair as he pulled her close to him. ‘It’s important for us to be honest with each other and to spend some time together on our own, away from everyone here. Can’t you see that?’
Tricia put her cheek against his chest and stayed there for a moment before she slowly pulled out of his arms. ‘I know you’re right, but I can’t get out of having my little granddaughters. A promise to a child is sacred to me. I just can’t break that. They’d never trust me again. And this message I just got… Well, yes it’s a huge problem but it involves someone else and it’s very complicated. Please try to understand,’ she pleaded.
He nodded, still looking put out. ‘I don’t like being kept in the dark about something that’s making you look so worried. And I…’ He stopped as a small van pulled up behind the campervan.
‘It’s Ted with the kitten,’ Tricia said and walked to where Ted had just parked, relieved to have a distraction. ‘Hi, Ted.’
‘Hi.’ Ted looked curiously at Cillian as he got out of the driver’s seat. ‘Sorry, didn’t know you were expecting visitors.’
‘I wasn’t really,’ Tricia started. ‘Anyway, Ted, this is my friend Cillian.’
‘Hello.’ Ted held out his hand. ‘I’m Ted. The builder,’ he added.
Cillian grabbed Ted’s hand and shook it. ‘Hi, Ted. I’ve heard so much about you. I gather you’ve been a huge help to Tricia.’
