Page 59 of The Widow's Irish Secret
‘She said you and Cillian are together,’ Rose said, looking at Tricia with an odd expression. ‘Is that true?’
‘I hope so.’ Tricia felt her face turn pink. ‘We were but then there was a misunderstanding between us and he left looking very annoyed. I’m hoping to patch things up between us and then… well, I hope we’ll start dating. You don’t mind?’
‘Of course not,’ Rose exclaimed. ‘I’ll be happy for you. We all like Cillian very much, you know. We were worried you’d be lonely here in the cottage all by yourself. Now you have that little cat and then hopefully Cillian to keep you company.’
‘In that order?’ Tricia laughed. ‘I suppose Paddy will be here all the time, but Cillian might not. He’s a free spirit and I’d hate to tie him down. He’ll be off on jobs all over the country. I’ll join him sometimes and he’ll be here when he can. I think that’s the best way for us, to be honest. We’ll never get tired of each other.’
‘Great idea,’ Rose agreed. ‘Everyone needs a little “me” time occasionally. Just look at Granny and Arnaud. They have this agreement never to put in on each other. Seems to work beautifully.’
‘She’s a very clever woman,’ Tricia said warmly. ‘I admire her enormously. She’s a real powerhouse.’
‘You admire her?’ Rose stared at her mother. ‘Really? The two of you used to be on opposite sides of every argument. What changed your mind?’
‘A bit of a wake-up call and a few honest words from Sylvia.’ Tricia smiled. ‘I’m not saying we’ll always be bosom pals, but there is a new respect between us. We know where we stand, so to speak.’
‘That sounds good,’ Rose said. ‘So when are you going to talk to Cillian?’
‘Tomorrow morning, I hope,’ Tricia replied, feeling nervous just thinking about it. She had left him a voicemail message. ‘Keep your fingers crossed that he’ll forgive me.’
‘I’m sure he will,’ Rose declared. ‘Sure he’s mad about you. Everyone knows it.’
Tricia sighed. ‘I hope you’re right.’And I hope he’ll understand about the trouble I got myself into, she thought.
Later that day, when Tricia was tidying up after lunch, Noel knocked on the door to the cottage. ‘I thought I’d come and tell you in person,’ he said, his pale blue eyes sparkling.
‘Tell me what?’ Tricia sked, her stomach in knots. ‘Good news or bad?’
‘Good news,’ he said, hovering on the doorstep. ‘Are you going to let me in?’
‘Of course.’ Tricia laughed and opened the door wider. ‘Come in. How about a cup of coffee? I was just about to make some.’
‘Yes, that would be nice.’ Noel followed Tricia inside.
‘In here.’ She led the way into the kitchen and Noel sat down while she busied herself with the coffee machine. When she had filled two mugs, she put them on the table and sat down, looking expectantly at him. ‘So,’ she said. ‘Tell me the good news, then.’
‘Well,’ Noel said when he had taken a sip, ‘I have had a long conversation with both solicitors – the one handling Sean’s estate, as he also happened to be one of the executors of the will.’
‘I know. I’ve been working with him on the probate,’ Tricia said.
‘Of course. But I also spoke to the other one representing Terence.’
Tricia nodded. ‘I see. Go on.’
‘Well, it appears you did nothing wrong at all. Except maybe being a bit hasty when you cobbled together that document. It wasn’t valid as proof of power of attorney.’
Tricia sighed. ‘I had all those horrendous medical bills to pay. I just wanted Sean to have the best care during his final days.’
‘Of course you did. But the speed of it is what made Terence so upset, and suspicious.’
‘Yes,’ Tricia admitted. ‘I have been kicking myself for that ever since. But I was so stressed and he was so ill and needed all the help he could get.’ Tears welled up in her eyes as she remembered those heartbreaking months when she had fought so hard to try to save him. But nothing could and he had died despite her efforts. ‘It was all for nothing, anyway,’ she mumbled and reached for a piece of kitchen paper to dry her eyes.
‘It must have been such a tragic time for you,’ Noel said quietly.
Tricia nodded and tried to compose herself. ‘Yes it was. Horrendous. But it’s over now and here you are trying to help me. I’ve been worried sick for months. Please give me that piece of good news you said you had.’
Noel nodded. ‘Okay. Well, the other executor looked into Sean’s bank account and then discovered that you hadn’t touched any of Sean’s money, only used everything in your joint account. The one you and he shared.’
‘That’s right. There was enough there in the end. I had forgotten the code anyway so I couldn’t log in to his own account and he was too weak to remember it himself.’
