Page 62 of The Widow's Irish Secret
‘Ah go on, Tricia.’ He took her hand and held it in a tight grip. ‘I do want to hear it.’
The touch of his hand gave her the courage to go on. ‘First of all, I need to tell you what happened in Donegal when my late husband was so ill. I did something that wasn’t quite right.’ She stopped for a moment and then started again, a strange forcedriving her to reveal the whole story. ‘I needed to pay his medical bills, and he and I sorted some paperwork out just before he died. It allowed me to help him, but it also created some legal issues. I was accused of trying to act illegally, to take his money. Which I’ve never really been interested in. Though, I am entitled to most of his estate, as his widow.’ She went on to tell Cillian the whole story, not leaving out a single detail. ‘That’s what that text message was all about,’ she ended. ‘Terence, Sean’s nephew, had found out about that document and he thought he could blackmail me into signing over the farm to him.’
‘But I thought you had sold it,’ Cillian said.
‘It’s on the market but it hasn’t been sold yet,’ Tricia replied. ‘But that’s not the issue here.’
‘No. It’s about you doing something dishonest,’ Cillian said, looking serious.
‘Yes.’ Tricia sat there waiting for him to say something, but he stared out the window and seemed deep in thought, still holding her hand. ‘I came here wanting a solution to my problem. To find the funds to just become independent and tell Terence he could keep the farm. I thought I could sell the cottage once I’d renovated it. But I didn’t realise it was in such bad condition. Then I thought I could sell Kieran O’Grady’s works…’
He turned and looked at her. ‘It must have been tough, with Sean.’
She nodded. ‘Yes. Sean was so ill and he needed the best care, even if he wasn’t going to make it. So I had him admitted to a private nursing home where he could have a room to himself and be properly looked after. I wanted him to have peace and calm and not be in a crowded public hospital.’ She held back her tears that were threatening to spill. Cillian didn’t need to be part of her sadness; it wouldn’t be fair to expect it. ‘That’s why I needed the money,’ she explained.
‘But you didn’t do anything wrong,’ Cillian said. ‘And even if you had, it would be completely understandable and forgivable, I have to say.’
Tricia felt suddenly flooded with relief, touched by his empathy. ‘Thank you. That’s what I needed to hear.’
‘I hope you can put it all behind you,’ Cillian said, squeezing her hand. ‘I don’t want you to dwell on that or feel guilty. Sean was a lucky man to have you there until the end.’
‘That’s lovely of you to say.’ Tricia leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. ‘I just wanted to say that I know I was wrong the other night. We should have continued our weekend. I rushed off to see Sylvia the next morning because I was scared. Scared of telling you the truth. Scared of what this could be. But Sylvia put me straight.’
Cillian’s mouth quivered.
‘She’s right,’ Tricia said. ‘I’ve been trying to protect my family, and to be there for everyone. But I need a life too. I needyou.’ She stopped, not knowing what to say next.
‘But what do you want?’ Cillian asked as a smile played on his lips.
‘I want you in my life whatever way suits you,’ Tricia replied. ‘Our time together is important to me. I know it might be hard for you to cope with my daughters and my grandchildren as they aren’t yours, but?—’
‘They’re Fred’s children and grandchildren,’ Cillian cut in. ‘So maybe, in some little way I could be a link to him through you and the childhood I shared with him. Does that sound cracked to you?’
‘It sounds wonderful,’ Tricia said.
She smiled at him as he got up and then, before she knew how, they were in each other’s arms. The kiss was long and tender and full of love and the pent-up feelings that had been waiting to come to the surface. Tricia closed her eyes and letherself be carried away by the feel of his soft lips and his clean, fresh smell, kissing him back with fervour.
‘That’s what I call making up,’ Cillian said when they broke apart. ‘Now there will be no more misunderstandings or resentments, will there?’
‘And no more secrets,’ Tricia said, feeling as if her heart would burst with joy. ‘I’m sure we’ll argue like mad, but in the end we know that we belong together for as long as…’
‘As we both shall live,’ Cillian filled in as he gazed into her eyes. ‘That’s how I feel anyway.’
‘Oh, me too, my darling.’
He stepped back and smiled at her. ‘You know what? I think we should start from the beginning and go on a date. A proper one where I bring you flowers and then we go to a restaurant and then I drive you home and kiss you goodnight on the doorstep even though I want to do a lot more. What do you think?’
Tricia laughed. ‘That would be perfect.’
‘I’m glad you agree. So when will we have the first date?’
‘Saturday night?’ Tricia suggested.
‘Good idea. I just want to say one thing before we go on,’ Cillian said. ‘It might annoy you, but I have to say it.’
‘Go on,’ Tricia said.
‘God bless Sylvia.’
