Page 67 of Under A Sicilian Sky
* * *
Ruby arrived back at Glentorrin house after her private tour of the Lifeboat House Museum. As she took off her coat and hung it on one of the hooks in the hallway, she heard Mitch on the phone. For once he was speaking in English.
‘Aye, it’s a shame. But maybe they don’t need anyone to do it? Maybe that kind of thing isn’t necessary these days.’ There was a pause as the person replied. ‘Aye, I get that, and he’s right, but as you know we’re supposed to be avoiding that kind of thing, Morag.’ There was another pause. ‘Thanks for understanding. I knew you would. I know I’m not her agent, but I kind of feel… I don’t know… responsible, I suppose.’ More silence. ‘Aye, but to be honest I wouldn’t have asked Shelby’s opinion anyway. To tell you the truth, I don’t even know why she’s here.’
Ruby wondered what on earth they were talking about. She gathered that she was partly the subject but had no clue what Mitch was refusing on her behalf, so she was a little befuddled by that bit of the conversation. She hung around outside the kitchen door as he finished up the call.
‘Hi,’ she said as she stepped into the room.
He swung around and dropped the phone. ‘Dannazione’
Ruby snickered. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.’
He placed a hand on his stomach and one on his forehead. ‘Don’t sneak up on me then!’
She tried to stifle a deeper laugh that was bubbling up. ‘Sorry, it wasn’t intentional. What was all that about? The call you were on? Sorry, I didn’t mean to listen in.’ She cringed.
He narrowed his eyes. ‘What did you hear?’
She shrugged. ‘That you’re not sure why Shelby is here, and that you’re not my agent, but you feel responsible.’
He closed his eyes and huffed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Merda.’
‘It’s fine, Mitch. You can tell me what’s going on. I’m a big girl.’
He opened his eyes and turned to face her. ‘The village hall opening event on Saturday night. The TV star they had arranged to officially carry out the task, Reid’s brother, Kendric, can’t make it now. In all honesty, their relationship is still a little strained from what Morag said – I won’t bore you with the intimate details – but she thinks he’s chickening out because of that.’
‘I’ll do it,’ Ruby blurted with a shrug, as if it was an obvious and easy decision.
Mitch gawked at her. ‘You’re not serious, are you? I’ve just spent ten minutes on the phone with Morag discussing the fact that you really shouldn’t and couldn’t do it.’
She walked towards him, wringing her hands together. ‘Yes… I get that… but I’d like to help out. If it’s just for the village.’
Mitch picked up the phone from the floor and the bit of plastic that had sheared off in its collision with the tiles. ‘Crap,’ he said as he looked at the bits. He lifted his head and scowled at Ruby. ‘That’s very noble of you. And it’s a lovely thought, but the local press will be here. They’re like vultures, that lot. You think Hamilton was bad?’ He made a funny noise as he blew out through pursed lips. ‘Your face will end up on the front of the newspaper, then that will get picked up by the national press, et cetera, et cetera. Snowball effect. Can you see the problem there?’
She stepped closer to him. ‘Yes, of course I can. But after the kindness everyone has shown me, I feel like it’s the least I can do.’
‘The kindness they showed was to keep your presence asecret. You’d be doing the exact opposite of that. Unless…’ He narrowed his eyes.
‘Unless what?’
‘Unless you’re thinking it will help in the whole clearing your name thing. So that people see you in a kinder light. “Local village hall assisted by Hollywood actress.” Is that it?’
His suggestion came out of the blue, cut her to the quick and she gasped. ‘Mitch! How can you even think that? And, more’s the point,whywould you think that?’
He lifted his arms and let them fall to his sides. ‘Call me cynical, but I know how much you want andneedto clear your name.’
Her nostrils flared and she clenched her jaw. ‘If that’s what you think of me then why did you offer to help me? And furthermore, why did you share such personal things about your life with me? The truth about your wife, and the death of your sister aren’t things you discuss with someone you don’t trust, surely?’
He lowered his gaze, clearly realising he was in the wrong. ‘It’s nothing to do with trust. I… I didn’t mean it to sound so negative. I’m sorry, Ruby.’
She was hurting. It felt like a betrayal and she snapped, ‘No, never mind. Forget I suggested it. I won’t bother trying to help.’ She turned to walk away but stopped. ‘You know, Mitch, all I want is for the truth to come out. But I don’t want that by any means necessary. I would never use people like that. It’s not who I am. I thought you knew that. I guess I was wrong.’ Her voice broke at the end of her sentence and she walked away and up the stairs to her room and closed the door.
She sat on the bed and wondered what on earth could make Mitch think that way about her. What had happened for him to form such a negative opinion?
She decided she would visit Morag and discuss the opening of the hall directly with her. She would include Dougie too. Perhaps they could make an arrangement with the local press so that rights stayed local. Maybe they could keep it quiet? She knew that would be virtually impossible, but in spite of Mitch’s opinion, she really did want to help.
Her phone rang and she picked it up to see Kitty’s name on the screen.
