Page 126 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

“Go on.”

Molly:Rumor has it that things progressed between you and Padraig last night.

Sophia:Let’s just say I played the only card I had left.

Molly:I don’t understand.

Sophia:Roisin wanted me to carry out her task. I couldn’t.

Molly:That’s not what I heard.

Sophia:Padraig was drunk.

Molly:What did you do?

Sophia:I got into bed beside him, of course.

Molly:But how did he manage to perform?

Sophia:He didn’t. It wasn’t my virginal blood on the sheets. It was pig’s blood.

Molly:Sophia! I can’t believe you did that. Won’t he find out?

Sophia:How will he ever find out? Only you and I know. He was so drunk he couldn’t remember a thing, and when he woke up to find me naked in bed beside him with blood between my legs and on the sheets, he accepted what had happened without hesitation.

There’s a pause as Jessie digests the information.

“I don’t think you should keep this to yourself, Jaine.”

It’s the opposite of what I expected her to say.

“But they’re happy now, so what good will it do to drag it up? Surely, it would just be seen as bitterness on my part? I mean, they’re obviously sharing a marital bed as they’re trying for a baby. Or at least, that’s what Dyl said.”

“Yes, he told me the same. Still, it doesn’t seem right not to mention anything. I mean, their whole relationship is based on a lie.”

“The keyword istheir.I don’t think we should get involved.”

“Don’t you think he’s been fed enough lies as it is?”

“I was lied to, too, remember?”

“Not as much as he was.”

“Are we point-scoring now?” I huff. “Anyway, I tried to deliver justice for him.”

“And ended up falling in love with the person you held solely responsible. Have you explained all of that to him?”

“No. It doesn’t seem right to tell him about my personal crusade on his behalf. Not when he’s in love with someone else.”

“Have you asked him if he still loves you? Just because he’s not said the words doesn’t mean he doesn’t still have the feelings.”

“No! I can’t ask him that when he’s married to someone else! That would be wrong on every level.”

‘Maybe.”

“Would you want another woman asking Dylan that?”

“There’s never been another woman. I was the first and only woman ever to conquer that O’Connell.”

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