Page 103 of Against Ebony Irish Seas

“I also inform you that a complaint has been issued against you for your abuse of authority,” Eoghan continued, “and for not putting the welfare of this school or its students above your own agenda. The parents and town of Caisleán stand against you, and we will win.”

Everyone sent up a cheer, and Eoghan turned around to the crowd. “Now hold up the signs from your children.”

New placards were raised, and Jamie’s throat grew thick as he read the signs. All were hand-drawn and some brightly decorated with rainbows and unicorns and sunshine and sayings likeI Love Mr. Fitzgerald; Mr. Fitzgerald for Best Teacher; Mr. Fitzgerald Always Helps.

Eoghan again faced Margaret Doyle, who yanked on her wool jacket angrily. “Everyone agreed not to bring the children to the protest today because this squabble is among adults, and we don’t wish to be sharing any pettiness or mean-spiritedness with the little ones. But these signs were made by the children when their parents asked them what they liked about Jamie Fitzgerald.”

Sophie nudged Jamie, and he glanced over to see her holding a sign that said,Mr. Fitzgerald Listensdecorated with bright yellow sunflowers.

Greta.

Someone patted him on the back, and he turned to see his mother. Tears were shining in her eyes as she patted his chest. “You remember this moment, for it’s what the kids say that matters most.”

He nodded, looking over his mother’s shoulder to see his father gazing at him with pride.

The final webs of shame from Margaret Doyle’s assault on him and his character seemed to fall away as he took everything in. The support of his friends, yes, his parents, and the town, but mostly it was the children’s support for him that started healing his aching heart.

The smell of oranges flooded his senses as he turned to the crowd and did the only thing he knew to do. He greeted them like he did their children when they came to school every morning. He waved with a welcoming smile.

And in doing so, he started to feel that everything was going to be all right.

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

Only in Ireland could Sophie imagine a rainbow appearing at the end of a protest.

“The fairies have done their work today and then some,” Eoghan said, doing a few steps of an Irish jig after coming down from the podium and setting aside his megaphone.

“The press is going to have the kind of pictures editors salivate over,” Ghislaine said with relish. “Rainbows. Sheep. Handmade children’s cards. We’re going to make news around the world. Jamie, I have members of the press dying to meet you. Are you finally ready to set the record straight?”

When he nodded, Sophie thought about doing that jig herself. These last few days she’d swung between hope and misery, trusting that their love and that of his friends and those in the community would help him see reason.Thank you, Sorcha.

“The ground I’m standing on feels more solid now, as does myself,” he said with that honesty she so loved about him. “I wish with all my heart none of this would have happened, but it has, and it’s time to talk about it.”

Donal clapped him on the back. “Then go with Ghislaine. You’re in good hands.”

“Will you be here when I finish?” he asked Sophie searchingly. “Or would it be possible for us to stand together while I do my speaking?”

She smiled as she realized he was finished trying to protect her from what he’d seen as his disgrace. “I’d say Ghislaine would love that.”

The publicist twined her arm around Donal. “I really would. They say sex sells, but you know what else does? Love.”

Yeah, she supposed it did. Ghislaine took Jamie on the rounds, guiding the conversation from the unjust accusations leveled against him to the censorship issue to his relationship with Sophie, which he told every reporter he’d been waiting for his whole life.

“Do I hear wedding bells in the future?” one of the reporters asked.

He turned to her, his mouth lifting, and gestured for her to answer. She made her brow rise but answered with a smile. “Don’t you hear them now?”

From there, Ghislaine stepped in and whisked them away. “Always keep them wanting more. This wedding talk is going to make headlines. And the wedding itself! I can already see it.”

“Ghislaine—”

“I’m just saying, Sophie,” the woman said as they matched her brisk pace back toward their friends. “Of course, we’ll have to coordinate dates since Donal and I are hearing wedding bells too.”

She stopped short, her mouth dropping. “What? I mean I knew—”

Ghislaine cocked her hip and gave a wink. “You’re not the only one with a matchmaking ghost helping you. Who do you think told me to drop everything I was doing and come to Ireland? Goodness, Sophie, you’d think after all these years that you’d know I’m a romantic at heart. The Provençal town where I was born was known for its helpful female ghost at the holy well.”

Call her thunderstruck. “Really? Does my mother know this?”

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