‘How’d you know he likes a drink?’ Gerry was always amazed at Tom’s powers of deduction.
‘I reckon it’s more than the chill in the air causing that red nose, Gerry. A tenner says he’s a whiskey drinker.’
‘You’re on!’ Gerry declared. They got up and started the walk back to the hotel.
Chapter Seventeen
While Tom and Gerry were busy playing Lords of the Manor down in Wexford, Abby was anxiously waiting for her date. She was with Sean and Tara having a quick Dutch-courage drink first. Tonight she was meeting Richard, one of the South Africans, for a drink and she was really nervous. She’d been out with Fergus already and it had been an absolute disaster. He didn’t drink and had sat there all night sipping a glass of water. He was the single most boring man Abby had ever dated. He was obsessed with Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and spent the whole night discussing every episode he’d ever seen. At the end of the first hour she’d been ready to split, but her inbuilt sense of decency and politeness stopped her from running out the door on him. However, it had been the longest night of her life, and without alcohol to anaesthetise her pain it had been unbearable!
‘Why didn’t you get yourself a drink? I would have.’ Tara declared when Abby told them about her disastrous date.
‘I did have two drinks, but as he was sipping his water, I felt like a bleeding alcoholic every time I had a sip of my red wine,’ Abby moaned.
‘So I take it this Fergus bloke won’t be the next Mr Abby Nolan so?’ Sean asked.
‘Over my dead body! Bloody typical though. He’s called three times already since Tuesday night. It’s always the same. The guys I don’t want keep calling and those I want to go out with dump me by text!’
‘Oh come on, that was only one guy!’ Tara laughed.
‘I know. Still stings though! Right I’d better go across to the bar. Remember ring me in an hour, okay?’ They had devised a plan so that Abby didn’t have a repeat of the last disaster. If the date was going badly, she could get the guys to come and rescue her. With a last gulp of wine and wishes of good luck from Tara and Sean, Abby ran out of McDaids.
‘God, I’m glad I’ve got you,’ Tara said to her husband. ‘I don’t think I’d have the energy to be on the dating scene anymore!’
‘Oh you did well snaring me for sure, Tara,’ Sean replied, laughing and dodging the beer mat his wife threw at him.
Abby did a quick scan of the place. No sign of Richard yet. She walked up to the bar and ordered a drink for herself. It wasn’t too busy so she got a seat at the bar fairly easily. With the smoking ban in force, nearly everybody was standing outside. She’d just paid for her drink when Richard arrived. He recognised her at least, Abby thought with relief. She was terrified he’d have forgotten what she looked like because it had been a couple of weeks since the speed-dating event. He was quite good looking too in a kind of scruffy way. She felt a bit overdressed in her tea dress from Topshop. Gerry had left strict instructions that she was to wear this outfit, and once again he’d excelled himself, it was gorgeous. Richard, however, was just in faded denims with a t-shirt. He got himself a pint of Guinness and took a seat beside her.
‘So Abby, how’s things?’ he asked casually.
‘Great, Richard. How about you?’
‘Fanfuckingtastic! You’re looking gorgeous,’ he said with a wink.
Abby was thrilled. It had been so long since a guy had given her a compliment, she basked in it.
‘So tell me all about yourself?’ Richard asked.
They chatted away easily for fifteen minutes or so. Abby had finished her drink and there was no sign of him ordering. But to be fair Richard was only halfway through his pint. So Abby caught the barman’s attention and ordered a drink for her and another pint for Richard.
She couldn’t believe it when her mobile rang; the time had passed so quickly. It was Tara.
She excused herself and took the call.
‘Well is he a studly or what?’ Tara demanded.
‘What kind of a word is studly, you mad thing!’ Abby giggled. ‘He’s all right actually. Seems to be pretty laid-back, easy to talk to.’
‘Why don’t you bring him over here to join us? Go on Abby I’d love to meet him. We can make sure he’s a suitable date for our mate!’ Tara broke, in peals of laughter. She’d obviously had a few drinks and was in great form, delighted with herself for rhyming!
‘I’ll ask him, one sec!’ Abby replied. ‘Why not!’
Richard thought it was a great idea to join her mates, so they grabbed their stuff, finished their drinks and walked back over to McDaids. Introductions were made, with Tara giving the thumbs up behind Richard’s back. Sean jumped up and went to the bar to get the drinks in.
‘So tell me Richard. Where do you live?’ Tara asked.
‘I’m in a flat at the moment with a couple of mates in Rathgar. I’m on the sofa till I get myself sorted.’
‘That must play havoc on your back, mate,’ Sean said as he passed the drinks around.
‘What do you do?’ Tara continued her inquisition.
Abby was delighted; she hadn’t wanted to ask loads of personal questions earlier. Now Tara was doing it for her!
‘This and that,’ Richard replied nonchalantly.
Abby was surprised at this answer. She was sure at the speed-dating event he’d told her he was working in finance. Maybe he didn’t like talking about work.
‘Very mysterious,’ Tara murmured.
Sean could see that his wife was beginning to go a bit cold with Richard, so thought he’d better change the subject quickly. He started to tell them about a woman who came into the surgery that day claiming she was pregnant, by an alien! When he finished his story, Tara waved her glass in the air.
‘I take it you’re ready for another drink?’ Sean asked with a laugh. He jumped up to go to the bar, half expecting Richard to stop him. But he was in the middle of what looked like a deep conversation with Abby. Maybe he wasn’t paying attention.
Drinks refilled for everyone, they carried on chatting. Tara whispered to Sean after a while.
‘He’s a tight arse that one.’
‘Shush, he’ll hear you,’ Sean reprimanded with a laugh.
‘Don’t care. He hasn’t bought a round yet. God, I hope Abby doesn’t like him!’
Richard got up to go to the toilet so Tara had her chance to ask her. ‘He seems nice. Just one thing bothering me though, Abs…’
But before she had a chance to tell Abby what was bothering her, Abby interrupted, ‘I might be being too hard on him, but he hasn’t bought a drink yet.’
‘Not even over in Bruxelles?’ Sean asked incredulously.
Abby told them what had happened.
‘Look it could just be the way the night has turned out. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. He’s probably buying a round now,’ Sean said a bit dubiously.
But Richard returned empty-handed a few minutes later and they all raised their eyebrows knowingly at one another.
After a while the drinks were getting low again, so Abby thought she’d better broach the subject with Richard. ‘Looks like we’re all ready for another drink!’ she said brightly.
To which everyone murmured their assent, including Richard, but there was no move on his behalf.
Sean decided to take matters into his own hands. The softly-softly approach wasn’t working.
‘Right, Richard. Mine’s a pint. The girls are on the vino. Good man.’
Everyone went quiet. Richard looked slightly uncomfortable then turned to Abby. ‘I thought we’d go for a walk now and call it a night. Are you ready?’ he whispered.
‘What?’ Abby replied confused. There had been no talk about walks a few minutes ago.
‘I’ve had enough jars. I’d like to go for a walk with a beautiful girl. You!’ he said with his most charming smile.
‘I bet you wouldn’t have had enough if Sean was buying again!’ Tara said sarcastically.
&nb
sp; Richard shot her a look of annoyance and stood up and put his jacket on. ‘Abby are you coming?’
‘Actually I’d like another drink. Would you go to the bar and buy me a drink please?’ Abby said bravely.
‘That’s a bit tricky. I’m a bit short at the moment.’
‘What do you mean exactly by a bit short?’ Abby asked quietly.
‘I’m between jobs. You know what it’s like,’ he answered with a shrug.
‘No actually, I don’t,’ Abby said coldly. ‘Do you mean to tell me you asked me out on a date when you didn’t have a bean to your name?’
Richard nodded silently.
‘Asshole,’ Tara helpfully contributed.
‘Way out of line, dude,’ Sean added.
‘Weren’t we all having a laugh?’ Richard seemed to think this was a satisfactory defence for being a miser!
‘Yes we were. I hate to break it to you though, but your company isn’t that great that you can get away with freeloading all evening. That’s all the laughs you’ll be having with my friends and me. Goodbye Richard,’ Abby said firmly.
‘I’ll be off then. Will I give you a call?’
‘Yeah, some Sunday there’s no mass!’ Abby responded before he turned away and left.
‘God, he’s a neck like a jockey’s bollocks!’ Sean stated, causing the girls to break into hysterical laughter. He jumped up to get the drinks. Abby looked like she needed one badly.
‘Why me?’ Abby moaned. Tara gave her a hug and told her it was just bad luck.
‘God Almighty. I’ve had months of bad luck. I must have been some bitch in a previous life! It’s doing my head in, Tara. What is it with the guys of Ireland?’ She took a huge gulp of her drink.
‘They’re all blind, my love. They don’t know what they’re missing. But to be fair, that eejit wasn’t Irish,’ Tara consoled her.
‘That’s true. Think I’ll stick to the locals in future. At least you know what you’re getting with them,’ Abby declared.
‘Only one thing to do when something like this happens,’ Sean stated as he sat down. ‘Tequila!’
‘Now I know why you love this man, Tara! He always knows what to do in a crisis!’ Abby laughed.
Chapter Eighteen
Tom and Gerry were drinking brandy in the drawing room of the Rose Tree Manor, having just finished a gorgeous four-course meal. Tom had devoured home-made pâté with Cumberland sauce, followed by roast rack of lamb with rosemary and garlic, then a mouth-watering cheesecake. Even Gerry had ditched his diet for the evening because the menu was just too tempting. He’d eaten tiger prawns to start with, followed by sea bass, finished with crème brûlée. Both of them could hardly move. They’d also had a beautiful bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and they were feeling nice and mellow. Fiona had insisted they retire to the drawing room for coffee and brandy as they’d be more comfortable, and she was right.
‘What do you reckon they think of us?’ Gerry asked. ‘I’ve noticed a few funny looks from people.’ He was always concerned about how people reacted to them. His family had pretty much disowned him since he ‘came out’ and he had insecurities as a result. Tom didn’t give a damn. He was comfortable in his own skin and never happier than when he was with his boyfriend. Plus he was lucky. His whole family knew about his sexuality and they supported him totally, which had surprised a lot of people, as he was from a very small rural area where you might expect more prejudice. But his parents had been incredible when he told them. To hell with what people thought, they loved him for who he was.
‘Listen pet, I’m sure we are a bit of a novelty for a place like this. I’m not sure that Rose Tree Manor has seen many gay couples before, but hasn’t Fiona been a sweetheart?’ Tom said to his boyfriend.
‘Yes. But do you think she knows?’ Gerry asked worriedly.
‘Of course she does, Gerry. We’re in a double room, which she was clearly made aware of when we checked in. They know all right. I daresay they’ve had a chat about us. Only natural.’
‘So I’m worrying about nothing?’ Gerry asked anxiously.
‘Yes my love, you are. We’re just two people in love enjoying a weekend break. We’re not all over each other in public so we can’t be offending anyone. Don’t worry,’ he squeezed Gerry’s hand reassuringly.
With that a small plump woman, with the rosiest cheeks they’d ever seen walked over to them. ‘Hello Mr Whelan and Mr O’Leary. I’m Mrs Murtagh. My husband told me he’d met you earlier.’
Tom and Gerry jumped up and shook her hand, both smiling encouragingly at her.
‘Would you join us for a drink, Mrs Murtagh?’ Gerry asked. ‘We’d love to chat for a while.’
‘Oh I wouldn’t want to intrude,’ she demurred.
‘No intrusion, we’d love to chat for a while. Is Mr Murtagh around, we’d love to buy him a drink too,’ Tom continued.
‘He’s in the bar. He wouldn’t be comfortable in here,’ she indicated the beautiful drawing room.
‘Well, why don’t we all adjourn to the bar so?’ Tom said. ‘Lead the way!’
Drinks were ordered in the bar, with a giggle from Gerry when Mr Murtagh ordered a drop of Powers’ whiskey. That was ten euro he owed Tom. He’d be unbearable later; he loved it when he got it right!
They grabbed a table in the small lounge and Tom raised his glass to toast the beautiful hotel they were staying in. After a few minutes of chat about the hotel, Mrs Murtagh asked about Catherine.
‘I haven’t seen her in over thirty years. It’s such a pity, we were really good friends,’ she lamented.
‘It’s often the way it goes unfortunately. People lose touch,’ Tom concurred sympathetically.
‘How is Kitty?’ she continued.
‘Well, she’s great actually. I’m sure Mr Murtagh filled you in about what she does now. Her teashop is a great success down there and the busiest spot for lunch every day,’ Tom stated.
‘She always had a very light hand when baking,’ Mrs Murtagh said.
Tom wasn’t sure what that meant, but assumed it was a good thing. ‘I can’t imagine what Catherine was like back then. I’ve only known her in later years,’ Tom said. Never ask questions directly, just lead people into talking, he found that worked the best.
‘She was a lovely girl. A hard worker and I think she was happy here. We started at the same time, me working as a chambermaid, her as skivvy in the kitchen.’
‘So this is where she got her interest in catering?’ Gerry inquired.
‘Yes, I suppose it was. It didn’t take long for Mrs O’Reilly, the chef at that time, to realise that Kitty had talent. She soon had her doing all the baking. Kitty was happiest when she was mixing and creating in that kitchen!’
‘I hope it wasn’t all work and no play,’ Tom said jokingly.
‘Not a bit of it,’ Mr Murtagh took this one. ‘We had one day off during the week. We all lived in at that time and if I remember rightly Kitty and Molly – that’s Mrs Murtagh – were always off on their bikes into Ballymichael for the day.’
‘Are you from there too?’ Tom asked Mrs Murtagh.
‘No Tom, I’m not. I’m a Waterford girl. But Kitty’s family kind of adopted me. It was too far for me to go home, so I went to Kitty’s with her. Her parents were lovely people. Really warm and friendly. She had a brother too, what was his name again?’
‘Noel,’ Tom informed her. ‘He’s living in Australia now, married with two children.’
‘That’s nice. Has Catherine ever gone to visit him?’ she wondered aloud.
Tom didn’t actually know this and hesitated for a second.
Gerry jumped in and answered, ‘Oh yes, Catherine goes to visit Noel once every five years. They’re very close.’
‘They always were,’ Mrs Murtagh stated. ‘God, all this talk about Kitty takes me back.’
Tom quickly got another Baileys for her and another whiskey for Mr Murtagh. He hoped the drink would loosen their tongues.
‘I bet you were a pin
-up back then.’ Gerry complimented her. ‘What cheekbones and those lips!’ Mrs Murtagh blushed prettily.
‘Oh, she was a bonny lass,’ her husband said. ‘They were quite a picture back then. My Molly with her lovely dark hair and Kitty with her strawberry blonde curls. I’m telling you there were quite a few fellas chasing them back then. I had my work cut out to get Molly to go out with me!’
‘But you got her in the end! How romantic!’ Gerry declared.
‘Yes it was I suppose. He kept asking me out every week, till I finally gave in!’ Mrs Murtagh said with a slight blush.
‘So did that put paid to your weekly trips to Ballymichael?’ Tom asked.
‘To some extent. I started to spend my time off with Tadgh. But I still went to Kitty’s every now and then.’
‘And Kitty, did she have a boyfriend?’ Tom casually asked.
‘No not really. There were a couple of dates but nothing serious,’ she replied.
‘What about that guard?’ Mr Murtagh asked his wife. ‘Didn’t she go out with him at one point?’
‘Oh that’s right. Robert Hegarty was his name. He was madly in love with Kitty, but she really wasn’t interested. She broke his heart I reckon.’
Tom’s ears pricked up at this information. Robert Hegarty later married Catherine’s cousin Mary. This was really interesting. It had to be the same guy. Two guys called Robert Hegarty, both guards in the same village, was too much of a coincidence.
‘Did Kitty drink much?’ Tom asked.
‘That’s a strange question to ask,’ Mrs Murtagh replied sharply. These guys were very interested in thirty years ago! She began to feel like she was gossiping too much about her old friend.
Tom realised he was pushing too far and needed to back track. ‘Oh I’m sorry Mrs Murtagh. Just being nosy I’m afraid. Catherine is always teasing me about my lifestyle. I was just looking for some funny stories to tease her with when I got back home!’ Tom said with ease.
Mrs Murtagh relaxed. ‘Well I’m afraid there are no such stories to tell. Kitty didn’t drink at all back then. I can’t remember any time when she drank. She never liked to be out of control and hated seeing people drunk.’
Beyond Grace's Rainbow: HarperImpulse Contemporary Romance Page 12