That Summer at the Seahorse Hotel

by Adrienne Vaughan

  “Yes, Trixie mentioned it.” Fenella was agitated now, keen to be gone.

  “So I’m afraid I need your old room, don’t worry though, I’ll pack everything up and ship it over to you but just so you know, that's what I’m doing.”

  Fenella gasped.

  “But … my things …”

  “It’ll be fine, I’ll make an inventory, do it properly.”

  Mia bent and kissed her mother’s pretty silver head. “Once we’re open for business, come and stay then.”

  Fenella turned to look at her, gazing into her child’s beautiful turquoise eyes, her father’s eyes, clear and deep and pure.

  “The shame was never about you, Mia, you made everything alright, made the whole thing worthwhile. Never forget that.”

  “I’ll never forget that you’ve all lied to me, one way or the other all my life,” Mia said, softly.

  “We never lied … we just couldn’t tell the truth.”

  “A conspiracy of silence, whichever way you look at it.”

  “It wasn’t unkindly meant, we all loved you, will always love you.”

  “I know.” Mia opened the door.

  “Where are you going?” Fenella was not used to being dismissed.

  “I’ve a plane to catch, Mother. I’m going home.”

  ***

  Sitting on a rug by the crackling bonfire on the beach Mia was gazing absent-mindedly at Ross stretched out in the sand, the waves creeping closer to where he lay dozing in the evening sun. Archie’s birthday barbecue had been a great success, Pearl and Leela had even made a cake.

  Mia went to kneel beside him.

  “You’ll be swept out to sea if you’re not careful.”

  He slid open an eye. “Party over?”

  Leela and Pearl had retreated some time ago, Mia was surprised Leela had stayed as long as she did, wearing wellingtons to protect against the tiniest grain of sand the entire time.

  “Last orders,” Mia said, handing him a beer.

  He chinked the bottle against hers.

  “Thanks for today, it was great to see a familiar face. Really meant a lot.”

  Mia had arrived at the hearing as Ross was giving his statement.

  “I’m just relieved by the outcome. The Power Corporation had to be fined, we knew that, but you offering to fund the reinstatement of the damaged coastline helped mitigate what could have been a far more serious charge, isn’t that what the minister said?”

  Ross nodded.

  “Didn’t harm having Humphrey on my side either.”

  Mia laughed. “I know, by the end of his summing up the minister even suggested looking into a grant to help. A win, win. Probably didn’t harm today being Archie’s birthday either.”

  “That too.” He looked at her. “I feel very lucky.” She smiled back, pleased to see the worry-worn look of the last few weeks smoothed away from his handsome face. “Anyway, enough about me, how’s the mass clear out going? Find any more treasure?”

  Mia thought for a moment. “Well, I have found something.”

  “Really? What?”

  “I’ve found out who my father is.”

  After explaining the revelation of her find and her earlier confrontation with Fenella, Ross sat quietly, listening as she went over her childhood years; being banned from knowing her father’s identity, bullied at school for bringing scandal and shame to the family and the nightmares, her terrifying mermaid nightmares, the ones where she swam away from the monster who would eat her because she had no one to protect her.

  “You’ve been very brave, you know. This must have been hard on top of everything else.” Ross was watching her intently. “But enough has festered over the years, it is what it is, the time has come to face it and accept it. No more secrets and lies, do things your way from now on, Mia. Your choices, your life.” She looked down, he was holding her hands gently in his. “If Archie’s death has given you anything, it’s given you the power to set yourself free from the past. I believe that, Mia and deep down, I think you do too.”

  FINALE

  By the time this most remarkable summer had melded into the mellowness of autumn, Ross Power the hotelier had become a formidable project manager, skillfully balancing work on Galty House and the Harbour Spa Hotel, fulfilling the dream, his way.

  Mia was in charge of finance and budgets; with lists and inventories coming out of her ears and she absolutely loved it.

  Galty House was being transformed into an elegant, period guesthouse and The Harbour Spa Hotel ‒ once foundations had been reconstructed – into a scheme of exclusive luxury apartments.

  Leela kept busy ensuring everyone was fed and watered, even managing to address her errant household duties given Pearl’s audacious assistance but only when the youngster took a break from being the world’s greatest Irish dancer or the second best mermaid on Ireland’s sunny east coast.

  Of course, Leela and Pearl had another project, something they worked on with spells and prayers and candles, calling on all the powers of the universe to make the two people they each loved most in the world realise they were destined to be together forever. Everyone commented they were perfect for each other, they were already a loving, hardworking family unit.

  But Mia and Ross could not, or would not see it. Pearl and Leela were beginning to despair, it looked like the two they hoped would be one, were only ever going to remain friends.

  Ross had agreed to help reinstate the false bookcase at the entrance to the secret staircase. Chisel in hand, he was lifting out a section, while Mia checked for woodworm.

  “Hey! Look what I’ve found,” he called. She poked her head out. It was a flash of crimson, looked like silk. He held it up, a kimono, a red one, tired and tattered now, it would have been exquisitely glamorous once upon a time. She took it from him, wrapping it round herself.

  “Do you recognise it?” he asked.

  “No, but I think I’m familiar with it, somehow.” She lifted the soft fabric to her cheek. “I think I’ll keep it.”

  “No way, finders’ keepers,” he laughed. “Besides might have another girl to give it to.”

  “Go away,” she grinned as he chased her up the stairs, grabbing at the silk. It fell from her shoulders as she turned, something brushed against her leg making her jump, losing her balance. He caught her as they tumbled down the stairs, landing flat out, nose to nose. She breathed him in.

  Suddenly all was still, the world had stopped.

  “Ross Power, are you scowling at me?”

  His eyes were half-closed. “This, I’ll have you know, is a smoulder.”

  “That’s a smoulder?” She started to laugh.

  Seriously, all this time, is that what he thought he was doing?

  He moved in.

  “It’s supposed to be alluring.”

  She could almost taste him, sea, sweat, heat.

  She swallowed.

  “I’m allured,” she whispered. “So, what’re you going to do about it?”

  “Up to you to make the first move,” he said. She flashed him a look. “You’re the lady of the house, the owner of The Seahorse Hotel.”

  “I see.” She took a deep breath and wrapping the silk around his neck, pulled him even closer, she could feel his muscles through his shirt. Looking deep into his black, black eyes she thought she might melt. She moved a fraction of an inch, almost touching his lips with hers, he held back, she tried again.

  “I’m making the first move,” she murmured against his mouth. “You can try now if you like.”

  She felt his arms encircle her, crushing her against him, he took her head in his hands.

  “About time,” he said, a smile curling those longed-for lips, as she relaxed into his embrace, the exquisite softness of his mouth seeping warmth right through her as he kissed her, really kissed her, a long, dark, delicious kiss, that went on and on until every inch of her tingled.

  Finally, hardly able to breathe she gazed into his eyes.

  “How
do I know you just don’t want me for my inheritance? You could still build a golf course, you know.”

  She felt his body tense.

  “Mia Flanagan, after I’ve made love to you, every single inch of you, you’ll be completely assured of what I want you for.”

  “Whoa, cowboy, wait a minute.” She tried a crooked smile. He gave her that look again.

  “Mia.” His voice was hoarse. “I think I’ve waited long enough, don’t you?”

  And before she could answer he pressed her mouth in another deep, delicious kiss and as he kissed her, she knew she had never felt so warm, so calm and so completely and utterly home in her entire life. Ross Power had his answer, she had waited long enough too.

  The library door opened.

  “Your stuff has arrived from England.” Leela tried not to raise her eyebrows at them wrapped around each other at the foot of the stairs. “You’d better come and supervise, it’s all over the drive.”

  The green-eyed cat slipped out between their legs.

  Mia struggled to her feet. “What’s that you have?” She pointed to the box Leela was holding.

  “Just some old clothes,” Leela replied truthfully, having recognised the box in among Mia’s recently delivered possessions. She pulled the door closed quickly and hurried to take the turquoise oblong, containing the antique wedding dress to her lair.

  Safe in the back kitchen, she poured the green-eyed cat a saucer of milk.

  “Might be needing that sooner than we think,” she said, smiling at the feline with her bright, white teeth and then tapping the box.

  “Welcome home.”

  THE END

  REFERENCES

  Unpicking a finished novel to uncover where elements of the story originated is always fascinating and That Summer at The Seahorse Hotel is a prime example of this author’s ability to absorb lots of influences and then discover she has no clue where at least half of them came from. However, of those I remember these following certainly deserve recognition and my grateful thanks.

  I’m particularly grateful to Dr Michael Kennedy, the executive editor of the Royal Irish Academy’s Documents on Irish Foreign Policy Series and his book Guarding Neutral Ireland – the Coast Watching Service and Military Intelligence 1939 – 1945 – (Published by Four Courts Press, Dublin) a fascinating and enlightening resource for this work.

  Also to blog Irish Central’ for Daniel Rosehill’s piece about Nazi plans to invade Ireland, stating: ‘Dublin was earmarked by the Nazis as one of six regional administrative centres for Britain and Ireland right after Dunkirk when an Allied collapse seemed imminent. Had the occupation taken place, the Germans thought it crucial that their advancing units reach Ireland as soon as possible after the initial invasion.’

  I’m happy to acknowledge that brilliant 21st century resource, Google who informed me that SS officer General Karl Wolff claimed while testifying at the Nuremberg Trials that he had disobeyed an order from Hitler to kidnap the Pope and instead sneaked into the Vatican to warn the Pontiff. Other allegations of a plot to kidnap Pius XII are based on a claimed 1972 document written by Wolff, maintaining Hitler summoned him on September 13, 1943 and stated: ‘The Vatican is already a nest of spies and a centre of anti-National Socialist propaganda.’

  This then became one of Sister Agnes’s favourite stories.

  Leela’s Tarot was guided by the brilliant tarot teacher and interpreter Josephine Ellershaw, whose book Easy Tarot Handbook (published by Llewellyn Worldwide) and beautiful gilded Tarot deck illustrated by Ciro Marchetti were not only simple and delightful but truly inspirational; thank you.

  Judith B Herman’s brilliant blog Strange Movie Job Titles - Explained for Mental Floss UK was also invaluable.

  GLOSSARY OF TERMS & QUOTATIONS

  PROLOGUE

  Tiny Dancer by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, from the album Madman Across the Water (1971) DJM Records

  Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera (1972), combined camera and instant printed pictures.

  SENDING SIGNALS

  Boboli Gardens, a park in Florence, Italy

  ‘Our revels now are ended. These our actors, as I foretold you, were all spirits, and are melted into air, into thin air.’

  Prospero, The Tempest, Act 4. Scene I by William Shakespeare.

  STATION TO STATION

  Station to Station, an album by David Bowie, released in 1976, RCA records.

  The Three Musketeers: historical novel by Alexandre Dumas, published 1844

  ‘True is it that we have seen better days,’

  Duke Senior: As You Like It, Act 2 Scene 7 by William Shakespeare

  LAZARUS

  Lazarus was the man Jesus brought back from the dead four days after his death.

  Wexford People: Local weekly newspaper for county of Wexford.

  The Quiet Man, (1952) classic Irish movie directed by John Ford, starring Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne

  Banshee, (in Irish legend) a female spirit, whose wailing warns of death

  The Last Supper – painting of the last supper of Jesus with his apostles by Leonardo da Vinci (circa 1495-96)

  A LONG LUNCH

  ‘The missions’: the name for outposts where religious orders undertook work in education/health in places usually considered ‘third world’ countries

  HER MAIDEN VOYAGE

  The Rolling Stones – legendary British rock band

  TOTAL RECALL

  Sophie’s Choice (1982): movie directed by Alan J. Pakula based on the novel of the same name by William Styron. Meryl Streep played Sophie, Kevin Kline her tempestuous lover, Nathan.

  It was Kevin’s feature film debut.

  CASE CLOSED

  Couturiere, robes de mariée et robes de bal, - Seamstress/Dressmaker, wedding dresses and ball gowns

  THE KISS OF JUDAS

  Judas Iscariot one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. He betrayed Jesus with a kiss.

  ‘Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.’

  Paraphrase of the Gospel according to St John 8:7

  The Hellfire Club was a society of aristocratic rakes in the 18th century. The ruins of the Irish club are in the Dublin mountains, where legend has it, a gambler dropped a card on the floor and when they bent to pick it up, the man opposite had a cloven hoof (the sign of the devil) instead of a foot. (So our dad, Harry, told us)

  Far From the Madding Crowd; Thomas Hardy’s fourth novel, first published in 1874

  MEMORY MAKING

  Hogwarts, the fantastical gothic school in the Harry Potter novels created by J K Rowling.

  WELL,WELL,WELL

  ‘All the world’s a stage’

  As You Like It, Act II, Scene VII, William Shakespeare.

  An Cumann Gaelach – The Irish Language Society

  ARCHIE’S FAVOURITE

  Theobald Wolftone, a leading Irish revolutionary and one of the founding members of the United Irishmen, regarded as the father or Irish republicanism.

  Pan’s People, female dance group who featured on the BBC TV show Top of the Pops 1968-1976

  UNDRESSED REHEARSAL

  From ‘not a dry eye in the house’ idiom meaning the performance was so moving everyone was in tears

  HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY

  ‘Is this a dagger which I see before me?’

  Macbeth, Act II, Scene 1, William Shakespeare

  ‘A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal’

  Oscar Wilde, The Critic as Artist (Published 1891)

  Jaws is a novel by American author/screenwriter Peter Benchley, published in 1974. Based on the novel, the movie by Steven Spielberg was released in 1975.

  NEEDS MUST

  Clarice Cliff (1899-1972) was an English ceramic artist, her work is collected, valued and admired all over the world.

  Novena; a form of worship consisting of special prayers said on successive days

  The Rockefeller family made one of the world’s largest fortunes. In
1965 Laurence S. Rockefeller built the most expensive hotel in the world, on an Hawaiian beach. It was named one of the ‘three greatest hotels in the world’ and it had a golf course.

  TREASURE ISLAND

  The Knights Templar was a medieval Catholic order who were among the most skilled fighting units of the Crusades.

  THE LEGACY

  Ave Maria: Musical interpretation of Latin prayer to the Virgin Mary original music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach improvised by Charles Gounod, with the popular version known today attributed to Franz Schubert.

  Ride On written by Jimmy McCarthy and recorded by Christie Moore 1984.

  FAMILY AFFAIRS

  New Musical Express, British music magazine first published in 1949 and considered the ‘oracle’ for rock, alternative and indie music.

  David Bowie (David Robert Jones – January 1947 – January 2016) English singer, songwriter, actor and artist. (Thanks for everything, main man.)

  THE UNDERSTUDY

  Gaelic Coffee – classic Irish drink of fresh coffee, Irish whiskey and cream.

  THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS

  Waldorf Astoria: legendary Manhattan hotel built in 1893 by millionaire developer William Waldorf Astor.