‘It’s a big business and we already have a centre in Dublin and one outside Belfast,’ Stuart Kelly added, ‘but for something like that here we would need to add on consulting rooms and a theatre and recovery area.’
‘But I do like this house,’ Louise smiled, her skin and teeth absolutely flawless, ‘and there is plenty of space in the garden for us to extend into and also put in a lot more car parking for staff and clients.’
Molly didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t imagine Mossbawn being used for plastic surgery, tummy tucks, boob jobs and face lifts!
‘Molly, we’ll talk to your auctioneer,’ they promised as they said their goodbyes.
Over the following days she couldn’t get the handsome couple and their plans for the house out of her mind. Is that what she wanted for Mossbawn? She thought of Charles Moore and his wife, Constance, and how they had built this house and garden for their family, and how much effort and work and love she and David had put into this place …
A few days later Ronan King phoned with an offer on the house. It was far less than she was hoping for.
‘This is the Kellys’ offer,’ he said wearily. ‘They know it’s a buyer’s market, especially for people like themselves with easy access to finance and cash. What do you want me to do? I can try to get them to come up a bit.’
To Molly it was clear that they were trying to take advantage of her situation. They had such big plans for the place, but she’d no intention of letting her beautiful old house be knocked and altered beyond recognition, the garden she loved destroyed. Her disappointment at their offer was tinged with a massive relief as she told the auctioneer to refuse it and make it quite clear that Molly Hennessy had no intention of selling to them.
Busy with getting the house ready for Libby’s wedding, Molly put further thoughts of selling Mossbawn from her mind as she concentrated on getting the house and garden looking well.
Trish and Larry and Libby were paying a very generous amount for the use of the house for the day; she couldn’t believe it and felt guilty about taking money from her friends.
‘Don’t be guilty!’ warned Cara. ‘That big castle in Tipperary was costing them an absolute fortune and then everybody was shelling out for travel and very expensive accommodation. Now half the guests are near home and the rest are getting a great rate at the Woodlands Hotel.’
A week after the wedding, Molly was heading off to Italy with Roz and the girls for a few days’ break.
‘You are coming, Molly, even if I have to drag you there myself!’ Roz had told her dramatically.
‘You badly need a holiday,’ insisted Emma and Grace. ‘Dad would want you to go – you know that!’
In her heart she did know that. She knew that David would want her to be happy, to enjoy things, to accept that the world kept turning no matter how bad or sad she was feeling, and that her life would have to go on without him.
Chapter 55
GINA HAD METICULOUSLY CHECKED AND RE-CHECKED ALL HER preparations for Libby and Brian’s wedding. She wanted the young couple to have the perfect day in the perfect place. The tables and chairs and table linen and plates and cutlery and glasses had all been delivered in good time to Mossbawn House, and Kim and Inga had helped her to set the room up. Libby had brought along some wonderful tall white lanterns and candles, and, taking Molly’s good advice, the bride had chosen swathes of spring flowers which looked wonderful on all the tables but were also scattered in tall vases and jugs and containers all around the house.
Gina had done as much preparation beforehand as possible and the dessert was in the chill cabinet of her spare fridge. She was so glad that she had taken Norah’s kitchen equipment, as she certainly needed it now. For starters there was a large platter of tasty antipasti for each table, followed by slow-roasted fillet of beef with herb-tossed potatoes and a variety of vegetables, then a rich chocolate-and-hazelnut torte with home-made praline ice cream for dessert. Inga would help her in the kitchen and she had hired two Polish friends of hers and Brendan, a cousin of Paul’s who was strapped for cash and had worked in a hotel, to help with serving the food and drink.
She prayed that everything would run smoothly and could feel her adrenalin surging as she raced around trying to get everything done.
‘It will all be fine,’ said Paul reassuringly. ‘You are used to running things like this. Think of some of the massive events you catered back in Dublin.’
‘I know, I know – but here is different because if I mess up everyone will know about it!’
‘You won’t mess up!’ he declared loyally. She wished that she had his belief in her ability. She went to bed early, as she planned to be up in Mossbawn by eight, she had so much to do and organize.
It was drizzly and wet when she woke up, the day grey and dull as she loaded things into her car and Paul and herself drove to the house. Molly and Kim were already busy and the tables set with their candles and flowers looked amazing.
Libby had given them her guest list yesterday and Molly and Kim were going around placing the individual hand-written name cards on each table, meticulously following the table plan. Brides and grooms spent hours trying to get their tables organized, so it was really important to get it right.
Gina disappeared off to the kitchen, saying a silent prayer that all would go smoothly and calmly. There were bags of vegetables and potatoes to prepare. She discovered that they were missing some water jugs, but a quick call to Andrew Lynch, the manager of the hotel, and it was sorted; Paul offered to drive over to collect them. She kept an eye on the clock and suddenly noticed that it was almost lunchtime and that soon the bride would be driving to the church.
‘Is everything going okay?’ asked Molly, who had changed into a beautiful aquamarine silk suit. ‘I can stay and help if you need me.’
‘Thanks, but we’re fine. Kim is setting up the glasses in the living room for the champagne when everyone arrives back from the church. We are leaving the French doors unlocked, so if it dries up people can spill out on to the patio and chat out there.’
‘Don’t forget to get someone to dry the chairs and tables and throw out the cushions if it does clear,’ Molly reminded her. ‘Well then, I’d better hurry. I don’t want to be late for the church,’ she said, grabbing her clutch bag. ‘Everything looks beautiful, Gina. Well done! Anyone would want to get married here.’
‘Molly, thanks, but it’s your house! It’s the perfect place for a wedding.’
Once Molly had left, the serious countdown began. Everyone changed into their black-and-white uniforms. Kim, in a simple black dress, was helping out too and Gina noticed her taking lots of photos of the tables and flowers and the lanterns and things. She and Brendan would serve the drinks while the girls helped her with the food.
An hour and a half later, the first of the guests had begun to arrive and the champagne flowed. The bride and groom and the wedding party were getting their photos taken in different parts of the garden.
‘Is everything okay?’ worried Molly, coming into the kitchen to her.
‘Everything is fine. Relax and enjoy your friends’ wedding!’ she urged. ‘Go and have some champagne!’
The drizzle had finally cleared up by the time the bride and groom arrived to join their guests in the drawing room. Kim partially opened the doors and put flowers on the outside tables as some people went out into the open air.
Libby looked absolutely beautiful in a fitted cream lace dress, her dark hair partly up in an antique jewelled tiara. Her eyes sparkled with happiness as she and Brian made a point of talking to everyone. Trish and Larry were pleased as punch and went around introducing everyone and catching up with all the relations and the new in-laws.
‘It’s all going so well!’ Kim grinned, coming in to get some more champagne. ‘You can tell they are all really enjoying themselves.’
An hour later everyone had moved to the candlelit orangery. The combination of flowers, glass and lights with Molly’s statues, orname
nts and plants had certainly created the necessary surprise element. Father Darragh said the grace before the meal, then the dinner service began.
Once the dessert plates were served, Gina allowed herself a cup of coffee as the speeches began. She remembered her own wedding in the small hotel near where she and Paul had grown up and lived all their lives. They’d had about seventy-five people to the reception in the hotel’s bar and dining room. It was all gold and red, with big roses on the table and velvet curtains, and they’d had chicken as they couldn’t afford the beef. Paul’s brother Billy and his band had played afterwards. It had been a great night, up dancing with all their family and friends. They’d gone to Majorca on their honeymoon for two weeks and when they came home had moved into their little house on Fairdale Crescent, near both sets of families. Every wedding was special and theirs had been such a great family day.
An hour later some of the tables and chairs had been cleared away, the music had started and everyone was up and dancing. She began loading and reloading the dishwasher with glasses and plates, and stacking things into the back of her car. At midnight there would be cocktail sausages and mini quiches for those that were hungry.
‘Gina, everyone is raving about the food!’ Molly said, coming into the kitchen. ‘It’s all working so well, and Trish and Larry are over the moon.’
‘I’m glad to hear that.’
‘You should be very proud of yourself!’ Molly continued. ‘This has worked better than any castle or hotel, and Libby’s having a wedding to remember!’
It was nearly 2 a.m. before Gina finally finished. Brendan and Inga and Kim were still serving drinks and collecting glasses, but things were beginning to wind down. In an hour maybe she would slip away. Her feet were killing her, but otherwise she felt ecstatic about how the day had gone. She hadn’t lost it, the ability to cater a big event and run it well!
Chapter 56
MOLLY HAD GONE OFF TO ITALY FOR A WEEK WITH HER FRIENDS, leaving Kim to mind Daisy. Gina called over the next afternoon to collect the remainder of her equipment, which had been left in the utility room.
‘The wedding was brilliant, Gina. Everyone was saying how well you organized it.’
‘Thanks for all your help,’ she smiled. ‘You and Molly made having it here easy.’
‘Weddings are always wonderful,’ replied Kim, ‘no matter if they are big or small, because it’s all about two people being in love and committing to each other for life.’
She wondered if she would ever find someone to love and commit to. She was seeing Luke, and even though it was early days their relationship felt right. They both just wanted to be together all the time.
‘Also, when you cater a wedding,’ Gina confided, ‘people don’t want to scrimp and scrape on the big day. So for once their hearts overrule their heads and they spend, whether it’s a family dinner for thirty people or a big bash for two hundred.’
‘Are you doing lots of weddings?’
‘Unfortunately things are pretty quiet since the café shut down,’ Gina admitted. ‘I used to get a lot of my work through our customers, but now that’s gone I desperately need to find a way to attract more business.’
‘Maybe if you had a website people could go on to that and find out about what you do,’ Kim suggested.
‘Do you think that would work?’
‘Yes, definitely. Brides spend half their time on the internet searching out venues and flowers and dresses and all kinds of things. The girls in my office used to spend hours just looking at locations and churches and invitations and menu packages!’
Before she knew it, Kim was discussing helping to create a website to promote Gina’s business.
‘I’d keep the site very simple,’ she advised, ‘with menus and photos, and information about you and what kind of events you do and how to contact you. I’m working on a website for Mossbawn, but I’ve done one for my friend Evie. You should check it out. She’s an artist. Her stuff is great, but the galleries take so much commission if you manage to sell a painting that it’s crazy! And even getting to show at a gallery is really hard. The website is getting lots of hits and already she’s sold a few more paintings and sketches and has got a few commissions. One guy in California has even bought a painting and wants another for his sister. She’s having a big exhibition in a few weeks, so the website will help promote that too.’
‘I’d love to have a website, but I’m afraid I’m not very techie,’ Gina admitted. ‘I’m far better on the cooker than the computer.’
‘That’s fine, because I could set everything up and then you can just update it. It’s very simple, or otherwise if you need me to I can do it. Do you know the lovely vintage fashion shop in Kilkenny?’
‘Yes, some of their stuff is gorgeous. I got a lovely lace blouse there last year.’
‘I sold them some of my clothes and handbags. Sylvia, the girl who owns it, wanted to put some of their stock up online to reach a much bigger customer base, so I’ve just done a website for them.’
‘By the sounds of it, a website is something I should think about … Let me talk to Paul and see what he thinks,’ agreed Gina, arranging to meet up later on in the week to have a chat about it.
Kim couldn’t believe it – she was finding herself work where she hadn’t expected to. She was also able to take some of the photographs needed for a site and knew that if there were any big techie issues, Piotr was on hand to help her sort them out.
Having Mossbawn to herself for the few days was weird, but in a nice way. She’d invited Luke over for dinner. He was always cooking them meals in his house, so it was definitely her turn.
She lit the fire in the drawing room and they would eat in the kitchen. There were candles everywhere and it looked really romantic. They saw each other all the time and the more time they spent together, the more she began to care about him. He was old-fashioned and good and kind, and had that rare gift of being happy and content. Walking down the street in the village, the kids from school and their parents would say hello to him; everyone liked Mr Ryan. The truth was, she really liked him too. Their relationship was so different from the one she had had with Gareth; she was far more relaxed and she had fun hanging out with him.
Her balsamic chicken was in the oven, and she was making a prawn pil pil for starters, as guys loved that. Earlier she had made a chocolate cake for dessert. Wine and beer were chilling in the fridge, and she ran upstairs and changed out of her usual jeans and jumper into a black dress that she hadn’t worn for ages. Her hair was longer and she had lost some weight; all that garden work and dog-walking sure beat sitting at an office desk all day! As she tipped her eyelashes with mascara, she realized that she had changed so much from what she was – obsessed with make-up and clothes and looking good and going to the right places … It all seemed so long ago.
Daisy began to bark and she tore down the stairs to let Luke in. He pulled her into his arms and as she kissed him she knew tonight would be perfect, because she was with him.
They had a drink first, curled up on the couch in the living room.
‘Let me help you,’ he offered in the kitchen when the food was ready.
‘You open the wine!’ she giggled as she carried the piping-hot prawns to the table.
‘Wow!’
She burst out laughing and as they ate the hot spicy shellfish they chatted easily. Luke always had so much to talk about.
She told him about Gina.
‘That would be great for her and for you!’ he said.
‘Well, hopefully it works out,’ she replied cautiously. ‘But I still need to get a job.’
‘Kim, I know it must be so different for you living here compared to working in the city, but you’ll get used to it – believe me, you will!’
‘I know. But Luke, I need to earn. I’m staying here with Molly at the moment, which is great, but I need to have a proper income.’
‘Maybe the website business will grow and you’ll find something else
as well,’ he said encouragingly.
‘I hope so.’
‘I’d take my class of seven-year-olds in school and the farm any day over a bloody office in London!’ He took her hand, curving her fingers into his. ‘Kim, I want you to stay here. I guess I worry that if you go back to life in Dublin I’ll end up losing you.’
‘You won’t,’ she said slowly. ‘I promise you won’t.’
After they’d eaten they went back and snuggled up in front of the fire, taking turns telling each other about when they were kids.
‘I wanted to be a jockey.’
‘A jockey?’ She laughed.
‘I know – I’m far too tall! By the time I was twelve I was towering over most jockeys, so my dreams were dashed.’
‘I wanted to be a ballerina. Mum used to bring my sister Liz and me to ballet classes every week. I was obsessed with it. But then, like you, I began to grow and realized that I was never going to dance in Swan Lake on some big stage … so I changed to Irish dancing with loads of the girls in my class instead, which was a lot more fun.’
‘Funny how dreams change,’ he said, suddenly serious.
Kim looked at him, his grey-green eyes and long nose with the bump in it from the bang of a football. And the little scar on his chin where a horse had kicked him and his mass of thick, wavy dark hair; and she knew that he was part of her dreams. She thought about him all the time … she couldn’t help herself.
Later, lying in his arms in bed, she watched him breathe, his eyes closed, sleeping. They might only have known each other a short while, but already Kim knew that she loved Luke and wanted to be a part of his life for ever.
Chapter 57
TO MOLLY IT FELT STRANGE GOING AWAY ON A WEEK’S HOLIDAY without David. But Roz and her friends wouldn’t countenance her dropping out of the few days in Italy.
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