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  He nodded, and drank his coffee calmly. “I want her to be with me.”

  “What did the doctor say, Jack? What does he think about you relocating her?”

  “He said it wasn’t in her best interest.” His jaw clenched. The doctor’s advice must have been unwelcome. He looked furious. It was as if he was so used to getting his own way he wasn’t capable of taking someone else’s feelings into account. Someone else’s needs.

  “But you’re planning to move her anyway.” There wasn’t any point in shouting, he wasn’t going to listen to her. He glared at her stubbornly and didn’t reply. “I know you want family, Jack, but you have to think of what’s best for her. Have you even taken her life into account while you’re rejigging yours to make room for her?”

  Little prickles of heat flooded her face. Despite his warning look she was too far gone to back down now. She’d known Jack was arrogant, but this went beyond arrogance, this was right up there in control freak territory.

  “And your life too, I suppose.” He slammed his mug down on the table. “I’m only asking you to come for a visit.”

  “You’re not asking, you’re telling. You’re organizing my life without even finding out what I think about it.” She turned away from him, pain welling up in her chest. She’d spent the afternoon struggling with tortuous thoughts of what she might have to give up in order to have a relationship with Jack. Whatever she was going to do would be her decision.

  “I won’t be told what to do, Jack, I’m never giving over control of my life again.”

  “Is this about your wedding?” he asked, “Being left at the altar? Because I didn’t leave you at the altar, Annie. It was a long time ago.”

  “So get over it? Is that what you’re saying?”

  She glanced around for something to throw. He had it coming.

  “Yes. You’re not the only one who lost out, he lost out too.”

  “Because he ended up with my friend, not me.” She frowned at him cynically; she had no idea where he was going with this one.

  “Because he left his home, and she did too, and I’m guessing they haven’t shown their faces in Durna since.”

  She stopped dead. He was right, neither of them had returned.

  “So, that’s two families torn apart. Just so you’re not upset.” He strode towards the door. “It’s not just your parents who look after you, it’s the whole town.” He stared into her eyes with fury in his. “And they do it because you let them. You play the victim card. I’m going to the hotel to pack, I have a flight tomorrow morning.” The door slammed loudly behind him, and she stumbled towards the window just in time to see him accelerating away. The deep roar of the engine faded into nothingness. He drove away, out of her life.

  ****

  “A whiskey,” he ordered, sliding onto the polished chrome barstool. “And some nuts, if you have them.”

  The waiter nodded, placing a glass before him and a small jug of water. He turned to make elaborate cocktails for the two girls who waited next to him. Jack had thought about ordering room- service, but given up on it, too wound up by their argument to sit in the cold sterility of the suite.

  “Hi, are you waiting for someone?” A tall blonde, a perfect soldier for the blonde army, eyed him with a look he knew only too well. In the past, he might have been tempted. Now, with Annie in his bloodstream, he was in no mood for female company.

  “Yes, she’ll be here in a moment.” He picked up his glass and retreated to a shadowy booth in the corner like a bear retreating into its cave. Annie’s words replaying in an endless loop in his tired brain.

  You’re planning to move her anyway. He threw back the whiskey. She hadn’t even listened to his side of things, but had jumped to conclusions without waiting to hear what he had to say. He’d made the decision Mary couldn’t be moved, and the repercussions hurt like hell. To know his grandmother, he’d have to reorganize his entire life.

  He caught the eye of a waitress, and ordered a double. The cold burn of anger faded to melancholia. The last thing he should have done was walk out. Annie had such issues with abandonment, and it hadn’t just been Steve, had it? The bridesmaid had betrayed her too. His head pounded and he threw back the fiery liquid with a growl. He should have stayed and forced her to listen to his side of things.

  The bar was full of laughing groups of people, men and women flirting and leaning closer. Being here was even worse than being alone. With a snort of disgust, he drained his drink and tossed some notes on the table. He strode upstairs to the room. At least there, he could be miserable in peace.

  ****

  Annie padded into the kitchen. She reached up into the top cupboard, and pulled down the bottle of Cinzano. She grabbed ice from the freezer and clinked two cubes into a tall glass. She snagged a half-full bottle of lemonade from the fridge door, and she was in business.

  She walked back into the sitting room, flipping open the phone. No messages, and no missed calls either. She scrolled through her contacts, staring at his number. Her finger hovered over the call button for a moment before she tossed it onto the sofa in disgust. Ice clinked against her teeth as she drank. Her mind ran over their angry exchange like a CD on repeat. None of it mattered. He was gone.

  She strode into the bedroom and packed a small suitcase, needing to get away from the scene of the crime.

  The pillow was still dimpled with the indent of his head. In her imagination, she could see him still lying there, arms behind his head, staring at her.

  I love him.

  It shouldn’t have been a surprise, but somehow it was. She climbed under the covers. The pillow smelled of him, and she hugged it to her chest. Breathing him in with every breath. She longed for the feel of his body against hers with a bittersweet sadness. The man she loved had walked away. And what was worse, she’d let him. She tossed the pillow across the room. He’d accused her of playing the victim, and maybe he was right. But no more. Resolve hardened as she made plans for the day ahead. With or without Jack, she had some changes to make in her life. Starting tomorrow.

  ****

  By the time Annie arrived in Durna the following morning the sun was up. When she’d started out, black clouds had hung threateningly in the air, but now a stiff wind was blowing them away. The golden glow of the sun warmed her face through the windscreen. She pushed open the door and went in, relief flooding her at seeing her mother sitting at the table with a large mug of tea.

  “Hi, Mum.”

  “You’re early!” Maeve got to her feet, immediately enveloping her in a hug. “We weren’t expecting you till this afternoon!”

  She glanced behind Annie. Looking for Jack.

  “Jack has to go back to America. Some work emergency.” She sat down on her favorite chair.

  “How’s things?” Maeve asked quietly. She pushed a cup of tea toward Annie and waited. Silence stretched between them. Was Jack right? Did everyone think she was still pining over Steve and Eileen’s betrayal, even two years later?

  “We had a fight, I don’t know if we can fix it.”

  Maeve drank, waiting for her to continue.

  “Tell me about Steve and Eileen, Mum.”

  “Well, you know they got married, and she’s had a baby.” Maeve eyed her curiously. “They’re living in Galway. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to open up old wounds…”

  “It’s a long time ago, I’m over it.” When Steve had walked away she’d thought she’d felt pain. It was a hangnail compared to the amputation of Jack’s desertion.

  “Having to tell everyone at the church it was over was so traumatic for you. It wasn’t fair. Everybody blamed them. They still do.” Maeve’s mouth twisted. She’d always guarded her only child like a lioness protecting her young.

  “I guess everyone’s thought of me as a victim.” The truth reflected in her mother’s eyes stung. “I should have stayed, instead of running off to Dublin.”

  “Everyone has their problems, Darling,” Maeve reached out
to pat her hand. “But it makes it easier if you talk about them, otherwise…”

  “Otherwise people don’t know you’ve worked through it. And you’ve moved on.” She finished Maeve’s sentence.

  “Yes,” Maeve nodded. “We haven’t discussed it, or Steve, since the wedding.” She gathered her daughter into a hug.

  “Things have moved on now. You have Jack.”

  Tears threatened. Not any longer. She should have called him. Tried to make him see it wasn’t fair to relocate his grandmother. Tried to work it out. Instead, he’d got on the plane alone.

  Things had changed since the festival, since Jack had announced he was her boyfriend. People were friendlier, more open. They were able to talk to her about their own problems in love because there was no possibility of brushing up against a sensitive subject and opening old wounds.

  Jack was right, damn him.

  I’ve been so caught up with what people think about me, I haven’t taken the time to see what’s going on in their lives. After the festival was over things were going to be different. She was going to act differently.

  The kitchen door opened.

  “Ah, Annie, you’re here!” her father made his way to the table. “So, you got it.” Bull nodded his approval. “We knew you would, your mother and me. We knew there wasn’t anyone on the island who could make chocolates better than you.”

  “Anyone anywhere.” Maeve doctored a cup of tea with just the right amount of milk and handed it over to her husband.

  “There’s a presentation on Friday, I hope you can come down for it, I’ll drive you down.”

  “There’s a lot more than a carful of us going, when I told them in the pub yesterday Niall started talking about getting a bus load together.”

  “Really?” She couldn’t believe it. A large smile spread across her face.

  “For sure,” Maeve said, “They were cheering in the pub, and it turned into a real hooley. It was just a shame you weren’t here. Everyone’s delighted for you, Love.”

  Annie rubbed her eyes, surreptitiously wiping away the trace of tears.

  “That’s lovely.” She stared into her cup, willing the tears away. “So tell us, how did the matchmaking go? Can I have a look at the book?”

  “Of course you can, there ‘tis.” He pushed it close.

  She pulled the book to her and flicked through the pages, stopping at Jack’s handwriting. The bold strokes of the letters flowed over the page, so different from the small, tight writing preceding it. A picture of Noel was pasted in at the top left corner. She started to read the entries, beginning with her own.

  Noel is 29 and works in farming. He’d like to meet someone who is interested in cinema and walking. He’s quiet.

  Then Jacks more flamboyant hand took over, Noel loves Yeats, and has a great sense of humor. He’s not ambitious, just happy to make enough to see him comfortably through life. The thing he’d like to do more than anything is go around the world, so he can immerse himself in new cultures, and see new things. He’s been in love before, and knows that when love goes wrong, it hurts. But he’s ready to take a chance on love again. He wants to meet a new lady who he could walk over the hills with while they explore the interests they have in common, and the ones they don’t.

  She smiled. He’d described Noel exactly. It had taken Jack’s probing to reveal the truth about the quiet man she’d known all her life. The details of his date with Annabel were written in, together with a postscript written in Bull’s distinctive print.

  Matched.

  She looked up at Bull. “Is he really?”

  “He is for now,” said Bull. “These days, for now is all I can predict.”

  “Relationships are difficult.” Maeve nodded. “You can’t just take a relationship for granted. You have to work at it.”

  “Unless you’re married to me,” Bull added. Maeve raised her eyebrows, staring him down until he started to quake with laughter.

  Noel gazed from the photograph with open honesty. He’s been in love before, and knows that when love goes wrong, it hurts. She re-read Jack’s words. Her father, with years of experience could only say a couple were matched ‘for now’. If he couldn’t tell, there was no one in the world who could say if love would last forever. She ran a finger over Jack’s handwriting, loving its sweeps and dips.

  He’d booked a ticket without consulting her, and told her some home truths she needed hearing years ago, if truth be told.

  You can’t just take a relationship for granted; you have to work at it. Her mother’s words resounded in her head. Jack was an alpha male who needed to stop controlling everything and everyone. He was also a man who wanted to take their relationship to another level. He’d booked her a ticket to New York so she could experience his life, like he’d experienced hers. She already knew she loved him. Was she truly ready to throw away their relationship without trying?”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Annie hefted the cardboard box full of bunting to decorate the dance floor out of the trunk and onto her hip and staggered toward the village hall. Noel saw her coming and hurried to help.

  “We’ll put these up.” He took the box out of her arms and carried it to where Annabel waited next to a ladder in the corner. The hall swarmed with busy people, and her ears filled with the buzz of sound, amplified by the hard wooden floor. Jack was right. She wasn’t needed after all. Every job that needed doing was being done. Enthusiastically. Annie bit down on her lip and pushed open the door to the quiet outside. As she walked over the grass, the buzz of voices faded into the distance. She prodded a dry patch of grass with her foot, and then sank down on it, gripping her knees tightly to her.

  The sea was calm. Light flickered off the water, and seagulls shrieked and dove overhead. She plucked a long strand of grass from the ground next to her, stripping off the sheath, picking at it with her fingers. The exposed inside was milky green. She brought it to her lips and sucked it, the soft sweet taste bringing her right back to childhood.

  A little white yacht bobbed on the waves. As she breathed in the fresh sea air a feeling of rightness settled in her heart. It wasn’t too late; it wouldn’t be too late until the little boat set sail, without her.

  She jumped as her mobile rang, and pulled it out of her pocket. It was Jack. He must be calling from the airport.

  “Hello, Jack.” Her heart turned over.

  “Hi, Annie.” The wind was picking up. Surfers were running into the water to catch the foam topped waves.

  “I need to talk to you. The way we left things…”

  “It wasn’t right.” Without his face in front of her, it was easier to lay her feelings bare. He’d already left, she had nothing to lose.

  “No. It wasn’t. I acted like a child. I should have stayed and talked it out. There’s a lot you didn’t understand. A lot I didn’t tell you.” A blond surfer climbed up on his board, riding the wave towards the shore. “I’m sorry I left. I won’t do it again.”

  Warmth bloomed in her chest. There were problems between them, but if he was willing to talk them through, she was too. It was just unfortunate that they’d have to wait until he got back from New York.

  “Will you call me when you’re coming back?”

  “I’m coming back now. I’ll be with you in five minutes.” The line went dead. He must think she was still in the flat. She’d gotten up before daybreak to head home. Driving through the dark beat lying in her lonely bed fretting over things hands down.

  She flipped the phone open to call him back, then her fingers stilled on its buttons at the familiar purr of a large engine. Her heart leapt into her mouth as she turned from the sea.

  Jack climbed out of the BMW and strode towards her. His eyes blazed with fire as he halted before her.

  “How did you know I was here?” Her heart was beating so fast her head swam with the power of it. Jack. No longer a disembodied voice, but here, in the flesh.

  “You told me about the ceili.”

  S
he nodded. She’d forgotten.

  “I thought you had a flight to catch.”

  “I changed it.” He stepped closer. “I’ve rescheduled it for tonight. From Galway.” Her head tilted up to meet his gaze. “For one.”

  “Let’s walk.” She grasped his hand and tripped down the little path meandering over the cliff top, joy that he was with her lightening her steps. Soft, springy purple heather brushed at their ankles. At a secluded spot, sheltered from the wind, they settled down on a spot of grass. Her heart expanded with happiness when Jack draped an arm over her shoulders.

  “I told you I wanted my grandmother to come and live with me.”

  Annie held her breath. This was where their conversation had taken such a desperate turn the night before. She was determined not to interrupt this time.

  “And I told you what her doctor suggested, and how disappointed I was. What I didn’t tell you was that I accepted his decision. It wouldn’t be fair to make Mary move. This is the only home she’s ever known. I told the doctor I’d have to think of something else.”

  And she’d accused him of not caring about his grandmother. Of thinking only of himself. No wonder he’d been so angry. She’d misjudged him.

  “I got it wrong,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”

  “No. You were right. I did want Mary to move. And I was damned angry when the doctor told me I couldn’t have my way. It took the long drive to your house to convince me I had to put her needs before mine.”

  He stroked the side of her face, running his thumb over her bottom lip. Passion flared and set her body alight.

  “I’m considering relocating to Ireland.”

  “But what about your work? The company needs you, that’s why you’re going back after all, isn’t it?”

  Hope danced in her chest, lit her eyes with its magical glow. Perhaps they did have a future together.

  “Our clientele has just become international. Now I’ve clinched the Bateau Rouge deal. I want to reorganize things, take a business partner. I’ve been thinking about spending more time here.”

  Her hair blew across her face and he smoothed it back. The warmth of his hand caressed the back of her neck as he propelled her face towards his. Their kiss was everything she’d known it would be.