‘No. At sea. Another of my insecurities, I have no idea where I belong.’ I perform a swimming action, extending my free arm out over my head and back.
‘At sea? Wow, that’s unusual alright, but New York is home now, no?’ He runs a finger around his bowl, licks it. ‘It’s beautiful in New York at Christmas. It’s like one big movie scene.’
‘You’ve been to New York? Many times?’
‘Just once, wasn’t the best trip for various reasons although I – ah, never mind it’s a long story .?.?.’ He stops, like somethingdifficult has just entered his mind, I feel it in his energy again, and I just want to squeeze him.
‘It is home now and, well, for the last twenty-something years but it’s just never felt that way.’ I open up to him again, it just feels so natural.
He takes a moment before he answers me. ‘That’s tough.’ He listens so intently to me I realise. ‘But the job, magazine writer, you love that?’
‘I love to write, and I love to write about love. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. But I think what I’d really like is to be my own boss,’ I tell him honestly.
‘I see. Are your parents in New York now?’ He asks me questions a lot which I love about him, just feels like he really wants to get to know me.
‘My mom, Dorothy, is. My dad, Jim, lives in Florida. I was telling you my dad’s great-great-grandparents came from Ireland and you’re right, I am that American that really wants to do my heritage tree, but it’s always been a bit awkward with my mom. She was so hurt by my dad’s affair, we kind of avoided all talk of him.’
‘Understandably,’ he says nodding.
‘But as soon as I landed, I just felt connected to the place, it was odd. Really odd actually.’ I watch him, that unruly hair flopping back down over his sharp features.
‘So you’ve no idea where you belong,’ he repeats almost to himself. He lets the words hang in the air of the cellar under Castlemoon. ‘Is there not a freedom in that though?’
‘How do you mean?’ I ask.
‘Well you can travel, see the world. There are no expectations of where you have to settle?’ Those undeniably sexy eyes are wide.
‘You know what, Dan, I wish I was that person. Someone who just packed a bag, slung it over their shoulder and hit the road,but I’m just not. I always think I’m like a dolphin, I just haven’t found my ocean.’
‘I love that analogy. As you now know, my ocean was written in the stars. But it isn’t what it appears, Maggie. I inherited a title that’s in name only and I couldn’t leave Heartwell village even if I wanted to. I can’t let this place go, but I’m not sure I can keep it going for much longer either.’
Suddenly, I realise I have to tell him about Frederick. I have to tell him what I’ve been asked to do! I have to tell him that I know he’s selling the castle and that he’s in debt.
‘Dan, I –’ I stand up carefully now too, step in front of him. ‘I need to tell .?.?.’
‘Hellloooooooooooooo?’ A booming voice makes us both jump.
‘What on earth!’ I clutch Dan’s arm tightly, his bicep hard under my fingers.
‘Terry!’ Dan laughs, holding his hand up. ‘Told you he knew I was down here. It’s not the first time one of us has got stuck, but I actually forgot we were locked in here for a second.’
I release my grip and Dan picks up the bowls.
‘What did you want to say?’ he asks.
‘Helllooooooooooooooahhhhh?’ The booming voice again.
‘Another time.’ I shrug. ‘Can we talk later? How many Terry’s are there? I’ve heard his name mentioned so many times I’m curious to know what he does around here?’ I can’t just blurt it all out now, we need alone time.
‘Just the one, but one Terry is all any village needs. And he does everything. He’s my right hand man. He can do it all, can Terry and he’s due a baby any day now so fatherhood is his new priority.’
‘Oh, how lovely.’ I smile, immediately think of my poor Jill.
‘Yeah Giselle, who owns the bookshop, Cosy Reads, is Terry’s girlfriend.’ Dan laughs and stands up. ‘Giselle and Terry aregetting married after their baby is born, you could talk to them for your article?’
‘My God, do you guys all just marry one another around here?’
‘Pretty much. Although Giselle is from France – she came here for the oyster festival in 2019 and she never left.’
