‘Whatever you recommend,’ I say easily, ‘I’m not a fussy eater.’
‘Good to know. Can ya just bring us a basket of warm bread, some cheeses and Jimmy’s green pesto to start?’ Dan smiles at her. ‘You like all those?’ His eyes dart to me.
‘I do, very much.’
‘Coming right back!’ Gráinne tells us.
‘You do not get service like this in New York.’ I cradle the redwine in my hands, cross my legs and balance the glass on my thigh. I could spend the rest of my life, right here, right now. But again, I tell myself, I can’t. I stare out the small round window, at the falling snow, illuminated by the orange glow from the street lamps.
‘You don’t think it’s odd that I spend my life in a tiny village when you come from somewhere as colossal as New York, yet we get on like a house on fire?’ Dan leans forward, I can smell him again, that cologne. Musky, sexy.
‘Not at all.’ I clear my throat as Gráinne returns with a deep bowl of breads, a selection of cheeses and a delicious smelling pesto, puts them all down and leaves the snug again.
‘This looks delicious.’ I put my wine down on the barrel.
‘Allow me to serve you?’
‘Sure.’ I pick my wine back up as Gráinne comes back with four small plates stacked on top of one another.
‘Is she getting a Dan special?’ Gráinne laughs.
‘She is,’ Dan says.
‘Make sure you eat too,’ she tells him with a wag of her finger.
‘Will you be this bossy with Fergus when he returns from Lebanon next week?’ Dan pokes a finger at her.
‘I can hardly wait .?.?.’ Gráinne shuts her eyes. ‘He’s been very scatty at keeping touch lately! So he better have a bloody ring!’ She snaps them open and both her and Dan laugh.
‘Ya may steer clear of Jack Traynor so,’ Dan says with a tilt of his head.
‘We’re just friends is all. Enjoy, Maggie, see you later, Dan. I’m off to see Marina before she leaves so, I’ll see you up at the hall. I’m praying this Johan romance is for real.’
‘We all are!’ Dan slaps his palm against his forehead.
‘Do you guys really think she’s being catfished?’ I blurt in horror. Again, I have to stop myself from feeling part of this community. I don’t know Marina, I’m just here on a five-day job,it’s none of my business.
‘No, we don’t know .?.?.’ Gráinne throws concerned eyes at Dan as she leaves again.
I watch Dan set out the four small plates on the big barrel. He breaks the bread into small pieces and places cheese on top, puts them on two plates.
‘It’s like watching an artist at work,’ I tell him, enjoying the time I have to really look at him while he’s deep in concentration before I burst his bubble.
‘I’m a simple man with simple pleasures, I’m afraid. They laugh at me in here sometimes. I’d knock in after a really hard day up above, order a pint of Guinness and a basket of warm bread and butter. Read my book by the fire. That would do me.’
‘Sounds amazing.’ My mouth is watering as I watch Dan now break up the other bread and dip it into the green pesto. ‘What do you like to read?’
‘Autobiographies. I love a true story. You like to read?’
‘Do I. I read all the time .?.?.’ I have a sudden flashback of my bedside locker and the tower of self-help books. ‘Actually, I lie, I haven’t read anything bar self-help and confidence-building books in so long. I miss actually reading other things.’
‘I have a book for you. Mary Robinson, our first female president. You’ll love it. In fact, there’s a copy in the phone box we can grab, now tuck in,’ he tells me as I pick up some warm bread and cheese and taste, groan in delight.
‘White Stilton Gold?’ I ask him, my hand covering my mouth as I chew.
‘Yes.’ He looks impressed with my knowledge.
‘I know my cheeses. So, tell me something,’ I say, handing a pesto one to him now. It’s a question I have to know the answer to. ‘You told me about Denise, but I’m wondering have you been properly in love before? Like, head over heels?’ I ask, not quite believing my confidence at this question. He just looks at me, hisunruly dark hair falling over one eye. Again, I feel my face flush but he is flushing too, his neck a little red.
