TWENTY-FIVE
It’s dark as I open the vanilla coloured door to the organic market and the sweet smells of ripe fruit and exotic spices fill my nostrils. Immediately, I see Kate behind the till at the back of the store in a matching vanilla apron, her blonde hair in a high ponytail with a red ribbon in it. As I make my way through the store, I can’t help but feel ridiculously excited about my idea. Kate is chatting to another woman at the till, sliding her shopping across the scanner with a loud beep each time it reads a barcode.
‘Hi Maggie,’ Kate says to me, ‘what was that all about above in the hall? Saw ya running out? You looked upset? You okay? Dan wouldn’t tell me anything.’ She gives me a look of concern.
‘Just a misunderstanding is all, all good now,’ I say with a casual wave of my hand.
‘Oh phew. Sorry, this is Amy, she’s just moved here from the Northside in Dublin. She’s opening a coffee van Saturday mornings, has a permit for the square, iced-coffees, fancy hazelnut ones and all that. I keep telling Betsy she needs to do that over in the Teapot Café but she’s very traditional. She’s a cuppa tea and a slice of hot apple pie type of woman.’
‘Nice to meet you.’ The younger woman swings around from packing her brown paper bags to look at me. She has dark oliveskin and a thick paisley hairband holding her dark hair back.
‘You too, I’m Maggie,’ I say, ‘best of luck with the new venture.’
‘Thank you, I was just telling Kate here, I needed a change. I’m in love with two brothers, it nearly killed me. Had to run away for all our sakes. Fresh start down here in Galway at Christmas, I’m excited.’ Amy puts her avocados on top.
‘Oh wow, sounds terribly complicated,’ I watch as Amy lifts her two paper bags into each arm and moves to the door with a nod.
‘You have no idea, one looks like Paul Mescal and the other like Leo Woodall, it’s a hot mess.’ She uses her foot to open the door and exits.
‘First world problems, eh?’ Kate chuckles as she looks for my basket, her eyes darting to my hands.
‘I’ve no shopping. I need to talk to you. It’s urgent,’ I tell her.
‘Go on.’ Kate leans on the till.
Glancing around, the market is quiet, it’s almost closing time.
‘You told me your wedding is small, right? Fifty people and all more or less from the village? Your aunt runs the Moritz Hotel? I remember Jimmy saying she’d probably be relieved if you postponed it? And you have ten thousand saved to go towards the wedding?’ My words tumble out.
‘Correct. All correct. I’m going to look for the dress in Dublin tomorrow.’ Kate is staring hard at me, her eyes curious.
‘How much is the room hire costing you?’
‘It’s free? Why?’ Kate’s lips part as she’s about to ask another question.
‘Hear me out,’ I raise my hand, ‘I think you should cancel. You told me you’re supplying your own food too, right? It’s a buffet reception so it’s not going to cost your aunt much if we do cancel it?’
Kate nods and curls her lip. ‘Aunt Madge would be delighted!’
‘I think you and Jimmy can get married in the cellar at Castlemoon. We have work to do and I leave in a day’s time but I think we can – no, I know we can make it spectacular. A beautiful intimate Christmas wedding in Castlemoon where you will still receive the blessings under the castle roof, a lifetime of love, but I will need your help.’
‘The cellar? I mean I’ve never been down there but .?.?. it’s a cellar!’ Kate looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. ‘I know the Moritz isn’t actually the Ritz but it’s a real function room?’
‘Trust me. You have to trust me, Kate, I’ve done this before,’ I tell her, thinking of Jill’s wedding. ‘I’m really good at it. It can be magnificent. Come look this evening when you’re up for the céilí, speaking of – it’s near that time!’
‘Um, okay.’ But Kate looks less than convinced.
‘It’s your dream to marry at Castlemoon, right?’
‘Yes.’ Kate nibbles on her thumb nail now as I can see her trying to visualise it.
‘Kate, I promise you it will be spectacular, out of this world, and we can use your day to showcase the cellar online for other weddings. Dan desperately needs that. Plus you may need to loan him some of that ten grand.’ I lift my shoulder.
Kate shifts. She straightens up, lifts her chin.
‘I’ll see you up there in an hour, with Jimmy.’ She pulls a hood over the till.
Delighted with Kate’s response I leave the market, out into the worsening blizzard as I rush back up the hill to Castlemoon, my head whirring.
