‘I’ve never seen you in that jacket.’ I look at him. ‘Makes you look .?.?. so young!’ I joke with him because I’m so aware we haven’t much time left together that it pains me.
‘I feel a hundred this week but thank you .?.?. I should have brought the jeep, what was I thinking walking with this storm grumbling around us!’ Dan shakes his head. ‘Where’s my hat? I always keep my orange hat in this jacket pocket but its jammed here,’ he pulls at the lining and I can tell he’s uncomfortable all of a sudden. ‘Are you packed?’ He has to shout over the noise of the howling wind, distant thunder and the chattering villagers as he takes my hand, squeezes it tightly.
‘Not yet but I’m a fast packer. I’ll do it later before I go to bed.’ My heart lurches and I pray for this storm to continue raging.
‘I can take you to the airport?’ he offers.
‘I have to return my hire car and explain the damage to it and you need to be here to oversee all of this anyway.’ As my words leave my mouth I feel an overwhelming loss, like I’m grieving.
‘Nice one, Maggie!’ Betsy claps me on my back as more villagers pass us and they all greet me like one of Heartwell’s own, which makes me even more pensive.
‘Come back soon, Maggie!’
‘We owe you one, Maggie.’
‘What a brilliant idea, Maggie.’
‘You’re the best, Maggie!’
‘See? They’re all mad about you,’ Dan repeats as again as I bend to tie a lace that doesn’t need fastening. I need to do something to curb my emotion.
The fact is .?.?. Dan hasn’t asked me to stay.
And I know it’s totally crazy to think that he would after less than a week. But I would give anything to remain herein Heartwell. I’m going to miss this village so much and the wonderful people who live here. How is it I feel so at home here? Why is it it’s so far away?
A car horn beeps from behind us as I stand back up.
‘Good man!’ Dan shouts as he shelters his eyes from the driving snow and we both see Terry in the jeep, his head sticking out the window and beckoning us over.
When we reach Castlemoon, Mary has the trestle table set up alongside the reception desk. It’s lined with flasks marked ‘Tea’ and ‘Coffee’, with paper cups piled high and jugs of water and juices, bowls of fruit, popcorn, crisps, nachos, hummus and bread sticks, cheese and crackers and sausage rolls.
‘You really are Wonder Woman,’ I tell her, embracing her.
‘Don’t think Wonder Woman had a gammy hip.’ She leans to the side.
‘Not for much longer!’ I clap as Mary folds her arms then limps away as my phone rings. I pull it from my coat pocket, read the screen. It’s my mom.
‘Mom?’ I do a tally of hours, it’s the early hours of the morning in New York. ‘Is everything okay?’
‘Honey.’ Mom’s voice is unusually soft and low.
‘What is it?’ I lean against the brick wall as people file past me.
‘Honey, I’m so sorry to tell you but Mrs Schwartz passed away a few hours ago. I was there with George and Jez and Marcelo. She took a turn yesterday and called me, I called Jez and he got the first flight out. It was very quick and very peaceful, honey.’ My mother’s voice is soft and soothing and it’s a tone I hardly recognise but somehow, in this moment, I’m immediately brought back to when she told me she was leaving Dad and we were moving to New York.
‘Honey?’ Her concerned voice again.
For years, I’ve carried the trauma of my parents’ divorceand my father’s infidelity. But now, in this saddest of moments, I remember clearly my mother’s kind but honest explanation. Now, I realise how hurt she must have been. How lonely. How stoic.
‘Maggie? Are you okay? I’m so sorry to have to tell you like this but I knew you’d want to know. I was really hoping you’d make it back in time to see her, but it was so fast in the end.’
‘She didn’t suffer?’ I ask, fresh tears forming, rolling down my cheeks.
‘No, she was smiling when she passed, like she was thinking of something wonderful, or she was in some wonderful place .?.?.’ Mom continues to soothe me.
‘Ireland, probably,’ I whisper on a shaky breath and I raise my left hand in front of my face to look at her ring. It was like she knew her time was nearly up when she gave it to me.
‘Maggie?’ Dan stands in front of me now, concern etched on his face. I just nod to him, tears still streaming.
