‘I’ll be home .?.?.’ I say, ‘to help with the arrangements.’
‘She left her body to medical science, honey, there won’t be a funeral. In a few weeks, Jez wants to do a celebration of her life though. But she did ask for one thing?’
‘What?’ I sniff. I loved Mrs Schwartz so much; even though her body was weak, she was strong. Another woman I looked up to. A woman who truly believed in true love and its power. Hell, maybe this ring brought Dan to me. My mind has been opened to all sorts since being here in Heartwell.
‘That Benji goes to you,’ Dorothy says now.
‘Benji?’ Dan hands me a soft tissue and I wipe my nose.
‘I have him for now, George is gathering his stuff to take him to his place. He will stay there because I have the cat,’ she explains.
‘He needs his basket. Oh, and he loves his little squeaky bone, it’s under the sink. I put it in there because it smells. And his redlead, it’s hanging by the front door, under my purple raincoat, just don’t let him hear you jangle it, he’ll bark the house down.’
‘Do you have anyone there to give you a sweet cup of tea for the shock? To be with you?’ she asks, her concern brimming over.
I look up at Dan still standing over me, a bundle of fresh tissues in his hand, his lips pressed together.
‘Yes,’ I say.
‘She had a good life, honey, remember that?’ Mom is still providing comforting words.
‘I will. I’ll call you in the morning, Mom.’ I take a fresh tissue from Dan and dab my eyes.
‘I love you, honey.’
‘I love you, Mom,’ I reply as I ring off.
‘What is it? What’s the matter?’ Dan pulls me to him and I rest my head on his strong shoulder. I can smell the leather of his jacket as I gather myself together.
‘I just need a minute, Dan .?.?. upstairs.’ I lift my head, wiping my eyes. I move to the staircase and Dan follows close behind, giving me a little space.
As I climb up, I forget about the dip in the last step and almost trip but Dan catches me just in time. He lowers us to the step. There, in the safety of his arms, I cry for my wonderful friend Mrs Schwartz and also for this life I have to leave behind tomorrow.
TWENTY-NINE
Half an hour later, I’m down in the cellar, amazed by the bodies busily working away. There is a buzz of activity but everyone is pulling together with great heart, kindness and camaraderie. Terry, standing precariously on a step-ladder with his huge frame, has already installed overhead dimmers, as the core group he has chosen to start the clearing-out work whistle away. Aaron and his team of builders hammer away. It’s like a scene from one of those reality revamp shows.
‘Right, first things first, the place needs to be power hosed, top to bottom. We will be serving food down here so it needs to pass all inspections for health and safety.’ Finishing the job I started is exactly what Mrs Schwartz would want me to do. She was not the sentimental type, she was a self-proclaimed grab-life-by-the-pants-and-get-on-with-it gal and I take great comfort she is now with Jacob, the love of her life. She struggled so much without him. I glance down at her Claddagh ring again, so happy that I now have a piece of her with me forever.
‘I’m on that, Maggie!’ Peadar from the power hosing truck I first met on my drive into Heartwell raises his hand.
‘Thanks, Peadar! Next, all rest of the barrels and crates need to be removed from under the trap door of the castle so Peadar can begin,’ I shout, hands on either side of my mouth.
‘I’m sending down a group of men from the local farms for that,’ Terry says, coming down the step-ladder, ticking off a list in his hand, ‘they are ready and waiting upstairs.’
‘Brilliant, and all the wine needs to be taken up and stored properly in Dan’s office?’ I say, ready to delegate to the first taker in the room.
‘That’s me and the girls from the Heartwell Book Club!’ Giselle says, as Terry stares at her. ‘I can carry a few wines bottles, Terry. I’m not drinking them! Allez! Men!’ Giselle says with a laugh.
‘I’m JP, by the way, Mary’s better half. I’m supplying the floor and I’ve ten more of Aaron’s men on the way to lay it when it’s set, you’re getting the reclaimed wood from a job I did out in Bearna last week.’ A small, robust man with red cheeks and a thick moustache.
‘Oh hi! That’s amazing! Thank you. I hope your sister is better, Una, isn’t it?’ I remember Mary telling me.
He looks at me with a lop-sided grin. ‘She is, much better, thank you for asking after her, I was able to get away early. My wife told me you’re a lovely person, I can tell she didn’t spin me a lie. Now, the floor must be left settle for an hour.’ JP twists a tool-belt around him.
‘We will take lunch when the floor is being laid,’ I tell him.
‘We are making the table cloths and matching napkins,’ Clare says from the stairwell. ‘Theresa is here, she’s the expert and she’s setting up in the Sweet Orange Room now with her sewing machine.’
