‘I’m making tie-backs for the chairs!’ Betsy shouts from the stairwell. ‘I’m going back to the Teapot Café to do it, so I’ll bring back some apple pies and my mince pies for us all to scoff!’
‘I’m donating some of my castle paintings for the walls.’ Another voice.
‘Thank you all!’ I bend calling up to them. ‘Now, I need ahundred tea-light holders mounted?’ I yell out to any takers.
‘I’m on that!’ Dan says.
‘I’ve borrowed fifty chairs and tables from the Moritz hotel. Kate’s aunt Madge was relieved, she is a one-woman band in the little hotel and they don’t ever host weddings, she was just doing Kate a favour. Seán is collecting them in the trad band’s van so he has a few runs to make. The first load will be delivered at six o’clock when the floor’s settled. Right now, I need someone to drive to Galway city and collect the thousand fairy lights?’ I’m ticking a list off the piece of paper in my hand as a hand tips me from behind.
‘I can do that,’ a man I’ve never seen before offers. ‘I’m Syd, I run the Airbnb with my husband Marv.’
‘Thanks Syd!’ I hand him the address and Eircode as I rip off the end of the piece of paper.
I spin the other way as someone else tips my other shoulder. ‘I’m Father Brady, the local priest. I’ve been sitting upstairs with Kate and Jimmy going over the ceremony. Day off today so I’m in my civilian clothes.’ His nose crinkles in a cute laugh. ‘What can I do?’
‘Hi Father,’ I smile at him, ‘I need place cards and menu cards. I’ve ordered them from this family-run business out by Letterfrack?’ I tear off another piece of paper and hand it to him. He folds it into his wallet. ‘I’m on it, God bless, won’t be long.’
It’s only now, as all these people scuttle around me moving barrels and wine and crates and boxes, I realise I love the hustle and bustle. The pace and flurry of bodies is comforting, a far cry from my reaction to the New York sidewalk outside my old job a few days ago. As I stand in a daydream state, I hear a voice call out.
‘Well, well, well, look at you, my friend.’
My head nearly spins off my shoulders.
That voice. It can’t be?
‘Jill! Jillllllllll! Oh my God! What are you doing here?’ I drop my paper and pencil, run through the cellar to my best friend who is standing at the end of the room in her white bubble jacket. We fall into each other’s arms, almost squeeze the breath out of one another.
‘I cannot believe you’re here!’ I cry tears of happiness now.
‘Of course. You asked for my help, right? I booked flights as soon as I hung up the phone to you.’ From her oversized tote bag Jill produces her phone with the biggest ring light that I’ve ever seen attached.
‘W-what the—?’
‘I’m going to story all of this for you guys,’ Jill tells me, her face lighter and happier than I’ve seen it in years. Old Jill is well and truly back.
‘Don’t squeeze her too hard! Hi Maggie!’ Max pops his head out from behind Jill.
‘Max! Hi! You guys didn’t have to come .?.?.’
‘You know Jill, right? You try stopping her.’ Max pulls me into a tight embrace, kisses the top of my head. ‘So good to see you.’
‘Thank you. You too!’ I can’t believe this. ‘What did I ever do to deserve such amazing friends? I’m overwhelmed you guys came here like this, for me.’ I can’t stop smiling.
‘Eh, you are literally the greatest friend in the world. I know you don’t see yourself as others do, as I do, and I wish you would. You have the kindest heart of anyone I’ve ever met – heck, you were about to jump on a plane to me when you thought I needed you yesterday,’ Jill says throwing her arms out wide.
‘You have been there for her, for us, through it all .?.?.’ Max drops his hand to his wife’s stomach where their beloved baby is growing.
‘Well, thank you, I love you both so much,’ I say, again choked with emotion.
‘So you carry on, Maggie, let me do my thing.’ Jill flicks onthe ring light and it’s so bright it’s like a spaceship has landed! She glides away, talking to the camera now, doing her thing as only she can. The camera loves her because she doesn’t lie, she’s completely natural. I’m glad that she’s here because I want her to be busy, like her doctor said. ‘So, guys, I’m here in Castlemoon in Ireland, in the stunning county of Galway, giving you an exclusive. This is the before .?.?.’
‘Hurry up there, I need to start power hosing,’ Peadar says to her, rolling out his hose pipe.
‘Put me to work,’ Max says. ‘We’re here for one night only, I just flew home and she wanted to come straight here. I’m back to Lisbon tomorrow night, to wrap things up there.’ Max literally rolls up his sleeves.
‘Actually, Max, we could do with your legal brain? Dan’s solicitor is abroad. But we can’t pay you just yet.’ I turn to him.
‘Anything. Maggie, I owe so much to you, it was you who pulled Jill through all those failed IVF cycles, I don’t know how she would have survived it all without you. Whatever you need from me, you only have to ask.’
