‘Oh, thank you, Tom. That means a lot.’
‘Congratulations,’ Claire said to her, as Tom turned away to serve a customer. ‘I hope it’s a great success.’
‘Thanks. This is so exciting,’ she said, looking around at the guests, the big displays of her book, and the posters of the cover. ‘Nerve-racking, but exciting.’
‘I’m really pleased for you, Rosy. The book is brilliant – you deserve it.’
‘I still can’t believe it! It’s just so amazing to see my name on a real book.’ She took a slug of her wine. ‘I really hope you’ll be next, Claire.’
‘Me too,’ Claire said, with a wistful smile. Rosy knewshe was a writer. Their paths had crossed several times at writing and publishing events.
‘Excuse me.’ Rosy’s editor approached, touching Rosy’s elbow. ‘Sorry to interrupt,’ she said to Claire, ‘but I think we should start the speeches now, okay?’
‘Sure,’ Rosy said, putting down her glass. ‘We’ll talk later,’ she said to Claire, as her editor led her to the lectern they had set up in a corner of the shop.
Claire had always felt a twinge of envy at events like this, and now, even though she had a publishing deal, she still felt a little jealous of Rosy as her editor made a glowing speech about the book. She wondered if she would ever have a night like this, and imagined Mark making a speech about her, telling everyone what a wonderful writer she was, what a great book she had written. As thrilled as she was that he was publishing the blog book, it would be amazing to have a book published that she could actually put her name to – one she could tell her family and friends about, something that would make her mother proud.
She needed to make more time to work on her novel. She had been neglecting it lately, preoccupied with looking after her mother, seeing Luca and writing her blog. But she wanted to get it into shape so she could let Mark read it. It was another reason why it was the right time to wind up the blog – it would free her to work on her novel. Because this was what she wanted, she thought, as Rosy was introduced and took the microphone. She wanted to be standing where Rosy was some day, and she had to do everything in her power to make that happen.
On Saturday Claire got ready to go out for her third date with Mark. He had flown into Dublin in the afternoon andshe was meeting him for dinner at a restaurant close to the Merrion Hotel, where he was staying. It was a pity that he didn’t have more time, but he had just managed to squeeze in a quick visit between a friend’s stag in London last night and travelling to Edinburgh tomorrow for a christening. She was flattered that he had made such an effort just to spend a few hours with her.
‘You look lovely,’ her mother said, when she came downstairs.
‘Thanks.’ She had bought a new dress especially for the occasion. ‘I won’t be late,’ she said.
‘Be as late as you like,’ Espie said. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t be waiting up for you.’ She was sitting at the kitchen table, but Claire noticed that she sounded breathless, and there was a slight tremor in her voice as she spoke.
‘Mum, are you okay?’ Claire asked, crossing to her and peering into her face.
‘I’m fine,’ Espie said, but there was a definite wheeze in her voice that struck fear into Claire’s heart.
‘You don’t sound too good.’ She sat at the table, putting a hand over her mother’s. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t go out.’
‘Don’t be daft. I just overdid it a bit today.’ Nancy and Michael had taken her to the Japanese Gardens in Kildare. ‘It’s probably all the fresh air, making me tired. I’ll take it easy for the night and I’ll be fine.’
‘I can easily cancel. Mark won’t mind.’
‘After coming all the way over from London just to see you? You arenotcancelling on him.’
Claire thought. Maybe she could ask someone to come over. Neil and Michelle never went out on a Saturday. Maybe one of them could?—
‘And before you even think it,’ Espie said, ‘you are not setting Michelle on me. I’ll be grand. If the worst comes tothe worst, I have the panic button.’ She pointed to the medical-emergency necklace she always wore.
‘Call me before it comes to that.’
‘I will. But I’m feeling better already,’ she said, and her voice did sound stronger. ‘Go on, you’re not getting out of your date that easily, my girl.’
‘Okay. But promise you’ll call me if you feel at all wobbly.’
‘I promise.’ Espie patted her hand. ‘Now go – enjoy yourself, and stay out as late as you want to. Don’t come home at all, if you like.’
‘Mum! Iwillbe home.’
‘It’s so lovely to see you,’ Claire said to Mark, as they were seated in the restaurant. ‘I can’t believe you came over just for one night.’
‘You’re worth it.’ His eyes glittered as he gazed at her. ‘You look gorgeous.’
‘Thanks.’ Claire blushed. ‘So do you,’ she said shyly. If she wasn’t worried about her mother, she would have gone to his hotel room with him tonight if he’d asked her. She wanted badly to kiss him, and she could have made out with him without worrying that he would expect sex. It probably wasn’t helping that she hadn’t seen Luca all week. Maybe in future she should have a session with him to take the edge off before going out with Mark – like eating before going to a party.
