“Aye. I came back t’ check on the place an’ the door was wide open. No Declan. I’ve looked everywhere ‘bout the camp. He’s gone, lad. I’m sorry. He could be anywhere by now, like.”
I ground my teeth together, wracking my brains. Where would Declan be headed? My gaze jumped to Tess in the passenger seat. Fuck, it was so obvious. I slammed the brakes on, making the wee buffer squeal with surprise. Ignoring the car behind us blasting their horn, I swung the van around, heading in the opposite direction.
“I know where he is, now,” I said to Seamus. “Let’s just be hopin’ I’m not too late, aye?”
“Good luck, fella. Gimme a bell if y’need me.”
When Seamus hung up, I lobbed the phone back onto the dashboard. Tess was staring at me.
“Where are we going?” she gasped.
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. “I’d be takin’ ya back home… t’ what’s left o’ it at least.”
Chapter Thirteen
John-Francis
I’d never been so glad to be right in my entire life. No sooner had the van pulled up outside the charred wreckage of Tess’s cottage, than I spotted Declan. He was crouched down in the ashes, looking every part the maniac I knew he’d become. I’d offered to escort Tess, unsure what my mate was capable of. He was volatile at the best of times, but he wasn’t in his right mind… Yet Tess declined. She’d practically thrown herself out of the van, rushing down what little remained of the garden path towards Declan.
It had been a bit hairy at first. Declan had been more beast than man when he’d launched himself at Tess, grasping her by her throat. I’d panicked, but before I’d managed to get out of the van to help, Tess worked her magic. Declan backed off. His fury had been snuffed out, and I watched them melting into one another. There was something so intense about Declan’s relationship with Tess and now they were back together, so was that curious magnetism. I hung around as they reunited and made up, giving them their privacy. I grabbed my phone, eager to update Ronan.
JOHN-FRANCIS: Tess made it back safely to Appleby. It’s still early days, like, but I think Declan’s gonna be okay.
I didn’t have to wait long for a response. I knew Ronan had been just as tense as I had been, waiting to see how everything was going to play out. He was online instantly, and I watched him typing out a reply.
RONAN: Thank fuck for that. Ya free for a wee call?
Movement caught my eye, and I watched as Tess helped a drunk and wobbly Declan back to the van.
JOHN-FRANCIS: Not just yet. I’ll ring ya as soon as I’m home. Promise.
RONAN: No bother. Speak in a few.
I tucked my phone away, my first genuine smile in weeks working its way onto my face as the passenger door opened.
“A’right, now?” I asked as Tess pushed Declan up into the cab beside me, clambering in behind him.
“Aye,” he replied, his voice sounding gravelly. “Thanks, fella. I owe ya.”
Both of us knew he was referring to more than just the wee lift home, but now wasn’t the time to be getting into it. I put the van into gear and drove off into the night, heading back to the camp.
With Tess back where she belonged, life returned to some semblance of normality. Declan made good with me and Seamus, though I was sure he wouldn’t be living this wee blip down for a long time. It was hard to believe how quickly things settled down, happiness returning and banishing the dark of what had been, with the exception of one important detail – Ronan.
It was safe to say Declan was back on his feet and without the constant worry that had weighed so heavily upon me, I was free to turn my thoughts to ‘what next’. I had promised to reunite with Ronan as soon as I was able to and I burnt to uphold my word.
I knew where he was – a little place on the far Southwest of Ireland – and he made sure to tell me when they were moving on, but parting from Declan was more difficult than I’d imagined. Travelling with my mate in tow was just how we did things. I couldn’t remember much from a time before it was me and him. I wasn’t even sure where to start.
First things first, I needed to break the news to him but how was I supposed to do that without explainingwhyI wanted to go and who I was eager to get back to.
Right, that’s y’sorted wi’ Tess. I’ll just be off t’ meet up wi’ that fella I’d been ridin’ this whole time. Ya’ve met him – remember Ronan? Oh, an’ by the way, I’m a wee gay.
I scrubbed a hand down my face as I paced around inside my caravan. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how Declan was going to react to that. He’d never been forthcoming of his opinions on folks like me. What if he hated me for it? Was disgusted by me? My own fucking ma hadn’t been able to stomach it, and I couldn’t shake the fear that gripped me, terrified of history repeating itself. I wasn’t sure I’d survive such a brutal and cruel rejection a second time.
My phone rang, and it was exactly who I’d hoped it would be. Despite my inner turmoil, I was smiling by the time I answered.
“Howsagoin’?”
“A’right handsome.”
