Chapter36
Star wriggled on the pub seat to get comfy as Conor went to the bar of the Ferryboat to collect the two roast dinners they had ordered. She had found herself putting on leggings and a big jumper as she wasn’t sure if it was her imagination or not, but since she had found out she was pregnant it seemed like she was ballooning at a rate of knots. It was exactly what had happened to her with Skye. But she had been five months along when she had found out – after Estelle had seen the truth and told her.
She was only a matter of weeks now, but looking at the size of Conor, this was sure to be a big baby. Star winced at the thought. Giving birth to Skye, a tiny five-pound baby, had been painful enough. And Star had forgotten her dislike of being pregnant too. At sixteen, unused to the bump that she thought just made her look fat, she would look in the mirror at her silhouette and cringe. And when all her school friends were dressing up to go to clubs, she was sitting at home in her joggers eating garlic mushrooms dipped in custard! Being older, it would be different this time, she hoped. The hardest bit was going to be telling Conor. Luckily, she had agreed to drive up to Penrigan Head for their walk after lunch, so she didn’t have to make an excuse for her lack of drinking at least. She had it all worked out in her head. Conor, suffering from a huge hangover after his nightout with Darren, had insisted on food before they had their walk. So, with limited daylight, they needed to eat and get up there quickly. Her plan was to tell him where they had seen the dolphin and kissed. Set the mood. It would be fine, she kept reassuring herself.
‘Diet Coke?’ Star laughed when Conor returned to their table. ‘You must feel bad.’
‘I tell you, it’s that cloudy poison. I am nevereverdrinking it again.’
‘Are you sure you want to go for a walk?’
‘Yes, the sea air will do me good.’
‘We will need to eat and leave as it gets dark around four now.’
‘Sure, sure. I’m just going to inhale this whole plate of food, then I’ll be fine.’
‘How was Daz?’
‘He’s grand. Says he feels a whole lot better, now he’s being true to himself.’
‘Good, and did he mention his dad?’
‘Yeah, that’s not so good yet. He’s hoping with Christmas coming up that it may ease the situation.’
‘Families and Christmas.’ Star sighed. ‘We usually just go to Flo’s, me, Mum and Skye. Mum gets drunk and rude and is usually crashed out by the fire before five. Skye recently is just stuck to her phone, so me and Auntie are the only ones who end up watching the Queen’s Speech and playing silly games together.’
‘Thank heavens for Auntie Flo.’
Star laughed. ‘Thank heavens indeed.’
‘I love my Irish family Christmases. I have three brothers and a sister. It’s quite a party.’ His voice became sad. ‘But I don’t always get to see my Niall any more.’
‘Aw, that’s tough, but wow having all those siblings. Being an only child has its advantages, but big celebrations is certainly not one of them.’ She looked him. ‘Will you go back to London for Christmas then?’
Conor hesitated. ‘Unless I get a better offer, of course.’ He squeezed her knee under the table. ‘Pudding?’
‘Are you having one?’
‘It has to be apple crumble and custard for me.’
‘Just a bowl of custard would be good.’
Conor laughed. ‘You are so sweet. Custard coming up.’ He returned to the table to find Star looking at her phone with an anxious look on her face. ‘What’s wrong,a stóirín?’
‘It’s my mum. She’s fallen over, thinks she might have broken something and wants me to go to her right now.’
‘That’s OK. I’ll come with you. Let me cancel dessert and settle the bill.’
They pulled into the Hartmouth Head static home park slightly blue in the face as Conor had insisted that Star roll the roof back so he could not only see the beautiful coast-road scenery but also allow him some room to manoeuvre his six-foot two frame in her little Smart car.
‘Home sweet home.’ Star parked outside the only dark green unit.
‘Right.’ Conor got out of the car. He had no preconception of his girl’s mother or where she might live.
Estelle Bligh was sitting on the sofa, drink in hand, with her foot lifted up high on to a cushion.
‘So here you are at last!’ she snapped ungratefully. ‘Didyou bloody walk or something? I took some ice out of my drink and just put it on my leg and wrapped an old tea towel around. It’ssooosore. Oh, hello, big boy.’
