She wasn’t actually being sarcastic. I did. I almost became a school teacher, until I realised what the pay was like.
“I have a life in New York.”
“Which you don’t love. You’ve told me so many times how much you miss being over here and how you’ve had enough of America. Why can’t you have something long distance with Grant and see how it goes? This is the first man you’ve spoken more than four sentences about since you were eighteen and madly in love with that eejit from your Torts class.”
“I’m not madly in love with Grant.”
“So it’s just sex?”
“No, it’s more than – that.” I growled into the phone, frustrated with myself. “Anyway, I need to go. I’m meeting someone.”
“Who? Grant?”
“Fuck off, Bernadette.”
I didn’t hang up on her because she was my sister and the person who always had my back. But I did pause.
“Talk to me, Marie. What’s happening in that head of yours?”
“What if I did feel more that just immense adoration of his male member?”
“You sound like something from Mam’s dirty books. But seriously, if you feel more you should do more. Isn’t that what we’ve always lived by?” She took a deep breath. “DO you think he wants more?”
“Yes. Yes. I do. And I think I do as well.”
Another pause, this time from her. “You’re going to do something stupid, aren’t you?”
“Probably. I’ll let you know.”
Court finished earlier than scheduled, a pleasant reprieve from a stuffy building on a hot day. I bumped into Grant in exactly the same place I bumped into him every day - what a coincidence – and we arranged for him to come round to mine after he’d met with the rest of his team.
It was just after five when he got there, carrying an overnight bag with him and wearing a big smile.
“My dad suspects something.” Were the words he greeted me with. “He’s asked if I’ve been staying with you when I’ve not been at the hotel.”
“What did you say?” I wasn’t bothered if his dad knew. I just needed to be ready for the fifty questions my dad would have when he found out.
“I diverted his attention elsewhere. We were walking past a jewellers and I saw something I knew my mum would like so that worked. A bit of bling works wonders with my parents.” He shrugged, looking boyish rather than a father of four.
I had a vision of him walking past a jewellers and making a different purchase.
My heart kicked up a notch and I heard the voice of one of the nuns who’s taught me when I was younger.
They definitely weren’t her words though.
What the feck are you doing, Marie Green? Giving your heart away to a man after just a few days? A man with kids who need a mammy. A man whose life’s in more trouble than the fecking Troubles.
Because it’s not just about sex. It’s a connection. One I haven’t had before.
It’s been days, Marie. Days. Not months. Not years. Days.
You could count the hours you’ve known him.
And you’d still feel the same.
“A bit of bling works wonders with most women.”
He nodded, kind of, then shook his head. “It didn’t with Rachael.” Grant followed me into the kitchen, grabbing a beer out of the fridge and sitting down at the island.
