I pull out the shaving mirror and put on some tinted moisturiser, then a dusting of eyeshadow, mascara and a light pink lipstick. I finish it off with a lick of lipgloss, smack my lips together and then look in the mirror. There is a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. I feel happy with how I look. I wonder if Sean will turn up this evening. My whole body aches for him all over again. I want to tell him that there’s nothing going on between Dan and me. But I know I’ve got to keep away from him. I can’t let what happened on the boat happen again. I run my hands over my hips and go back into Margaret’s room.
‘Wow!’ I say as Margaret turns to me.
‘Wow yourself!’ she beams back. Margaret is wearing a deep blue short dress with a long fish tail at the back. She’s got pale shimmering tights on, blue high heels, several hairpieces, and matching diamanté earrings and tiara.
‘You look fantastic,’ she says, staring at me, her mouth open. ‘Where did you get that dress from?’
I look down at it. My hand touches the little pearl around my neck.
‘It was my wedding dress. Maire altered it for me.’
‘It’s so you! It’s perfect!’
‘The only thing I’ve realised is that I don’t have any shoes to go with it.’ I look at my feet. ‘I threw away the matching shoes.’
‘I’ve got just the thing,’ Margaret says, and dives into the bottom of her wardrobe. ‘Here!’ she pulls out a pair of shoes and turns to me. She’s holding a pair of light pink ballet-style pumps.
‘Oh, Margaret, they’re perfect!’
‘They’re yours. I’ve only worn them once. They’re not me, but they’re definitely you,’ she smiles. ‘Right, let’s go and get this party started,’ she says, scooping up her little clutch bag. I slip on the shoes and she hangs on to my arm for dear life as she totters down the stairs and out into the bar.
There’s a wolf whistle from Frank, and Patsy gives her a proud hug.
‘We’ll be over now. Good luck, love,’ he shouts after us as we totter out into the drizzle. Margaret holds her clutch bag over her head and we clip-clop our way to the library.
Evelyn arrives and takes up her post by the door. Contestants from outside the area turn up and Evelyn directs them behind the screen of books. Even Rosie’s sister, Lily, has decided to enter. I think it’s the chance of dinner for two with Dan that has brought in a lot of the contestants.
‘Not entering yourself?’ says Frank as he sidles into the row of seats behind me. The library begins to fill up. Margaret slips out from behind the book screen to see me.
‘All OK?’ She bobs down as if trying to hide herself from the public. Evelyn and John Joe’s family are here supporting their daughter and a daughter-in-law-to-be, who are both entering. Rosie and her parents and the kids are there supporting Lily. Joan the library’s cleaner, who’s six foot tall with an American football player’s shoulders, is taking part along with the girls from the hairdresser’s. All of them are short with matching hair colour, and Siobhan, the owner. There’s Brid from the bank who’s wearing a brooch in her suit lapel and has decorated her thick glasses with tinsel for the occasion. Deidre, one of the school teachers, who’s heavily pregnant with her fifth child, but has brought a huge following from her class. Even the local vet and the Polish basket-maker from Galway market have come. Gerald brings in Grandad, and Evelyn negotiates him a place down the front after much chair moving.
‘Brilliant turn-out,’ I whisper to Margaret.
‘Oh, I need another wee. It’s the nerves.’ She looks around. ‘Is he here yet?’ she whispers, not taking her eyes off the room.
I shake my head before realising she’s not talking about the same person I am.
‘Oh, no,’ I shake my head again. Just then my heart gives a lurch as Sean appears in the doorway. His hands are shoved into his pockets. People turn to look at him. He spots me and I spot him. I raise my hand in a half wave and he starts to make his way towards me.
‘Oh, look, there he is,’ says Margaret, standing up straight. ‘Dan, over here!’ Dan’s standing in the doorway behind Sean. He rubs his hands together and smiles round at the gathered audience.
‘Excuse me,’ he says, and pushes past Sean towards Margaret. Sean’s face darkens as Dan passes him. Dan slides into the seat next to me, stretches out his long legs and rests his arm around the back of my chair.
‘So, we all set?’ he looks around at the makeshift venue. ‘Would you do me a favour?’ he hands me his camera. ‘I need plenty of shots for this chapter in the book.’
‘Sure,’ I say. I’m much happierhiding behind the camera than I am in front of it.
‘I’m going back there.’ Margaret points to the makeshift green room but she’s looking at Sean. ‘Enjoy yourselves!’ She winks and disappears.
‘No, wait …’ But she’s gone, leaving me with Dan, his arm still around my chair.
‘Actually, I’ve got to check on the um … food,’ I point towards the desk where Frank is now tucking into the sausage rolls. I brush past Dan and he grins.
‘You carry on, I’ll just get a feel for things.’ He stands up after me and walks towards the podium.
Sean’s still standing at the back of the room. His face brightens a little when he sees me and the butterflies do the pogo in my stomach.
‘Hey,’ he says.
