‘Yes, they’d be great on the barbecue with the oysters and, well, I just thought you might be the woman for the job.’
‘I suppose I could give them a try. I’ve got quite a lot of fish in the freezer, of course, what with John Joe having the boat.’ She’s thinking. ‘Maybe we could do them in a bun, like a burger …’
‘Perfect!’ I clap my hands together.
‘Well, I’m happy to give them a try. I’ll bring them up to the farm as soon as they’re done.’
We say goodbye and I turn to leave. The sun is shining and my cheeks are warm. I strip off my coat and jump back in the van. I know exactly where I’m going next.
In the pub there’s a smell of cleaning fluids and stale beer. The fire’s lit despite the sunshine outside. Just like when I first arrived in town, I push open the door and it crashes back. I walk in, stand and stare. Propping up the bar are Seamus and Padraig. They pull their hats down and turn towards their pints.
No one says anything. I march over to them.
‘Right, you two!’ To say they’re shocked is an understatement. Seamus clings on to his pint with both hands. Padraig pulls down his baseball cap further. ‘Get yourselves up to Sean’s farm and start putting out the tables and chairs for the festival.’
They stare at me in surprise.
‘You paying us?’
‘You must be joking. Shift yourselves, unless you want me to show Sean those photos I took of the pair of you. Or the Garda for that matter. This is payback time.’ I put my hands on my hips. They nod a lot and push their pints away. ‘Oh, and while you’re at it, seeing as you know the lay of the land so well, you can show the punters across the oyster beds to collect oysters for the barbecue. Clear?’
‘Clear,’ they say, and push and hustle each other out of the pub.
‘Hey lads, not finishing your pints?’ Patsy laughs, watching them go, and takes their pints off the bar. ‘I guess I’ll save them for later.’
‘Patsy, are you still OK to run a bar today?’
‘Got the drink still, it’s just the marquee that’s down.’
‘Great, bring it up to Sean’s farm, say at about two? I’ll have a table laid out for you. Now then, Grandad.’
Patsy nods to him dozing by the fire.
‘Bring him up to the farm too. I’ve got just the job for him.’
‘Righto,’ says Patsy. ‘Grandad, get yourself moving. It’s oyster festival day,’ he calls over as I leave. I feel the excitement too.
Next I check on Margaret who’s working hard on the internet in Gerald’s café. The café looks different.
‘Gerald, you’ve had a clean out!’ All his ex-wife’s clothes and belongings are gone.
‘Time for a fresh start,’ he says, handing me a takeaway tea.
‘It looks twice the size in here,’ I say, impressed.
‘Let’s hope after today I have twice the number of customers,’ he smiles.
Tea in hand, I head back to the van via Frank’s place.
‘Frank, what are you like at tracking down donkeys?
‘Leave it to me, Fi.’ He touches his forehead. Looks like everyone is happy to help.
Chapter Forty-five
It’s a hive of activity back at the farm. Sean has opened up the field opposite as a car park, and there are plenty of cars there already, all in neat rows. Rosie’s kids are doing a great job as car park attendants by the look of it. I park the van where I’m directed with big arm movements like windmills, and smiles to match.
Seamus and Padraig are putting tables and long benches out in the sunshine. Sean is making an old raft into a makeshift stage.
