‘Hey!’ There’s smoke billowing out from the oil drum. Dan is waving his hands around. ‘You’re just in time.’ He pulls out a bottle of what looks like champagne from a cooler box under the barbecue.
‘Well, I’m not sure about celebrating. Dan, about the job …’
‘We’re celebrating because I’ve just about finished the book. I’ve written up all the notes and recipes from my travels. Just the last chapter to go.’ He peels off the foil and strains as he twists the cork.
‘The one where you write about finding your truespiritual home.’ I accept the sparkling, fizzing drink he hands me in a plastic glass.
‘Well, seeing as how there isn’t going to be any happy reunion with a long-lost relative, I’ve had another idea that put my roots very clearly on the map, very clearly indeed.’ He finishes pouring himself a glass and holds it high in a toast. ‘So here’s to our future working relationship,’ he says, and suddenly the music has changed to heavy rock before I can tell Dan I’m not taking the job.
Sean is looking over at me, scowling. I’m going to have to tell him that I won’t be his bit on the side. He’s engaged to Nancy and I can drink champagne with whoever I like. I lift my chin and clink glasses with Dan.
‘To new beginnings,’ Dan shouts. I look out at the bay. You’d never believe it was the same place I arrived in four months ago. I take a sip. Who needs Boston when you could be here, drinking champagne and looking out at that sparkling sea. Everything looks just perfect.
‘So, how?’ I ask, enjoying the heady rush the champagne is giving me. ‘How have you found yourself some real Irish roots?’ I shout, just as the music stops suddenly.
‘I’m going to buy some!’ He beams at me.
‘Buy some? How can you buy some ancestral roots?’ I take another sip.
‘Well, if I can’t actually find any real ancestors to put in the book, I can buy me a bit of Ireland.’
That makes me laugh.
‘OK, which bit?’
‘This bit!’ he says, knocking back his glass. ‘I’m buying this farm.’ And I choke on the bubbles that catch in the back of my mouth and I wonder if it’s going to come back up.
‘But you can’t buy this bit. This is Sean’s bit.’
‘I have it on good authority that he’s not going to beable to pay his debts and this place will go up for sale. I’m ready with the cash.’
‘That’s rubbish. Of course he’ll be able to pay. The oysters are fine. Nancy has a load of buyers lined up. He’ll get the cash he needs.’ I put down the glass.
Dan raises his eyebrows. ‘Looks like things have changed while you were away.’
‘A lot has changed since I’ve been away.’ I narrow my eyes at him and begin to feel a steely determination growing inside me.
Margaret appears round the corner of the old barn.
‘Ah, there you two are! Thought you’d be up to no good.’
I can’t bear to tell her how much no good. She picks up the glass of champagne.
‘Good to see so many people here. Even Seamus and Padraig.’ She has her Pearl Princess sash over her arm.
‘Oh, did that journalist arrive?’ She looks around.
‘I got her painting a sign,’ I say, looking sideways at Dan. ‘Now let me show you the barn,’ I suggest. ‘Where’s Grandad?’ I ask as we walk into the old barn together.
‘I’m going back for him now. Oh my feckin’ God!’ Margaret stops and stares from the doorway. ‘It’s feckin’ perfect!’
‘Let’s just hope the public come,’ I say nervously. Whatever Dan means, this festival still matters to Sean by the looks of it. I watch him as he goes to inspect the oysters.
A crowd of women turn up clutching bowls of salad. I recognise them from the Pearl Queen selection night: the school teacher, some of the mums, the librarian and the cleaner. Then Evelyn turns up, grinning.
‘Fishcakes!’ she announces, proudly peeling off the lid of a large plastic box.
Chapter Forty-six
