‘And the winner is …’ Patsy announces and regretfully we pull apart.
‘Finding you was all that mattered,’ says Sean, and tweaks my nose.
‘On presentation … our very ownFi English! Or should that be,’ he consults the clipboard, ‘Fiona Clutterbuck!’ he shouts again so the microphone crackles and pops and whines. The crowd cheer and suddenly I’m swamped by people patting me on the head, hugging me and shaking my hands.
I can’t believe it! I actually won! I’m being pulled out of the crowd and then I’m on the stand again, being handed a silver cup and a fat envelope of cash. Cameras are flashing and the TV crew are right in my face, only this time I don’t mind. In fact, I think I quite like it. I look at the cup then hold it above my head; actually, I love it! The crowd in the barn cheers even louder.
‘I am Fiona Clutterbuck, Champion Shell-Shucker!’ I grin until my cheeks ache. Everyone I care about is here and they’re cheering and clapping.
I grab hold of the envelope and rip it open. Ten thousand euros.
‘What are you going to do with the money?’ the cameraman asks. ‘Go travelling?’
‘No,’ I smile, ‘I’m going to stay right here,’ and I march over to Jimmy Power.
‘Fi, wait!’ Sean catches my arm. ‘You don’t have to do this. This is your money. You can start over wherever you want now.’
‘I want to be right here. This is my debt, remember.’ I turn back to Jimmy.
‘Five thousand, right?’ I say.
Jimmy smiles. ‘The debt just went up. Overdue payment, tut, tut,’ he grins, again just as Sean’s fist hits him in the jaw, knocking him sideways and stumbling out of the door.
‘Everything all right, Sean?’ says Garda Eamon.
‘Just about perfect now, thank you, Garda.’ Sean stretches out his hand. I pull out a bunch of notes, count them and toss them on top of Jimmy Power, who is being helped to his feet. Frank, Seamus and Padraig, Patsy, and even Al the Swede are standing behind Sean, backing up a member of their oyster family.
‘Get out and don’t come back,’ Rosie shouts from behind them.
‘Never did like oysters anyway,’ Jimmy mutters as he hurries away with his lad in tow.
Sean is beside me. He picks up one of the oysters and holds it to my mouth by way of celebration. I hesitate and then shake my head. He frowns and I feed it to him with a smile.
‘Let’s get this party started!’ I shout, and another cheer goes up.
Outside the sun is beating down. Seamus and Padraig are leading donkey rides across the sand, where the sea is starting to come back in. Grandad is sitting by the barn, drink in hand.
‘And you could see for miles. Oyster beds all over, there were,’ he’s telling a group of Swedish tourists here with Al.
Margaret and Dan are making up by the barbecue, where Rosie is serving up the grilled oysters.
‘So, you two make up?’ I ask.
Margaret gasps and hugs me. ‘So, you’re staying?’ She holds my hands.
‘I am,’ I smile, squeezing her back.
She looks coyly up at Dan. ‘Dan’s asked me to go to the States with him, now that he’s not buying an oyster farm here.’ She suddenly looks crestfallen. ‘That’s if you don’t mind. But if you’re staying and don’t want the job, well, I would.’
I’m thrilled for her. ‘Oh, Margaret, that’s brilliant. You should go. You need to let the world see Margaret from Dooleybridge.’
‘Well, now I can see that Grandad is right. Life is made up of memories, so make them good ones. It’s no good sitting and waiting for life to come to me any more.’ We both look to where Grandad is sitting with Betty beside him, pointing out the sights and telling her about Dooleybridge in its heyday.
‘And I’d like to say I’m sorry.’ Dan holds out his hand to Sean, who eyes it suspiciously. ‘I just got carried away. I’m going back to the States now, but I’d be really interested in talking to you about supplying me with oysters. I’m going to open up a new restaurant paying homage to my Irish roots, an oyster bar. I’ll pay top whack.’ Sean looks at the hand again and then smiles and shakes it.
‘I’ll send you over all the Pacific oysters you like, but as for the native ones …’ He looks over at the barn where the drinkers are enjoying Guinness and eating the barbecued oysters hot from the foil, ‘they’re going to stay right here.’
I don’t get a chance to find out what Sean means. Betty is on her way to the bar. ‘Just getting me and Grandad a top-up. Oh, Fiona, love, you were amazing. Who’d’ve ever thought it, little Fiona Clutterbuck from my kitchens, a champion shell-shucker. And now you’ll be travelling all over the world entering shucking competitions.’
