When she finished, I rang John to collect me. The salon was a ten-minute drive from his house, (a real ten minutes, not an Irish one). I sat in the waiting area and watched the people of the town pass by the window.
No matter what walk of life you came from, whichever way you look at it, people are more or less all the same all over the world. Everyone so consumed in their own life, their problems, their joys, or just getting from one day to the next. I watched a harassed mother battling to get twin boys and a toddler safely over the pedestrian crossing, a shabby looking old man smoking a pipe as he walked aimlessly down the street, and a teenage couple hand in hand laughing at some private joke.
Something inside changed. I don’t know if it was my attitude or perspective, or just the events of the year that enabled me to see things differently. I felt more content, beginning to notice the small things in life were actually the big things. Until I’d met John, I always focused on the big things; the holidays, the next night out, the next class I could enrol in. I constantly searched for the next thing to occupy the gaping void in my life and to validate myself.
John pulled up outside double parking on the pavement like he owned the place. He had no problem doing exactly what suited him. Part of me admired him for it, and part wondered if it was a good trait that he was used to doing whatever he pleased with no repercussions. He waved at Natalie through the window and gave her a thumbs up.
‘Want to go for a drive?’ he said, after complimenting my hair and assuring me they only had the best hairdressers in the west of Ireland. Yet another incentive to entice me to move.
‘Sure. Why not.’
‘What did you think of Natalie?’
‘She’s lovely,’ I said.
‘Will you come to the wedding with me?’ He placed his hand in its usual position on my lap, as he drove one-handed through the small town, nodding at most of the passers-by in greeting.
‘Is it not a bit odd that I don’t know them though?’
‘Not at all, honey. There will probably be three or four hundred people there.’
‘Wow. I don’t think I know three hundred people. Well, apart from my patients. But I wouldn’t be inviting them to a wedding.’
‘Would you be inviting me to a wedding?’ he asked, his full lips curling into a cheeky smirk. I knew exactly what he was implying. It was more of a “Would you invite me to a wedding if we were the ones getting married,” rather than bringing him as a guest.
‘One day maybe, if you’re good.’ I glanced sideways at him and he laughed.
The thought of getting married again was oddly enough something I would consider, in the right circumstances. Although I had always assured my friends and mother if I ever got out of the first one, I’d never tie myself to a person in that way again. But the thought of being tied to John literally and figuratively was overwhelmingly appealing.
He was without a doubt my favourite person on the planet. It was exactly the opposite to what Clara had predicted, instead of the excitement wearing off, it seemed to grow. My need to be with him was just as strong if not stronger than it was before. He physically drew me to him. I felt whole with him, like there was nothing else in the world was as important as us being together. Our relationship was still new to both of us, but it was glaringly obvious it was on a higher level to anything either of us had experienced before. I’d only been pretending to play grown-ups before. There was nothing pretend about my feelings for John. They were so real, they were openly raw in places.
The only thing that frightened me, was that if John Kelly were ever to hurt me, I feared I would ever physically recover. I prayed to God that would never happen, because I simply didn’t know what I’d do without him.
The restaurant was in an old majestic looking castle called Belleek. It had been restored to its original glory, on the edge of the woodlands only five minutes outside of Ballina. The drive to it was slow and steep. It was unfortunately too dark to appreciate much of the scenery.
I wore a black jumpsuit teamed with cream heels and my favourite cream Mulberry clutch bag, aiming for understated, with a hint of sexy, like my boyfriend. He looked so good in a pair of navy slacks and a white shirt that I’d happily have eaten him instead of dinner.
‘This place used to be a disco, years ago. Mam and Dad could tell you a few stories about it.’ I didn’t doubt it for a second.
The ceilings were high, and the stone walls and floor looked cold, but the roaring open fires were welcomingly warm. Jane, Trisha and the two Michaels sat on antique looking armchairs in the bar area, menus on their laps and drinks in their hands.
‘Lucy.’ Trisha bounded up, giving me a huge bear squeeze again.
‘I love your dress,’ I said.
‘Penny’s finest,’ she said, dusting off the black long-sleeved fitted pencil dress proudly. When you had a figure like hers, you could wear a bin bag and look fabulous.
‘Hi Jane.’
Jane had her own style, sporting a high neck burgundy long-sleeved chiffon top and a tasteful black leather skirt, thick tights and suede ankle boots. Her make-up was a work of art. The boys shook hands in greeting, and we ordered more drinks before heading to the dining room.
The dining room had cold stone flooring, low ceilings with wooden beams and low hanging lanterns. Cream coloured candles were carefully positioned on each table. The worrywart in me screamed fire hazard, though the ambience was relaxing and romantic. Several other couples were already seated; the quiet hum of chat could barely be heard over the tinkling music from a pianist playing in the corner. John sat opposite me on the same side as the two Michaels, and I sat in between Jane and Trisha.
‘We’ve never done this before.’ Trisha announced loudly, and we laughed. ‘What?’ She looked slightly put out.‘I’m only saying John never had anyone to bring before.’
‘Thanks, Trisha, keep digging,’ John said, as the boys sniggered together.
‘It’s maybe not that he didn’t have anyone to bring, Trisha, more like maybe he didn’t have anyone he wanted to bring before.’ Jane tried to sensitively correct her friend and neighbour.
