‘You wouldn’t take a chance?’
‘That sounds easy when you say it,’ said Rosie. ‘I wish I could. But I’m not the type to just change my life like that. Things go wrong…’
‘And things go right.’ Kerry-Anne sighed. ‘Although, in my life, things are going wrong far more than they are going right. I feel as though I deserve a bit of luck.’ She looked up just as Patrick and the children returned and the rapidly melting 99s were passed out and they sat together licking their ice creams. ‘You know,’ said Kerry-Anne, ‘I could see myself living here. Swimming, ice cream.’ She glanced at Patrick. ‘What do you think? Would I fit in?’
‘You’d miss Boston too much. You’re a big-city person.’
‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Kerry-Anne was quiet for a moment. ‘But I tell you this, Irish ice cream is worth a lay over. And the calories.’ She looked across from Rosie, whose ice cream had collapsed and she was trying to lick the bottom, as well as her hands. ‘You only live once. Isn’t that right, Rosie?’
‘Mmmfphph,’ was all Rosie managed, but she looked at Patrick and he was the same with his ice cream. The twins were a mess. It was only Kerry-Anne who was eating it perfectly. Rosie and Patrick suddenly grinned at each other, both aware of the difference between them and Kerry-Anne. Or perhaps it was a 99 on a perfect Irish summer’s day? Or perhaps it was something more.
42
ROSIE
At their house, the twins clambered out of the Land Rover.
‘Have you had a lovely time?’ Nessa asked them. ‘Why don’t you two have an ice cream, for being so good with Rosie.’ She turned to her sister. ‘You didn’t give them ice cream, did you?’
The twins hovered just behind Nessa and fixed Rosie with a look so profoundly penetrating and intimidating, she shook her head. ‘No… we didn’t. We just… you know… swam and they did a lot of talking and were so well behaved.’
The twins preened at the compliment. ‘We were,’ said Killian. ‘We were perfect, weren’t we?’
‘Well, that might be a little bit of an exaggeration,’ said Rosie.
‘No one’s perfect,’ said Isabelle.
‘Except Mrs Juniper,’ said Killian. ‘And Mummy,’ he remembered to say in time.
Nessa seemed satisfied. ‘Go and help yourselves,’ she said. ‘And there are sprinkles in the cupboard and some of that chocolate sauce.’
At the speed of lightning, the twins disappeared into the kitchen, shouting their thanks to Rosie.
Nessa leaned through the window. ‘Thank you so much for taking them. You’re so good.’
‘Feeling better?’
‘Still mortified. Like, appallingly so. I couldn’t sleep with the horrors. I met Seán this morning while he was on a run and I apologised again. You know something, he laughed. He said it added to the gaiety of the occasion.’
‘That’s what Patrick said.’
‘Who?’
‘His brother.’
‘Ah, yes. The good-looking one.’
‘He said you needed a bit of drama at an Irish wedding.’
‘I suppose. But I don’t know why I lost it. It was just seeing Laurence dancing like an eejit in the middle of the tent, doing the Macarena or whatever he was doing. And I just saw red. My friends are right. I need to focus on something other than my domestic life. I have no hinterland.’
‘Nor do I!’ Rosie said, passionately. ‘My hinterland is pathetic.’
‘Well, let’s get one then.’ Nessa paused. ‘How does one acquire a hinterland?’
‘No idea.’ The two sisters suddenly grinned at each other. ‘How’s the bathroom looking?’
‘Less yellow,’ said Nessa, ‘which is a good thing. He’s got more paint on himself than the walls. You know, I do love Laurence. I mean, he’s not talented at anything, has never read a book in his life and he’s an eejit. But he’s my eejit.’ She took in a deep breath. ‘I’ve promised to try to shout less. But I’m not sure if I can keep that promise. What does Dad say, it’s all the university of life? Well, it’s time Laurence cracked on with some coursework. Write a few essays on being less of an idiot and more of a responsible citizen and family man. I mean, to be honest, I don’t want him to lose all his Laurence-ness. But just some of it.’ She smiled at Rosie. ‘By the way, I think you should implement a few more new ideas in the hotel. I was talking to Grace this morning. And she said that she wants more weddings and more events. And I was thinking a Friday nightaperitivohour. Get locals in for drinks and nibbles. We could have a summer party every year, get the marquee. And afternoon teas and all sorts. There is so much we’re not doing.’
