And then the sound of a car crunching on the gravel, the horn tooting and everyone cheered. ‘They’re here!’
And there they were, Rosie and Patrick, laughing when they saw all those faces, and being introduced to the new ones. And hugging Seán and Niamh, and then Teddy and Nessa and Laurence, Grace and François, Maureen and Bertie and the biggest hugs for Killian and Isabelle, who insisted on being swung around, just like Rosie used to do when they were little.
And it was so wonderful to be back, to see the hotel looking not just more beautiful, but so much better. The Old Garage was a wonderful innovation, pints were pulled, cocktails were drunk. Seán and Patrick had been in deep conversation, when Seán tapped his glass looking for silence.
‘I just wanted to welcome Patrick and Rosie back to Ireland,’ he began, as everyone gathered to listen. ‘Now, I know Rosie and Patrick were home for Christmas and I think we’ve all been over to stay with them, but we’ve missed them, we really have. But I have to say, Niamh and I have found a whole new family with you all here at Cliff Top. It’s been wonderful.’ He reached out his hand and drew Niamh towards him. ‘We have some news,’ he said. ‘We’re going to have a baby. Due date Christmas Eve so you’ll have to come home again.’ He grinned at his brother. ‘You’re going to be an uncle.’
Patrick flung his arms around him, and then around Niamh, and then Niamh was hugged by everyone in turn, and then everyone hugged Seán and then the hugs seemed to be contagious because it seemed like you had to hug everyone.
‘It’s the Cliff Toppers,’ explained Grace. ‘They do that to people.’
And then Patrick tapped his glass. ‘It’s good to be back,’ he said. ‘No, it’s great to be back. We miss you all but we don’t feel too far away. Our spare room always seems to have someone from Ireland in it. And as long as they top up our supply of teabags and Jacob’s biscuits, we are happy to host. But…’ He paused, scooping Rosie in with his arm, and drawing her close. ‘We have some news of our own.’ He smiled at her, and then kissed the top of her head. ‘Well, I’ve asked Rosie to marry me and…’
‘What did she say?’ asked Isabelle.
‘Perhaps she said no,’ said Killian. ‘Our new teacher, Mrs Michaels, says you don’t have to say yes if you don’t want to. Never say yes just to make someone like you.’
‘But I do like him,’ said Rosie. ‘I like him a lot. And I said yes.’
Everyone cheered again, and the hugging continued apace. ‘We’ll be home for a winter wedding, we were thinking,’ said Rosie, ‘here in Cliff Top?’
Nessa and Grace were looking at each other, as though they were planning the wedding already. A winter wedding!
‘I’m thinking silver,’ said Grace in a low voice to Nessa.
‘And greenery,’ said Nessa, already on the same page. ‘Mistletoe. Huge bunches.’
Patrick tapped the glass again. ‘And I have one more announcement…’
But there was the sound of another car pulling up onto the driveway, and doors slamming shut. ‘I think they must be around in that hovel they call a bar,’ they heard a voice say. ‘Come along, Rory. Stop dawdling. Quick-quick. Oh, it’s not your dodgy leg again, is it? Have you been doing your Pilates like I told you?’
They turned the corner and there standing in front of them was Lucinda and her new beau Rory. ‘Hello, Lucinda,’ said Teddy, stepping towards her. ‘How lovely you could join us.’
‘Well, I couldn’t miss seeing my nieces, could I? I’m here to represent their poor, departed mother, my dear sister, Sarah.’
Rosie put her arms around Lucinda. ‘You look wonderful, Lucinda,’ she said, hugging her and shaking Rory’s hand. And then she realised something was wrong, someone was missing. ‘Where’s Pedro?’
‘Oh, we don’t talk about it,’ said Lucinda. ‘Poor Pedro.’
‘Did he…?’
Rory shook his head. ‘Pedro went on a rampage and bit the postman, drawing blood. There was a court case and, I’m afraid, Pedro had to be?—’
‘Stop,’ said Lucinda. ‘I said, we don’t talk about it.’ But she managed a smile. ‘That is how Rory and I met, actually. He was representing the postman, and he was my adversary. Our eyes met across a crowded courtroom, and despite Pedro being ordered to be… exterminated – Rory is an excellent barrister – he asked me out to lunch.’
‘You asked me,’ said Rory.
‘I am sure you asked me,’ said Lucinda. ‘Anyway, no matter. And here we are.’
‘We’re glad Pedro isn’t here,’ said Killian to Lucinda, ‘because Sossy wouldn’t like him.’
‘Well, that’s not very friendly, is it?’ said Lucinda. ‘Perhaps Pedro wouldn’t have liked Sossy.’
Killian and Isabelle looked at each other, as though highly doubtful that could be true.
But on the party went, the drink flowed, the conversation grew louder, the stories longer. And then it was just Nessa and Rosie alone, catching up with life in Sandycove and life in Boston.
‘You are happy, then?’ asked Nessa. ‘You don’t regret it?’
