Jack moved away and as he passed by, Jenny’s breath caught in her throat. Her head started spinning while the rest of the world stood still.
Roan was leaning casually alongside the bar counter to her left, chatting with someone she didn’t know. Her stomach constricted and her heart started pounding at the rate of what seemed like a thousand beats per minute.
What was he doing here? No, it couldn’t be him – it was just someone who looked like him. She was exhausted and her mind was just playing tricks on her.
Jenny looked away, shook her head and then looked back again. No, itwashim.
Oh stop it, she told herself. So what if he was here? Itwas no big deal, was it? Though just so unexpected to see him in the flesh, she supposed.
“You’ve spotted himself, I take it?” whispered Tessa, just out of earshot from the others.
Jenny nodded, trying her best to appear nonchalant. “I didn’t know he was home, did you?”
“No, but I twigged him earlier at the back of the church on our way out.” She leaned forward and whispered. “Are you OK?”
“Me? Oh, I’m fine, absolutely fine. A bit unexpected obviously, but …”
Jenny stopped short as Roan approached the table and nodded briefly at the others. Aidan, who was sitting with his back to the bar turned in surprise when Roan tapped him on the shoulder. He stood up and the two amiably clapped one another on the back.
Jenny tried to avert her eyes but couldn’t. Over Aidan’s shoulder, he was staring right at her with those deep dark eyes she had once known so well.
Then he casually pulled up a stool and perched on it in the space between them, while she shuffled uncomfortably in her seat.
“How have you been, Jen?” he asked pleasantly, taking a sip from his pint.
She bristled at the offhand greeting.
How have I been? You broke my heart, upended mylife and left me with a pile of debt but I’m grand. Thanks for asking.
“Very well, and you?” was all she said, her tone calm,even though her heart was going a mile a minute.Two can play at that game.
“Great, great. No complaints.”
Tessa swooped in then and swiftly monopolised the conversation while Jenny tried to appear disinterested when Roan explained that he had flown in just for the funeral and was heading back to New York tomorrow. It was quite literally a flying visit.
She digested the information with a mixture of relief and disappointment. She had tried so long to pretend she didn’t care, hadtoldherself she didn’t care, but seeing him here now and so unexpectedly, brought all the old feelings back. Jenny knew she shouldn’t be thinking like this, not when she had finally got her life back on track.
And then there was Mike, who she knew would do anything for her, who trusted her implicitly and would never even dream of treating her like Roan had.
Anyway, she thought as he moved back to the bar and she noticed Karen approach, today was not the day for thinking about this stuff.
“Jen, I hope you don’t mind, but the Quinns have asked me back to the house.” She grimaced a little. “They have some things of Shane’s that Nellie wants me to have.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
Karen sank down on the seat alongside her. “No, you head on home. I don’t want to go, but I probably won’t get the chance again. After all, I have no ties with them now, do I?” Eyes glistening, she looked away for a moment. “I’m sure Jack or one of the others will drop mehome later. You head back, you haven’t been home for days, and probably had even less sleep than me.”
Jenny patted her friend’s hand. “Are you absolutely sure?” she asked, not too happy about leaving her alone with the Quinns. She hoped Barbara would behave herself because at this stage, poor Karen had been through enough. Then again, maybe this would be the opportunity they all needed to let bygones be bygones.
“I am. I think everyone will be heading away soon anyway, though Aidan looks like he’s enjoying his few pints,” she said, looking to where he was sitting with Gerry, a half-finished Guinness in his hand and a fresh one on the table in front of him.
“I think we all could do with some downtime after this,” Tessa said. “You know, I used to hate the way everyone in this country rushed straight into the pub after a funeral. I always thought it was disrespectful. But after everything that’s happened this week, I can see why people need to feel close to normal again.” She saw Karen wince and could have kicked herself. “Ah love, I’m sorry. I just didn’t think.”
“It’s fine,” Karen smiled wanly, getting up from the stool. “Actually, today has been better than I expected. I know it sounds weird but I’m sort of glad I decided to come. Thanks, you two. I appreciate you being there for me.”
She hugged them both and went to join the Quinns, who were waiting for her by the door.
“I’m going to go too then,” Jenny yawned. “Karen was right, I’ve hardly had any sleep and I’m whacked.”
