“And what does Aidan think?”
She blushed again. “We’ll see what happens. Maybe we’ve just become close because of everything we’ve gone through.”
“It’s as good a basis as any for a relationship,” Jenny encouraged, thinking it would be wonderful to see those two get together. Her friend had grieved long enough. Karen would never stop loving Shane and she would never forget him, but that didn’t mean that she should hide away from life or love forever.
Aidan was possibly the only one equipped to understand that while she would never quite let go, at least she could move on. Such a pity Jenny thought, that she couldn’t move on from her obsession with keeping the house.
Karen resumed feeding Holly, who this time took the food from her without complaint.
“See? Told you I was onto her,” she said triumphantly. “Girl’s a fast learner. She knows that she can’t mess with the likes of me.”
“Right,” Jenny said, tidying up. “I’m going to take her for a spin out to Dun Laoghaire to meet with the estate agent. It’s the same guy that sold Mike the place in Blackrock, so I hope he doesn’t recognise me. If all goes well we’ll be out of your hair in no time.”
“I told you before that it’s not a problem,” Karen assured her. “I like having you two around. After all, I wouldn’t know myself if I didn’t fall over one of Holly’s toys on the stairs, and Idefinitelycouldn’t live without regular doses ofBananas in Pyjamas– hey, I’m joking.” She ducked laughing as Jenny tried to shower her with washing-up suds while Holly let out a shriek of delight, pleased to see her mother being playful again. “Seriously, you can stay as long as you like – well for as long as I’m here anyway,” she added with a shrug.
Jenny hugged her. “Thanks. I don’t know what I would have done without you. Again.”
“Likewise. So how do you feel about everything now?” Karen asked, picking up a bundle of cutlery and drying each piece before replacing it in the drawer.
Jenny shrugged. “It’s strange but kind of … liberated, I suppose? I couldn’t ever say that I’m glad about what happened, but I’m relieved the truth is out at least.”
“Have you decided about telling Roan?”
“No. I don’t think I will tell him. It was never about him, after all.”
Karen hesitated. “Perhaps it was a little unfair of youto tell Mike then. I mean, why hurt him and deprive Holly of a father? Why say anything at all?”
“I had to. I couldn’t continue living a lie.”
“And none of this was about Roan at all? Not even a teeny-tiny bit?” Karen pressed.
“Not even a teeny-tiny bit,” Jenny replied truthfully. “He means nothing to me now. And anything I felt for him doesn’t even come close to my love for Mike. He is, well, hewas, the only one for me. I don’t think it’s possible for me to love him any more than I do.” Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. “And it’s for exactly that reason that I had to tell him. I know that he’s hurting now but in the long run, he’s better off knowing the truth. My relationship with Roan was built on lies and I know how devastating that can be.”
“Maybe. I feel bad for him, though. He loves you two so much.”
“Not any longer, but we’ll have to live with it. And we’ll be OK, won’t we Hols?”
The baby responded by grinning and waving her hands in the air.
Karen went to refill the kettle, then stopped and turned back to Jenny. “Aidan’s met with Roan a few times since he came back,” she said, hesitantly.
“Oh?”
“Seems he got married. They have a baby now too, a boy I think.”
“Wow,” was all Jenny could say.
“Does that make you question whether you might’ve rushed into telling Mike?”
“Nope,” she insisted, with a definite shake of the head.
“Nope?”
“I told you before – it was never about Roan, it was about being honest. He has his own family now and I’m sure they could do without any complications.”
Karen shook her head. “I still don’t fully understand, but there’s no denying you seem all the better for it.”
Jenny bit her lip. “I wouldn’t say that exactly. But I’ll get there.”
