And now I was the one left holding the bag.
Literally.
I wiped my hands on a tea towel and forced a smile. “You couldn’t have left that one in the bag and pretended you lost it, could you?”
Connor chuckled nervously. “Not how the postal service works,cailín. Besides, you’d only hunt me down.”
“You’re right. I would.”
I wanted to cry.
I really, really did.
In my heart, I knew that our chances had been slim, but there had been hope. Now, depending on what this letter said, there wouldn’t even be that.
Connor hesitated, then took a small clipboard from his bag and slid it toward me. “You’ll need to sign for it, Dee.”
Damn it all to hell and back! I know I did. Because when you put your name on the line to fight for your village, they make damn sure you were the first to hearthe bad news.
I scrawled my name on the clipboard and handed it back to him.
Connor reached into his bag and pulled out the envelope, its edges crisp and official, with the County Clare Council’s seal staring up at me like a smug bastard. He held it out to me but didn’t let go right away.
“I’m gonna stay right here with you when you read it,” he said firmly. “Y’know, in case it’s….”
“Bad news?” I finished for him.
He shrugged, sympathy in his eyes. He was a resident of Ballybeg, so it wasn’t like this was a tragedy only for me; it would hurt all of us.
“Come on, Dee,” he urged. “You’ve weathered worse. This ain’t nothin’.”
I sighed, taking the envelope from him. “Alright, but if this ruins my day, Connor Kelly, you’re buying the first pint tonight.”
He parked his arse on a barstool with a faint grin. “Fair enough.”
I turned the envelope over in my hands, running my thumb along the edge of the seal.
“I should wait until I’ve had a whiskey,” I muttered.
Connor raised an eyebrow. “It’s barely ten.”
“What’s your point?” I quipped, tearing the envelope open with a swift motion before I could talk myself out of it.
I yanked the letter out.
I scanned the opening line. I was expecting it, but my stomach still dropped. It was one thing to be afraid of what was to come and another to know it was here.
“Well?” Connor straightened. “What’s it say, lass?”
Before I could answer, Ronan came through the kitchen door, wiping his hands on his apron. He glanced between Connor and me. “What’s this then?”
I handed him the letter without a word, too busy trying to swallow the lump forming in my throat.
Ronan squinted at the text.
“Read it out, will ya, lad?” Connor requested.
“We regret to inform you…blah, blah, blah…regardless of environmental concerns, there is significant economic opportunity for County Clare….” His voice trailed off, and he swore under his breath. “Bloody bastards. They’re rejecting the petition. Ignoring it entirely. They’re going to vote to approve the resort.”
