‘I’ll pay for all the damage, Dermot.’ Tobias wiped the hair from his face.
Dermot nodded sternly.
‘Worth every penny,’ murmured Finula, looking at Nick slumped across the bar. Sebastian was white with shock; gone was the court jester.
‘I’ll take him home,’ he said, attempting to lift Nick’s slouched body.
‘Here, you’ll need a hand.’ Dermot took hold of Nick’s arm and wrapped it round his shoulder. Together they managed to get Nick to the door.
‘Tobias, are you all right?’ Megan rushed to him, not believing what had just happened.
‘Nothing I can’t handle.’ His eyes were like chips of ice as he watched his brother and Dermot fumble Nick out of the pub. Finula had started to sweep up the smashed glasses.
‘I’d better help get this cleaned up.’
‘I’d better get back to my guests.’ Tobias turned on his heel and with absolute composure returned to his table.
*
The next morning Megan woke to hammering on her front door. Glancing out of her bedroom window she couldn’t see a car parked outside and wondered who it could be. Quickly pulling on her dressing gown over her pyjamas she scurried downstairs to open the door. There stood Sebastian, looking rather contrite.
‘Hello, Megan. May I come in?’
‘Yes, of course.’ She stepped aside to let him enter the hall.
‘Sorry, did I wake you?’ He looked at her attire with an apologetic smile.
‘No, it’s fine. I’ll put the kettle on. Come through.’ She ushered him into the lounge and pointed to the sofa. ‘You sit down. Tea or coffee?’
‘Tea would be lovely, thank you.’ Megan soon returned with two full tea cups and sat opposite him with a questioning look.
‘Megan, I’ve come to apologise.’
‘What for?’ she asked surprised.
‘For nearly driving into you that night. I’m sorry, I know Nick implied Tobias was driving, but we both know he’d never do such a thing.’
Megan’s eyes avoided his for a moment. Then she replied quietly, ‘No, he wouldn’t.’
‘Please believe me, I am very sorry. We’d had a terrible row, me and Nick, and I just lost it. I drove like a mad man. I truly do regret it.’
‘Sebastian, it’s OK, really.’
‘But—’
‘No, honestly, don’t worry about it.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes. Perhaps it’s best if Tobias wasn’t told about this. You know, with—’
‘Carrie,’ blurted Sebastian. ‘Yes, of course. Losing the love of your life to a drunk driver is bad enough.’
Megan drew in a shaky breath. It was hard hearing Tobias had lost the love of his life. What was she? Second best by default? Sebastian was too wrapped up to realise what he had implied. Megan looked at him, so pale and anxious, thin and blond, almost translucent, ghostlike; the complete opposite to his older brother. Yet instead of being offended by his clumsy comments, she felt sorry, almost protective of Sebastian. He appeared hurt and vulnerable somehow. She cursed Nick and the harm he had inflicted on both Sebastian and Finula.
She patted his shoulder. ‘Let’s forget it ever happened.’
His lips curled into a slow smile. ‘You sure?’
