Page 30 of Beneath the Quiet

“I’m glad we came out today.”

“So am I.” She takes her mug in both hands and raises it in a silent toast. “Now, let’s talk about something else.”

I raise my mug and take a careful sip. “Agreed.”

“We can talk about me if you want?”

“Please. What made you return to Cloonmara?”

She lets out a pfft sound. “Oh, that one’s easy. I came back for Nan’s sake because she’s getting on in years and refuses to let anybody help her.” She winks at me. “So, since my parents and five brothers…”

“Five brothers?!” I whisper-yell.

“You heard me. When none of them felt they could leave their busy lives to come back here, I thought, bollocks, I’ll do it. That was…” She closes her eyes for a few seconds, then pops them wide open again, “about a year ago now.”

“I remember you told me that.”

“Nan is too proud to make a fuss, but she really does need my help, and I like being close to her.” She takes a deep breath and groans. “But I wish she’d stop trying to set me up with random blokes on dating apps.”

I laugh. “Oh, my gosh. She does that?”

“Uh-uh.” She giggles. “It’s horrendous and hilarious at the same time.”

I shake my head in wonder. Wonder and a little envy that she can laugh off her Nan’s match-making attempts.

“You have a fantastic relationship. I don’t think I’d take it as well as you do.”

“We do.”

“Did you open the bakery right after you came back?”

“Almost, yes. I needed to stay close to her, and when the old baker retired, I bought the shop for a bargain price. I live in the flat atop it. It’s small, but it’s enough for now. I’m saving up for my own cottage, but it’ll take me a bit longer to get there.” She shrugs. “I’m not in a hurry, but it’s on my five-year-plan.”

“I’m impressed.”

The server arrives to take our order, and once she leaves, I relax in my seat.

“I love your bakery.” I smile warmly at my new friend.

Roísin squares her shoulders. “Thank you. I want it to be more than a bakery, though. I’d love to have more than baked goods and sandwiches.” Her eyes light up. “Maybe partner with a bookshop or an arts and crafts shop during tourist season.”

“That would be fantastic. Books are my happy place, but I’d love to learn how to make my own ceramic mugs or bowls, too. You know, take a course and then book a station every once in a while, and purchase the materials I use whenever I’m there. Something like that, anyway.”

“Oh, I love this. Wait, I need to write all this down.” She turns around to rummage in her handbag and pulls out her mobile. “You’re brilliant, you know that? I didn’t know I needed a brainstorming buddy, but this is perfect.” Her thumbs tap in quick succession. “Might be good to change things up a bit depending on the season, but we’ll see.”

“We?”

She nods, her focus still on the phone. “Of course. We’ll need more of these brainstorming sessions, too.”

Warmth settles inside me, genuinely pleased to help her. But I’m happy for my own sake as well, and for the first time in a long time, I stop feeling unsettled and anxious. I might end up getting good at this friendship thing, after all. Even though the future looked a little lonely and uncertain mere days ago, spending the day with Roísin is proving to be much more relaxed and simpler than I’d bargained for.

Perhaps it’s finally happening.

I’m settling, slow and steady, and it’s not that frightening. If anything, it’s effortless.

Just like I’ve hoped for all my life.

We spend the next few hours enjoying the warm weather, wandering around the city centre and sightseeing. On our way back from visiting Blarney Castle and Gardens, we head towards the English Market. The skin on the back of my neck prickles, and a shiver runs down my spine. I turn my head, scanning the crowds behind us, but I don’t catch anything out of the ordinary, only a bus full of visitors walking in the same direction as us.