Page 46 of Coming Home to Inishbeg Cove

Chapter 30

Penny

‘Mama!’ Lucy cried, jumping off the swing that Mam and Dad had recently bought for their back garden and running into my arms.

‘How’s my gorgeous girl?’ I lifted her up.

‘Did Ruairí give me a cake?’ she asked, her blue eyes round with excitement. She adored the treats he sent home for her every day, and would jump up and down with anticipation when I came through the door. Sometimes I wondered if she was happier to see me or the cake.

‘He sure did,’ I said. ‘How does chocolate biscuit cake sound?’

She squeezed her pudgy arms around my neck. ‘Yummy!’

I sat her on my hip and carried her into the house. Joe and Dad were sitting at the kitchen table and Mam stood washing dishes at the sink.

‘There you are, Penny,’ Joe said as I came through the door. He stood up, came over and kissed my cheek. I instantly felt self-conscious in front of my parents. It was the most intimate we had been in months, and I felt myself stiffen at his touch. ‘How was work?’

‘Busy,’ I replied.

‘Sit down, a ghrá, and take the weight off your feet,’ Dad said, pulling out a chair for me. I flopped down into it and Lucy sat on her grandad’s knee.

‘Well, I have some news that might cheer you up,’ Joe said.

‘Oh yeah?’

‘I’m after getting the Henley commission!’ He beamed. ‘I was just telling your parents about it before you came home.’

The Henley commission was for a retiring bank CEO. Joe had pitched for the job months back and it was worth a lot of money.

‘That’s great, Joe,’ I said doing my best to feign enthusiasm. Although I knew he had been after this commission for months, I couldn’t help feeling deflated by his news. He had professed to have changed but, judging by his exuberant mood today, his form was still clearly being dictated by his artistic achievements. He was always in a good mood when life was going well for him, but how would he react when things started to go wrong – which they would? What would happen when the bad times came, if he got another bad review or if he lost out on a commission? Would we all have to suffer? My biggest fear was that, if we returned to Dublin, he might switch straight back to being moody, erratic Joe.

‘And the good news is, your parents have kindly offered to mind Lucy for us this evening,’ he continued, grinning across the table at me. ‘I thought we might head up to that restaurant up on the cliffs to celebrate ... what was the guy’s name again?’

‘You mean Tadgh’s place?’ I felt my stomach constrict.

‘That’s the one.’

I watched Mam as she turned around from the sink, out of sight of Joe, and raised her eyebrows at me. I knew what she was thinking. Was I really going to bring my husband to my ex-boyfriend’s restaurant – an ex-boyfriend who I had grown close to over the last few weeks? I looked away from her.

‘Actually, Joe, I’m exhausted,’ I lied.

‘Oh, come on, Penny, it’ll do us good to have some alone time. It’ll give us a chance to talk properly. And I want to check out that restaurant before we head back to Dublin. Apparently, the guy turned down the chance to get a Michelin star – isn’t that crazy? We’ll be leaving Inishbeg Cove soon, and who knows when I’ll be back down again.’

Joe and I still hadn’t discussed our return to Dublin, or even when it might happen. I had deliberately changed the subject whenever he raised it, but it seemed he had made the decision for both of us.

‘Honestly, I’m happy you got the commission, but all I want to do is crash out on the sofa. I was run off my feet all afternoon. I’m going to shower and get changed,’ I said standing up and going down to the bedroom.

‘You poor thing, Penny,’ Joe said, following me. ‘I know you’re tired but honestly, I don’t understand why you are working there.’ He shook his head and splayed his hands out in the air, as if it was all too perplexing. ‘If it’s too much, you can give it up.’

‘I told you, I like it there.’ I bristled.

‘Anyway, what do you say?’ He sat down on the side of the bed.

‘Maybe another time.’

‘I thought you said it was the best restaurant around here. Anyone would think you don’t want me to go there,’ he added.

‘Of course I want to take you there...’ I found myself agreeing. Joe was sharp and I was worried that if I made any more excuses, he would start to grow suspicious. ‘Look, just let me freshen up. I’m sure I’ll feel better after I shower.’