Page 48 of Coming Home to Inishbeg Cove

I laughed as Joe recounted Lucy’s escapades. Soft candlelight flickered shadows around the walls and the low buzz of chatter echoed under the vaulted ceiling. Under different circumstances, it would have been such a romantic setting.

‘You know, I think playschool will be really good for her,’ Joe continued.

I nodded, feeling the familiar churn in my stomach that I always felt whenever Joe mentioned returning to Dublin. Something had changed. I wasn’t sure what, but recently thoughts of my old life made me feel claustrophobic.

‘Now then, the crab claws and the prawns,’ Tadgh said, placing our plates in front of us a short time later.

‘Thank you,’ Joe replied.

‘It looks delicious, Tadgh,’ I mumbled.

‘Well, bon appetit,’ Tadgh said, leaving us alone once more.

‘Actually, can I have some black pepper?’ Joe called after him.

‘Sure.’ Tadgh returned with the canister moments later and started grinding it over Joe’s plate.

‘Penny tells me you were in school together,’ Joe said to Tadgh when he had finished, and I thought I was going to be sick. ‘So, tell me, what was my wife like as a teenager? I’ve a feeling she was a bit of a wild child.’

I winced and couldn’t bear to look at Tadgh’s face.

‘I can assure you that Penny has always been a lady,’ Tadgh replied tactfully. I felt myself start to breathe again. I was so relieved that he had the sense not to mention our relationship. ‘I’d better go,’ he said, nodding towards a man who had just entered the restaurant and was waiting at the front desk to be seated. ‘Enjoy your food.’

As we tucked into our food, Joe continued to chat away, but I was wrapped in the blanket of my thoughts. Every now and again I would catch Tadgh’s eye and I was sure I could see flashes of irritation burning in their moody depths.

‘Sorry, what?’ I asked. Joe’s words had pulled me out of the rabbit hole of my own head.

‘I don’t think you’re listening to a word I’m saying, Penny!’ Joe said impatiently. ‘I was just saying that I think we should probably head back to Dublin tomorrow. What do you reckon?’

‘Tomorrow?’ I repeated, almost choking on my food.

‘Well, why not? It’s time we got back to normal.’

I swallowed. I didn’t feel ready yet. It seemed Joe wanted us to slot straight back into our old lives as if nothing had happened but, I had changed since I had been away.

‘I can’t leave Ruairí in the lurch,’ I said.

‘Come on, Penny, I’m sure he doesn’t expect you to give him a month’s notice. The Ts&Cs on your contract can’t be too legally binding.’ He laughed at his own joke.

I couldn’t help feeling irked. ‘I know we don’t have a formal arrangement, but Ruairí is a friend and I want to be fair.’

‘Well, we need to go soon. September isn’t far away. Lucy is due to start playschool, and I have that commission to start now as well.’

‘I’ll talk to Ruairí tomorrow and see what he says,’ I said to appease him. I knew Ruairí wouldn’t have a problem with me leaving, especially now the busy summer season was over for another year, but I needed more time. I couldn’t delay my return to Dublin indefinitely, but the village had been a safe haven for me during the stormiest time in my life. It had helped to heal my wounded soul over the last few months, and I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.