Page 33 of Family Secrets in Inishbeg Cove

Faith felt panicked and wanted to tell them to come back. She was stuck there with no idea what to say to Jack, and she didn’t have her mum or Lucy there to jump in and rescue her. She desperately tried to think of something to say but her mind was stuck on a repetitive loop of how awkward this encounter was. The more she stressed, the more her brain just wouldn’t work.

‘So, you got your tree up?’ he said.

‘Yes!’ she cried a little too enthusiastically, glad to have a subject to discuss. ‘The tree! We managed to get it home and put up. It looks really good. You know, baubles … tinsel … lights … that kind of thing.’ Shut up, Faith, she told herself. She cringed at the banality of their conversation, wishing she could disappear into the footpath.

He grinned. ‘Well, that’s great.’

‘What about you? Did you manage to find another tree after we robbed your first choice?’

‘Oh, don’t worry, Heidi and Rosie found an even bigger one, so everyone went home happy.’

‘Great,’ she said faux-brightly. ‘That’s just great.’

‘Look … I’m glad I bumped into you, because I was wondering if maybe you’d like to go for a drink.’ He grinned sheepishly. ‘It would be good to catch up with you again after all this time.’

Her heart plummeted and she narrowed her eyes in suspicion, trying to work out his game. What the hell was this? Maybe she was reading too much into it and his intentions were innocent, but she couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable. He had a partner and child, so why did he want to meet up with her? Yes, it would be nice to reminisce over carefree days gone by, but they had all grown up now. Jack had a beautiful family – why on earth would he want to jeopardise that? He had responsibilities and she wasn’t prepared to be dragged into an awkward situation even if his intentions were pure. She had been messed around by so many men, men she had met online who’d claimed to be single when they were married. She was allergic to these types now, and if a man raised any reg flags she had learned to run a mile to save herself heartache down the line.

She lowered her gaze to the ground. ‘I don’t think that would be a good idea,’ she replied coolly. Then she hurried past him and headed into O’Herlihy’s.

25

Faith stormed into the supermarket and found her mother and Lucy chit-chatting with Mrs O’Herlihy at the checkout as they packed up their groceries. Uneasiness curdled in her tummy and her head was in a spin. She was sick and tired of men and their lack of respect for women. Why did she always attract these types? Did she have a sign hanging over her head that said she was a soft touch?

‘And have you any plans for Christmas?’ Mrs O’Herlihy was asking. Although well-intentioned, she was a nosy sort who liked to know the villagers’ business and who was doing what or going where.

‘The three of us will spend it together in Elizabeth’s cottage,’ Madeleine replied.

Faith was surprised. Normally Madeleine had no patience for small talk. She would close down any attempts at conversation, purchase her groceries and leave the shop immediately, but today she seemed to be in no hurry as she stood talking to Mrs O’Herlihy. This new and improved version of her mother was taking some getting used to.

‘That’s lovely. Of course, it’ll be a sad one this year without Elizabeth,’ Mrs O’Herlihy remarked.

‘It will,’ Madeleine agreed. ‘We’ll all miss her.’

‘Did you hear that Patrick and Grace are hosting a carol service for all the villagers in Cavendish Hall? It used to be a Christmas tradition way back when Patrick Cavendish’s grandmother was alive. Mrs Cavendish would invite all the local schoolchildren to sing, and she’d give them all a little gift after. She would serve sherry for the grown-ups and fruit punch for the children. But when Patrick’s father inherited the house, he and his wife didn’t care much for mixing with the villagers and they put a stop to the annual carol service. My son Fionn is a teacher in the primary school, and his class are taking part,’ she said proudly.

‘Yes, we’re looking forward to it – we’ll definitely be there. It’s a marvellous idea,’ Madeleine enthused. ‘I recall Elizabeth telling me about it. She remembered singing in it as a child, said it was one of her favourite things about Christmas when she was growing up. She told me that the children looked forward to it for months.’

‘I think it’s brilliant that Patrick and Grace are resurrecting the tradition once again. I hope everyone turns out to support it,’ Lucy agreed.

Just then, Madeleine noticed Faith standing there beside them. ‘Oh, there you are, Faith.’ She nodded towards the shopkeeper. ‘Right, well, we’d best head on. Nice to see you, Mrs O’Herlihy.’

‘Goodbye, ladies!’ she called after them.

‘What’s the matter with you?’ Lucy asked her sister as they walked towards the car. ‘You look like you’ve been chewing on a wasp.’

‘Nothing,’ Faith lied.

‘When we left you less than five minutes ago you were in great form, and now you look like you’d take on Katie Taylor and win,’ Madeleine added.

Faith sighed as she opened the car. ‘Men!’

‘What happened?’ Lucy asked, pulling her seat belt across her.

Faith twisted the key in the ignition to start the engine, signalled and pulled out into the street. ‘Jack asked me to go for a drink with him,’ she said as she drove back towards the cottage.

‘What’s wrong with that?’ Madeleine was bewildered.

‘He has a partner and a child,’ Faith replied.