The Guesthouse on the Green Series Box Set 2 Read online

  If she’d been looking for words of comfort from her nearest and dearest, ‘Mummy! You look like Mr Nibbles,’ wasn’t what she was after. Mr Nibbles might be cute but she had no wish to take after him whatsoever and she did not have buck teeth and chubby cheeks. As for Mammy she hadn’t had to say a word. The way she’d clapped her hand to her mouth said it all. Of course, being Mammy, she’d had to say something and when she’d finally found her voice it had come out in a squeak. ‘Jenny’s done you proud so she has.’ The only one who failed to spot the difference or simply didn’t care was Pooh, who let her know he thought she was looking just fine. She shoved him away and not trusting herself to speak took herself off to the bathroom, locking the door behind her. That had been well over an hour ago.

  ‘Ah c’mon now, Rosi. I’ve bought my bag of tricks. I’ll have you looking gorgeous in no time,’ Moira cajoled. ‘Sure, it can’t be that bad.’

  ‘It is!’

  ‘And I’ve bought my black Valentino’s. You know, the ones with the silver diamantes on the strap that you love,’ Aisling called.

  ‘You never let me wear those,’ Moira griped.

  ‘This isn’t about you, Moira. And besides, this is a crisis, so it is. The poor girl’s been butchered.’

  Noah was next, ‘And, Mummy, I will give you the biggest and best cuddle even though I’m getting to be a big boy.’ There was a pause followed by. ‘Is that what you wanted me to say, Nana? Can I have a biscuit now?’

  ‘Shush, Noah.’

  Roisin looked at her reflection, trying to be objective. Jenny had done a lovely cut on the whole, her hair was shiny and had a shampoo advertisement bounce to it now the scraggly ends were gone. Maybe she was being silly. Maybe it was just that she wasn’t used to having such a short fringe. A new look was always a shock, that much of what Mammy had said was true. Perhaps she was looking for an excuse not to meet Shay tonight. Self-sabotaging. ‘Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone, Roisin,’ she said, a misty patch forming on the mirror. ‘Roisin the Brave, remember?’ If Shay was worth a pinch of salt, he wouldn’t care what she looked like, he’d be interested in what she had to say tonight. She reminded herself that that was exactly what she’d found so attractive about him in the first place, good looks and sexy bod aside. It had been the way his head tilted slightly to the left when she was talking, as though he was trying to listen harder. He’d found her interesting and he’d laughed when she said something funny. He genuinely seemed to like her just for her being her.

  She took a deep breath and knowing her mammy and sisters were likely pressed up against the door listening, she called, ‘Back away from the door, I’m coming out.’

  She heard Moira mutter something about ‘Who does she think she is, a cornered criminal?’

  Roisin turned the lock and flung the door open. Her sisters stared at her, eyes wide, and she saw Moira clamp her mouth shut and press her lips together tightly so as not to let the laugh bubbling in her throat escape. Aisling was digging her nails into her palms in an effort to distract herself.

  ‘What?’ Roisin demanded. ‘C’mon, say your piece, the pair of you. Let’s get it over with.’

  ‘No, it’s nothing,’ Moira’s voice cracked on the word nothing.

  ‘Moira, behave yourself,’ Maureen warned.

  ‘Oh, Mammy, I think I have to say it or I might burst. It just keeps going around in my head.’

  ‘No. Keep your gob shut. We’ve had enough drama as it is. You’ll not get a piece of cake if you stir up more trouble.’

  ‘Say what?’ Roisin asked, not sure if she wanted to know but wanting to know in that way you did.

  Moira moved out of Mammy’s reach. ‘It’s that old nursery rhyme, it popped in my head as soon as I saw you. Simple Simon met a pieman,’ she broke off in peals of laughter

  ‘Ah, God, yes. Going to the fair,’ Aisling snorted, ‘I’m sorry, Rosi,’ she choked out as her giggles erupted.

  ‘Says simple Simon to the pieman let me taste your ware,’ Maureen finished.

  ‘Mammy, you’re supposed to be on my side.’

  ‘I am, but it is sort of funny, Rosi.’

  Roisin looked from one to the other and felt her own mouth twitch. Ah feck it, she couldn’t beat them so she might as well join them.

  Chapter 17

  The phone rang and Moira held up her hand, ‘Don’t move, your nails are only just after drying. I’ll get it.’

  Roisin stayed where she was on the sofa and admired the natural pink shiny hue of her nails. It was an effort to sit still though when she was such a jangly bag of nerves. She made an O shape with her mouth, her face felt strange. She wasn’t used to wearing so much make-up. Moira had somehow achieved that holy grail of make-up looks. The one that said I’m not wearing hardly any make-up, I’m naturally gorgeous with dewy skin and rosy pink cheeks. A-ha fooled you! Really, I’ve truckloads of the stuff plastered on.

  ‘Hello.’

  She heard her sister’s voice from the kitchen. Was it Nina to say Shay had arrived? Roisin wanted to bite her lip but she didn’t want to ruin the lipstick Moira had carefully applied with a brush. ‘It’s a long lasting one so it won’t come off when you eat and drink. It might come off if you go in for a full-on snog though,’ she’d warned.

  ‘Oh, hi-ya, Nina.’

  Ah Jaysus, it was Nina, he was here!

  ‘I will do. Tell him she’ll be down in a sec and she’s looking hot to trot. She’s one foxy mama!’

  ‘Moira, shut up! Do not tell him that, Nina,’ Roisin shouted.

  ‘No, I was only joking with you. Just say she’ll be down in a tick. Thanks, Nina.’ Moira put the phone down and reappeared in the living room. ‘Prince Charming is downstairs and your carriage is waiting.’

  ‘So, I gathered.’ Roisin got up and smoothed the skirt of the little black dress she’d borrowed from Aisling. ‘Sure, I couldn’t get my arse in it if I tried these days,’ her sister had lamented, pulling it from her wardrobe and handing it to Roisin. ‘It’ll be looking smashing on you though.’ She’d kept her word too, loaning her the much-coveted Valentino’s telling her she expected everything to be returned to her in the same condition as it had been loaned.’

  She’d shot Moira a look and Moira had been indignant. ‘For the millionth time, I did not scratch your Louboutin’s, Aisling.’ Aisling raised an eyebrow and Moira looked shifty. ‘It was microscopic.’ She turned to Roisin, ‘She can’t let it go.’

  Aisling had stuck around to see the end result of Roisin’s makeover and had declared her beautiful before spraying a cloud of the bottle of Oscar de la Renta perfume Quinn had bought her and ordering her to walk through it. Roisin felt the tiny droplets of perfume land on her as Aisling proclaimed she was officially hot-date ready. The fringe, she said, gave her the look of one of those pin-up girls of old. It was in the artful pencilling in of her eyebrows and the choice of bold red lipstick. Moira had done a fine job, she’d said, before picking up her overnight bag and heading for the door. ‘Have a good time, Rosi, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.’

  ‘I certainly won’t be,’ Roisin had replied.

  Aisling was staying the night at Quinn’s and Roisin planned on sleeping in her old room. Patrick and Cindy were having dinner with Noah and Mammy in Howth and would stay the night there. She was glad Noah was with his nana because he’d have a lovely time with her and it would give him the chance to get to know his uncle and Cindy a little better. Mostly though it was because whatever tonight with Shay was, Noah didn’t need to be privy to any of it.

  ‘Right then,’ she said, picking up her purse. She was keen to rid herself of the nervous anticipation that was making her body tingle. ‘I’ll be off. Thanks, Moira, for everything.’

  ‘My pleasure, but before you go, one quick question. Are you all erm, you know? Spruced up.’

  Roisin looked up from where she was checking her purse for her phone and key to the apartment for the tenth time since she’d finished get
ting ready. ‘No, I don’t know, what do you mean? This is as spruced as it gets. And I thought you and Ash said I looked good.’

  ‘You do, I did a grand job, if I do say so myself but it’s your bits I’m talking about. Are they in shipshape, presentable order?’ Moira cast a meaningful downward glance.

  ‘Moira! For fecks sake.’

  ‘Ah, don’t be such a prude. It’s your best interests I’ve got at heart. It’s just I know it’s been a while and I’m checking it’s not the Amazon rainforest down there. You know in case you lose control of yourself and jump his bones. I could stall him if you need to go and have a quick sort out.’

  ‘Thank you for your concern, Moira, but I’m perfectly respectable down yonder, not that it matters because last time I checked you don’t drop your knickers and flash your bits when you’re out for dinner. Because, that’s all it is, dinner!’ Her voice went up a notch and Moira held up a placatory hand.

  ‘Alright, if you say so. Don’t get your knickers in a knot. Now come on let’s get you downstairs.’

  ‘You’re not coming.’

  ‘I didn’t give you an hour of my life not to watch your man’s reaction when he sees you.’

  ‘Stay right where you are,’ Roisin ordered, her eyes narrowed.

  Moira hesitated.

  ‘I mean it.’

  Moira looked at her oldest sister’s face and knew she meant business. Reluctantly she picked up the television remote and flopped down on the sofa.

  Satisfied she wasn’t going to be followed, Roisin closed the apartment door behind her and, taking hold of the rail, made her way down the stairs. It was a while since she’d stepped out in heels this high and she didn’t want to greet Shay by tumbling down the stairs and rolling into the reception area! She reached the first-floor landing and heard a squeak on the floorboards on the landing above her. ‘Moira, I know you’re there, feck off with yer!’

  She waited a beat and heard the footsteps backtracking, shaking her head before carrying on down. The light from the foyer was a welcoming glow as she safely descended the last flight, blinking as she emerged into it. Her stomach flipped and flopped like a thrashing fish on a hook at the sight of him. She wondered if dinner was going to be a waste of time because she wasn’t going to be able to eat a thing the way she felt at that moment. It had crossed her mind as she’d waited for the minutes to tick by upstairs that perhaps she’d built Shay up into this demi-God and that when she saw him, she’d be disappointed to find he was only human and a fairly average one at that. It wasn’t the case.

  He was leaning against the reception desk chatting to Nina. His dark but not quite black hair was long enough to curl at the collar of his jacket. It was brown leather and she felt the urge to rest her face against it and inhale its battered smell. He had a white T-shirt on and blue jeans worn with boots. They were cowboy boots and she was reminded of her romance book cover fantasy. It was a look he wore well. He registered her presence and she remembered to close her mouth. Appreciation flickered in his eyes and she lost herself in those dark pools. He grinned, breaking the spell and she blinked as he produced a posy of vibrant blooms from behind his back. ‘These are for you. You look lovely by the way.’

  Roisin smiled shyly. She wanted to pinch herself, this beautiful man had brought her flowers! ‘Thank you, they’re gorgeous,’ she managed to say, holding out her hand and hoping he wouldn’t notice her faint tremor as she took the flowers and hid her face for a moment. She inhaled their sweet aroma, grateful for the chance to compose herself.

  ‘I can put them in water for you, Roisin,’ Nina offered.

  ‘Thanks, Nina, that would be grand.’

  ‘Have a lovely evening.’ Her face was wistful.

  ‘We will do.’

  ‘It was nice talking to you, Nina,’ Shay said, before turning his attention to Roisin. ‘I’ve booked a table at La Bamba. I hope you like Mexican food.’

  She’d eat a bowl of tripe if it meant sitting opposite him and gazing upon his gorgeousness for an entire evening.

  ‘I love Mexican.’

  Chapter 18

  The Mariachi band were playing in the corner of the restaurant and Roisin sipped her beer, enjoying the traditional sounds that would make the stoniest of faces crack a smile. It was happy music, she thought, admiring their sombreros and charro outfits. A waft of cigarette smoke tickled her nose as the door opened to the balcony and a man went out to join the couple who were braving the cold in order to puff away. The restaurant was buzzing with bonhomie and shouts of laughter sounded sporadically from the group seated near her and Shay. They looked like they’d come straight from the office for a spontaneous pre-Christmas dinner. Roisin glanced over and wondered if any of them would wake up tomorrow red-faced, having gotten too friendly with a colleague after one too many slammers!

  She hadn’t been sure what to order to drink but Shay had said the only thing that would cool down the jalapenos and chilis in the bowl of chili she’d ordered was a Steinlager and so she’d ordered a bottle of the beer. The fluttering anxiety she’d felt earlier had dissipated, helped by the pre-dinner tequila shots at the bar and she forgot she was exceedingly out of practice when it came to having dinner with men she barely knew. He was easy to talk to. There was an openness to him that invited her to tell him about herself and over their shared entrée of corn chips and guacamole, she had. He’d done that thing, tilting his head just enough to let enough her know he wanted to hear what she had to say. He made her feel witty and interesting and when the waiter arrived with two bowls of steaming chili con carne he’d been in stitches over her description of Noah’s informative chat with the Customs man about Mr Nibbles.

  She inhaled the warm, spiced aroma and stirred the puddle of sour cream in as Shay told her what his plans were for Christmas.

  ‘Mam, Philip and I are going down to Castlebeg on Christmas Eve. It will be strange to wake up on Christmas morning in the cottage where Mam grew up but special, too.’

  Roisin nodded. She knew the story of how his granddad and mammy had not spoken after he’d told her to leave his house as a pregnant teenager. It was only when Shay acted as the olive branch between them that they’d made a fresh start.

  ‘How’s Reggie, doing?’

  ‘It will be his last Christmas.’ A shadow crossed his face and Roisin reached across the table without thinking to place her hand on top of his.

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’

  He shrugged, and she moved her hand away hoping she’d not been forward. ‘It would have been nice if we could have had him for longer but, you know, at least I’ve had the chance to get to know him and Mam and him have put things right between themselves. He told me he can go to his grave happy, knowing everything turned out well for her.’

  ‘It’s never too late for second chances,’ Roisin murmured with a sad smile, thinking of her own dad’s passing. It had been hard to see someone you love wither until there was no light left inside him, but he’d known he was loved and there had to be something to be said for that—a comfort to be found in having those that loved you best in the world there with you when your time came.

  ‘Exactly.’

  They smiled at each other in mutual understanding and a current flickered between them. It unsettled Roisin and she looked away, scooping up a mouthful of her chili.

  ‘Jaysus!’ She flapped her hand in front of her mouth and Shay slid the water across the table. She gulped at it gratefully, hoping her face hadn’t turned the colour of the chili she’d just been assaulted by. She could feel the beads of sweat popping on her forehead and wished with all her might she’d asked for flipping nachos and not chili. She must look like such a prize. Her eyes were streaming.

  ‘Are you okay?’

  ‘I will be,’ she rasped, wondering how she’d get the rest of her meal down her without looking like she’d just emerged from a Swedish sauna.

  Somehow, she managed it. The key, Roisin told herself, was little mouthfuls washed do
wn with plenty of beer. Shay who wasn’t bothered in the slightest by the heat was telling her about the festival he’d organised in Cancun on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula a few years back. It had cemented his love of the food. The hotter and spicier the better! His life, she thought, listening to his funny stories about some of the prima donna musos he’d encountered through his work as a creative producer, was fun. How many people got to do what they loved for a living? She watched his animated expression, feeling inspired.

  ‘I want to open a yoga school, and one day I’d like to visit India,’ she blurted, not knowing if the sudden revelation of her hopes and dreams was down to the beer, or whether hearing him speak with so much enthusiasm about what he did for a crust, made her want to inform him that she didn’t plan on being a not very good secretary forever.

  ‘Really?’

  She nodded. ‘I’m doing my training for my teaching certificate but I’ll need a bit behind me before I can set up on my own. I’ll get there though. I love it. Yoga makes me feel whole and I want to help other people feel like that too. When life gets tough, it’s an outlet for the soul.’ She might be waxing a bit too lyrically with that last bit, she thought, but it was too late to take it back and she thought she saw a spark of amusement in his eyes.

  ‘I’ve never tried it but I’d like to. Things can sail close to the wind in my business and it would be good to have a stress outlet other than the pub.’

  ‘I could show you some of the basic positions and some simple breathing exercises. They really do help to calm and focus the mind.’ Oh lordy, she had some positions she’d like to show him alright.

  ‘Yeah, I’d like that, thanks, and you know I don’t know you all that well, Roisin, but you strike me as the sorta woman who, once she sets her mind to something, can achieve anything. I think you’ll have that school of yours up and running sooner than you think.’