Red Letter Day (35 page)

Fergus sighed. 'He said he was going to see some guy who was trying to muscle in on his patch.' He broke off and looked up at Richard. 'He took a knife with him.'

'A knife?' Celine's eyes widened in horror. 'But if there had been a fight, we'd know about it, surely?'

'I don't know.' Fergus stubbed out his cigarette. 'Murphy says I'm to carry on as normal and let him know if Garvey makes contact. Carry on as normal, it's easy for him to say! I can't even manage to serve coffee without spilling it and I don't know how many cups and glasses I've broken this week.'

Celine took his hand. 'Hang in there, Fergus, it can't go on for much longer.'

'No,' Richard agreed. 'Now that you've told Declan that Garvey was going looking for trouble I'm sure they'll find him.'

'I'd better go to work' — Fergus stood up — 'while I still can.'

Celine walked with him to the door. 'Please be careful and keep in touch. Just call and say something about the shop just so that I know—'

He smiled slightly. 'I'm still alive? Bye.'

He slipped quietly out the door and Richard gathered Celine into his arms. 'He'll be fine.'

'I'm not so sure.'

'Declan will look out for him. Now, are you finished here? I want to take you to dinner.'

Celine smiled. 'Oh?'

'Yes, we have some talking to do.'

She frowned. 'Sounds ominous.'

He sighed. 'Not at all. I just need to clear up a few things.'

'Then let's go.'

As it was another warm evening, they went to the beer garden behind Donnelly's pub and ordered a smoked salmon salad for Celine and a burger and fries for Richard.

Celine was quiet, her mind still on Fergus. She kept wondering what Rose would say when she found out that they'd kept this from her. Celine had seen some evidence of the woman's temper but had never been on the receiving end.

'What are you thinking about?' Richard asked, pushing his empty plate away.

'Fergus, Rose. She'll be furious with me for keeping this from her.'

He shrugged. 'You're respecting Fergus's confidence. Anyway, what good would it do telling her? It's not like she can do anything.'

'Yes, ignorance is definitely bliss at the moment. I feel so bloody helpless. Why don't you call this inspector and ask him what's happening?'

'Okay, okay.' Richard pulled at his mobile and tapped in the number. 'Declan? It's Richard Lawrence. Just wondering if there's any news on Garvey.' He listened for a moment and Celine moved closer in the hope of hearing the reply. 'Yes, I spoke to Fergus, he told me that . . . No, I told you, Declan, Fergus is straight up . . . yes, right, okay . . . thanks.' Richard put down the phone.

'Well?' Celine asked.

'They have an idea who Garvey was going after.'

'And?'

'They're looking for him — for both of them.'

'He doesn't really think Fergus is involved, does he?'

Richard shook his head. 'I don't believe so. Declan is just naturally cautious.'

'I suppose you have to be in that job.'

'Now,' Richard took her hand, 'can we forget about all that for the moment and talk about us?'

She smiled and took a sip of wine. 'I suppose we could do that. Anything in particular?'

'Yes, I want to apologise.'

'What on earth for?'

'For the way I reacted over the whole Kevin Gilligan business.'

'Don't worry about it,' Celine told him, not particularly keen to bring that subject up again.

'No, I need to tell you something.' He sighed. 'Rose told you I was no angel and she was right. I was involved with a married woman a couple of years ago.'

'Ah.'

'Yes, and it got very messy.'

'You were found out too.'

'Yes and he left her.'

'Oh.'

'She wanted me to move in but, to be honest, I didn't even love her.'

'Did she love you?'

'I don't believe so. I think she was just bored.'

'So what happened?'

'They sold their house, split the proceeds and she moved to Spain.'

'That was convenient for you,' Celine said, knowing she sounded bitchy.

'Like I said, I'm not proud of myself.'

Celine sighed. 'And neither am I, Richard. I demonised Eileen in my head but she didn't deserve it. It must have been awful to be humiliated the way she was.' 'How do you feel about Gilligan now?' he asked.

'Sad. Sad that he's wasted so much time. I just hope that it's not too late for him and Eileen.'

'You've done what you can. It's up to Kevin now. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I had no right to be so judgemental. Basically I was just sick with jealousy.'

Celine smiled. 'That's nice.'

'There's nothing nice about jealousy. Anyway, I apologise.'

She kissed him. 'Apology accepted.'

'Now, I need to explain something else to you. It's about the night of the break-in.'

'Oh?' Celine stiffened. She had wondered where he'd disappeared to that night and why he hadn't taken his mobile with him but she'd refused to ask.

'I was in Kerry, painting.'

Celine relaxed. 'Really?'

He laughed. 'Yeah, I just got this urge and I had to go. I think you inspired me.'

'But why didn't you say?'

'I wanted to see what I could do first. I have this little house in the middle of nowhere and that's where I go when I have some ideas. Oh, Celine, I had a great couple of days, I even worked through the night. Then I had a few beers to celebrate on the train back to Dublin.' He rolled his eyes. 'I crashed as soon as I got home and didn't wake up until Fergus came banging on my door. I am so sorry I wasn't here for you.'

'That doesn't matter.' She waved away his apology. 'When can I see the paintings?'

'As soon as you finish your drink. Although, I must admit, I'm a bit nervous.'

She frowned. 'Why?'

His brown eyes stared into hers. 'Because your opinion matters.'

She swallowed hard. 'If I tell you they're brilliant, will you promise to have an exhibition?'

'I'll make a deal with you,' he told her, taking her hand. 'I'll have an exhibition if you start designing again.'

She pulled her hand away. 'It's not the same—'

'It's exactly the same,' he insisted. 'You told me that you gave up design because with Dermot gone there was no point. What about now?'

'What do you mean?'

'You've got me now, doesn't that count for anything?'

Celine looked at him. 'Have I got you?'

He smiled and kissed her fingers. 'You know you have.'

Celine swallowed hard. 'I don't know what to say.'

'Say you'll go back to designing,' he urged. 'What were you planning to do when Rose got back?'

'Leave,' she replied without thinking.

'Leave Hopefield? But why?'

'Like you say, Rose won't need me soon. I thought it might be time to make a fresh start.'

Richard frowned. 'But what about us?'

'What about us, Richard? Is there an "us"?'

'Of course there is! I love you, Celine. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.'

She stared at him, not quite trusting her own ears. He'd said he loved her, hadn't he? 'Are you sure?'

'I've never been more sure of anything in my life, Celine. Stay in Hopefield, move in with me. I'll even share my studio with you.'

Celine laughed. 'I don't know what to say.'

'Just tell me one thing. Do you love me?'

Celine threw her arms around him. 'Of course I love you, you silly man, you must know that.'

He grinned. 'I had my suspicions. But when I heard Gilligan was back on the scene—'

'Kevin was never back on the scene,' Celine told him. 'Do you believe that?'

'I do.' He kissed her long and hard.

Celine pulled away, flushed and happy. 'We're starting to get some funny looks,' she murmured.

'Then let's go back to my place and continue our, er, discussion there.'

They strolled back to his apartment arm-in-arm, talking about the future.

'So when do you think you'll have your exhibition?' Celine asked as they stepped into the lift.

'You don't give up, do you?' He opened the apartment door and stood back.

Celine arched an eyebrow. 'I thought we had a deal.'

'Do you mean it?'

She smiled, nodding. 'It's been on my mind lately. Working with all those lovely clothes — some of them designed by people I was in college with — really got me thinking.'

He hugged her. 'You know, getting all of those nasty anonymous letters can't have been nice but I'm beginning to think that the day you left Killmont was a red letter day for both of us!'

She smiled. 'I suppose that's true.'

'So what next? Will you set up your own label, your own shop?'

'I think I could do with some work experience first. It would be nice to work for a while in established design houses, maybe even spend some time in London, Milan or Paris.'

His face fell. 'I didn't think you'd want to go away, but I suppose it makes sense.'

She smiled. 'I wouldn't mind some company. I would have thought an artist would have jumped at the chance of spending time in such places.'

'Now there's an idea.'

'Could you get away from work?' she asked.

'I'm the boss, aren't I?'

'So, come on, show me.'

'What?'

'These wonderful paintings, I want to see them.'

He led the way down the corridor to the studio and swung open the door. One large canvas stood on the easel in the centre of the room but it was facing the other way.

Celine walked around, putting her hand to her mouth as she realised what she was looking at.

'I had to work from memory but I think I got it about right.'

Celine stared at the nude portrait of herself. 'I think you were very kind.'

He looked at her face, his eyes anxious. 'Do you like it?'

'I love it,' Celine said, not taking her eyes off the painting. 'You make me look so, so, remote. It's like I'm not aware of being nude, that I don't care about the artist, I'm in another world.'

'You've got it exactly!' Richard said, delighted. 'That's what I wanted to capture about you.'

Celine looked surprised. 'Are you saying that I'm remote?'

He bent to kiss her lips. 'Not now, but that's the way you were when I first met you: beautiful, very nice but just that little bit distant.'

'I think since Dermot died I've felt as if I'm on the sidelines watching life pass by.'

'And now?' he asked.

She smiled. 'Now I feel happy, alive, in love.' She looked back at the portrait. 'Thank you for this.'

'Do you still want me to exhibit it?'

She closed her eyes and groaned. 'I will die of embarrassment if anyone recognises me but you have to exhibit it. It's truly beautiful.'

'I won't sell it,' Richard told her, pulling her into his arms. 'Although I plan to paint you many, many times.'

'I thought you usually did landscapes.'

'I didn't have the right model before. Now' — he started to open the buttons of her shirt — 'I'd like to check some details.'

She smiled as he peeled her clothes away. 'I'd no idea you were such a perfectionist.'

'You wouldn't believe,' he murmured, pushing her down on to the wooden floor.

'Ooh, it's a bit cold,' she giggled.

'I'll soon warm you up.'

Marina sat in Dominic's kitchen reading while Josh played at her feet with his cars. She smiled down at her son's blond head, delighted to see him so happy. He'd been to stay with Kay once already and he thought it was a great adventure altogether. Marina was thrilled, as she'd been terrified that he'd throw a tantrum when he realised he was moving here for good but he hadn't been too bad at all. His playhouse had probably helped, and the fact that he now had someone to play football with. Marina had told Dominic that he didn't have to entertain her son all the time but it soon became obvious that he enjoyed it as much as Josh did. Marina often felt herself close to tears when she saw the two of them together. To find a new love at thirty-five was wonderful. To find someone willing to take your child on too was amazing. Even Ray was happy with the arrangement and had wished her and Dominic well. Probably because once Marina remarried he wouldn't have to cough up maintenance any more — not that he'd ever done so on a regular basis.

Marina washed her cup and started to prepare lunch. It was Celine's day off and Dominic was going to collect her after a meeting with the builders. The conversion was going very well so far and was due to be finished while they were on their honeymoon. As she washed the salad leaves, Marina smiled at the thought of two weeks touring around Nevada. She hadn't been out of Ireland in years and it would be Josh's first time on a plane — she'd no doubt that he'd love it. Kay had offered to take him home to Ireland after the wedding but Dominic had insisted he come with them.

'You'll never be able to truly enjoy yourself if you leave him behind,' he'd told Marina.

No wonder she loved him. He was so considerate. She and Celine had landed on their feet when they'd met Dominic and Richard. They were both good men. Dominic seemed thrilled too that Celine and Richard had finally settled their differences. She chuckled as she remembered how emotional he'd got the night Celine and Richard had dropped by to give them the good news.

Marina sliced the chicken portions she'd cooked earlier and arranged them on the salad. The short time under Kay's roof had broadened her range of recipes but she was still careful not to get too ambitious. She was setting the table when she heard the car doors slam on the car in the driveway.

'Joshie, Aunty Celine's here.'

Josh jumped up and ran to open the door. 'Hello, Aunty C'line, hi, Dominic!'

Celine looked taken aback when Josh hugged her knees before running to Dominic, who swung him up into the air.

Marina kissed her on both cheeks and led her inside. 'It's a pity Richard couldn't join us.'

'He's in town visiting an art gallery who are interested in exhibiting his work.'

Dominic shook his head as he opened the wine. 'I still can't believe he's an artist.'

'And a great one,' Marina chipped in. After much persuasion and several glasses of wine, Richard had agreed to show them around his studio. They had been as impressed as Celine and implored him to go public. Richard had laughed and told them about the deal he and Celine had struck. Marina had whooped with delight. 'It's about time the women of Ireland got to wear an original Celine Moore. They've been deprived for far too long.'