Where Rainbows End (48 page)

Wildflower:

Oh rules were made to be broken!

SureOne:

Not when people get hurt Wildflower.

Buttercup:

She’s right Wildflower.

Wildflower:

Oh don’t let people walk all over you Buttercup. It’s your life.

If you want something, you need to get out there and grab it by the horns because no one is going to give you what you want on a plate. Good girls always come second.

SureOne:

Good girls have a conscience and that way they can live with themselves. And anyway we haven’t even thought about the fact that Alex’s feelings may have diminished for Buttercup over time.

Wildflower:

Oh why don’t we just slit her wrists
for
her SureOne?

Buttercup:

She’s right Wildflower. I need to cover all angles before I jump into this headfirst. God I feel sick. OK so what hap-410

Cecelia Ahern

pens when I tell Alex that I received his letter and his feelings have changed? What do I do then? Things between us could or would never get back to normal ever again and I would lose my very best friend and I don’t think I could cope with that.

Wildflower:

Yes but then what if when you tell him how you feel, he grabs you passionately, relieved you finally know his true feelings, and the two of you live happily ever after.

SureOne:

Yeah sure, in between one messy divorce, child custody court fights, a heartbroken ex-wife . . .

Wildflower:

And a partridge in a pear tree.

SureOne:

If you can live with yourself by doing that, then by all means go ahead, but I for one couldn’t.

Wildflower:

But she can’t pretend nothing happened.

SureOne:

Your friendship will remain strong with Alex and the happiness in his life will also remain intact, just as it did when Alex heard no reply from you all those years ago. He kept on as normal, as though nothing had ever happened.

Buttercup:

Why did he keep on as normal? I remember him asking about a letter and I told him I didn’t get it. Why didn’t he just tell me then?

Wildflower:

He could have chickened out.

SureOne:

Or he saw that you were in love with your husband.

Buttercup:

This is all very confusing. LonelyLady, you’ve been very quiet.

What do you think?

LonelyLady:

Well I of all people know what it’s like to feel all alone and there were times that I thought I would do just about anything to find love,
but
SureOne has put it into perspective. Knowing the hurt she has gone through, I wouldn’t look for my own happiness at the expense of others. I would carry on as normal, as though nothing had happened.

Wildflower:

You 3 are unbelievable. Learn to live a little. Do unto others as others have done to you. You have all been screwed with by people.

love, rosie

411

Buttercup:

Yes we have and as much as I don’t like Bethany she has never done anything to hurt me.

Wildflower:

Apart from marrying Alex.

Buttercup:

I don’t
own
Alex.

Wildflower:

But you could.

Buttercup:

People can never
own
people but whether I can be with him or not right now, the answer is no. Not now. Maybe in another time.

FatherMichael has entered the room

Wildflower:

Ah don’t tell me you’re through a divorce yourself Father?

SureOne:

Don’t be silly Wildflower, have a bit of respect! He’s here for the ceremony.

Wildflower:

I know that. I was just trying to lighten the atmosphere.

FatherMichael:

So have the loving couple arrived yet?

SureOne:

No but it’s customary for the bride to be late.

FatherMichael:

Well is the groom here?

SingleSam has entered the room

Wildflower:

Here he is now. Hello there SingleSam. I think this is the first time ever that both the bride and groom will have to change their names.

SingleSam:

Hello all.

Buttercup:

Where’s the bride?

LonelyLady:

Probably fixing her makeup.

Wildflower:

Oh don’t be silly. No one can even see her.

LonelyLady:

SingleSam can see her.

SureOne:

She’s not doing her makeup; she’s
supposed
to keep the groom waiting.

SingleSam:

No she’s right here on the laptop beside me. She’s just having problems with her password logging in.

SureOne:

Doomed from the start.

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Cecelia Ahern

Divorced_1 has entered the room

Wildflower:

Wahoo! Here comes the bride, all dressed in . . .

SingleSam:

Black.

Wildflower:

How charming.

Buttercup:

She’s right to wear black.

Divorced_1:

What’s wrong with misery guts today?

LonelyLady:

She found a letter from Alex that was written 12 years ago proclaiming his love for her and she doesn’t know what to do.

Divorced_1:

Here’s a word of advice.
Get over it
, he’s married. Now let’s focus the attention on me for a change.

SoOverHim has entered the room

FatherMichael:

OK let’s begin. We are gathered here online today to witness the marriage of SingleSam (soon to be “Sam”) and Divorced_1 (soon to be “Married_1”).

SoOverHim:

WHAT?? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?

THIS IS A
MARRIAGE CEREMONY
IN A
DIVORCED

PEOPLE CHAT ROOM??

Wildflower:

Uh-oh, looks like we got ourselves a gate crasher here.

Excuse me can we see your wedding invite please?

Divorced_1:

Ha ha.

SoOverHim:

YOU THINK THIS IS
FUNNY?
YOU PEOPLE MAKE

ME SICK, COMING IN HERE AND TRYING TO

UPSET OTHERS WHO ARE GENUINELY TROUBLED.

Buttercup:

Oh we are genuinely troubled alright. And could you please STOP SHOUTING.

LonelyLady:

You see SoOverHim, this is where SingleSam and Divorced_1 met for the first time.

SoOverHim:

OH I HAVE SEEN IT ALL NOW!

Buttercup:

Sshh!

love, rosie

413

SoOverHim:

Sorry. Mind if I stick around?

Divorced_1:

Sure grab a pew; just don’t trip over my train.

Wildflower:

Ha ha.

FatherMichael:

OK we should get on with this; I don’t want to be late for my 2 o’clock. First I have to ask, is there anyone in here who thinks there is any reason why these two should not be married?

LonelyLady:

Yes.

SureOne:

I could give more than one reason.

Buttercup:

Hell
yes.

SoOverHim:

DON’T DO IT!

FatherMichael:

Well I’m afraid this has put me in a very tricky predicament.

Divorced_1:

Father we are in a divorced chat room, of course they all object to marriage. Can we get on with it?

FatherMichael:

Certainly. Do you Sam take Penelope to be your lawful wedded wife?

SingleSam:

I do.

FatherMichael:

Do you Penelope take Sam to be your lawful wedded husband?

Divorced_1:

I do (yeah, yeah my name is Penelope).

FatherMichael:

You have already e-mailed your vows to me so by the online power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride. Now if the witnesses could click on the icon to the right of the screen they will find a form to type their names, addresses, and phone numbers. Once that’s filled in just e-mail it off to me. I’ll be off now. Congratulations again.

FatherMichael has left the room

Wildflower:

Congrats Sam and Penelope!

Divorced_1:

Thanks girls for being here.

SoOverHim:

Freaks.

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Cecelia Ahern

SoOverHim has left the room

Wildflower:

Funny, we’ve been chatting about our most intimate life details for years now and we never even knew each other’s real names. I’m just looking down the witness form right now, LonelyLady I see your name is Lynne, SureOne, I see yours is Sinead . . . the name Rosie Dunne . . . it suits you Buttercup.

Buttercup:

Why thank you Wildflower.

Wildflower:

Right, you love birds I’m off. Enjoy your honeymoon and I expect to never see you in here again. LonelyLady good luck with that date. SureOne enjoy the start of the rest of your life, and Rosie Dunne, what
are
you going to do?

Ruby:

What do you mean
you’re moving to Co. Galway?

Rosie:

I mean exactly that. I’m leaving that horrible flat in Dublin once and for all and I’m moving to Connemara for good.

Ruby:

But
why?

Rosie:

Ruby there’s nothing there for me in Dublin. Apart from you of course. I have had a string of unsatisfactory jobs, have no family there, had my heart broken twice there, have no money, and no man. I don’t see a reason why I should stay.

Ruby:

Well forgive me for being the bearer of bad news but you have no job in Galway, no family, and no man. Unless you’re going to take to herding sheep.

Rosie:

Oh yes the common city person’s misconception of the country.

There are shops and restaurants here too you know. Anyway I may not have all those things but I have a
house
.

Ruby:

Have you gone nuts Rosie?

Rosie:

Probably! But think about it. I have a great big modern-built 4-bedroom house right on the coast in Connemara.

Ruby:

Exactly! What are you going to do all on your own with no job, in a 4-bedroom house, hanging off the cliff in Connemara?

Rosie:

You could be close to guessing!

love, rosie

415

Ruby:

Well I was thinking very much of you committing suicide so I hope I’m not.

Rosie: No silly! I’m opening up a Bed and Breakfast! And I know I’ve always said I hate B&Bs but I’m planning on turning the house more into my own mini hotel. And I am going to be manager/owner extraordinaire!

Ruby:

Wow.

Rosie: What do you think?

Ruby:

I think that . . . wow. I can’t think of anything sarcastic to say actually. I think that’s a great idea. Are you sure you want to do this?

Rosie: Ruby I’ve never been surer in my life! I’ve done my research, with my inheritance from Mum and Dad I can afford the insurance. I’ve asked all the B&Bs around and the place is
crawling
with tourists.

It’s a bit tough in November and December but they generally make enough in the rest of the months to get through that.

The area is beautiful, the coastline is dramatic and rugged, the bog-lands have a foggy mysteriousness to them, the sea just crashes and whips against the cliffs letting everyone who lives here know who’s boss. It’s just nature and all the elements at their best, who wouldn’t want to come here? Who wouldn’t want to live here?

Ruby:

Well
I
wouldn’t but I appreciate what you’re saying. I think it’s a great idea Rosie. Congratulations you little genius. I hope that whatever it was that sent you packing isn’t going to chase you away any farther.

Rosie Dunne will be your hostess in Buttercup House. The building is a
modern four-bedroom home approved by Bord Failte, the Irish Tourist
Board. All of the rooms are en-suite with private baths and toilets. Double,
twin, and family rooms are all available. The rooms are centrally heated and
there is a telephone in each room.

Buttercup House is the ideal location to explore Connemara, enjoy hill-walking, mile-long sandy beaches, angling, fishing in Lough Corrib, Ireland’s
largest natural inland water mass, a favorite with fishermen for salmon and
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Cecelia Ahern

brown trout. Scuba-diving, sailing, and surfing are accessible along the coastline.

Connemara National Park is a 2,000-hectare state-owned conservation
center with mountains, bogs, grasslands, and spectacular wildlife. Traces of
ancient settlements can be seen, including 4,000-year-old megalithic tombs.

There are golf courses aplenty, with rocky hills and ocean inlets providing the
ultimate challenge for the keen golfer. Walking, horse riding, and cycling are
wonderful ways to explore the terrain, and mountaineering is also popular
with rock-climbing enthusiasts.

The television lounge is comfortably furnished with log fire, board
games, and plenty of books for our guests to relax with after their active days.

Breakfast is served in the dining room and the conservatory offers panoramic
views of the mountains and Atlantic Ocean.

Rates are
e
35 per person per night.

Contact Rosie Dunne to make your reservation now!

from:

Katie

to:

Mum

subject:

Wow!

Wow, Mum that looks fantastic! The photographs look so beautiful, you’ve really done so much to the place. You are finally Rosie Dunne, General Manager and Owner of Buttercup House! I’ll come over next week and help with all that’s left to do and we can go shopping for more things to fill this big house! Grandma and Granddad would be so proud of you using the house like this. They always said it was such a waste of space only having the two of them there.

Well done! See you next week.

Dear Rosie,

I just wanted to no if everything between us is OK? You’ve been sounding a little, well, odd on the phone lately. Have I done something to upset you in any way? I can’t think of anything that I may have said to piss you off but do let me no. It seems I have to do nothing these days in order to succeed love, rosie