Page 48 of The Secret Bookshop in Ireland

‘Yes,’ Ciara replied, feeling terrible about lying. But she wouldn’t be able to do any of this on her own, and she was scared of her mother’s reaction to her quitting her job. ‘We have a lot of work to do before it becomes reality,’ she added.

‘Let me know if there’s anything I can do,’ Elaine offered. ‘Not physically, but maybe on the computer. I’m getting fairly good at managing the social media stuff.’

‘Well, we’re going to have to manage without the Internet,’ Maureen said. ‘There’s no broadband in Cherrywood. And the phone signal is hopeless up there.’

‘But what about a satellite connection?’ Elaine asked. ‘I have a friend who lives in the back of beyond in County Meath and she has managed to get connection with a company that installs satellite dishes. I could look up the ones on Wicklow for you.’

Maureen brightened. ‘Oh, that’s a brilliant idea,’ she exclaimed. ‘Why didn’t we think of that?’

‘It mightn’t have occurred to you,’ Ronan said as he pulled out a chair for Ciara and then sat down as soon as Ciara had settled opposite Elaine. ‘But that’s a great idea, Mum. We should investigate that. And if we find a firm that’ll do it, would you mind if we send them up to you, Ciara?’

‘Of course not,’ Ciara said, delighted that he had asked her and not her mother. ‘Please get them to call in and we’ll look after the rest.’

‘Now I come to think of it,’ Maureen said, ‘I’ve seen a dish like that on one or two of the houses in the village. That must be what they’re for.’

‘Maybe we could knock on their doors and ask who they’re with?’ Ciara suggested.

‘We could, but I think we should make our own arrangements,’ Maureen said. ‘We haven’t met many of the neighbours yet. Except a nice couple who called in with their granddaughter.’

‘And the lady at the vicarage,’ Ciara filled in. ‘She invited us to tea in a few weeks. We’re hoping to do a bit of networking then.’

‘Didn’t Oisín suggest that we spread the word during the tea party?’ Maureen asked. ‘When you had that dinner date yesterday?’

‘Who’s Oisín?’ Ronan asked, frowning. ‘You didn’t mention him, Ciara.’

‘Oh, just a friend,’ Ciara said casually. ‘We had dinner in Wicklow last night.’

‘He’s been most helpful,’ Maureen cut in. ‘I think it’s a good idea, but I don’t want us to be too obvious.’

‘You could steer the conversation in the right direction,’ Elaine suggested. ‘Just mention your shop in passing or something.’

‘Well, yes,’ Maureen said. ‘We’ll just see who we meet and what we’ll talk about and feel the mood.’

Elaine nodded and started to eat her quiche. ‘That’s a good idea. But now we should enjoy the food and the sunshine.’

They all started to eat at once, and the conversation turned to Powerscourt, its history and the beautiful gardens that were so famous. Ciara kept looking at Elaine, still feeling a sense of wonder at this attractive, intelligent woman who had been so friendly and helpful ever since they met for the first time. She hadn’t expected this at all.

When they had finished their coffee and cakes, Elaine announced that she wanted to take a tour of the gardens just to see the roses that were in bloom. Maureen offered to accompany her and said that they’d go ahead, and that Ronan and Ciara might join them later when they were at the fountain where they could admire the beautiful herbaceous borders. Elaine started to protest that Ronan should come with them, but Maureen stood up and started to push the wheelchair towards the door. ‘We have to go inside to get to the entrance to the park. I know that there’s a ramp into the garden behind the reception,’ she said as she walked away with Elaine. ‘We’ll see you in a little while,’ she said to Ciara and Ronan over her shoulder.

Ronan looked at Ciara and started to laugh. ‘I have a feeling my mother has met her match,’ he said. ‘I admire Maureen’s courage.’

‘You don’t argue with my mother when she’s in that determined mood,’ Ciara said, smiling.

‘I can imagine.’ Ronan paused for a moment. ‘So you were on a date last night?’

‘Yes, I was,’ Ciara said, wondering if there was a hint of jealousy in his eyes.

‘With someone called Oisín?’ Ronan asked. ‘I don’t think you’ve mentioned him. Who is he?’

‘He’s an artist and he lives in the tower up on the hill behind Cherrywood,’ Ciara replied. ‘That tower belonged to his ancestors, the O’Tooles, who’ve been there since the eleventh century or something.’

‘Interesting,’ Ronan remarked in a cold tone. ‘Is he… Are you…?’

‘Involved?’ Ciara asked, trying not to show that she found his rather obvious annoyance funny. ‘I don’t know yet,’ she said while she wondered how Ronan could be worried about her possible attraction to Oisín when he might soon reconnect with his former girlfriend. ‘But I don’t think so. Oisín is nice, but not really my type.’

‘I see,’ Ronan said, looking a little brighter. ‘Anyway, I’m glad you met my mother.’

‘Yes,’ Ciara said. ‘Actually, I thought you wanted me to meet your girlfriend, when you talked about someone called Elaine.’