Page 57 of The Secret Bookshop in Ireland

Paul’s face fell. ‘You’re leaving already?’

‘Yes,’ Maureen replied. ‘We have much to do and the sooner we start the better.’

Paul walked to Maureen and took her hand. ‘In that case, I’ll say goodbye and good luck. We’ll all be keeping a close eye on the shop. Let me know if you need any help with anything. I’m actually a dab hand with the paintbrush.’ He looked at Maureen as if willing her to return his smile.

Maureen met his gaze for a moment, her mouth quivering. Then she couldn’t resist his charm, and her mouth broke into a grin. ‘Oh, okay, you win. I’ll give you a shout if we need help with the rest of the painting and decorating.’

‘Not if, but when,’ he corrected and shook her hand. ‘That’s a deal, then.’

Everyone around them started to laugh and at once the rather stiff and chilly atmosphere felt instantly warmer. Maureen and Ciara said goodbye to the hostess, who walked them to the door and thanked them for coming.

‘Your courage is impressive,’ Olivia said as they prepared to leave. ‘I’ll certainly see if I can spread the word about your shop once it’s up and running and hand out flyers in Enniskerry andeven Wicklow town. I know a lot of people in the area, especially the mothers at the pony club, who are usually a pain in the neck. But I think if you’re going to stock books that interest them, you might have a good clientele among some of our lot.’

‘“Our lot”,’ Maureen quoted as they walked down the street. ‘That means the horsey set in the old country houses around Enniskerry.’

‘Well, why not?’ Ciara asked. ‘We need customers whatever their circumstances.’

‘We do. And we’ll look up books about ponies and horses for the horsey children,’ Maureen agreed, taking Ciara’s arm, sighing. ‘What a day it’s been. I feel quite faint after all of that.’

‘Me too,’ Ciara said.

‘By the way,’ Maureen started. ‘Have you heard from Ronan?’

‘Not since that day at Powerscourt,’ Ciara replied.

‘I’m sorry to hear that. I thought he might be in touch after a while,’ Maureen said.

‘You started the drama with Elaine,’ Ciara cut in. ‘I’m sure she’ll never want to see us again.’

‘Maybe,’ Maureen said. ‘But I thought she needed to be told. Of course I got the wrong end of the stick altogether and upset her. Oh dear, what have I done? Your friendship with Ronan will suffer as a result.’

‘It was doomed anyway,’ Ciara replied glumly.

‘That makes me sad.’ Maureen stopped to look at a house with whitewashed walls behind a well-trimmed hedge. ‘That’s Paul Murray’s home. Looks very tidy. But what an irritating man he is.’

‘But he was flirting with you,’ Ciara said, poking her elbow into Maureen’s side. ‘I think he fancies you.’

Maureen’s cheeks turned pink. ‘Not at all, he just wants everyone to fawn over him. Such an ego tripper. All he wantedwas to announce the publication of his memoir. I’m sure he didn’t mean all he said about the bookshop.’

‘I bet he did,’ Ciara argued. ‘He made a lot of sense, I have to admit. If he launches his memoirs from our shop, it would mean great publicity. He was once a huge celebrity, wasn’t he? And you were one of his fans. Admit it, Ma.’

‘Oh, all right,’ Maureen said, looking flustered. ‘Of course I was, along with all my friends. He has a beautiful voice and he was so good looking.’

‘Still is in that silver fox way,’ Ciara teased.

‘Oh, stop all that nonsense,’ Maureen chided as they arrived at the bookshop. ‘I’m too old for flirting or meeting men. Your father was the love of my life and I’ll never forget him.’

‘Sorry. I was just teasing you,’ Ciara said, chastened by her mother’s words. Even though she thought Ma shouldn’t spend the rest of her life alone, she realised that her parents had had a wonderful, loving marriage that her mother would never forget. ‘Please forget what I said. I was just being silly.’

‘It’s forgotten,’ Maureen soothed. ‘I know you were just joking.’

‘Of course I was.’ Ciara opened the front door. ‘But here we are. I have to let Brian out and then we should think about dinner. But before we go in, I have something to tell you.’

‘More drama?’ Maureen asked.

‘In a way. Do you remember the old lady I was talking to at the party?’

‘The one sitting on the sofa?’ Maureen asked.