Page 65 of The Secret Bookshop in Ireland

‘What? You found him?’ Ciara exclaimed, dizzy with relief. ‘That’s fantastic! Where was he?’

‘Stuck in the shed,’ Maureen said, laughing. ‘But he’s filthy. So he must have been out in the rain and rolled in a muddy puddle and then gone into the shed. If you had remembered to check that squeaky door before you rushed off into the storm, you would have realised that the noise you heard was not the door but him whining. He nearly knocked me down when I opened the door and let him out. I managed to clean him up in the bathtub. And now he’s here, munching his way through what’s left of the casserole.’

Ciara laughed, hugging Ronan. ‘Oh that’s the best news ever! I think this must be the luckiest day in my whole life.’

‘Because I found Brian?’ Maureen asked, sounding intrigued.

‘Yes, and…’ Ciara looked at Ronan, who was smiling broadly at her. ‘Ronan and I are together, if you know what I mean.’

‘I do and that’s music to my ears,’ Maureen said, sounding jubilant. ‘Come back here, you two, and we’ll celebrate.’

‘We will,’ Ciara shouted into the phone. ‘I can’t wait to hug Brian. He must have got into the shed for some reason and got stuck there.’

‘Yes,’ Maureen agreed. ‘The bag of treats was empty as well. I found it on the floor of the shed. The naughty boy must have brought it there to eat in secret. And his lead was in your room, Ciara. You must have left it there after walking him the other day. So all the mystery with Brian’s disappearance is solved and we can crack on with the bookshop.’

‘That’s great,’ Ronan said. ‘We’ll be back in a little while.’

‘Okay,’ Maureen said and hung up, while Ciara looked at Ronan in the dim light of the dashboard.

‘I’m so happy I could burst,’ she said and hugged him.

‘So am I,’ Ronan said and started the car. ‘I’ve never felt happier in all my life.’

They drove slowly back up the road, the rain still pouring down. Ciara was sure that from now on, she would look ahead and not worry too much about the past. She knew everything she needed to know, most all who she was and where she was going. She glanced at Ronan and felt secure in the knowledge that he would be with her through thick or thin for as long as they were both alive.

THIRTY-ONE

The Brian Boru Bookshop was opened at the end of June. The event was combined with the launch of Paul Murray’s memoir, which brought a huge crowd, including teams from the national newspapers. There was even a camera team from RTÉ who filmed the event for the evening news. Paul, dressed in a blue blazer and red trousers, was the star of the show and he used it to its full potential, making a speech that lasted over half an hour, to Maureen’s annoyance. But she didn’t show what she really thought, as the launch helped to boost the image of the little shop and put the village on the map. Paul had gallantly paid for the champagne that was being served, and Maureen and Ciara had made an array of finger food that disappeared very quickly.

All the people they had met at the tea party at the vicarage were there, including old Nuala, who had slowly made her way across the street using a walking frame on wheels. Olivia Wilson appeared dressed in a bright turquoise suit, looking every inch the grande dame of the village. Elaine and Aino, her carer, arrived by car from Dublin just before the start of the launch and Maureen was especially pleased to see them. They had a long chat before Paul Murray arrived and the two women seemed to get on just as well as the first time they met.

Oisín and Liz were there too, Oisín beaming as he studied his paintings that they had hung up on the walls between the bookcases. ‘Thank you,’ he said when Paul Murray had finished speaking, kissing Ciara lightly on the cheek. ‘This is very kind of you.’

‘Not at all,’ she protested. ‘They look lovely and give the shop that extra bit of charm.’

‘I’m glad you picked my landscapes and flowers. They’re perfect for this place. I’ll do some more if these sell.’

‘That would be great,’ Ciara said.

‘Do you want me to help out at the desk?’ Oisín asked. ‘There’s a long queue of people wanting to buy Paul’s book.’

‘Brilliant,’ Ciara said. ‘I could use a little help. Do you know how to work the card machine?’

‘Of course,’ Oisín said. ‘I’ve worked in shops before. By the way, very clever of you to get the satellite dish for the Wi-Fi. You would have had to do cash only otherwise, which is a little old-fashioned.’

‘I know. That’s all thanks to Ronan’s mum. She was the one who suggested it.’

‘I should have told you,’ Oisín said. ‘But you were so annoyed at me after our dinner in Wicklow.’

‘Not really,’ Ciara protested. ‘It was just that I was a little confused and worried at that time.’

‘About Martha, her sister and your connection to them?’ Oisín asked, glancing around to make sure they weren’t overheard. ‘And to me?’

‘Something like that,’ Ciara mumbled back. ‘But now I feel I’ll never know the real truth.’

‘I don’t know either,’ Oisín said. ‘Does it bother you?’

‘Not any more,’ Ciara said. ‘That was so long ago and they’re all dead. Let them rest in peace.’