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I was barely awake when I heard someone knocking softly on the front door. I sat up in bed, trying to gauge how I felt. The room didn’t sway, and the pain in my head was only a soft throbbing, not even warranting a painkiller. Colin was still asleep, curled into a ball, hugging his pillow like a little boy, his long eyelashes fanned out across his cheeks, his mouth relaxed. I pulled the duvet over him, threw on my dressing gown and crept downstairs. Jake was already standing by the door, wagging his tail. Whoever was knocking had to be a friend.
I opened the door and peered out into the rain to discover Rory in an old waxed coat holding an umbrella over a pretty woman in a bright red jacket, skinny jeans and a wide-brimmed hat.
“Rory?” I exclaimed. “Hi, what are you—”
Rory gasped as he caught sight of me. “Bloody hell, Finola! What happened to you?”
I touched my face, realising I must have looked a fright. I glanced in the hall mirror and saw I had two black eyes as well as the big dressing taped to the side of my head. They’d even shaved the bit where they’d applied the stiches, which I hadn’t noticed in my confused state. I backed away from the door.
“I had a bit of an accident last night. Long story. Come in out of the rain, anyway. I was just putting on the kettle.” I smiled at the woman. “Sorry about this. You must be Anita.”
The woman looked confused. “No, I’m Clodagh, Rory’s sister. Hi, Finola.”
“Oh, sorry.” I shook her hand. “Hi, Clodagh.” I pulled the dressing gown tighter around me and stepped aside to let them in. Jake milled around us, sniffing at the newcomer’s legs and whining. I went into the kitchen and filled the kettle. Rory hung his wet jacket on a peg by the door and followed me in, taking out cups and a teapot from the cupboard beside the Aga.
Clodagh stood in the middle of the floor and looked around. “Lovely little kitchen. You’ve made it look really homely.”
“Just a lick of paint and a new kitchen table.” I filled Jake’s bowl with dog food. “But that was Jules, not me. I’m not much of a homemaker, really.”
Rory filled the teapot with hot water and put it on the table. “Let’s sit down. Tell us what happened.”
“I need something to eat first.” I slathered butter on a slice of soda bread from the fresh loaf I found on the counter. “What time is it?”
“Coming up to eleven thirty,” Rory replied. “Here.” He poured tea into a mug and pushed it at me across the table.
“Thanks.” I looked back at him, and then at Clodagh. “Before I go into what happened to me, tell me why you’re here. You both look as if you’re in the middle of some kind of argument.”
“More like a feud.” Clodagh took off her hat, letting her brown hair spill onto her shoulders.
“Sounds ominous.” I took a bite of the bread.
Rory fiddled with a teaspoon. “It’s my mother. And me. I told Clodagh all about Anita and how Mam behaved towards her and how it made her break up with me. And then—”
“Then I got mad and decided to come here and tell Mam where to get off,” Clodagh cut in. “She seemed to think she has the right to decide everything on the farm and to kick Rory out if she feels like it. But she doesn’t. Not legally, anyway. She owns two thirds and we own a third. We have a right to live in the house and to take part in the running of the land and livestock. But if Rory isn’t there to keep an eye on things, God only knows what Mam will get up to. Now she’s said Rory can’t bring a woman into the house without her approval.”
“And I told her I’d leave if I couldn’t choose who I’d marry,” Rory filled in.
I put a hand to my head. “This is getting complicated. What are you going to do?”
“Leave,” Rory said.
“You can’t,” Clodagh argued. “Then one of us has to come and live with Mam, and you know that’s not possible. Especially not for me.”
I shook my head as I looked at them. “You know what? I think you should sort this out yourselves. I can’t do it for you. Nobody can. I have a feeling Breda has been treating you like children all this time. Why don’t you grow up and tell her where to get off? She’s a bully, and like all bullies, she’s a coward deep down. Go and find out for yourselves.”
Rory looked at me as if I’d just dropped a bomb in his lap. He got up from the table, his face red. “You’re right, Finola. We’ll have to stand up for our rights. Come on, Clodagh, let’s go.”
Clodagh looked suddenly frightened. “What are we going to do, Rory?”
“I’m going to win,” he said. “And you’re going to help me. Hell, I spent ten years in politics. I should be able to tell my mother where to get off.”
“Politics is a breeze compared to the mammy from hell,” I remarked.
“But now the worm is turning,” Rory said. “Come on, Clodagh, let’s get going.”
“Okay,” Clodagh said in a small voice and got up. She turned to me. “I left home five years ago when I’d had enough of Mam breathing down my neck. I said I wouldn’t set foot in the house until she was dead. Pretty harsh, but I was desperate. But now Rory needs help, so I’ll try to...”
She was interrupted by Colin coming into the kitchen wearing nothing but a towel around his waist.
Looking startled, Rory stared at Colin, letting his gaze wander to the towel, then to me. “Is this the guy who beat you up, Finola?”
I dropped my mug. “What are you talking about?”
Rory pointed at Colin. “Him. And you with your face a mess. He did it, didn’t he? I’ve heard about those Hollywood stars. Drugs, booze, fights...”
Colin stared at him. “You stupid bastard.”
Rory took a step towards Colin, his fists clenched. “If you’ve hurt Finola, I’ll—”
“NO,” I shouted. “Colin didn’t beat me up. He wasn’t even there. It happened outside the office late last night. Some thugs pushed me around and then hit me with something and ran away.”
Rory stopped and blinked. “Who?”
I shrugged. “No idea. But I have my suspicions. It was connected to the anti-bullying campaign. I spent a few hours at the hospital, and then I came here. And then...Colin...he and I...”
“Oh?” Rory said, looking sheepish. “I see. Sorry.”
“Yeah.” Colin backed away, holding his towel in a tight grip.
Clodagh suddenly woke up and pointed a shaking finger at him, her eyes on stalks. “It’s Colin Foley! Naked in your kitchen! Where’s my phone?”
“No, you don’t.” Colin backed out of the kitchen and disappeared up the stairs like a rocket.
Clodagh sighed. “He got away.” She turned to me, her eyes shining. “Finola, you’re...I don’t know what to say.”
“Then don’t,” I snapped. “I’d appreciate it if you could keep who and what you saw here confidential. I’m sure the news about us won’t take long to hit the tabloids, but until then it would be nice to have some privacy.” I drew breath.
“Every woman in the world will want to be you when this comes out,” Clodagh sighed.
I rolled my eyes. “Being me is no picnic at the best of times. So, I repeat, not a word for now, okay?”
“Of course,” Rory said. “We know how to keep a secret, don’t we, Clodagh?”
“Yeah, right,” she muttered. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep my big mouth shut. Come on, Rory, let’s go and deal with Mam.”
Rory nodded and put on his jacket. Clodagh shoved her hat back on her head and grabbed the still-dripping umbrella. I went with them into the hall to see them out.
Rory put his hand on my shoulder. “Bye for now, Finola. And thank you. I’d never have the guts to stand up to my mother if you hadn’t come along and shaken me up. Things are going to be different from now on.”
“Good for you, Rory. Nice to meet you, Clodagh.” I opened the door to make them leave.
“Fantastic to meet you,” Clodagh replied, hovering on the doorstep. “You’re even more amazing than I thought. I mean...Colin Foley.”
“Yeah, okay. But please, could you leave so I can close the door? It’s wet and cold out there.” I shooed them both out the door and slammed it shut, leaning against it. “That was one crazy morning,” I said to Jake. “Politicians are easier to handle.”
I caught sight of my face in the mirror and shuddered. No wonder Rory got a fright. I sighed, suddenly too tired to move. I needed to sleep for at least a month.
Colin came down the stairs again, dressed in boxers and a tee shirt. He caught sight of me and rushed to my side. “You need to get back into bed. Come on, sweetheart, I’ll help you up the stairs.”
“I hope you’re strong enough,” I mumbled and leaned heavily against him.
“Don’t worry. I work out regularly.” He took a firm grip around my waist, and I looped my arm around his shoulder. We managed to get up the narrow stairs and into the bedroom, where we collapsed on the bed.
Colin ran his finger down my face. “Did I tell you that I love you?”
I managed a smile. “Mm. You did.”
“Good.”
My phone beeped.
“Jesus Christ, not those gobshites again,” Colin groaned. “Don’t reply.”
But I couldn’t help myself. I had to reply. “Hello?” I squawked into the phone. “If you’re calling to harass me, I’ll—”
“Finola McGee?” A gravelly voice interrupted. “This is Garda Flannigan. I’m calling to let you know that we have arrested two men suspected of the assault on your...person.”
I shot up from the bed. “Holy mackerel! You haven’t!”
“We have,” Garda Flannigan said, a hint of a smile in his voice. “One of them is the owner of the phone we found, and the other was caught trying to break into a house about an hour after your attack. We found your wallet among his belongings. They’ll both be charged and held in custody.”
I sat down heavily on the bed. “That is the best news ever. Well done, Mr Garda Flannigan! Who are these guys?”
“I’m not at liberty to say,” Garda Flannigan said. “But we’ll make a statement as soon as we can. You’ll be the first to know.”
“Fantastic,” I gushed. “Thank you for letting me know.”
“You’re welcome. Bye for now, Miss McGee,” Garda Flannigan said and hung up.
“What was that all about?” Colin demanded.
I beamed at him. “That was the Guards. They got the bastards.”
Colin brightened. “Brilliant! Three cheers for the boys in blue.” He pulled me down beside him. “But let’s get back to where we broke off. Where were we...oh yes. I love you, Finola McGee.”
“You love me even though I look like shit right now?”
He opened my dressing gown and buried his face in my chest. “I love you to bits whatever you look like. I want to be in your space, in your heart, in your mind.” He kissed my breasts. “But most of all, right now, I want to be inside your body. But you’re exhausted. Maybe we’ll sleep on it?”
Despite my fatigue, the contact with his warm skin through the thin tee shirt and his mouth on my breasts made something stir deep down inside me. I suddenly wanted him so much it hurt.
“I’m wide awake,” I whispered and ran my hands under his tee shirt, all the way down to his crotch, where something was beginning to rise. I pulled him on top of me and arched my hips, undulating my pelvis, parting my legs.
“No headache?” he whispered as he slid inside me.
“Just a throbbing, but that’s not in my head.”
And then we made love. Slowly at first, building up to a crescendo that made the bed shudder and shake. We moaned in unison, and came at the very same time, eyes locked, our breathing sounding like some kind of electronic music from a sci-fi movie.
He pulled away, smiling and sighing at the same time. “Finola, you’re amazing.”
I touched his face. “No, we’re amazing. Together.” I gasped, suddenly remembering something. “Shit, we did it again.”
“Yes, we did. Why do you look so startled?”
“I mean we had sex without...without a net.”
He frowned. “You mean without protection?”
“Yes, that’s what I meant. How could we be so stupid?”
“Stupid? Yeah, I suppose...” He sat up and stared out the window at the rain. Then he looked back at me. “How would you feel if...?”
I thought about it for a minute. “Shocked. But then happy. It would change my life forever.”
“And mine.” He kept looking at me. “You don’t think I’d run off if you got pregnant?”
“I don’t know what you’d do. I was hoping not, but...” I thought about it for a while. “It was my responsibility, too. I could have said no, I could have asked you if you had a condom, I could have had one myself, except I don’t keep them in stock because I don’t have sex that often. It’s been a while, you know,” I ended, and started to cry for no reason.
Colin lay down beside me and held me tight. “Let’s get married.”
I stopped crying. “What?”
“Yeah, let’s do it. Let’s go up the aisle and do it properly. A real, big, fat, Irish wedding. Church, priest, bridesmaids, flowers, everyone crying and...”
I couldn’t believe it. “You want that? But you were married before. I don’t think the Catholic Church will marry us on those grounds.”
He laughed. “That wasn’t real. We were married in The Chapel of Love in Las Vegas, by a guy dressed like Elvis. The witness was an old woman with pink hair they got off the street. I think she was drunk. So was the bride. We split up after three weeks. The whole thing was a joke. I bet the marriage wasn’t even legal.”
“Did you love her?” I had to ask.
He shrugged. “Nah. I thought I did, but it was when I was drinking quite a lot. I didn’t feel like I feel now about you.” He picked up my hand and kissed it. “You’re my Dublin girl. You know where I’m coming from. I’m gonna get you the biggest rock you’ve ever seen. And then we’ll plan the wedding.”
“Oh, God. Is this happening?”
“No, it’s a dream. I ordered it especially for you.” He got off the bed and held out his hands. “Come on, let’s have a shower. Then you’re going back to bed, and I’ll make us something to eat. I got some fresh bread at the all-night shop on the motorway.”
I got off the bed. “And there are eggs and bacon in the fridge.”
“Perfect.”
Colin helped me into the shower and washed me as tenderly as if I was a baby. Then I sank into bed and fell asleep, waking up to the smell of bacon frying and crockery rattling in the kitchen. I heard Colin talking to Jake, and smiled to myself. I knew we wouldn’t be the perfect couple and that our careers and lifestyles would never really gel. There would be rocky patches along the way, fights, separations, compromises. I was certain of nothing except one thing. We would never stop loving each other.