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Moira knocked on Tessa’s door. It opened a minute later and Tessa stood there looking fresh and rested for someone who’d seen the wrong side of midnight the night before. On the bed was an open case.
‘Good morning, come in. I’m just packing the last of my things.’
Moira did so and flopped down in the tub chair. Tessa looked over, hardly able to believe all that had happened since she’d sat there herself last night, a bundle of insecurities and nerves in a coral dress.
‘So, you’re off to Galway today then?’
‘Yes, I’ll be gone a week and a half and then I’m coming back here for a night before I fly to London. From there it’s the long haul home.’ She grimaced. She wasn’t looking forward to that flight, but it was a means to an end. ‘And, Moira, you’ll never guess what happened at breakfast.’
‘What?’
‘I was asked out to dinner.’
‘Really, who by?’
‘His name’s Owen. He’s from Waterford, but he’s been here in Dublin these last few days on business. I saw him the other morning and thought he looked tasty but I wouldn’t have done anything about it. He asked me if he could join me this morning so we could compare notes on whether Mrs Flaherty does the best full Irish in the country. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find out because she wasn’t cooking this morning.’
‘No, Mrs Baicu’s on of a weekend. She does a fantastic fry-up by the way, not that I’d ever let on to Mrs Flaherty.’
‘I can vouch for that. I had the works.’ Tessa had succumbed and placed her order with the skinny woman. She’d been dressed in what looked like a national costume for wherever her strong Eastern European accent hailed from and was as intimidating as Mrs Flaherty. Tessa had been sure to compliment her when she’d banged the plate down in front of her. ‘He was so easy to chat to, Moira. I told him I planned on visiting Waterford on my travels and he asked me if I’d have dinner with him when I do.’
‘Go you,’ Moira smiled.
Tessa paused halfway through folding a sweater. ‘And how are you feeling today?’
Moira’s head had been thumping that morning and she’d sworn off the red wine for the foreseeable future. She wasn’t going to say anything to Tessa about Tom either. When she thought about how she’d behaved, she felt a searing flush of embarrassment. ‘I’m a bit rough around the edges, but I’ve felt worse. I’m going to head downstairs for a Mrs Baicu special myself in a moment—her bacon and eggs are a cure for most things.’ She sighed. ‘I could do without being mammified this afternoon but on the other hand afternoon tea at Powerscourt is always good and it's her treat.’ She wasn’t looking forward to having to say sorry for going on the other night with regard to Mammy’s trip to Vietnam either but she’d manage it for the sake of the fresh, warm scones with strawberry jam and the scrumptious Chantilly and lemon curd they were served with. She was drooling already.
‘I mean about Michael.’
‘I know you did, I just opted to pretend otherwise.’ They grinned at each other and Moira’s phone burned a hole in her pocket. She’d switched it off and left it to charge overnight and this morning when she’d staggered bleary-eyed into the kitchen where she’d plugged it in, she’d seen Michael’s name flash up. He’d left voice messages and texted her.
‘He’s left messages for me, but I haven’t listened to or read any of them.’
‘Good, don’t. You know exactly what they’ll say. Delete them, Moira. Come on, do it now while I’m with you.’
Moira pulled her phone reluctantly from her pocket and looked at Tessa.
‘You can do it.’
Under Tessa’s watchful gaze, she hit delete until his name was wiped from her phone. ‘I don’t feel any better.’
‘You probably won't for a while yet, but you did the right thing.’
‘Maybe.’
‘Definitely.’
‘So, I’ll see you in just over a week?’
‘You will.’
‘Have a fantastic time, don’t catch herpes off that old Blarney Stone and try not to think about what Big Jes got up to in Killarney when you reach the Ring of Kerry.’
Tessa laughed. ‘I’m glad I’ve eaten, you’d have put me off breakfast reminding me of that.’
‘Oh, and have a super, hot date with your man in Waterford.’
‘I’m planning on it.’ Tessa winked.
Moira got up then and gave her a squeeze. ‘I’m glad I met you.’
‘Me too.’