Kevin licked his bottom lip. ‘Bronagh, I’ve said my piece. It’s how I feel. I won’t change my mind and there’s something else.’
‘What?’ Jaysus Christ what more could there possibly be?
‘I gave notice at work today. I’m moving back to Donegal. There’s a job opening for me there. I miss my family and there’s no chance of you ever moving there with me. So, you see, it’s easier to part ways now.’ He shrugged again.
Fury at the way things had spiralled out of her control ripped through her and she stood up spitting out, ‘Well go then. Good riddance,’ before she walked away from him quickly, not wanting him to see the tears that were blinding her. She needed to get home to her mam.
Chapter 38
Present
The door to the guesthouse opened five minutes before Bronagh was due to head home and, looking up from where she’d been tidying her day’s work away, she registered one of two things. An enormous box and a familiar face. She watched as the unexpected guest who was doing his best to balance the box with one hand and his case in the other beamed at her. She blinked rapidly because she’d already decided she must be seeing things. Surely she’d conjured him up because it couldn’t be, but when she heard the apparition speak in a Liverpudlian brogue with a dash of Irish, she knew this dapper vision was real.
‘Hello, Bronagh, I couldn’t wait until September to try the carrot cake. It’s far too far away, so here I am.’
Bronagh, mouth agape, put down the papers she’d been about to clip into a folder and got to her feet, her brain shuffling to arrange a coherent sentence. ‘Leonard? What on earth are you doing here?’
‘I’ve brought my annual visit to my fair city forward.’
‘But I never saw your booking.’ Bronagh was still agog, not registering what he was telling her.
‘Will you let me put this down, woman?’ He moved toward her, the box beginning to wobble precariously in his tenuous grasp.
‘Of course. Here.’ She hastily swept aside the folder, stapler and diary to make room on her desk and Leonard heaved a sigh of relief, placing the box safely down.
‘That’s better. Who’d have thought there’d be so much weight in it?’ He doffed his hat at her, then taking it off kept it in his hand by his side as he smiled appreciatively. ‘You’re a sight for sore eyes, Bronagh. It’s lovely to see you again.’
Bronagh’s gaze flitted from him to the box and back again. Her mind was buzzing and she wasn’t making sense of what he was saying. He’d come all this way to try the carrot cake? The man was mad.
He read her expression. ‘I’m not mad. I wanted to surprise you and I can tell I’ve succeeded.’ He looked thoroughly pleased with himself.
‘You have.’
‘A good surprise, I hope.’
‘It depends on whether it’s a carrot cake you’ve got in that box there.’
‘But of course it is, and there’s been a change of plan. I know I said I’d take you to Cherry on Top and treat you to a slice along with a cup of coffee but we’ve plenty of time over the next fortnight to do that. Besides, a whole cake has got to be better than a wedge and I thought your mum would appreciate trying a piece for herself.’
Bronagh’s heart swelled at his thoughtfulness. Fancy him thinking of her mam, like that. She realised he’d said he was here for a fortnight. ‘But where are you staying, and what about Bessie? I’ve not seen any booking for you here.’ She opened her reservation folder and scanned the day’s bookings. His name was definitely not there. She’d hate to disappoint him if he’d come over on a whim because they had a full house tonight.
‘Well you won’t find me registered under my name because that would’ve given away the surprise. I think you’ll find my usual room has been booked under the name of Harry Bradshaw. He’s looking after Bessie for me and she’ll be spoiled rotten if I know Harry.’
‘And who’s Harry Bradshaw when he’s at home?’
‘My bowls partner.’
‘Aha.’ She’d grown fond of Bessie even though she’d never met Leonard’s dog. She was pleased she was being well looked after. And does your sister know you’ve come to see her or is she in for a surprise too?’
‘It’s not my sister I’ve come to see.’
Bronagh flushed, feeling giddy as Leonard held his gaze steady with hers. He looked so handsome in his gentlemanly suit and tie.
Aisling broke the spell. ‘Mr Walsh,’ she clapped her hands delightedly. ‘How wonderful to see you again. I didn’t know you were coming! Bronagh, I never saw the booking? You should have told me one of my favourite guests was coming.’
‘You wouldn’t have seen the booking because he used an alias. And if I’d known, I would have told you. He’s brought cake.’
‘An alias?’ Aisling was puzzled as to what was going on. She did like the sound of cake though.
Leonard stepped in, not offering an explanation as he said, ‘I hear congratulations are in order, Aisling.’
‘Yes, I’m a married woman, so I am. To Quinn from Quinn’s bistro on Baggot Street.’
‘I know the place. He’s a fine chef your husband. I’ve dined there many a time and enjoyed the hearty fare. It’s food served just as it should be. In fact, I’ve a booking there tonight for two.’
‘Oh, are you taking your sister? I’ll be sure to tell Quinn to keep an eye out for you to say hello.’
‘No, not my sister. I’m hoping Bronagh will agree to joining me.’
Bronagh went puce as Aisling’s raised-eyebrow gaze settled on her. O’Mara’s receptionist had some explaining to do.
‘We’ve been writing to one another, haven’t we, Leonard,’ she offered up.
‘We have and the high spot of my week those letters from you have become too, Bronagh. It began when she sent me a Christmas card this Christmas just been. It
