“
I also tried your mobile.
”
“
We didn
’
t want to be disturbed.
”
He was getting angry now at her questioning.
She knew he was lying but she couldn
’
t prove it.
She felt certain now that there was another woman involved
.
But there was no point in challenging him
.
He would lie his way out of it
,
like he had last time.
“
Would you like a glass of wine?
”
he asked.
“
No
,
thanks.
”
He raised his eyebrows in surprise and poured himself a whiskey.
It took her all her self-control not to change her mind but thinking of what her father had said, she resisted.
He went into the television room to watch the golf while she curled up on the
sofa in the den, studying for her wine exam.
There was no point trying to discuss things with him now. It would only end in a big row. They had a whole month in France ahead of them.
Time enough to have it out then
.
Ronan had to work on Sunday and afterwards went in to the hospital to see Fiona
,
who was falling more in love with baby Oisín every hour. Doris was there, cuddling her little grandson as Fiona looked on happily.
“
You
’
re very good to offer to take them home,
”
Doris told him.
“
I
’
m not much use to her with this old back. John had to drive me up this evening.
”
“
It
’
s no problem. You
’
ll be a great help over the next few weeks. That
’
s when Fiona will need you most,
”
he assured
her.
“
I don
’
t know what I
’
d have done without Ronan,
”
Fiona said, tears springing to her eyes
.
They made arrangements for the journey home the following morning.
“
I
’
ll have a nice roast ready for you,
”
Doris beamed.
“
Why do you think I offered to take her home?
”
Rona
n teased.
They all laughed aloud as baby Oisín slept peacefully on
.
Ronan spent the rest of the evening studying his wine manual. He wanted to do well in this exam as he wanted to continue on and do the Higher Certificate Course. He was becoming utterly fascinated with this whole wine thing. If he was offered a job now with an architect
,
he
knew he would miss the wine business terribly. The chances
of that happening were very slim, however.
At around nine thirty Rachel took a break from studying to make herself a hot chocolate. She decided to give Ronan a call.
“
Hi, there. It
’
s me, Rachel. I hope you
’
re not studying too hard.
”
“
I have grape varieties coming out my ears.
”
She laughed.
“
Me too. I
’
m just having some hot chocola
te for sustenance. I
’
ve been studying all evening. I
’
m really nervous about the exam.
”
He sensed her apprehension.
“
Don
’
t be. You
’
ll fly through
i
t. You
’
ve done the work.
”
They chatted on, enjoying the sense of camaraderie, until Ronan said,
“
Now I
’
d better get back to the Rhône Valley,
which is where I was when you rang.
”
She laughed.
“
See you tomorrow night.
”
He was such a pet, she thought to herself as she poured the hot chocolate. Taking it back to the den she contemplated how different her life would be if she
’
d married someone like Ronan. With a sigh she immersed herself in her manual once again.
50
Fiona was ready and waiting for Ronan when he arrived to pick them up the following morning. He carried Oisín in his little carry-chair as Fiona thanked the nurses and said goodbye to the other patients. She was a little tearful as they walked out to the waiting world.
“
Don
’
t mind me, it
’
s these bloody hormones. Nobody told me I
’
d be crying at the drop off a hat,
”
she said, wiping away the tears.
“
It
’
s just that I
’
m so happy.
”
“
I understand,
”
he replied gently.
“
My sister-in-law Betty was like a waterfall after her babies were born and she never cries normally. She
’
s very down-to-earth.
”
He saw people smile at him carrying what they obviously
thought was his new son and he smiled back at them, almost feeling that Oisín was his son. Strapping the chair into the back seat beside Fiona, he said,
“
Well, little fellow, welcome to the big wide world.
”
Fiona smiled
,
thinking what a shame it was that Ronan had no children of his own. It was obvious that he
’
d make a great father. They headed off on the journey down to Blessington and Fiona saw everything through new eyes –
the eyes of a mother, she thought happily.
Doris was there to greet them and couldn
’
t wait to take her grandson into his new home. As always there was the delicious smell of food roasting. After Fiona had fed and changed Oisín, they sat down to a lunch of roast pork with the best crackling and roast potatoes Ronan had ever tasted.
“
We
’
re thinking of having the christening next Sunday,
”
Fiona said.
“
I
’
d really like to have him christened as soon as possible. Do you think you can make it down
for then?
”
She looked at Ronan hopefully.
“
Try and keep me away,
”
he teased.
“
Of course I can make it. I
’
m off next Sunday.
”
“
It
’
ll be a wonderful day,
”
Doris predicted
, “
and you can stay overnight if you wish. We wouldn
’
t want you driving back to Dublin after all the champagne, would we
,
Fiona?
”
“
Definitly not.
”
“
That
’
s settled then,
”
Doris announced.
“
That
’
s very kind of you.
”
Ronan was touched by their thoughtfulness.
“
I look forward to it.
”
After lunch he told them he had to get back as he wanted to study for his wine exam that night. Fiona was going for a lie-down anyway as she was exhausted. He kissed both the baby and Doris goodbye and Fiona walked out to the car with him.
“
Ronan,
”
she began shyly,
“
I can
’
t tell you how much this has meant to me
–
you coming to visit in the hospital and bringing us home. I
’
ll never forget you for it. You
’
re the kindest man I
’
ve ever met.
”
She started to cry again.
“
Oh, no
!
Waterworks again,
”
he teased as she tried to brush away the tears.
“
Come here,
”
he commanded, putting his arms around her. He held her close and rocked her gently.
“
You
’
re so brave,
”
he whispered,
“
and I know you
’
re going to be a wonderful mother.
”
He kissed her gently on the cheek and released her.
Doris, who had been watching all this from the front window, said a little prayer.
“
Please Lord, let them fall in love. They
’
d be so good together.
”
She decided there and then that she would make a novena to St Jude. He never let her down.
51
Ronan was the first to arrive at the wine course
.
Sam had asked him to come early and help him
arrange tables so that nobody would be sitting too close to anyone else. Just as they finished doing this,
Rachel arrived. Ronan could see that she was a bag of nerves.
“
Hi
,
Rachel, are you all set
?”
Sam greeted her before going to his office to collect the exam papers.
“
Are you okay?
”
Ronan asked her gently, worried at how pale she was.
“
I
’
m terrified. I was tempted to stop off for a drink on the way to calm my nerves but I resisted the urge. Now I
’
m sorry I didn
’
t
!”
She laughed but in fact she was deadly serious.
“
You
’
ll be fine,
”
he assured her with a smile.
“
I spent the day cramming but now I can
’
t remember a thing.
”
She twisted her hands nervously.
“
Don
’
t worry. It will all come back once you get the paper. Anyway it
’
s multiple-choice questions so you have a one in three chance of getting it right.
”
“
I suppose that
’
s one way of putting it,
”
she laughed,
relaxing a little.
“
I suppose you were studying all day,
”
She looked at him enquiringly, her eyebrows raised.
He laughed.
“
I wish. Actually, I collected my friend Fiona and her new baby from Holles Street today and droppe
d her down to her mother’s in Blessington. I didn
’
t get a chance to do as much last-minute cramming as I
’
d have liked
.”
“
Oh!
”
Rachel was a bit taken aback.
“
How nice. Is it her first?
”
“
Yes, I
’
m going to be godfather. His name is Oisín and he
’
s the most beautiful baby.
”
He took out his phone and showed her the photo he
’
d taken in the hospital.
Rachel admired the baby and looked at Ronan strangely. Was he trying to tell her something? Was the baby his? Surely not!
“
Who is Fiona? Is she a girlfriend?
”
For some reason she felt a little jealous and that bothered her.
Ronan laughed.
“
Of course not
–
she
’
s the girl I
’
m filling in for in the wine shop. She
’
s a wonderful girl and I
’
m very fond of her.
”
“
Oh, I see,
”
she replied, surprised at her feelings. She was being stupid. Ronan was just a good friend and there was absolutely nothing between them.