'Out in a minute,' a voice called.
Celine dropped her bags and went to put on the kettle. As she was unpacking the groceries, her father arrived with the first load. 'Here you are — oh, hello there. Come to fix the immersion, have you?'
'That's right.'
Celine's eyes widened as the man crawled out of the cupboard and stood up. His hair was brown and wavy and a little too long for her liking but his eyes were like dark pools of sherry — like a faithful dog, she thought. And the legs were attached to a very attractive, athletic body clad in an old rugby shirt.
'It should be okay now. If you have any problems, tell Rose and I'll drop back.'
'Thanks.' Celine turned around to find her bag. She pulled out a ten Euro note and held it out to him.
'Oh, no, no, that's okay. Seeya.' And he was off down the stairs before Celine could stay another word.
Frank nodded in approval. 'That was nice of him.'
Celine made two ham and cheese sandwiches and a large pot of tea. While her father ate, she finished unpacking the shopping.
'Leave that,' he said between bites. 'You must be hungry too.'
'I am but I just want to tidy up a little. Rose said she'd come up for a drink.' Celine put a second bottle of wine and a six-pack of lager in the fridge. When the groceries were stashed, she put the rest of her purchases in a corner. 'That looks a bit better.' She sat down opposite her dad and bit into a sandwich.
Frank had moved on to the biscuits. 'I suppose it could look quite cosy here.' He looked around at the pale green walls. 'But that colour is too cold for this room.'
Celine nodded. 'I was thinking of yellow.'
'That would be nice but nothing's going to look much around that thing.'
Celine followed his gaze to the tweed-effect brown sofa. 'A few cushions might help,' she said doubtfully.
'Yoo-hoo, only me.'
'Come on up, Rose.' Celine went to the top of the stairs and watched Rose's painful ascent.
'Oh, dear, I think I need that drink now.' The woman stopped to catch her breath when she reached the top.
'Daddy, this is Rose. Rose, this is my father, Frank.'
Frank was on his feet in an instant. 'Lovely to meet you, Rose.'
'And you,' Rose gasped.
Celine pulled out a chair for her and she sank into it, laying her stick down beside her.
'Are you okay?' Frank asked, his face full of concern.
'I'm fine,' Rose assured him. 'And I'll be better when I get a drink inside me.'
Celine had already got the wine and was looking for glasses and a corkscrew. She could only find tumblers and the corkscrew had seen better days.
Rose pulled a face. 'I'm afraid Barry wasn't really into wine.'
'Was that the lad who used to live here?' Frank asked.
Rose nodded. 'I know Richard had intended to restock the place but I'm afraid there wasn't time.'
'Don't worry about it.' Celine handed them their glasses. 'Cheers.'
"Cheers. No, I'll tell Richard that you're going to need a few things. Oh, did he manage to fix the immersion?'
Celine nodded. 'There was a guy here when we came in but I don't think it was the landlord.'
Rose laughed. 'If he was a fine thing, with sexy eyes and wearing scruffy jeans, that was Richard.'
'Lord, and I offered him a tenner.'
Rose guffawed again.
'What?'
'Maybe I should have explained earlier — your landlord is Richard Lawrence.'
Frank stared. 'Richard Lawrence, the property developer?'
'The same,' Rose confirmed, her eyes twinkling.
'He didn't exactly look like a rich tycoon,' Frank consoled his daughter.
Celine frowned. 'No he didn't. He should have introduced himself, after all, I am his new tenant.'
'He should have,' Rose agreed, pulling herself together. 'Still, at least you've got hot water.' Her eyes roved speculatively round the room. 'You need a few things though, and that sofa has to be replaced. You can decide about the bed after you've slept in it.'
Celine flashed her father a delighted look. 'Do you think Richard would agree to replace them?'
Rose waved a hand. 'Oh, yes, he's no skinflint, thank God.'
Frank smiled happily. 'Sounds like you've landed on your feet, Celine.'
'It does, doesn't it?
Rose raised her glass. 'Welcome to Hopefield, Celine, I hope you'll be happy here.'
Frank whistled softly as he got ready for dinner. He was feeling better tonight than he had in weeks and he was looking forward to an evening in the club. It would be their first dinner there since 'that night' but Alan was right. It was important for Brenda's sake to get back to normal. He hadn't told Celine that they were going out tonight and he'd felt a bit guilty about that, but what was the point? It wouldn't have made her feel any better.
He prayed that Kevin and Eileen weren't going to put in an appearance. Apart from Brenda's embarrassment, he wasn't sure he could be in the same room as Gilligan without slamming a fist into his pretty face. Frank grimaced at his reflection in the mirror as he pulled the knot out of his tie and started again. Why had Celine got involved with that man? Frank was still in shock that his little girl could do something so sordid. But then she hadn't been the same since Dermot died. Oh, she smiled and laughed, but the spark was gone. Celine had always been such a vibrant and confident girl but since Dermot died it was as if her life was on hold, almost as if she were just biding her time until . . . He shuddered. He didn't want to think about it. What mystified him was how she'd got together with Gilligan in the first place. When she wasn't working she was at home. If she was out it was with him or Marina. He checked his watch. Bloody hell, it was late. He ran down the stairs, grabbed his keys and jacket and left the house. It was only a ten-minute walk but he wanted to be there first to ensure that they got a quiet corner table. He would also order a bottle of that white Spanish wine Brenda liked. That might help her to relax.
He was sitting at the table sipping his pint when Alan walked in alone.
'It's okay, she's just in the ladies' room,' Alan assured him when he saw the crestfallen look on Frank's face.
'Oh, good, good.' Frank got to his feet. 'Pint?'
'Yes, please.' Alan glanced quickly around the room.
'He's not here,' Frank muttered.
Alan sat down. 'Thank God for that. How's Celine?'
'Gone. I helped her move today.'
Alan's eyes widened. 'What? Where?'
'To Hopefield. She thought it was for the best.'
'But what about her job?'
'She's got herself a new one.' Frank didn't see the need to tell Alan that Celine had been fired.
'Oh. Well, maybe it's for the best.'
'Maybe what's for the best?' Brenda asked. She kissed Frank's cheek and then slid into the seat between him and her husband.
'Celine's left Killmont.'
'Good.'
Alan grimaced. 'She's moved to Hopefield. Frank says she has a new job there.'
Brenda picked up the menu. 'I'm starving.'
Frank and Alan exchanged glances.
Frank pretended to study the menu, sneaking an occasional glance at Brenda. Though she seemed cool, he could see that her menu was shaking slightly and her eyes were flickering nervously around the room. 'I think I'll have a steak,' he announced.
'And I'll have the fish.' Brenda closed her menu with a snap and took a sip of wine.
'It's your favourite,' Frank told her.
She smiled at him, the first genuine smile of the evening. 'Thanks, Frank, it's lovely.'
He laughed. 'The least I can do for the lady who keeps me supplied with the best bread in Killmont.'
'The best in Dublin,' Alan corrected, and squeezed his wife's hand.
Brenda's lips tightened. 'I know what you're both up to and you're wasting your time.'
Frank looked at her, all innocence. 'Well, I wouldn't mind a ginger cake.'
Brenda scowled at him. 'I'm not an idiot, Frank.'
'No one said you were.' Alan's voice was soothing.
'I'm sorry, Brenda, let's order and enjoy our evening.'
'Thank you, Frank, I'd like that.'
Alan drained his pint and looked around for the waiter. 'Good idea.'
Dominic was just getting out of the car when he heard a noise and a muttered expletive. He looked around and saw an attractive brunette crouching outside Rose's shop, gathering up groceries from around her. He hurried over to help. 'Afraid your eggs are broke.'
The girl looked up and smiled. 'Oh, well there goes my attempt at healthy eating.'
Dominic put two frozen chicken curries back into her bag. 'It's hard to eat sensibly when you live a busy life. I'm afraid this bag isn't going to last very long. Have you far to go?'
'Just upstairs.'
Dominic's eyes lit up. 'You're Rose's new manager!'
'Er, yes.'
'I'm your next-door neighbour. Dominic Nugent.'
'Celine Moore. I'd shake hands but . . .'
Dominic laughed. "Why don't you put your groceries away and then join me for a coffee?'
She looked less than enthusiastic. 'I'm not sure that I have the time.'
'You don't want to insult me, do you?'
She smiled. 'I couldn't do that to my new neighbour. See you in a minute.'
Dominic went back into the shop, whistling as he went. It would be nice to have a pretty woman about the place and she was certainly pretty. A curvy little figure, a lovely smile and serious wide-set eyes. He was just pouring water into two mugs when the bell on the door jangled. 'Come on through,' he called. Celine appeared in the doorway as he put the mugs on the table. 'It's just instant I'm afraid.'
'Lovely.' Celine sat down and helped herself to sugar and milk.
Dominic opened a packet of biscuits and carried them to the table. 'Well, welcome to Hopefield.' He toasted her with his mug. 'I wish you all the best in your new job.'
'Thanks.' Celine bit into a biscuit.
Dominic wasn't used to such reticent women. In his experience they seemed to see silence as a heinous crime. 'Where are you from?'
'The other side of the city. Have you owned this shop long?'
'Four years.' Dominic allowed her to divert him but his curiosity was piqued. 'I'm originally from Yorkshire. I was in the insurance business over there but I felt it was time to do something on my own.'
'So you swapped selling policies for selling newspapers.'
'And confectionery, stationery, magazines.' He ticked them off on his fingers. 'I assure you this is a professional operation.'
'So it was the right move?'
Dominic frowned. 'It was until that bookshop across the road opened last year.'
'Ah.'
'Indeed. But enough about me. Tell me about Celine Moore.' The girl had seemed quite relaxed but now she moved to the edge of the chair and was fidgeting with her mug.
'Not much to tell. I worked in a pharmacy up until a couple of weeks ago. Now I'm here. That's it.'
Dominic very much doubted it.
She stood up and held out her hand. "I should be going. Thanks for rescuing me and for the coffee.'
Dominic took her hand and grinned like an idiot. 'My pleasure. When do you start work?'
'Tomorrow,' Celine said as they walked to the door.
'If there's anything you need . . .'
'Thanks. Bye.'
'Goodbye.' Dominic watched her leave. Hopefield was going to be a more interesting place with Celine Moore in town.
Celine hurried back to her flat and shut the door with a grateful sigh. It was starting already. How long could she hope to keep her private life private with friendly people like Dominic and Rose around? Still, it made a pleasant change from the way she'd been treated recently in Killmont. Dominic was a darling and it would be nice to have him nearby once Rose went into hospital. She figured he must be in his mid-forties though he wore the clothes of an older man. But the eyes behind those glasses were young, intelligent and very friendly. Celine filled a bucket with warm water and fetched the mop she'd bought yesterday. She'd spent the morning hoovering and dusting and once she'd washed out the kitchen and bathroom floors the flat would be quite respectable. Then in a couple of weeks after she'd settled in she'd think about redecorating. She opened the window as far as it would go as the air in the flat was still stale. She'd taken down the curtains allowing sunshine to flood the room and the difference was amazing. The flat wasn't overlooked so she was in no hurry to replace them. The place looked so much more cheerful this way. If she could only get rid of the drab furniture . . . A loud buzzing noise made her jump. There was a second buzz and she realised it was coming from the antiquated intercom on the wall by the door. She went over and pressed the button. 'Hello?'
'Hi!' A voice boomed from the box making her jump again. 'It's Richard Lawrence.'
'Oh, hi,' Celine said and then remembered that she had to press the button. 'Hi,' she said again.
'Can I come up?'
'Oh, yes, sure.'
Silence and then: 'You need to buzz me in.'
'Right, sorry.' Celine pressed a second button and moments later she heard his step on the stairs. She opened the door with a guarded smile. 'Hi.'
He grinned. 'Hi. Again.'
Celine blushed and turned away from him, moving in behind the safety of the kitchen bar. 'You should have introduced yourself yesterday. I thought you were the hired help.'
'Sorry. How are you settling in?' he asked, walking past the dreaded sofa and settling himself in an armchair.
'Fine.' Celine noticed he was still wearing a rugby shirt, but his jeans were clean today.
'Good. Rose said that there were a few things needed replacing.'
'If that's okay.'
'Yeah, sure, I'd been planning to do the place up. That's why I never advertised it after Barry left.'
Celine shifted uncomfortably. 'But Rose said the flat came with the job.'
Richard laughed. 'Yes, so I believe.'
'Is that a problem?'
'No, don't worry about it. Look, why don't you make a list?'
'Sorry?'