Page 78 of The Irish Goodbye

“That’s what we’ve heard!” Louise exclaimed. “Such a nice young man,” she said to Cordelia. “I don’t know why you were hiding him from me.”

“I wasn’t hiding him,” Cordelia insisted.

“And so handsome!” Louise cried.

“Mom!” Cordelia snapped.

“Are you staying for dinner?” Róisín asked. “They’ve got to have dinner here, haven’t they, Cordie? Must try one of Niall’s dishes. He’s got three on the menu now,” she said proudly.

“Oh, you’re a chef, are you?” Louise said, brightening. “Well, of course we’d love to stay.”

“Let’s get you set up with a table then,” Róisín said, grinning at the glare Cordelia shot her and bustling Louise and Gary over to one of the tables.

“I’ve just got to check in with Da,” Niall said.

“Don’t leave me,” she hissed.

He kissed her quickly. “Be right back. Come on, Róisín. Da needs to talk to you too.”

It wasn’t a very good lie, but Róisín happily followed him back into the kitchen.

“Aw, isn’t that sweet,” Louise said, sinking into one of the chairs and taking off her ridiculous hat. “He’s very good-looking, Cordelia. And he seems so nice. A chef! That’s a good job.”

Cordelia was busy texting Toby under the table.

MOM IS HERE.

I know, that’s why I keep calling you. Answer your damn phone next time, sis.

Ugh. Not helpful. Cordelia was glad when Shauna bustled over.

“Evening, Cordie,” she said, glancing eagerly at Louise and Gary. Cordelia sighed.

“Shauna, this is my mom, Louise,” she said. “And this is Gary.”

“Howya,” Shauna said. “We love having your daughter here on our little island, Mrs. James.”

“Aren’t you sweet to say so,” Louise said, beaming.

“What can I get for you?” Shauna asked.

“Wine,” Cordelia said. “A lot of wine. Like, all of it.”

“Cordie, you are so silly,” Louise said, laughing and slapping her arm playfully. “I’d love a glass of white wine, Shauna.”

Gary ordered a Guinness and Shauna bustled away.

“So,” Cordelia said, fixing a fake smile onto her face. “When exactly did you make this plan?”

“We’ve been following along with your pictures—they’re really lovely, Cordie—and I thought what a marvelous island this seems to be, and I wished we could see it too. And then Toby told us about Niall, though of course I had my suspicions already—I mean, he seemed to be prominently featured and I admit I was hoping that maybe—”

“Yes, yes, but when did you buy tickets? Where are you even staying?” Cordelia wondered what was taking Shauna so long with the drinks. She kept glancing at the kitchen doors waiting for Róisín or Niall to come out and save her.

“The Killarney house or something, Gary, what was it called again?”

“The Kilmurvey House?” Cordelia said.

“That’s the one,” Louise exclaimed.