Cock & Bull - Laura Barnard Page 0,92

the planned supermarket plans on the easel. That’s it! Just what Clooney had suggested.

‘And if you don’t want this huge supermarket built by the developers then we need a business. If we don’t we’ll be forced to sell to them too.’

Ella raises her eyes at me, as if to say get you!

A grey haired man stands up. ‘Most of our loyalty understandably stand with Fergus.’

I scoff a laugh. ‘He’s the last person your loyalties should stand with,’ I mutter.

Confused eyes meet mine.

Frank’s wife, Colleen, stands up. ‘Why is that, Phoebe?’ she asks with a kind smile. She’s trying to help me. I smile back.

‘Because…’ I remember my promise to Clooney. I can’t tell them Fergus is in with the developers. ‘Well, I can’t really tell you,’ I admit lamely.

‘How convenient,’ someone mutters loudly.

‘Look, just listen to me,’ I plead. ‘He is not to be trusted. And look around, he’s not here, is he? Ever wondered why?’

‘He has to work, obviously,’ a red haired woman says with an eye roll.

I roll my own eyes. ‘Let’s just say, I doubt he’d be shedding any tears if more property got bought up to build that supermarket.’ Oh god, why am I still talking? I’m breaking Clooney’s promise.

More murmuring.

‘Are you saying he’s involved with these property developers?’ an old lady asks.

I shrug my shoulders. At least this way I’m not actually telling them it. More letting them decide for themselves.

Sean stands up. ‘The girls aren’t wrong.’ He turns to face everyone. ‘You all need to open your eyes to what’s happening right under your noses.’

I smile at him, mouthing, “Thank you.”

Kathleen, the lady I got Suki from, stands up. ‘I say we give these girls a chance. God knows Breda would have wanted us to welcome them into town. It’s their birth right to live here.’

‘I agree.’ It’s Nora, the bride who’s wedding I ruined. ‘Phoebe went out of her way to return something to me. A letter from my mammy.’ She smiles knowingly at me. ‘She deserves a fair chance.’

Ciara, Eamon’s wife stands up. ‘Well she told me my husband had cheated on me! Hardly a stand up neighbour in my opinion.’

Seamus and Niall try to sink into their seats.

‘I have said I’m sorry for that,’ I mumble into the microphone. ‘I didn’t want to tell you, but…’

Ella jumps in. ‘But she felt morally obligated to tell a fellow female the truth about her husband. If anything she should be rewarded for that.’

‘I can’t explain it, but this place feels like home. I’ve been searching my whole life for that feeling. I’m not going to give up now. We’re here to stay. We’re just asking for your support.’

A few people smile back.

‘On that note I think we’ll leave and I hope to see you all in the pub soon.’

I grab Ella and walk out, before the tide turns against us again.

We’re just opening the back door when I feel someone behind me. Clooney appears, as if from nowhere, grabs my elbow and pulls me to one side.

‘Clooney,’ I say, suddenly breathless. He looks just as good as always, although he has dark circles under his eyes.

‘What the hell was that, Phoebe?’ he snarls, his stance wide, chest pushed out.

I frown, attempting to play dumb while I think. Seeing him has thrown me off. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean that I told you that in confidence. Now you’ve told the whole town? That really is low.’ He looks at me with such an intense fevered stare I know I’ve just added another nail in my own coffin. He’ll never forgive me for this.

‘They deserved to know.’ I feel awful for hurting him, but I know I’m doing the right thing for this town.

‘And what about me? Huh?’ That vein in his forehead bulges, but his eyes are raw with vulnerability. ‘I’ve got to move back in to live with that man. How am I going to do that now?’

‘I thought you had somewhere to go?’ I want him to move back in. For me to take care of him. To heal all of his emotional wounds.

He scoffs. ‘Sofa surfing is not the same as having a proper place to live.’

I wish he’d have told me that. I touch his arm, but he shakes me off. It stings.

‘Clooney, you know you can come back to live in the pub.’

He shakes his head. ‘I don’t want your sympathy. First you think I’m taking money from you and now you’re outing my father. Any trust I ever