‘Unethical!’ Bridey cried, from further up the climb, her sharp admonishment floating back on the warm air.
A wave of bleakness broke over Johnny’s head. Once again he felt as bare and broken as when he’d woken up. There was nothing good in the world. He wanted to be a zookeeper and for it to be ethical but it was too late.
By some miracle, they all made it to the top. The view from the peak was jaw-dropping. The sky above blazed a vivid azure while, far below them, the numerous islands scattered across Clew Bay popped brilliant green.
The mood was celebratory and Jessie began organizing the picnic. ‘Saoirse, Bridey, get out the rosé!’
Sammie was clicking away on her phone, taking selfies with Ferdia. ‘It’s so beautiful up here’, Johnny heard her say. ‘Thanks for this, Ferd.’ She touched his face tenderly. They stood staring into each other’s eyes, for a long moment. She was the one to move away.
Johnny hoped Ferdia didn’t fall to bits when she was gone. He was enough fecking trouble already. But he was young, and young men didn’t fall to bits. He’d never fallen to bits at Ferdia’s age. He didn’t know what it was to have his heart broken. No one had ever come close. Well, not until Rory had taken Jessie. Then he’d known all about it.
‘Nell,’ a gentle voice whispered. ‘Nell.’
A small hand touched her aching back and Nell woke up.
She’d been asleep on the floor of the bedroom.
‘You were sleeping,’ Dilly said helpfully. ‘You must of needed it.’
She must have. She’d woken at around two in the morning, cold with fear that she’d overstretched herself and her talent.
Liam was asleep beside her but she’d prefer to talk to Garr. She went out to the deck to ring him – and stumbled over spoilt-brat Ferdia.
She hadn’t gone back to sleep again until early afternoon, when she’d lain down beside her little set and fallen into a dream-free blankness.
‘How was your day?’ Dilly asked.
Shite, but she couldn’t tell that to an eight-year-old. It had become clear that she wasn’t an experienced enough designer to pull this off. The gig was already lost.
Even talking to Garr hadn’t helped: he’d counselled that it was too late to junk her work and start again. ‘On Sunday evening, I’ll do an all-nighter with you,’ he’d promised. ‘You might still pull this off. Keep the faith.’
‘Would you like a glass of wine?’ Dilly asked.
‘Oh. Ah. No, I’ll have a coffee.’
‘But it’s five o’clock, you’re allowed.’
‘Coffee is grand.’ Nell got to her feet and together they wandered into the kitchen.
‘I missed you today,’ Dilly said.
‘Missed you too.’
‘But you had to work. Want to blow some bubbles?’
‘Sure.’
They sat on the deck, Nell sipping coffee, her eyes and muscles savouring the rest.
Dilly blew bubbles with little success. ‘It’s too windy. Here, you have a go.’
Nell blew a long, graceful ribbon of bubbles out into the salty air. They bobbed here and there, little iridescent balls, before popping in the sky above them.
‘That’s amazing. Do it again!’
It really was so relaxing, Nell thought, just sitting there, watching the waves, sipping coffee, having her aching back rubbed by Dilly. ‘How was your day?’ she asked.
‘Glorious.’
‘Glorious?’ She was funny.
‘Glorious. Except Daddy had too much pink wine and then he was crying because he couldn’t be a zookeeper. It was sad.’
A clatter of footsteps heralded the arrival of TJ and Bridey.
‘You sneaked off!’ TJ accused Dilly. ‘We were all coming to see Nell!’
‘Oh dear,’ Dilly said solemnly. ‘It must of slipped my mind.’
‘Are you going to this party tonight?’ TJ asked Nell.
‘Yep.’
‘We’re getting a babysitter,’ Bridey said. ‘From the town. A raw-boned chit of a girl, her whey-white skin sprinkled with cinnamon freckles.’
‘She’s so embarrassing,’ TJ said. ‘The crap she talks. Nell, why can’t you be our babysitter?’
There was a commotion behind them as Jessie appeared. She looked a little wild-eyed. ‘Bunnies, hop it. I need to speak to Nell.’
‘Is she in trouble?’ Dilly gasped.
‘Please, just go. Back to the house.’
Frightened by Jessie’s evident agitation, they scarpered.
‘What did you say to Ferdia?’ Jessie asked Nell.
Cold dread slid through her.
‘About me, Johnny and Rory.’
‘Jessie, I didn’t mean to interfere –’
‘Stop. No. Listen. He came and found me. Just now.’ She looked manic. ‘Said he was sorry. He was only a kid when Johnny and I … Down in Errislannan, he’d hear Izzy and Keeva hinting at stuff. He was too young to understand that they were hurt and just saying things.’