far as Jessie was concerned, the two ideas were entirely different. Because what no one knew about Jessie – except Jessie herself – was that she wasn’t an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs were people who noticed gaps in a market: they could suss out weakness, had nerves of steel and negotiated like demons.
Jessie had a reputation as a resourceful business person, but all she was was someone who’d turned her hobby into a living.
In her innermost heart, Jessie suspected that her only talent now lay in bagging chefs. If they turned PiG into an online grocery, she would be literally redundant.
FIFTY-THREE
‘Nell? What are you doing out here?’
Blearily, she opened her eyes. Ferdia was staring down at her. A beautiful pink-gold light filled the sky. The sun must be nearly up.
‘Sleeping,’ she mumbled. ‘Trying to.’
‘But – Ah, for feck’s sake, you let Liam have the room?’
‘I was hardly going to share a bed with him.’ She’d taken a pillow and a throw and slept outside on one of the loungers. It was surprisingly comfortable.
‘You could have had Barty’s room!’
‘I’m good. Is Sammie okay?’
‘Or you could have slept in with her.’
Just go away, Ferdia, I need to sleep.
Later, she was awakened again, this time by Liam. ‘Nell? Baby, I’m sorry. Please talk to me.’
Angrily, she sat up. ‘What the hell, Liam?’
‘I just felt … left behind. What if you get really successful and you don’t want me any more? What if I’m too old and boring and you’re really in love with Garr?’
‘Garr? Cop on! Garr is my best friend! And you know what my work means to me. I thought you’d be happy for me –’
‘I’m jealous of your passion. And it was a weird night, Dad being such a spiteful old bastard … And there’s something else … Violet and Lenore aren’t coming to Italy. Paige says she can’t move the dates of their camp.’
‘When did you find out?’
‘… Like, ten days ago? I’m sorry for not telling you. I was just gutted. All of it together, it made me be a dick. Forgive me, Nell?’
‘It’s sad about your girls. But, Liam, what you did last night was very wrong. To me and to Sammie.’
‘Tell me what to do and I’ll do it. Anything so you’ll forgive me.’
‘Apologize to Sammie. And Ferdia.’
‘Ferdia’s only a kid … I won’t apologize to him.’
‘He’s a grown man. And what about Sammie? That was … You scared her, Liam.’
‘… Did I? But …’
‘If you don’t make it right with the two of them …’
At that moment Ferdia and Sammie emerged from the house carrying their rucksacks, followed by Barty.
Ferdia asked, ‘Nell, can you drive us to the station?’
‘Not staying for the lunch?’
‘No.’
‘Aaah,’ Liam intervened. ‘Ferdia, Sammie, can I … Last night, I’m sorry. I’ve, you know, stuff going on. I was acting out. Involved you two, I shouldn’t have. Apologies. Like, sincerely.’
Ferdia and Sammie, hands entangled, flat-eyed Liam.
‘No hard feelings?’ Liam sounded anxious.
It was Sammie who spoke. ‘No hard feelings.’ Her voice was free from emotion. ‘No hard feelings, right, Ferdia? Right?’
‘… Okay.’
‘So we’re good?’
‘You also owe your wife an apology,’ Ferdia said to Liam.
‘That’s none of your business.’
Nell could see things escalating again very quickly. ‘He’s apologized to me, Ferdia.’
‘Okay.’
It was hardly a tearful reunion, but it would have to do. As for her own feelings? She didn’t think she’d ever been as humiliated, not in any relationship.
THREE MONTHS AGO
* * *
JULY
Jessie’s birthday
FIFTY-FOUR
Great stay in the heart of Dublin City. Cara was quick to respond to my questions and her associate was welcoming at check-in. The apartment was super-clean and looked freshly decorated. Beautiful, stylish, well equipped, more like a luxury hotel suite. Close to amenities, restaurants, bars and shops.
Johnny read it again, his chest aglow with pride. Five stars, they gave it, for cleanliness. Five stars for location. Five stars for everything! He’d swept the boards with his first Airbnb gig! Mind you, everyone had done a great job in preparing the flat for its new life. Nell’s dad and brother had given it a fresh look, not just painting the flat but sanding floorboards, fixing wonky shelves, whatever needed doing.
As for the décor, once again Nell had been a superstar, advising on affordable furniture and doing that mysterious transformative business with cushions and throw blankets, which had always baffled Johnny. It was a guilty relief that, because of the Hagen Klein shitshow, Jessie had been too busy to get involved. Christ alone knew how much they’d have ended up spending.