Page 38 of Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure

‘Yes. Often. And Roisin has seen them together too. This isn’t a recent fling. They’ve been seeing each other for months. ’

‘ Months ?’ Mary blinked slowly.

‘Ever since that prime stretch of land came on the market across town.’

‘The Land Deal,’ Mary nodded in acknowledgement, her voice flat.

‘As you know, Conor got the sale through and earned a handsome commission. But the builder who bought it? He was loyal to Darby’s.

Worked with Lucinda’s father when they were starting out.

Now that the planning application’s been accepted, they’re going to build multiple houses, and Darby’s will handle the individual sales. ’

‘Those sales will be worth a fortune in commission,’ Mary said. ‘I hear the plans are for at least two hundred houses, with both starter and affordable homes.’

‘The town planners have agreed the area needs them, and the services are in place. There are few available properties at the moment, and this will help with local growth and prosperity.’

‘So, Conor’s missing out on the sales of the century to Lucinda?’ Mary asked, shaking her head.

Sipping her coffee, she wondered if this would have happened if she had still been involved in their business.

After all, she knew the builder, Cillian McCarthy, from previous sales.

He’d always been quite a flirt, but they’d gotten along well.

Mary remembered Cillian thanking her for her efficiency and for making his job easy.

Her prompt and seamless sales had eased his cash flow during a tough time.

The warmth of the hot drink, combined with the comforting touch of brandy, allowed Mary to ease deeper into her chair. She felt the tension that had tugged at her shoulders for weeks begin to partially ease.

‘Well, possibly not…’ Ruari was hesitant.

Mary sat up, the tension suddenly returning. ‘What are you saying?’ she asked.

‘Conor wants to join forces with Darby’s, create a joint agency with both names, and dominate the area. That way, he’ll benefit from the builder’s sales.’

‘Oh, shite.’ Mary bit her lip as comprehension dawned. ‘Murphy’s Auctioneers is in his name alone. He can do whatever he wants with it. I have no say.’

‘That could be difficult for you.’ Ruari frowned.

‘But it’s not just the property sales he’s after.

Conor wants to get his hands on Creek House, too.

’ Ruari glanced at Mary and then continued, ‘Roisin has heard them talking. Conor’s turned on all the charm and proposed to Lucinda.

He’s promised to divorce you if she agrees to marry him. ’

‘ What ?’ Mary’s mouth went slack, her eyes blinking in confusion.

‘He’s waiting for her to say yes… and she’s enjoying keeping him waiting.’

‘Oh, Conor!’ Mary gasped. ‘You bloody fool.’

Suddenly, everything dropped into place.

Mary had always known that Conor would give his eyeteeth to have his name on the deeds of Creek House.

He’d told her multiple times that it was his dream property, a place he’d stared at from the other side of the Brandon River when fishing in the estuary as a small boy.

He’d often told Mary that Creek House had been his inspiration for starting the business, somewhere to aspire to and own.

It must have cut Conor to the core when Lucinda bought it from the bankrupt chef.

‘She was probably sleeping with him…’ Mary murmured.

‘Who?’ Ruari asked, his expression amused.

‘Lucinda and the chef…’

‘Oh, that drunken celebrity? She’d been shagging him for months when she got her hands on his deeds, for a pittance.’ Ruari laughed.

‘But I know from conversations at the Ladies’ Lunch Club that Lucinda insists that husbands and lovers are precluded by written formalities from any part of her business or wealth,’ Mary debated.

‘In light of what you’ve told me, I feel certain she’s playing Conor.

’ She turned to Ruari. ‘What do you think?’

‘I know for certain that she is,’ he agreed.

‘Roisin has heard her on the phone to her so-called friends, bragging about how she’s “eased another poor simpering lamb from his marriage”.

It’s how she gets her kicks. But Mary, Lucinda is angry that you made a fool of her in Conor’s office and is determined to make sure you come off worse by destroying your marriage. ’

‘I can’t be any worse off.’

‘Well, I don’t know what else she plans, but she’s certainly one very unscrupulous lady who enjoys manipulating people. It’s all a power game to her, and Conor has fallen for her spell.’

‘If Conor can put property and Lucinda before his family, he’s welcome to both.’

Mary stood up. Suddenly, she had an idea. Shrugging off the blanket, she placed her empty mug on the chair. Like a Christmas miracle, she felt the weight of deceit and mistrust rapidly lift, replaced by an exhilarating sense of possibility.

What on earth was the point of hanging onto Conor ? If he could prioritise his greed over his family, he wasn’t worthy of Mary.

Neither was he deserving of their four beautiful children.

‘Dear Lord, Ruari, where have I been these last few weeks?’ Mary said and reached for Ruari’s hand. ‘I must have taken a paralysing potion that numbed my senses.’

‘Shock is a strange emotion, Mary. It takes time to overcome. Now, you must accept what life throws at you and deal with it.’

‘Well, I’m not letting life throw anything else unless it brings happiness and joy for me and the kids.’

‘My goodness,’ Ruari looked heavenward. ‘Where’s the thunderbolt you’ve been struck with? You’ve changed in an instant.’ He clicked his fingers. ‘One moment, I thought I’d be dragging you from the sea, and now it looks as if you could walk on it.’

‘A painful revelation has turned into something empowering,’ Mary explained.

‘I thought it was because I was fat and frumpy that Conor had gone off me. I thought that as I aged, I’d a face only a mother could love and was no longer interesting or as glamorous as Lucinda, and that it was my fault that he’d strayed. ’

‘Oh, pleeeeaase…’ Ruari rolled his eyes.

‘No, hear me out,’ Mary said, putting a finger on his lips. ‘Now that I know it’s Conor’s greed for property and wealth, I feel like I’ve suddenly been freed – as though it’s not my fault, and I can stop blaming myself.’

‘Halle…bloody…leulah!’ Rory lifted Mary into his arms and spun her around.

‘You, Romeo Ruari, have made me see the light!’ Mary laughed, and when her feet touched the ground, she was inches from his face.

‘Oh, Mary… Beautiful Mary,’ Ruari whispered.

Before she could stop herself, Mary reached her fingers into Ruari’s glorious, silky hair and, pulling his face towards her, kissed him. His lips were salty and the most delicious thing she’d tasted in years. Mary suddenly felt safe as his strong arms wrapped around her.

‘Thank you,’ she whispered and kissed him again.

They stood like two urgent lovers. For some moments, each devoured the other, both oblivious to the sound of the ocean and the caws of the gulls overhead.

‘I have to go,’ Mary said. ‘I’ve got a lot to do.’

Reluctantly, she pulled away.

‘Take care, beautiful Mary,’ Ruari said.

He was sensible enough to know that no further words were needed. Mary’s journey into the future was, for now, one that she needed to take on her own.

As Mary started the engine and drew away from the beach, she smiled as she saw Ruari staring and waving his hand. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered, and, spinning the car around, hurtled away to make plans for the rest of her life.