Page 11 of Our Song

How the hell did I not know that? I’ve been buying vegetables at the little grocer’s across the road from the Crescent for the last eight months!

But I suppose Tadhg isn’t exactly popping into the local shops.

I picture the Crescent and realise that one house isn’t quite like the others.

While the rest of the front gardens are bordered by low painted iron railings or hedges, one house has erected an elegant ‘green wall’ full of plants, as well as a high wooden gate.

There are lots of cameras too. As if whoever lived there really cared about their privacy and security and didn’t want to give callers easy access to the front door.

And actually, you do sometimes see quite a lot of teenagers hanging around in the little park in front of the houses.

I always thought they were kids from the school down the road.

But now I come to think of it, lots of them had that indefinable style (and, in many cases, the golden tans) that suggested they were from America or continental Europe rather than a community school in rainy north Dublin.

‘Is it the house with the plant wall?’ I say suddenly.

‘Yeah.’ Tadhg looks surprised. ‘How do you know it?’

‘I live down the road,’ I say. ‘Just off Philipsburgh Avenue.’

‘You do not,’ he says, laughing in disbelief.

I can’t help laughing back. ‘I do. I’m in Fresh Market practically every day. God, I can’t believe you live in such an ordinary area.’

‘Well, I did grow up down the road in Clontarf,’ he says, as if I’d forgotten.

‘Yeah, I know! But I assumed you’d live in Killiney or Dalkey or somewhere equally posh now.’

Tadhg shrugs. ‘Sure what would I do out in Dalkey?’

‘Hang around with Bono? I don’t know what they do over there!’

‘Well, exactly,’ says Tadhg. ‘Neither do I. Northside for life!’

We’re grinning at each other now.

A memory hits me. ‘Do you remember whatshername who went out with Brian? Caroline? She told us you couldn’t walk around the northside without getting mugged.’

Tadhg laughs. ‘She was convinced it was like Mad Max once you crossed the Liffey.’

‘She said we were “so brave” living there!’ I say.

‘She’s probably running an investment bank now,’ says Tadhg.

‘No way,’ I say. ‘She did History of Art. I bet her parents bought her a little gallery or a lifestyle boutique or something.’

And then I remember that these days Tadhg could buy someone a little gallery or lifestyle boutique if he wanted. I pull myself together. Tadhg and I aren’t the same anymore. And I can’t be won over by a little trip down memory lane.

The main courses arrive, and as I’m eating the most exquisite thing I’ve ever put in my mouth, Tara says, ‘So, Laura. If you do agree to join Tadhg in the studio, you’ll have to sign a few things.’

Oh, here we go.

I sigh. ‘I’m sorry, Tara.’ Although I’m not sorry at all. ‘I’m not signing away the rights to my song.’

‘I didn’t mean that.’ Tara’s tone is more soothing now. ‘No one’s trying to take any rights. It’s a standard contract for session musicians. And, well, there’ll be an NDA.’

‘ What? ’ I feel my cheeks grow hot. ‘Do you think I’d … I dunno, sell stories about Tadhg to the press?’

‘Tara, Laura doesn’t have to sign an NDA,’ says Tadhg firmly. ‘If she wanted to sell any stories about me – and I don’t think you ever would, Lol, don’t look at me like that – she could have done it years ago. It’s fine.’

I’m aware that he could be just playing the good cop to Tara’s bad cop, but I feel slightly consoled.

‘Sorry, Laura.’ Tara’s tone is still brisk. ‘It’s just a formality.’

‘Not needed in this case,’ says Tadhg.

‘So, about the schedule,’ says Tara. ‘Tadhg has a small window of free time this month, so if you’re free too, how about the next few weeks? Could you come in then?’

‘I haven’t said I’ll do it yet,’ I say.

‘But if you do?’

Things seem to be happening very quickly. Maybe I should pretend I’m incredibly busy next week, keep them waiting, give me time to think.

But I’m not busy next week. I’m not going to be starting at Leafe for a while.

And it hits me that if I accept Tadhg’s offer I could pay Katie a lot more rent with the money.

I could actually give her and Jeanne something in return for all their kindness to me over the last eight months.

I really could pay off a chunk of their window loan.

I might even be able to pay the rental deposit on a place of my own.

‘If I say yes, next week would be okay, if I move stuff around,’ I say, ‘what exact time frame are we talking about?’

‘Two weeks in the studio, if it’s working well,’ says Tadhg. ‘Then I have to go to Nashville for a while.’

I’m still cagey. ‘And if it’s not working well?’

‘If, at any time, you feel it’s really not working then we call it a day,’ says Tadhg. ‘But you’ll still be paid for the whole fortnight.’

Oh shit, this really is too good to turn down.

I’d be playing music again for two whole weeks.

And what’s more, I’d be getting paid to do it.

I just have to make sure that I’m not going to be bamboozled by money and helping Katie and conveniently located studios.

I have to make sure I don’t let Tadhg or his bad cop take away the best song I ever wrote.

I have to remember this is just for a fortnight – and then back to normality. But I can do that. I can hold firm.

Can’t I?

I take a deep breath.

‘Okay,’ I say. ‘I’ll do it.’

‘Excellent,’ says Tara cheerily.

‘Thanks a million, Lol.’ Tadhg’s smile is warm as he raises a glass of sparkling water in a toast. ‘You won’t regret it.’

I really, really hope he’s right.