Page 23 of The Book of Irish Secrets (Magnolia Manor #5)

FIFTEEN

‘When did you see him?’ she asked.

‘Yesterday,’ Pierce replied, looking curiously at Claire. ‘Why do you look so shocked?’

Claire forgot all about the scones and the tea. ‘I think he’s here because of the house,’ she said. ‘I mean, the house we own together in Dublin. He’ll want me to sell it.’

‘Why didn’t you sell it when you divorced?’ Pierce said.

‘We should have but I came up with an alternative plan,’ Claire said, wringing her hands.

‘Finola, his cousin and my best friend, was living with us and I didn’t want to throw her out.

I liked living there, too. It was my safe space, my haven.

But then, in January, three years after he left me, I felt I needed a change.

’ She stopped for a moment, knowing that this would be a good time to tell him everything.

‘Yes?’ Pierce said.

Then Claire changed her mind about telling him.

His eyes were so kind and she knew she’d shatter this moment if she revealed her true identity.

‘I decided to go to Kerry for a bit and thought I’d let the house short term,’ she continued, feeling like a fraud.

But she just couldn’t bear the thought of him disliking her for lying to everyone.

‘Finola came up with the idea of letting it on Airbnb so she could stay on and look after the place while I went to Kerry.’ Claire drew breath for a moment.

‘I thought I should hang on to the house in case I wanted to come back,’ she continued.

‘But now I think I want to stay here in Kerry. I’ve only been here for a short time, but I feel so at home here already.

And I met you, and that has added to my fondness for Kerry.

’ She stopped looking at his dear face, trying to convey how important he was to her.

He took her hand. ‘You’re very dear to me, too, Claire. So then you could agree to sell the house?’ he asked.

‘Yes, I will. It doesn’t seem important to keep it any more,’ she said.

‘So there will be no problem, then,’ he said with a fond smile. ‘But go on, drink your tea before it gets cold.’

Claire picked up her cup and took a sip, feeling a little better.

‘No, everything will work out fine. But I don’t understand how Hugh knew where I was.

And also why he didn’t just send me an email.

We haven’t spoken since the divorce, so why now?

’ She took a bite of the scone but found it was nearly choking her as she envisaged what would happen if Hugh told anyone who she really was. ‘I have to find him,’ she said.

‘Do you have his number?’ Pierce asked.

‘No, not his new number. He changed it when he moved to Spain. I only have his email address. But I need to speak to him now ,’ Claire said, the panic rising in her chest again.

‘Maybe your friend Finola has his new number?’ Pierce suggested. ‘I mean, he must have found out where you are from her.’

‘Yes, maybe,’ Claire said, taking her phone from her bag. ‘I’ll call her and ask if she knows how to contact him.’

Pierce nodded and got up. ‘Okay. I think you need a little space. So I’ll leave now and pay the bill on the way out.

Hopefully you’ll be able to get your ex-husband’s number so you can call him.

Then you could ask him to come here so you can talk about whatever he wants to discuss.

I’m sure you want to clear this up so you won’t have to meet him again. ’

‘Oh, yes, I do.’ Claire nodded. ‘Thank you for being so understanding, Pierce.’

Pierce nodded. ‘You’re welcome. Been there myself, so I know how you feel. I’ll see you later in Gleesons’ at the dinner with the gang.’

‘Pierce,’ she said as he moved away, ‘I will tell you everything soon, I promise.’

‘Take your time,’ Pierce said. ‘There’s no need to tell me anything if you don’t want to. Now find your ex and sort it all out. You’ll feel better when it’s done.’

‘Okay,’ Claire said as she dialled Finola’s number. ‘I’ll keep you posted on developments.’

‘Oh, you don’t have to,’ Pierce said. ‘I’ll know just by looking at you. Right now you seem really upset. So if you smile I’ll know all is well again. Good luck,’ he said before he walked out of the room.

‘Thanks again,’ Claire started but then Finola answered so she turned her attention away from Pierce’s retreating figure. ‘Hi, Finola.’

‘Claire?’ Finola said, sounding surprised. ‘What’s up? I thought you said you’d be at the parade or something?’

‘I was and it was really nice,’ Claire said. ‘But something has happened and I need to talk to you.’

‘About what?’ Finola asked.

‘About Hugh,’ Claire said. ‘He’s here in Dingle looking for me. Did you tell him where I was?’

‘What?’ Finola gasped. ‘Hugh? In Dingle? But he’s supposed to be in Spain. And no, he hasn’t been in touch with me at all. And if he were, I wouldn’t tell him where you are.’

‘Oh,’ Claire said, feeling confused. ‘I thought he might have contacted you and that you told him…’ She paused, trying to think of a way he could have found out.

‘Well, whatever. In any case he’s here and going around asking about me.

No idea what he wants but I suspect he will try to persuade me to sell the house. ’

‘Yes, that’s probably it,’ Finola agreed. ‘I was surprised when he was so relaxed about it.’

‘I have to find him and make him leave,’ Claire said. ‘But I don’t have his new number. Do you?’

‘No, but…’ Finola paused. ‘I think I have his mother’s landline number. She still uses it as far as I know. I’ll give her a call and ask if she has Hugh’s number and then text it to you.’

Claire heaved a sigh of relief. ‘You’re the best, Finola. I don’t know what I’d do without you.’

‘Oh, you’d manage,’ Finola said. ‘But what about the house? Are you going to agree to sell it?’

‘I don’t want to. It’s such a big step for me,’ Claire said.

‘But I might have to pretend to agree with him only to placate him for the moment. I mean, imagine if he goes around town telling people my real name is Fleury? That would be a disaster.’ Claire felt near tears as she thought of the consequences.

‘I know,’ Finola said. ‘I’d hate for that to happen.

And you know what? If you sell the house, I’ll be grand.

I can rent something for a while and then maybe finally buy a little flat somewhere.

I have enough put by for that, you see. Could be a good thing for me to do. So please don’t worry about me.’

‘That’s good to know,’ Claire said.

‘So I’ll get in touch with my aunt and ask her if she has Hugh’s number,’ Finola said. ‘I’ll text you when I’ve spoken to her.’

‘Great.’

‘Bye for now,’ Finola said and hung up.

Claire picked up her now nearly cold tea and took a sip. Then she nibbled on the scone while she waited. A few minutes later, there was a text message from Finola.

I got my aunt on the phone and she gave me Hugh’s number. Actually, she was the one who told him where you were. She’s a huge fan of Karina and saw your name on her blog and told Hugh. I’ll send you the number in a separate text.

‘Oh,’ Claire said to herself as she read the message.

So that’s how Hugh had found out. She had no idea her name was on Karina’s blog.

It must be something Karina had done recently.

Claire shrugged and dialled the number in the text message Finola had just sent.

It rang several times while Claire held her breath, waiting for Hugh to answer.