Page 36 of The Girl with the Irish Secret

‘I’d rather take the short sharp one,’ Jack said. ‘And I have a feeling the skies would be amazing up there just after sunset.’

Vi got up. ‘Yes, that’s true. Let’s go.’

When Jack paid the bill at the counter, the waiter smiled at them. ‘Nice to meet the stars of the next big hit,’ he said. ‘Good luck with the movie, lads.’

They smiled and thanked him. Jack looked curiously at Vi when they were outside. ‘So he knew who we were but didn’t say anything or ask us any questions. That’s classy, I have to say.’

‘That’s the Kerry way,’ Vi said as she got into the car.

‘I’m impressed.’

They didn’t talk much during the drive, only stopped briefly at the top of Connor Pass and looked at the sky, a riot of orange and pink in the west and stars twinkling above them. ‘Incredible,’ Jack said and then slowly drove down the steep road on the other side where they could see the lights of Dingle below them.

He pulled up outside the gatehouse and turned to look at Vi. ‘Thank you again for a wonderful day. You have changed my view of Ireland and Kerry in particular. Not to mention everyone we’ve met. It’s been such a day full of wonderful things to remember. I’m looking forward to shooting this movie with you.’

‘Me too,’ Vi said, noticing the warm expression in his brown eyes. ‘I think we’ll work well together.’

‘I hope so.’ He paused for a moment. ‘So how are you going to fill your days until then?’

‘Oh, I’ll be busy,’ Vi replied. ‘Dance lessons, sessions with the voice coach, looking at Kathleen’s movies and then reading these letters. I’ll also spend time with my grandmother and help my sister Lily with babysitting.’

‘Sounds like a lot. So Lily is the older sister?’ he asked. ‘She’s not holding any grudges, then.’

Vi shook her head. ‘Not any more. We had a chat and she seemed to understand what happened. Rose is a different story.’

‘The kind who can’t let go of anger?’ Jack suggested.

‘Something like that.’ Vi opened the passenger door, not wanting to continue discussing Rose and what was going on between them. ‘I’d better go. Thanks for the drive and lunch. It was fun.’

‘Yes, it was,’ Jack said, looking at her in an odd way. ‘I’d say you’ll find those letters Kathleen wrote very interesting.’

‘I hope so.’ Vi looked back at him. ‘It’ll be fascinating to read her own words.’

‘I’m sure it will,’ Jack agreed. He paused for a moment. ‘Violet… Would it be okay if I called you sometime? Just for a chat, apart from working on the script, I mean. I felt that we clicked today.’

‘I think I know what you mean.’ Vi nodded, touched by the earnest look in his eyes. She felt a connection to him that had nothing to do with the crush she had had on him for so long. It was as if she had seen a little bit of the real Jack today: a vulnerability and a love of nature she herself felt so strongly. ‘Of course you can call me any time.’

‘I’ll text you first to see if it’s a good time,’ he suggested.

‘Perfect.’ Vi got out of the car. ‘Have a good trip to Scotland.’

‘Thanks. I really enjoyed the day. I’m looking forward to Scotland.’ He shot her a dazzling smile that made her heart flutter. ‘The winds will be even colder there than here. But it will be refreshing. I’ll be in touch. And hey, let me know if you find anything interesting in those letters.’

‘I will,’ she promised. ‘Can’t wait to read them. I feel they’ll bring me closer to her somehow.’

‘You might find out things you don’t want to know,’ Jack said through the open window of the car.

Vi stared at him. ‘What kind of things?’

He shrugged. ‘Oh nothing. Just… be careful what you wish for. Bye, Violet.’

Before she had a chance to ask any questions, he drove off. She stood rooted to the spot, wondering what on earth he had meant. Did he know something about Kathleen that might be bad? Something nobody else did? He had said he had heard a hint here and there, but not what it was about. He was difficultto figure out and sometimes said things that seemed innocent but could mean something else.A mysterious man with a lot of baggage, she thought as she walked up the steps to the house. It would be best not to get too involved on a personal level. But how could she avoid it? She realised she was starting to like him more and more.

16

The padded envelope arrived in the post a few days later. Vi had just ended an online session with the voice coach when she heard the doorbell. Still in her pyjamas, she peered through the half-open door and found Joe, the postman, standing on the doorstep. ‘Couldn’t get this through the letterbox,’ he said and handed her the package. ‘And it’s registered post, so you have to sign for it.’ He gave her a form and a pen. ‘Just scribble your name and we’re done.’

‘Okay. Thanks, Joe.’ Vi signed the form and took the package.