Page 41 of The Widow’s Irish Secret (Magnolia Manor #4)

The following week was eventful to say the least. The press conference on Tuesday was broadcast on the evening news and everyone was amazed at what was revealed, most of all Tricia.

She listened with bated breath to the story Cillian and Ilse told the press and realised that it was far from what Cillian had hinted at.

She had thought he was digging out a Viking grave full of treasure and that nobody must know or the grave would be plundered.

The real story was much more amazing and as she listened, all the dots connected and she saw the whole picture.

The diving in the bay, Ilse and her team, the rib and the boat and everything else suddenly made sense.

And after her chat with Sylvia, Tricia finally felt at peace with Cillian’s need to keep it secret.

The find of an ancient ship from the Spanish Armada was big news indeed.

The ship had been loaded with gold and silver and some jewellery worn by the officers of the day.

The fact that around twenty-five ships of the Armada had sunk all the way up the Wild Atlantic Way was something she had heard about from time to time but thought of as fantasies and myths.

The ship in question was the best preserved of the ones that had been found around the west coast of Ireland.

Cillian and Ilse replied to all the questions from the reporters in detail and it was featured in all the newspapers the following day.

But Tricia still hadn’t heard from him. She assumed he was overwhelmed with all the attention he was getting.

‘Oh,’ Tricia exclaimed when she had read the letter sitting on the sofa in the living room. ‘This proves without a doubt he was the lad who grew up to become the famous painter.’

‘It certainly does.’ Rose hugged her mother. ‘Isn’t this exciting?’

‘It’s about to become even more exciting.’ Tricia told Rose about the painting she had found and that the expert from the National Gallery would come and take a look at it. ‘I have to tell Sylvia,’ she said.

‘Oh, yes,’ Rose agreed. ‘She’ll be so excited.’

‘It’s up to her to decide what to do with the painting,’ Tricia stated. ‘It belongs to Magnolia, after all.’

‘It does,’ Rose agreed. ‘I’m sure Granny will want it to hang in her sitting room.’

‘We’ll have to wait until Friday and then we’ll see,’ Tricia said. ‘If it’s the real thing, there will be complications with insurance and so on.’

‘I didn’t think of that,’ Rose said. ‘But we’ll find a way. Granny always does.’

‘She does indeed.’ Tricia nodded, knowing that it was true. Sylvia always found a solution to most problems and managed to have a life as well as looking after everyone at the same time. I used to resent that , she thought. But now I admire it and want to be like her. How strange…

‘She said you and Cillian are together,’ Rose said, looking at Tricia with an odd expression. ‘Is that true?’

‘I hope so.’ Tricia felt her face turn pink. ‘We were but then there was a misunderstanding between us and he left looking very annoyed. I’m hoping to patch things up between us and then… well, I hope we’ll start dating. You don’t mind?’

‘Of course not,’ Rose exclaimed. ‘I’ll be happy for you. We all like Cillian very much, you know. We were worried you’d be lonely here in the cottage all by yourself. Now you have that little cat and then hopefully Cillian to keep you company.’

‘In that order?’ Tricia laughed. ‘I suppose Paddy will be here all the time, but Cillian might not. He’s a free spirit and I’d hate to tie him down.

He’ll be off on jobs all over the country.

I’ll join him sometimes and he’ll be here when he can.

I think that’s the best way for us, to be honest. We’ll never get tired of each other. ’

‘Great idea,’ Rose agreed. ‘Everyone needs a little “me” time occasionally. Just look at Granny and Arnaud. They have this agreement never to put in on each other. Seems to work beautifully.’

‘She’s a very clever woman,’ Tricia said warmly. ‘I admire her enormously. She’s a real powerhouse.’

‘You admire her?’ Rose stared at her mother. ‘Really? The two of you used to be on opposite sides of every argument. What changed your mind?’

‘A bit of a wake-up call and a few honest words from Sylvia.’ Tricia smiled. ‘I’m not saying we’ll always be bosom pals, but there is a new respect between us. We know where we stand, so to speak.’

‘That sounds good,’ Rose said. ‘So when are you going to talk to Cillian?’

‘Tomorrow morning, I hope,’ Tricia replied, feeling nervous just thinking about it. She had left him a voicemail message. ‘Keep your fingers crossed that he’ll forgive me.’

‘I’m sure he will,’ Rose declared. ‘Sure he’s mad about you. Everyone knows it.’

Tricia sighed. ‘I hope you’re right.’ And I hope he’ll understand about the trouble I got myself into , she thought.

Later that day, when Tricia was tidying up after lunch, Noel knocked on the door to the cottage. ‘I thought I’d come and tell you in person,’ he said, his pale blue eyes sparkling.

‘Tell me what?’ Tricia sked, her stomach in knots. ‘Good news or bad?’

‘Good news,’ he said, hovering on the doorstep. ‘Are you going to let me in?’

‘Of course.’ Tricia laughed and opened the door wider. ‘Come in. How about a cup of coffee? I was just about to make some.’

‘Yes, that would be nice.’ Noel followed Tricia inside.

‘In here.’ She led the way into the kitchen and Noel sat down while she busied herself with the coffee machine. When she had filled two mugs, she put them on the table and sat down, looking expectantly at him. ‘So,’ she said. ‘Tell me the good news, then.’

‘Well,’ Noel said when he had taken a sip, ‘I have had a long conversation with both solicitors – the one handling Sean’s estate, as he also happened to be one of the executors of the will.’

‘I know. I’ve been working with him on the probate,’ Tricia said.

‘Of course. But I also spoke to the other one representing Terence.’

Tricia nodded. ‘I see. Go on.’

‘Well, it appears you did nothing wrong at all. Except maybe being a bit hasty when you cobbled together that document. It wasn’t valid as proof of power of attorney.’

Tricia sighed. ‘I had all those horrendous medical bills to pay. I just wanted Sean to have the best care during his final days.’

‘Of course you did. But the speed of it is what made Terence so upset, and suspicious.’

‘Yes,’ Tricia admitted. ‘I have been kicking myself for that ever since. But I was so stressed and he was so ill and needed all the help he could get.’ Tears welled up in her eyes as she remembered those heartbreaking months when she had fought so hard to try to save him.

But nothing could and he had died despite her efforts.

‘It was all for nothing, anyway,’ she mumbled and reached for a piece of kitchen paper to dry her eyes.

‘It must have been such a tragic time for you,’ Noel said quietly.

Tricia nodded and tried to compose herself. ‘Yes it was. Horrendous. But it’s over now and here you are trying to help me. I’ve been worried sick for months. Please give me that piece of good news you said you had.’

Noel nodded. ‘Okay. Well, the other executor looked into Sean’s bank account and then discovered that you hadn’t touched any of Sean’s money, only used everything in your joint account. The one you and he shared.’

‘That’s right. There was enough there in the end. I had forgotten the code anyway so I couldn’t log in to his own account and he was too weak to remember it himself.’

‘So that was quite okay, actually,’ Noel said. ‘Your joint account was yours when Sean passed away. So…’

‘So I didn’t do anything wrong, then?’ Tricia asked, feeling a dart of hope. ‘Terence has nothing on me at all?’

‘Not a thing. In fact, you could report him for blackmail and slander after what he’s been telling the local newspapers.’

‘I could?’ Tricia brightened, but she knew Terence had only done this out of sadness.

Grief did terrible things to people, she knew that, of course.

Tricia met Noel’s earnest blue eyes and felt a surge of affection for this sweet man who had made Rose so happy.

He was doing his best to help her. When she thought of Terence, she realised that revenge wasn’t in her nature.

‘I don’t think I will. But thank you,’ she whispered, taking his hand.

‘No need,’ Noel said. ‘I didn’t do much. Just a few phone calls and emails here and there. You can relax now and go forward.’

‘Oh, I will,’ Tricia said. ‘But first I have to talk to someone who might not feel I was that innocent in all of this.’

‘Oh, I’m sure whoever you mean will understand that you were all alone and trying to cope during a terrible time in your life.’

‘I hope he will,’ Tricia said, feeling less than confident.

Cillian might not understand why she had tried to fake a power of attorney to get access to her late husband’s money.

There were so many secrets and misunderstandings to sort out before they could regain the trust between them.

It would all be decided when they met tomorrow and she told him everything.