Page 7 of The Widow’s Irish Secret (Magnolia Manor #4)

The girls arrived all at once, preventing Tricia from asking any more questions about the rib she had seen.

In any case, she forgot about it for the moment while she greeted her elder daughters, who she hadn’t seen for many months.

They all formed a group hug, squeezing each other tight, chatting and laughing.

Tricia hugged Lily and Rose in turn and then pulled away to look at them in wonder.

They were, to her, all so beautiful. And so different.

Lily, with her dark hair and large brown eyes, was the image of Sylvia; Rose had the same blue eyes and blonde hair as Tricia, and Vi with her red hair, green eyes and freckles so heartbreakingly like her father.

But Tricia saw something of Fred in all her girls, in their expressions, smiles and voices.

It was at once comforting and melancholy.

‘Mum, it’s so lovely to see you.’ Lily let go of Tricia after placing a kiss on her cheek. ‘And Vi said you’re here for good. Why didn’t you tell us?’

‘I wanted it to be a surprise. How are my lovely grandchildren?’ Tricia asked.

‘In great form, if a little exhausting,’ Lily replied. ‘Naomi is growing up to be a real bossy-boots and Liam is good at charming everyone, especially older ladies.’

‘I can’t wait to see them,’ Tricia said. She turned to Rose. ‘And darling Sophie?’

‘A bundle of joy at the moment,’ Rose said with a fond smile. ‘Four is a lovely age.’

‘You were gorgeous at that age,’ Tricia said and hugged Rose again. ‘I’m so happy to be here with you all.’

‘So are we, Mum. But where are you going to live?’ Rose asked, pulling away from the hug.

‘It’s a secret,’ Vi said, looking smug.

‘Not any more,’ Sylvia announced from kitchen counter, where she was filling more glasses with prosecco. ‘Tricia has bought the cottage.’

‘The gardener’s cottage?’ Rose asked. ‘So you’re the mystery buyer?’

Tricia smiled. ‘No mystery. But yes, it’s me.’

‘Oh, Mum, that’s the best news. But why didn’t you tell us?’ Lily handed out the glasses of prosecco to Rose and Vi and they all sat down at the table.

‘No reason,’ Tricia said with a glance at Sylvia. ‘I just wanted to make sure it all went smoothly before I said anything.’ She smiled at her daughters. ‘But now I’m here to stay. I’m going to do up the cottage little by little and get it just the way I want it.’

‘I’m sure Dominic will be willing to help,’ Lily said. ‘He’s always said he’d love to get his hands on that place to do it up.’

‘Well, now he can.’ Tricia grinned happily at her eldest daughter, whose husband was an architect, builder and handyman all in one.

His firm had done most of the restoration work on Magnolia Manor.

‘But my cottage will be small potatoes compared to what he usually does. In any case, I want to do a lot of it myself, like painting and minor repairs. Dom can do the big stuff.’

‘He’ll love it,’ Lily said. ‘Give him a ring tomorrow and you can discuss dates and any details of what you want to do.’

‘I’m not getting the keys until Wednesday,’ Tricia said.

‘You can have them straight away if you want to go in and take a look,’ Sylvia cut in as she got up from the table to answer the doorbell that had just rung. ‘That’ll be Nora,’ she added while she walked into the hall.

‘Hi, everyone,’ Nora said as she came in. ‘Sorry if I’m late.’

‘You’re just in time for a drink,’ Sylvia said, handing Nora a glass while Tricia got up to hug her old friend.

‘Lovely to see you again,’ Nora said and hugged Tricia back. ‘Welcome back.’

‘Thank you, Nora.’ Tricia smiled at Nora, noting how good she looked.

With her strong features, thick greying hair, lovely brown eyes under black eyebrows, she was a handsome woman with great warmth and charm.

Only a few years older than Tricia, Nora had been a great support after the tragedy, helping Tricia to cope and being a second mother to the little girls who had just lost their father and grandfather.

She had also provided practical help, cooking and keeping things tidy, organising the funeral, answering the phone and talking to all kinds of people who called to the house.

Tricia had often wondered what they would have done without Nora and Martin, her husband.

They had remained friends and kept in touch all through the years after that.

‘Now that you’re here, you’ll have to catch up with the old gang,’ Nora said. ‘We still have our book club meetings once a month.’

‘More like a wine club than anything to do with books,’ Sylvia remarked with a wink, handing Nora a glass.

‘We do discuss literature, though,’ Nora said with pretend primness. ‘And we go to see a movie sometimes too. It’s all about culture, really.’

‘Sounds like fun. Can’t wait to catch up with everyone. Cheers, Nora,’ Tricia said and clinked her glass against Nora’s.

‘Cheers.’ Nora smiled and took a sip and then sat down between Vi and Tricia. ‘How’s my little movie star?’ she asked. ‘I hear Jack proposed. Congratulations, pet. Show me the ring.’

Vi held up her hand and showed Nora her beautiful ring. ‘Isn’t it lovely?’

‘Fabulous,’ Nora said. ‘He has good taste.’

‘That’s not the only news,’ Vi said. ‘There’s something else to announce as well. I’m going to be shooting in Limerick in an Irish production very soon so I can commute home practically every day depending on the shooting schedule.’

‘Oh, that’s excellent news, sweetheart.’ Tricia turned and looked at her daughter. ‘What kind of part is it?’

Vi grinned. ‘You’re looking at Inspector Colleen O’Dea, the new female sleuth in a detective series that might run for a long time.’

‘That’s wonderful,’ Tricia exclaimed. ‘I’m so happy for you.’

Vi beamed at her mother. ‘It’s very exciting. Limerick is only an hour or two from Dingle, too, so it’s perfect timing.’

‘Congratulations,’ Sylvia interjected. ‘Now we have another thing to celebrate.’

‘So when’s the wedding?’ Nora asked. ‘Have you set a date yet?’

‘Yes,’ Vi said, glancing nervously at Sylvia. ‘We want to get married on the twenty-second of August.’

‘What?’ Sylvia, who was carrying a platter with roast chicken, potatoes and vegetables to the table, nearly lost her grip.

Nora rushed to help her and they managed to put it all on the table.

Then Sylvia turned to Vi, who was cowering at the other side of the table.

‘You picked the date? Without telling me?’

‘I told Mum,’ Vi said. ‘And we were going to tell you tonight, which we just did.’

‘Well, thank you very much,’ Sylvia snapped. ‘I suppose you’re planning to hold the reception in the ballroom as well?’

‘No…’ Vi glanced at Tricia. ‘We’re having a small wedding and the party is going to be in the orangery, if Lily agrees. We thought we’d have a barbecue if the weather is nice and…’

‘Fab idea,’ Lily exclaimed, looking excited. ‘Of course you can have the orangery. I’ll do it up with decorations and flowers and make it super cute. How many guests?’

‘We think about sixty,’ Vi replied. ‘Just family and close friends. And no dressing up, except me, of course,’ she added with a giggle.

‘Sixty guests? And a barbecue? Not what I’d call suitable for a Fleury,’ Sylvia remarked, looking put out. ‘Did you know about this, Tricia?’

‘Well, some of it,’ Tricia confessed. ‘I think it’s?—’

‘Terrible,’ Sylvia interrupted. ‘A small wedding? With a barbecue? For a Fleury wedding? What will people think?’

‘I don’t care what “people” think,’ Vi said, making quote marks. ‘It’s our wedding and this is what we want to do.’

‘And you didn’t consider me at all when you put together this plan?’ Sylvia asked.

‘But it’s not about you,’ Tricia said hesitantly, feeling she couldn’t stay quiet any longer. ‘It’s about Vi and Jack and the most important day of their lives.’

‘That’s why it has to be a fitting event for a Fleury bride,’ Sylvia retorted.

‘But Granny…’ Lily started.

Nora got up and put food on plates and handed them around. ‘Maybe we could eat and then calm down a bit and discuss this? No need to argue on an empty stomach.’

‘Thank you, Nora,’ Sylvia said and took one of the plates.

‘I’m not arguing, I’m just sharing my thoughts.

And I’m a little shaken by what I just heard, that’s all.

Vi’s wedding could be my swansong, my last hurrah and the final big party that I’ll organise.

You all know how much I’ve enjoyed doing all the big events in the family. ’

‘We know that, of course,’ Vi said. ‘Granny, you’re the best, most popular hostess in Dingle. But this time, it’s about me and Jack. He wants our wedding to be casual and fun, not a big splashy do. I’d hate to disappoint him.’

‘So instead you’re disappointing Granny,’ Rose remarked.

‘I’m not…’ Vi started, glaring at Rose. ‘This is going to be our day, mine and Jack’s. It’ll be something we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. Can’t you understand that?’

‘Yeah, but you have to consider other people, too,’ Rose argued.

‘Please calm down, Rose. Let’s eat and then talk,’ Tricia suggested. ‘Nora’s right. We’re all hungry and the discussion about the wedding can wait until later.’

‘Good point,’ Lily said. ‘But I still want to say that I love Vi and Jack’s plans for a wedding in the orangery. But let’s eat and enjoy this lovely dinner.’

‘I’m with Granny, just so you know,’ Rose cut in before she dug into her food.

‘A big glamorous wedding at Magnolia Manor that could be featured in a magazine would be fantastic publicity for the events side of our business. We could get an exclusive with OK! magazine for the photos. You might consider that side of things, Vi.’

‘No, I won’t,’ Vi said, still glaring at Rose. Then she started eating without another word.