She headed toward the pub. Her immediate reaction was to find Kellan and tell him what had happened. But as she walked, Gelsey realized that this wasn’t his problem, it was hers. She’d been the one to naively put all her efforts into improving the shop. She’d been the one to spend her own money on gift bags and wrapping paper and real grosgrain ribbon for the boxes.
She’d dusted and mopped and toted and carried until every muscle in her body ached and she’d been rewarded with happy customers and increased sales. Maeve was right-she was clever. And she did know what she was doing.
Gelsey wiped away her tears. Why was she crying? She didn’t need the job. She had plenty of money left in her trust find.
She walked past the pub and down to the waterfront. The smell of the sea was thick in the damp air. She sat down on a bench that overlooked the harbor, fixing her gaze on a fishing boat that was chugging out of port.
People went to work every day and some of them worked at jobs they barely liked. But she’d wanted to find something to make her life meaningful, something that made her proud of what she did with her day. She’d wasted so much time, and now that she’d finally decided on a future for herself, it had been snatched away from her before she’d even begun.
The tears started again and Gelsey didn’t try to stop them. She was alone. And the emotional release was the only reaction she could muster. But when she saw Dealy Carmichael and the rest of the Unholy Trinity approaching, Gelsey quickly composed herself and pasted a smile on her face.
“Good morning, lass,” Markus called. “What are you doing out here on a chilly day like today?”
“Just admiring the view,” Gelsey said, forcing a cheerful tone into her words.
“We’re working on a shopping brochure for the town,” Dealy said. “We’ll be sure to add your shop to the map.”
“Good. I’m sure Maeve will appreciate that.”
They continued past her, fishing poles in hand. Once they were out of sight, Gelsey drew a ragged breath. Closing her eyes, she tipped her head back and tried to relax.
How had she managed to fool herself yet again? She’d convinced herself that she could live happily ever after in Ballykirk. But she should have known that nothing ever worked out in her favor.
Another sob rocked her body and she covered her face with her hands, her cheeks already growing wet with tears.
“Gelsey?”
The sound of Kellan’s voice startled her and she sat up and wiped her face with her palms. “Hi. Sorry, I was just resting my eyes.”
“The boys told me you were down here,” he said, sitting down next to her. “What are you doing? Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
“No.”
“But it’s the Friday before Christmas.”
“Just go away,” Gelsey said. “Leave me alone.”
He reached out to pull her closer, but she fought his embrace, moving to the other end of the bench.
“Would you like to tell me what this is about?”
“Maeve doesn’t want to sell the shop anymore. Now that it’s doing so well, she’s decided to stick around. Of course, she wants me to continue working there. With a lovely raise.”
“That’s good,” Kellan said.
“I don’t want to be taking orders from Maeve for the rest of my life. She knows that I’m responsible for all the new business, but it’s still her shop. I guess I’ve done my job too well.”
“I’m sure that’s true,” Kellan said. “Maeve may be a big crazy, but she’s not blind. She’d be lucky to have you.”
“I’m not going back there. I don’t want to work for Maeve. She’s a lovely woman, but I need to do something for myself.”
“Gelsey, I know you haven’t had a job in the past, so you might be a bit naive about how things work in the real world. This happens all the time. Employees are taken advantage of, are underappreciated and overworked. That’s just the way the world operates.” He finally got hold of her hand and this time Gelsey didn’t pull away. “My first job, I was amazing. I did brilliant work. But my boss took it all and passed it off as his own. In the end, his boss found out, he was sacked and I moved up into his spot. I had a choice and I decided to stay. But you can do anything you want.”
Gelsey laughed. “You say that as if it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. I liked Maeve’s shop. I knew I could make a success of that.”
“So, open up your own shop.”
“Selling what? I don’t think Ballykirk can support two shops selling kelp facial masks and sea-salt scrubs.”
“Gelsey, if you’re going to let this stop you, then you aren’t cut out to run a business.”
Gelsey snatched her hand away. “Whose side are you on?”
“This isn’t about sides. It’s about business. You can do anything you want. You just have to decide to do it.”
“I did decide and it blew up in my face.”
“I think you’re being a bit dramatic,” Kellan said.
Gelsey stood, her tears now replaced with anger. She’d at least thought that Kellan would understand, but he seemed to be taking Maeve’s part, which only added to her anger. “I have to go. I don’t want to talk about this anymore and I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Come on, Gels. Don’t get mad. This isn’t a big deal. You pick yourself up and you move on.”
“No? It’s a big deal to me. A really big deal. And if you don’t understand that, then you don’t understand me.”
“You’re mad at me?” Kellan asked. “Just because I disagree with the way you’re handling this?”
Gelsey walked by him and started back toward the shop. “Don’t even think about following me,” she shouted.
To her relief, Kellan didn’t. She managed to make it to the Bentley without having to talk to anyone. Gelsey tossed her purse inside, then got behind the wheel and started the car. The mechanic she’d hired to look at it had encouraged her to get it tuned up before driving it, but she hadn’t had time.
The engine sputtered at first, refusing to start, but after the sixth try, it roared to life. She put the car in gear, made a wide U-turn on the street in front of the shop and headed out of town.
He was right. She’d just have to find another opportunity, a better chance to make a future for herself. But would that be in Ballykirk? And would it be with Kellan?
Gelsey scolded herself. She shouldn’t have reacted the way she had. He was only trying to help. But Kellan knew what he wanted from life. It had always been easy for him. Since she’d come back to Ireland, she’d been living in a strange kind of limbo, waiting for everything to make sense.
“I don’t need him,” she murmured to herself as she steered the car along the coast road. “I can take care of myself.”
“HERE IT IS,” Kellan said. “What do you think?”
Jordan stared at the facade of the shop, nestled between the Ballykirk post office and Roddy Murphy’s Sporting Emporium, a confused expression on her face. “About what?”
“The possibilities,” he said. He pulled a key out of his pocket and pushed it into the lock on the front door, then stepped aside so Jordan could enter.
“Are you going to bid on the renovations? Who is this for?”
“A friend,” Kellan said.
Jordan sucked in a sharp breath as she caught sight of the cluttered interior. Everywhere they looked, old appliances were stacked and scattered, some in pieces. “Is this for Gelsey?”
Kellan nodded. “Yeah. You probably heard about what happened with Maeve. Gelsey quit her job there after Maeve decided she didn’t want to sell the shop.”
“I know. Nan told me. It happened yesterday and it’s all around town. People are plenty angry with Maeve, but she seems as happy as a clam with all her new business. Is Gelsey even interested in staying in Ballykirk now?”
“She was before,” Kellan said. “And I hope she hasn’t changed her mind. I’m going to do everything I can to give her a reason to stay.”
“You’re going to buy her this shop?”
“No. She’s going to buy the shop. I’m going to renovate it for her.” Kellan stood in the center of the huge ground floor. Up until a few months ago, it had housed Eddie Farrell’s appliance-repair shop. Eddie had heard about Maeve’s change of heart and had come rushing over to the pub last night with an offer of his own. “What do you think?”
Jordan walked along one wall lined with shelves that were filled with old toasters. “I don’t know what to think. It’s hard to see past the junk.”
“Eddie Farrell is ready to sell. And he won’t be changing his mind. He’s offered to include his inventory, but I’m not sure it’s worth keeping.”
“It would take a lot of work,” Jordan said. “Much more than Maeve’s place. But look at these shelves. They’re original. And these cases are beautiful.”
“I know. That’s why I need your help. We’re going to need to find more display cases and shelving units and tables. I know you’ve been all over Ireland looking for furniture for Castle Cnoc. I’m hoping you can find what we need to make this place work.”
“I already know of a few places to check.” Jordan grinned. “This is going to be a fun project. So what is she going to sell?”
“I don’t know,” Kellan said. “She’ll have to figure that out. But at least whatever she sells will be here in Ballykirk.” He turned to face Jordan. “Do you think you could make some sketches? Maybe choose some paint colors and put together some boards. I want to set something up so that when I bring Gelsey here, she’ll be able to see the potential.”
“Today?”
“No. I was hoping to show it to her on New Year’s Eve. After the wedding. I want to get some of this junk cleared out first.”
“That would be perfect,” Jordan cried. “Wow, you are a romantic, aren’t you.”
He couldn’t help but laugh. The notion was so absurd, but he’d spent a lot of time considering what approach would best appeal to Gelsey. “I’m learning.”
“Every woman appreciates romance,” Jordan said, patting him on the arm. “Even a good attempt is appreciated. When Danny and I were living at Castle Cnoc, he used to bring my coffee up to the bedroom in the morning so I could wake up slowly. All those little gestures add up and one day, it just hits you square in the face. Oh, my God, I’m in love with this man.”
“That’s the way it went?”
“I really knew it when we were dancing naked in the rain,” she said.
“Danny?”
She nodded. “Don’t you ever tell him I told you that.” Jordan went silent for a moment and then giggled. “He looked so sexy.”
Kellan thought about the night Gelsey had sent him out in the rain. She’d stood in the door and watched him, her eyes alight with amusement. Would she remember that moment in the same way?
“Will Gelsey be coming for Christmas Eve tonight?” Jordan asked.
“I haven’t talked to her since yesterday. I decided I ought to give her a chance to cool off. But I’m going to drop her Christmas present at Winterhill later this afternoon. Hopefully, she won’t slam the door in my face.”
“Why would she do that?”
“Because, in addition to being a romantic, I can sometimes be a Bombay shitehawk.”
“And what exactly is that?”
“An arse of the first order,” Kellan replied. “I didn’t really handle the situation very well yesterday. She didn’t take kindly to my suggestions. And I guess I don’t blame her. She has plenty of money, so she doesn’t have to keep a job for the wages.”
“You better take more than a gift over there,” Jordan warned. “You better have a full-blown apology ready.” She glanced around once more, then nodded. “Have you taken measurements?”
“I have,” Kellan said. “I’ll text them to your mobile.”
“And I’ll get to work on the boards. I can probably have them done in three or four days, unless it gets too crazy before the wedding.” She pushed up on her toes and kissed Kellan’s cheek. “Dinner is at seven, gifts at nine and Midnight Mass after that. Don’t be late. Your mother has been working all week on this.”
“I won’t. I’m going to head over to Winterhill right now. I’ll be back in plenty of time.”
Kellan wandered through the shop once more, making mental calculations of the cost for renovation. Though Maeve had an existing business, it might appeal to Gelsey to build something from the ground up. He walked to the rear of the shop and looked through the window in the door. An old stone building that used to serve as a carriage house stood close enough to connect the two. If Gelsey wanted to make a product, he’d design a beautiful workroom for her, too.
But as Kellan walked back through the shop to the front door, he realized that before he could sell Gelsey on staying in Ballykirk, he’d have to convince her of his feelings for her. There was one gift that could do the trick, one thing that he had in his possession that would prove they were meant to be together.
Winter had arrived in southwest Ireland. Rain was coming down in sheets and it was almost cold enough for snow. A white Christmas was a rarity in county Cork, but Kellan never stopped hoping.
He jumped in the car and headed for the pub. His mother would have wrapping paper and ribbon, something he couldn’t find at the cottage. She also made the best fruitcake. It probably wouldn’t hurt to take a loaf along for Gelsey’s housekeeper, Caroline.
The wind blew in behind him and Kellan shook the water out of his hair as he stood at the door. Christmas Eve was always celebrated in the large room at the pub. The door was closed to the regular patrons at three in the afternoon and Maggie Quinn took over, arranging gifts under the tree, setting the long string of tables for dinner and finishing the last of the meal preparations in the kitchen behind the bar.
“Hey, Ma.”
“Oh, you’re here. Come help me with these tables. Every one of them wobbles. I swear, I’m tempted to toss them all out on the curb and have your father order new.”
“You could just buy a few long tables to use for the holidays,” Kellan suggested. “I’ve got a few in my office in Dublin that we use for blueprints.”
“I’ll put that on my list for next year.”
Kellan helped her shove folded cardboard beneath the wobbly legs and when they’d made a table long enough for eighteen, he watched as she laid the table linens over them all, turning the scarred pub furniture into an elegant dining table.
“Look what Jordan found,” Maggie said, holding up a length of red fabric. “Chair covers. They’ll make the table even more beautiful. And a table runner. She has such good taste, that girl. Not that Nan doesn’t. She’s picked out music for us tonight.” Maggie glanced over at Kellan. “And what about Gelsey? Will she be joining us?”
Kellan shook his head. “No. I don’t think so.”
“There’s plenty of room at the table.”
“I know. But we’re taking a bit of a holiday from each other. I’m going to drive over to Winterhill and drop off her gift. I’ll invite her, but I wouldn’t plan on her coming.”
Maggie paused. “Is everything well with you, then?” she asked.
Kellan nodded. “Yeah. I love her, Ma. She’s really something. And you’ll love her, too.”
Maggie reached out and placed her palm on his cheek. “If you love her, Kellan, I know I will. Just follow your heart and you’ll never go wrong.”
“Thanks, Ma,” he murmured. “Now I have to steal some paper and ribbon. I have to wrap her gift.”
“Upstairs on the kitchen table. Take the silver foil and the gold ribbon. And one of those little gold glitter bells to make it pretty. What are you going to give her?”
“Something that I’ve been holding on to for a very long time.”
9
GELSEY SAT IN THE DARKENED ROOM, staring into the flickering fire. Nearby, an elaborately decorated Christmas tree twinkled with tiny white lights. Everything was exactly as she remembered it, the house s
melling of freshly baked gingerbread and pine boughs.
She’d driven to Cork to shop that morning, picking up presents for Caroline, Nan and Jordan. They lay wrapped beneath the tree. She’d struggled with a present for Kellan, unable to decide on anything suitable. She’d looked at expensive watches and interesting books, designer clothes and antique fountain pens, but nothing seemed right.
It might have helped if she knew where she stood with him. But since their argument the day before, Gelsey had been too embarrassed to call him. And he’d obviously been too angry to call her. Things had been so perfect between them and now everything had fallen apart.
She pressed her palm to her heart, aware of the ache that had settled there. Over and over, she’d questioned her feelings for him, but now, faced with a life all alone, she’d come to realize that she was in love with Kellan.
Her days and nights meant something when she was with him. She wasn’t just racing through life, she was actually living it, breathing it all in and savoring each moment. She’d tried to think about her time with Antonio and not one second could be marked as memorable. But every moment with Kellan had been etched into her mind, a vivid picture of perfect happiness.
Last Christmas had been spent on a beach in Thailand, drunk on champagne after Antonio had presented her with a diamond engagement ring, the same ring she’d thrown into the sea. Everything in her life had changed and yet, she didn’t regret a single decision she’d made.
She took a sip of her wine, then stretched her stocking feet out to the warmth of the fire. She picked up her magazine and flipped through the article on Irish linens. Since yesterday, she’d been racking her mind trying to come up with an alternate plan for a shop, but everything she thought of just didn’t seem to excite her. Irish linens, rare books, designer fashions, Gaelic art, hand-crafted jewelry… She had lots of ideas, but no passion for any of them.
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