Page 75 of A Second Chance Summer in Dublin

‘Me? Like what exactly?’ I say, my hand barely covering his large hand.

‘Like life has a way of throwing up the unexpected.’

‘And what way is that?’ I ask as he moves his thumb oh-so-slowly across my palm. The sensation is erotic.

‘Happy. Comfortable. No anxiety. Content. Excited.Aroused .?.?. Will I go on?’

‘Absolutely!’ I laugh.

‘Constantly craving more time withyou.’ He moves his hand now as The Pogues finish and we all give the bride and groom a round of applause. Then he leans into my ear, his lips brushing gently against my earlobe as he whispers, ‘The thought of making love to you actually makes my heart beat out of my chest.’

I turn to his ear now. ‘Ditto,’ I whisper back softly, feeling all sorts of emotions. I’m also aroused, excited, content, happy and feeling so lucky.

‘Grace, girl! There you are! Hey, bro, still can’t get over how cute you are! Look at you! Anyway, Carla Deliginue has called you three times, Grace. Girl, you gotta pick up!’ Kathleen is wagging her finger at me as she drags over an empty seat beside us, and men line up to kiss Belinda who is now on a chair in the middle of the floor.

‘Who?’ I ask, as unconsciously I move my hand from Donal’s to manoeuvre the brooch of her gold dress back into the centre before she sits. Why did that hot fabric glue not hold it solidly in place? It didn’t bond into the fibres fully. Maybe I didn’t leave it long enough in the steam of the shower.

‘Hellloooo!’ Kathleen waves her hand in front of me. ‘My client? The one I told you I was on the phone to! Carla Deliginue! She is a massively successful human-rights lawyer in LA; married to Greg Cluneez, the Mexican actor. She’s my private client, she practises yoga in my studio five mornings a week, she’s a five-a.m.-er. She adores this dress you made for me, wants a replica of it for the Governors Ball in San Francisco in eight weeks! Said it reminds her of the gold dress Marilyn Monroe wore inGentlemen Prefer Blondes. When I told her thatwasyour inspiration, she lost her mind! You have no idea of her power amongst women, she has followers in their millions, andone post from her in this gold dress and you are made. I mean it.’ Kathleen rabbits on at me, but it’s the joy in her face that I love. Joy for me. It is just wonderful to see. These Kearney women are such nice, kind, decent people. If women supporting women had a face it would be the Kearneys.

‘Holy shit! That’s amazing, Grace.’ Donal slaps his hands off the edge of the round table.

‘Call her cell!’ Kathleen grabs my bag off the table and opens it, hands me my phone.

‘Not in the middle of Belinda’s wedding, I’ll call her in the morning.’

‘She’s eight hours behind. Call her now.’

‘Do this for you,’ Donal tells me. ‘Go get that client. Use that lesson from Logan, when he jeopardised your internship. Put yourself first right now, in this moment, you’ve come full circle.’

I’ve never known a man who actually listens to me the way Donal Kearney does.

‘I have, haven’t I?’ I realise, with a sigh of content that is so liberating.

‘Go outside and call this woman. You made this happen, you deserve this.By Grace Algardeserves your full attention right now.’ Donal unfolds himself and stands up, and as I take my phone from Kathleen, Amanda strides over to me.

‘There you are!’ She hugs me tightly. ‘Never got to say to you with Belinda holding court out there –’ she rolls her eyes to the whites ‘– like Don Corleone himself. But Donal was telling me as we scoffed our roast beef at the meal that you are actively trying to save your business? That’s what I do. That’s my domain. I advise investors to invest in women’s start-ups. Come and see me next week? I’m near Peter .?.?. Bradley C.’

Amanda pokes Donal and he just shakes his head. Then he winks at his sister, pats his short hair and pulls a Ben Stiller inZoolander, a ‘Blue Steel’ face, taking it all in good humour.

‘Seriously?’ I gasp at her offer.

‘Sure. I told you, your talent is off the charts .?.?. I’ve been to more black-tie business awards events than I care to remember. I’ve spent small fortunes on dresses. And I’ve never felt ascomfortableor asbeautifulas I do tonight. You have a rare, special talent,’ Amanda tells me sweetly.

‘That’s so kind. You look incredible,’ I say as Kathleen moves in. She stands on her tippy-toes to lift a sausage roll off a passing tray.

‘Urgh! I thought it was a cake? Is this a real sausage roll?’ she sighs, examining it.

‘No, it’s a sausage-roll substitute! It’s stuffed with fish. We imported it from Venezuela just for you. Chartered a plane. Flew it first class. Eat the bleedin’ sausage,’ Denise tells her.

‘Girl, I’m a pescetarian! I only eat fish! What do you guys not understand about that?’ Kathleen drops the sausage roll on a side plate on the table like it’s raw sewage.

‘Being a pescetarian and only eating fish!’ Denise shrugs. ‘You’d know you were the youngest and didn’t go to bed hungry like the rest of us did.’

‘’Scuse me?’ Donal butts in, asking the waiter. ‘Might there be anything in the kitchen that is suitable for a pescetarian?’

‘Like what?’ the waiter asks. ‘I left me fishing rod at home and the chefs are gone.’

‘Could you throw on a few chips?’ Donal suggests.