Mastering Maeve (15 page)
“Or maybe she feels that she got it under false pretences; why don’t you ask her? This is bullshit, Larry. Bridie may have been manipulating you both, but you can’t deny that you were happy together. You want to throw all that away now?”
“You just don’t get it, do you, Dad? If she knew what was going on, then I don’t want anything more to do with her. But if she didn’t, then I do want her to be happy, and life on a ranch in the middle of nowhere is not going to make her happy. Not now that she has the world at her feet.”
“No! You don’t get it. You should let her be the judge of that. She’s a smart young woman; she can work it out for herself. Now you need to get on that there computer and book the first ticket you can get to Ireland before it’s too late.”
“I dunno, Dad, I’ll see.”
Larry could see his father was increasingly frustrated with him, even accusing him of preferring to be a martyr to love than actually getting out there and experiencing it.
“Thinking you let her go for the right reasons won’t make much of a bedfellow on a long winter’s night. I just hope she has more courage than you and is willing to put herself out on a limb for love, as it’s obvious you’re too much of a coward for that,” Lawrence said as he returned to his car, leaving Larry to wallow in his misery.
* * *
The sky was grey and heavy, smothering the Connemara coast with inertia-laden clouds. Maeve’s despair deepened. It was almost a week since she had heard anything from Larry, not even the briefest of emails. To add to the doom, she hadn’t uttered a word to her grandmother either and she felt totally alone. It was certainly true, she surmised; money didn’t buy you happiness and she had been much happier when she hadn’t a pot to pee in. She had to shake herself out of this dark hole. She had managed to get motivated enough to hire a manager and was showing him the ropes. By the following week Maeve knew she would be free to leave, but she couldn’t seem to stir herself into making any plans. She needed help, and quick. Orla was the willing arse-kicker, arriving to stay overnight at the hotel.
“Only a true friend like me would come here in that weather, sure it’s no wonder you’re fed up. Now let’s hit O’Flaherty’s pub and you can tell me why you’re texting me to come urgently and straighten you out,” she said, running in to escape the downpour.
Three glasses of wine later, Orla had the full story up to and including the silent treatment Maeve was receiving now. Bridie’s ears would fairly have been burning had she been eavesdropping as Maeve explained the whole setup, letting the old woman shoulder the full extent of the blame.
“So he left you ‘cause you have money; well, he’s different anyway—I’ll give him that,” she summarised wryly. “And even after all that you still want him? Why? He hit you, for Christ’s sake.”
“I hit him first! Anyway that was the only time I didn’t want him to; after that it was hot. It was pretty hot that time too, but I was too outraged to acknowledge it.”
“You kinky bitch! I’m sure if that’s all you want him for, Sean or lots of others would be more than willing to slap your arse in return for sexual favours,” Orla giggled.
“Probably,” Maeve snorted. “But I just can’t picture that working.” She was laughing now. Orla did have a point; there had to be more to it than just the spanking. She tried to verbalise it, hurtful and all as it was at that moment in time. “No, Larry takes care of me, guides me. I respect him and want to learn from him, but it’s not like a father figure—he’s sexy as hell too. He pushes all my buttons. I like him as well as love him, if that makes any sense. At least I did; now I’m not sure what I think.”
“Right, so what’re you going to do about it? You’re gonna have to go to Texas, if the mountain won’t come to Muhammad and all that. You can afford it, at least!”
“True, but I dunno if it’s that he won’t talk to me because I have money now, or because he thinks I lied to him, and I don’t even know which is worse.”
“Only one way to find out, Maeve; get on out there. Ring his father, tell him you’re coming and that way you can make sure Larry is there. And sure if he rejects you, there’s always Sean…” she laughed.
“Why are you always so horrible about Sean?” Maeve asked with interest. “He’s always been a good friend, always there when I need him. I like him.”
“Ach, he’s all right, I just think he’s a bit of a wuss the way he’s always fawning at your feet. At least this Larry fellah keeps you on your toes. Now come on. Let’s go back and book you a flight.”
Chapter Eleven
Halfway through another sleepless night, Larry was fed up tossing and turning and got up to make coffee. Finally he was ready to deal with things and he opened his email account. Although tempted to skip to the last and read in reverse, he decided it would be best to read them in the order he should have got them in. The first one was dated Maeve’s birthday, asking why he didn’t make it for the video call and telling him exactly the details of the trust fund, and her anger she felt towards her grandmother. Her parents had been insured for a million euro each. He whistled as he realised she was now a millionaire, a real rags-to-riches story, but minus the obligatory man. Such a lot changed in twenty-four hours for her. In a perverse way it sort of pleased him to think she would never have to be dependent on anyone else.
The second had details of her grandmother’s explanations. He laughed out loud about her leaving the sticky note reminding her to call nursing homes. That was just like Maeve, impulsive. He didn’t wonder if she had actually called one or two; he hoped she had, and in Bridie’s earshot at that. He’d even have done it himself. Maeve was right all along; Bridie was now exposed for the manipulative old woman that she was, but he doubted Maeve was laughing like she had once promised. He could understand how let down she must have felt. He should have been there to comfort her.
The next informed him that she was returning his money; this one he was really interested in, as it had been the nail in the coffin as far as he was concerned. He read it a couple of times to really digest it.
From:
[email protected]
Subject: PLEASE READ URGENTLY, IT’S ABOUT THE HOTEL
My Dearest Larry,
I don’t know if you have read any of my emails or if you will read this one, but I hope you opened it after seeing the header. You need to read the first paragraph, after that I hope you’ll read the rest of it.
I have instructed the bank to return your money to you because I feel you were coerced into investing in McNamara’s. I can assure you, whatever schemes were afoot, I knew nothing about them. It was my pleasure to work with you: even aside from the personal stuff, you really taught me a lot and I’d like to learn more. But for now, I want to lease out the hotel and I don’t want to put your money at risk. While it has been a remarkably successful summer, who knows how the new manager might work out?
Now I’m going on to the more personal stuff. Please, please, Larry I’d really love if you would continue reading… It’s not the first time I begged your indulgence. I hope you’ll be as generous this time.
I miss you. I swear to you, I had no clue about the money or about Granny’s plans. I haven’t told her I’ve forgiven her yet, but I do kind of understand what she was about. If I got the money while I was still at college, or even straight after, I’d probably have gone off the rails altogether: travelling, drinking, and spending, or maybe even worse. Now I’ve learned the value of money and earning a living; I’ll hopefully be wiser. But you know I’m much more sensible when you’re keeping me in line. None of it is any good without you. She found you for me, then she took you away. Whatever happens, I’m still glad she did find you though; you made me look at myself and I didn’t always like what I saw. You’ve made me a better person and for that I’ll always love you. I really wish I could talk this through face to face, instead of a sterile email, but I’m still hoping someday soon we can.
Your loving Maeve
For the first time Larry felt like a real shit; deep down he always thought Maeve knew nothing about it. If he ever doubted her innocence, it was only through his own insecurity. It took all his self-control not to hit reply. Really, with all the changes in her life, it was sensible to give her freedom to experience her new reality. It would easier to do that if he kept the silence up, her anger would surely follow and an angry Maeve was a formidable Maeve. She’d survive anything. He read through another half dozen emails, each one pleading or explaining, then bingo, there it was—the angry email. For a moment or two he was almost pleased to see it.
From:
[email protected]
Subject: Why are you being such a shit?
Larry,
I spent a couple of hours finding flights to Texas to see if I could make you see sense and had finally managed to book one, but I’ve been lying in bed stewing half the night and have changed my mind. I let you humiliate me once, why would I do that again?
I can’t believe you still haven’t had the decency to contact me. Only a couple of weeks ago we were planning a future together and now you haven’t even got the basic courtesy to answer my calls or correspondence. And to think you had the cheek to think you could correct my behaviour and to call me spoiled and selfish. It’s time you took a look at yourself, sunshine; if there is anyone around here in need of a good spanking, it’s you. You said you loved me; well, let me tell you what love is: (You find it in the Bible)
1 Corinthians 13:4–8a
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
Love certainly does not fall at the first hurdle, or refuse to listen, Larry. You failed me. If this is the best love you can offer me, then it’s just not good enough, I will arrange the return of your ring in the morning. Maybe Granny did me a favour after all.
Have a good life
M
She really knew how to push his buttons. He
did
fail her—failed her and doubted her. He did envy and was proud. He couldn’t believe she’d actually booked a flight. She was bothered enough to do that. And she was totally right; he was being a jerk. He should at least have the courage to face her. He should have trusted her more. The only decent thing to do would be to go back to Galway one more time. The ranch issue was sorted; the missing employee had finally been discovered, and was being prosecuted and the insurance company had agreed to pay out at a reasonable rate. Clive had confirmed that he would take on more responsibility. There was nothing keeping him here but his own stubborn pride.
Tapping into flight sites, Larry discovered the next available flight was the next day, but it was a long-winded one; worse than usual. He’d have to fly to New York that very day first, have a one-night stopover, then New York to Dublin early the following morning.
He rang Maeve’s number, but it went straight through to voicemail. He left her a grovelling apology and asked her not to FedEx her ring until they talked first. All day he expected a reply but got none. Truth was he didn’t deserve one. In the end he decided to take his chances and head for New York anyway; he didn’t blame her for not taking his calls and probably the only way to work through this was in person. When he stopped in New York, Larry checked his emails, perturbed that she still hadn’t called. He called her number again, still getting voicemail. It was a long way to go if he wasn’t sure that she’d be there. He tried the hotel and was dismayed to be told that she was gone on an extended trip and no return date had been given. He was afraid it may be too late.
He was left with a total dilemma—to travel or not to travel. Larry finally got hold of Bridie, but she could tell him nothing more of Maeve’s plans than the receptionist could. After a couple of hours he realised his cell’s Internet connection had crashed and his emails weren’t updating. He managed to access a computer at his hotel and at last he had contact. An email was waiting for him.
From:
[email protected]
Subject: Your ring is on its way…
But it’s still on my finger. You’re right, Larry, we should talk. I got your voicemail so I decided to use that flight I booked. I’m emailing you as I will have to leave my phone switched off for the journey.
I’m going all around the houses though; I have to fly to New York first. I’ll be there later today, and then tomorrow I will get to Angelina County Airport. I hope to God it’s the right one but I think that’s where you said you fly to. Can you email me if I need to change it? And please, please see me.
He dialled her number again and this time she answered on the first ring.
“Maeve, I’m so glad I caught you. Where are you?” he asked.
“Larry,” she shouted over the background noise. “I was afraid you wouldn’t see me so I didn’t want to call before I was on the way. I’m in the Big Apple. I can’t believe how crazy it is here.”
