Are You Ready? (30 page)

Once breakfast was over Hugh and Sarah showered, changed and hit the road.

‘I must show you the new Kenny's Art Gallery in the city centre. You know the famous bookshop closed down? Well, it is now this great gallery, you will love it,' Hugh said, as he drove along beside the water and headed to the city.

It was a beautiful day and Sarah was really beginning to relax and look forward to the rest of the
weekend. As they strolled around the gallery Hugh held her hand: it felt right, he was gentle and yet a man's man too. Then they headed to a small gift shop to buy a present and card for the engagement party later. Sarah also popped into a Brown Thomas to see if she could find any nice wedding gifts for Ali and Robin. Hugh bought a new shirt, and before long it was lunchtime.

‘Wait until you eat at Moran's! It is this famous pub, about nine miles from the city. It is simply decorated, but as it is right on the water it has the freshest and tastiest fish you have ever eaten. It is always packed at weekends but I booked a table for us so we should be fine.'

Hugh was right: the pub was jammed, packed with locals, and tourists who had heard good reports about the food and atmosphere. Their table was outside, and was so close to the water that Sarah kicked off her flip-flops and dipped her toes in while they waited for their oysters to arrive. Sarah had a beer while Hugh stuck to Club Orange.

‘I feel like I'm abroad. It is so beautiful here,' Sarah said, admiring the view over the water and sipping her beer.

Hugh smiled and put his arms around her. ‘So now you can understand why I love coming back here so much?'

Sarah nodded.

‘Galway is great, so stunning,' Hugh said. ‘There isn't anywhere like it, it's my home. That is the reason
why I've wanted to talk to you about something.' He took his sunglasses off. ‘Sarah, I'm moving back to Galway.'

Sarah put down her beer glass.

‘I miss the city, the buzz,' Hugh went on. ‘Dublin is great, but my home is here. I've got enough experience in my job to start out on my own. I've got some investors and I'm looking at offices in the city. I've told the tenants who rent my house that they have two months to find somewhere else, but I'm hoping they might be gone before that.'

Sarah didn't know what to say. He seemed to have everything all planned out. When did he make these decisions, and why hadn't he told her? But before she could ask any questions the waiter served their lunch.

‘But, Sarah, the other reason I wanted you to come down here was to meet my family, see my kind of Galway. I want you to move here with me, move to Galway.'

Sarah almost choked on an oyster. ‘What?' she managed to splutter.

‘Sarah, I know it's only been months, but I feel like we've known each other for years. I knew the first time I saw you in the Stone Studio that you were the one for me, and the last few months have been great. I just know you would love it here, what with the art galleries, the sea, the people – so what do you say?'

Sarah looked at Hugh. At her age she had begun to think no prince was going to come and sweep her off her feet, that she would be everyone's ‘single friend' for ever, but then Hugh had come along, someone she had
only seen as a client, and there under her nose had been a prince all along. The last few months had been great: he was kind, enjoyed spending time with her family, was supportive of her art, clever, and a real grown-up man. But to ask her to leave Dublin, leave her friends, family, job and life to come here and set up a new life with him? Sarah didn't know if she could do it.

‘Hugh, I don't know what to say. You've caught me off-guard,' Sarah said honestly.

‘That's OK, Sarah, I just got a bit over-excited. Of course you need to think about it, but I want you to know I'm already in love with you, and if we could set up a new life here in Galway surrounded by all this beauty I'd be the happiest man in the world.'

So no pressure, then, Sarah thought sarcastically to herself. He is only saying that I'm responsible for making or not making him the happiest man in the world. Suddenly the world-famous fish didn't taste of anything, Sarah was in too much shock to eat or drink. She had a dreamboat of a man asking her to move in with him, and that would make any girl delighted – and in part it did, yet she couldn't stop thinking of her home, of Dublin. What am I going to do? she asked herself.

Sarah had found it impossible to concentrate all day. She couldn't, even when Hugh showed her his old school, took her to meet his brothers' families, pulled her a pint in his cousin's pub, showed her where his own house was, brought her to where he hoped his new office would be, and finally brought her home to get changed before the big engagement party later.

‘I know this might all seem a bit rushed, Sarah, but the time is right for me to start out on my own, and I can get good offices for a great price, and it just feels perfect to me. I know I should have told you sooner, but I thought it would scare you off, and until I knew for sure I didn't want to say anything to you or anyone.'

Sarah could understand all of that, and as she dried her hair and put on her make-up she knew she should say something more encouraging to him, but she felt too tired to speak.

‘Sarah, I know you may not have an answer for me for a few days, but just remember we are not
twenty-one. I'm thirty-six, so moving in with someone after a few months isn't unheard of. We are no spring chickens but I know we could be happy.'

Sarah took a breath – her heart was pounding under her ribs. Hugh took her hand.

‘God, why do you think I'd been trying to get you to come to Galway for so long? I wanted you to see my life, before I asked you to make the big move. Don't make me wait too long for my answer, because I just can't wait to start planning the future!'

Sarah could see his excitement, and knew she was lucky to have a man who was so open, but for her it was still a shock. She gave Hugh a hug, and tried to steady herself before getting back to her make-up.

They ordered a taxi, and headed for the engagement party. High hadn't exaggerated when he had said his friends' house was amazing. It was right on the water, and when Sarah and Hugh arrived the smell of barbecue and the sound of laughter welcomed them in. Hugh gave his friends Richie and Joanne a big hug and kiss; apparently they had been going out for years, so everyone was relieved and excited to hear they were finally getting engaged. Hugh introduced Sarah, and as Sarah handed Joanne the engagement present she had brought with her for them, Joanne gave her a hug.

‘Don't worry, I know you don't know anyone, but we won't bite! We've all been dying to meet the girl who has lovely Hugh so smitten!'

Sarah smiled, and immediately warmed to Joanne. Hugh handed Sarah a bottle of beer and introduced
her to more of his friends. Sarah found Hugh's friends appealing, and as they all sat out, overlooking the sea, surrounded by hundreds of tea-lights and by delicious food, she couldn't help imagining this being her life in a few months, if she decided to move here. But could I do it? she thought to herself. Could I give up Dublin? She knew Hugh was trying to make everyone and everything seem perfect, in order to make Galway more attractive to her, saying how great his friends were, how much fun they all had, and how great the job market was. But she still didn't feel sure. It was a big decision to make, and one good engagement party wasn't going to force her into it.

After a few beers she knew she had to lighten up and just enjoy the party for what it was, and so when Hugh asked her to dance in the garden overlooking the glistening Galway Bay, with a Damien Rice CD playing in the background, she couldn't help feeling Galway might be the place to be – maybe.

Ali was in Weir & Sons jewellers on Grafton Street, trying on her wedding ring. Herself and Robin had ordered their matching white gold rings a few weeks ago, and were now just checking they fitted and looked right.

‘I still can't believe I'm going to be wearing this for the rest of my life,' Robin exclaimed.

Even Ali agreed it was weird seeing him with a ring on.

‘But I'm so glad you decided to get one, too, Robin. I mean, it is so odd when guys don't wear a wedding ring. It only means one thing when they don't want to … they want others to think they are still on the market. What a nightmare. I'm glad all girls will know you are taken, very much taken!'

Ali laughed as she glanced at the ring again. Just then her phone rang, it was her new client, Paddy Fleming. She talked to him for a few minutes, but could see the sales assistant and Robin were getting impatient, so she put him on hold.

‘Robin, can you finish up here? I need to get back to the office.'

Robin looked a little disappointed, but nodded and gave his fiancée a quick hug.

Ali had been flat out busy in work since taking on Paddy Fleming. Not only had she plenty of other work to be done before she took time off for her wedding and honeymoon, but Mr Fleming's case was tough and required a lot of extra work. She kept trying to cut down the time she spent on it, but she was starting to feel so passionately about the case. Paddy was a genuine man, who was madly in love with his kids, and had proved how much he cared for them, and his ex-partner was breaking his heart. It wasn't fair, and Ali wanted to help. She wanted the chance to put things right – not only for Paddy, but for herself – to get back to realizing what her true principles and goals were. Ali knew she had gotten a little obsessed with the wedding over the last few months but now this case was making her understand what was important. Of course the wedding was, but she already knew herself and Robin were going to last for ever, and have a great wedding day no matter what. Mr Fleming had lost his reason for living, had lost everything, and it was this that had made Ali put aside her wedding planner and work late nights all week, in order to get as much done on the case before her own big day. As Ali went into a meeting with a family solicitor and Paddy she knew it was going to be another long night at work.

* * *

When Ali finally finished at 10.30 p.m. and switched on her phone there were four messages. One was from Molly asking if she could proof the menu before Molly got it printed for all the guests. Another was from her dad saying the marquee people needed to know where the band and DJ were going to play, and did they need an extra generator? Father Conway had left a message saying he wanted to check she wasn't getting too stressed before her big day. And finally there was a very frantic one from her mum saying that the florist had gone into hospital for emergency gall-bladder surgery and what were they to do? As Ali jumped on the bus she felt a bit panicky. She could handle most of the messages tomorrow, but even in her new state of wedding calmness, she knew having no florist was going to be tough. She waited until she was home and had a glass of wine in front of her before she rang her mum.

‘Oh Ali, thank God. I'm up the walls here. I popped into Blooming Bouquets today to get some fresh flowers, as I was having the girls up for lunch, but when I got there it was closed. I didn't think anything much, and just got flowers in the local supermarket, but then over lunch I was informed that the florist had collapsed, and she is now in hospital and needs to have surgery. I don't know what we are going to do.' Ali could tell her mum was upset, and knew she had to calm her down.

‘Mum, surely there's another florist we can get to do the bouquets, table arrangements and church displays?'

‘Well, after lunch I rang the only other one near here and they could do the bouquets, but they already have two weddings on in Carlow on the day, so they can't do the table arrangements or church flowers. What can we do? All the ones in Kilkenny city are far away and cost God only knows what.'

Ali knew she was right, and that at only eight days to go the chance of getting another florist was slim.

‘Well, Mum, you are great at doing arrangements. Maybe you could talk to the ladies in the church and between you all you could do the five ones for there?'

‘Well, I suppose I could, Ali. I mean, I could buy flowers in that other florist and just do them myself. I wouldn't trust those church ladies, they are too old and blind to see what flower is alive or dead.'

Ali laughed, and was relieved they had that bit sorted out.

‘But what do we do about the table arrangements? We've already ordered the fifty vases from the catering place.'

Ali didn't know what they were going to do, and was so tired from work she couldn't think of anything.

‘Mum, I'm wrecked from work. I'll just have to sleep on this, but we'll sort it out, I know it,' Ali said, as she began to head for bed and a half-unconscious Robin.

‘Well, you certainly seem calm. Don't say you are changing to Buddhism or something days before the Catholic wedding of the year?' her mum asked.

Ali laughed. ‘No, Mum, I just realize now that this wedding will be perfect whether we stress about it or not, so let's try not to.'

Ali wished her mum goodnight and fell asleep to thoughts of Paddy Fleming and flowers.

Ali was blow-drying her short blonde hair and trying to flick through the stack of wedding magazines beside her bed. She was hoping to get inspiration from them, anything to help her decide what to do about the wedding table-arrangements. As she flicked through pages advertising dresses, veils, car hire, photographers, caterers, musicians and much more it made her realize what a huge business getting married was. She found the section that carried features on people's weddings, and showed everything: from how they decorated the room to hair-styling ideas. As Ali admired a bride from Cork's beautiful hair and veil, she noticed the gorgeous table arrangements the girl had had at the Sheraton Fota Island in Cork. She had had square vases, very like the ones Ali had ordered, and in each she had had pink and cream roses. Ali had chosen a mixed bouquet of flowers for her vases, but now that her florist was out of action, she had a thought. Could they make the table arrangements themselves? The vases would be in this week, and they could order flowers from the
other flower shop, and even though they couldn't do any preparation, Ali was sure her mum, sisters and Ali could manage to fill each square vase with the rose arrangement. It was simple yet beautiful. She ripped the page out of the magazine, flung on her striped black Zara suit and set off for work.