JoAnn Ross - A Woman's Heart

Beneath the sign was a collection of miniature sea monsters for sale, ranging from cheap plastic ones to sparkling crystal serpents hand-blown by local artisans. A towering pyramid of hardcover novels claimed the center spot of honor in the gaily decorated window.

A small brass bell tied to the Dublin blue door signaled Nora’s arrival in the shop.

“So, today’s the big day, is it?” Sheila Monohan asked, looking down from the top rung of a ladder where she was replacing a burned-out fluorescent tube. “The day your movie man arrives.”

“Mr. Gallagher is a writer.” Nora repeated what she’d already told Mrs. O’Neill.

She glanced at the pyramid of books. From this vantage point, the author photo on the back of the dust jacket seemed to be looking right back at her. Scowling at her, actually, which she didn’t believe was the best expression to encourage people to buy his book. Still, even with his glower, Quinn Gallagher didn’t appear old enough to be so successful. Perhaps success, like so many other things, came easier in America.

“I don’t read horror novels,” Sheila confessed. “There are so many things to worry about in the world. I’d much rather settle down at night with a nice love story. But I hear many consider him quite a fine writer.”

“John certainly thinks so.” Nora’s youngest brother had stayed up all night reading the American horror novelist’s latest book. “Kate sings his praises, as well. But it still strikes me as odd the way everyone’s behaving. You’d think a bunch of Americans arriving in Castlelough was as important as the Second Coming.”

After all, Americans weren’t an uncommon sight. Even perched on the far west coast of Ireland as it was, Castlelough received its share of tourists. Still, Nora hadn’t seen so much excitement since the time it was rumored—erroneously, it turned out—that the pope was coming to visit the rural county.

“People figure the movie folk will liven up the place,” Sheila said.

“We’re already lively.” When the older woman lifted a jet-black eyebrow at the outrageous falsehood, Nora shrugged one slicker-clad shoulder. “Well, we may not have the bright lights of Dublin, but that’s the point. Some of us appreciate a quiet life.”

“If it’s a quiet life you’re seeking, Eleanor Rose Joyce Fitzpatrick, you should have stayed in that Dublin convent.

“Besides—” Sheila nodded, appearing pleased with herself when the light flickered to life “—you know as well as I do there’s not much opportunity in a small village like Castlelough. Tourism or emigration, that’s our choice, my Devlin always says.”

Even as her heart took a little dive at the depressing prospect of having to leave Castlelough, Nora couldn’t resist a smile at the mention of Sheila’s son, the man who once, in what seemed like another lifetime, had taught her to French-kiss, even as she’d worried for her immortal soul.

Sister Mary Augustine had taught all the girls in her class that letting a boy put his tongue in your mouth was one of the vilest of mortal sins.

“And don’t forget, girls, every sin you commit is another thorn in our Lord Jesus’s side.” Sister had glared like Moses standing atop the Mount at the group of tartan-clad adolescents. “French-kissing debases a girl. And makes the devil smile.”

Although Nora certainly hadn’t wanted to make Satan smile, three years after that memorable sex-education lecture, Devlin Monohan’s kisses had proved so thrilling she’d recklessly risked hell on more than one occasion during that idyllic summer of her first love.

“How is Devlin?” she asked now.

“Fit as a fiddle. He rang up last night, as a matter of fact, to say he’s been offered a position at the National Stud.”

“That’s wonderful!” Graduating from veterinary college and working at the National Stud had been Devlin’s dream. He’d talked about it a lot between kisses.

“Isn’t it just? I’ll have to admit I’m guilty of the sin of pride at the idea of my son helping to breed the best racehorses in the world.”

“It’s no sin to be proud of a son.” On this Nora had reason to be very clear. Nora wondered if her mother knew this latest news about Devlin and decided she probably did. Not much had ever slipped by Eleanor Joyce.

The woman who might have been Nora’s mother-in-law climbed down from the ladder and brushed her dusty hands on her apron, which, like the poster, bore a fanciful image of the lake creature—which, in a way, was the source of all this uproar.

If those old myths hadn’t existed, Quinn Gallagher wouldn’t have written the book, Hollywood wouldn’t have bought the film rights and the movie people would have stayed in Hollywood.

“We were all surprised when you went off to become a postulate,” Sheila said suddenly, as if that life-altering Sunday morning were only yesterday and not eight long years ago. “Everyone expected you and my Devlin would get married.”

“I thought we might, as well. For a time.” After all, Nora wouldn’t have risked hell for just anyone. “But I truly believed I had a vocation.”

“Just because you could memorize all the prayers and catechism answers faster than any girl at Holy Child School,” Sheila said, “didn’t necessarily make you a candidate for the convent.” She was only pointing out what Nora’s own mother had told her as they’d loaded her suitcase—filled with the muslin sheets, black stockings, black shoes and white cotton underwear the nuns had instructed she bring to the convent—into the family car.

“I would have eventually realized that.” Nora wondered briefly if this out-of-the-blue discussion might be no coincidence. Her mother had supposedly told Kate she might be sending Nora a husband. Could she be trying to get the two childhood sweethearts back together again?

“As it turned out, you didn’t have time to make up your own mind,” Sheila said with a regretful shake of her head. “What with your poor mam dying giving birth to Celia and you having to leave the order.”

It had been the second-worst time of her life. “Someone had to tend to the house and children.” And Da, she thought, but did not say.

“I’ve always said it was too much responsibility for a young girl. A child raising children was what you were. Lord knows Brady, as good a man as he is in his way, couldn’t take care of himself, let alone those babies.

“Considering how lonely you must have been, it’s no wonder you fell head over heels for Conor Fitzpatrick when he came back from the continent with all those flashy trophies.”

“I loved Conor,” Nora stated firmly.

Her love for her dashing husband—who’d held the promise of becoming one of the world’s greatest steeplechase riders—had been the single constant in Nora’s life during that time. And if she hadn’t married Conor, Rory, the shining apple of her eye, wouldn’t have been born.

And then Conor had been killed in a race, which had been the worst time of her life.

“He’s been dead for five years, Nora. It’s not good for a woman to be alone. Especially a woman with children to raise.”

“I manage.”

“Of course you do, dear.” Sheila paused, giving Nora the impression she was choosing her words carefully. “Devlin had other news.”

“Oh?”

“He’s engaged. To a young woman he met in veterinary school.”

The older woman’s gaze had turned so intent Nora felt as if she were standing at the wrong end of one of those telescopes all the lake-monster trackers inevitably carried.

“I’m so happy for him,” she said. “You’ll have to give me his address so I can write him a note.”

“You don’t mind?”

“Of course not. It’s been over between Devlin and me for a long time. I’m pleased he’s found someone to share his life with.”