Cecelia Ahern - P.S. I Love You

Holly laughed. “Oh, so all round it sounds like you've been having a fantastic night.”

“Sorry,” Daniel apologized. “It's just been so long since I've spoken to another human being, I've forgotten my manners.”

Holly giggled. “Well, I've come to rescue you.” She picked up the menu and surveyed the choice of drinks before her. She chose a drink with the lowest alcohol content and settled down in the cozy chair. “I could fall asleep here,” she remarked, snuggling further down into the chair.

Daniel raised his eyebrows. “Then I would really take it personally.”

“Don't worry, I won't,” she assured him. “So, Mr. Connelly, you know absolutely everything about me. Tonight I am on a mission to find out about you, so be prepared for my interrogation.”

Daniel smiled. “OK, I'm ready.”

Holly thought about her first question. “Where are you from?”

“Born and reared in Dublin.” He took a sip of the red cocktail and winced again. “And if any of the people I grew up with saw me drinking this stuff and listening to jazz, I'd be in trouble.”

Holly giggled.

“After I finished school I joined the army,” he continued.

Holly raised her eyes, impressed. “Why did you decide to do that?”

He didn't even think about it. “Because I hadn't a clue what I wanted to do with my life, and the money was good.”

“So much for saving innocent lives,” Holly laughed.

“I only stayed with the army for a few years.”

“Why did you leave?” Holly sipped on her lime-flavored drink.

“Because I realized I had urges to drink cocktails and listen to jazz music and they wouldn't permit it in the army barracks,” he explained.

Holly giggled. “Really, Daniel.”

He smiled. “Sorry, it just wasn't for me. My parents had moved down to Galway to run a pub and the idea of that appealed to me. So I moved down to Galway to work there and eventually my parents retired, I took over the pub, decided a few years ago that I wanted to own one of my own, worked really hard, saved my money, took out the biggest mortgage ever and moved back to Dublin and bought Hogan's. And here I am talking to you.”

Holly smiled. “Well, that's a wonderful life story, Daniel.”

“Nothing special, but a life all the same.” He returned her smile.

“So where does the ex come into all this?” Holly asked.

“She's right in between running the pub in Galway and leaving to come to Dublin.”

“Ah . . . I see,” Holly nodded, understanding. She drained her glass and picked up the menu again. “I think I'll have Sex on the Beach.”

“When? On your holidays?” Daniel teased.

Holly thumped him playfully on the arm. Not in a million years.

Twenty-six

“WE'RE ALL GOING ON OUR summer Holly days!” the girls sang in the car all the way to the airport. John had offered to drive them to the airport but he was fast regretting it. They were acting like they had never left the country before. Holly couldn't remember the last time she had truly felt so excited. She felt like she was back at school and off on a school tour. Her bag was packed with packets of sweets, chocolate and magazines, and they couldn't stop singing cheesy songs in the back of the car. Their flight wasn't until 9:00 P.M., so they wouldn't arrive at their accommodation until the early hours of the morning.

They reached the airport and piled out of the car while John lifted their suitcases out of the boot.

Denise ran across the road and into the departure lounge as if doing so would get her there any faster, but Holly stood back from the car and waited for Sharon, who was saying her good-byes to her husband.

“You'll be careful now, won't you?” he asked her worriedly. “Don't be doing anything stupid over there.”

“John, of course I'll be careful.”

John wasn't listening to a word she said. “Because it's one thing messing around over here, but you can't act like that in another country, you know.”

“John,” Sharon said, wrapping her arms around his neck, “I'm just going for a nice relaxing holiday; you don't need to worry about me.”

He whispered something in her ear and she nodded, “I know, I know.”

They gave each other a long good-bye kiss and Holly watched her lifelong friends embrace. She felt around in the front pocket of her bag for the August letter from Gerry. She would be able to open it in a few days while lying on the beach. What luxury. The sun, sand, sea and Gerry all in one day.

“Holly, take care of my wonderful wife for me, will you?” John asked, breaking into Holly's thoughts.

“I will, John. We're only going for a week, you know.” Holly laughed and gave him a hug.

“I know, but after seeing what you girls get up to on your nights out, I'm just a little worried,”

he smiled. “You enjoy yourself, Holly, you deserve the rest.”

John watched them as they dragged their luggage across the road and into the departure lounge.

Holly paused as she entered the door and took in a deep breath. She loved airports. She loved the smell, she loved the noise, and she loved the whole atmosphere as people walked around happily tugging their luggage, looking forward to going on their holidays or heading back home.

She loved to see people arriving and being greeted with a big cheer by their families and she loved to watch them all giving each other emotional hugs. It was a perfect place for people-spotting. The airport always gave her a feeling of anticipation in the pit of her stomach as though she were about to do something special and amazing. Queuing at the boarding gate, she felt like she was waiting to go on a roller coaster ride at a theme park, like an excited little child.

Holly followed Sharon and they joined Denise halfway down the extremely long check-in queue.

“I told you we should have come earlier,” Denise moaned.

“Well then, we would just be waiting at the boarding gate for the same amount of time,”

reasoned Holly.

“Yeah, but at least there's a bar there,” explained Denise, “and it's the only place in this entire stupid building that us smoker freaks can smoke in,” she mumbled.

“Good point,” Holly thought aloud.

“Now, can I just point out something to you two before we even leave. I'm not going to be doing any crazy drinking or having any wild nights. I just want to be able to relax by the pool or on the beach with my book, enjoy a few meals out and go to bed early,” Sharon said seriously.

Denise looked at Holly in shock. “Is it too late to invite someone else, Hol? What do you reckon? Sharon's bags are still packed and John can't be too far down the road.”

Holly laughed. “No, I have to agree with Sharon on this one. I just want to go and relax and not do anything too stressful.”

Denise pouted like a child.

“Oh, don't worry, pet,” Sharon said softly, “I'm sure there will be other kids your age that you can play with.”

Denise threw her the finger. “Well, if they ask me if I have anything to declare when we get there, I'm telling everyone my two friends are dry shites.”

Sharon and Holly sniggered.

After thirty minutes of queuing they finally checked in and Denise ran around the shop like a madwoman buying a lifetime supply of cigarettes.

“Why is that girl staring at me?” Denise said through gritted teeth, eyeing up the girl at the end of the bar.

“Probably because you're staring at her,” Sharon responded, checking her watch. “Only fifteen more minutes.”

“No honestly, girls.” Denise turned back around to face them. “I'm not being paranoid here, she is definitely staring at us.”

“Well then, why don't you go over to her and ask her if she wants to take it outside,” Holly joked and Sharon sniggered.