Chapters (45)
The colour came back into Lorcan’s face, but his expression was solemn all the same and it wasn’t just because of the wind that was starting to whip around them as they crossed the bridge. ‘Yeah. I can see that. My plan when I came here was to help out as much as possible, but he says he can’t stand having me under his feet, or reorganising the shelves. And he’d definitely not trust me with the pricing gun.’ Lorcan gave a small laugh and then looked ahead. ‘I just want you to know I’m not heartless and it wasn’t that I didn’t care. I need you to believe that.’
Jo turned to look at Lorcan. She was jolted by the expression on his face, one which told her that he really did need her to believe him. It wasn’t a line, or a throwaway statement. It was a deep need. Her heart contracted. ‘I believe you,’ she said, softly. In fact, it was so softly that her words were carried on the breeze and he looked at her a little baffled.
‘Sorry?’ he said.
‘I believe you!’ she said, loudly and clearly, causing not only Paddy but several fellow walkers to look directly at them, wondering what drama was playing out between this young couple.
Lorcan just nodded. ‘That’s good,’ he said. ‘Thank you.’ There was a pause while they held each other’s gaze and then Lorcan broke the silence. ‘So, this park you were talking about. Lead the way!’
It probably took a beat too long for Jo to break her gaze with his, and it was a beat that was loaded with all the things she desperately wanted to push down. Pointing towards the left of the bridge, she turned her gaze towards to the expanse of trees that led into St Columb’s Park. ‘This way!’ she said. ‘But, believe me, Paddy knows where he is going. He’ll make sure you don’t turn off in the wrong direction. We usually do a circuit of the park. Paddy likes to chase the squirrels.’
Paddy, of course, took this as his cue to set off again, with another stiff pull of the lead that once more caught Lorcan unawares.
Jo stood for a moment and watched them. She felt her heart thump in her chest. ‘Not now,’ she whispered to herself. ‘Not now.’ Then, before she drew attention for talking to herself in a public place, she followed after Lorcan and Paddy and walked on towards the park.