‘Lovely, thank you. Mmm! Smells yummy!’ I said and dipped down to get the full effect of the delicious aromas. ‘Ouch. Hot,’ I said, bringing my head up again, which somehow appeared to have doubled in density since this afternoon, mashed potato now on the end of my nose. ‘Closer than I thought.’ I swiped at the spud and missed not only that, but my entire face.

‘Here,’ Lorcan said, sitting on the side of the bed, taking the napkin from me and wiping the food from my face. ‘Try eating rather than wearing it now.’

I nodded with my too-heavy head and scooped up a forkful. ‘Mmmmm. Delicious,’ I stated with my mouth full.

‘Good. I’ll be back in a bit to collect your plate. Just ring me if you need anything, OK?’

‘You’re going?’

‘Just downstairs.’

‘Oh… OK.’ I turned back to my food and loaded up another forkful, this time with a little less enthusiasm although I wasn’t sure why. Lorcan hadn’t been kidding when he said Brighid’s fish pie took some beating.

‘You all right?’

‘Mm-hmm.’

‘Would you rather I stayed?’

I shook my head but the word ‘Yes’ somehow fell out of my lips. ‘It’s nice to have company for dinner.’

‘I can bring my food up here, if you like.’

I nodded before letting my gaze, which also felt heavier than usual, reach up to meet his. ‘That would be nice.’

‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘It would. I have Bod here. You OK for me to bring him too?’

‘Yes. I so love Bod. He’s wonderful. You’re very lucky. Although I think he is too. It’s clearly a love match.’ I grinned and Lorcan gave a half-smile.

‘It is that.’

‘I’ve always wanted a dog. It’s just so hard with my job so I love getting to spend time with Bod when I see you.’ I started giggling. ‘Bod is a funny name. I like it.’

Lorcan watched me for a moment, the smile still there. ‘I’m glad to hear it. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Eat your dinner.’ With that, he took a couple of long strides across the room, ducked out of the door and closed it behind him. The pub was still quiet and the silence settled around me as I waited for his return.

* * *

‘I’ve eaten too much!’ I said, flopping down on the bed as Lorcan removed the tray along with an empty bowl that had once held an enormous portion of sticky toffee pudding with thick home-made custard. ‘I’m going to burst.’

‘I’d rather you didn’t. These jeans are new and it’d be a hell of a job for Brighid to clean up.’

‘It’d be your fault.’

‘That seems to be a pattern when it comes to you.’

‘True. It was delicious though. Will you thank her for me?’

‘I will. How’s the leg?’