The Moonlight Gardening Club by Rosie Hannigan

Author:Rosie Hannigan [Hannigan, Rosie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2023-03-10T17:00:00+00:00

19

Ruby

‘Thanks.’ Ruby took the steaming mug from Eoin and sipped. He made the best coffee she’d ever tasted, and had yet to tell her his secret. Sitting on the deck outside his house, she gazed out at the sea. Eoin draped a throw over her knees and settled in the chair beside her.

‘I was surprised to see you up early this morning,’ he said, his eyes crinkling. ‘I’ve missed our dawn chats this last week. Something’s been keeping you in bed.’

‘I’m a little more tired lately.’ Ruby stifled a yawn. ‘So I’m trying to rest. I read an article that said that if you can’t sleep, then rest. Apparently, it’s almost as good as a full eight hours of shut-eye.’

‘Ah.’ Eoin winked. ‘So you’re not fast asleep dreaming of me, then?’

Ruby stuck her tongue out at him and he grinned. She’d grown used to Eoin’s easy-going manner and forward ways. Since the May Bank Holiday, she’d been joining him on his deck for a very early morning coffee. He’d noticed her up and about, as early as he was, watching the sunrise and the sea shifting. They were fellow light sleepers, although Ruby remembered that she wasn’t always like that. Before James, she’d easily sleep a whole night without stirring, and she only ever woke up early when she was a teenager and doing school exams. Since James’s passing, she’d been sleeping when she needed to – which wasn’t a lot, apparently.

There’d been so many new obstacles to overcome; every day brought her a new learning curve. Everything was exhausting – the grief, the loneliness, the not knowing what to do, what to cook, where to go, what to wear. She’d started opening up to Eoin during their early morning coffees. He listened deeply, and when he asked questions, it always felt that he cared, and wasn’t just probing for information on how much money she had, or which charity she was supporting this year. Leaning forward, she tugged the throw closer to her and twisted her lips.

‘I don’t know,’ she teased. ‘Maybe I am. But … I feel guilty, sometimes.’ She frowned. ‘James … there never was anyone other than him, and now look at me: I’m here with you and it’s lovely, so please don’t take this the wrong way, but it feels like I’m cheating, you know?’

Eoin said nothing. He sipped his coffee, and looked out to sea. Ruby, following his gaze, stared out to sea too.

Eoin cleared his throat. ‘You don’t wear your wedding ring,’ he said finally. ‘When did you stop doing that?’

Fidgeting with her mug, Ruby felt the heat rise in her face. ‘Only recently, and it’s only sometimes I don’t wear it,’ she admitted. ‘It didn’t feel right wearing it. It connects me to James – and I’m not sure he’d like some of the things I’m thinking, or doing, these days.’

‘But he’s not here,’ Eoin said gently.

‘No, he’s not.’ Ruby twisted the mug in her hands.

‘So, why is he in your head, then?’ Eoin asked.

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