Well of Ice by Andrea Carter

Author:Andrea Carter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Published: 2017-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

THE FOLLOWING MORNING my phone buzzed on my bedside locker first thing. It was a text from Maeve.

Fancy heading into the sales in Derry? Finally have a day off and could do with a bit of light relief.

I knew what she meant. A morning’s potter around the shops and lunch out sounded good, in the midst of all this darkness. I typed a response.

Only if we’re back by four. I have an appointment for what Stan considers an emergency haircut.

My phone buzzed again.

You’re on. And from what I’ve seen of you lately, he’s probably right.

She signed off with a winking face emoji.

I put a pillow behind my head and lay in bed trying to block out the sound of Guinness mewing on the doorstep downstairs. I knew if I left him long enough he’d appear at my bedroom window, making his way up the tree outside and leaping across to the sill, but I needed to organize my thoughts. Today was Carole’s wake. Róisín had said it would be in Emma’s house, probably because it was big enough to handle the numbers they would expect. I tried to decide if I should give it a miss after the reception I’d received the last time I’d been there.

A scratching at the window interrupted my thoughts; the cat had given up waiting. I climbed out of bed, flung on a bathrobe and let him in. Downstairs, I made porridge, chucking in some banana, honey and cinnamon, and finished off with a big pot of coffee, while Guinness got his usual dried food and water. I wasn’t taking any chances with his diet since the incident with the salmon. By the time I threw the dishes into the sink, I had decided to avoid the wake and go to the funeral in the morning instead.

The radio forecast said icy weather, but when I looked at the sky as I left the house, I had a horrible feeling that snow might be on its way again. I really wasn’t sure I could face a third bout. But they were right about the ice – when I went out to the car, the windscreen was frozen.

While I was defrosting with the kettle, Charlie and Ash appeared at their gate.

“Another cold one.”

“Sure is, Charlie.”

He walked over, the little dog trailing after him, both of them standing to watch while I continued my task.

“No more bother with that handbrake?” he said, lips curling in amusement.

“No, Charlie.”

“Still closed for the holidays?”

I nodded and splashed water over my feet at the same time. So much for women being able to multitask. Charlie took a step back, clearly not trusting my aim. As did Ash.

“Any news on Tony Craig’s pub?” he asked. “Two weeks on Saturday since it burned.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Pity.” He smiled. “Wild man to tell a long story is Tony.”

“He hasn’t been doing too much of that lately, unfortunately.”

“Aye. Decent man all the same. Many’s the time he’s driven me home after one too many.” He winked at me.

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