Bells
Of Ballintoy
1&2
3&4
5&6 7&8 9&10 11&12 13&14 15&16 17&18 19&20 21&22 23&24
11
Eilidh and Jack finally got to where
Nicky was. Eilidh could see him, lying there, staring at the ceiling.
"Hi!" Eilidh said, walking in.
"Eilidh, hi!" Nicky croaked.
"Are you really okay?"
"How about a few broken ribs and a
lot of bruising."
"I guess a hug is out of the
question." Eilidh said, smiling.
"But a kiss isn't!"
"I suppose a kiss couldn't
hurt," Eilidh said, planting a kiss on Nicky.
"Have you seen Georgina, she seemed
to have gone."
"I was talking to the doctor, it
seems she had to make a call, and then left."
"Oh, I bet she's back in Dublin."
"Nicky, did you mean what you wrote
in that letter? The letter that I wasn't supposed to read."
"You mean you read it, how?"
"Kerry found it, and gave it to me!"
"Oh! Yes, of course I did. I didn't
want the weekend to end, I just felt as though finally I'd found
someone who understood me better."
"You do realise, that I'm engaged to Mark."
"Oh, Feck! I forgot!!!"
"Yeah, I don't know how to break it
off, there's no way I'm ever leaving you Nicky. But it's just a bit
unfair on Mark."
"I think you should actually leave
now, before I call security. You're not allowed to be in here,
immediate family only. " A female voice said.
"Georgina, what the hell are you on about?"
"Nicky, sorry for rushing off
before, I've just been trying to organise a bed in Dublin for you,
and I've managed to get us a flight down in an hour from the hospital!"
"Would you excuse me?" Eilidh
said, rushing out of the room.
"Eilidh?"
"Yes!" Eilidh said, sitting in
the small day room, at the end of the ward.
"My name is Yvonne Byrne, Nicky's mam!"
"Oh Hi!"
"I was with Nicky, when he woke! He
spoke a lot about you to me. Obviously you've sparked something
within him"
"So you've heard about him being
transferred to Dublin."
"Since when?"
"Georgina just told him, that's why
I rushed out of the room.
"There's no way, she's doing that!"
"Knowing Georgina, she'll get her way."
"Actually, Nicky is coming home with
us; soon, we're got clearance to take him home to rest."
"But what was Georgina on
about?" Eilidh said, following Yvonne Byrne down to the room.
"Georgina, I'm heading home with Mam
and Dad."
"No you aren't, you need medical
attention. You're not well enough to go home."
"Look, Mam and dad will tell you
till they're blue in the face, that they are taking me home."
"Not if I have anything to do with
it, they won't!"
"Listen to Nicky, Georgina, he's
telling the truth!" Yvonne Byrne said, walking in.
"Georgina, I'm afraid that Nicky is
actually right, he's being released into the care of his parents,
given the circumstances, and I think it's for his own
well-being." Dr Jack London said, standing there in the door.
Eilidh stood there watching them all; she didn't know what to think. She quietly walked off, towards the exit, to wait for David.
"Eilidh, you're early, did you not
check out the shops?"
"David, I didn't, I followed my
foolish heart, and went and visited Nicky."
"How was he?"
"He's okay, just a few broken ribs,
and a lot of bruising. He's going home to Dublin soon, with his parents."
"And Georgina?"
"Georgina turned up, stating that
she was organising a room at the private hospital in Dublin for him,
but the doctor says he's okay to go home for rest."
"Well, are you ready to head home."
"Sure am, I just feel like a bath,
and then early to bed. Oh feck, Mark, I completely forgot about Mark."
Eilidh opened the door, and walked into
the kitchen. Mark and the others were sitting at the table, just talking.
"Hi." Eilidh said, grabbing
some juice from the fridge.
"How is he, Eilidh?" Mark said,
moving seats, to let Eilidh sit down.
"Few broken ribs and bruising, he's
probably at his parent's home by now. He's resting there."
"What about Georgina, was she there?"
"Yeah, she thinks that Nicky needs
more medical attention, and tried to get him into a hospital in Dublin."
"But he's at his parents now."
"Yep, I think he will be well
looked after there. I spoke to his mam, who seems really nice."
Mark got dinner out of the oven, and dished it out.
"You know Eilidh, I didn't really
want to say anything, but I got the impression that Georgina feels
you're a bit of a threat to Nicky." Kian said.
"Then why did you say it then. Look,
I'm tired, and I've had a rather long day, and the last thing I want
to do, is to argue that last comment. I just think of Nicky as a
friend, that's all. I'm heading upstairs for a bath, then probably
bed. Night all."
Eilidh walked upstairs, her eyes were stinging with tears.
"Good one Kian, can't you see she's
been through a hell of a lot today? You always come out with stuff at
the wrong time." Mark said.
"Mark, you shouldn't put up with
that. I mean fancy your fiancée now in love with another man.
It's morally wrong."
"You know what; I think I might head
upstairs as well!" Mark said, walking off.
12
"Eilidh, can I come in?" Mark
said, knocking.
"Sure." Eilidh said.
"Sorry about that downstairs, I just
didn't think that people would be so rude."
"Mark, apology accepted. You're
welcome to share the bath if you felt like un-stressing."
"Thanks, so how is Nicky? Did you
two have a discussion?"
"A little until Georgina came."
"Oh, so are you heading down to
Dublin soon?"
"Why would I?"
"To see Nicky!"
"Mark, I don't believe we're having
this conversation. I went and saw Nicky as a friend, not anything
more. We both realised that we're both attached to other people!"
"So you mean you've still got
feelings for me then?"
"Mark, of course, I do. I
didn't say yes for nothing, this morning." Eilidh said rubbing
mark's back.
"I know, but you going to Belfast,
made me feel that I was losing you." Mark said, embracing
Eilidh, in a cuddle.
"Could we start again some how? And
forget about the bells, and the legends and all that?"
"Sure, but we're still engaged
aren't we?"
"Of course. Cant wait to enlighten
your mam, she'll be over the moon!"
"Christ, that's so true. Do you
fancy a journey to Sligo next weekend?"
"I would love that so much."
The moon looked magical over the sea;
Mark and Eilidh lay in the bath.
"You know what; I can't believe that
I'm the luckiest man in the world to have met someone like you. I
couldn't believe it when you said yes, when I asked you out that
first time. And all those girls gave you the evils, when we were in
Dublin. That was such a wonderful night."
"I couldn't forget that guy who
thought you were from Boyzone. I was like, excuse me?? That was
funny, but I think it was the start of something wonderful. Then
there was the time we came up here, for the weekend, something about
the place made it magical, and here we are, living here for like 3
months now."
"There is no way, I'd ever let you
pass me by. And to think you said yes to me this morning, on the
Westlife cliffs."
"Sorry, I shouldn't laugh but the
fact we were on Westlife cliffs is so damn funny!"
"And to think we should have our
wedding there!"
"You weren't serious were you?"
"Of course not, I think that's a
recipe for disaster."
The moon shone through the bedroom
window, as Mark and Eilidh lay there in each other arms in bed.
There was not a single sound from
downstairs, obviously everyone was in bed.
"I love you Mark." Eilidh said.
"I love you too, Eilidh, from now
until forever, and forever and always!"
The next morning, Mark got up early to
make breakfast, he could see it wasn't 7am yet, but he thought if he
made a start on it, then soon the others would be up.
Mark walked quietly downstairs, and
suddenly noticed that all the bedroms were empty. He thought they're
all up early. But they weren't to be found. As he went into the
kitchen, he noticed a note stuck by the kettle.
'Didn't really want to disturb you both, you both looked peacefully. Bryan's friend drove up another car so we thought we'd go back down to Dublin, as we didn't really want to overstay our welcome. We have all had the wonderful weekend and we'll catch up with you both. The gang!'
"Where is everyone?" Eilidh
said, wandering into the kitchen.
"They've gone back to Dublin."
Mark said, handing over the note.
"Gee, the very thoughtful of them to
leave us a note. So, what do we do now?"
"How about some pancakes, and some tea."
"Sounds heavenly. You know what I
was thinking last night, that we should have a small wedding, just us
with the lads, and maybe Kara and Shamus, I mean Shamus could be your
groomsman, and Kara could be like my maid of honour. It's only an idea."
"Hmmm, something simple, maybe
invite the gang up for a weekend and not actually tell them until the
day, we're getting married and have it somewhere local, in a few
months. That will give us time to organise it, and get the
promotional work of the new album out the way."
"Yeah, do you think we should invite
Shamus and Kara over for dinner tonight to break the news and our plans?"
"Let's do that. I reckon they'll be
game for it."
"I'll go down later to get something
for dinner, and ask them."
"We'll look for rings in Sligo,
there are a few nice places that I've seen, and I do want something special."
"Sure!"