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
13
Eilidh made her way down to the grocers, smiling.
"Morning Kathy!" Eilidh said,
entering the grocers.
"Good Morning, it's a lovely morning
isn't it?" Kathy said, walking behind the counter.
"Excuse me, but I don't want to be
waiting all day for my groceries." Maud Feather said, impatiently.
"Maud, what has ruffled your
feathers today?" Mickey said, carrying a box full of biscuits.
"A lot of things, but I'm glad that
those loud people have gone from the village. I don't know why Old Mr
Killarney had to give that house to those people."
"Charming isn't it. Just always
moaning about us aren't you Maud. Maybe you should find something
else to moan about." Eilidh said, stepping up behind Maud.
Maud stood there speechless.
"Cat got your tongue. You just think
that house should have gone to you. After all you were what to Mr
Killarney, or do you not want the town knowing that it was you that
made him leave his wife."
"How dare you accuse me over
something I didn't do?"
"That's really weird,
surprising the number of old letters that were left hidden in the
house. I'm sure your family wouldn't want to know all the details."
"Oh, so you think you know all
about it. Let me tell you, you are a nothing in this town, who cares
if you're dating someone famous, you will never be respected in this
town, mark my words and I think I don't really want that shopping
now, and I'll go somewhere where I'm wanted." Maud said
Eilidh paid for her groceries, and walked
the short walk to the restaurant.
"Eilidh, you look awful!"
Shamus said, polishing the glasses.
"I had the displeasure of meeting
Maud Feather in the grocers!"
"You poor girl, she's a handful.
Nearly drove old Mr Killarney into his grave."
"Might need coffee, actually the
real reason why I'm here, is to ask both of you for dinner at the
house tonight."
"Oh, special occasion is it?"
"You could say that."
"Come on, spill!!" Kara said,
bringing out the coffee.
"You'll just have to wait till
tonight!" Eilidh said.
Mark sat at his computer, looking at his
schedule. He slapped his forehead; they couldn't go to Sligo in the
next month, as he was due to finish off the single, and laying down
the final tracks for the album. Oh well, I'll have to tell Eilidh
that we're heading to Dublin, he said to himself.
He rang Bryan.
"McFadz Hotel, you're speaking with
Brianna the cute blond receptionist." Bryan said, joking.
"Yes, I would like to enquire if
there are any rooms available next month for a few weeks." Mark
said, in a posh accent.
"Let me look, I think so, could I
have a name?" Bryan said, confused.
"Mark and Eilidh."
"Mark!!!!!!!! Sure there's plenty of
room here for you both."
"Thanks Bryan. So how is everyone in Dublin?"
"I saw Nix this morning; he's
looking a bit better but he's still sore. I spoke to Louis, and he's
not going to rush the album, just wait a few more weeks before Nicky
gets better."
"So will he be on the single?"
"Luckily he did his vocals for it a
while ago, so they'll use that."
"See you in a few days; I think I
can hear Eilidh coming in."
Mark wandered down to the kitchen.
"So what have you been up to?"
Eilidh said.
"Been organising a room at McFadz. I
just realised that I'm due in Dublin in a few weeks doing final
recording for the single."
"Oh, so we're staying at Bryan's are
we? Cool!!!"
Kara and Shamus turned up about 5pm, just
as Eilidh was sticking Dinner into the oven.
"Sorry, if we're early, we didn't
really know what time to come."
"Dinner's about 30 mins away, so
would you like a glass of wine or something?"
"Shamus, Kara, how wonderful to see you."
"You know, this keeping us in
suspense, about why you invited us has been very frustrating."
"Shall we?" Mark asked Eilidh.
"Yeah!"
"Well, the reason we both asked you
here, was to tell you that we are planning to get married. But how
you come in, is we're having a low key wedding, just friends, and
we'd like it if you would be our groomsman, and maid of honour at the
wedding. The other guests will be the lads and their partners."
"Eilidh, I can't believe it, of
course I'll blimen be there." Kara said, smiling, and hugging
Eilidh madly.
"Thanks!"
"So where did he propose to you?"
"Yesterday at Westlife Cliffs!"
"No!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Yeah, sounds corny aye, but he
thought it was the right moment to do it."
"That's like before the whole drama!"
"It feels like it was ages ago, but
it was only yesterday!!!"
"Mark, I didn't think you had it in
you!" Shamus said.
"Here's towards many more wonderful
years in Ballintoy!" Shamus said, raising his glass.
"Thank you." Eilidh and Mark
said, smiling.
14
The next few weeks flew by, and soon they
were both on the road, heading for Dublin.
"How are we going to pull off the
wedding if the lads don't know about it? We'll have to get them to
bring up posh clothes, but how do we word that?" Eilidh said,
studying the scenery.
"We could tell them, that we'll be
dining at the new posh restaurant "El Marko's" and they've
got a high dress code."
"Oh my god, that's it. That's
so it&ldots; that's the code name for the wedding, El Marko's! I
absolutely love it."
"What are you on about?"
"We can't really go on about talking
about the wedding, so we'll say we're planning a night out at El
Marko's, and instead it's our wedding."
"I get you now. But where are we
going to hold the wedding, that's posh enough."
"I'm sure Shamus and Kara will
know some places, I can't wait. I think I'm going to look about, and
see if I can find any nice dress shops, while you are in the
studio."
"Sounds good, I hope that it
won't be too much this week here in Dublin. You could always ask
Kerry for advice, but don't give too much away!"
"True!"
Hours later Eilidh and Mark finally drove
up to Bryan's House.
"About time!" Bryan called from
the back yard, where he was busy playing with his daughters.
"Oh, sorry!" Mark said,
"But you know how the traffic is!!"
"Hey Mark, Eilidh, so nice to
see you both." Kerry said, walking outside to see what the
voices were.
"Hey Kerry," Eilidh said,
walking over from the car.
"Eilidh, come on in, I'll show you
to your room, and besides I want to talk to you."
Eilidh walked inside, the house was amazing.
"So, how's it going?" Kerry
asked, sitting down on the couch.
"It's going good,"
"But?"
"How do you always know that there's
a 'but'?" Eilidh said.
"I can just tell, is this have to do
with Nicky, I know it's not my place to say, but I saw Nicky today,
he looks awful, he's put the beef on, and his hair is getting
scraggy. It's like he don't care anymore."
"What about his wife?"
"Well, they've managed to rush
through the divorce, so Nicky's single again."
"I take it no one really knows."
"Only us and Nicky's family do, and
of course Georgina's!"
"Bryan, how is Nicky?" Mark
asked, standing by the children's slide. "He's going down
hill, he's eating more, and he's not taking care of himself, he's
letting himself go."
"Oh?"
"And his marriage is over,
they got a quickie divorce, and even the media haven't got wind of
that yet."
"Poor Nicky, actually, he deserves
it, he knows that it's wrong to play around, and if he thinks he's
going to try to win Eilidh's heart now, he's got another thing
coming.
"Who's got another thing
coming?" Eilidh said, walking outside, with Kerry.
"Nobody!" Mark said, quickly.
Eilidh's mobile rang; Eilidh excused
herself and walked inside to answer.
"Hello?"
"Eilidh, it's me Nicky."
"Hi. I'm at Kerry's in Dublin. She
just told me your news."
"Oh, did she? I really think
we should talk."
"Why?"
"Because, I can't stop thinking
about you, and I know if loving you is a crime, then I'm guilty!"
"Nicky, don't you remember that I'm
engaged to Mark,"
"I know, but I know you don't really
know whether you really love him or not."
"I'll see you tomorrow at the
studio, I guess, with Mark. I can't hurt Mark not now."
"Okay, and Eilidh I do love you, I
would never lie to you."
Eilidh went outside again.
"Who was that?" Mark said.
"No one important." Eilidh replied.
"You're not going to believe this,
but Kerry and Bryan have invited Nicky over for dinner."
"Oh?" Eilidh said, going red.
"Was that Nicky on the phone, by the
colour of your face, I say it was."
"Look, Mark, I can't help it if
Nicky wants to be friends."
"You need to tell him you're off the
market. Why can't he just back off?"
"Mark, I'm not married to you yet,
so don't ever say that comment again, or I might not ever marry you."
"You know I was only joking."
"Oh, you weren't though, I know what
your hidden agenda is, to ruin Nicky's life, just because he fancies
me, and it's driving you crazy!"
"Whatever!" Mark said.
"Don't whatever me. You need to
respect your girlfriends, you know that. Otherwise they'll realise
that you're not all that you say you are, and leave."
Eilidh walked inside, and went into the kitchen.
"Eilidh, you alright?" Bryan said.
"No, it's all too complicated!"
"I'll try to understand."
"Is it wrong to have feelings for
someone else, and then to have that person tell you that they have
feelings for you as well."
"Are you trying to tell me that you
love Nicky, and Nicky has said he loves you, and you don't know what
to do?"
"In a way, yes!"
"Then I can't help you there, you'll
just have to decide for yourself."