Today's Reading
Siobhán put her hands on her hips, realizing that to this young woman she probably looked like a typical wife nagging her husband. But some things couldn't be helped. "And my detective-sergeant husband is drilling me with practice questions that do not make an ounce of sense because they were written by men with limestone for brains!" Siobhán could feel her blood pressure tick up. She wanted to hit something. Preferably him.
"Stop overthinking every single little detail," Macdara said. "When you become a detective sergeant, you can lobby to change the questions. But if you don't get out of your own stubborn way, you're never going to pass the exams!"
"How many times are you going to call me stubborn?"
"As many as it takes to get through to you!"
The woman backed away slightly, her hand going to her camera. If she started to film them, Siobhán was going to yank it off her neck and stomp on it. She was dying for the woman to start filming them. The young woman held up her right hand and flashed a diamond on her engagement finger. "Should I take this as a warning?"
"Yes," they said in stereo.
Siobhán tried to calm herself by staring out at the fields. Summer was here and everything was green. Maybe it would help her see less red. "Please excuse my rude husband."
"Rude?" Macdara said. "Rude?!"
"We just returned from our honeymoon. Isn't it obvious?"
Siobhán said. "The honeymoon's over," Macdara said, throwing his arms out.
The woman was studying her engagement ring as if she'd just realized something deadly was wrapped around her finger.
"We're sorry we frightened you," Siobhán said to the woman. "I swear. We're normally not like this."
"Not a bother." She looked around as if she wanted to flee.
"We're looking for Cassidy Ryan. But first things first. I'm Siobhán O'Sullivan-Flannery and the rude old goat behind me is my husband, Macdara."
"Fantastic," Macdara said. "I'm a rude old goat. Noted."
"And I'm a stubborn wife. Noted."
"Say less and you'll hear more," Macdara said.
"You know what?" Siobhán whirled around. "I will say less. In fact, for the record, I am officially giving you the silent treatment." She mimicked locking her lips and throwing away the key.
"It's my lucky day," Macdara said, throwing his arms open. "I love the silent treatment!"
"Molly Murphy," the woman said, taking out a pad of paper and biro. "For the Kilbane Times. I'm the reporter and photographer for Kilbane's Top Garden Contest."
"You are?" Siobhán blurted out. She looked like a baby too. A baby with a job and a fiancé. Everyone looked like babies. Twenty-something and bright-eyed. Siobhán was getting old. And cranky. "Brilliant." They had just had their first big row in front of an engaged reporter. Typical.
Molly jotted something down on her pad, her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth. Siobhán could hear Macdara breathing. No doubt he was fuming. But he was the one who just couldn't give things a rest. This wasn't her fault.
Eoin emerged from the restaurant. His ginger hair was slicked back, and he was wearing a white apron, white shirt, and black denims. He looked sharp. Long gone were the days where acne dotted his face and he wore American baseball caps backward. He was a man now, clear complexion, nice hair...handsome. And she was bursting with pride. All her siblings were grown up, although she still thought of Ciarán as a baby. "What's the story?" he asked. "Did I hear arguing?" He raised his eyebrow and took in the pair.
"There's a delivery lad by the tent who needs Cassidy Ryan's signature," Siobhán said, gesturing. "Would you look at the size of that crate?"
They began to walk back toward the crate, and the young reporter tagged along. "I haven't seen her since the wee hours of this morning," Eoin said. "Saw her pop in and out of the tent but she didn't stay long. Just long enough to berate her garden crew. She's not answering calls or texts either."
"These aren't the wee hours?" Macdara asked.
Eoin laughed. "You weren't the only pair up all night. With the competition opening tomorrow, I bet all the gardeners have been at it 'round the clock."
This excerpt ends on page 14 of the hardback edition.
Monday we begin the book A Murder in Zion by Nicole Maggi.
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