Padraig had a friend quote the rewiring. Peter refused to show Assumpta the quote, gave the electrician the go ahead, and pocketed the incriminating piece of paper, knowing he better keep it just in case.
"Not showing me only makes it bigger in my head." She tried to explain why it would be better if she knew.
"Not until it's done. Right," He shut off the taps in the bar. "You better pack. Since we have to close up I'm taking advantage."
She looked grim.
"Cheer up. Promise you won't regret it."
"I know. It'll be great when its done. Doesn't make it any more fun living in Niamh's spare room for the weekend and handing over the food fair to Brian – on his opening night nonetheless. This is business suicide."
"Niamh's?"
"Sure – I'm babysitting Kiaran tonight in exchange for a place to stay. She knew she'd never get a babysitter otherwise. Ambrose has summonsed the whole lot of us."
Peter smirked. "Ambrose asked me to babysit."
"What? And you said you'd do it?"
"I've a soft spot for Kiaran."
"Sucker."
He grinned. "I'll do it. I'm already packed."
"Where are you going?"
"Taking advantage of time off work." He winked at her. "See you later."
"Hold on-" She sighed, the door closing behind him.
Peter laid out the ingredients on the Egan's kitchen table, washing the celery and trying to figure out what he should do next.
He heard the door open and close. "Hi," Assumpta called out.
"Hi."
"Oh,"
"They've gone."
She came through into the kitchen carrying a bottle of wine. "I'm packed." She put the bottle on the table. "Thought you might want some company. What are you making?"
He listed off his dishes.
"Kiaran's not on solids."
He smiled, "but we have wine."
"I hear there's rules against that." She handed him the bottle. "So, it's for the food fair then?"
He nodded, pouring two glasses and offering one to her.
"Good luck."
"It's not a competition."
"Oh yes it is."
"I thought it was a fundraiser-"
"No, there's a silly cup. Look, can I do anything to help."
"So that's your plot then."
"What?"
"Spying, stealing my recipes, taking out the competition. I saw that film."
"Really?"
"No. They should make it though."
"They really shouldn't."
She sat on the bench and watched him work, her offer to help having been turned down. Kiaran cried as Peter began frying the ginger. Assumpta was up and out of there to get him before he could ask her. She returned cradling the baby against her chest, his cries now calming.
"Did Niamh leave a bottle?"
"In the fridge. She said a minute on medium. Then test it on your wrist."
"Yeah, I know." She smiled at Peter who was watching her as if there was more he had to say and didn't – about what she could not be certain. She heated the milk, sat down and fed Kiaran.
Peter finished the ginger and added it to the beef marinade, turning to face her and drying his hands. He smiled at the sight. "There's a picture."
She laughed and Kiaran spat out the bottle with a choke and a cry. When it was clear he was fine she offered the bottle again and he took it with gusto. "Do you remember that night we spent together?"
Peter lifted his eyebrows. "What was in my drink?"
She looked intentionally unimpressed. "When that baby was left on your doorstep."
He nodded.
She looked down at Kiaran. "This was one of the reasons, you said."
He pulled out a chair and sat down, not sure where she was going.
She met his eyes. "Reasons for leaving – too much babysitting."
"Ah, yes."
She nodded, eyes on Kiaran again.
He was afraid to ask, afraid he'd sound accusatory or surprised, afraid of her answer.
"Fair enough." She said simply, quietly. "It was never what I... dreamed of. I wasn't one of the girls playing happy families. But people change."
"Understatement of the year."
She eventually looked up, smiling ever so slightly. "I do want a family."
He smiled, holding out his finger for Kiaran to grip. "If you didn't it wouldn't change how I feel about you. Obviously I never planned to."
Kiaran ran out of milk and tugged on Peter's finger with a little more focus. He wriggled and lifted his arms.
"I think he likes you." Assumpta lifted Kiaran from her lap and passed him into Peter's hands, looking into Peter's eyes as she let go.
He adjusted the baby in order to hold him with one hand and took Assumpta's hand with the other, pulling her back, close.
She smiled then kissed him softly. "So, while you're holding the baby, what can I do?"
"I don't know. This is good practice surely." He stood and, holding Kiaran carefully in one arm, stirred a sauce with the other.
She laughed and clapped her hands. "You should take it on the road."
"I'm not going anywhere." He perused the kitchen bench, picked up the beef dish, carrying it and Kiaran to the stove. "I can no longer be called on to go anywhere anytime. I'll not be going anywhere."
Assumpta joined him, "Here," She took Kiaran, kissed Peter, then the baby, and sat up on the bench, just far enough away that she wasn't in the way.
Peter started frying the marinated beef, happily busy until he heard Assumpta sigh. He paused and turned to her. "You okay?"
"Oh, sorry. Just thinking."
He turned back to what he was doing, waiting for her to go on.
"Trying to figure out how we're going to get away with this."
"Without the censure of the world?"
"Well, those who've seemed suspicious would, I imagine, be forgiving. And so long as it doesn't hurt business too much – you and I are big enough and ugly enough, we'll be fine. I'm just thinking, if all goes well and we have a family,"
"Are our kids going to suffer?"
She nodded.
He sighed.
"Exactly."
"We're going to have to be careful how we break the news."
"It'll be a miracle if we can keep it a secret till we're both technically free."
He nodded. "Not that they'll know whether the paperwork's through."
She lifted up Kiaran, smiling at him and animating her voice, "It's all a bit complicated, isn't it."
Peter turned off the element and took the pan off the heat. Leaning against the bench, he looked at her. "Whether we wait a week or a year there'll still be something of a scandal. If its going to have implications for years – well we'll just have to cross that bridge when we get there. Right now," he stroked Kiaran's head, "This young man should probably go to sleep."
"I'll take him. You finish up in here."
She came downstairs to find Peter wiping down the bench. "Do I get a taste?"
"Not unless you pay for it."
"Ah, where are the perks?"
He threw the cloth at the sink and closed the gap between them, pulling her roughly into his arms and kissing her.
"Oh, there they are. Taste testing indeed." She laughed and he kissed her again.
"I find it hard to fathom that I thought I could live without this."
She reached up to kiss him again as the front door was opened. They looked at each other for a moment, undecided in their actions when Niamh and Ambrose walked in – but they managed to put a little distance between them.
"Oh, 'Sumpta. I thought you were staying tomorrow." Niamh put her handbag down.
"I am. I was just giving Peter a hand." She looked to Peter, "with his cooking."
He glared at her ever so briefly. "Kiaran's in bed – had a bottle an hour ago."
"And a nappy change." Assumpta added.
Peter put on his jacket and picked up his cooking.
Ambrose asked them to stay for a drink.
"No, busy day tomorrow."
"We're in court." Assumpta shot daggers with her eyes. "Good night Niamh?"
"Yeah," Niamh looked sheepish. "You can stay tonight too, if it's easier."
"No, it's fine."
"I'll walk you." Peter put his hand to the small of her back, then pulled it back realising they had an audience.
Outside they walked in silence, only speaking on the doorstep of Fitzgerald's. "I've been trying to figure out what you meant earlier today – you said you were going to take advantage of the time off work. And why are you packed?"
"I'm moving." he held the door open and followed her inside. "To Padraig's, for now."
"Alright, but what about the taking advantage?" She switched on the light in the kitchen and put on the kettle. "I'm assuming you don't mean of me."
He laughed nervously. "Do you trust me?"
"Ah... sure."
"I thought we might go on a bit of an adventure."
"Not getting enough of that in Ballyk?"
"More of a holiday?"
"You just got back."
"Can you wait and see?"
"Well we have a, um, prior engagement in the morning and a food fair in the evening."
"We won't stay late."
"Will I not be staying at Niamh's?"
"No."
"Ah, well, that'll feed the gossip mill."
"Yeah. Tell her you're here."
"So you want me to lie now."
"I learned from the best." He gave her a childish smile, pleading and teasing. "Trust me. It'll be worth it."
She shook her head. "You're lucky I love you."
"Great. Well then, better get some sleep."
"You won't have a cup of tea before you go?"
"Not tonight." He stroked her cheek and kissed her once, pausing before releasing her lips, savouring her touch as if it had to keep him going till he saw her again. "Sweet dreams."
