'You!' The exclamation came from the other end of the corridor.

Declan was about to turn around and walk the other way, but he was blowed if he was going to be avoiding someone in his own pub. He folded his arms and waited for the American to reach him 'If it's breakfast you're wanting, you're a bit late, and a bit early for lunch but I could get you a hang sandwich if you wanted.'

'I don't want a sandwich, I want to talk to you.' Jeremy said, ill-advisedly poking a finger into Declan's chest. The later looked at it for a second before batting it away.

'I thought you probably might at some point.' Declan said in resignation. 'What is it you want to know?'

'Did…' Jeremy stuttered, 'Did you sleep with Anna?'

Declan shrugged a shoulder. 'Well we are married so…'

Clenching his fists to control his temper, Jeremy tried again. 'I meant before. Did you sleep with Anna when you brought her to Dublin? I want the truth.'

Declan rubbed his beard, considering. 'Well, in truth, yes, we slept two nights together and we did share a bed for one of them.' He held a finger in the air. 'However, absolutely nothing happened, well apart from sleep obviously.'

'What!' Jeremy exploded.

'We were stuck in the middle of nowhere, it was pouring with rain, there was one bed in this little b&b and so we made the best of it, but we were both fully clothed.' He decided to omit the part about their first kiss at the dinner table and the fact that he'd spent most of the night desperately wanting to do it again. 'Nothing happened.' He reiterated.

'You stand there and calmly tell me you shared a bed and expect me to believe it was all perfectly innocent?' Jeremy said.

'I do. It was.'

The American stared up at him incredulously, waiting for Declan to say something else, but all he received was a blank expression.

'You honestly expect me to believe that?' Jeremy said eventually.

'Yep, it's the truth.'

'Why would I just accept your word?'

Declan rubbed his beard again and took a step forward. 'I don't expect you to take my word, but you do know Anna?'

'I thought I did.' Jeremy pulled out a chair and sat down.

'Now I've a question for you.' Declan said. 'Just what the hell are you doing here? And don't give me any bollocks about not knowing she was here, you knew exactly where she was. Have you come to get her back?' There was no malice in his tone or even concern, it was just a straightforward inquiry.

'I suppose I've come for some answers. I thought I knew exactly who she was, but now?' He shrugged. 'We had this perfect life, just signed for our dream apartment, she loved her job, it was all going exactly to plan, I'd even proposed for god's sake. Then suddenly, there we are at our housewarming party and the fire alarm goes off. Obviously, I'm picking things up and Anna is just standing there, staring around the room like she'd never seen it before. By the time I got downstairs she was nowhere to be seen, and when we finally get allowed back upstairs she'd packed her suitcase and left. I later found out she was even the one who set off the fire alarm!'

'I'm sorry.' Declan said, perching on the edge of the table. 'Believe it or not, I do know how you feel and I am genuinely sorry that happened to you.'

'I just don't get it. We spoke later, on the phone when she was here, and she tried to explain, but I don't think she even gets it.' Jeremy continued.

'What did you pick up?' Declan asked.

'What? When?'

'When the fire alarm went off, what did you save?' He asked.

Jeremy made a non-committal face. 'I don't know, laptop, video camera, valuables, that kind of thing.'

Declan nodded slowly. 'And Anna, she didn't take anything?'

'No, she went to pack. Why what did she tell you?'

'Nothing. Absolutely nothing at all.' Declan said quickly. He patted Jeremy on the shoulder. 'If its any comfort, I don't think any of us really understand women.'

'This is why I had to come, the only thing I can think of is that's she's had some sort of episode.' Jeremy said.

'I'm sorry, she's had a what?'

'Some kind of episode, a kind of mental breakdown if you will.'

Declan stared at him for a second. 'You think she's gone doolally?'

'It's the only reasonable explanation. She had this perfect life and it was just too much for her. Of course, I've always wondered if there might be something in the genes, you've met her father?' Jeremy continued.

'Yes, lovely awl fella but you wouldn't trust him as far as you could throw him.' Declan said.

'Exactly. Anna has always had to work hard and now she'd finally got everything she wanted, her mind must have snapped. That's why I brought Dr Roseburg, she's a psychiatrist.'

Declan shook his head slowly. 'You've brought a psychiatrist to assess your ex because she must be mad to have left you?'

'Not exactly.' Jeremy said, getting to his feet. 'Just, well, all of this…' He indicated the Carragh, 'It's not the Davenport.'

Declan folded his arms, 'That's as may be, and perhaps if it's not to your liking you'd better pack your things and get the hell out of my pub.'

'What? Now I didn't mean any offence…' Jeremy began.

'Well lots were taken, you come here, claim my wife's mad, insult my home and… you wear ridiculous trousers. I want you and your shrink out, now.' Declan turned to leave.

'If you're so confident Anna is well, why don't you let us stay and prove me wrong.' Jeremey said.

Declan stopped. 'There's nothing wrong with her.'

'Then let me prove it. What are you afraid of?' Jeremy goaded.

'I'm not afraid of anything, certainly not you anyway.' Declan replied now facing the American.

'Then let Dr Roseburg finish her assessment.'

'Ok, but on one condition.'

'Name it.'

'You leave straight away and never contact Anna again?'

Jeremy nodded. 'Agreed.'

Declan spat on his palm and held it towards Jeremy, who eyed it uncertainly. He nodded towards the hand until Jeremy reluctantly shook it.

'You've got until tomorrow afternoon.' Declan said, before striding away.

After their conversation, Declan couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. He could never give her expensive things, diamond earrings, the latest expensive gadgets and while he had no doubt he and Anna were mad for each other, and she seemed happy and more importantly sane, with the arrival of her former fiancé, would she remember how perfect her life had been, and how would the one she had now measure up?

'Why don't you tell me about your father?' Belinda asked as the girls walked back to the Carragh from the stables.

'Daddy, what about him?' Anna asked, confused.

'Jeremy mentioned you had a difficult relationship?' Belinda said with a small smile.

'Daddy is Daddy. He's not perfect but then none of us are.' Anna replied. 'You never did tell me about you and Jeremy?'

'We're friends.' Belinda said smartly. 'How is your relationship with your father, how does he like Declan for example?'

'They get along fine. Believe it or not, when Declan wants to, he can charm the birds out of the trees. Daddy, of course, has always thought he could do the same, with much less success. While he was here he was trying to give Declan all kinds of business ideas and opportunities, all of which Declan listened to patiently, but I know he wouldn't give him a dime.' Anna said fondly.

'You don't think Declan and your father are similar?' Belinda asked.

'Not in the slightest.' Anna laughed. 'I know Declan's children will never have to make money to pay the bills, they will always be able to rely on their father.' She finished firmly.

'You and Declan are planning on having children?' Belinda asked.

A deep blush rose from Anna's shirt, burning to the root of her red hair. She brought a hand to her mouth as if to stuff the words back in. 'I… I mean we haven't really discussed anything yet, I suppose I thought we would have them… kind of planned it, maybe and boy and a girl.' She floundered. 'Please don't tell him I said anything.' They'd reached the front door, Anna's hand rested on the handle.

'You're afraid of his reaction?' The psychiatrist said, raising her eyebrows.

'No, not at all. I would just rather bring it up with him myself when he's in a good mood.' She said smiling and pushed the door open.

Judging by the noise coming from the kitchen, that time would not be now. Iain, the waiter, came out of the kitchen at a run, nearly colliding with the two women.

'What on earth is going on?' Anna asked.

'I wouldn't go in there missus.' He said, scampering off like a frightened mouse.

'Excuse me.' Anna said to Belinda before heading towards the commotion.

Entering the kitchen, there was an obvious ceasefire for the moment, Alec looked up, his face full of relief as Anna arrived.

'I'm just going to get the um…' He began, obviously stumped for something to say.

'Yes, you do that,' Anna said, ushering him towards the door, meanwhile, Declan was using a cleaver on a shoulder of lamb as if he was murdering it.

He looked over his shoulder at the retreating Alec before muttering 'Eejit.' Under his breath.

'What's the matter with you?' Anna asked.

'Nothing's the matter with me, what's the matter with you?' He snapped.

'I'm fine. Why are you being so testy?'

'It's the beast in me.' He growled.

'What on earth has happened?' She asked, confused. 'I've only been gone a couple of hours.'

'You tell me, how was your morning with Dr Belinda?'

'She's a strange one.' Anna said, 'Really nosy too.'

Declan made a sound through his nose that sounded like a snort. 'So what did she want to know?'

'Lot's of things, about Daddy and you and me, I suppose Jeremy put her up to it.' She said with a shrug.

'I suppose he probably did.' Declan said venomously. 'And what was her conclusion?'

'Was she supposed to come to one? Declan, will you talk to me?' Anna said.

'You're in Ireland, we don't talk about all our feelings here, we just take things as they are without over analysing everything!' He said, returning to the lamb.

'Yes, and that's obviously working out great for you. You know where I am when youve finished your tantrum.' She said crossly before turning on her heel and marching away.