Where Old Ghosts Meet - Kate Evans [57]
“Gerry. Marvelous bloody day,” he boomed, jolting the room into life. “Too goddamn hot for my likin’ but all right just the same, I suppose.” He had reached under the counter, produced two bottles of beer, and had them uncapped and set on the counter before Gerry had time to draw breath.
“Grand day.” He poked his head around Gerry’s bulk and raised a hand in Nora’s direction.
She nodded.
“Nora Molloy, from Ireland.” Gerry pointed to where Nora sat. “Dave Broderick.”
“Bloody fine women over that way, I’ll allow.” He slapped his hand on the counter, set his head to one side, and smiled admiringly at Nora. Language aside, his round balding head with its fringe of white hair and his plump fresh cheeks put her in mind of Friar Tuck.
“Welcome to Newfoundland, my dear.” Raising his voice even more, he roared across the room, “Paddy, don’t forget the goddamn fire.” With that he turned and disappeared back to where he’d come from, leaving behind a stunned silence.
The man by the stove never moved.
Gerry shrugged, picked up the two bottles of beer, and brought them to the table. “I’m afraid there are no glasses.” He sat down. “What do you think?”
“Different, I have to admit. Who’s he?” She inclined her head towards the man by the stove.
“Paddy Broderick.” He dropped his voice. “A kind of relative. Comes in here every day, first thing in the morning, stays all day. Just tends the stove.”
“Does he speak?”
Gerry shrugged his shoulders. “Not to me.” He raised the bottle to his mouth and took a long draft. “You handled Treese well this afternoon.”
Nora shrugged but made no comment.
“It’s been forty-odd years now and she’s still sniffin’ about like the crackie dog after a bone, unwillin’ to let go. She was all set to tear into you this afternoon, couldn’t wait. But you kept her right at bay. More power to you. I liked that.”
“I thought she was a friend. The way you were dishing out the compliments, I thought maybe you were related.”
“Well, you know how it is. In a place like this you want to stay on the good side of all.” He winked.
“So why would she want to take a run at me?”
“An old battle from years ago. Her brother wanted the teaching job on the island, the one Mr. Molloy was given. He was local, see, from down Red Island way. He had just grade eleven, whereas your grandfather was more educated and also from away, which made him not only better in some people’s eyes, but more important. He was also a friend of Father O’Reilly, and he wanted him in the job so that was the end of it. There was quite the racket brewing at the time and Treese wasn’t beyond spreading rumours around. However, another position was found for the brother and all was smoothed over. But Treese never forgot the ‘slight’ to the family and has held a grudge ever since.”
“Maybe she had good reason to be annoyed. I’d say Father O’Reilly was looking out for his own interests.”
He looked surprised. “What do you mean?”
“I’d say he wanted him to be a permanent fixture on Berry Island, for the company. He liked having him around, it seems.”
“You’re a bit of a crackie yourself, I’d say.” He laughed. “You weren’t impressed with the padre then.”
“No,” she said reluctantly, “I didn’t take to him much. He’s not your uncle or anything like that, I suppose.”
“No, no.” He laughed again and then added, “It’s the same today. Someone you know gives you the nod for a job and you’re in. It’s simple as that.”
She looked across at him. He had that infernal look of amusement on his face again. Normally his attitude would have irritated her, but again, she found herself liking his frankness. “I’m surprised he accepted a job when he didn’t really want it. From what I hear he just didn’t seem like the type.”
“That