Cecelia Ahern 2-Book Valentine Collection: PS I Love You, Where Rainbows End

‘It’s Gerry,’ he smiled again.

‘Well, it’s been a pleasure, Gerry. I’m sure your wife will have a wonderful time. My friend went there last year and she loved it.’ Barbara felt the need to reassure him his wife would be fine.

‘Well, I’d better head back home before they think I’ve been kidnapped. I’m not even supposed to be out of bed, you know.’ He smiled again and a lump formed in Barbara’s throat.

She jumped to her feet and ran round the other side of the counter to hold the door open for him. He smiled appreciatively as he walked past her and she watched as he slowly climbed into the taxi that had been waiting outside for him. Just as Barbara was about to close the door her boss walked in and it banged against his head. She looked over at Gerry, who was still waiting in the taxi to move out onto the road and he laughed and gave her the thumbs-up.

Her boss threw her a look for leaving the counter unattended and marched into the staffroom. ‘Barbara,’ he yelled, ‘have you been smoking in here again?’

She rolled her eyes and turned to face him.

‘God, what’s wrong with you? You look like you’re about to burst into tears!’

It was the first of July and Barbara sat grumpily behind the counter of Swords travel agents. Everyday she had worked this summer had been beautiful and sunny, but the last two days she’d had off it had pissed down with rain. Today was typically the complete opposite. It was the hottest day of the year, all her customers kept on bragging as they strolled in in their little shorts and skimpy tops, filling the room with the smell of coconut sun cream. Barbara squirmed in her chair in her uncomfortable and incredibly itchy uniform. She felt as if she was back at school again. She banged on the fan once again as it stalled.

‘Oh, leave it, Barbara,’ Melissa moaned. ‘That’ll only make it worse.’

‘As if that could be possible,’ Barbara grumbled, and spun round in her chair to face the computer where she pounded on the keypad.

‘What is it with you today?’ Melissa asked.

‘Oh, nothing much,’ Barbara said through gritted teeth. ‘It’s just the hottest day of the year and we’re stuck in this crappy job in this stuffy room with no air conditioning in these horrible itchy uniforms.’ She shouted each word towards her boss’s office, hoping he would hear. ‘That’s all.’

Melissa sniggered. ‘Look, why don’t you go outside for a few minutes to get some air and I’ll deal with this next customer,’ she said, nodding to the woman making her way in.

‘Thanks, Mel,’ Barbara said, relieved at finally being able to escape. She grabbed her cigarettes. ‘Right, I’m going to get some fresh air.’

Melissa looked down at her hand and rolled her eyes. ‘Hello, can I help you?’ she smiled at the woman.

‘Yes, I was wondering if Barbara still works here?’

Barbara froze just as she was reaching the door and contemplated whether to run outside or to go back to work. She groaned and headed back to her seat. She looked at the woman behind the counter. She was pretty, she decided, but her eyes looked tired and drawn as she stared frantically from one girl to the other.

‘Yes, I’m Barbara.’

‘Oh, good!’ The lady looked relieved and she dived on to the stool in front of her. ‘I was afraid you might not work here any more.’

‘She wishes,’ Melissa muttered under her breath.

‘Can I help you?’

‘Oh God, I really hope you can,’ the lady said a bit hysterically, and rooted through her bag. Barbara raised her eyebrows over at Melissa and the two of them tried to hold in their laughs.

‘OK,’ she said eventually, pulling a crumpled envelope out of her bag. ‘I received this today from my husband and I was wondering if you could explain it to me.’

Barbara frowned as she stared at the dog-eared piece of paper on the counter. A page had been torn out of a holiday brochure and written on it were the words: ‘Swords Travel Agent. Attn: Barbara.’

Barbara frowned again and looked at the page more closely. ‘My friend went there two years ago on holiday but other than that it means nothing to me. Did you not get any more information?’

The lady shook her head vigorously.

‘Well, can’t you ask your husband for more information?’ Barbara was confused.

‘No, he’s not here any more,’ she said sadly, and tears welled in her eyes. Barbara panicked. If her boss saw her making someone cry she really would be given her marching orders. She was on her last warning as it was.

‘OK then, can I take your name, and maybe it will come up on the computer?’

‘It’s Holly Kennedy.’ Her voice shook.

‘Holly Kennedy, Holly Kennedy …’ Melissa was listening in on their conversation. ‘That name rings a bell. Oh, hold on, I was about to call you this week! That’s weird! I was under strict instructions by Barbara not to ring you until July for some reason—’

‘Oh!’ Barbara interrupted her friend, finally realising what was going on. ‘You’re Gerry’s wife?’ she asked hopefully.

‘Yes!’ Holly threw her hands to her face in shock. ‘He was in here?’

‘Yes, he was,’ Barbara smiled encouragingly. ‘He was a lovely man,’ she said, reaching out to Holly’s hand on the counter.

Melissa stared at the two of them, not knowing what was going on.

Barbara’s heart went out to the lady across the counter: she was so young and it must be so hard for her right now. But Barbara was delighted to be the bearer of good news.

‘Melissa, can you get Holly some tissues, please, while I explain to her exactly why her husband was here.’ She beamed across the counter at Holly, then let go of Holly’s hand to tap away at the computer while Melissa returned with a box of tissues.

‘OK, Holly,’ Barbara said softly, ‘Gerry has arranged a holiday for you and a Sharon McCarthy and a Denise Hennessey to go to Lanzarote for one week, arriving on the thirtieth of July to return home on the fifth of August.’

Holly’s hands flew to her face again in shock, and tears poured from her eyes.

‘He was adamant that he found the perfect place for you,’ Barbara continued, delighted at her new role. She felt like one of those television hosts who sprang surprises on their guests. ‘That’s the place you’re going to,’ she said, tapping the crumpled page in front of her. ‘You’ll have a fab time, believe me. When my friend was there she just loved it. There are loads of restaurants and bars around and …’ She trailed off, realising Holly probably didn’t give a damn about whether she had a good time or not.

‘When did he come in?’ Holly asked, still in shock.

Barbara tapped away on the computer. ‘The booking was made on the twenty-eighth of November.’

‘November?’ Holly gasped. ‘He shouldn’t even have been out of bed then! Was he on his own?’

‘Yes, but there was a taxi waiting outside for him the whole time.’

‘What time was this at?’ Holly asked quickly.

‘I’m sorry but I really can’t remember. It was quite a long time ago—’

‘Yes, of course, I’m sorry,’ Holly interrupted.

Barbara completely understood. If that was her husband – well, if she ever met someone worthy of ever becoming her husband – she would also want to know every single detail. Barbara told her as much as she could remember until Holly could think of no more questions to ask.

‘Oh, thank you, Barbara, thank you so much.’ Holly reached over the counter and gave her a big hug.

‘No problem at all,’ Barbara hugged her back, feeling satisfied with her good deed for the day. ‘Come back and let us know how you get on,’ she smiled. ‘Here’s your details.’ She handed Holly a thick envelope and watched her walk away. She sighed, thinking her crappy job might not be so crappy after all.