Upside Down Inside Out Read Online Free PDF Page B

could be huge, babe.’
    She tried to ignore the Americanism.
    He shifted in his seat and gave her an unusual look. She had the same feeling she’d had with Ambrose several nights before. What was this National Drop a Bombshell Week?
    ‘Now, Eva, you might have wondered why I suggested we meet for a drink tonight. I mean, it’s not our normal night to meet up, but well, with the situation changing so rapidly at the office, I realised that I had to keep things moving along. I decided there was no point waiting until we were in New York to ask you what I wanted to ask you.’
    Eva went stiff. Oh my God, she thought. Was this the proposal? She wasn’t ready for it. A sudden image sprang into her mind. Lainey standing beside her, dressed in a pink taffeta bridesmaid dress.
    Dermot seemed uncharacteristically unsure of himself. He adjusted his tie, gave a little cough, even cast a glance at the mirror behind her to make sure he looked the part. There was another short pause while he took a sip of his pint, then he leaned in close toward her. ‘You see, Eva, I’ve heard a few
    whispers that your uncle might be thinking about retiring.’ Eva’s head shot up. How did he know that? Had he bugged her? Her thoughts raced. Surely Ambrose hadn’t spoken to Dermot about this already? But no, of course he wouldn’t have. In any case, what would Ambrose’s retirement have to do with them getting married? Did Dermot want to work in the shop with her, after their wedding? She couldn’t imagine that. She decided to say nothing, hoping she hadn’t given anything away. ‘As you know, Eva, property prices in this part of Dublin, Camden Street in particular, have been rising substantially in the past few years. Above all expectations, in fact. And all the signs are that the economy will continue to boom.’ Eva couldn’t believe her ears. He was prefacing his marriage proposal with an economics lecture? In her mind’s eye, Lainey-in-pink-taffeta started to make loud snoring noises. ‘It’s those indicators that have brought me to the point of our meeting here tonight.’ Eva was transfixed. This was his marriage proposal? And if she said yes, was this really the sort of romantic story she would relish telling her children and grandchildren about in the years to come? Well, the way it happened was Dermot rang me up unexpectedly at work a week before we were due to go on holiday to New York, which was where I’d thought
    he was going to propose. And we met in a fashionable new bar and first he gave me a very fascinating lecture about rising property values in Dublin and then he said to me ‘Eva, would you ask your uncle if I can handle the sale of his shop?’ Dermot’s voice rang out loud and clear through the wine bar noise.
    Eva sat very, very still. Lainey-in-pink-taffeta disappeared with a pop. ‘I beg your pardon?’
    Dermot pasted a rehearsed engaging smile onto his face and leaned closer toward her. ‘Evie ‘
    ‘Eva. Ev-a,’ she said, her voice dangerously low. Only a few special people were allowed to call her Evie.
    ‘Ev-a.’ That smile again. ‘Ambrose is due to retire, surely? What is he, sixty-five? Seventy? I mean, I’ve been keeping an eye on him for months now, before you and I, uhm, got together, and I’ve thought he’s got to be thinking about retiring soon, and selling up. I mean, now is the right time, property prices are so high along Camden Street. Ambrose needs to seize the day.’ He thumped his fist on the table with such force that their drinks and his mobile phone jumped.
    Eva watched in a strangely detached way as her gin and tonic rippled then settled in its glass. She felt as though nine or ten layers of gauze had just been ripped, forcibly, from in front of her eyes. She spoke carefully, the words slowly forming themselves in her
    head. ‘So is that what all of this has been about, Dermot?’
    ‘What?’
    ‘You calling into the shop. Talking to Ambrose. Paying me attention. Asking me