Shane visited the stables every day for the next week, hoping that he’d be able to see Karina again, but she was never there. Eventually, he asked Michael, who ran the stables, if he could give him her address. Michael wasn’t keen, but he relented eventually, and one evening, Shane found himself standing on the doorstep of a small cottage on the outskirts of Sligo. Nervously, he rang the doorbell, and after a minute, Karina opened the door.

‘Shane! What are you doing here? How did you know where I lived?’

‘Michael told me. Ummm, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to upset you the other day. I just wanted to apologise. Look, d’you want to come for a coffee or something? We could talk.’ He looked up at her, and that beautifully shy smile returned.

‘I dunno. Okay. Could you give me a few minutes?’

‘Sure. I’ll just wait in my car.’ Shane pointed out the BMW sitting down at the roadside, and she nodded and closed the door.

Inside, Karina shut the door, and leant her head back against it. She pinched herself, and flinched. It really was happening. Shane wanted to talk to her. She shook herself, grabbed her purse, keys and jacket, and opened the door again. He was sitting in his car, talking on his phone, and laughing. She sighed, happily, and nervously, and headed down the path, to the car. Shane leant across and opened the door for her from inside and motioned for her to get in.

‘Listen, Ro. I’ve got to go. I’ll speak to you tomorrow. Yeah, I’ll be at home in the afternoon. Okay, talk to you then.’ He closed his phone, and turned to Karina. ‘Okay?’ She nodded. ‘Where do you want to go?’

‘I dunno. It’s up to you. I don’t mind.’

‘How about back to mine then? There are loads of people in town at the moment, and I fancy somewhere a bit quieter. Alright?’

‘Yeah sure. That’s cool.’ Karina tried, without success, to make out that she was used to pop-stars inviting her back to their houses for a coffee. On the way there, Shane tried to make small talk, but when he could see he was only going to get one word answers, he said,

‘Look, Karina, are you okay with this? You don’t seem very comfortable. Do you want me to take you home?’ He prayed she wouldn’t ask him to.

‘I’m okay. Really.’ They were stopped at traffic lights, and Shane looked at her with an expression on his face that said plainly that he didn’t believe her.

‘Are you sure?’

‘No. Look, sorry. I just, I dunno. I just always find it really hard talking to people I don’t know very well. I’m just a bit nervous I guess.’ She muttered the last sentence quietly, hoping he wouldn’t hear.

‘I’m the same. Except I normally end up withering on until someone tells me to shut up. Normally Nicky, actually. I always talk too much!’

‘You? But you meet people you don’t know every day!’

‘I know - that’s why I talk so much!’ She laughed and Shane took a deep breath. Finally, she was starting to come out of her shell. ‘So, you okay now?’ She nodded, and smiled.

‘Yeah, thanks. I just get anxious easily. And I’ve wanted to meet you for so long.....’ Her voice trailed off.

‘Really? Why?’

‘No reason.’ Instantly, her guard was up again. Shane sensed she didn’t want to talk about it, so he changed the subject.

‘So, err, how long have you been in Sligo, Karina?’

‘Not long, but actually, I was born here. I moved away when my parents split, but now that I’ve left home, I dunno, I guess I just wanted to come back for a while. See if much had changed.’

‘Has it?’

‘I don’t know actually! I was really little when my parents split, so I don’t remember much of it. Hardly any really.’

‘Did you move away with your Mum or your Dad?’

‘With my Dad. I haven’t seen my Mum since we left. Dad told me that she remarried and had other kids quite quickly, and he offered to get me in touch with her, but I didn’t want to. And she didn’t seem too fussed either.’ There was no emotion in her voice.

‘That’s so sad.’

‘No, not really. I don’t remember her being around, so I don’t miss her. Not at all. She’s never been a part of my life. It’s always been me and Dad.’

‘Did you Dad ever remarry?’

‘Nah. He said he couldn’t ever love anyone as much as he did my Mum, and that he just wanted to give me a good life, and if he did that he’d die a happy man.’

‘Sounds like a good guy.’

‘He was. He passed away earlier this summer. He’d had cancer, but they caught it too late. There was nothing they could do.’ She seemed close to tears.

‘I’m so sorry. Are you okay? Do you want me to pull over?’

‘No! I’m okay. Truly. I’ll be fine in a minute.’

‘If you’re sure. It’s only about a mile to my place from here anyway.’ They were silent for the rest of the ride.

When they arrived, Shane guided Karina into the living room. The walls were still bare - Shane had moved in less than a month ago.

‘Kinda empty I know. I want to try and do it up whilst I’m home, but our holiday keeps getting eaten in to, so I don’t know if I’ll have time.’

‘I’ll help you!’ Karina practically leapt out of her seat.

‘Really?’

‘Yeah, I’d love to. I went to design college, but I’ve never had chance to do much with it. I’d love to help.’

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly, and early that evening, Shane drove Karina home, after talking solidly for about 3 hours. When he pulled up outside her house, he leant across, with his heart in his throat, and kissed her on the mouth. She pushed him away.

‘Don’t Shane! Just don’t.’ She got ready to leave the car, but he held her by the arm.

‘Why Karina? What’s going on? What aren’t you telling me?’ He felt she’d been holding back all afternoon. She burst into tears.

‘Please don’t ask me Shane. I’ll tell you someday, but not now. I just can’t.’ She wriggled free from his grip, and ran into the house. Shane drove home, feeling confused, and tired. What on earth was going on?