The Roof is on Fire!

by Eleanor Rigby


Part One

Assumpta looked up with a smile as Peter entered the pub. He gestured to the other end of the bar, away from the regulars' end. Nervously and excitedly, she walked over to hear what he had to say.

"I love you."

Assumpta smiled. "Would you take that thing off before you say things like that?" She flicked at his clerical collar.

"I can't help it."

"I know." The lights flickered again. Assumpta sighed.

"I'll get it."

"No, no," Padraig insisted. "I'll go."

He walked down the creaky wooden stairs into the cellar. It was quiet for a few seconds, and then everyone heard a loud thump and Padraig yelled, "Mother of Jayz...!" He came running up the stairs. "Fire!" he shouted. "There's a fire!"

The pub was a madhouse as everyone scrambled to run out the door. Assumpta ran round to the front of the bar to avoid the flames that were creeping up the stairs.

"Assumpta, come on!" Peter said. "We've got to get out of here!"

"I've got to get some stuff upstairs first!"

"Assumpta, no! Come back!"

But she was already running up the stairs. Peter ran after her. The smoke was pouring up to the second level when Peter ran in through the door to Assumpta's room. She was rooting through her bedside table drawer. She had a pair of jeans and a t-shirt thrown over her arm as she dug through the drawer.

"Assumpta, come on!"

"No, I can't leave without it!"

"What?"

"My dad's photograph!"

"Assumpta--"

"Found it!" She pulled an old photo out of the drawer and held it aloft. "Ok, now let's get out of here!"

She and Peter looked back at the door through which they had come. Flames were threatening to come in. They simultaneously looked at the window.

"Do you trust me?" Peter asked.

"What?" They had to shout now over the sound of the fire.

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes!"

"Then jump!"

Assumpta grabbed Peter's hand, flung open the window, and, throwing caution to the wind, they jumped. Three seconds later, they were on the sidewalk in the arms of Brendan and Padraig, who had been standing under the window calling up to them and happened to catch them as they fell.

A large crowd had gathered outside the pub and everyone watched in horror and amazement as the second story collapsed, falling down into the first. Assumpta looked at her namesake, literally watching her life go up in flames.

Liam, Donal, and several other people rushed forward with buckets of water, hurling them at the pub, but Assumpta knew it was no use. The pub was gone. Her home was gone. Her business, her career, was gone. Her life was destroyed in the span of five minutes. Just like that.

Once the flames had settled, people came forward to reassure Assumpta. Siobhan wrapped her in a bear hug, telling her that everything would beall right. Niamh was sobbing as she hugged her best friend; anyone would have thought it was her pub that had been burnt to the ground. Brendan slung his arm round her shoulder and patted her back. Padraig looked white as a ghost and kept apologizing as he hugged Assumpta. Ambrose reassured her that the fire squad from Cilldargan was on their way and that they'd be there as soon as possible. Even Kathleen gave the landlady a little hug and Father Mac patted her back.

But when Peter came up to her the dam broke. The tears came flooding out like a tidal wave, uncontrollable, unstoppable. Peter just held her and rocked her back and forth, shushed her softly and told her everything was going to be all right.

"Take her to your house," Ambrose instructed Peter. "We'll all be over in a little while."

Peter agreed and walked with Assumpta back to his house. When they got inside, Peter sat her down on the couch and told her to sit tight; he was going to make her a cup of tea. When he brought the tea out, Assumpta was still sitting on the couch, but she looked different. She had changed out of her scorched red sweater and blue skirt into the jeans and t-shirt she'd salvaged from her room. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and she just looked so helpless.

Peter wanted to hug her, to hold her, to tell her everything was going to be fine. He put the tea down on the coffee table and sat down next to her. Assumpta took one look at him and started crying again.

"Oooh, Peter..." she sobbed.

There was nothing he could do besides what he had done before: hold her close and reassure her. He kissed the top of her head as her body shook in his arms, wrenched with sobs. His black shirt was soaked with her tears.

Suddenly, a thunderclap startled them both. Assumpta stopped crying and looked out the window. The rain was pouring down in buckets and the sky flashed with lightning and roared with thunder. Assumpta sniffed and wiped her eyes, then took a sip of tea.

"Ambrose said everyone would come round soon," Peter said, still holding her.

She nodded. "That's nice."

Peter saw goosebumps popping up on her pale arms. "Here, let me get you a sweater or something." He went up to his room and returned half a minute later with a big gray sweater.

"Thanks." Assumpta pulled it over her head. "Mmm..." It smelled like Peter: warm, comforting, loving. She still couldn't believe that they could finally be honest with each other. It was a relief. She snuggled up next to Peter on the couch, her head resting on his chest. "D'you remember the last time you wore this?" she asked him. Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

Peter thought about it for a minute. He knew it had been a while, but he couldn't remember a specific time.

Assumpta answered his question for him. "It was on the night of the rehearsal for that silly play, Ryan's Mother. Do you remember that?"

Peter smiled. Of course, how could he have forgotten? He and Assumpta were supposed to kiss in the play, but they couldn't bring themselves to do it at the rehearsal in front of Brendan and Padraig. Then Father Mac had come in and ruined everything. Assumpta turned round to look up at Peter.

"We were about this close that night, wouldn't you say?" Her voice was quiet again and it gave Peter the chills.

"No, I'd say it was about this close." Peter took Assumpta's chin in his fingers and pulled it up to his face.

"Peter..." Assumpta whispered. She moved closer to his lips, anticipating the sweetness of the kiss that was about to come. Their lips brushed...and then the doorbell rang. They both laughed at the cruel irony of the situation and Assumpta moved so Peter could get up and answer the door.

It was Niamh, Ambrose, and Kieran.

"Hiya, come on in," Peter said.

"I guess the Food Fair is here now, huh?" Ambrose asked.

Niamh went into the living room to check on Assumpta. "You ok?" she asked.

Assumpta shrugged. "Nothing a spot of tea won't fix."

Niamh hugged her best friend. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"Tell that to Padraig. He looked ready to off himself when I saw him last."

"It's not his fault either," Assumpta said. "If it's anyone's fault, it's my fault. I should have gotten those wires looked at as soon as I started having problems."

"It's no-one's fault," Peter said, coming in with more tea, followed by Ambrose. The doorbell rang again.

"I'll get it," Assumpta told Peter, who was making to walk back over and open it. This time it was Brendan and Siobhan, dripping wet. "Come in!"

They ran in, eager to get out of the downpour. The next time the doorbell rang it was Doc Ryan, then Eamonn only a few minutes behind. Soon after came Brian, Liam, Donal, and Shamie, who were followed not too long after by Padraig and Kevin.

"Well," Assumpta said, closing the door for the final time after Kevin, "the gang's all here now, aren't we?" The Food Fair, take two, was underway and the good time everyone was having seemed to overshadow the tragic events of the past few hours.

As afternoon wore on into evening, and evening wore on into night, Assumpta decided she should say something about what had happened. After all, not saying anything wouldn't make it go away, and she'd always thought that talking about things helped.

"Ehm...excuse me," she said, raising her voice. The chatter died down and everyone turned to look at Assumpta. Now that it came to it, she had no idea what to say. So she just said whatever came out. "I do not blame anyone for...what happened today. I'd just like that say I am so glad that we are all here, safe, and that no-one got hurt."

"Here, here!" someone said.

"I don't know how or when I'm going to be able to serve drinks again--"

"I do." Brian was the one who had spoken, and now everyone turned to him. "I'll fully finance the renovations and have it done in a month."

Before Assumpta could say that wasn't necessary, Padraig added, "Yeah, and I'll completely rewire the place for free."

"Brian...Padraig..." She really didn't want it. She had never accepted charity from people before, so why start now, just because her whole life had been destroyed?

Brian held up a hand. "I won't hear any of it. You've given so much to this town. For once in your life, Assumpta Fitzgerald, let the people of BallyK give something back to you."

"Oh...fine." She had to grin.

Niamh went round with a bottle of wine and filled everyone's glasses, then they all toasted to Brian, Padraig, and a new life ahead of them.

It was well after midnight when the last people straggled out Peter's door into the slick night. It had stopped raining, but the streets were still wet from the downpour. The only ones left in the house were Peter and Assumpta.

"I hope you don't think that everyone's going to come to this place now for drinks," Peter said jokingly. "This was a one time thing."

Assumpta smiled. "I know." She felt a yawn coming on and tried to hide it, but was unsuccessful.

"Bed," Peter said promptly. "You've had a rough day."

"Well it's not like you or anyone else hasn't," Assumpta argued. Peter fixed her with a stare that for some reason always compelled her to do whatever he wanted her to. "All right, all right..." She started up the stairs, then paused halfway up. "Where will you sleep?" She raised an eyebrow hopefully. "Surely not in the bed with me?"

Peter smiled. "No, I'll sleep on the couch."

"Sure?"

"I've slept in more uncomfortable places than that. It's fine. Really. Good night."

"G'night."

"You want me to tuck you in?" Peter called after her.

Yes, Assumpta thought. "No," she said. She walked up the rest of the stairs and into Peter's room. The bed looked inviting after a long, rough, scary day. She pulled back the blankets and slid between the cool sheets. Assumpta was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

Part Two

The sunlight streamed gently through the windows of Peter's house, waking him up. He yawned and stretched, wincing as he felt his stiff neck from his sleep on the couch the night before. He had a cup of coffee, and then went upstairs to check on Assumpta.

She lay in the bed, one hand tucked under the pillow and the other hanging off the side. Her hair was tousled and the oversized sweater had shifted on her body during sleep. Peter thought she looked gorgeous. But then, when did she not?

He leaned down and kissed her cheek. She stirred. "Good morning," Peter whispered in a singsong voice.

Assumpta's eyelids fluttered open and she smiled. "Oooh, I have always wanted to see your face first thing in the morning," Assumpta whispered.

Peter grinned. "I'll bring you up some tea." He turned to go.

"Peter!" Assumpta reached out and grabbed his hand. He turned back round. "Don't leave me just yet. Come lie down next to me." She scooted over in the small twin bed to make room for him. Peter looked at her skeptically. "Oh come on, nothing naughty! Yet..." She lifted up the sheets and Peter lay down next to her.

They just lay like that for a while, looking at each other, so glad to finally be together. Peter accidentally kicked out his foot and it bumped into Assumpta's. She promptly wrapped her ankle round his and they stayed like that. Suddenly Peter leaned forward and planted a soft butterfly kiss on Assumpta's neck. She grinned so he did it over and over, moving up her neck to her face and ears. Then he came to her mouth. Her lips looked so soft and inviting. He pulled her closer, their lips just millimeters apart...and then the phone rang.

Peter groaned and leaned over Assumpta to answer it. While he was leaning, Assumpta took a whiff and filled herself with his scent. So soft, so comforting, and he was all hers. All hers...

"Father Clifford speaking." Assumpta winced. Still 'Father'. She'd almost forgotten. "Ah, Father Mac. Hiya. Yes. Yes. Sure. Ok, I'll be right there. Ok. Bye." He hung up and turned to Assumpta. "Father Mac wants to speak to me in his office in Cilldargan. I've got to go."

He moved to get up but Assumpta held his arm. "Peter, have you told him about us?"

"Yes, yesterday."

"And...?"

"He's not going to let go easily. But I've already sent my letter of resignation to the Bishop and now all I have to do is wait for an answer. Father Mac probably wants to see me to convince me to change my mind, but..." He looked down lovingly at Assumpta. "Don't you worry about a thing. I've made up my mind and I want to be with you forever."

Assumpta grinned. "Mmm, me too."

"Well, I'd better be going then." Peter kissed the top of her head and got up out of bed.

Assumpta lay there for a few minutes, listening to him get ready, and then when she heard him shut the front door she went to the window and watched his car pull out of the driveway. Then she went downstairs and made herself a spot of tea.

Peter pulled up outside of Father Mac's house in Cilldargan at half past ten. He knocked on the door and the housekeeper let him in and showed him to Father Mac's office. Father Mac was sitting at the desk in his uniform, reading over some papers. He looked his stern, usual self. Peter sat down in a chair and Father Mac looked up.

"Ah, Father Clifford." That was all he said. Peter shifted uncomfortably, waiting for the parish priest to say something else, but he didn't.

"You, uh, wanted to see me?"

"Yes." Another short sentence. Peter thought that maybe Father Mac was trying to think of what to say, so he decided to help him out.

"If you want to convince me to stay..."

"No, no, certainly not," Father Mac said, surprising Peter. "I got the approval of your resignation from the Bishop this morning." Another surprise. "But there is something I'd like to tell you, something I wish I had known when I was faced with the very same problem you are."

"What?"

"Do you remember Nainsi McGuire?" Peter thought back to a month or so before to when the young girl had come to town looking for her sister, only to find the woman she was looking for was not her sister, but her mother. And the father remained unknown. Everything fell into place.

"She was your daughter?"

Father Mac sighed. "Yes. Well, I think so anyway. I'll never be sure now, but I'd like to give you some advice. When someone comes along, someone you really love, someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, do not let them get away. If you're sure that you love them and that they love you, don't let anything stand in the way. Be it vows, or a job, or where you live...do what you think is right. That's all I have to say. You are released from your duties. Thank you." He extended his hand and Peter, still a bit shaken by what Father Mac had just said, took it slowly but surely.

"Thank you Father Mac, for everything." He stood up and walked back out to his car. The whole drive home to Ballykissangel he beamed. He had never felt so free in his life. He was no longer a priest.

After her cup of tea, Assumpta took a hot bath and redressed in her change of clothes from the night before. Then she went to the Garda house to see if Niamh had any spare clothes lying round. Niamh answered the door.

"Assumpta! Come in! Here, I'll make you some tea."

"It's ok, I've just had some."

"Come on, I insist."

"Niamh," Assumpta said, following Niamh into the kitchen, "I want to make it perfectly clear that just because I've been through an accident doesn't mean you have to pamper me. I'm perfectly fine!"

"You don't want help from anyone, do you?" Niamh was getting testy.

"Niamh, it's not that I don't want help. It's that I'm not used to being helped, I guess. I mean I've gotten on fine before without anyone's help, so why should I need some now, just cos I've had a rough experience?"

"I wouldn't call it a rough experience; I'd call it a near death experience," Niamh muttered. "Anyway, you certainly seemed to need a shoulder to cry on yesterday... you didn't seem to mind when Father Clifford helped you."

Assumpta could feel the colour rushing to her cheeks. "What are you talking about?"

Niamh let out an exasperated sigh. "Oh come on Assumpta. The dogs on the street know!"

"Know what?"

"About you and Father Clifford!"

"What about me and Father Clifford?"

"That you're in love!"

Assumpta knew playing dumb wasn't going to get her anywhere. "Is it really that obvious?"

Niamh's eyebrows shot to the ceiling. "So it's true then?"

"Yes, I guess you could say that."

"You are a piece of work, Assumpta Fitzgerald, did you know that?" Niamh sat down in a chair. "I was right. You really want what you can't get."

"Niamh, this has nothing to do with wanting what I can't get! This has to do with love! This is the one time in my life when I have felt truly happy, did you know that?"

"Well what about Leo?" Niamh argued. "Weren't you happy with him? Isn't that what marriage is?"

Assumpta tried to stay calm. "Leo," she said, "was a big mistake. I loved him once, but we are over now, Niamh, ok? I married him for all the wrong reasons."

"Well fine, but for God's sake, Assumpta...a priest!" Niamh shook her head at the unthinkable.

Now Assumpta was hurt. She thought the one person she might be able to confide in about this was Niamh, but here she was raking her across the coals about how the choice she was making was wrong.

"Do you think I wanted this to happen, Niamh?" Assumpta asked, temper rising. "Do you honestly think I sought him out? Why do you think I went away to London, huh? On holiday? You know me better than that, Niamh! I went to London hoping to get Peter off my mind! And I married Leo for the same reason. And now I feel absolutely horrible about it." She put her head in her hands.

Niamh finally realized the seriousness of her friend's situation. "Oh, Assumpta, I'm sorry... this must be hard for you, huh?"

"Just a little." Assumpta cracked a smile.

"I am happy for you," Niamh assured her friend. "I just wish you hadn't picked a man who was sort of off limits. But I won't stop you. Peter's a good man."

"Thanks."

"So what are you going to do?"

"Well, Leo and I did get an annulment, but I think we're going to have to file for a full scale divorce if I want to have a future with Peter."

"I see... well you can call a solicitor from my phone."

"Thanks."

"Need anything else?"

Assumpta started to scold her friend for offering something again, but then said, "You wouldn't happen to have any spare clothes lying round, would you?"

Niamh cocked her head to the side, thinking for a moment. "I'm afraid I don't. But..." She reached into a pot by the sink and pulled out a £100 banknote. "You can have this."

"Niamh..."

"Oh for God's sake, take the bloody thing! Go to Cilldargan and buy yourself some new clothes!"

"Ohhh...fine!" Assumpta grinned as she took the money. "How can I refuse?"

"Come here you." Niamh gave Assumpta a hug. "Now hurry back so you can call
 a solicitor."

"I think I'll stop by to see one while I'm in Cilldargan. Thanks though. See ya." Assumpta was out the door. She got into her van and drove to Cilldargan.

After buying four new outfits, several pairs of undergarments, and a new dress, Assumpta pulled up outside Murray Solicitors. She sat in a stuffy waiting room with a sniffling lady for ten minutes, and just when she thought she could stand it no more, the secretary said Mr. Murray could see her now. Assumpta stood up and walked into his office.

"Ah, hello," Murray said. He was a thin, balding man in his early fifties, Assumpta guessed. "How can I help you, Ms...?"

"Fitzgerald," Assumpta said, shaking his hand and being sure to use her unmarried name. "Assumpta." Murray looked confused. "You wouldn't be married to a Leo McGarvey, would you?"

"Oh my God."

Two hours later, after a long story and coming close to tears a few times, Assumpta stood up. "Thanks so much, Mr. Murray. I'll see you at the trial on the 28th."

"Take care."

Assumpta left and shut the door behind her. Murray sat down and poured himself a glass of whiskey. "I meet some weird people in this job..."

Peter stood at the counter, fixing coffee, wondering where Assumpta could
possibly be. It was nearly five o'clock. He was so immersed in his thoughts that he didn't hear the door open, so it was a bit of a shock when he felt Assumpta's arms round his waist.

"Wow, you gave me a scare!"

"Sorry."

He kissed the top of her head. "Where were you?"

She held up her shopping. "Cilldargan. Getting clothes, courtesy of Niamh, and seeing a solicitor."

"Oh." Peter seemed interested at the second part of her journey. The first part, not so much. "Well, what'd he say?"

Assumpta sighed. "Well, I found out Leo had come to the very same solicitor, wanting to get a divorce from me."

"At least you can agree on one thing."

Assumpta had to smile. "So I explained my whole story to him. He said a divorce was possible, but I'd have to go to a hearing on the 28th to make everything legal and to make sure that this is what I really want."

"And is it?" Peter asked. "What you really want?"

"Of course," Assumpta whispered.

Peter kissed the top of her head again. "I've got some good news myself," he said.

"Oh, tell!"

"Well remember how I went to go see Father Mac this morning?"

"Yes...oh my God. Are you...?" Peter grinned and nodded. Assumpta threw her arms round his neck. "It's all official," he whispered into her hair. "And so, to celebrate, I'm taking you out to dinner."

"Dinner? Where?"

"The only restaurant in BallyK," Peter said, grabbing his jacket. "Peking Chinese."

He and Assumpta linked arms and walked out the door and down the street to the Chinese. When they arrived, they found Niamh, Ambrose, Kieran, Brendan, Padraig, Siobhan, Doc Ryan, and Eamonn sitting at a circular bench round a circular table. They waved when the two walked in and offered them a seat.

"Scoot," Assumpta said, banging her hip against Niamh's, which was on one end. Everyone scooted down to make room for Peter and Assumpta. Now that they were at the table, there was an awkward silence, as if they were expected to announce something.

Peter sensed the tension and able to stand it no more, raised his voice so everyone at the table could hear him. "Assumpta and I would like to say something." Everyone focused their attention directly on the couple. "Well, I guess you all realize that recent events have caused some upheaval in the village," Peter went on. "And some of those events, and I mean the lock-in hearing, the fire, etc., have caused me to realize that I was fooling myself. I realized that I was no longer doing what made me happy. So I've decided to leave the priesthood."

"And because of Peter's...ehm...available status, we've decided to go together," Assumpta said. There was a dead silence again, much like the one after someone has died and no-one quite knows what to say. "Well don't all congratulate us at once," Assumpta said sarcastically.

"We know," Brendan said.

"What?" Peter and Assumpta were both dumbfounded.

"We've known for ages," Brendan continued. "There was always something going on between you two."

"Yes, we just didn't expect you two would ever realize it," Siobhan added.

"But we are happy for you," Niamh assured them.

"Thanks," Peter said.

"Now, what does it take to get some food round here?" Assumpta complained. "Back where I used to work a customer would walk in and immediately be served!"

"I wouldn't bet on that," Padraig chuckled.

Liam walked up in a waiter's uniform and took their orders. When everyone was talking amongst themselves, waiting for the food to arrive, Assumpta slipped her hand under the table and ran it along Peter's leg. They exchanged a tender look when they thought no-one was looking, but Niamh gave them a scandalized expression and Siobhan smothered her amusement.

Finally the food came. Everyone was so hungry that they dug right in. Conversation struck up again.

"So what are you going to do about Leo?" Niamh asked Assumpta. "I mean you are still technically married to him."

Assumpta sighed. "I'd hoped we could leave Leo out of this tonight, but seeing as you've asked I'll have to satiate your curiosity. I went to see a solicitor today and he said I should attend a hearing on the 28th in Cilldargan, and then we'll sign the forms and everything will be legal."

"Hey Peter," Brendan said. "Now that you're not a priest, where are you going to live? Father Mac's got to have that house empty for the next fella who comes round." Peter and Assumpta exchanged a nervous look. They hadn't thought about that.

"Well one of you could stay at my place," Niamh offered. "In the spare room."

"Yeah and I've got an extra bed," Brendan put in.

"That's all settled then," Niamh said, even though they had agreed to nothing. "Assumpta will stay with me and Ambrose and Peter will stay with Brendan."

Assumpta sighed and looked at Peter. "They're determined to keep us apart, aren't they?"

"Of course we are!" Niamh said, as if that was the obvious thing to do. "You're still married, young lady. No messing round yet!" Assumpta knew her friend was right but couldn't help but feel a little angry with her.

Life continued in BallyK as usual; that is, until the 28th. Peter picked Assumpta up from Niamh and Ambrose's at ten o'clock. She looked beautiful in a new skirt and sweater combo, but Peter couldn't help but notice now nervous she was. Once they pulled away over the bridge, Peter took her hand in his and kissed it.

"Hey," he said quietly. "Everything is going to be fine."

"I know, I know," Assumpta said. "I just want to get this over with."

"It'll be the beginning of a new life for you and me. Just think of it that way. D'you want me to come in with you?"

Assumpta shook her head. "I think it'd be better if you waited outside. Dramatic tension, you know?"

Peter sat outside the courtroom on a bench, waiting for Assumpta to come out. They'd been at it for almost three hours; surely they were almost done. He put his hand in his jeans pocket and all the questions came floating back again: was this too soon? Would she say yes? What if she said no? Was this what they both really wanted? Peter sighed.

The opening of the door disrupted his thoughts. Leo walked out first, so fast that he didn't even notice Peter sitting there next to the door. Next Assumpta walked out. She looked badly shaken, so Peter decided to stand up and hug her.

"How'd it go?" he asked into her hair.

"It was complicated, but it's all legal now," Assumpta said with a grin. "I am single once again."

Part Three

"Come on, there's somewhere I want to take you." Peter took her hand and they got back into the car and drove for about ten minutes. When they stopped, the car was pulled up next to a lake under a mountain.

"Peter, is this..."

Peter nodded. It was the same lake they had walked by a few weeks ago where they had first admitted their feelings for each other. He went round to the other side of the car, opened the door, took Assumpta's hand, and pulled her out. They walked along the banks for several minutes. Suddenly Peter took both Assumpta's hands in his and faced her.

"Assumpta, I love you...so much," he said.

"And I love you," she said, grinning. Peter pulled her close. Assumpta felt something in his pants pocket pressing against her leg.

"What's in your pocket?" she whispered. Peter reached inside and pulled out a gold ring with an emerald in the middle.

Assumpta gasped. "Oh, Peter, you didn't...why did you...?"

Falling down on one knee, Peter looked up at Assumpta and asked, "Will you marry me?"

"Yes," Assumpta answered, smiling through her tears.

Peter slipped the ring on her finger and stood up. They looked at each other lovingly, then Assumpta flung her arms round Peter's neck and kissed him. The kiss was long, deep, and passionate, not to mention it being their first real one. When they pulled apart Assumpta was amazed.

"Wow," she said, catching her breath. "Where did you learn to kiss like that?"

Peter shrugged. "Must be because I haven't done it in so long."

"Hmmm..." They kissed again, holding each other close. Finally they parted, gasping for air.

"I don't think so," Assumpta said, referring to Peter's statement before. "Peter Clifford, you are one amazing kisser."

They both grinned and walked hand in hand back to the car. When they were coming close to the bridge, Peter told Assumpta to close her eyes.

"Why?" she asked skeptically.

"I've got another surprise for you," he answered.

Assumpta shut her eyes, felt the car go over the bridge, then stop not too long after. "Where are we...?"

"Ok, you can open your eyes now." Peter sounded excited.

Assumpta opened her eyes, looked out the window, and gasped. The pub was finished! The paint had never looked so blue, the windows never so cheerful.

"Oooh, Peter!" Assumpta squealed. She kissed him and then they climbed out of the car.

As soon as she opened the door to the pub, everyone inside yelled out, "Surprise!!!" All their friends were there in the newly decorated Fitzgerald's, which actually didn't look that much different than the old one.

Assumpta made her way to the bar with Peter in tow, thanking everyone so much. When she finally got behind the bar, Padraig and Brendan yelled for a speech.

"All right, all right!" Assumpta gave in. The chatter died down. "Thank you all so much for helping rebuild this place. And especially to Brian, who funded the whole thing. And to Padraig, who rewired the place for free. And to Niamh and Ambrose, who let me stay at their place. And to Brendan, who put up Peter. And to all of you, who care so much about this town and each other. Thank you all."

The place went up in cheers. Niamh went up to hug Assumpta but before they did she let out a gasp.

"Oh my God, when's the wedding?"

Assumpta was confused for one second and then remembered the ring on her finger. "I don't know but..."

She was cut off by Niamh's squeal and a hug. "I'm so happy for you! And Peter! Come here, you!" She hugged Peter and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I hope you know what you're in for!"

Peter laughed. "I sure hope so. I am the one who proposed to her."

Brendan overheard. "What's that? You're engaged?" Peter nodded. "Well done! Congratulations!"

Within seconds the whole pub knew and came forward to give their congratulations. Niamh began pulling pints and a happy party was underway. Standing there between her future husband and her best friend, Assumpta realized what a magical place Ballykissangel really was. It was a place where everyone knew each other and everyone was always willing to help a neighbor, a place where you could find your life, and it made you believe that maybe there was a Heaven after all and maybe you already had a little piece of it.