The next morning, Declan wandered outside to find his da sitting on a chair reading his paper. He’d done this as long as Declan could remember.

“Ah you got ants in your pants? I remember those days too before your ma agreed to marry me.”

“I don't think we’re there yet, Da.”

“You can fool yourself as much as you want lad but I’ve seen the way you look at her. And her at you.”

“No Da, you got it wrong. I mean, I love her, but she isn’t sure about me.”

“I think she is lad. It might be your lifestyle she isn’t sure about. Have to be a strong woman to deal with that type of garbage day in day out.”

“What?” Declan’s stomach roiled. He knew he wouldn’t like what his da had seen.

His da pointed to the newspaper. Heart sinking, he saw the picture of Susie. Instinctively he knew she had been spreading lies.

“She seems under the impression you were about to buy her a ring as well.”

“Honestly da I haven’t even kissed her. She’s worse than Nora Haggarty. Every night is a different guy and yet she manages to come across like little miss innocent.”

“Yeah well, in this piece she comes across like a betrayed woman. That isn't going to win you any female fans.”

“Darn it anyway. What am I going to do?”

“Ignore it. But you better check that Zoe hasn’t seen it. She might not want to stay around if she has.”

* * *

He called to the hotel to pick up Zoe later that morning. He didn’t have to ask if she had seen the papers. He could tell from her face. They drove to the Phoenix Park in silence. It was the biggest, greenest area in Dublin and they would have total privacy. They parked the car and he took her to the playground his parents had taken him to when he was a kid. There was a lake and beyond that the wild deer in the park roamed in freedom.

“This park is twice the size of Central Park in New York. The biggest in Europe, it is hard to imagine somewhere this peaceful in such a busy city isn’t it?”

She didn’t say a word. He knew he should address the coverage in the paper but for some reason his brain couldn’t find the words.

“Most people think the park is named after the mythical bird but it isn’t. The Gaelic name meant clear water but since it sounded like Phoenix to the English speaking world, that’s what it got called. They hold everything in this park from horse racing to concerts to family event days. The President of Ireland lives in a large house and the American Embassy is within the park too.”

Zoe glanced at him.

“Too much of a history lesson?” he joked, hoping to make her smile. She just looked away.

They took a seat beside the lake, their only audience being the ducks.

“I guess you saw the papers this morning?”

Zoe nodded.

“I’m sorry. You know it is all lies. None of what Susie said is true, at least the bits about me and her and you know…” his voice trailed off.

“I know Declan, but it doesn’t make it easier to read. But I also know that it is part of your life. You cannot be an actor in Hollywood without the constant attention.”

“I can stop.”

“What?” She stared at him, her face losing all color.

“I am serious. Zoe, I love you and I want you in my life. If that means giving up acting, that is what I will do.”

“You can’t. You love it.”

“I do but I love you more. Thanks to Conor and his investment advice, I never need to work again. You, me and Dominic can enjoy a nice lifestyle. We can live anywhere you want. Go back to Cloudy Bay if that would make you happy.”

She moved from the bench to the water’s edge running her hand through the water, watching the ripple effect.

He followed her and knelt beside her. Taking her hand, he said, “Zoe, I’m sick of it. The gossiping, the sniping, the backlash, the tattle telling. None of it is real. Actors get paid more than a whole country, and for what? To play a role on a screen. How can that be more valuable than a surgeon who has the skills to save lives? Or a firefighter who rushes into a fire to save a stranger?”

He stopped talking and waited for her to say something, but she was staring at the water as if it was the most interesting things on the planet.

“It’s a mad world and none of it makes sense apart from me and you. I love you. Everything about you from your fiery independent nature to your heart. You have such a big heart, you are so protective of your family, your brother, aunt everyone. I want you, Zoe. The rest of it doesn’t matter. I’ll stop acting if that’s what you want.”

“How could I ask you to do that? It’s what you live and breath. All you ever wanted to do. That’s what you told me.”

“Yes it was but now it doesn’t matter. I want something else now. I want us. You, me and our family. Dominic too. I will do anything to prove that to you.”

“I, us—it just won’t work. They’ll tear us apart. I couldn’t bear it if you hated me.”

“That will never happen. I love you. You, Zoe. Nobody else.”

“But if you don’t play the game you won’t get the roles you want. You would be bored in a week if you weren’t acting.”

“I want you Zoe, but even if you say no, I won’t go back to that circus. I have proved myself as an actor. I don’t need to do the million dollar films. I want to do other stuff. I’d love that project Stephen is working on. But failing that, there are lots of Irish directors working on Irish films. I can do that. Maybe my past history will help them out a little too.”

“You’re serious?”

“Deadly. You’ve opened my eyes to the world I was living in. I think I saw the falseness for a long time but I was too scared to leave, to be seen as a has-been. You showed me that didn’t matter. All that matters in this world is being happy. Living life the way you want to. For some that is staying single. For others it is the whole make believe world that is Hollywood. But for me, I want what my ma and da have. What your parents had. I want someone to share my life with. And not just anyone. I want you.”

She stared at him for a few seconds, making his heart race harder and his stomach turn into knots. Tempted to say something, he had to bite his tongue. It was her turn to talk.

“Oh Declan. I love you so much it terrifies me. I don’t ever want to lose you.”

Had he heard her properly? She had finally admitted she loved him. He wanted to jump into the lake and run and scream like a little kid. Instead he helped her to stand and drew her close. He pushed a stray hair away from her cheek before cupping her face gently in his hands.

“You won’t. I promise.”

He kissed her, throwing everything he felt into the kiss, willing her to believe he meant every word. She reacted hesitantly at first but then he felt it. She was telling him with her lips and her body, she loved him too.

“Zoe Clark will you marry me?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “Now shush and kiss me again.”

It was only right for him to do as she asked.