Declan spent the morning after the wedding looking for Zoe but she was nowhere to be seen. Most of the wedding guests had stayed at the hotel, but it seemed she hadn’t. He’d signed a couple of autographs for the reception and other staff but otherwise managed to keep a low profile. Which was something he enjoyed. The bride and groom had already left for their honeymoon so he couldn’t ask Conor for his help.

“You still here? I thought you would have gone back to La La Land by now?” the voice interrupted him as he walked down toward the beach. Gertie was sitting alone at one of the tables.

“Afternoon to you too, Gertie, anyone would think you were trying to get rid of me.”

“Not a chance. I could close my eyes and listen to you all day. I’d pretend you were Sean Connery.”

“He’s Scottish not Irish,” Declan protested before realizing she was teasing him again.

“Young man you take yourself altogether too seriously.” Gertie sat up straighter and fixed him with a penetrating stare. “Why are you so down in the dumps? It’s not just because of Zoe walking off on you last night is it?”

“No of course not. I barely know her name.” He lied smoothly not wanting to tell anyone how long he had spent looking for a girl he had danced with once.

“Are you staying at the hotel for long?” he asked hoping to change the subject.

“Just a couple of days. Conor insisted we stay and enjoy ourselves but it will be nice to get home to Flower Meadows. I had a chat with Conor this morning before they left on their honeymoon. Conor and Emily are worried about you. They told me to have a talk with you.”

“Seriously? Conor told you to talk to me. I’m sorry Gertie but I don’t even know you.” He smiled trying to take the sting from his words. What on earth had Conor told the old lady?

“Well now my granddaughter has married your best friend, we are practically related. Come sit down and have a chat with me. I am a good listener.”

She patted the seat beside her. He was tempted but what if he sounded ridiculous.

“Come on, sit down. You don’t have anything to lose do you?”

He shook his head. So what if he did sound stupid. She was seventy odd years old and not going to go running to the press to tell them Declan Malone, Hollywood mega star, had lost his marbles.

He sat down on the chair beside her. “What did Conor say about me?”

“He said you were feeling a bit down in the dumps. He may have mentioned you had achieved A list ratings for your movies but being a movie star didn’t live up to expectations.”

“I sound like a shallow spoilt brat, don’t I?”

“Maybe if someone else was listening but having spent some time in Hollywood when I was young, I understand. You work so hard for something but when you achieve it, it doesn’t make you feel as good as you thought it would. Right?”

“I guess it sounds a bit silly. But I don’t know who I am. I mean who is the real Declan Malone? I started acting when I was a kid and haven’t stopped. Now my life revolves around Hollywood and it is so artificial. I just don’t recognize myself. If you read the papers, Declan Malone is a woman crazy guy who has a new girlfriend every week. The reality is that the closest thing to a loving relationship is one I have with my cat. That’s only because my housekeeper, Maria keeps her fed.”

Gertie laughed, making a magically twinkling sound. He didn’t mind as she wasn’t laughing at him. He could sense that.

“So why don’t you take a break? Go discover yourself or whatever it is the guru’s tell you people to do.”

“I can’t suddenly quit Hollywood. I would never secure a decent script again.” He protested but despite his protests, he was tempted. Why couldn’t he take a break? He hated filming his last movie.

“Don’t you have enough money to last a lifetime?” she asked.

“I guess.” He did. A few lifetimes’ worth, if he were honest.

“I thought you were a billionaire?”

Declan grinned before ordering two drinks from the waiter who was hovering nearby.

“I thought you didn’t recognize me, Gertie.”

“I didn’t last night but I can use Google. It was quite interesting reading about you and your brothers.”

He stared into the distance. He could only imagine what she had read.

“Don’t worry dear, I don’t believe half of what I read online.”

He shrugged his shoulders. Most of the story about Adam was rubbish. But he didn’t know enough to make comment one way or another.

“But you can act. And you’re pretty good from what I read.”

“Thanks.” He smiled at her. “I think…”

“Listen to me, ducky. I’ve been around a long time.What are you planning on doing next?”

“Me? I wasn’t planning on doing anything special. Just chilling for a few days and then who knows. I don’t start shooting my next movie for a month or so.”

“So you have four weeks and then some to make some serious changes?”

What was she? A therapist? He was about to say something, but she spoke again.

“It’s obvious that you’re not happy. We already ruled out all the usual problems like money and health issues, so that leaves one option. You’re lonely.”

Lonely? How could he be lonely when he was surrounded by people all the time? He couldn’t even go out for a coffee without being stopped and asked for his autograph or picture. He could ring a number of women for a date on any given night. But then, why did he come alone to a wedding? He didn’t want to answer that.

“Gertie, I know you mean well. But I spent my life working to get where I am. I’m not going to throw that all aside.”

“Why not? You set a goal and you achieved it. Now find another goal.”