Echoes of Grace

by Caragh Bell

  Gloria served Henry and finally herself. ‘Right, dig in,’ she said, picking up her fork.

  Ella nibbled on some chicken and tried a piece of red pepper. To her surprise, she enjoyed it. Things were definitely on the up. Tension seeped out of her body and she relaxed back in her chair.

  Gloria caught her eye and smiled warmly. ‘Is it edible?’ she asked.

  Ella nodded. ‘It’s lovely, thank you.’

  Henry sipped his wine. ‘Jolly good result in the rugby, right, Will?’

  They started to discuss the last English game at Twickenham.

  ‘Sport!’ said Gloria to Ella. ‘How I loathe these conversations. Frightfully boring, aren’t they?’

  ‘I must admit I like rugby,’ said Ella apologetically.

  William’s and Henry’s voices grew louder as they argued over the referee’s decision.

  Gloria put down her fork and leaned closer to Ella. ‘Don’t you worry about a thing, my darling,’ she said in a low voice. ‘We’re all here and we’re going to look after you and your little one.’

  Ella felt tears well up in her eyes. ‘You’re so kind.’

  ‘Think nothing of it,’ said Gloria briskly. ‘I practically raised you myself.’

  ‘No, I’m serious,’ said Ella. ‘I’m so grateful.’

  William stood up and imitated a move the fly half made in the rugby game. ‘I mean, he was bound to miss that kick.’

  ‘I have to agree,’ said Henry.

  Gloria raised her eyes to heaven. ‘Sport!’

  Laura knocked on Aurora’s dressing-room door after the performance the following Saturday evening. ‘Yoohoo! Are you ready? I hope you remember our date?’

  The door swung open and Aurora appeared, wearing tight black pants, a black lacy top and black heels. Her hair shone from brushing and her eyes sparkled. ‘Will I do?’

  ‘Holy Moly! You look like Sandy from Grease.’ Laura shook her head. ‘I got chills, they’re multiplying. You know that Colin’s gay, yeah? The rest of the party are female and straight as far as I know.’

  ‘I know,’ said Aurora, closing the door behind her. ‘I just felt like wearing something minxy.’

  ‘Good for you. Come on, they’re waiting outside. You know Lydia, of course. Her sister Molly is here, plus her best friend Samantha.’

  ‘Bridesmaids?’

  ‘Yes. They’re very nice.’

  They walked down the corridor.

  ‘When’s the wedding?’

  ‘August.’ Laura descended the steps gingerly as her heels were quite high. ‘In Venice no less. Everyone is flying out for a long weekend.’

  ‘How romantic!’ said Aurora dreamily. ‘I’d love to get married there.’

  ‘Not so romantic for me,’ said Laura grimly. ‘Christian and Tara are the groom’s parents. He’ll be tied up in that. I’m Lydia’s close friend so I have to go. Therein lies the problem. If I so much as dance with Chris, I’ll be shot.’

  ‘Hardly shot.’

  ‘You know what I mean. It’s going to be awkward.’

  They reached the stage door. ‘Colin loved your performance by the way. His boyfriend Val is an actor so he has seen his fair share of plays. He was inconsolable when Joey died.’

  ‘That’s so lovely,’ said Aurora, blushing.

  They emerged into the darkness. Standing in front of them was a small group, rubbing their hands together for warmth. Aurora recognised Lydia straight away.

  ‘We’re here!’ announced Laura.

  ‘Finally,’ said a good-looking young man with bouncy brown curls and dark-brown eyes. ‘I’m about to freeze.’ He held out his manicured hand. ‘I’m Colin. You must be Aurora.’

  ‘Hi!’

  ‘Loved you as Elise Sloane. Like, loved.’ He put his hand on his chest. ‘That death scene was just so emotional.’

  ‘Hi, Aurora,’ said Lydia, hugging her. ‘Long time no see.’ She looked the same: small and slim with long brown hair and green eyes.

  ‘Congratulations on your wedding,’ Aurora said shyly. ‘You must be so excited.’

  ‘Not as excited as me,’ interjected Colin. ‘I mean, at the rate my boyfriend Val’s going, I’m never going to walk down the aisle. I’m forced to live my dreams through my darling cousin here.’

  Laura raised her eyes to heaven. ‘I’m not surprised he hasn’t proposed. You’re too pushy.’

  A girl with blonde curls and twinkly blue eyes approached Aurora next. ‘Hi, I’m Molly. Lydia’s younger sister. Fair play on your performance! You look way different with long hair.’

  Aurora smiled. ‘The wig is very effective.’ She guessed Molly was of a similar age to her. She had an air of mischief about her and she liked her immediately.

  Finally, a girl with dark features came forward. ‘I’m Sam, the best friend. Really nice to meet you.’

  ‘Hello!’ Aurora memorised the names.

  Laura checked her watch. ‘Right, let’s hit the pub. I could murder a gin and tonic.’

  ‘Let me just call Val and check on Britney,’ said Colin, pulling out his iPhone. ‘You walk on and I’ll catch up.’

  ‘Britney?’ echoed Laura. ‘Who is that?’

  ‘His dog,’ explained Lydia. ‘She’s a Pom, you know, the small cute hairy dogs.’

  ‘An overindulged, spoilt brat is what she is,’ interrupted Molly.

  ‘My 4G isn’t working,’ complained Colin, ignoring her. ‘I’ll just have to wait until I have Wi-Fi.’ He put his phone into the pocket of his long cashmere coat.

  ‘How old is Britney?’ asked Aurora politely as they walked along.

  ‘Oh, eight months,’ said Colin. ‘Easily the most beautiful dog I’ve ever met.’ He sighed. ‘The day we brought her home was just . . .’ He choked and fanned his face.

  ‘The greatest?’ said Lydia helpfully, patting his back.

  ‘The greatest,’ he agreed. ‘She has made our life complete. Lydia has Sienna, so now I have Britney. Although, I’m a lot stricter than my dear cousin here.’ He gave Lydia a pointed look. ‘No offense, but Sienna is spoilt rotten.’

  Molly laughed out loud. ‘Are you serious? Since you’ve become a Doggy Daddy, that Pom has been treated like a princess.’ She turned to Laura. ‘He buys clothes for her and jewellery. She has a four-poster dog basket and only eats freshly prepared chicken fillets.’

  ‘Free range chicken fillets,’ corrected Colin haughtily.

  ‘Thank God Val is rational,’ Samantha said. ‘There are no diamond collars when he’s around.’

  ‘Val is Colin’s reverse,’ explained Molly. ‘The complete opposite to my cuz here.’

  ‘That’s why I need to FaceTime as soon as I can,’ said Colin grimly. ‘I need to check if he’s following the schedule.’

  ‘Schedule?’ scoffed Laura. ‘For the bloody dog?’

  Colin looked affronted. ‘Lydia left a list for Luca to follow. You know, all about Sienna’s feeds and nap times. Well, I did the same for Val.’ He accessed his phone. ‘According to this, she should be in bed by now if she’s to get her full eight hours.’

  ‘Oh, Colin, you’re a pity,’ said Molly, shaking her head.

  The local pub was buzzing so they decided to go for drinks there. Music emanated from the front door as they approached.

  ‘Town is too far and expensive,’ said Laura. ‘This place will do nicely.’

  ‘Right, gin and tonics for everyone,’ said Colin. ‘My round.’ He walked up to the bar with Laura in tow, chattering incessantly.

  ‘So, I hear you have an agent,’ said Lydia to Aurora when they were seated. ‘How exciting!’

  She nodded. ‘I rang him yesterday and accepted his offer of representation.’

  ‘Laura says that you sing too,’ said Samantha, draping her jacket over her chair. ‘That has to be a bonus with all the musical opportunities there.’

  ‘I haven’t utilised my singing to date,’ admitted Aurora, ‘I’ve just been acting with Justin, my director, really.’

>   Colin arrived with three large glasses of gin. ‘They have much fancier tonic over here,’ he said in excitement. ‘Far bigger bottles too.’ He placed three large goblets on the table filled with ice cubes, gin and lemon slices.

  Laura followed with the remaining drinks. ‘Right, let’s toast! To Lydia and Luca! Wishing you all the best!’

  They all raised their glasses. ‘To Lydia and Luca!’

  ‘Fitting toast from her future mother-in-law,’ whispered Molly to Colin and they giggled.

  ‘I heard that!’ shrieked Laura. ‘No jokes about Christian, please.’ She turned to her friend. ‘Any luck finding a dress, Lyd?’

  ‘Well, we did make progress.’

  ‘Progress? We have it sorted,’ interrupted Colin. ‘We’re getting it made! It will be an original gown by this new up-and-coming designer.’

  ‘A friend of Luca’s from New York,’ explained Lydia. ‘She’s based in London.’

  ‘She could be the next Chanel,’ continued Colin. ‘Just saying.’

  Samantha agreed. ‘The sketches she showed us? The dress suited you down to the ground, Lyd.’

  Lydia shrugged. ‘It’s just a dress. A one-day wonder.’

  Colin snorted. ‘It’s an original design, darling. Not just any old dress.’

  ‘Speaking of Luca, has he told his mother that I’ll be there?’ asked Laura, reddening slightly.

  Lydia bit her lip. ‘Not exactly,’ she said uncomfortably, ‘but soon. He’s waiting for the right moment.’

  ‘Well, Chris and I are moving in together, surely that counts for something,’ said Laura defensively. ‘I’m not just some consort he picked up at a bar.’

  ‘She doesn’t know that yet,’ said Lydia diplomatically. ‘The only reason she didn’t take Christian to the cleaners was because Luca asked her not to. You two weren’t very discreet throughout the whole thing. She could’ve made things very difficult.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Laura, blushing an ugly red. ‘I didn’t realise.’

  Lydia looked away. She didn’t want Laura to know the fights she and Luca had had over the issue of her coming to their wedding. Tara had made it quite clear that she didn’t want her day marred by Laura’s presence but, as Lydia argued over and over, it was her day, not Tara’s. She and Laura were close and there was no question of her friend being excluded.

  ‘How about you, Lyd?’ Laura pressed on, twiddling the lemon in her glass.

  ‘Hey, you know how I feel.’ Lydia smiled warmly. ‘You’re my friend and I know more than anyone how complicated relationships can be. Remember, Luca was married when we got together. Now look at us. It’s worth it in the end.’

  Aurora nodded in agreement. ‘Love knows nothing of race or rank or age. When it happens, it happens. You must fight to protect it.’

  Molly whistled. ‘You could be in Downton Abbey. Honest to God.’

  Aurora laughed. ‘You’re not the first to say that.’

  ‘Or a Jane Austen movie. Get your new fancy agent to start looking for parts like that. You were born to play a princess or a duchess.’

  ‘So, what do you do?’ Aurora asked Samantha and Molly.

  ‘Well, I’m in my final year of nursing,’ said Molly happily. ‘I’m working crazy hours, but I love it.’

  ‘I’m a teacher,’ said Samantha, ‘of Spanish and History.’

  ‘Are you married, Molly?’

  Molly snorted. ‘Gosh, no. I’m only twenty-two. My whole life is ahead of me. I’m no Colin – hankering to walk down the aisle.’

  ‘Well, I am married – my husband Craig is a solicitor,’ said Samantha. ‘He’s Luca’s cousin actually. So, we’re all connected.’

  ‘I work at a magazine now,’ said Lydia. ‘I write articles every week. Colin works there too. It’s called Papped!.’

  ‘What kind of articles?’ enquired Aurora. ‘Editorials? Political?’

  Molly guffawed. ‘Try, ‘How to get the most out of your fake tan’ or ‘Is cellulite a myth?’

  Lydia glared at her sister. ‘You back off,’ she said dismissively. ‘I admit our articles aren’t heavy-hitting investigatory journalism, but I make a difference.’

  ‘Of course you do,’ said Molly with a serious face. ‘I mean, I now know the difference between a Hollywood and a Brazilian wax.’

  Colin drew himself up to his full height. ‘You need not patronise us, Molly Kelly. At least we don’t clean arses for a living.’ He picked up his phone. ‘Silence for a moment. I’m FaceTiming home.’

  The call connected and Val’s face appeared. He looked older than Colin, with dark features and merry eyes. He was wearing a plaid shirt and had a can of beer in his hand.

  ‘Hi, Col,’ came his deep voice.

  ‘Hi, honey. Is our baby asleep?’

  Val nodded. ‘Sienna’s been asleep since nine.’

  ‘You know I mean Britney,’ said Colin sternly. ‘Where is she?’

  A volley of high-pitched barks could be heard over the phone and a small white dog appeared, licking Val’s face.

  ‘She’s still awake?’ shouted Colin. ‘Val! It’s way past her bedtime. Honestly.’

  ‘Oh, don’t get your knickers in a twist. I’m watching some rugby. I’ll put her to bed later.’

  Colin got to his feet with an indignant expression on his face. ‘I’ll take this call outside,’ he said, stalking off.

  ‘Can the dog even tell the time?’ asked Molly.

  Lydia turned to Aurora. ‘Colin likes to be in control. He’s obsessively tidy and has an schedule for everything.’

  ‘If you go to his place and forget to use a coaster?’ Molly trailed her finger along her throat.

  ‘Or leave your dirty ware in the sink?’ added Samantha, making a Sign of the Cross.

  Lydia laughed. ‘Well, he’s not quite as bad as that, but almost.’

  The gin and tonic was cool and refreshing and soon they were all empty again.

  ‘My round,’ said Samantha waving her purse. ‘Same again?’

  Everyone nodded.

  Colin arrived back to the table and exhaled dramatically. ‘Parenting is so hard. You read all the books and think you’re doing a great job and then bam! Wake-up call.’ He poured the tonic into the giant glass. ‘Right, let’s get drinking. I need to relax.’

  ‘Hear! Hear!’ whooped Molly. ‘So what if Britney is up past her bedtime? We’re in London, baby. No more talk of schedules or dogs.’

  ‘Do you have a picture of Sienna?’ said Aurora to Lydia. ‘I’ve heard so much about her.’

  Lydia nodded and accessed her photo stream on her phone. ‘There, that’s my baby.’

  Aurora took the phone and saw one of the cutest little girls she’d ever seen. Sienna had blonde curls, big green eyes and was laughing in the photo. A gold bracelet dangled on her chubby wrist and she had a tiara on her head.

  ‘That was taken at her first birthday party,’ said Lydia, her face softening. ‘Colin had just given her a giant Elsa doll as she’s obsessed with Frozen. To date, she has about four words: Baba, Dada, Mummy and Elsa.’

  ‘Oh, don’t talk to me,’ said Molly, throwing her eyes to heaven. ‘I know every word of every song from that bloody film. Every time I baby-sit, we watch it about ten times.’

  ‘Scroll across,’ said Lydia. ‘There are some nice ones of her at the park.’

  Aurora swiped the screen to reveal pictures of Sienna in a swing, on a slide and in the arms of a blond man. She inhaled sharply. His face was identical to the little girl’s. On closer inspection, she noticed his chiselled bone structure was similar to Christian’s. He was probably one of the most handsome men she had ever seen. ‘Is this Luca?’ she asked, reluctant to swipe.

  Lydia peered at the screen. ‘Yep. That’s him.’

  Aurora’s eyes widened. ‘Is he a model?’

  Molly burst out laughing. ‘A model? What a laugh!’

  Colin glared at her. ‘He a fine thing, Mol. We’re just used to him. I mean, we don’t appreciate his b
eauty any more.’

  ‘Beauty?’ she repeated incredulously. ‘My dear brother-in-law-to-be is far from beautiful.’

  Lydia held up her hands. ‘Would you all just stop? Luca is Luca. Try living with him, that’ll demystify him in no time.’

  ‘I can’t argue there,’ agreed Colin. ‘Luca and Lydia lived with me for a few months, Aurora, and I’m still finding mess. It was a happy day when they got their own place down the hall.’

  Samantha snorted. ‘A happy day? You bawled your eyes out when they moved out.’

  ‘Well, it was emotional,’ he admitted, ‘but then I got Britney and it filled the void.’

  ‘What did I say?’ Molly looked threatening. ‘No more Britney!’

  ‘So, what colour are the bridesmaid dresses?’ asked Laura who was on her fifth gin.

  ‘Fuchsia red,’ said Lydia, sipping some water. ‘You should all hydrate,’ she warned. ‘You’ll die in the morning.’

  Aurora’s muddled brain struggled to focus. ‘Did you say fuchsia?’

  ‘Yes. They grow near my home in West Cork. I love that colour.’

  Aurora pulled her necklace from its resting place between her breasts. ‘Like this, you mean?’

  Lydia peered at the silver pendant. ‘Yes! That’s exactly it. Where did you get that?’

  Aurora fingered the flower. ‘It belonged to my mother. I’ve had it for years.’

  Molly got up and glanced around. ‘Toilets?’

  Laura pointed to the back of the pub. ‘That way.’

  As soon as she was out of sight, Colin accessed his photos on his phone. ‘Aurora, I just have to show you this photo shoot I did last week with Britney.’ He looked over his shoulder to make sure that Molly was indeed in the toilets.

  ‘Oh?’ She glanced at the screen. There were hundreds of pictures, all categorised into folders: Britney’s First Bath, Britney’s First Day at the Kennels, Britney at the Beach . . .

  ‘Are you a fan of Britney Spears?’ asked Aurora, gazing in astonishment at the photos.

  ‘Yes. I adore her. Even after her meltdown and head-shaving. I always sing her stuff at karaoke.’

  ‘Colin is the Karaoke King,’ explained Samantha. ‘He can’t help himself.’