Rachel had a talent for creating elaborate hairstyles and had infinite patience, taking time and care as she piled Anna’s auburn tresses high on her head. She would never let Anna look at her reflection until she’d finished, at which stage her sister would stare in amazement at the sophisticated stranger in the mirror.
It was Rachel who had done her hair the first time she met Liam. She had been an old married woman by then but agreed to call over to the house to do Anna’s hair because she’d been invited to a charity Christmas ball.
‘Everyone who’s anyone goes to this ball,’ Rachel had told her big sister. ‘You have to look your best.’
Anna had been invited by a guy she’d just met. She hadn’t really liked Baz and had no intention of seeing him again, but she couldn’t resist the thought of going to a ball. She spent hours getting ready, with Bridie and Rachel’s help, and was very pleased with the result.
The long black dress she’d bought for the occasion was a sleek and figure-hugging number with a plunging neckline. With her hair piled on the top of her head, tiny ringlets framing her face and the pearls her mother had lent her, she didn’t look too bad at all.
‘Gorgeous,’ her mother had pronounced with tears in her eyes.
‘You’ll knock ’em dead!’ Rachel had agreed.
The two women had stood at the hall door, waving as she and Baz had sped off in a taxi.
Anna had been a bit disappointed in Baz on their second meeting. He’d looked a lot better the night they met. Having said that, the club had been dimly lit and she’d had one too many glasses of cheap champagne. Still, despite his pallor and his bulging watery blue eyes, he looked quite nice in his black tux. Anna loved men in dresswear. Even the wimpiest guy could manage to look like James Bond in a dinner jacket. She was determined to make the best of the night and enjoy herself.
It didn’t take her long to realize that this would be next to impossible. Without even introducing her to anyone, Baz had left her at their table and disappeared to the bar. Anna made the best of it and chatted to a couple of the other women. They were halfway through the starter before Baz finally returned, rather the worse for wear and without a drink for Anna. Ignoring her reproachful look, he proceeded to slag off the food, the band and then he’d launched into a series of filthy jokes. By the time Baz had knocked a full pint of lager over the woman on his right, Liam, who was sitting across from them, had had enough. Jumping to his feet, he’d strong-armed a somewhat bewildered Baz out of the room and handed him over to a bouncer, who promptly threw him out.
When Liam returned, he crouched down beside Anna to tell her what had happened.
‘I’m sorry if I’ve ruined your night, but your boyfriend was way out of order.’
‘He’s not my boyfriend!’ Anna protested, ‘I only met him last weekend. God, what a prat! Thanks for getting rid of him, I appreciate it.’ She looked at him from under her lashes, thinking he was even better-looking close up. ‘Please, let me buy you and your girlfriend a drink.’
Liam grinned at her. ‘She’s not my girlfriend. Her fiancé’s down with the flu and she asked me if I’d like to come along instead.’
‘I’m very glad you did.’
Liam’s eyes twinkled back at her. ‘I’m quite glad I did too.’
And that had been that. Anna had known within weeks that Liam was the man for her and the following Christmas, they got engaged. Rachel, who was eight months’ pregnant at the time, had pestered her sister not to get married for at least six months, to give her time to have her baby and get her figure back. Anna and Liam had agreed to marry in August and although Rachel still hadn’t been as skinny as she would have liked, they’d all had a wonderful day.
Anna continued to daydream as she stood in the long line at the checkout. She and Liam had double-dated with Gary and Rachel a lot at the beginning, although it was clear to Anna that Liam and Gary had little in common. Though Gary was the same age as Anna, he’d always behaved like a much older man. He was very involved in his career, followed the stock markets avidly and liked to discuss politics. He was amazingly proud of his home and its location, being in one of the more up-market parts of Malahide.
Liam, by contrast, was laid back and always up for a laugh; he never talked about his job or how well he was doing. He didn’t seem to have a problem with Gary, but at the same time, he was never exactly relaxed in his company either. Still, as a foursome, they’d always had a good laugh. In fact, it was only in the last couple of years that the socializing had pretty much ground to a halt. Why or who was at fault, Anna really didn’t know. She didn’t think she or Liam had changed that much. She’d have to ask Jill what she thought.
As best friend to both sisters, their cousin Jill knew everything there was to know about the Gallagher sisters. At twenty-nine, Jill Clarke was two years younger than Anna and a year older than Rachel. Living around the corner from the Gallagher family home, she had grown up with them, fought, cried and laughed with them. She had always been the peacemaker in the sense that she could usually make both sisters see the funny side of even the most explosive situations. It was Jill who’d stepped in when Anna broke the head off Rachel’s Barbie doll. Jill, who’d comforted both girls when their beloved dog, Homer, died. And Jill who’d stopped Anna killing Rachel the day that Rachel dyed her sister’s hair orange instead of the platinum blonde she’d promised.
Now, as a high-flying advertising executive based in the centre of Dublin, Jill was still very much a part of their lives, although, Anna realized as she walked back to the car, Jill usually met the sisters separately now. When the threesomes had stopped, Anna couldn’t quite remember. Feeling decidedly fed-up, Anna dumped her shopping in the boot of the car and went home to tackle the ironing.
Bloody cheek! Rachel fumed as she shoved the hoover around the living room. Her dear sister had as good as said that she did the same amount of housework and held down a job too. Well, that was just typical! Anna completely underestimated how hard it was, raising a child. Anyway, Anna wasn’t as fussy about cleaning as she was. Rachel had always been the one to clean their room when they were growing up. Anna’s idea of cleaning was to cram her clothes into the wardrobe, straighten the bed and give the room a quick hoover.
Rachel gave a snort of indignation as she hoovered the cobwebs from the ceiling. ‘I bet Anna never thinks of hoovering up here!’ she muttered. It was easy for her sister to criticize. She was married to a great guy, working in a job she loved and still blessed with the same figure she’d had at twenty. Unlike Rachel who was overweight already and now, with the pregnancy, it would only be a matter of weeks before she started to balloon. Still, when she’d been pregnant with Alex, Gary had treated her like a china doll. It would be nice if he did that again. She could do with some pampering.
Rachel had decided that she would tell him tonight. She’d organized a babysitter for Alex and booked a table at Gary’s favourite Chinese restaurant. They could both do with a night out together. Maybe away from Alex, the television and Gary’s damn laptop, they’d actually be able to behave like a normal couple.
She was just putting the hoover away when she heard Gary’s key in the door and Alex came racing in.
‘Hi, Mum, I scored a goal! What’s for lunch? Can I have a biscuit while I’m waiting?’
Rachel pulled her scruffy son into her arms for a hug. ‘I’ll make you a sandwich and you can have yoghurt. No biscuits until after your lunch. So tell me about this goal.’ She listened to Alex chatter nineteen-to-the-dozen as she made his sandwich, smiling briefly at Gary who’d joined them in the kitchen and was standing at the worktop reading the paper and drinking a beer.
‘Good game?’ Rachel asked him when she’d settled her son to eat at the kitchen table.
‘Not bad,’ Gary murmured without looking up.
‘I met Anna in the village this morning.’
‘Oh yeah?’
‘I asked her over tomorrow but of course it was too short notice for her.
They’re playing tennis.’
‘I don’t know why you invite Anna over at all. Any time she’s here you just snipe at her.’
‘I do not!’ Rachel protested, feeling her cheeks grow hot. Turning away from him she bustled around the kitchen, tidying and wiping down surfaces. How could he say that? She wasn’t the sort to snipe. Sure, she and Anna had their moments but then didn’t all sisters? Still, Gary was an only child and didn’t understand the way families worked. You said things to brothers and sisters that you would never say to strangers, and you did it because you knew you would get away with it. Forgiveness was not asked for nor given; it was assumed. Idiosyncrasies were accepted, faults excused; it was all a part of being a family.
For the first time Rachel felt real happiness at the idea of the life growing within her. It would be good for Alex to have a sibling. And Gary would be very happy when he knew. She turned to face him. ‘We’re going out tonight!’ she announced brightly.
Gary looked up, a frown on his face. ‘Out? Where?’
‘The Chinese. I’ve booked a table and a babysitter. I thought it would be a nice treat for us.’
‘Oh love, I’m really not in the mood and the football is on. You don’t mind, do you?’
Rachel forced a smile. ‘No, of course not, it was just an idea.’
‘Let’s get some takeaway instead and I’ll open a nice bottle of wine.’
‘Yeah, sounds good,’ Rachel murmured.
Chapter 3
‘Game, set and match!’ Liam dropped a kiss on Anna’s cheek before bending to pick up the water bottle.
‘Good game.’ Helen joined them, mopping her brow with her towel. ‘God, it’s hot. I’m about ready for a nice cold spritzer.’
‘Meet you up at the bar,’ Tom told his wife. ‘And don’t hang around talking, I’ve booked Cruzzo’s for two o’clock.’
Helen rolled her eyes at Anna. ‘Should I remind him that we’re usually ready first?’
The two girls headed into the changing rooms and quickly showered and dressed. ‘Are you two in a rush today or can we have a nice leisurely lunch?’ Helen asked as she combed her damp hair.
‘Reasonably leisurely.’ Anna made a face. ‘I’d like to drop over to Rachel’s later. She was only saying yesterday that it’s ages since we’ve seen Alex.’
‘Well, you can drop by straight after lunch and everyone will be happy.’
‘I should make Liam drive,’ Anna laughed. ‘If he has a couple of beers with lunch he’ll nod off as soon as he hits the sofa and Rachel will be disgusted with him.’
‘That sounds good to me. They can drive and you and I can share a nice bottle of wine. We’re going to my darling mother-in-law’s for tea so I could do with a drink!’
‘What’s she done now?’ Helen was constantly giving out about Tom’s mother and Anna loved to hear her friend’s tales of woe. Although the woman couldn’t be as bad as all that because though Helen seemed completely frustrated with her, her stories were usually tinged with grudging affection.
‘She’s only told Tom she’ll do all his ironing for him while I’m away next week.’
‘Oh, that’s right – you’re off to Cork, aren’t you?’
‘Yeah, lots of raw young things need computer training so muggins got the job. Still, I love Cork and with a bit of luck I should have time for some shopping. Anyway, I thought the break would do Tom good. You know what a lazy lout he is. A week alone would make him realize exactly how much work I do in the house. But now, his beloved mother is going to do the ironing and, don’t you know, he’ll be eating there most nights. So instead of appreciating me more when I get back he’ll probably be telling me how well his mother irons his shirts and what a great casserole she makes.’ Helen shook her head in disgust.
‘Irish mothers have a lot to answer for when it comes to sons,’ Anna agreed. ‘Liam was totally spoiled. Do you know, he didn’t even know how to work the washing-machine in his mother’s house?’
‘Ha! Tom still doesn’t know how to work ours – or he claims he doesn’t – and we’ve been together eight years! I’m as bad as his mother. I’m way too soft on him.’
‘Next time you’re going out of town, plan it for when his folks are away too,’ Anna advised.
Helen paused, her lipstick halfway to her mouth, and stared at her friend in the mirror. ‘What an excellent idea!’
Anna laughed. ‘Just don’t tell Tom it was mine.’
Helen was still smiling as they joined the men in the bar.
‘What are you looking so smug about?’ Tom asked.
‘Oh, nothing, dear. Now, gentlemen, that’s your first and last beer,’ she added, eyeing the glasses in their hands. ‘It’s your turn to drive.’
‘Probably just as well,’ Liam agreed. ‘I have to write a report when I get home.’
Anna looked at him in dismay. ‘Oh Liam, it’s Sunday. Can’t it wait?’
He shook his head. ‘I need to have it ready for tomorrow.’
‘But I thought we’d drop by Rachel’s later.’
Liam looked confused. ‘But you told me that you’d told her we couldn’t make it.’
‘Yeah, I did, but, well, we could just drop in for an hour.’
‘I can’t keep up with you,’ Liam said with a long-suffering look at Tom. ‘One minute you’re giving out about her, the next you want to go visit her!’
‘I didn’t give out about her,’ Anna protested. ‘Don’t exaggerate.’
Liam shook his head and then drained his bottle. ‘We’d better get to the restaurant, people. Come on.’
Nearly two hours later, feeling rather mellow after the wine, Anna sank back into the passenger seat and closed her eyes.
‘Still want to go to Rachel’s?’ Liam asked as he pulled out of the car park.
Anna’s eyes flew open and she turned her head to look at him. ‘Would you mind? We won’t stay long, I promise.’
‘No problem.’
‘Thanks, sweetheart.’ Anna put her hand on his thigh and closed her eyes again. It seemed only moments later when she heard Liam calling her.
‘Anna, we’re here.’
Straightening up in the seat, Anna flicked down the sun visor and checked her appearance in the mirror. Apart from being slightly flushed after her doze, she looked okay. Not that it mattered. After the usual wrestle with Alex she’d soon be looking dishevelled anyway.
It was Gary who opened the door, quickly hiding his surprise behind a smile. ‘Anna, Liam! Come in – great to see you!’
‘We’re not staying long,’ Anna said, exchanging kisses with her brother-in-law. ‘Just dropped in to say hi.’
‘Anna! Anna!’ A little figure came hurtling down the hall and threw himself into her arms.
Anna grabbed the banisters to steady herself. ‘Hey, big guy, how are you?’
‘Fine. Have you brought me something?’
‘Alex!’
The child froze as his mother came into the hall and gave him a stern look.
‘Sorry.’
‘That’s okay, darling. I brought you some sweets.’
‘Thanks!’ Alex threw a triumphant look over his shoulder at his mother.
‘How was the tennis?’ Rachel asked coolly after kissing Liam and brushing her cheek against Anna’s.
‘Excellent,’ Liam said as Gary led the way to the kitchen and handed him a beer.
‘You won then,’ Gary laughed. ‘Some wine, Anna?’
‘Just a small one. Liam, should you really be drinking that?’ Anna looked at the bottle, eyebrows raised.
‘We only have to go a couple of miles down the road,’ he groaned. ‘I’ve eaten a huge meal since the last beer and that was three hours ago!’
‘Can I have a Coke?’ Alex asked, hopping around the kitchen on one foot.
‘Yes,’ said Gary.
‘No,’ said Rachel at the same time. ‘He’s already had one can, Gary. You know what he’ll be like if he has another.’
Alex�
��s face fell but Liam gave him a gentle punch. ‘Come on, you want to be a great footballer, don’t you? All the best sportsmen drink water. They wouldn’t touch that stuff.’
Rachel shot him a grateful smile. He was such a sensible man and would make a great father one day.
Alex happily accepted the glass of water from his father and returned to Liam’s side. ‘Will you play football with me?’
‘Leave him alone, Alex,’ Gary said.
‘That’s okay, Gary. Let me finish my beer, Alex, and I’ll give you a quick game.’
‘Deadly!’ Alex drained his glass and hurried off to get his football boots on.
‘He’s getting so tall,’ Anna murmured to her sister with an affectionate smile.
‘Can’t keep him in clothes,’ Rachel said gruffly, ‘and his feet have gone up a size in a month. You wouldn’t believe the price of children’s shoes, Anna. It’s such a rip-off.’
‘You should ask Mam to get some for you. Shoes are usually a lot cheaper on the continent.’
‘That’s not a bad idea,’ Rachel mused. ‘I’ll mention it to her the next time she phones.’
Rachel poured herself a glass of water as she spoke and for the first time Anna noticed how peaky her sister was looking. The men were engrossed in a discussion about last night’s football so Anna suggested they go out and sit in the garden.
‘Are you okay?’ she asked when they were alone on the patio.
‘Sure, why do you ask?’ Rachel looked wary.
Anna shrugged. ‘You just seem a bit down and you’re very pale.’
Changing Places Page 3