‘Can you believe Gavin and the naked girl? He gets away with murder. Mum would have killed us if we’d brought a guy home to stay the night,’ Sophie said.
‘I know – he’s completely indulged. He really needs to get a job.’
I looked in the mirror and sent a photo to Sophie.
‘Got it. Perfect. You look great.’
‘Thanks, sis.’
‘Anytime. Even though I hardly get to buy clothes any more, I still love them.’
‘I can’t believe I have nice clothes. Me, Julie, in outfits that weren’t purchased in Primark!’
Sophie laughed. ‘Enjoy it. You deserve it. Now, don’t be nervous, and if you see Victoria, duck.’
Oh, God, I’d forgotten about Victoria. Her son, Sebastian, went to Castle Academy. He was in the same form the triplets were joining. There were two classes of twenty boys in each year and I was praying Sebastian would be in the other one. Victoria had been one of Sophie’s friends in the Celtic Tiger days, when Sophie was married to Jack and lived the high life. Victoria might have been beautiful and stylish, but she was shallow and nasty underneath her perfect year-round tan. The minute Jack and Sophie had lost everything, Sophie hadn’t seen her for dust.
‘I won’t be on Victoria’s radar,’ I said. ‘I’m far too dowdy for her.’
‘You never know,’ Sophie replied. ‘Now that you’re a millionaire, she might take a shine to you.’
‘After that time I bumped into her and told her I thought she was a low-life for treating you so badly, I don’t think she’ll be rushing over to me.’
‘True. But I was thrilled you did it.’
‘To be honest, I’d say Victoria will have a heart attack when she sees me and the boys, lowering the tone at Castle Academy.’ I giggled.
‘Well, if you’re talking to her and she’s being her usual condescending self, ask her how Gerry is. Her beloved husband is currently shagging one of my models – Amber.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, and he’s not even bothering to be discreet. He took her to Le Jardin last week, on a busy Friday night.’
‘What age is Amber?’
‘Twenty. He’s a creep.’
‘Poor Victoria,’ I said, feeling a tiny bit sorry for the snobby cow.
‘Don’t pity her too much. Remember what a weapon she was to me.’
‘Don’t worry, Sophie. Me and “Vicky” are not going to be bosom buddies. Somehow I don’t see her inviting me and the boys over for playdates so they can trash her immaculate house.’
Sophie laughed. ‘What a lovely thought! Now, go and do your makeup. Use that new eye shadow you bought last week – it’s really flattering. And you’re just as gorgeous as any of those other mothers.’
‘I am not, but thanks anyway.’
‘Gotta run. I’ll call you later. Good luck.’ Sophie hung up and I went to put on my face.
When I got back downstairs to call the boys, I looked out of the window to see Harry, the triplets and Tom all running about with muddy knees. Having grown up a lonely only child, Harry was thrilled to have four boys to wrestle and play football with. He was in his element. I often felt very left out. As the boys got older, they needed me less. It was all about Harry now. They wanted him to play football, wrestle and play the Wii with them.
I secretly hoped Tom was gay. I needed someone to hang out with. There was so much testosterone in the house that I sometimes felt suffocated. I loved my boys, but I did envy my sisters, who had daughters they could go shopping and watch Tangled with.
I called them all in, and while Harry went to change his trousers for work, I tried to get the mud out of the triplets’ brand-new school uniforms with a wet cloth.
Eventually we got into the car. I was delivering the older boys while Harry was dropping Tom to his old school. Thankfully Tom would have a couple more years of ‘normal’ school before going to Castle Academy.
‘Good luck today, boys,’ Harry said, sticking his head through the car window. ‘Sorry I can’t be there for your first day, but I have a very important meeting with a fund manager. I’ll see you later. Be good and enjoy this wonderful opportunity. Castle Academy is a school for champions.’
‘Is it a school for Premier League footballers?’ Luke asked.
‘Did Ronaldo go there?’ Leo wanted to know.
‘No, you idiot, he’s from Portugal,’ Liam said.
I started the car and drove off, waving to Harry as we went.
The triplets pinched, thumped, flicked, kicked and poked each other for the twenty minutes it took us to get to the school. I turned up the volume on the radio so I wouldn’t shout and tried to let the music calm my nerves.
I had recently upgraded the battered family van I used to drive, which I’d hated, to a Hyundai Santa Fe and was very proud of my new car. It was only three years old, red, and had a leather interior. It quickly lost its appeal when I drove through the tall iron gates of Castle Academy: BMW, Porsche and Land Rover jeeps were de rigueur. It was like a little oasis in the middle of the economic desert that was recession Ireland.
As I stared up at the imposing castle in front of me, I could feel my hands getting clammy on the steering-wheel. This school was way out of my league – I’d never fit in here. All around us were acres of grounds. It was like something out of Downton Abbey. OK, not quite, but close enough.
I took deep breaths. The boys were quiet now in the back. They were intimidated too. I prayed they’d get on all right. I wanted them to be happy.
I parked the car beside a shiny black Land Rover and turned to them. Faking a smile, I said, ‘OK, guys, this is it, your new school. Now, don’t be nervous. You’re going to have a great time and they’re lucky to have you. I want you to go in there and be yourselves – well, not your crazy selves, your good selves. OK?’
They nodded. I’d never seen them so still and silent. We got out of the car and I watched as yummy-mummies greeted each other warmly, air-kissing and shrieking like teenagers. I gripped my handbag and stood close to the boys.
My stomach lurched when I saw Victoria climbing delicately down from a powder blue Porsche Cayenne. She was wearing a tightly fitted silver-grey dress with sky-high strappy silver sandals. A huddle of women rushed over to her. She was clearly the queen bee. Most of her minions looked like clones of her – glossy blonde highlighted hair, stick-thin bodies, expensive clothes and manicured nails.
I looked down at my nails. I’d painted them while I was watching Mad Men last night, but then Tom had wet his bed so I’d had to change the sheets and smudged most of them. I felt like a kid on her first day in school, watching the cool girls and knowing I’d never be one of them. I was always going to be an outsider here.
Thankfully, I recognized one of the mums, Emily. I’d met her at a fashion show Sophie had organized. Her niece had been one of the models. Emily was slightly less well dressed than the others. I imagine she shopped in House of Fraser rather than Harvey Nichols. Buying clothes in House of Fraser was something I used to aspire to, but now it wasn’t good enough. I hated this, hated feeling inferior, and I didn’t want my kids feeling this way. I shepherded the boys over to where Emily was standing and reintroduced myself to her. She was staring at Victoria and her posse.
‘Look, it’s Victoria Carter-Mills.’ Emily sounded awed.
‘The one and only,’ I said, unable to keep the edge out of my voice.
‘Wow! She’s so stylish. She always looks gorgeous in the social pages of magazines, and she’s even more stunning in the flesh. I wonder where she got those shoes – they’re incredible.’
The triplets had started to play football beside me with a ball they had grabbed from my car. A few other kids joined in and soon there was a gang of them. I smiled to myself. My boys would be fine: they had each other.
Victoria and her group passed in front of us. I turned to look at the boys and avoid her. Just as I did, Leo kicked the ball hard. It zinged past me and smacked Victoria’s leg. Da
mn!
She staggered. Emily rushed to grab her. They both turned to stare at Leo who, sensing Victoria’s rage, stood very close to me.
‘How dare you?’ Victoria screeched. ‘You horrible child. You almost knocked me over. Look at my leg! I’m going to have a huge bruise.’ Then, glaring at me, she demanded, ‘Are you his mother?’
Victoria’s clones fussed over her, asking if she was all right. I was surrounded and outnumbered. I thought – for a split second only – about denying that Leo was mine, but then I decided to stand my ground. ‘Yes, I am.’
‘He’s just attacked me with that wretched ball. Have you nothing to say?’
‘I do, actually,’ I said, my blood beginning to boil. I could feel all eyes on me, judging me, but suddenly I didn’t care. ‘It was an accident, and Leo is very sorry. There’s no need to call him names.’
‘I beg your pardon?’ she spluttered. ‘Is that it? Is that all you have to say? Your son has scarred me.’
I looked at her leg. ‘No, he hasn’t. It’s a tiny bruise.’ I kept my voice as even as possible.
She tried to frown, but her Botoxed face remained stiff. ‘You’re obviously new to the school.’
‘Yes, we are.’
‘Well, let me tell you that such behaviour is not tolerated. Boys are not allowed to behave like wild animals.’
I’d had enough. ‘Chill out. They were only playing football.’
‘Chill out? Who do you think you are?’
‘Julie Devlin. Sophie Devlin’s sister. You remember my sister Sophie? You were best friends for a while. We’ve met before. In fact, we had an interesting little chat in Starbucks a while ago.’
Victoria looked shocked. ‘What on earth are you doing here?’
‘The triplets are starting in the third form.’
‘But you can’t possibly be sending your children to Castle Academy.’
‘Actually, I can, and I am. They might even be in your son’s class. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll be delighted to hear that your old pal Sophie is doing really well. She’s a partner now in the Beauty Spot.’
Victoria narrowed her eyes and gave me a sickly smile. ‘Poor Sophie. I did feel for her when Jack divorced her and took up with Pippa Collins. Pippa is so young, beautiful and successful. It must have been hard for Sophie to be cast aside like that.’
The hairs on the back of my neck were now at right angles to the ground. How dare she belittle my sister? ‘Actually, Sophie divorced Jack. She’s really happy and fulfilled now. All that lunching and shopping was boring her to death.’
Victoria turned to her posse. ‘Sophie was married to Jack Wells. You must have heard about them. So tragic. He lost everything in a Ponzi scheme. He even tried to get Gerry involved, but Gerry was much too clever to fall for that.’
I was very tempted to ask her if Gerry had enjoyed his dinner in Le Jardin on Friday night, but decided not to stoop to her level. It was my first day: I was supposed to be making friends, not mortal enemies.
Victoria flicked back her wavy, honey-coloured hair and tottered off in her high heels with her adoring fans. Emily followed them, so I found myself alone.
The bell rang, calling the boys into class.
I fought back tears. My first day was a disaster. I’d alienated about half the bloody school.
Leo looked up at me. ‘Sorry, Mum. I didn’t mean to hit her.’
I bent down and hugged him. ‘I know, pet. She’s just a stuck-up cow. Don’t you mind her. Now, off you go and have a great day.’
I watched the triplets lining up behind their teacher. They were the only ones with Tesco backpacks and I was proud of that. Some of the boys had leather ones with their initials embossed on the back. More money than sense, as Mum would say.
My heart sank as I saw Victoria’s son standing in line behind the triplets. They were in the same class. Could this day get any worse?
As I stood there, waving, fake-smiling, standing alone, I longed for my old life at the school gates, with Marian at my side, laughing and joking. Here, I was an outcast already.
2
Louise
I snapped my laptop shut and cursed under my breath. Wendy just wasn’t on point. I’d have to talk to her next week. I really didn’t want her sending me annoying emails on Sunday morning about things she’d forgotten to tell me.
Women like her got up my nose. Why the hell couldn’t she be more professional? She had been late twice last week and had arrived at a client meeting with a soother sticking out from the breast pocket of her blouse. It had distracted me, and everyone else, for the entire meeting.
I’d have to talk to her. She was letting the department down. I ran a tight ship and I wanted everyone on my team to be efficient, competent professionals at all times. Clients came to me because of my reputation. Wendy was not going to tarnish it.
I put my laptop on the counter and watched Clara counting raisins into her porridge. I knew she’d stop at twenty. She was just like me: she loved order and routine. I shuddered as I imagined breakfast at Julie’s house. It was a zoo over there.
While Clara finished her breakfast I sent a text to Christelle, to tell her I needed her in early tomorrow because I had an eight o’clock meeting.
No prob, c u then, she replied.
Hope Galway good fun, I added.
Gr8 fun, xcpt Harry texting evry 5 mins to chek up on me!
I smiled. Poor Harry. He’d been completely thrown when he found out he had a grown-up daughter he’d never known existed. Julie was far more relaxed about it. In the past four years, Harry had tried to make up for the eighteen he’d missed. He was ridiculously over-protective and it drove Christelle nuts.
Give H a break, he wants to b a good dad.
I no but he’s suffocating.
Want me to say smthg at lunch today?
Yes pls!
Clara and I were the first to arrive at my parents’ house for lunch. Mum opened the door and bent down to hug Clara.
‘Squeeze tighter, Granny,’ Clara said, and Mum obliged.
We went into the lounge, where Dad was watching rugby. He waved at us and I sat down beside him. Clara sat on the floor and opened her book.
‘What are you reading about this week?’ Dad asked her.
Not looking up, Clara said, ‘Birds of prey.’
‘Does she ever read anything except books about birds?’
I shrugged. ‘She has a huge interest in them, so I’m encouraging her. I was always reading at her age, too.’
Dad rolled his eyes. ‘You never had your nose out of a book. You barely said a word to anyone.’
I patted his arm. ‘Well, it didn’t do me any harm.’
‘Fewer books and more lipstick might have got you a nice husband,’ Mum said, coming in with a platter of nibbles, which she placed on the table in front of the fire.
‘I presume she had lipstick on the night she met Clara’s father,’ Dad muttered, under his breath. Mum tutted behind us.
Clara was the result of a one-night stand, which was still a sore point with Mum, especially as it had happened in Italy and I didn’t even know his name. I had simply told Clara that some kids had no dads and that I loved her enough for two parents. She had accepted it. I’d eventually have to tell her the truth but for now she was happy.
I glared at Dad and mouthed, ‘Shut up!’
Clearly Clara hadn’t heard anything: ‘Granddad, did you know that birds of prey hunt for food using their keen senses, especially vision?’
‘Very interesting, pet.’ Dad turned to me. ‘My God, Louise, they’re very big words for a small girl. Can she honestly read that? She’s only four and a half.’
I felt a rush of pride. ‘She’s way ahead for her age, Dad. I think she’s genuinely in the genius category.’
‘Like mother, like daughter,’ Dad said. ‘I bet she’ll end up in Mensa, like you.’
‘Their talons and beaks are large, powerful and adapted for tearing flesh,’ Clara continued.
/>
Dad looked at me. ‘Is that really suitable reading for a four-year-old? Tearing flesh?’
Before I could answer, Gavin arrived with a tall, thin, blonde girl in low-slung jeans and a tight vest T-shirt. ‘Hey, guys, this is Shania.’
‘Are you sure?’ Dad snorted. ‘It could be Shandy.’
‘It’s Shania, Dad.’ Gavin glared at him.
‘Nice to see she has her clothes on, anyway.’
Shania grinned. ‘Gavin told me about that other girl. How mortifying for everyone. Don’t worry, Mr Devlin, I have my own place so you won’t be seeing my bare arse anytime.’
‘Very reassuring to know. Thank you.’ Dad grinned.
‘It’s super nice of you to have me over,’ she gushed.
‘We had no idea you were coming, but you’re very welcome.’
‘Shania works in Stars and Stripes. She’s the one who got me an interview with them,’ Gavin explained.
‘When is it?’ I asked.
‘Tuesday,’ Gavin said.
‘It would be, like, so awesome if Gavin got a job there. We’d have so much fun together. Gavin is the funniest guy ever.’
‘Really?’ Dad and I were both surprised.
‘OMG, totally.’
‘Where are you from, Shania?’ Dad asked.
She looked puzzled. ‘Killiney.’
‘As in, Killiney up the road?’ Dad spluttered.
‘Totally.’
‘I thought you were American.’
‘I wish.’ She smiled, showing a perfect set of pearly white teeth.
Sophie and Jess walked into the room. Sophie was wearing a dress that was far too short. It wouldn’t even have looked good on Shania. Since Jack had met Pippa, Sophie had been wearing clothes that were too young for her. I’d have to say something, she looked ridiculous.
‘Hi, Gavin. Nice top. Is that Stars and Stripes?’ Sophie asked.
‘Yeah, Shania gave it to me.’
‘I think he looks hot in it,’ Shania said.
‘Sorry, who are you?’ Sophie asked, looking her up and down.
‘This is Shania, Gavin’s “friend”,’ Dad said, winking.
The Secrets Sisters Keep: A heartwarming, funny and emotional novel (The Devlin Sisters Book 2) Page 2