A Time for Friends

by Patricia Scanlan

  ‘Will do,’ Hilary replied, wondering what her friend would say if she said ask Shay Fitzwilliam’s wife to come over to London and cry on her shoulder. She hung up, annoyed. Colette was always the same. Me, me, me. Hilary decided not to tell Niall about the conversation or let him know they were seated at the same table. He put up with Colette out of loyalty to Hilary but he had no time for Des. ‘A self-important spoofer,’ he’d called him after their first encounter. Nothing over the years had helped change his opinion. Listening to Des bragging about the promotion in the States, as he undoubtedly would, would do Niall’s head in. And then he’d get grouchy. Perhaps her husband’s suggestion that she ask Jonathan to accompany her wasn’t such a bad idea after all. What was it about weddings? They could be such ordeals. And somehow Hilary had the feeling that Rowena and Pete’s wedding wasn’t going to be the best wedding she was ever at.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  ‘Now there’s macaroni cheese, chicken casserole and some goodies in the fridge. And the phone number of the hotel is by the phone in the hall if you need it. Don’t let the girls stay up too late and—’

  ‘Mam, Auntie Colette is on the phone for you.’ Sophie bounced into the sitting room where Hilary was giving last-minute instructions to Carla, their babysitter.

  ‘Sorry, Carla, excuse me for a minute.’ Hilary went out to the hall and took the receiver from her daughter. ‘Hi, we’re just getting ready to leave and—’

  ‘Hilary, I have a HUGE favour to ask,’ Colette interrupted.

  ‘What’s that?’ Hilary asked warily.

  ‘Elisabetta, Jazzy’s nanny, had a tummy bug and couldn’t travel – could Jazzy please stay with your two? I’ll give the babysitter the extra cost for minding her. I’m really stuck. Mum tried a few of her friends’ daughters but they were all doing something. I suppose it was short notice.’ Colette sighed theatrically.

  ‘Umm well, I’d better check it with Carla, she’s the one who’s babysitting,’ Hilary replied, nonplussed.

  ‘Oh she won’t mind, I’m sure. A few extra quid will go down a treat,’ Colette said airily.

  ‘Let me check it out with her,’ Hilary said firmly. Trust Colette to have a drama at the last minute. She walked back into the sitting room where Carla was French-plaiting Millie’s hair. ‘Listen, Carla, and feel free to say no if you want to, my friend Colette is on the phone. Her little girl’s nanny couldn’t travel from the UK with them and she has no one to mind Jasmine and she was wondering if you would look after her too. She’d pay you extra, needless to say.’

  ‘Aw Mam, nooo! Not Jazzy, she’ll ruin everything. She’ll want to play her games her way and she’s just too bossy,’ Sophie protested vehemently.

  ‘Now don’t be like that, Sophie. Jasmine’s younger than you and she’s an only child. She has no sister to play with,’ Hilary reproved.

  ‘I don’t mind, Hilary, it’s fine with me,’ Carla said obligingly, giving Millie a cuddle. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t let this Jazzy boss anyone around cos I’m the boss.’ She winked at Sophie.

  ‘Are you sure?’ Hilary didn’t want her treasured babysitter to feel pressurized.

  ‘It’s all good,’ Carla assured her. ‘Go and enjoy the wedding and don’t rush home.’

  ‘You’re a pet,’ Hilary said warmly, knowing how lucky she was to have a terrific babysitter. The girls loved her, she’d been their babysitter since they were very small and Hilary felt very confident leaving them in her care. She went back to the phone. ‘That’s fine, Colette. Drop Jazzy over, Carla said she’d mind her. I’ll get Niall to pump up the airbed and she’ll make it up for her tonight.’

  ‘Super duper, I knew I could depend on you,’ Colette said gaily. ‘Sorry we can’t give you a lift into town, Mum and Dad are sharing the car with us. How are you getting in?’

  ‘Taxi.’

  ‘OK! We’ll see you with Jazzy in twenty minutes or so.’

  ‘Nope, we’ll see you at the church. The taxi’s booked to come in the next ten minutes and I’m not paying him to keep the meter running,’ Hilary said firmly.

  ‘Oh!’ Colette wasn’t expecting this. ‘Right then! I’ll just drop Jazzy in and pay your babysitter,’ she said a touch acerbically.

  ‘Fine, I’d better go and root out the blow-up bed. See you at the church.’ Hilary hung up and went in search of Niall to tell him the latest.

  ‘Typical,’ he retorted when she thrust the navy-and-red blow-up bed and air pump at him.

  ‘Just pump it up, Mr Dishy, and hurry, the taxi will be here any minute,’ Hilary urged.

  ‘I want to sleep on the pump-up bed,’ Sophie announced.

  ‘No, I do, it’s my turn, you slept in it the last time,’ Millie protested.

  ‘Don’t start,’ warned Hilary, beginning to feel harassed. It was always the same when Jasmine was coming to stay. ‘If there are any rows I’ll tell Carla to put the two of you in our bed and Jazzy can sleep in one of yours and we’ll sort it when we get home. Do not misbehave and annoy Carla, OK? Now I mean it,’ she said sternly.

  ‘OK!’ her daughters agreed sulkily.

  ‘Don’t be like that, girls. Behave yourselves. Give your mother a kiss and tell her to enjoy herself, and don’t spoil her day,’ Niall ordered as he began to pump up the bed, his black shoes gleaming. He looked so handsome in his black tie gear, Hilary thought appreciatively, glad that he had backed her up.

  ‘Have fun, Mammy.’ Sophie flung her arms around her and Hilary hugged her. ‘You look gorgeous,’ her daughter approved.

  ‘I love you, Mam, sorry,’ Millie said as the doorbell rang.

  ‘I love you too, pet.’ Hilary gave her a kiss, so glad that her children generally were very good-natured and not prone to holding grudges.

  ‘It’s your taxi, Hilary,’ Carla called.

  ‘Bring us home some wedding cake.’ Millie slipped her hand into Hilary’s as Niall gave the bed a few last pumps before following them down the stairs.

  ‘They’re good kids,’ he said proudly, waving at them from the taxi as they stood on either side of Carla blowing kisses enthusiastically.

  ‘Yeah, we’re very lucky.’ Hilary nestled in against him.

  ‘Carla will have her hands full when the little madam arrives. I give them five minutes before a row starts.’ Niall put his arm around her.

  ‘Carla won’t stand for any nonsense. She’s a brick! And one thing I do know, Colette will pay her well over the odds. She’s not stingy.’

  ‘True and good for Carla but she’ll earn it today.’

  ‘But you and I are going to knock as much fun out of today as we possibly can. Let’s watch all the Joneses outdoing each other!’

  ‘Yeah, let’s see how the social elite behave. I’ll try not to belch and eat with my mouth open,’ he teased.

  ‘Spoilsport. Could you imagine the faces of Jacqueline and Frank if you let off a magnificent rasper?’ she chuckled.

  ‘Don’t tempt me, Hilary, don’t tempt me,’ her husband laughed as the taxi headed for the Southside.

  ‘Mummy, I don’t want to stay here, I want to go to the wedding.’ Jasmine scowled at her mother. ‘I want to be a flower girl!’

  ‘You have to stay here with Millie and Sophie—’

  ‘But I don’t want to!’ Jasmine stamped her foot.

  ‘Jazzy, behave,’ Colette hissed. ‘Carla, thank you very much,’ she said, handing the babysitter an envelope. ‘We’re very obliged to you. See you. Be a good girl for Carla, Jazzy,’ she cautioned, hastening out the front door.

  ‘Muuummaayyyyyyy!’ wailed Jasmine but Colette kept going without looking back.

  ‘Don’t cry, Jazzy, we’ll mind you,’ Sophie, ever the soft heart, said kindly.

  ‘I don’t want you to mind me, I want my mummy,’ screeched Jasmine.

  ‘Well your mummy’s gone,’ Carla said calmly as the car disappeared from view. ‘How would you like to go to Howth on the DART to see the seals and we’ll bring a picnic?’

 
‘That’s a silly idea! I don’t like your stupid DART. I go on the tube, you know. I live in London.’

  ‘Good for you,’ Carla smiled. ‘But we’re going on the DART and we’re having our picnic and you can tell us all about living in London.’

  ‘We’re going to live in America. We’re going to Disneyland,’ Jazzy informed her.

  ‘You’re lucky,’ Sophie said enviously.

  ‘Well we are very rich, you know.’

  ‘Are you?’ Sophie was wide-eyed.

  ‘Stop boasting,’ Millie said crossly. She had been so looking forward to their jaunt with Carla, but now they were going to have to listen to Jazzy bragging about everything!

  ‘Right, girls, let’s get a move on. There’s a DART at ten past two, let’s be on it,’ Carla said briskly, much to Jasmine’s disgust. She didn’t like that this strange girl was bossing her around. But there was something about her firm manner that led Jasmine to believe that Carla wouldn’t take any nonsense so throwing a tantrum wouldn’t get her anywhere.

  ‘I like you,’ she said sweetly, changing tack. ‘I’m going to sit beside you on the DART.’

  ‘I want to sit beside Carla,’ Sophie declared truculently.

  ‘You can sit beside me going, Jazzy, and you can sit beside me coming home, Sophie, OK?’ Carla said in a tone that brooked no argument.

  ‘You look nice. Have you dropped weight?’ Colette eyed Hilary up and down before air kissing her as they stood on the steps of the church watching the photographer pose the bridal couple for a family photo.

  ‘I think it’s the dress, it hides a multitude,’ Hilary remarked as Des leaned over to kiss her before shaking Niall’s hand.

  ‘Hey, buddy, how are you?’ he said.

  ‘Great, thanks. Congratulations on the promotion,’ Niall reciprocated.

  ‘So where did you get the dress? It’s very flattering – you can’t see your love handles,’ Colette remarked as she stood on her tippy toes to kiss Niall.

  ‘Thanks for the backhanded compliment,’ Hilary said drily.

  ‘Oh you know what I mean. This is a Christina Stambolian. Diana wears her clothes. She has the most fabulous boutique in Beauchamp Place. It cost a fortune but how and ever. Do you like it?’ She glanced coquettishly at Niall and did a seductive twirl in her figure-hugging black off-the-shoulder creation that was the height of style and sophistication.

  ‘Very nice. It shows off the sunbed tan!’ he drawled.

  ‘Actually it’s St-Tropez,’ she smiled sweetly, but she was irked at his smart remark. She turned back to Hilary. ‘Would you look at all those mutton dressed as mutton, all those polka dots and big collars. Is Paul Costelloe the only designer anyone goes to here?’

  ‘Well he designs for Princess Di too,’ Hilary reminded her tartly.

  ‘And he designs lots of air hostess uniforms,’ Colette sniffed, unimpressed, as she surveyed the array of fashions on show. ‘Paula Devlin looks positively mumsy and she’s younger than us! And what on earth is Shauna Finley wearing? She looks like a puff adder! And look at her hair. An eagle could nest in it. And Martin Kerr looks as though his dress suit came out of mothballs – probably too mean to buy a new one.’ Colette gave a running commentary on their fellow guests.

  ‘I’ve heard he’s got a gambling problem. When I was playing golf in Foxrock the last time I was here they told me he’d lost a fortune and remortgaged the house to boot. Had to let his golf club membership lapse.’ Des added his tuppence’ worth.

  ‘Rowena looks beautiful, so waiflike and otherworldly,’ Hilary pointed out, uncomfortable with their unkind, small-minded gossip. ‘She’s like a medieval princess. A friend designed her dress and she made a terrific job of it,’ she added admiringly as Rowena caught a glimpse of them and waved.

  ‘I believe her mother was furious! She wanted her to go to the Emanuels, or to Phillipa Lepley, like I did,’ Colette said smugly. ‘Oh look, there’s Charlotte Wesley, I must go and say hi. Come on, Des, let’s tell them your news.’ Colette’s eyes gleamed at the chance to boast to an old adversary on the social circuit.

  ‘What are they like?’ Niall groaned. ‘They’re never happy unless they’re dissing people. They’re so superior. And we’re stuck with them for the day. I’m starving. Will we slip off and get a chippie, or coffee and a sandwich? It will be hours before we eat if this photographer has his way. They’re all heading to Merrion Square for more photos – we won’t be missed.’

  ‘Brilliant idea.’ Hilary tucked her arm into his. ‘I married a genius. Let’s go add another pound or two to my love handles.’

  ‘She can be such a bitchy little madam. That’s why I said about the sunbed,’ Niall scowled.

  ‘I know, you’re very loyal.’ Hilary laughed. ‘She doesn’t mean it. It’s just her way. You have to look beyond it. She has to feel good about herself by pointing out other people’s flaws. I’ve never seen her as bad as today though. They were cutting people to ribbons. I’d say it’s because she’s getting really anxious about the move.’

  ‘You’re the loyal one. I would have ditched her long ago.’ Niall guided her across the street.

  ‘Dee says that too but I see that hurt little girl behind all that veneer. Jazzy’s exactly the same. The way you’re brought up moulds you. Our parents gave us their time as well as their love. Colette always had to compete with Jacqueline and Frank’s work. Growing their firm was more important to them than anything else and she was a lonely, sad little girl who hid it all behind that façade of bravado and that’s why I don’t take too much notice of her disparaging remarks. And she can be great fun when we’re on our own and she’s not trying to impress anyone.’

  ‘You’re a big softie, that’s what you are.’ Niall stopped and pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly in the middle of the footpath.

  ‘And I love your love handles,’ he teased when he raised his head.

  ‘And I love you,’ she sighed happily as they resumed their stroll to the nearest coffee shop.

  ‘Let’s ask Carla if Jazzy can sleep in the other room, cos I’m really sick of her.’ Jasmine stiffened as she heard the whispers behind the bedroom door. She had gone to the bathroom to brush her teeth and left her two companions getting into their pyjamas in their bedroom, while Carla made them all hot chocolate.

  ‘We can’t do that, it would be mean,’ said Millie, sighing deeply. ‘We just have to put up with her! Mam says she’s just spoilt because she has no sister to play with and she doesn’t know how to share and we have to be friends and be kind to her.’

  ‘Well I just don’t like that girl. She ruined our day!’ Jasmine heard Sophie say indignantly. Her heart gave a very painful twist and she wanted to cry. How dare those girls talk about her like that? As if she wanted to be friends with them. She had plenty of friends in London. Her nanny was always bringing her to play in the park with them. She wished Elisabetta was here to give her a cuddle and tell her everything was all right. If only she hadn’t got sick Jasmine would have been staying at her Grandma Jacqueline’s, in her lovely room with the huge rocking horse and ginormous doll’s house that she loved playing with. It used to be her mummy’s bedroom when she was a little girl. But her grandparents were at the wedding too and she was feeling very alone, as she often did.

  Jasmine took a deep breath and swallowed hard and pushed open the bedroom door. Millie got a bit red in the face but Sophie just looked cross. ‘I think I might ask Carla if I can sleep in the other room on that bed. You know I have my own room at home and at Grandma Jacqueline’s. With all my own toys. I don’t like sleeping with other girls and I don’t really like sharing if I don’t want to,’ she announced defiantly. ‘It must be horrid to have to share your room and toys and wardrobe and everything. You see, if you were rich like me you’d have your own bedroom each.’

  ‘Oh!’ Millie said, astonished at this display of bad manners. ‘Well my daddy has a very good job and we have plenty of money too,’ she retorted.

&nb
sp; ‘But are you going to Disneyland?’ Jasmine demanded triumphantly.

  Sophie folded her arms across her chest and stared at her. ‘Didn’t your mammy tell you that caring is sharing?’

  ‘My mummy lets me do what I like. And I don’t share and I don’t care,’ Jasmine said haughtily and grabbed her dressing gown and marched downstairs leaving the two sisters speechless at this display of impudence.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  ‘. . . and needless to say, Niall, I’ll be in the right place to keep an eye open for investment opportunities and I can give you the nod!’ Des scraped the last bit of strawberry roulade from his dish and ate it with relish.

  ‘Is that not considered to be insider trading?’ Niall leaned back in his chair, wishing he was anywhere but where he was. The other man had out-talked everyone else at the table, taking charge of the conversation and directing it back to himself and his ‘golden opportunities’, every chance he got.

  ‘Oh come on, now, it’s not as if you’re going to be investing millions,’ scoffed Des. ‘Everyone gives a few tips here and there. They don’t go after us for helping out small fry. They’re only interested in the big players. Mind you I got a great tip two years ago that made me the guts of half a mil. It’s all about who you know.’

  ‘Thanks, I’ll keep it in mind,’ Niall said politely, thinking what a patronizing gobshite the other man was.

  ‘Now the boring speeches,’ yawned Des as the father of the bride clinked his fork against his champagne glass and called for silence.

  ‘Did you think any more about coming to London to be with me for my last couple of days?’ Colette leaned across Niall to speak to Hilary.

  ‘I’m not sure how I’m going to be fixed. The girls will be on holiday so I’ll have to sort them out,’ Hilary murmured, not wishing to be rude when Rowena’s father was speaking.

  ‘Oh please try,’ she begged. ‘My nerves will be shot, you know what I’m like when I get in a tizzy. We’ll have some fun. I’ll bring you to San Lorenzo for lunch, Di might be there.’