Finishing Touches

by Patricia Scanlan

  ‘Me neither,’ Cassie said unhappily, wishing she was at home with Robbie.

  They sat chasing their food around their plates with their forks, not eating much, and saying very little.

  ‘If Liam’s marriage were working, I wouldn’t be involved with him. It was on the rocks long before he met me,’ Aileen said earnestly.

  ‘Look, Aileen, I wouldn’t dream of telling you how to run your life. You’re a big girl now, you know what you want. The only thing I’d say to you is, be careful you don’t get hurt.’

  Aileen gave a deep sigh. ‘I know you’re right, Cassie. I know I’m an idiot but I’m just crazy about him. He’s great company, we have such fun together, he’s very romantic and kind and he’s . . . I’m . . . I love making love with him. You know yourself,’ she added miserably. ‘I just can’t believe that Laura said the things she said, and to you as well.’

  ‘Well, you know Laura. She’s very black-and-white and that’s why she’s so good at her legal stuff. But she’d want to cop on to herself about the way she treats her friends. There was no excuse for blowing up like that,’ Cassie observed crossly. She was really annoyed with Laura, now that the shock of the row had worn off. She might not approve of Aileen having an affair with a married man but there was no need for Laura to talk to her the way she did. It just wasn’t on. A little bit of tact and the whole thing could have been avoided. Despite Aileen’s bubbly zaniness, she could be quite sensitive. Laura had been her friend for too long not to realize that.

  ‘Do you want to go into Mandraki, or would you like to stay here and have a drink?’

  ‘If you don’t mind, Cassie, I think I’d just like to go to bed, I’ve got a splitting headache,’ Aileen confessed.

  ‘Well, I think I’ll go for a walk then,’ Cassie decided. ‘I’ll see you later.’ They set off in different directions, Aileen to cry herself to sleep, Cassie to walk along the curving beach of Trianda Bay.

  It was as usual a beautiful balmy night. The moon hung like a huge melon-slice just above the horizon, its reflection dappling the silvery waters of the Aegean. Across the bay Cassie could see the lights of Turkey twinkling in the distance. They had wanted to take a day-trip to Turkey but because of hostilities between Turkey and Greece, this was now impossible. It made no difference anyway now. It looked as though the holiday of a lifetime was going to end in disaster.

  God, she couldn’t get over Laura, and the way she had turned on her as well as the unfortunate Aileen. A stab of guilt pricked her. Laura was right about her spending so much time with Robbie lately and as a result she supposed she had neglected the girls. Although Aileen had Liam to keep her busy, Laura must have been feeling a bit out of things. Cassie had to admit she had been thoughtless and she could see why Laura was annoyed. But still, she could have mentioned it in a calm and rational manner. There was no need to carry on like a raging lunatic. Depressed, she turned around and began to walk back to the guest-house.

  The room was in darkness and Aileen was asleep when she got in, so she took her book and poured herself a nice cool beer and sat outside under the little wall-light. She was going to wait up until Laura came home and she was going to talk to her best friend calmly and coolly about their differences and Laura’s accusations.

  She rehearsed a hundred times what she would say to Laura. ‘You were perfectly right, Laura. I have been neglecting our friendship and for that I am sorry, but you had no business yelling at me the way you did and I think you went too far with Aileen. I’ve apologized to you, you should apologize to Aileen and we should forget the whole business and enjoy the rest of our holiday.’

  Laura didn’t arrive home that night.

  ‘I wonder if we should go to the police.’ It was the following morning and Aileen was frantic.

  ‘Calm down, will you. Getting excited isn’t going to help!’

  ‘Oh God, I said some pretty horrible things to her myself,’ Aileen muttered, taking a deep drag on her cigarette. ‘You don’t think she did anything foolish, do you?’

  Cassie was trying to remain calm. ‘For heaven’s sake, Aileen, will you stop that kind of talk. She probably booked into another guest-house for the night. She’ll be back when she cools down.’

  ‘We were supposed to be going to Lindos today,’ Aileen reminded her.

  ‘I think you can forget that for the moment.’

  They were lying sunbathing on the balcony when Laura finally waltzed through the door. Ignoring the girls, she gathered together some toiletries, a change of clothing and some beachwear. She stuffed the lot into a large beach-bag. ‘I’m going to Faliraki for the day. Bye,’ she said shortly before marching through the door with her head held high. Aileen and Cassie watched her go, mouths agape.

  ‘Creepers!’ Aileen exclaimed. ‘She’s something else! Going to Faliraki for the day indeed.’

  ‘She sure is,’ agreed Cassie grimly. Faliraki Beach was on the other side of the island and it was the most popular beach on Rhodes. So Madam Laura was going to Faliraki without a word of apology or explanation as to where she was last night. Cool wasn’t the word for it! Cassie scowled. ‘Come on, let’s hire bicycles and cycle to Kremasti and Paradision. I’m damned if we’re going to sit here moping all day.’

  Laura didn’t come home that night. The other two girls were furious.

  ‘Well, fuck her!’ Aileen swore angrily over breakfast the following morning. ‘I never thought Laura would be so petty.’

  ‘I just can’t make it out,’ sighed Cassie, sinking her teeth into a juicy plum. ‘I’ve never seen her behave like this before and we’ve been friends since we were children.’

  ‘It’s really ruined the holiday,’ Aileen said sadly.

  ‘Yeah!’ nodded Cassie. ‘She’ll probably move out when we get home.’

  ‘God. I should never have opened my big mouth about Liam!’ Aileen berated herself.

  ‘Listen, Aileen, nothing short of murder could justify her behaviour yesterday, and by golly, is Laura Quinn going to get an earful from me when I get a chance to talk to her again.’ Cassie had never felt as mad in her life.

  ‘It is a bit much all the—’

  ‘I’m sorry!’ A familiar voice interrupted their conversation and they looked up to find Laura standing behind them. They had been so engrossed in giving out about her that they had not seen her get off a passing bus at the stop just opposite the taverna.

  ‘So you should be!’ Cassie said shortly.

  Laura’s eyes brimmed with tears at her tone. ‘Cassie, Aileen, I’m really sorry and ashamed of myself. Please don’t freeze me.’

  In the face of her tears, their anger evaporated. Laura never cried.

  ‘Oh come on, sit down. Have you had breakfast?’ Aileen asked solicitously, pulling out the chair beside her. Laura shook her head, unable to speak.

  ‘Have some with us then.’ Cassie put a comforting arm around her best friend’s shoulder and gave her a hug. ‘We’ve just ordered another pot of coffee and I’ll tell Nichos to bring some more rolls and honey.’

  Laura turned to Aileen. ‘Aileen, I’m so sorry. Those things I said to you, I really didn’t mean them. It’s just . . .’ She swallowed hard and looked at her two friends. ‘Well, my father has been having an affair with Jennifer Casey for the past six years and I just thought of the pain it’s caused my mother and I guess I flipped,’ she explained unhappily.

  ‘Jennifer Casey, Sergeant Casey’s wife?’ Cassie was stunned. This was all news to her. Jennifer Casey was a blowsy middle-aged woman who thought she was a femme fatale.

  Laura nodded. ‘I actually caught them having sex one day while my mother was in hospital having a hysterectomy. It was awful. I suppose I’ve been holding it in until now. I’ve never told anybody. Aileen, I’m sorry; that was no reason to take it out on you.’

  ‘It’s OK, Laura, it’s nothing I’m proud of anyway,’ Aileen murmured. To tell the truth, Laura’s angry words had given her a lot of food for thought. Maybe Liam Flynn
was being unfair to his wife. Maybe she was causing that woman a great deal of pain and grief. She felt so confused.

  ‘Well, I’m really sorry, anyway. Are we still friends?’ Laura asked anxiously.

  ‘Of course we’re friends. My God, if we can’t have a row and get over it, it wouldn’t be much of a friendship, would it?’ Aileen leant over and gave Laura a hug.

  Laura turned to Cassie. ‘I’m sorry for what I said about you and Robbie.’

  Cassie smiled. ‘Laura, you were perfectly right. I’m the one who has to apologize. I have been neglecting my friends, I promise it won’t ever happen again.’

  Cassie was relieved the row was ended. She should have known better than to be worrying. It took a big person to say sorry. And Laura was that. It wouldn’t be in her character to hold a grudge. Pettiness was not part of her friend’s nature.

  Laura smiled with relief. ‘Boy, I’ve been so miserable, I couldn’t even eat. Now I’m starving.’ She bit into a crusty roll. ‘This is scrumptious.’

  ‘Where did you go?’ Aileen asked curiously.

  Laura put her coffee cup down and made a face. ‘Well, I’ve a confession to make now, Aileen. It’s something I’m not that proud of either.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I spent the last two nights and yesterday with Costas.’

  ‘Lucky you!’ Aileen grinned.

  ‘Close your mouth, Cassie,’ Laura said, half-laughing.

  ‘Sorry!’ smiled Cassie. Laura was full of surprises these days!

  ‘I was really mad when I left the other night, as you know, and I went into Mandraki.’ Laura ran tanned fingers through her silky black hair and sighed. ‘I suppose as well as everything else I was feeling a bit jealous. You and Aileen were in relationships and, as Aileen pointed out, I’d never had one. That stung.’ She smiled at Aileen. ‘You’re a tough cookie in a fight.’

  Aileen laughed. ‘You’re no slouch yourself!’

  ‘Anyway, I went into our taverna on the harbour and Costas was there and he could see I was on my own and upset and he was really nice to me and . . . and I can’t believe that I actually went to bed with him. I just wanted to get the first time over and done with, I suppose. I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Isn’t that pathetic?’ she sighed ruefully. ‘I guess what’s even more pathetic is that I still don’t know!’

  ‘Oh Laura!’ Cassie exclaimed sympathetically. ‘When it’s the right time for you it will happen, honestly. How can you expect yourself to have time to work and study and have a relationship? It would be impossible. You always expect far too much of yourself!’

  ‘Well, I made a complete idiot of myself this time. Didn’t I?’

  ‘Don’t be daft!’ Aileen said stoutly. ‘And besides, Costas is too much in love with himself to have time to make sure you were enjoying yourself, so forget about it. All you need is the right man and, girl, he’s out there somewhere.’

  ‘Maybe, maybe not. Who cares anyway, I’ve got you pair,’ Laura declared as she buttered another roll. ‘What’s on the agenda today, then?’

  The rest of the holiday passed very pleasurably. It seemed as though their brief bust-up had brought the three girls even closer together. It had strengthened their friendship, made them more aware of one another’s needs. When, tanned and glowing, they boarded the plane to go home, it was with a great sense of reluctance and regret. Rhodes had been a paradise to them, a haven from their cares and responsibilities. The night before they left, they sat sipping ice-cold beer and watching the red-gold sun turn the Aegean Sea and the Greek sky a dusky red as it dipped below the horizon and extinguished itself.

  ‘Let’s make a pact that the three of us will come back here in ten or twenty years’ time,’ Aileen proposed. ‘Just the three of us, OK? No husbands or boyfriends.’

  ‘You’re on!’ laughed Laura.

  ‘It’s a deal,’ smiled Cassie as they raised their glasses to toast their promise.

  ‘It’s hard to believe it’s over, isn’t it?’ Laura murmured as they stood waiting for Aileen, who had had the misfortune to be stopped by the customs. They were now informing her that she was well over the duty-free limit and she could either pay the duty or have her excess drink and cigarettes confiscated.

  ‘Trust Aileen to get into a fix!’ Cassie remarked, trying to hide her grins at the faces the redhead was making.

  ‘She’s not the only one who might be in a fix,’ Laura said forlornly. Cassie turned to look at her. ‘I was working out my dates on the plane home. I didn’t take precautions when I slept with Costas. I hope to God I’m not pregnant!’

  Jesus, thought Cassie to herself, that would really ruin everything for Laura. ‘You’ll be fine, don’t worry,’ she said reassuringly, wishing she could believe it. Robbie and she were always so careful. He was very good like that, Cassie thought gratefully, and it wouldn’t be long until his arms were around her. She was dying to see him. Hurry up, Aileen, she silently urged her friend.

  Just a few yards away on the other side of the smoked-glass partition door, Robbie was waiting for them. At last, Aileen was ready and they pushed their luggage trolleys through the doors, Cassie craning her head to get a look at him. There he was, head and shoulders above the rest! She waved vigorously. ‘Robbie! Robbie! Oh Robbie!’ She flung herself into his arms and then felt as though she had been walloped by a truncheon, as a familiar whiff caught her nostrils.

  ‘Hi, Cassie,’ he slurred, his eyes focusing on her only with difficulty. ‘I’m glad you’re home.’

  Cassie drew away from her drunken boyfriend, hating him.

  Book II

  1978-1985

  Twenty-Two

  Cassie, Aileen and Laura could never have foreseen just how much their lives would change in the next few years as their careers took shape and their romances had many ups and downs.

  Cassie worked hard in the bank. Her superiors saw from the start that she was interested in her work and was not afraid to show initiative. She had performed her secretarial duties very efficiently, but her aim was to get a job on the counter, where she would finally be dealing with the public. One day while she was typing a letter for the manager, she noticed that he had made an error that could have been embarrassing for the bank. She had brought it discreetly to his notice and he had complimented her on her attention to detail and also on the excellent quality of her work. ‘I think it’s time, Cassie, that you got some experience as a cashier,’ he said, smiling at her, and she was thrilled with herself. At last! The counter. Some people had to wait years and years to get a counter position.

  Cassie took to the job like a duck to water. With her open, friendly nature she soon developed a great rapport with her customers and she thoroughly enjoyed the bustle of the cash desk. It was great experience and her understanding of the customer side of things deepened as she became familiar with yet another aspect of banking.

  By the time she was eligible to do the interview for the position of senior bank official, after five years in the job, she felt confident that she had got enough working experience to gain the promotion. It was going to be a tough interview but Robbie tutored her for weeks beforehand and that was a great help.

  ‘You’ll walk it!’ Robbie assured her. But Cassie wasn’t over-confident. There were a lot of talented people going for the interview and not everyone would succeed. The night before, Robbie sat her down in his apartment and went over in detail some of the questions that she would be expected to answer. After that, he took her notes and books away from her, spread a sheet on the rug in front of the fire, told her to take off her clothes and covered her in soft fluffy towels as he warmed some massage oils. As his hands firmly but gently kneaded the tension out of her bunched-up shoulder muscles, Cassie felt herself start to relax. A soothing Glenn Miller cassette played in the background. Robbie stroked her expertly. He could really give a good massage. There were times, she had to admit, he was a tower of strength for her.

  If Robbie MacDonald could stop his bouts with th
e bottle he would be absolutely perfect. It wasn’t that he drank every day or anything like it. Months would go by and Robbie wouldn’t touch spirits, but then something would snap, particularly if he were under pressure, and he would go on a bender that might last four or five days. No-one at work knew of his problem because he disguised it well. But it had caused rows in his family for years and Cassie came to understand that was why there was often tension in his home when she visited. His mother was blind to his faults, wouldn’t hear a word against him and took his side always, alienating her husband, who felt very resentful about the way his wife protected Robbie instead of making him face up to his problems. His sister, Lillian, who had lived with the hassle since Robbie had started drinking in his late teens, barely spoke to him and several times told Cassie that she was letting herself in for trouble if she stayed with him. Cassie hated to see the friction and she knew it really upset Robbie, who behind it all had a heart as soft as butter. But she knew herself, from the pain, anger and despair she suffered whenever he went off on his binges, that she couldn’t blame her boyfriend’s father and sister.

  Every time Robbie went on a bender and let Cassie down, she broke it off with him, but then he would come back to her and say he was sorry and that he’d never do it again and she’d relent because she loved him.

  At the interview she kept her cool and didn’t let the interviewers rattle her. The computer courses she had taken impressed the interview board. When, as Robbie predicted, she walked the interview and was promoted to the position of senior bank official, he took her out to dinner to celebrate. They went to the Mirabeau in Sandycove, the poshest restaurant in Dublin, and over a candle-lit dinner, Robbie proposed to her. Delighted with her promotion, happier than she had ever been, Cassie joyfully accepted. The following day they went into Weir’s of Grafton Street to pick the ring. Cassie chose an elegant solitaire and then as she and Robbie kissed on a bench in Stephen’s Green he slipped the ring on her finger and held her tightly to him as he told her he loved her. Nora was delighted at the news.