A Taste for Love

by Marita Conlon-McKenna

  Lucy couldn’t believe it. It was exactly what she had been hoping for, practically from the minute she’d started dating Finn: to be with him all the time. She loved him so much, and living together was something she felt they were both ready for.

  ‘Where will we live?’ she asked.

  ‘I dunno.’ He shrugged. ‘But it’s got to be somewhere nice. I’ve had enough of dumps like this!’

  ‘We can get in touch with some letting agents, check online,’ suggested Lucy, excited. ‘We are bound to be able to find somewhere nice. Somewhere that’s pretty central.’

  ‘And we are not having T-shirts all over the place,’ he warned. ‘This place we move to is going to be our home, not a bloody warehouse!’

  Lucy laughed. At the moment they could barely fit into his bedroom or the hall, as they had boxes of printed ‘Busy’ T-shirts everywhere. Sales were going great, and the business was really beginning to take off, and their online website was just about to launch.

  ‘Wait until Mum and Dad hear!’ she joked. ‘I’m sure they’ll be glad to get rid of me.’

  ‘No one would ever want to be rid of you, Lucy,’ said Finn, touching her lips with his. ‘Unless they were some kind of madman!’

  Lucy wrapped her arms around him, kissing his eyes and face and neck. ‘Finn, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me,’ she said as she began to kiss him everywhere else.

  They were curled up on the couch still when Duggy arrived home.

  ‘Hey, what did you guys eat?’ he asked. ‘It smells great.’

  ‘There’s some left in the fridge if you want it,’ offered Lucy. ‘It will only take a few minutes in the microwave.’

  She laughed as she watched Duggy dig into the chicken.

  ‘What’s up with you two?’ he asked. ‘You look like two Cheshire cats!’

  ‘We’re moving in together,’ explained Finn.

  ‘In here?’

  ‘No, I wouldn’t inflict that on Lucy,’ he joked. ‘Nah, we are going to find a place of our own.’

  ‘When are you moving out?’

  ‘Well, as soon as possible,’ teased Finn. ‘I’ll do anything to get away from you lot!’

  ‘Great!’ said Duggy. ‘Maybe now I’ll get a bit of a chance to use the couch if you two lovebirds are not around!’

  ‘Duggy, you spend half your life on this couch,’ jeered Finn. ‘It’s practically your office!’

  ‘A lot of good ideas have been generated on that old couch.’ Duggy laughed. ‘But it’s not going to be the same without you.’

  ‘Well, I won’t go far,’ promised Finn.

  ‘And I’ll have you over for some great dinners,’ added Lucy. ‘We’re not going to let you starve.’

  ‘Then we’re all cool,’ said Duggy, squashing in beside them.

  Lucy had dragged Finn around half of Ranelagh. The price of accommodation for two people was outrageous, and the landlords had you over a barrel because they knew that you were a couple. Some of the flats and apartments they viewed wouldn’t fit a dwarf, they were so small and cramped. Most suffered from some form of damp or mould, and anything half-decent was way out of their budget. Finn was getting more and more disappointed with what they were being offered, but Lucy refused to give in. She was determined that their first home together would be something special.

  They viewed the top floor of a house on Grosvenor Square in Rathmines. It was a hell of a hike up a rickety staircase, but there was quite a view from the small attic rooms. It wasn’t perfect, but they were about to agree to take it when Finn decided to push back the massive wardrobe in the main bedroom, and discovered a wall of damp coming from a leak in the ceiling! They practically ran out of the place. There was a modern one-bedroomed flat to let in a block in Terenure, but having to live, eat and cook all in one room – and sleep on a pull-out sofa bed – was just too much, no matter how cheap the rent was.

  ‘We are never going to find anywhere!’ complained Finn. ‘We’ll be stuck with Duggy for ever!’

  ‘We’ll find somewhere,’ she insisted, refusing to give up searching. They were going to look at a house on the Ranelagh Road at 8 p.m. which contained eight flats. The road was a bit noisy, and the flats were pretty grim, but at least the landlord had ensured the place was dry and warm. The ceilings in the room were very high and she imagined it would be hard to heat them during cold spells, and the only form of heating was storage, which she knew cost a fortune. The furniture was ancient, and looking at the bed she knew they would definitely need a new one.

  ‘Can we come back to you tomorrow?’ she asked. ‘We need to talk about it.’

  *

  ‘I don’t like it,’ insisted Finn. ‘I know it’s the right location, but the house is so wrong.’

  They were trudging back down towards Donnybrook when Lucy spotted the ‘Flat to Let’ sign up on a large three-storey house on Belmont Avenue.

  ‘This isn’t on our list!’ she said, rooting through her printout.

  ‘Well, let’s just knock and see if anyone is there,’ said Finn.

  A middle-aged man opened the door to them.

  ‘We are enquiring about the apartment you have to let.’

  ‘That’s quick. I literally just put that sign up,’ said the owner. ‘And the advert is meant to be going on to the websites on Friday!’

  ‘We were walking by, and we are looking for somewhere in this area to live,’ Finn explained. ‘What size is it?’

  ‘It’s a one-bed apartment with a living room, small kitchen and bathroom in the basement. My daughter and her boyfriend used to live in it until a few weeks ago, but now they’ve bought a town house in Clonskeagh as they are expecting a baby and this place would be far too small for them.’

  ‘Can we look at it, please?’ begged Lucy. The man would hardly have his daughter living in a basement hovel, would he?

  ‘I wasn’t going to show it till the weekend, as I’m still decorating it, but if you don’t mind wet paint you’re welcome to have a look.’

  Grabbing a key he led them down the steps to the outside door to the self-contained flat. The hall was narrow, with only a small space for hanging coats and storage, but once they stepped in they both couldn’t believe the small but perfect cream kitchen with its window overlooking the front.

  ‘I put in a new hob only two years ago for them,’ explained the man.

  The living room was big with a fireplace, a window, and a door opening on to a small paved terrace which held a barbecue and a wooden table and chairs. The bedroom was great, and had a fitted wardrobe. Everywhere was clean and bright, gleaming with magnolia-coloured paint.

  Lucy looked at Finn and knew they were both thinking the exact same thing. It was perfect. Just what they wanted, but the awful thing was it was probably going to be way over their budget.

  ‘How much is the rent a month?’ ventured Finn.

  Lucy held her breath, barely daring to inhale.

  She couldn’t believe it when the owner came back with a figure that was only thirty euros above their budget, and this lovely little flat was well worth it!

  ‘We’ll take it,’ said Finn. ‘We’ll need to move in almost straight away.’

  ‘Well, once I have your deposit and we get the rental agreement drawn up I can give you the keys by Monday, if that suits you,’ offered the owner. ‘The wife and I live upstairs, so, to be honest, I suppose having had Niamh and Brian living here I’m happy to have another young couple like yourselves take it.’

  Lucy couldn’t believe it! They had found a flat. They were actually going to move into this place. It was exactly what they both wanted, and was near to town and everywhere!

  ‘I love it,’ she said, squeezing Finn’s hand.

  Outside, back up on the street, they looked at each other. They had found a place of their own. This was the first step, the first move in their life together.

  ‘Can we really afford it?’ she asked Finn hesitantly.

  ‘We are just g
oing to have to sell a lot more T-shirts every month,’ he said, sweeping her up into his arms.

  Chapter Forty-one

  Kerrie O’Neill watched as Matt got ready to go home to Moyle House for the weekend.

  ‘Please, Kerrie, come with me?’ he pleaded. ‘I can’t face it on my own.’

  ‘No! I’m not going, Matt,’ she insisted stubbornly. ‘I’ve had enough of it! I’ve had enough of your parents and their problems. You are not going to be able to solve it, Matt, you know you’re not. Your dad is in far too deep. The bank told you that. His losses are enormous.’

  ‘He’s under huge pressure from them. I’ve got to try and help him. For God’s sake, he’s my dad.’

  ‘Matt, he’s no bloody saint. He got himself into this mess. He owes the bank a fortune. It’s a wonder they didn’t call his loans in sooner.’

  ‘Gerard Mullen is responsible for most of this,’ he shouted at her. ‘Dad would never have got involved in all this mad buying if Gerard and that bloody solicitor of his hadn’t encouraged him.’

  ‘Face it, Matt, your dad gambled and now he has lost! I feel sorry for him and your mum, but you know as well as I do that the banks just want to get some sort of settlement and repayment schedule set up.’

  ‘Come down, then, and help me explain it to them.’

  ‘No,’ said Kerrie firmly.

  The past few weeks had been an utter nightmare, with Matt having to deal with the bank and the revenue and do everything in his power to try and sort out his dad’s finances. There were constant phone calls and messages, and Dermot Hennessy regularly visiting their apartment, trying to sort out some sort of viable rescue plan. Matt was up till all hours on his laptop going round and round in circles doing calculations and trying to find some way out of the quagmire his father had managed to get himself into. He looked exhausted, and was barely sleeping. She loved Matt for his kindness, and she knew he was just being a good son, but he was so wrapped up in his family’s affairs that she felt totally pushed aside. All he cared about was the Hennessy name and reputation, and trying to save it.

  She was exhausted with it. Dermot Hennessy’s business with Gerard Mullen – ‘Goldsmith County Investments’ – had been put into receivership, and on paper it looked like Matt’s dad owed five to six million to the banks. What the hell had the Hennessys been up to? She knew if Matt had had the money himself he would have used every red cent of it to bail his father out, which irked her even more.

  She saw it every day in work: clients who refused advice and just literally wanted to take a gamble on some company or other, or shares, or invest in an off-the-wall scheme. Sometimes their gambles paid off, but more often than not the money was gone and they had to accept that they had lost.

  ‘Just come down for a day, Kerrie,’ Matt persisted. ‘We’re having a big family meeting. Mum and Dad would want you there.’

  ‘Matt, they wouldn’t!’ she shouted back. ‘I’m hardly your parents’ favourite person. Your mother barely tolerates me!’

  ‘Don’t say that about her!’ he said defensively. ‘She’s been having an awful time of it, you know that.’

  Kerrie bit her lip. She was not going to tell Matt exactly what she thought of his mother. ‘Listen, Matt, it’s far better you go down and try to persuade them about selling the house quickly before the bank does. You need to sit Ed and Georgina down and explain exactly what is going on to them. Get your dad to agree to appoint an auctioneer. Anyway, you are far better able to handle your parents without me around.’

  ‘But I want you there, Kerrie,’ he kept on angrily. ‘Why won’t you come?’

  ‘Every weekend it’s been the same,’ she retorted. ‘All we talk and think about is your parents and the house and what is going to happen to them. I’m not doing it this weekend.’

  ‘You are so selfish, Kerrie … so self-centred,’ he said, zipping his bag and grabbing his car keys. ‘This is just too messy for you. It’s like this apartment, and our wedding. You want everything perfect and clear-cut! Nothing out of place for perfect Miss Kerrie O’Neill, or you will tidy it up and put it away.’

  ‘I am being selfish,’ she shouted as he walked out the door and banged it after him. ‘I’m going looking for my wedding dress. I’m going to try and sort out the accommodation for our wedding. I’m going to phone that little French priest that we want to marry us …’

  Chapter Forty-two

  ‘Are you sure you two will be OK?’ Alice asked, unable to disguise her anxiety at leaving her youngest son for the night.

  ‘Mum, stop fussing!’ Sean replied stubbornly. She knew he’d endured more motherly fussing than most twenty-year-olds over the past few weeks, but she couldn’t help it!

  ‘You know I have my phone with me, and I will leave it on silent just in case you need to contact me.’

  ‘Mum, for heaven’s sake.’ Conor laughed. ‘We are only going down the road to the pub for a curry and a few pints! I think the two of us will be safe!’

  ‘I know.’ She sighed. ‘I know!’

  Alice grabbed her black jacket and glanced quickly at the mirror in the hall. Sally and Hugh would be here to collect her in a few minutes. Sally had insisted she come along and join them on their table at ‘The Innovation Ireland Dinner’ in the Four Seasons Hotel. ‘It will be fun!’ Sally had promised, refusing to accept Alice’s various attempts at declining the invitation. ‘I don’t care what you say, Alice, you are coming and having a night out!’

  Conor was staying for two nights at home as Lisa was away at a hen weekend in Kilkenny with some of her hospital friends. Conor had decided it was high time he and Sean went for a few pints, and that his kid brother began to take steps back to a normal life.

  The Four Seasons Hotel was packed, the crystal chandeliers sparkling, a pianist welcoming them as the waiters passed around glasses of champagne. Alice was glad that she had worn the simple fitted black satin dress, with the scoop neck. She felt elegant and classic, and that she was not competing with some of the younger women, who were wearing a stunning array of halter-neck multicoloured chiffons and thigh-high cocktail dresses.

  ‘Wow!’ said Hugh, as he surveyed the crowds. ‘The women get prettier and the dresses get shorter every year.’

  Alice helped herself to the champagne, and began to feel the tension ease. She relaxed. She was with Sally and Hugh, and Trish and Brendan were also on their table, so it was definitely going to be a fun night. The noise level grew and grew as everyone chatted and mingled, and she couldn’t believe it when she met Rachel, who was wearing a stunning purple sheath dress, her dark hair up in an almost beehive style.

  ‘You look gorgeous, Rachel!’

  ‘I think we all look a bit better without our aprons.’ Rachel giggled, introducing Alice to her husband, Pete.

  ‘Pete, this is Alice Kinsella, the lady who changed our lives and got me cooking!’

  ‘You certainly have,’ he joked. ‘Rachel and Leah are gone mad at it now; instead of spaghetti and pasta we are trying out all kinds of things. Rachel’s even getting me into it.’

  ‘Rachel is an amazing cook.’ Alice smiled. ‘And I’m sure she’d love to have you try out some of the recipes, too.’

  ‘I’m working on it!’ Pete admitted sheepishly.

  ‘What a lovely couple,’ remarked Sally. ‘You must have some fun in your class!’

  ‘We do.’ Alice laughed. ‘And now I have a new crowd that has just started, and one of them speaks hardly any English, which is causing even more chaos!’

  After a few more drinks they left the reception area and began to file into the large ornate ballroom. The tables were all beautifully adorned with candles and stunning pink and purple lily arrangements.

  ‘This way, Alice,’ called Sally, showing her where their table was. Alice, spotting her name card, was relieved to see that she was sitting beside Hugh, who was always brilliant company, with Brendan and Trish down the other end from her.

  They were just settling thems
elves at the table when Alex Ronan appeared and slid into the seat on the other side of her.

  ‘Sorry, I got delayed a bit, Hugh, but I had to drop Aisling somewhere,’ he apologized.

  Alice blushed. She hadn’t seen Alex since she’d left Ronan, Ryan & Lewis last year, and she was sure the senior partner was hardly expecting himself to be landed sitting beside her. She glanced over at Sally to see if she understood the situation, but Sally was deliberately ignoring her and chatting away to a small balding man and his wife.

  ‘Nice to meet you again, Alice,’ said Alex, as he began to study the menu. ‘We still miss you at the office.’

  Alice blazed. Was he being sarcastic or polite? She couldn’t really figure it out. She would kill Sally for putting him beside her … kill her!

  She watched the wine waiter top up her glass with white wine. It was going to be a long night, she thought, sitting here beside Alex.

  ‘What have you been doing since you left us?’ he asked politely. ‘Hugh mentioned you were setting up some type of business from home.’

  Alice found herself telling him about The Martello Cookery School and her group of students, and how much she enjoyed passing on her culinary knowledge and skills to others.

  ‘I love food and am pretty passionate about it.’

  ‘Passion is a pretty rare commodity these days,’ he mused, ‘so I’d imagine you are a very good teacher!’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said, surprised by the compliment.

  ‘I always suspected from the minute I met you that your talents were wasted in our office,’ he added.

  Alice could see the twinkle in his blue-grey eyes, and was unsure if he was teasing her or being sincere. She found herself laughing, remembering the disasters she had inflicted on the accountancy office, and the consternation she had caused.

  ‘I don’t know how I would have survived without Kelly to keep an eye on me,’ she admitted.