by Lj McEvoy
‘Be janie, ye think with the size of ye, ye’d notice someone as small as me even when ye’re walking around as if ye’re heads fallin’ off mister!’ the old woman softly smiled as she mocked him then recognition shined in her small ancient eyes, ‘don’t I know ye from somewhere?’
‘No I don’t think so,’ Paul could feel himself beginning to blush, wanting to get on with being served and get the hell out of the shop, sometimes he hated the fact he could be easily recognised no matter where he visited in Ireland.
‘Ah Jasus, I do!’ she stated, ‘Hey Bridie, ye’ve got a good’un here!’ she shouted to the shop assistant even though they were less than four feet away from the counter, the shop itself was probably only 200 square feet in total. Then she winked to him, showing extreme pride on her knowledge of government ministers, ‘Dey’ll be talking about dis for weeks, Mr. Minister.’
‘I don’t think so,’ he smiled while thinking, ‘Christ I hope not.’
‘Ah sure they’ve nutting else to talk about ‘round here,’ she loudly laughed deciding to stay and see what a government minister would be buying in a small second hand phone shop such as this. As she folded her arms and leaned back on one of the counters Paul knew immediately that she wasn’t going to budge. He laughed both at himself and at the silliness of it all, turning to the shop assistant who looked as amused and delighted to have such a customer in her shop, she was in the middle of fixing the loose strands of red hair back into place. Explaining that the battery on his mobile was run down, ‘would you possibly have a cheap second hand phone for sale please.’
‘Sure of course she has dem,’ the old woman perked up again before the assistant could get a word in, ‘sure isn’t dis a phone shop and it saying dat in de shop window,’ she quickly turned to the assistant throwing her eyes up to heaven stating indignantly, ‘a government minister an’ he misses a big sign like dat!’
‘Get me out of here,’ Paul thought he was going to burst out laughing because of the old woman’s flat Dublin accent and straightforwardness that only the old Dubs seemed to possess nowadays.
The assistant was starting to get embarrassed with the cheekiness of her regular visitor and quickly pointed to some cell phones hanging behind her, ‘sim card free’ then she realised that that was probably the wrong question to ask a minister. ‘I mean, what type of phone would you like?’ blushing even more.
‘Just a simple basic phone to send texts and make calls,’ Paul tried to make her feel at ease seeing how uncomfortable the middle-aged woman was becoming, ‘and I need a new sim card too.’ Sliding a list across the counter she stated, ‘I think an old Nokia would suit ye, that one is €60, Minister.’
‘What!’ Paul couldn’t help but sounding shocked. The old woman in the background guffawed, ‘now you know the cost of living, Mr. Minister,’ the delight in her voice even made the assistant snigger, Paul turned back to the old woman, ‘I walked into that one, didn’t I?’
‘No, I’d say jumped, with ye’re two big feet.’
Returning his attention back to the shop assistant, he laughed, ‘I think I can just about afford it.’ He was beginning to enjoy the little banter, since becoming a minister he found he was losing contact with the people on the street and felt the need to resume and increase his clinics that he usually held in his constituency.
Unfortunately for Paul it was short-lived as another customer entered, he decided the best thing to do was leave, the small shop was suddenly becoming too crowded. As he walked passed the old woman, she still possessed a fixed coy smile to her face, Paul nudged her copying her accent as he whispered, ‘Now ye wouldn’t know where dere be somewhere private, would ye? I need to make a top-secret phone call.’
She chuckled, ‘Ah ge outta here, would ye, I’d say’ tis the girlfriend ye’d be calling, she’s probably, now how does dat song go - Ah yeah Lost in France or sumting like dat!’
Paul couldn’t help but look surprised by the woman’s words, his voice trailed away as he replied, ‘maybe you’re right, maybe you’re right.’
Chapter 28
Paris - On Wednesday evening Lauren and company were relaxing before they got ready to go to one of David’s favourite restaurant and nightclub. Lauren’s cell phone rang, she was surprised as it was her turn to phone the children but when she didn’t recognise the number she answered and sat up straight when recognising the voice. It was Paul, her friendly Minister for Justice, ‘Just one moment,’ she said solemnly as she headed for the bedroom, David gazed after her then looked at Claude and Helene shrugging. The bedroom door closed tightly.
‘What the hell do you want!’ expressing her annoyance he was the last person she wanted to receive a call from.
‘Lauren don’t be that way, please,’ Paul sounded nervous and she could hear traffic noise in the background, ‘you’re coming to Dublin next week, I wondered if we could meet to talk.’
‘No, Paul I don’t want to talk to you now or meet with you ever again,’ Lauren was in no mood to meet with old friends, especially him.
‘Lauren, I need a decision from you, what are you going to do, have you found or remembered any more information for us?’
‘No,’ she stated being as blunt as possible.
‘I could force you when you come home next week, we won’t let you or the children leave Ireland,’ he hesitated wondering if she would respond the way he wanted her to, ‘I have the power to do that.’
Lauren was vehement, ‘And I have the power to destroy your career Paul. Don’t you dare threaten my children or me ever!’ controlling her voice, she was amazed at what both he and she were saying, ‘how could you even threaten Emma like that?’
Paul whooped, ‘That’s my Girl! Now you know why I told you.’
Lauren was confounded, ‘What? Where are you phoning from Paul?’
‘I just bought an old cell phone do you think I’d risk talking to you like this from my office? This is brilliant, I knew you’d realise why I told you.’
He sounded relieved so Lauren continued to listen.
‘Now I’ll talk to An Taoiseach, of course he knows about my relationship too and I’ll get the traditional slap on the wrist for letting it slip to you, but Lauren thanks and I’ll be in touch to keep you up to date when you’re in town, okay.’
‘Hold it Paul, you mean to say you didn’t want me to testify or hand over any evidence? What are you up to?’
‘Lauren, you’re one of the closest, no, one of two true friends I have and believe me I haven’t got many in this line of business,’ Paul was sincere, Lauren now felt that much at least. ‘I’m not going to lose that friendship, they can find another way if they can. I’m not going to let them put me in a position where I have to force you. Do you understand me? If it got out about my relationship with Marc, I would have to resign and with the one seat majority we have at the moment it would probably bring down the government, not politically correct when it’s public knowledge you know.’ But he added, ‘If you have any evidence Lauren please hand it over, have you?’
‘No, Paul I’ve told you before,’ she hated lying to him feeling she was going to crack now starting to worry for him, was he only going to get a slap on the wrist, she wondered. He was taking this risk for her and she was still holding back something that maybe could save his career.
Ensuring that the bedroom door was closed tight she turned and froze. David was standing there; his features expressed everything she didn’t want to see, ‘I have to go, I’ll contact you when I get to Dublin.’ Paul was in the process of saying that he would contact her and not visa versa when she hung up. Lauren just stared at David; he in return glared at her.
‘Who’s Paul?’ he asked surprisingly calm. Lauren didn’t respond guiltily looking to the floor, did he hear all of the conversation?
‘Who is Paul?’ David impatiently repeated, ‘and why is he threatening you and the children? What’s going on Lauren? Is this the business you needed to sort out alone?’ he fired quest
ions at her. Sarcastically he added, ‘has it to do with your husband’s wonderful line of work?’ Lauren continued to stare at the floor, ‘Who the hell is Paul, Lauren?’ he bellowed, his anger filling the room. Lauren burst out crying.
On hearing David shout Claude and Helene looked towards the bedroom door, Claude suggested going for a walk. Quickly they left.
‘He’s an old friend and the Irish Minister for Justice,’ Lauren shouted back at him, ‘and yes it is do with that business!’ Then she softened her tone, ‘David I need your help, your advice please,’ she begged him to understand. Sitting down beside her, Lauren noticed he didn’t put his arm around her like he always did, he was still angry she could feel it. But she commenced with the story, telling him every little detail. Trying to read his face, she feared he was taking it badly but there was no expression, he was staring at the floor. ‘Am I doing right by telling him,’ her mind was doing battle.
‘You’ve got to hand over that information to him,’ David now looked at her, anticipating a positive response.
‘If I do and it gets out, I’m putting myself and the kids in danger, it’s a risk I’m not prepared to take. I need that file for protection against my mother and whomever she’s working with. Don’t you understand? Now I’m putting you at risk too.’ She put her head in her hands, starting to cry again, ‘Christ, if Peter wasn’t dead he most certainly wish he was after I finished with him,’ she cried.
David now put his arm around her, ‘Why do you trust Paul so much?’
Lauren stopped her sobs looking out over her hands, ‘I know he’d never do anything to harm me or the children.’
‘How can you be so certain Lauren,’ David half-laughed, ‘I mean after what you’ve experienced with your husband and your mother, how can you put your life into the hands of an old boyfriend!’
‘He’s always been there for me and visa versa,’ Lauren was solemn, ‘and…and he would never do anything to harm Emma, she very precious to him.’
‘I don’t understand, what on earth do you mean?’
‘Paul is a homosexual and will probably never father another child, at least not if he continues down that road and stays faithful to his partner.’ Lauren felt David’s arm recoil slightly as she said that sentence knowing he was comprehending what she was about to admit, ‘Peter never wanted children and took every precaution necessary but I managed to convince him that accidents could happen.’
‘Mon Dieu, I don’t believe this! Emma is Paul’s daughter?’ David was going into shock mode, ‘but what about Keith, don’t tell me he belongs to another old boyfriend!’ he snapped as he removed his arm from around her shoulders and rose from the bed.
‘What do you take me for!’ she retorted as she burst out crying, ‘of course Keith is Peters, just another accident that’s all. You of all people should know that accidents can bloody well happen, shouldn’t you! At least I don’t pretend it was anything else.’
David stared at her as he sat down again, ‘how did you know about me and Francoise?’ his face was wry.
‘Does that really matter, David?’
He thought for a moment, this is the woman he loves and she’s doing exactly what he has always wanted her to do, for once she was opening up to him. ‘Why am I arguing with her?’ Without any further hesitation he stated, ‘I’m going to Dublin with you, but first we’ll talk to my solicitor and see what he can advise us to do. Jacques is good and deals with international laws.’
To Dublin, we, us, Lauren heard all these words with total relief sweeping through her, ‘I thought I was going to lose you that you’d kick me out.’
David took another tissue softly wiping her tears away from her cheeks, ‘it’s not your fault and besides, do you think you could get away from me that easily.’
‘David, this is dangerous. Drugs and smuggling! I’ve already explained the suspicions the police have about Peter’s death…’
‘I know, that’s why you won’t be without me by your side. Lauren I promised I’d be there for you just like you were for me…’
‘This is different, you can’t come to Dublin we can’t risk them knowing you,’ Lauren was ashen-faced and red eyed.
‘End of subject now go have a shower,’ he ordered, ‘we’ll get ready for tonight and lets make it a good one, eh?’ hugging her tightly. Lauren rose from the bed but paused and smiled kissing him, ‘what did you first think when you heard my telephone conversation?’
‘Go now,’ instructing her again, ‘and maybe I’ll join you, it is okay isn’t it?’ Lauren nodded yes smiling but took note that he didn’t smile back; doubts began to surface again. ‘Don’t be stupid Lauren,’ she corrected herself as she headed for the bathroom he wouldn’t say one thing and do another.
David lay back on the bed still shocked at what Lauren just told him. How the hell was he going to get her out of this mess, he needed to talk to Jacques. This Paul guy sounds honest enough, Lauren trusts him, but David was suspicious was he setting her up? Giving her false security so she arrives in Dublin with ease, what the hell did she ever see in that husband of hers? ‘If I have to,’ he decided, ‘I’ll go in place of Lauren and collect the children.’ Closing his eyes he listened to Lauren showering, I should join her, reassure her, but making love was the last thing he wanted to do at the moment, ‘not under these circumstances,’ he thought deciding to stay on the bed until she finished.
Chapter 29
Dublin – As his car slipped into his driveway, for the first time since he became Minister for Justice, Paul felt totally satisfied with what he had just achieved. As he parked his car at the side of his home, he closed his eyes and let his mind wander, trailing back to nearly nine years ago when he met Lauren at a business conference being held in Waterford. It was being held over three days so invited speakers and attendees filled the rooms of the large hotel for that weekend.
At the time she was a little over a year married and sounded happy, acting as sharp and as business-like as ever. But he knew her better than she expected and after dinner his concern for his friend grew as he noticed her drinking quicker than the others within their company. Determined to get to the root of the problem he asked her to dance with him, ensuring the assembled were informed that it was ‘for old time’s sake.’
Gracefully accepting, they slowly moved around the floor with small talk being the only subject Lauren wanted to discuss, he couldn’t get behind that veil she was hiding beneath. Deciding to act as to the point as she could be Paul asked the question he thought might be at the root of the problem, ‘so how’s married life treating you then?’ With Lauren’s frozen reaction he knew he’d hit bulls-eye. ‘Oh, that good,’ he answered for her, ‘how about having a cup of coffee with me in the foyer?’
‘You’re being overly discreet Paul, how about your room?’
With her voice so toneless Paul knew she wouldn’t take no for an answer, ‘Let the night finish with some coffee and we’ll talk, is that okay?’
Agreeing with a soft nod, Lauren held onto her friend, ‘my only friend at this very moment in time,’ she later admitted to him.
Nearly two hours later the guests started to dwindle and retire to recover for the next tedious day ahead. Paul noticed Lauren rising from her chair, ‘I’m afraid I must leave your wonderful company,’ she stated politely to the guests at the table, then turning to Paul she asked, ‘as we are placed on the same floor could you kindly escort me to my room Paul?’ He didn’t hesitate in giving a positive response.
That night they made wonderful, passionate love. It was something he could never achieve with other women in his life and as Lauren lay in his arms pouring her heart out to him, he wanted so much to help her, to protect her, to never let her go. But they both knew and accepted that it wasn’t to be. His political career was taking off and he was just finished his law studies, to have a relationship with a recently married and then recently separated woman in Ireland would have destroyed him and it was something Lauren could neve
r accept.
‘You can never do that to yourself, Paul. Not for me, I’m not worth ruining your career and your life for,’ she cried as she made him promise.
On their second night together, they made a pact as he softly kissed the base of her stomach looking up to her as she cupped his face in her hands, ‘I know something beautiful will come from this because I know how beautiful the mother is.’
And he was right, as he sat in his car tears started to roll down his face as he looked at Emma’s picture now placed securely, lovingly in his wallet. Hearing another car approaching the house, he looked up and saw Marc’s car drive straight into the garage, the electronic door closing behind him. ‘Right sort yourself out man,’ he pulled himself upright and cleared his throat, as Marc would say – there’s plans to be made.
Chapter 30
As David and Lauren got ready they were silent deep in their own thoughts. Claude and Helene arrived back changing for the night ahead, uncertain if there was going to be one. But when they came out from their bedroom David and Lauren were waiting, Claude noticed they were sitting opposite each other, after the previous few days it looked wrong. David stood up, ‘Right are we ready for a good night everybody?’ smiling he offered his arm to Lauren.
In the restaurant, Claude and Helene watched them, both were drinking quicker and heavier than usual but sounded okay, the mood was a contradiction, one minute silent and tense the next jovial and light. People were calling over to the table to talk to David; Lauren was delightfully polite when he introduced her to his Parisian friends.
Then Jaqueline Orliac entered the scene, she was dressed in a bright pink and extremely tight leather jumpsuit, ‘so this is what you left me for, Mon Cherie,’ she stated loudly so even the people in the street could hear. Claude cringed but David ignored the comment, just rubbing cheeks with her making certain people noticed it was a false kiss.