But now a long lonely evening stretched ahead. She decided to call Ruth – it had been a ridiculously long time since they had spoken and she needed to be cheered up.
Ruth was online so Julia quickly skyped her and waited to see her friend’s lovely face.
When Ruth came into view Julia was concerned. Her friend’s red puffy eyes and running nose were not what she’d expected to be greeted with. Despite the fact that they were thousands of miles apart, Julia could feel her friend’s pain.
“Oh Ruth, what’s happened?”
“Julia, you must be fucking psychic – I’ve never needed a call so badly in my life. I’ve had it with bloody men – they are all the same – fucking bastards!”
Julia was startled to hear so many crude words in one sentence from her friend who never cursed.
“Ruth, you look like you’ve been crying forever – what is it – is it Ian?”
Ruth threw her head back and rolled her eyes indignantly. “Another fucking bastard – boy, do I pick ’em!”
“Who – what is going on?”
“You were right about Brian – he is a dead loss and wait for it – he’s married!”
“Brian the architect?”
“Yep – I’ve had a couple of dates with him and I put off telling you because I was so damn happy. That’s my fucking problem – what a dope I am! Do I have ‘Come screw me, all ye married men!’ tattooed across my forehead?”
“He’s married?” said Julia, stupefied with amazement.
“Yep, and living with his lovely wife while he was screwing me and trying to screw you! What do I have to do to get a decent man, Julia?”
Julia was so shocked that she was glad of the time delay in their conversation. She really didn’t know how to console her friend.
“I think the world has gone crazy over the last couple of days. If you want to know how to get a man maybe you should take up bridge!”
“Huh?” Ruth squinted in to the screen to see if Julia was joking. “What’s bridge got to do with men?”
“Carol has gone and met herself a man – I swear, Ruth, we are hopeless cases – my mother has Gerry from Northern Ireland running up and down the country after her.”
Ruth wondered how Julia was coping with such a dramatic change in her mother.
“Are you okay about it?”
Julia smiled and nodded. “You know, after all that has happened to us since Christmas I feel like just saying ‘Bring it on!’ – I mean, what can happen next?”
Ruth shrugged. “I can’t say but I do know that I’m a disaster when it comes to men.”
“Looks like we both are. And, by the way, Dylan has practically moved in with Odette.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yep!”
“And what about Gillian – I thought he was dating her?”
“Well, I don’t know about her. There’s something in the water in Dublin at the moment – everyone is acting so strangely. Horatio is in love with the Brazilian housekeeper and she’s easily fifty years younger than him – as long as he doesn’t frighten her away – the last thing I need to cope with now is housework on top of everything else!”
Ruth couldn’t help but laugh. A call from Julia was just what she needed after what she had been through tonight.
“Oh but, Ju, you don’t really think that Dylan has the hots for Odette – I mean seriously?”
“It’s been so bizarre since Craig died. Odette is not herself naturally but she doesn’t confide in me the way that she used to – she seems to need Dylan more than anyone. And I was in shock when I met Gerry first –”
“Wait, I can’t keep up – tell me more about Gerry!”
“Would you believe they have already been away together – away as in Germany! And they are off to the UK soon. I swear this whole bridge scene is a cover-up for some sort of online dating system. They are sending each other music and stories and e-cards and all sorts. It’s a virtual community that has spilled over into the real world.”
“What does your granddad think of it all?”
“I think Mum finding love has made Horatio frisky – he was very shook at the funeral but seems to have bounced back remarkably quickly – he keeps saying that life is short.”
“Well, it can be bloody long when you keep jumping from one disastrous relationship to the next!” Ruth declared.
“Ruth, don’t be so harsh – how were you to know that he was married?”
“Well, obviously I should have asked – what sort of a feckin’ eejit am I?”
“Ruth, you have to stop cursing for a start!”
“I can’t help it – I’ve been deranged here for the last two hours – it’s two in the morning.”
“Gosh – I’m sorry – I had no idea that it was so late there – I’m all over the place!”
“I’m just pleased that you did.”
“So how long has Brian been married?”
“I don’t know the details.”
“So what did he tell you about it?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? Why?” Julia scrunched up her face.
“Because I just ran.”
“You ran?”
“Yeah, I ran away – we were walking along the Esplanade SOR and I just ran away from him!”
“And did he not run after you?”
“Oh yeah, but I was quicker – I don’t know where I got the speed from – I just couldn’t look at him. I jumped into a taxi and came straight home.”
“Did he try to call you?”
“Yeah, but I wouldn’t answer. He came around to the house but I wouldn’t let him in. He kept saying ‘Let me explain’ – so I just said that I would call the police if he didn’t fuck off and after that I’ve been cursing at the cushions and the wall until you rang.”
Julia nodded her head. “Okay, so now I can see where the cursing comes in. And do you like him?”
“I hate him – fucking bastard!”
“Before you knew that he was married, did you like him?”
“Julia, I’d fallen in love with him – why do you think I’m so bloody angry? We even did it – twice!”
“Oh boy, Ruth – you do need to talk to him.”
“I can’t – I swore after you were here that I would never ever sleep with a married man again – then the first guy that comes my way is voilà – another married man!”
Ruth started to sob again and Julia wished desperately that she could hug her friend. It felt so difficult to be apart at times like this.
“I wish I was there, Ruth.”
“I wish you were here too, Ju – oh God – I’m so sorry for ranting on – how selfish am I? We should be talking about you and how you’re coping after Craig’s terrible death and dealing with a new man in your mum’s life.”
“And now Michael is coming home for good.”
“For good? Has he got a job?”
“No – he’s returning on the 1st March for an interview. Oh I do hope that he gets it!”
“Wow, I never thought that he would just pack up and drop everything like that!”
“Ruth – I told you everyone has gone crazy! So I’ve changed. I am going to be philosophical in future – no more sorting people out or giving advice – it’s live and let live for me from now on!”
Ruth wished that she felt the same way but all she felt was a rock in her heart and disappointment with herself and the world.
Chapter Forty-seven
Lydia had planned what she would do. She had booked a table in the Unicorn restaurant where Peter had taken her on their first date. He would wonder why they were going somewhere so nice on a Wednesday evening but she would make up an excuse – it could be a present from the Perrin family for all the help he had given them with Craig’s case. All she had to do was get him there and then she would order a bottle of champagne and pop the question. This was just a little shove in the right direction.
Carol was nervous about driving all the
way up to the North of Ireland on her own. She had been slow to agree to the trip as she wanted to be there for her daughter to help with the children and talk things through. But Odette didn’t want her around at all and that saddened her. Her daughter had made it quite clear that she wanted only Dylan to be around her house. Carol worried that Odette might be trying to fill the gap left by her husband with his brother. But she had to respect her daughter’s wishes and while she was annoying her so much the only thing to do was to disappear. Besides, Gerry had been trying to get her to come up to his part of the world for months and she was now ready. Life was short.
She would never have imagined that her son-in-law would do such a thing but she herself had suffered from bouts of depression throughout her life that she now regretted terribly. All that loss of energy that should have been spent doing things that she enjoyed and helping others.
The road signs were good and she knew from Gerry’s clear directions that she hadn’t far to go now. Going to his home and seeing his life would be as much an eye-opener as she was sure it had been for him when he came to Dublin. At least now she needn’t be clandestine. Julia and Horatio liked Gerry very much and, although Odette was in no position to see what was going on around her at the funeral she did notice Gerry and even said that he seemed nice. Carol shivered as she thought of her poor daughter and her little children. Why did things like that have to happen?
She took the next right which she saw was the entrance to Hawthorn Way and counted six houses until she saw Gerry’s Ford Mondeo in the driveway. She turned into the drive and stopped. She was excited and thrilled that she had completed the odyssey on her own. Life was to be savoured and she hoped that if her children were to learn anything from Craig’s unfortunate departure that it was to embrace life. It was too late to wonder why he did it – time couldn’t be turned back and he was gone forever – but those that remained behind had a duty to live their lives to their fullest.
And as Gerry stepped out onto his front porch with a beaming smile, beckoning her to come further up the drive, that was something that she intended to do.
It was brave and adventurous and something that Lydia would never have imagined doing before she met Peter. He was coming to meet her in the Unicorn straight from work. His broad dark figure sauntered into the restaurant – he was wearing a smart pinstriped suit and she loved that dishevelled coolness that he had at the end of the day. Like a character from CSI New York.
He spotted her quickly and went over to the window where she sat sipping on a glass of table water.
“I hope I’m not late,” he said, looking at his watch before leaning forward to kiss her.
“No, I was early. Did you have a good day?”
He sat and took his napkin and put it on his lap. “Hectic – most days are hectic but they just seem to be getting worse!”
Lydia was so proud of him.
“So what’s on the menu tonight?” he asked, his eyes scanning the card.
“Peter, I’ve been so looking forward to tonight.”
Peter looked up from the menu. “Every night is good for us – we have a great life, Lydia – when I see what so many poor souls have to go through every day I thank God for my life.”
“I don’t know how you remain so positive – I really only got a glimpse into the awful things that you have to deal with on Craig’s case. The Perrin family are so grateful for all that you did for them.”
“Believe me, Lydia, that wasn’t the hardest – not by a long shot. I had to call around to a couple tonight whose son went missing . . .” He stopped. “I’m not going to talk about work tonight – it’s too nice being out like this.”
Lydia smiled. “You can say anything to me, Peter – we’ve done so much these last six months and living together has been wonderful.”
He agreed with a nod and poured himself a glass of the water.
Lydia was desperate to just blurt it out and see what he thought of her proposal but she had planned to wait until after the main course. She was nervous inside but wanted the moment to be right.
Chapter Forty-eight
Julia drove as close to the front door as she could – the boot of the car was full of Michael’s luggage – he’d had to leave a lot of his furniture and ornaments behind.
He stood on the driveway and pounded the ground with his foot.
“I’m home! You know, Ju, even if I don’t get this job I’m just glad to be back. Call me a young fogey if you like but that’s what I am!”
“Give you a year or two and you’ll be called an old fogey!”
“Hey!” Michael couldn’t get cross with his sister. He was so thrilled to be home.
Horatio came to the front door. He had been so looking forward to seeing his grandson. He held out his arms.
“It will be nice to have another man in the house,” he said, hugging his grandson tightly.
“I won’t be staying more than a week or two, Granddad – the apartment is available soon – the tenants are moving out so the timing has been perfect.”
“Ah, you won’t want to leave here once you’ve met Paola – she’s a beauty. But hands off, she’s mine!”
“Granddad,” Julia chastised with the crossest voice she could muster.
But the mood was too jovial among the three for crossness to last.
“Where’s Mum?” Michael asked.
“She’s popped up the north to Gerry. He came down here last week – they’ve been seldom apart since Craig’s funeral.”
“And he stays over?” Michael quizzed.
“Yep!” Julia said with a roll of her eyes.
“Julia doesn’t think us old folk are up to much – she’s got a lot to learn!” Horatio said with a shake of his head.
“Come in and have a cup of tea and sit down,” Julia ordered them both.
They were laughing and dipping Rich Tea biscuits into their mugs when Julia’s phone rang. She saw Lydia’s name flash up and considered leaving it to ring. The call would be more than Michael needed after the long flight from Singapore. Lydia’s engagement would not help him to settle any better and for now she was just pleased to have him home.
“Are you not going to answer that?” Horatio asked.
Julia shook her head. “Nah – I’ll call them back.”
Julia called Lydia when she was sure that Michael was asleep in bed. It was one o’clock in the afternoon and she was anxious to hear how she had got on in the Unicorn Restaurant on her big night.
“Hello?”
“Lydia, it’s me – Julia – come on, spill the beans, I’m dying to hear how you got on!”
Lydia paused at the end of the line. Then she started to sob.
Julia had expected to hear wonderful news – not sobbing.
“Julia, I’ve made a terrible mistake – we were having a lovely meal and he was kind and considerate and attentive like he always is but then I told him that it was 29th of February and I proposed. He thought it was a joke at first and then he got really angry. I’ve never seen him like it. He told me that I was crazy – what did I expect from him so soon? He had moved in with me quickly and he was happy with that but now I wanted to go and ruin everything by rushing into marriage when we didn’t know each other well enough.”
“Lydia, I don’t know what to say – I thought he was saying all sorts of things about commitment and settling down?”
“Yes, he was, but he said he was in no rush to get married. And what really upsets me is the fact that he wouldn’t consider kids if he wasn’t already married. His last relationship lasted ten years. I don’t want us to be together ten years and then he decides he doesn’t want to get married!”
Julia was tempted to put on her rational and reasonable hat and offer some sound advice but that was not what her friend needed. For now she was just going to listen.
“I’m so sorry, Lydia – maybe he felt his manhood was threatened or something and that proposing was something that he should do? He has something o
f a superhero aura about him!”
“He’s like that in public but he’s really sensitive when we’re on our own – that’s why I can’t understand his reaction.”
“How old is he?”
“He’s thirty-nine.”
“How long did you say he went out with his last girlfriend?”
“Ten years – and he was eight years with his previous girlfriend.”
“Maybe he’s a serial monogamist?”
Lydia sighed heavily down the phone. “Julia, I don’t want to lose him but I feel like life is passing me by – my job isn’t as important to me as yours is for you. I want a family more than anything.”
Julia had to bite her tongue – she didn’t want to say what she was really thinking.
“Look, why don’t you come out with me tonight?” she said. “I could do with a bit of fun.”
Lydia sniffed into the phone. “Okay,” she said reluctantly. “I’ll see you after work?”
“Yeah, that would be great – I’m only heading into the office now and I have to visit Odette on the way so the later the better.”
“That’s the nice part about being your own boss, I guess!” Lydia was envious.
“I collected Michael from the airport today – he’s come home for good.”
“Oh!”
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell him that we’re meeting.” Clearly Lydia was shaken at the mention of her brother – that was interesting, thought Julia.
“Thanks, Julia – I couldn’t take a head-melting situation with him at the moment.”
“I know and he’s very vulnerable too so I don’t think seeing you would help.”
“Okay. Talk later – and thanks.”
Julia turned off her phone. She would swing by Odette’s on the way into work. There was something in the air that she couldn’t put her finger upon – a sense of everything just falling apart for those around her. Ruth and Lydia were broken-hearted. She had to watch Odette and her children in pain. Carol was the only woman who had found happiness and she hoped that everything was going well there or she wouldn’t be able to cope.
Dylan’s car was in the driveway and it was almost two o’clock in the afternoon. Julia parked and rang on the door.
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