The Birthday Girls

by Pauline Lawless

  “If you can’t beat them, join them,” he said laughing.

  Lexi touched his hand as she laughed with him, thinking how much she enjoyed being with him.

  They got home at around five thirty, just in time to catch the sunset. Marvin carried two folding chairs and Lexi two glasses of champagne down to the beach and they sat and watched as the sky turned a glorious orange and the big golden sun dipped in the sky. As it did, Marvin turned to Lexi and took her hand and kissed it.

  “You know I love you, Lexi, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  She looked at him and in that moment knew she wanted that too.

  “Are you asking me what I think you are?”

  “Yes, I sure am,” he smiled.

  “Well, in that case, as I’m such an old-fashioned girl, I think you should do so in the old-fashioned way.”

  He threw back his head and laughed then went down on one knee in the sand. “Will you, Alexandra Moretti, do me the honour of becoming my wife?”

  “Oh, Marvin,” she said, stroking his cheek lovingly, “I would like that very much.”

  “You’ve just made me the happiest man in the world,” he declared.

  To her surprise he then took a small velvet box out of his pocket and opened it displaying the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen. It had an antique gold setting with a lustrous pearl in the centre, surrounded by smaller pearls interspersed with diamonds, in the shape of a flower.

  “It’s exquisite,” she whispered, awed by its beauty.

  He slipped it on her finger. “They are natural pearls and it belonged to my great-grandmother. It was the only jewellery that my grandmother smuggled out of Russia after the revolution. She risked death doing so but couldn’t bear to leave it behind.” His voice was emotional as he spoke. “My grandmother passed it on to my mother who left it to me – with strict instructions how to care for it, I have to say.” He laughed.

  “It’s beautiful and I am honoured to wear it,” Lexi replied, moved to tears by its history.

  “And now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get up off my knee.”

  They both laughed as he got up, the sand staining the knee of his elegant grey linen suit.

  “I’m sorry,” Lexi said. “I shouldn’t have made you kneel.”

  “It was worth it,” he replied, kissing her. “I guess I’d better go in and get a bottle of champagne to celebrate.”

  “Of course!” she hesitated. “And Marvin,” she said softly as he moved away, “I love you very much.”

  He smiled happily at her and blew a kiss as he left.

  Chapter 27

  Mel looked out the cab window as they passed over the Queensboro Bridge and wondered if she was crazy, leaving Manhattan to spend Christmas with people she didn’t even know. What had possessed her to say she’d come? She was tempted to turn back but couldn’t very well as she’d promised Donna she’d be there.

  Like all Manhattanites, she considered anywhere over the East River to be alien country. She’d only crossed it once before to visit friends of Simon’s in Brooklyn and had vowed to stay on terra firma after that experience. She totally understood Miranda’s shock – and that of the other girls too – in Sex and the City, when Steve suggested that they look for a house in Brooklyn. For them, and Mel, New York was that piece of land from Battery Park up to mid-Central Park, full-stop! Yet here she was on her way into that other world and feeling very apprehensive about it.

  She was surprised when the cab stopped outside a detached house with a small garden in the Forest Hills area. It even had a garage. This was not what she’d expected, so with a lighter heart she paid the driver and made her way up to the front door. She could hear laughter and noise coming from within and had to ring twice before it was answered by a large handsome man with black curly hair and twinkling brown eyes.

  “Ah, you must be Mel,” he cried in a very Italian accent, before pulling her into the hallway and enveloping her in a big bear-hug. “Benvenuto e Buon Natale!”

  “Hello, Mr . . .”

  “Call me Papa. Everyone calls me Papa. Donna, Mam!” he yelled and Donna came running out, flushed and excited, followed by a beautiful dark-skinned woman.

  “Mel, I’m so glad you came,” Donna exclaimed. “Happy Christmas! I see you’ve met Papa.”

  “Yes,” Mel smiled, still a little shell-shocked from Papa’s welcome.

  “And this is Mama,” Donna said, introducing the woman. Mel couldn’t believe she was Donna’s mother. She couldn’t possibly have a daughter as old as that. She didn’t look a day over forty.

  “Benvenuto,” the mother said shyly. “Donna tell me a lot about you.”

  “Come in, come in. Let me take your coat,” Papa said, helping her off with it.

  “Thank you. This is for you,” Mel said to Mama as she handed her the gift basket she’d picked up in Balducci’s after leaving Donna the day before.

  “Oh, Mama mia! Grazie, grazie,” Donna’s mother exclaimed, beaming as she took it.

  “You shouldn’t have,” Donna admonished her, leading her into the big living-room which was packed with people of all ages. She led her over to introduce her to her grandparents – all four of them – and her three great-grandmothers.

  Luckily Mel was told to call them Nonna and Bisnonna as she would never have remembered all their names. She looked around at all the smiling faces as uncles, aunts and cousins came to say hello and Donna also introduced her brothers and sisters. Mel had heard of big Italian families but this was ridiculous.

  Papa handed her a glass of Prosecco as she wished everyone a Happy Christmas and so began the happiest Christmas Day that Mel had ever spent. The warmth and love in the room made Mel wish that she was a part of this family. She envied Donna and knew that if she’d been surrounded with this love growing up she would have turned out a different person. They were such fun and one by one she met with them and heard their fascinating stories.

  While Mel was enjoying the chat, Mama and the grandmothers were busy in the kitchen.

  “Today I don’t cook,” Papa said grinning. “Today is my day off.”

  Finally they sat down to dinner at two long tables set up in the very large dining room. It was obvious that these large family gatherings were a regular occurrence.

  “In summer, we eat al fresco in the garden,” Donna explained when Mel commented on the number sitting down to eat. “Then we can have as many as forty at a meal.”

  “Amazing!”

  Mama had cooked not one but two turkeys, one stuffed with chestnuts, the other with a sage stuffing. Before this there was minestrone soup and two huge bowls of meatballs and ravioli as well as other pastas. Dessert was panettone, tiramisu and torrone, a delicious nougat. Mel had never tasted anything so good. It was the best meal she had ever had.

  The party went on late into the evening. Some of the uncles played music and everyone danced, Mel being very much in demand. She had a wonderful time.

  “I wish your parents would adopt me,” she said to Donna as she took her leave.

  “Oh, they already have,” Donna laughed.

  “It’s been the best Christmas I’ve ever had,” Mel said. “Thank you so very much for inviting me.”

  “We all loved having you. You’ll be welcome here anytime.”

  Mel knew it was true. Tired but happy she made her way back across the East River as midnight approached. Maybe she needed to broaden her horizons, she thought sleepily. Manhattan wasn’t the only place in the world!

  * * *

  Lexi rang Brenda the following day with the news of her engagement.

  “That’s wonderful, congratulations! When is the big day?” Brenda asked, although she knew there was no way on earth she would be able to attend.

  “We haven’t discussed that,” Lexi replied. “For now I’m happy just being engaged. Marvin is moving in permanently this week and we’ll take it from there. Troy is going to stay on in Marvin’s house for the moment as h
e hasn’t found one he likes yet. It will be great having him next door.”

  “How is he?” Brenda asked.

  “He’s great. He asked me only yesterday how you were doing. I haven’t told him that you and Bob have split up. Do you want me to tell him?”

  “No. What’s the point?”

  “There’s no chance you and Bob will get back together?”

  “I don’t think so. I’ve been too hurt. I’m applying for a separation this week.”

  “Ah, of course, divorce Irish style. You have to be separated for something like four years, isn’t it, before you can even apply for a divorce?”

  “Something like that. I’ll know more after I speak with the solicitor.”

  * * *

  Lexi then rang Mel next to share the good news of her engagement.

  “Wow, that is a surprise but I’m delighted to hear it. You two were meant for each other,” Mel said happily, congratulating her.

  “How was your Christmas day?”

  “Great, but not as good as yours.” Mel laughed. “I guess I ate too much yesterday because I’m feeling really ill today.”

  She then told Lexi about the wonderful day she’d had with Donna’s family.

  Lexi was pleased to hear it. She hoped it meant that Mel had taken her advice to enjoy life and not focus solely on her work. There was no doubt about it, she had changed a lot since her visit to Florida. She supposed she had Jack to thank for that!

  “I was thinking of coming down to you for a long weekend in February,” Mel said.

  “That would be great. Wonders will never cease!” Lexi laughed. “Twice in three months! That’s something of a record.”

  * * *

  After speaking with Mel, Lexi rang the clinic to ask Dr Kirk to pass on her good news to Angel.

  “I’m sorry, Ms Moretti, but Angel left here two days before Christmas.”

  “She what?” Lexi cried, shocked.

  “Yes, I’m afraid we were not able to help her. I assumed she would have contacted you.”

  “No,” Lexi replied. She was shaking so much that she had to sit down and Marvin looked at her worriedly.

  “Yes, she found someone, another client, who secured alcohol for her and refused to continue with her therapy. There was no point in her staying on here so I suggested she leave.”

  “Oh my God! What can I do now?”

  “There is nothing you can do, Ms Moretti. Until Angel wants to do it for herself, there’s nothing anyone can do. She’s an addict.”

  “Oh Lord, I had hoped this would work.”

  “I’m sorry, but until she hits rock bottom, she’ll probably continue on this self-destructive course.”

  When Lexi had hung up, Marvin came and knelt beside her. “What is it, honey?”

  “Angel started drinking in the clinic and she walked out before Christmas.”

  “Christ! What is wrong with that girl? After all you’ve done for her!” He was angry and concerned about Lexi. She’d gone out of her way to help Angel, and for what?

  “I don’t know what I can do for her now.”

  “You’ve done enough. She has to start taking responsibility for herself sometime.”

  Lexi rang Angel’s number and as she expected it went to voicemail. Then she rang Consuela’s number to find out if she’d seen Angel.

  “Miss Lexi, is good to hear you. How Miss Angel doing?”

  “I’m afraid she’s drinking again, Consuela. She walked out of the clinic just before Christmas. You haven’t seen her, have you?”

  Lexi had wondered if Angel’s housekeeper was covering up for her but from her reaction, she realised that Consuela knew nothing.

  “Díos mío, Miss Lexi, that terrible. I think she happy in there. This bad news.”

  Lexi heard the sadness in Consuela’s voice. “I think she get bad fright last time.”

  “Me too, Consuela. Maybe you can go check on her soon, could you?”

  “I go now. I hope she okay.”

  “Could you call me back and let me know how she is.”

  “Sí, Miss Lexi.”

  * * *

  Consuela rang back two hours later. “She like before, Miss Lexi. She drunk.”

  Lexi heard the hopelessness in the housekeeper’s voice and sighed.

  “Oh, dear,” was all she could say.

  Marvin was right. She couldn’t make Angel do it if she didn’t want to. Lexi felt despair. Where would she end up? It looked like, as Dr Kirk had said, she was on a path of self-destruction.

  “Maybe I should fly out there,” she suggested to Marvin when she’d hung up.

  “You’ll do no such thing,” Marvin said firmly. “Why don’t you talk to Kenny? I know he still goes to AA meetings every week. He might advise you what to do.”

  “Good idea, I will,” she said, dialling Kenny’s number.

  Kenny confirmed what Marvin had said. Angel would have to hit rock bottom and decide to want to stop for herself. Lexi could not do it for her.

  “Look, I fly to LA regularly on business. If you like I’ll make contact with her and see if I can talk to her.”

  “Thanks, Kenny. That would be great.”

  * * *

  When Mel was still feeling ill the following day she guessed it wasn’t the food but that she must have caught a tummy bug. She had no choice but to go into work as the end-of-year audit was in progress. She still had it when she Skyped Lexi on New Year’s Eve to wish her a Happy New Year.

  “You’re looking very peaky,” Lexi remarked when she saw Mel on the screen.

  “I know, I’ve been feeling ill since Stephen’s Day. I guess I’ve caught a tummy bug.”

  “It’s lasting a long time. Have you been to the doctor?”

  “No. The thing is, it eases up in the evening and I think it’s gone and the next morning, bang, it’s back.”

  There was a silence on the other end of the line. “You couldn’t be pregnant, Mel, could you?” Lexi asked, concern in her voice.

  “No, of course not,” Mel laughed.

  Lexi then gave her the news of Angel.

  “Gosh, that’s terrible. What can we do?”

  “Nothing, Mel, nothing. She has to do it for herself. She won’t answer her phone but Consuela is with her and keeps me informed. Kenny says he’ll look her up when he goes to LA later in the month. He’s a recovering alcoholic so hopefully he’ll know what to do.”

  “That’s good. I hope he can help.”

  Mel felt a sense of uneasiness as she came off the phone. It had been a long time since her last period. She was pretty irregular but she took out her diary to check, just in case.

  “Oh my God, it’s been seven weeks,” she gasped aloud, shocked at the possibility of what Lexi had suggested.

  She and Jack had always been careful except for that one time they hadn’t used a condom. She remembered her mother’s stern warnings to her of long ago.

  “Once is all it takes, Mel,” she used to say.

  Mel sat down in shock. She felt sick to her stomach. Was it possible that she was pregnant? She remembered the day she and Jack went out on his friend’s boat to that deserted island. They’d been swimming naked and had made love in the sea. It had been spontaneous, both of them overcome with passion. Neither of them considered going back on shore for a condom. She couldn’t have got pregnant then, could she?

  On shaky legs she walked to the local pharmacy and purchased a First Response test and also an Ept one, in case the first one wasn’t conclusive. Better to be sure, she reckoned.

  Getting back to her apartment she could hardly breathe as she did the first test. She had to wait three minutes for the result and they were the longest three minutes of her life. She stared at the little window and sure enough, there were two pink lines there which meant she was pregnant. To be sure, she took the second test. This time she only had to wait two minutes and this one showed a + sign in the window. There was no doubt about it: she was pregnant.

  She
sat down on the side of the bath, shaking with fear. She had accepted the fact some time ago that she would never be a mother, so she could barely take it in. She started to panic. What could she do? She’d seen a film about aborted foetuses and had been horrified by it. After seeing it, she’d known she could never have an abortion. But what was the alternative?

  Doubts and fears assailed her. How could she raise a child on her own, without its father? What kind of a mother would she be? She knew practically nothing about babies – but then did any first-time mother? She had longed for a child but not like this. She’d wanted a family with a husband who would be a father to their child. Not to be going it alone.

  She put her hand on her tummy, finding it hard to believe there was a little person growing in there. She knew she should have been overjoyed, like most women when they discovered they were going to have a baby, and she would have been, if only Jack were here to share it with her.

  Chapter 28

  Brenda had been dreading New Year’s Eve. She’d always found it a sad time and this year would be worse than ever with so many memories of years past. At times like this she wished Lexi, Mel and Angel were here. The twins and Carly were going out to parties and Brenda had decided she would sit in and go to bed early. Jean had other ideas.

  “You’re not sitting in alone moping. We’ve always gone to the GAA club on New Year’s Eve and you’re not going to miss it this year just because Bob isn’t around.”

  “What if Bob is there?”

  “He wouldn’t dare!”

  “I don’t know . . .”

  “Brenda, baby, I doubt very much that he’ll show up when he knows our family is there every year. I won’t hear of you staying in alone. We’ll pick you up in the taxi at eight.”