The Birthday Girls

by Pauline Lawless

  Brenda hadn’t the heart to argue with her and agreed to go. She got dressed in the red dress she’d worn at the Thanksgiving dinner and put on the beautiful red Louboutin shoes Angel had given her. She knew she looked good but she felt dead inside. However, now that she’d decided to go, she would put on a brave face.

  They arrived at the hall which was hopping and alive with an air of anticipation. It was always the best night of the year. They joined her brothers and their wives at the table they’d reserved and they were all delighted to see her. They’d all rallied round when they heard what had happened and called in on her often. They had served themselves at the buffet and Brenda had just sat back down to eat when she spotted Bob and the slapper walk in.

  “Oh God!” she gasped, the colour draining from her face.

  Jean looked around to see what had caused her sister’s distress and was furious to see Bob and his girlfriend coming into the hall.

  “I don’t believe it!” she exclaimed. “The nerve of him!”

  Her brothers had spotted him too and were equally furious.

  Brenda couldn’t believe it either. As usual, Crystal was skimpily dressed with acres of skin on show. Her hair was dishevelled so obviously she had not found another good hairdresser.

  “I’ve a good mind to go over and give him a piece of my mind,” Jean declared.

  “No, let me go,” Conor, their youngest brother said, getting up to confront Bob.

  “No, no, please, Conor. I don’t want a scene. Please ignore them,” Brenda beseeched him, putting her hand on his arm to stay him.

  “She’s right,” Roy advised. “Much better to ignore them.”

  Brenda flashed him a grateful smile.

  * * *

  Bob had not wanted to come. He and Brenda had gone there every New Year’s Eve with Brenda’s family which was why Crystal had kept on and on about going. Since the altercation in the hair salon she’d had it in for Brenda. All week she’d been passing snide remarks about his ‘posh’ wife. Bob couldn’t understand it. He’d left his wife for her, hadn’t he? Why couldn’t she be happy with that? Why was she jealous of his ex-wife? As for Brenda being posh, that was a laugh. She was the most down-to-earth person he’d ever known.

  Eventually however, he’d given in to Crystal’s demands and agreed to go, figuring that Brenda would surely steer clear of the place. He hoped Jean and her husband would not be there. His wife and her sister were as thick as thieves but he had always had a love-hate relationship with his sister-in-law. Roy was a good sort, however, even though he was in the Gardaí.

  Crystal had insisted they go into their local for a few drinks before the party. She’d downed three vodka-and-whites in quick succession and was quite tipsy by the time they arrived at the party. It was a shock to see Brenda sitting there surrounded by her family. He was hurt that she’d had the nerve to come when it was where they had spent every New Year together, for as long as he could remember. If Crystal hadn’t insisted, he’d never have gone near the place. Bob knew that he should have been equally insistent that they go somewhere else but she was very strong-willed and he was no match for her.

  He tried not to look over at Brenda as he was aware of Crystal’s eagle eyes on him. She had now changed to drinking wine which frightened him as she just couldn’t handle it. He was a fool to come tonight, he realised, as he saw she was getting drunk. She sat scowling, knocking back glass after glass of wine, watching Brenda with jealous eyes.

  When he did sneak a glance at her, he had to admit that Brenda looked terrific. That trip to Florida had changed her. She never looked his way once and appeared to be enjoying herself. Once the band started up she was on the floor for every dance, smiling and laughing with her partners. Huh! She didn’t appear to be missing him too much, did she? She was very much in demand and was first up on the floor for every dance.

  Crystal was taking in every move she made. “My God, they’re Louboutin shoes she’s wearing,” she exclaimed.

  Bob looked at Brenda’s shoes. He didn’t remember seeing them before but they were very pretty. “How do you know what they are?”

  “Because of the red soles, dummy! How in Jesus’ name did she get those? You bought them for her, didn’t you?” she asked accusingly.

  “I may have given her the money for them for her birthday,” he replied.

  “And you tell me you’re broke! All I got was a measly bottle of perfume from you for Christmas. Well, if you can afford Louboutins for her, you can buy me a pair now too.”

  He sighed, thinking she was being very unfair. He was struggling to manage financially now and he’d spent over €100 on that bloody perfume for her. He’d never spent that much on Brenda, ever. She’d been happy with her Avon stuff.

  “Who does she think she is?” Crystal demanded, looking over at Brenda who was dancing with yet another guy. “Come on, Bob, let’s dance.”

  Bob was reluctant to get up as he never knew what Crystal might do in this mood, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Embarrassed, he got up with her and she dragged him over to where Brenda was twirling around in a jive. Brenda had always been a terrific dancer and people used to stop dancing just to look at the two of them jiving. They’d even won a jive competition one time in Blackpool.

  Crystal started gyrating in an obviously sexy manner, making very suggestive moves. She edged closer and closer to Brenda who, when she saw her coming, stopped dancing and went back to the table.

  “Jean, come on to the ladies’,” she said, making for the toilets. She was shaking.

  “She’s a tramp. Don’t pay any attention to her,” her sister said.

  “What is she up to?” Brenda asked. “She has my husband. What more does she want?”

  “She’s obviously not sure of him and jealous of you, otherwise why would she do that?”

  “I don’t understand it,” Brenda said taking deep breaths. “How could Bob be seduced by someone like that?”

  “Beats me!” Jean replied, feeling really sorry for her sister.

  Although it was a fast dance, Crystal, not realising that Brenda had left the room, wrapped her arms around Bob’s neck and pressed her body against his. He was mortified. He tried to disengage her but she wouldn’t let go and started kissing him, sticking her tongue into his mouth.

  Conor had had enough. He jumped up and approached the couple. Pulling on Bob’s arm, he hissed, “Get her out of here!”

  “I’m sorry,” Bob said, embarrassed, pulling Crystal roughly back to their table where he grabbed her bag and jacket before marching her out. She tried to resist but in her drunken state was powerless.

  “How could you make a show of me like that?” he ranted, pushing her into the car.

  Crystal had never seen him so angry. “She needs to be taken down a peg or two,” she said sulkily.

  “What is wrong with you? Isn’t it enough that I’ve left her for you? What more do you want?”

  “I don’t know. I hate her!”

  “Why? She’s done nothing to hurt you. She’s the one who’s been hurt in all this.”

  Crystal had no answer to this.

  * * *

  Conor’s wife came into the ladies’ to tell Brenda that Bob had left.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, they’re gone. My God, what was he thinking? She’s disgusting.”

  “Early male menopause,” Jean remarked, causing them to laugh.

  Brenda came back into the room with trepidation but relaxed when she saw that Bob and his slapper had really left. After that the evening took off and she put them out of her mind and enjoyed herself. At midnight, she couldn’t help feeling sad and wondered what Bob was doing.

  He was sleeping on the couch. After a blazing row with Crystal, she had drunk herself into oblivion and passed out before the clock struck twelve. Thinking of other years with Brenda, Bob couldn’t help but think that he’d just made the biggest mistake of his life. His head in his hands, he wondered if she was think
ing of him and if she missed him as much as he missed her right now.

  Chapter 29

  Mel was very frightened about being pregnant and alone and pondered it for a couple of days, thinking it might be a mistake. Finally, accepting that it had really happened, she needed to share the news with someone so who else but her best friends? She called Lexi first.

  “Hi, how are you feeling? Have you got rid of that tummy bug yet?” Lexi asked.

  “It’s not a tummy bug, Lexi. You were right. I’m pregnant,” Mel replied flatly.

  “Oh my God, Mel. I can’t believe it! How do you feel about it?”

  “Terrified.”

  “Naturally. But you said you wanted a baby, didn’t you?”

  “Well, yes, but not like this.”

  “What are you planning to do about it?” Lexi asked, holding her breath.

  “I don’t have a choice, do I? I don’t believe in abortion.”

  Lexi let out a sigh. “I’m so glad. I know it’s not the way you expected it to happen but does it matter? I’m so glad you don’t want an abortion. It’s murder and children are precious.”

  Her voice was sad and Mel knew she was thinking of Alessandro.

  “I know. I could never do it. But how will I cope? I know nothing about babies or children either, for that matter.”

  “You’ll be fine. You can learn. You’ll make a great mother.”

  “Oh God, I hope you’re right Lexi. I’m so scared of the whole thing.”

  “Don’t be. We’re all here to help you. Have you any idea where Jack is? He should know about it, as it’s his baby.”

  “No,” Mel said too quickly. “I’m sure he wouldn’t want to know at all.”

  Lexi’s heart went out to her. “Well, call me anytime you want,” she said. “And, Mel, I just know it’s all going to work out fine.”

  “I sure hope you’re right,” Mel replied without enthusiasm.

  “Do call Brenda. I know she’ll be thrilled for you too.”

  “It’s too late to ring her now but I’ll ring her tomorrow.”

  “Golly, how our lives have changed lately. You pregnant, me engaged, Brenda separated.” She didn’t mention Angel, obviously.

  “Yeah, it’s crazy. It must be the big 40 looming.” Mel finally laughed.

  * * *

  “You’re what?” Brenda cried, when Mel told her that she was pregnant with Jack’s baby. “You must be thrilled, are you?”

  “Thrilled isn’t quite how I’d describe it. Terrified, more like, but I’m beginning to come to terms with it.”

  “I know it’s not ideal, Mel, but isn’t it better than never having a child? And it is a lovechild, Mel. You did love Jack.”

  “I still love him, Brenda, and I suppose if I have to be pregnant, I’m happy that it’s his baby.”

  Brenda understood. “You remember how happy I was to be pregnant with Bob’s baby even though you tried to persuade me to have an abortion?”

  “Oh God, don’t remind me. I’m so ashamed of that. I should never have suggested it.”

  “You weren’t to know and thank God I didn’t listen otherwise I would not have Alex.”

  “I was stupid. Now I know how you felt. Nothing would persuade me to have an abortion. I couldn’t do it.”

  “I’m so glad but it won’t be easy, Mel, especially on your own.”

  “I know that but what choice do I have? I have you and Lexi there, after all.”

  “What a shame that Angel is drinking again,” Brenda remarked sadly.

  “Yes. Lexi is very upset about it but there’s nothing she, or any of us, can do. She’s hopeful Kenny can help when he goes to see her.”

  “Let’s hope so.”

  * * *

  Brenda met with the solicitor Jean had recommended and set the ball rolling on her separation although she knew it would take years before they could divorce. When he suggested that she and Bob might try mediation, she laughed nervously.

  “Oh yes, the three of us can go there. Me, my husband and his mistress. Unfortunately, as Princess Diana first said, ‘there are three of us in this marriage’.”

  “I understand that you’re bitter but I have to suggest this to you before we start these proceedings. I take it you’re not interested in mediation then.”

  “No, I guess it’s too late for that,” Brenda replied softly, reality hitting her.

  She was feeling low after the meeting and the New Year Eve’s debacle but she knew she’d have to forget about it and get on with things. She thanked God for her job in the salon which kept her occupied although things were much quieter now than over the Christmas period. She would not have coped without it, cooped up alone in the house all day, every day. The children were making the most of their holidays and were off every day with their friends. Even so, she would miss them when they returned to college.

  Bob had rung the children asking them to meet him but only Dylan agreed to do so. He didn’t say much about it, just that his father didn’t appear to be happy. Ryan and Carly had steadfastly refused to have anything to do with him. In a way she felt sorry for Bob. He had lost so much.

  He rang her to apologise for New Year’s Eve and she could tell he was embarrassed.

  “I would never want to hurt you, Brenda.”

  Oh yeah? she thought.

  He started ringing her regularly on some pretext or another. They were always civil with each other which was something but she could see no point in their talking any more. She always felt depressed after their conversations. Although he never said, she knew him well enough to know that he was not happy.

  * * *

  Bob was, in fact, very unhappy. Life with Crystal had become unbearable since the New Year’s Eve fiasco. She had developed an obsession with Brenda which was irrational. He couldn’t make her see sense and she could barely talk about anything else. They seemed to be rowing non-stop now. What had happened? Where had it gone wrong? He’d left his blameless wife and now lost his kids and for what? For this harridan with the foul mouth and bad temper. How had he been so wrong about her?

  Before he’d gone to live with Crystal, she’d been so anxious to please him. He shamefully admitted to himself now that he’d been in lust with her. She had seduced him with sex, something she was expert at. He’d been an old fool, falling for her feminine wiles. The sex was thin on the ground now as she tried to punish him by refusing it.

  She had constantly badgered him to get her those shoes that Brenda had been wearing on New Year’s Eve. Eventually, although he was broke, he asked her how much they would cost.

  “About €700 to €900,” she’d replied hopefully.

  He’d started laughing. “Are you serious?”

  “What’s so funny?” she’d screamed, lashing out at him with her fists.

  He backed away trying to avoid her blows.

  “If your posh bitch of a wife can have Louboutins, I want a pair too! Do you hear me?” She was shrieking now.

  “Even if I had €700, I couldn’t justify spending that much on a pair of shoes. But that doesn’t actually matter as I don’t have that much money.”

  “Not for me but you have it for her, don’t you?” she spat out, pummelling him on the chest.

  He reached out and grabbed her wrist to fend her off.

  “Let me go, you bastard! I’m calling the cops to tell them you’re abusing me,” she yelled.

  “You’re not the abused one in this relationship,” he said quietly. “I’ve had enough. I’m leaving.”

  He went into the bedroom and grabbed his things, stuffing them into his bag. It wasn’t much. He walked out past her and she looked at him disbelievingly.

  “Where are you going?” she cried. “You’re going back to her, aren’t you?”

  “If she’ll have me,” he said, turning on his heel.

  “Go back to her then!” she shrieked throwing her glass of wine after him. It missed the mark and splintered into a million pieces against the wall.
r />   He let himself out never wanting to set eyes on this slapper again.

  He went to his mother’s house and left his things there.

  “At last you’ve come to your senses,” were his mother’s terse words of welcome. “You took your time.”

  He rang Dylan who was due to return to college the following day and asked his son to meet him. Dylan went to meet him in the local pub and returned back home in a thoughtful mood.

  “Mum, Dad wants to talk to you. Will you see him?”

  “Oh, honey, I don’t think we have anything much to say to each other any more.”

  “Please, Mum, he’s in a bad way. He’s terribly remorseful. Can’t you at least meet with him just once? For my sake?”

  Brenda looked at her son’s earnest young face and couldn’t refuse him. “Okay, just for you and just this once. When does he want to meet?”

  “Right now is good. Ryan’s on a date and so is Carly so they won’t be home till late. Can I call Dad and let him know?”

  She wondered what she would say to Bob as she waited nervously for him to arrive. Dylan had gone to his room. She poured a brandy for herself to give her courage but then thought better of it. The last thing she needed was to get pissed and lower her defences. She left the brandy untouched. Five minutes later she was face to face with her husband and was shocked at his appearance. He had dark circles under his eyes and he was unshaven. She felt a stab of pity for him. His clothes were crumpled and he looked unkempt. Obviously, the slapper was not looking after him.

  “Hi, Brenda,” he said, shuffling from foot to foot.

  “Bob, come in.”

  He followed her into the living room and they sat down opposite each other.

  “Thanks for seeing me. I appreciate it,” he said and she could hear the nervousness in his voice.

  “Well, I promised Dylan that I would. What is it you want, Bob?” She was amazed at how calm she felt.

  “I’m so sorry, Brenda. So, so sorry for the hurt I’ve caused you.” He was wringing his hands and looking at the floor. “I realise now that it’s you I love and that I’ve made a dreadful mistake.”