The Birthday Girls

by Pauline Lawless

  “Well, he isn’t,” Mel replied matter of factly. “I’ll take care of this baby and give it everything it needs all by myself.” She sounded resolute.

  They hailed a cab to take them to the Waldorf for a celebratory lunch.

  They both had much to celebrate now.

  Chapter 31

  Mel called Angel when she got home and was surprised when she answered.

  “Hi, Angel. I’m going to Skype you. I’ve got some news. Can you go online?”

  “Can’t you tell me over the phone?”

  “No, I’d rather see your reaction in person. I want to see the look on your face.”

  “Okay,” Angel replied, sounding not too happy.

  When Mel saw how dishevelled Angel looked she understood why she didn’t want her to Skype.

  “How are you? You don’t look well,” Mel greeted her.

  “And you’ve gained weight,” Angel remarked, “but it suits you,” she added hastily. “You look great and different too. I hear you have someone new in your life. Tell me all! Lexi, the meany, wouldn’t tell me a thing.”

  “Yes, well, I have a photo here.” She held up a photo of her scan to the camera.

  “What’s that?” Angel asked, puzzled. She squinted, coming closer to her iPad. “It’s not a person. It’s a scan, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it’s my baby’s scan. I’m pregnant, Ange.”

  “What?” Angel shrieked. “Oh my God! When did it happen, tell me all – oh, of course, it’s Jack’s, isn’t it? Wow! This is amazing!”

  “Of course it’s Jack’s.”

  “This is just the best news. I’m so jealous. You with a baby! Imagine! How do you feel about it?”

  “Well, at first I was terrified. To be honest, I wasn’t too happy about it at all but after I had the scan today and saw the tiny wee thing with its heart beating, everything’s changed. It won’t be easy and I’ll have to make big changes in my life and sacrifices, but I swear, Ange, this is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. It puts everything in perspective, you know?”

  “I can only guess,” Angel said. “Mel, I have so much I want to say to you. I am so sorry for everything I’ve done to you – Simon, flirting with Jack, you know. I was a bitch, I see that now.” She looked anxiously at Mel. “Can you ever forgive me?”

  “I have forgiven you, sweetie. We go back too long to let anything get in the way of our friendship. I love you, honey. Now tell me how you are?”

  “I’m sure Lexi has told you I did a bunk from the clinic. I couldn’t take it, Mel. It was hell, or too tough or I’m too weak, whichever. Anyway, it did me some good as I’m off prescription drugs but kicking the booze is another story. Still, I am trying to cut back.”

  “That’s good news, Angel,” Mel said, feeling desperately sorry for her old friend. Alcoholism was a killer. She didn’t understand it but she felt sympathy for Angel. She’d never been a strong character like the rest of them.

  “Hollywood is not the best place for me, I know. I’m thinking of getting out of here,” Angel confided.

  “Where will you go?”

  “God knows. It’s just a thought.”

  * * *

  Angel was having a tougher time than she was letting on to her friends. Her whole life seemed to have come apart at the seams. She’d been for an audition for a guest role in a well-known TV series but hadn’t got the part. Her agent called her after the audition. He was very angry.

  “How do you expect to land a role if you turn up drunk to an audition?” he had asked, furious with her.

  “I wasn’t drunk. I just had one drink before I went to give me courage.” She didn’t mention that it was a very big one – a full tumbler of whisky, actually.

  “That’s not what the studio says. They say you were drunk. Angel, sweetie, don’t you know you’re committing career-suicide?” He sighed. “Tinseltown is a small place and word gets around quickly. If you want to work again, you better kick the booze.”

  Angel was very upset after that call and downed a whole bottle of whisky that evening. Who was he to tell her how to live her life?

  * * *

  Brenda had given it a lot of thought and decided she owed it to their twenty-plus years of marriage to give it another chance. She rang Bob and asked him to call around that evening. He was on her doorstep at five thirty, looking hopeful yet anxious.

  She offered him a beer and poured a glass of wine for herself. He thought this was a good sign.

  “Well?” he asked, unable to bear the suspense another minute. “Have you decided?”

  “Yes. I’m willing to give it another chance but on a trial basis and things have to change.”

  “I’ll do anything, anything, Brenda, if we can get back together again,” Bob said, wanting to hug her but afraid she might rebuff him.

  “We’ll give it three months, okay? If things work out then we can decide to make it permanent again. That’s the best I can do,” she said.

  “Oh, Brenda, you won’t regret it,” he promised, putting down his drink and going to hug her.

  “It won’t be easy, Bob, but it’s worth a try.”

  Brenda told Bob he’d have to sleep in the twins’ room. She wasn’t quite ready to take him back into her bed yet. She wondered would she ever be. She felt no desire for him any more. How ironic! Before they split he’d had no interest in her, now he was panting for her but she didn’t want him. How the tables had turned!

  So Bob moved back in later that night. He was deliriously happy and arrived laden down with a huge bouquet of flowers. He was so excited that he didn’t see Crystal parked across the road, watching him as he greeted Brenda and kissed her.

  The anonymous phone calls started again that night. Every hour throughout the night, the phone rang. Brenda couldn’t believe it. She didn’t sleep a wink and eventually came downstairs and yanked the phone out of the socket. Was that bitch starting again? She was waiting for Bob the next morning.

  “Your girlfriend has started her antics again,” she told him.

  Bob blanched and put his head in his hands. What a terrible start to his second chance. “She’s nuts, Brenda, honestly.”

  “Well, it’s a pity you didn’t discover that before you got involved with her,” Brenda said coldly. She was tired and grumpy from lack of sleep – thanks to the slapper!

  * * *

  Kenny had arranged to meet Angel for lunch in Providence on Melrose Avenue, which impressed her greatly. He came in carrying a beautiful bouquet of roses which he presented to her. She thought it was very sweet of him. She recognised him immediately and blushed as she recalled that she hadn’t been very nice to him, claiming he was much too old for her.

  He thought she was still very beautiful but the alcohol was taking its toll. As he reached forward to kiss her on the cheek he smelt the whisky. Poor girl, he thought. She ordered a glass of wine and he saw how quickly she downed it, her hand shaking as she did so. His heart went out to her. He’d been there and knew what she was going through. He never mentioned her drinking but did tell her that he was a recovering alcoholic.

  “Yes, well, I’m sure Lexi told you I have a bit of a problem but I’m not an alcoholic,” Angel told him.

  He held his tongue although he knew the signs and could see she was. On her third glass of chardonnay, she asked him, “How did you kick the habit?”

  “With great, great difficulty and a lot of help.”

  Angel was keen to know more about him and how he’d done it. He told her he had been an alcoholic and had lost everything, his family, his job and his home because of drink. But having hit rock bottom he had struggled to get back on his feet, mainly thanks to the support from his friends in AA, and he was now back on top again.

  “Mmmm . . .” Angel murmured, thinking about what he’d said. She found his story inspiring.

  “I’ll be coming here to LA over the next few weeks to finalise this TV deal I’m working on. I’d be honoured if you’d have lunch with
me again when I’m here?”

  “I’d love that,” Angel replied shyly. Kenny had given her hope for her own future. Maybe he could help her.

  She’d found him to be a charming, interesting companion and was pleased she’d agreed to meet him for lunch.

  * * *

  Brenda’s nerves were on edge. The silent phone calls continued but the Gardaí said they could do nothing about it. Then one morning, Brenda woke to find the words, POSH WHORE LIVES HERE, daubed all over her front wall. She had no proof but of course it was obvious who the culprit was. It was causing a huge strain between Brenda and Bob and not helping them get their marriage back on track. Jean was livid and advised Brenda to ask Bob to leave.

  “That’s just giving in to her, isn’t it?” Brenda said.

  “So what? Look at you! You’re a nervous wreck.”

  That much was true. Jean was still anti-Bob and thought Brenda was crazy for taking him back. The memory of New Year’s Eve was still fresh in her mind.

  “I don’t know,” Brenda said.

  She was beginning to think she’d made a mistake. Despite Bob’s promises, nothing had changed very much. The distance between them hadn’t been bridged and now on top of that was the spectre of Crystal. It was an impossible situation.

  Bob didn’t know what to do. He was terrified of what Crystal might do. He decided that placating her would be the best way to get her off their backs, so he approached her the following Friday and asked her to meet him for a drink.

  She was suspicious of him but couldn’t resist the temptation to meet him. They didn’t go to Ryan’s, although she wanted to. He suggested O’Dwyer’s which was a little further away.

  After ordering two drinks for them, he took her hand in his. “I’ve really missed you,” he said.

  “Really?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

  “Yes, I think about you all the time.”

  “Is your posh wife not satisfying you, then?” she smirked, enjoying this conversation.

  “Only you can do that,” he purred, rubbing her hand.

  “I knew you’d be back,” she said smugly. “I’m still hot for you.”

  “Sexy bitch,” he whispered. “You’re the hottest woman on the planet.” He pressed his knee against hers then reached over and kissed her. She opened her mouth for him and the kiss lasted longer than he’d intended.

  Unfortunately, Bob hadn’t seen Brenda’s brother, Conor, sitting in the corner witnessing all of this. Infuriated, he rang Jean and told her what he’d just witnessed.

  “The bastard!” Jean spat out. “I’ll get Brenda and meet you there. Follow him if they leave and let me know where they go.” She then dashed around to Brenda’s house. Shocked, Brenda hardly believed her but agreed to go to O’Dwyer’s with her.

  “Come on, let’s go!” Jean cried, running to her car. Brenda followed dejectedly. Would he really have gone back with Crystal after all his protestations of love?

  Meanwhile back in the bar Crystal preened, running her hand through her platinum blonde hair and licking her lips. “So she’s not keeping you satisfied then?”

  “We’re not even sleeping in the same bed,” Bob assured her, which was true. “How could I want her after being with you? She’s a cold fish.”

  “I guessed as much. Let’s get out of here, I’m feeling horny,” she said, throwing back her vodka-and-white.

  They left, unaware that Conor had followed them out. They got into Bob’s car and within seconds Crystal had lowered the passenger seat and was all over him like a rash. Bob did his best to resist but Crystal knew his weakness. It had been such a long time since he’d had sex as Brenda was still denying him. He felt justified somehow. Crystal zipped down his jeans and with her mouth quickly brought him to erection. He moaned with pleasure. Throwing off her top and underwear she pulled him under her on the seat then hiked up her miniskirt and climbed on top of him. Straddling him she guided him into her while she moved rhythmically up and down. He was lost. There was a knock on the car window which was all steamed up.

  “Oh, fuck, who the hell is that?” Crystal yelled.

  “Leave it,” Bob cried, about to climax.

  “I didn’t lock the –” Crystal didn’t get to finish as the car door was yanked open and the blast of cold air shocked them.

  “You bastard!” Jean yelled as Conor lunged at the half-naked copulating couple.

  Crystal didn’t even try to cover up her big naked breasts but laughed aloud as she saw Brenda standing behind them.

  Brenda said nothing. She just looked at Bob sadly and the look in her eyes devastated him more than anything she could have said.

  “Please Brenda, I can explain . . .”

  Without uttering a word, she turned on her heel and left. She was dimly aware of Crystal shouting obscenities after her but the roaring in her ears blocked them out.

  Bob crumbled, sobbing. He had well and truly lost her now.

  Chapter 32

  Mel’s baby bump was getting more prominent every day but she was feeling great now that the morning sickness had disappeared. Donna was turning into a great friend and her family were the family Mel had always longed for but never had. She was sixteen weeks pregnant now but she still hadn’t told her parents that they were going to be grandparents. She could just imagine her mother’s disapproval to hear her only daughter was going to be an unmarried mother – her mother’s term for single mothers, not Mel’s. She knew she’d have to tell them soon.

  * * *

  Angel had been turned down for another role and her agent was incensed with her.

  “You don’t get it, do you? You’re dead in this town unless you give up the booze. Think Lindsay Lohan!”

  She banged the phone down on him and called an old girlfriend of hers, Sally.

  “How about a girls’ night out?” she suggested.

  “Great! I’ll call Tiffany and Marilyn and see if they can join us.”

  That night they all met up in the Polo Lounge of the Beverly Hills Hotel and started with cocktails. They moved from there to Tiki Ti then on to the Viper Room ending up in Circus Disco at 2 a.m. Needless to say after numerous cocktails and shots, Angel was falling-down drunk. As she was being half-carried from Circus, the paparazzi had a field day. To add insult to injury, she fell flat on her face in front of them, blinded by the flashbulbs exploding all around them.

  The following morning, as Angel was still comatose, her photo graced every tabloid and magazine in Los Angeles and even further afield. When she finally came to, she discovered over a dozen messages on her answering machine. The first one was from her agent.

  “I no longer wish to represent you. Don’t bother calling me back. I’m through with you.”

  Angel tried to remember what had happened the night before but it was all a blur. When she heard what the other messages had to say, she sent Consuela out to buy the rags.

  Looking at the photos of herself, lying in the gutter, she felt deeply ashamed and humiliated. How had she let this happen? She went back to bed and pulled the covers over her head, wishing she could die.

  Kenny left a message for her that afternoon.

  “Hi, honey. How are you? I’m just calling to offer my support. I’m coming to LA tomorrow and would like to see you. Please call me back.”

  His was the only message that wasn’t gloating over her downfall. She rang him back, keen to hear a kind word from someone. He was gentle and kind with her and she broke down in tears. He arranged to come to her house the following day. She couldn’t face the outside world.

  * * *

  Kenny was worried to find Angel in a state of deep depression. He feared that she might even be suicidal. He put his arms around her as she sobbed into his chest. Gone was the glamorous star he’d first met and in her place a frightened little girl.

  He sat her down and spoke firmly to her trying to impress on her the necessity to do something to stop this downhill slide.

  “What can I do?” she as
ked. “My life is over.”

  “Nonsense, you have all your life ahead of you and it could be a wonderful one, if you admit your problem and seek help. I did and look at me now.”

  She listened to him gravely. He persuaded her to go to an AA meeting with him that very afternoon. It was the turning point for Angel.

  Kenny stayed on in LA with her for the whole week and they went to AA meetings every day where she listened to the stories of others but said nothing. He stayed in her guest room, afraid to leave her alone in the house in case she might be tempted to start drinking again. He kept her busy, arranging trips every day – to the beach, to the zoo – and she found herself enjoying these simple pleasures. Every day she seemed a little stronger and finally on the fifth day, she stood up at the meeting and said,

  “My name is Angel and I’m an alcoholic.”

  It was the breakthrough Kenny had been waiting for. That night he took her out for a wonderful meal and ordered a bottle of non-alcoholic wine.

  Angel felt happy for the first time since that awful Thanksgiving night. Kenny stayed on for another two days but then had to get back to Clearwater. Angel was given an AA sponsor who would take Kenny’s place. Things were looking up.

  Kenny called her many times every day and was happy she was staying with the programme. He went up to visit her every week and she looked forward to his visits. She felt she owed him her life.

  Lexi was thrilled to hear that she had stopped drinking and had joined AA. She was immensely grateful to Kenny. She knew it was all his doing. She was feeling so tired lately that she didn’t have the energy to fly to LA even though Kenny had offered to take her in his private jet.

  “Angel is like a little-girl-lost,” he had confided to Lexi after his last visit. “I think what she needs more than anything is to be loved. She’s been using alcohol as a crutch. It makes her feel better about herself. I’ve convinced her to go into therapy which will also help a lot. I have every confidence she’ll come through this.”