The Birthday Girls

by Pauline Lawless

  “They make better grandparents than they did parents,” Mel confessed to Brenda.

  Her parents had even put aside their dislike of all things American to travel over to visit in May. To their surprise they loved everything about Florida and now that they were retired were considering buying a place in Dunedin so that they could spend winters close to their little grandson.

  Mel had chosen to stay on in the Tampa office and was happy to have left New York. She had expanded the business there to four times its size and had turned it into the most prestigious law firm in the city. It would have been handier for her to live in Tampa itself but she wanted to be near her friends. She approached Marvin about buying his house from him and he happily sold it to her.

  Jacky was a darling. An inquisitive, energetic toddler who looked more like his dad every day. His dark hair was long and curly and Mel couldn’t bring herself to have it cut. He had Jack’s long dark eyelashes over startling blue eyes and a dimple in his cheek when he smiled. He was adorable and everyone loved him, not least because of his sweet nature. Brenda still looked after him but since she’d had Sandy she cared for him in her own house next door. She had kept Maria and Pablo on, as Lexi had requested, so she had plenty of help with the babies and she knew they would be good company for each other when Sandy was a little older.

  * * *

  Brenda was sitting in the garden reading while Jacky was having his afternoon nap and Sandy was sleeping too when she heard the doorbell ring. She got up to answer it, wondering who it could be and got a huge shock when she saw Mel’s Jack standing on the doorstep.

  “Oh my God!” she cried, her hand flying to her throat.

  “No, it’s only me, Jack, I’m afraid,” he grinned cheekily. “Howaya, Brenda. I was looking for Lexi.”

  “Come in, Jack.” She stepped aside to let him in, feeling shaken. “Sit down. Can I get you a beer or something?” she asked, indicating an armchair across from her. She badly needed a drink herself.

  “Great, lovely stuff. Thanks.”

  She asked Maria to bring them in two beers and returned to the living room.

  “What are you doin’ here?” Jack asked. “And where’s Lexi?”

  “I’m afraid Lexi died, just over a year ago.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. What happened to her?”

  “Cancer.”

  “Ah Gawd, that’s awful. I’m sorry. Lovely woman.”

  Maria came in with the beers and her eyes opened wide when she saw Jack sitting there. She remembered him – Miss Mel’s young man – from the parties two years ago.

  “Why are you here, Jack?” Brenda asked, curious.

  “I’m lookin’ for Mel’s address or phone number in New York. I’d like to contact her.”

  “Don’t you have her number?”

  “Nah, my phone was stolen after I left here and I had no way of contactin’ her.” He took a slug of his beer.

  Brenda looked at him over the rim of her glass.

  “Yes, you did leave in rather a hurry,” she couldn’t resist saying.

  “I know. I was a gobshite,” he replied sheepishly. “Anyway, can you give me Mel’s New York number? I’d like to see her again.”

  “Mel’s not in New York any more. She’s here in Tampa.”

  “Jaysus! Are you serious? That’s great.” His eyes lit up at this news. “Can you tell me where?”

  Brenda considered it. “Well, Mel may not want to see you.”

  “Ah, Jaysus, don’t say that. I came all the way from Australia to see her again. She has to see me. I have to explain.” His eyes had clouded over and he was cracking his fingers.

  “Explain what?”

  “That I was a fool. We had somethin’ great goin’ on and I blew it. I see that now. I haven’t stopped thinkin’ about her. I have to see her.”

  He appeared genuine but Brenda needed to talk to Mel first.

  “Look, I’ll talk to Mel. Why don’t you come to the beach gate at six this evening and if she wants to see you, I’ll tell her to be there.”

  “Does she have anyone else in her life now?” he asked, a worried frown creasing his face as the thought suddenly struck him that she might be taken.

  “Well, yes, she does actually.”

  “Oh Christ, don’t tell me I’m too late.” He buried his head in his hands. “Please, Brenda, make her come. I have to see her again.” He grabbed her hands and Brenda saw the sincerity in his eyes. She was again struck by Jacky’s likeness to this handsome man.

  “I’ll do my best,” Brenda said, smiling.

  * * *

  Just after five o’clock, Mel came in to collect Jacky. “Mommy, Mommy,” he cried, running to her, wrapping his short little arms around her legs. She scooped him up in her arms and smothered him with kisses. He giggled, as he always did.

  “Mel, sit down,” Brenda said.

  Mel saw the serious look in her eyes and sat down with a worried look.

  “What is it, Bren, what’s wrong?”

  “I had a visitor today. Jack. He came looking for your number in New York.”

  Mel clasped her hand to her chest and put Jacky down on the floor. “What did he say?” She was deathly pale.

  “He wants to meet you. He’s come all the way from Australia. He says he was a gobshite – his words – and that he was a fool and hasn’t stopped thinking about you.”

  Mel smiled then. “That’s my Jack alright – a gobshite!”

  Brenda knew then that it would be okay. Mel would meet him. What happened after that was anyone’s guess. “He seemed really genuine, Mel. I said if you wanted to meet him you’d be at the beach gate at six.”

  Mel glanced at her watch. “Oh my God, that’s less than forty minutes’ time. Bren, will you keep an eye on Jacky for me? Just till I talk to Jack.”

  “Of course. And don’t worry, I’ll feed him and put him to bed if you get delayed.” She winked at Mel who jumped up and, kissing Jacky on the top of his head, dashed out to get ready.

  Jacky whimpered a little to see his mommy leave without him but Brenda soon distracted him with a biscuit and took him on her knee to read him a story.

  * * *

  Mel was a bundle of nerves and her heart was hammering in her chest as she walked down the garden to the beach. She spotted him first, pacing up and down, smoking as always. He looked as gorgeous as ever. His hair was longer and he was unshaven and her stomach did a somersault as he turned to look her way. She saw the anxiety in his blue eyes as he looked at her.

  “Howaya!” he greeted her, handing her his cigarette and suddenly she was smiling. Only Jack could greet someone like that after a two-year absence.

  “I don’t smoke any more,” she told him, handing it back.

  “You look beautiful,” he observed, looking her up and down. “Softer, more rounded, really beautiful.”

  “What do you want, Jack?” she asked cautiously.

  “I came to say I’m sorry, really sorry for leavin’ you. I never should have. I was a gobshite. I thought once I got to Australia it would be okay but it wasn’t. I thought I could forget you but I couldn’t. I missed you all the time and suddenly travelling the world didn’t seem so important so I came back.” He looked at her and she saw he meant it.

  “Oh, Jack!” She held out her hands to him and then she was in his arms and they were kissing and he was saying, “I love you, I love you so much, Mel. Please forgive me?”

  And they were both crying as she replied, “I’ve never stopped loving you, Jack.”

  They sat in the sand, on that spot where they’d first made love, as he told her he was through with travelling and that he wanted to settle down, with her.

  They watched the beautiful sunset as they clung to each other and she gave him all her news – well, almost all of it.

  “Brenda mentioned that you have someone else now,” he said, hoping that she would contradict him.

  “Yes, I have. Someone wonderful. Come on, I’d lik
e you to meet him.” She stood up and pulled him to his feet.

  “Oh no, I couldn’t,” he replied, looking devastated.

  “Come on. I want you to.”

  Reluctantly, he allowed himself be led through the gate and up through the garden of Lexi’s old house. They walked up the steps to the upper terrace where Brenda was sitting nursing Sandy. Troy was sailing a little boat in the baby pool with Jacky. The little boy saw Mel approach and came running towards her.

  “Mommy, Mommy!” he cried, doing his usual dash to clasp her legs.

  Jack watched in wonder as this tiny tornado dived at Mel. He saw the little face that was a mirror copy of his own when he’d been little and felt his heart constrict. He looked at Mel who had picked Jacky up in her arms.

  “Mel . . . is this . . .?”

  “Yes, this is the other man in my life. This is Jacky. Your son.”

  Jack could hardly speak as he looked at the little boy with the hair that grew in a peak on his forehead and the same long dark lashes and bright blue eyes as his own. Then Jacky smiled at him and he saw the dimple in his cheek and with tears in his eyes he reached out to take his son in his arms.

  “You even called him after me,” Jack said softly as he nuzzled his son’s neck.

  “What else could I call him when I saw what he looked like?” Mel smiled.

  They hugged then, the three of them, a family at last.

  Brenda watched them with tears in her eyes too. “Thank you, Lexi,” she whispered, looking towards the sky.

  The End

  If you enjoyed The Birthday Girls by Pauline Lawless

  why not try Behind Every Cloud also published

  by Poolbeg?

  Here’s a sneak preview of Chapter One

  Behind Every Cloud Chapter 1

  Ellie Moran loved weddings despite the fact that she cried through most of them. She sat beside her mother now, tears rolling down her cheeks as she watched Kate Middleton walk down the aisle on her prince’s arm. The new Duchess of Cambridge looked radiant and was positively glowing with happiness. Ellie dabbed at her eyes as she watched them come out of Westminster Abbey and wave to the cheering crowds. Ellie had taken the day offworkfrom the beauty salon to watch the weddingon TV and she wasloving every minute of it. Kate’s dress was fabulous and, as for Pippa’s – there were just no words to describe it. It was all so romantic and perfect.She sighed, reaching for another Kleenex.

  Ellie had dreamed of being a brideever since she was a little girl. Her favourite game back then had been ‘getting married’, when she would cajole her friends into taking turns to stand inas the groom. Ellie was always the bride, walking down the garden path, a bunch of daisies in her hand and her mother’s discarded net curtains trailing behind her. She still dreamed of being a bride and had expected that she would by now have met her prince. Not a real prince like William, of course – but a dashing, handsome man who would sweep her off her feet and down the aisle for the most wonderful wedding imaginable. However, this was beginning to look more and more unlikely. She was twenty-three now and the only man in her life was David – not exactly the sweep-you-off-your-feet type!

  He was an accountant and ten years older than Ellie. She’d met him in Gibneys pub in Malahide where she and her girlfriends went for a drink every Friday night. She’d noticed him there before – all the girls had. He was hard to miss with his height and dark George Clooneylooks. Initially, she’d refused to go out with him thinking he was too old and mature for her, but eventually on her twentieth birthday, after far too much champagne, she’d caved in and agreed to go on a date with him.

  To her surprise they got on well, althoughunfortunately hehad none of the actor’s famous sense of humour. However, hewas very gallant and protective of her and treated her like a princess. Somehow he had grown on her and shefelt comfortable with him. However, there was none of the va-va-voom that she had expected would happen when Mr Right came along.

  She’d made it clear from the start that she did not want an exclusive relationship and that they would both be free to date others. David agreed to this and, although Ellie did go out from time to time with other guys, David stayed faithful to her alone. He was such a workaholic that she couldn’t imagine how he’d find the time to date other women in any case. Most of the men she metin pubs and clubs were interested only in beer, football and sex, not necessarily in that order. Not exactly prince material! Eventually she’d given up on them and now she and David were considered a couple. She’d begun to accept that va-va-voom was the stuff of romantic novels and films. They’d settled into a comfortable relationship. She did, however, continue to go drinking and clubbing with the girls on a Friday night, but more for the craic than in the hope of meeting ‘the one’.

  “I do hope they’ll be happy,” Ellie’s mother, Marie-Noelle, said to her in French, as they watched the royal couple drive along the Mall in the magnificent carriage.

  Marie-Noelle had been bornto French parents who had both sadly died in an accident shortly before her marriage. They’d left France as a result of a family feud and moved to Ireland where she’d been born. She’d been raised speaking Frenchand she in turn had always spoken French to her two daughters, wanting them to know of their heritage. She had sent them to a school run by an order of French nuns and as a result both Ellie and her sister, Sandrine,were nowbi-lingual.

  “Of course they’ll be happy. It’s all so romantic,” Ellie replied, as she watched the newly married couple wave to the crowds.

  Marie-Noelle looked at her youngest daughter with concern. Ellie was so trusting and soft-hearted that people often took advantage of her. She tried to please everyone and was a sucker for lost causes. As a child she’d constantly arrived home with stray kittens, dogs and even a couple of birds with broken wings.She couldn’t pass a beggar or collection box without helping out. She was so naïve and such a hopeless romantic thatMarie-Noelle worried about her.

  The same couldn’t be saidof her older daughter, Sandrine, nowan accountant, who had bossed poor Ellie mercilessly all her life. A hard-nosed career woman, intent on making her way in the world of finance, Sandrine had no time for such nonsense as romance and love. Marie-Noelle had no fears that anyone would try to take advantage of Sandrine. Let them just try, she often chuckled to herself. No, Ellie was the one she worried about most.

  “It takes more than romance and a fairytale wedding to make a marriage work, you know,” she said now.

  Ellie had never thought much further than the wedding. She was in love with the idea of getting married. She’d never much considered what came after the ceremony. She hoped fervently that the royal couple would live happily ever after, as they always did in fairytales, if not necessarily in real life.

  “David has booked a table in Bon Appetit for this evening, to celebrate,” Ellie told her mother. She’d been surprised and delighted when he’d suggested it as he’d shown absolutely no interest in the wedding up to that point.

  “That’s verynice of him. He’ll make some girl a wonderful husband someday,” Marie-Noelle remarked, looking slyly at her daughter.

  “Mmmm,” Ellie replied nonchalantly. “How about a cup of tea?” She jumped up, not wanting to continue with this conversation.

  “Lovely,” Marie-Noelle replied, aware that she’d hit on a touchy subject. “I have some chocolate éclairs in the fridge. Let’s have them now.”

  When they arrived at the restaurant that evening, Ellie was surprised to find that David had ordered a bottle of champagne.

  “How fabulous!” she exclaimed, pleased with this romantic gesture.

  The wine waiter poured it and handed her a glass. He was grinning like a Cheshire cat and she noticed that David was beaming inanely too. As they clinked glasses she spotted something in the bottom of hers.

  “I think there’s something in my glass,” she said, peering into it, afraid it might be a piece of broken glass.

  “There is indeed,” David replied, seemingly not too
worried.

  Ellie looked more closely and gasped aloud. She couldn’t believe her eyes. There at the bottom of the glass was a glittering diamond ring. She fished it out and looked up at David enquiringly.

  “Will you marry me, Ellie?”

  She looked at him disbelievingly.

  “As today was such a special day for you, I thought it might be a good time to ask you to be my wife. Please say yes.”

  Ellie was a great believer in fate and if this wasn’t fate – being proposed to on the day of the Royal Wedding – then she didn’t know what was.

  She was deeply touched and her heart went out to him. He hadn’t exactly swept her off her feet but she did love him, and this was so romantic. It was the most romantic thing that had ever happened to her. She burst into tears.

  “Please say yes,” he begged, taking her hand in his, a worried look in his dark eyes.

  “Oh yes, David, yes,” she answered him, smiling through her tears.

  Reaching across the table, he put the ring on her finger and kissed her as the other diners in the restaurant, aware of what was happening, broke into a round of applause. She smiled back at them. She held her hand out in front of her to admire the ring. It was the biggest diamond she’d ever seen. Obviously she’d seen photographs of massive knuckledusters on celebrities like Maria Sharapova and Kim Kardashian but never one as big as this in real life. It was fabulous!

  “David, it’s beautiful. Exactly what I would have chosen myself,” she told him, her eyes shining as she moved her hand this way and that.

  “I’m glad you like it, darling.”

  “I can’t believe it. It feels like a dream.”