City Lives

by Patricia Scanlan

  The year ahead couldn’t possibly be worse than the one that was ending tonight, he mused.

  That had been the mother of all years.

  Forty-eight

  Galway City Girl was buzzing. Devlin was hosting the party of parties, a huge luncheon to celebrate the grand opening of the first City Girl health farm. On time and just slightly over budget.

  The rich, the famous, the movers and shakers had been invited by the PR firm Caroline had chosen to promote the new complex. A pianist played soft music. Waitresses moved between guests, offering selections of delicious canapés. Sun spilled through shining windows over the polished wooden floors. The bay windows overlooked a frothy blue sea. Guests stood mesmerized by the views.

  Champagne flowed.

  ‘Congratulations, Devlin. It’s beautiful. The building is magnificent.’ Maggie hugged her friend warmly. ‘I wish you the very best of luck with it. You and Caroline have done a brilliant job.’

  ‘Thanks, Maggie.’ Devlin hugged her back. ‘I’m chuffed with it. It’s turned out better than I ever expected. Talking of Caroline, where is she?’ Devlin scanned the huge throng but couldn’t see her friend.

  ‘She’s out there.’ Maggie grinned. ‘With your landscaper. Look.’ She nodded towards the window. Outside, Caroline was looking at something in a bed of daffodils that Matthew was pointing out to her. She was laughing.

  ‘There’s something going on there,’ Maggie declared.

  ‘What? Caroline and Matthew?’ Devlin’s jaw dropped.

  ‘Have you not noticed them together? They’re very comfortable with each other. They seem to have a great bond. She’s very happy in his company,’ Maggie observed.

  ‘Good Lord!’ Devlin had been so engrossed in sorting out the last-minute hiccups and overseeing everything, she hadn’t really been taking much notice.

  She felt a moment of pique. Matthew was her fantasy. Her little flirtation. And Caroline had swiped him. She saw Matthew smiling down at her friend and felt ashamed of her childishness. How could she be so mean? It probably went back to the days of their youth when Devlin could have had any man she wanted and Caroline had never had a boyfriend. Now Caroline had turned the tables on her in the strangest way. It was going to take a little getting used to.

  ‘Just what she needs,’ Maggie said firmly, mistaking the reason for Devlin’s frown. ‘I’ve never seen her looking so well and so healthy. They go for a lot of walks together, she told me.’

  ‘She never said anything to me.’ Devlin was a tad put out to have missed out on this. ‘But then I suppose we’ve been so up to our eyes every time I come to Galway we haven’t really had a chance to have a heart-to-heart. I haven’t been down as much in the last few weeks, because of my sciatic nerve. It’s killing me.’

  ‘You poor old thing. There’s nothing worse than that pain.’ Maggie patted her friend’s bump.

  ‘It won’t be long now, another couple of weeks. I won’t be sorry when it’s all over.’ Devlin sighed. ‘I feel as if I’ve been pregnant for ever. I suppose I’d better go and put myself about and charm the pants off potential guests. He made a great job of the grounds, didn’t he?’ Devlin said, looking out at the vista of daffodils, heathers and snowdrops and crocuses that graced the garden.

  ‘It’s paradise.’ Maggie sighed wistfully. She’d love to spend a week here.

  ‘Yes it is,’ Devlin agreed. ‘Oh Lord.’ She groaned. ‘Here’s that awful woman from that ghastly newspaper. I’d better go and be nice to her. I’m really looking forward to our dinner tonight.’

  ‘Me too,’ Maggie said. ‘Dinner at Caroline’s will be the perfect end to a perfect day. Is Luke staying over?’

  Devlin laughed. ‘He is not, he said he wouldn’t dare sit in on our dinner tonight. Especially when we haven’t been together for ages. If you don’t mind I’ll go home with you tomorrow.’

  ‘Lovely, so it’s just going to be the three of us. A good old girlie night. My favourite! Go be nice,’ Maggie joked and didn’t envy Devlin in the slightest as she went to greet the journalist.

  She’d be talking to journalists too soon for her liking. Betrayal was scheduled for an autumn publication. She’d have to grit her teeth and do her interviews and then see them describe her novel in print as ‘trashy’, ‘pulp fiction’, ‘bonkbuster’, without even having read it. The joys of it all, she thought wryly, as she sipped her champagne and gazed out to sea. Still, her attic was converted. She had a room of her own. It had its compensations.

  Outside, Caroline drew a deep breath of satisfaction as she looked at the façade of the beautiful building that housed the new health farm.

  ‘It looks good, doesn’t it?’ She turned to Matthew.

  ‘It’s a fine building. Devlin should be proud. And you too.’ He looked very handsome in his suit, such a change from his familiar jeans.

  ‘Aren’t you going in to hobnob with the rich and famous?’ he asked.

  ‘I know I should. It’s much more peaceful out here.’ Caroline smiled.

  ‘I suppose you’ll go home to Dublin now that it’s all set up,’ he said casually.

  Caroline was silent for a moment, then she said quietly, ‘I was thinking that I’d like to live here permanently. I was thinking of buying a place of my own actually. I really like Galway. I’m happy here.’

  ‘Are you, now? That’s good, Caroline. We’ll get plenty of walks done, so.’ Matthew smiled down at her.

  Caroline smiled back. ‘Plenty,’ she agreed.

  The candles were lit, the scenters fragranced the air. The smell of roast lamb and rosemary permeated the kitchen.

  Devlin, Maggie and Caroline were in their towelling robes. The three of them had had a massage to ease away the stresses and strains of the lunch do. It had been after six thirty when they left City Girl. Caroline had insisted they get changed.

  ‘It’s a relaxing girls’ night. What could be more relaxing than sitting in our robes?’ she declared, kicking off her high heels the minute she got in the door. The other two followed her example, needing no second urging.

  ‘I’m having a glass of wine tonight, to celebrate.’ Devlin patted her tummy. ‘The first of my pregnancy. I don’t think that’s too bad.’ She and Maggie were lounging on the sofa as Caroline put the finishing touches to the meal.

  ‘It’s fine. One glass won’t do any harm,’ Maggie assured her. ‘And if anyone deserves to celebrate you do.’

  ‘I think we all have something to celebrate,’ Caroline said as she carried a tureen of steaming home-made potato soup to the table. ‘I made this because I know it’s your favourite,’ she said to Devlin.

  ‘That’s my pal.’ Devlin grinned as she sat down at the table. ‘Are you celebrating something other than the birth of our latest venture?’ She arched an eyebrow in Caroline’s direction.

  ‘Yes,’ Caroline said firmly. ‘I’ve made a decision about my life which I think is cause for celebration for me.’

  ‘What?’ Maggie and Devlin asked simultaneously.

  ‘I’m staying here, in Galway. If that’s OK with you?’ she said as she ladled the soup into bowls.

  ‘It’s fine. But do you mean for good?’ Devlin was a bit taken aback.

  ‘I’m going to buy a place here. I love it. I’m very happy here and I never thought I’d be saying that, almost five months ago.’

  ‘Would this happiness have anything to do with a certain Matthew Moran?’ Maggie asked slyly as she buttered some brown bread.

  Caroline blushed.

  ‘Did you see that, Devlin Delaney?’ Maggie teased. ‘Did you see that blush? That reddener?’

  ‘I certainly did. What’s going on here?’

  ‘There’s nothing going on,’ Caroline laughed. ‘He’s a lovely man who came into my life at a time when I was on my knees. He helped me to pick myself up and dust myself off and get going again.’ She sat down and began to eat her soup.

  ‘And that’s it,’ Maggie said, puzzled.

  ‘No.
It’s very special. I knew the minute I spoke to him on Christmas Eve. I felt as though I’d known him all my life. I feel very safe with him. I can talk to him for hours and he can talk to me. I never had that with Richard. I never had that with a man before. It’s lovely. I know you’ll laugh at this, Maggie, but Matthew has a beautiful soul. You can see it in his eyes. He’s a very “good” person.’

  ‘I know what you mean, Caro. Luke has that quality too. It’s a sort of a strength that’s very reassuring,’ Devlin interjected.

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘I wish I could meet someone with a beautiful soul.’ Maggie sighed, feeling quite left out.

  ‘You have three beautiful little souls in your care,’ Devlin pointed out gently. ‘But I know it’s lonely. Someone’s there for you, Maggie.’

  ‘Can you feel it in your waters?’ Maggie grinned.

  ‘I can feel it in me waters,’ Devlin confirmed.

  ‘Have you started the next book?’ Caroline asked Maggie.

  ‘I have not. I’m taking a break. The well’s run dry. It will have to fill up again. I’m doing all the things I missed doing. I’ve got a life again. I’m going swimming with the kids. I’m working out in City Girl. I’m meeting friends. I’m reading other people’s books. I’ve got some balance back and I feel much better.’

  ‘You look great,’ Caroline approved. She hadn’t seen Maggie since before Christmas. ‘And your room’s finished?’

  ‘It certainly is. It’s lovely, isn’t it, Devlin?’

  Devlin nodded. ‘It’s a real little haven away from everyone. When you do get back to writing again it will be perfect for you.’

  ‘I don’t know if I want to write there, actually. I want a place that’s just for me, if you know what I mean.’

  ‘I can understand that feeling. Maybe you’re right, Maggie. Keep it for yourself,’ Caroline agreed as she cleared away the dishes. ‘What does Terry think of it?’

  ‘I’ve never asked him up to see it. It’s off limits to him. I think he’s seeing someone. He comes home very late several nights a week.’ Maggie popped an olive into her mouth.

  ‘Oh!’ Caroline placed the roast lamb on the table. ‘And you don’t mind?’

  ‘I couldn’t give a hoot,’ Maggie said airily and they all laughed. ‘Well, it keeps him out of my hair and that suits me,’ Maggie said firmly. ‘The kids are happy enough and that’s all that matters. I’ll never put my writing before them again. Time enough for that when they’ve upped sticks and left. Talking of upping sticks,’ she changed the subject, ‘how’s the house coming along, Devlin?’

  ‘It’s fabulous. The new extension’s almost ready. The whole place has been gutted, rewired, new heating, the works. We hope to be in by July.’

  ‘That’s a good time to be moving in. The baby will be nearly two months old,’ Maggie remarked. ‘He’ll be fine and hardy.’

  ‘Is it a boy?’ Caroline asked eagerly. ‘Did you ask?’

  ‘No. Maggie just insists I’m carrying to the back and she maintains it’s a boy.’

  ‘We’ll see.’ Maggie forked some garlic potatoes into her mouth. ‘This is delicious, Caroline. I’m really enjoying myself. Thank you.’

  ‘Me too,’ echoed Devlin.

  ‘Any word of Mrs Yates?’ Maggie asked.

  ‘I told you she’s out of the coma. She’s paralysed down one side. And she’s lost her speech. She’s in a nursing home. I won’t sell the business as long as she’s alive. I don’t need the money and it would only agitate her. I wouldn’t do that to her with the state she’s in.’

  ‘A sad end to a pretty empty life,’ Maggie reflected.

  ‘Did you ever hear from the Al Shariffs?’ Caroline passed the gravy boat around.

  ‘Not a peep. I don’t know if they’re dead or alive or on the planet. I don’t know if they ever got divorced. I know nothing, nor do I care to,’ Maggie said cheerfully.

  ‘Ciara Hanlon hasn’t been caught yet,’ Devlin said out of the blue.

  ‘You never escape the Law of the Universe, or Divine Justice if you care to call it that. Even though you might think you’ve got away with things,’ Caroline said.

  Maggie threw her eyes up to heaven. ‘She’s off,’ she declared and they all laughed heartily, happy to be together catching up on all that was going on in their lives.

  Forty-nine

  Devlin walked around her new house with an air of great anticipation. Everything was coming along nicely. All the walls were plastered, the new windows were in. Her state-of-the-art pine kitchen was being installed today.

  They’d decided on pine because it suited the character of the cottage. The utility room off the kitchen was tiled all over, ready for the washing-machine, tumble-dryer and chest freezer. Upstairs in the new extension the huge master bedroom and en suite were ready for decoration. Three other new bedrooms had also been built on. She was trying to decide which one she’d put the baby in when it was old enough to go into a room of its own.

  ‘Mind yourself there now, Mrs,’ one of the builders said anxiously as she stepped over a loose timber. They didn’t like to see her coming, Devlin knew. Not because they were afraid that she would find fault with their work but because they were afraid that she’d have the baby any second. In the last two weeks she’d bloomed dramatically. The baby’s head was engaged. She could go any time.

  Devlin heartily wished that the whole ordeal was over. She wasn’t particularly looking forward to the birth. She’d had a hard time with Lynn and now that she was so much older she worried constantly.

  What if she gave birth to a handicapped child? How would she cope? Would she have the strength to deal with it? She’d confided these fears to Maggie, who’d assured her that every mother had the exact same fears. Her friend urged her to try and put them out of her head.

  The baby kicked lustily. It was a very active baby and she was glad of that. It reassured her that for the time being, as far as she knew, all was well.

  Luke, although he did his best to hide it, was apprehensive. She knew he was worried that he wouldn’t do enough to help her on the day.

  At her prenatal classes there’d been a big laugh from the expectant couples when the midwife had told the husbands under no circumstances were they to tell their wives or partners to push.

  Devlin had made him promise not to look at her lower regions.

  ‘Just look at my face, won’t you, Luke. I don’t want you to be turned off sex for life.’

  She’d read an article that said that men who were at their baby’s birth were much slower in responding sexually to their wives afterwards than those who were absent.

  ‘I promise I’ll just look at your face. Whatever you want me to do, Devlin, I’ll do,’ he assured her earnestly. He’d arrived home from London two days ago with a Winnie the Pooh wall chart, a set of Winnie the Pooh Babygros, and a gorgeous Winnie the Pooh teddy bear.

  He couldn’t go into town without buying something for the baby, and eventually she had to put her foot down. His excitement was infectious and she was dying for the moment that he would hold their child.

  ‘I’m off, Mr Fleming,’ she called out to the foreman, and hid a grin at the look of relief that crossed his face.

  ‘Take care now, Mrs Reilly. Maybe you should stay put now until the baby’s born and you’ll have a nice surprise then when the place is all ready for you,’ he suggested delicately.

  ‘Perhaps you’re right,’ she agreed. There was no point in aggravating the poor unfortunate. In future she’d keep her visits until the evening when they were gone, when she could look around in peace.

  It was a warm day, one of those lovely early summery days that come in May, so she drove down to the harbour and went for a walk along Howth pier. It was nice to feel the breeze on her face. At least her sciatic nerve had calmed down once the baby had shifted position. All in all, apart from the awful weariness in the first three months, and the drama of washing her teeth, she’d had a very good pregnancy. But the
pressure was intense now and she’d be glad when she had her figure back, she reflected as she watched a woman wheeling a toddler in a buggy.

  She walked back along the top wall to enjoy the view of the sea. Midway, she felt a little tired so she sat down on one of the wooden seats in the shelter of the wall and viewed the peaceful scene in front of her. Seagulls circled and dived into the glassy waters, a ship on the horizon glided past. It was strange to be a lady of leisure, keeping in touch with the office through fax and phone.

  She’d stopped going into work two weeks ago. It was important, her gynaecologist said, to rest and prepare physically and mentally for the birth. Devlin knew she was right.

  The seat was a bit damp, she felt, so she shifted position, only to suddenly freeze in shock as a puddle of water formed at her feet.

  ‘Oh God, what a place for it to happen,’ she muttered, and then realized that it would have been a thousand times more mortifying if it had happened in front of all the builders. Slowly, she made her way back along the pier, wondering if people could see the big wet stain on her maternity dress.

  A calmness descended on her. This was it. There was nothing she could do. She was not in control any more. The baby and her body would have their way.

  She was so calm, or rather so reluctant to go to the hospital, she made herself a cup of tea when she got home. The contractions had started, but it would be hours before anything happened, she assured herself. After all, she was no novice. She’d given birth before.

  She phoned Luke, who was on site in Ashbourne.

  ‘I’m coming, I’m coming, I’m coming,’ he said frantically.

  ‘Lucky you,’ Devlin teased.

  ‘Devlin! This is no time for messing. You’re having a baby,’ he gabbled.