Mirror, Mirror

by Patricia Scanlan

‘Well, as you know to your cost, dear, she’s a temptress. Only this time she tempted a silly old man who thought he was on to a good thing. So between the jigs and the reels she got the sack and Malachy’s going around like a demon, according to Victor. It must be a crushing blow to his vanity. Malachy has an ego the size of Everest.’

  ‘I don’t know him,’ Suzy murmured. It was hard to get a word in edgeways when Madeleine was in full flow.

  ‘That’s no loss, sweetheart. He’s not a very nice person. A bit devious, to say the least and still remain charitable. So all is probably not well in paradise. And aren’t we cheering?’

  ‘Thanks, Madeleine,’ Suzy said warmly. Maddy might be a right old gossip but her heart was in the right place.

  ‘We’ll get together in the New Year, lamb, and we’ll have a nice lunch – my treat.’

  ‘That’s a date,’ Suzy agreed. ‘Take care. And Happy Christmas.’

  She walked into the kitchen and plugged in the kettle. She was dying for a cup of coffee. She’d phone Lindsey later. Suddenly for the first time in ages she was ravenous. She opened the fridge. It was pretty bare. There were eggs and cheese. She felt like an omelette. That’s what she’d cook.

  She was on such a high. Alexandra was jobless. That would drive her crazy. Suzy wanted to sing and dance with exhilaration. She felt alive again. She knew it was wrong to revel in someone’s bad luck, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t help it. The more disasters Alexandra Johnston had in her life, the better. And she’d gloat over every one of them, Suzy vowed as she whipped the eggs and added the seasoning.

  It was the first meal she’d enjoyed since the night she’d discovered her husband tied naked to Alexandra’s bedstead. Things were looking up.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  ‘Oh Doug! It’s beautiful!’ Ellen breathed as she gazed at the delicate chain and cross nestling in its velvet bed. It was Christmas Eve, and they were exchanging presents under the Christmas tree before Ellen and Stephanie left to go and stay at Sheila’s.

  ‘Let me put it on.’ Doug smiled. She smiled back and touched his cheek.

  ‘Thank you, Doug. For everything.’

  ‘I think you better get me a piece of mistletoe, Stephanie.’ Doug winked. ‘I feel a kiss coming on.’

  ‘Don’t be long, I’m dying for my present.’ Stephanie wasn’t at all interested in the romance of the moment. She was far too anxious to unwrap the two gaily wrapped presents Doug had put under the tree for her.

  Doug laughed as he secured the chain around Ellen’s neck.

  ‘Here.’ Stephanie held out a branch of mistletoe she’d taken from the mantelpiece.

  Doug took the berried spray and held it over his and Ellen’s heads. Gently, lightly he kissed her lips. ‘That chain comes with all my love,’ he murmured. ‘I want you to wear it for ever.’

  Ellen looked into his hazel eyes and saw the love mirrored there.

  ‘I will,’ she said simply and hugged him tightly to her.

  ‘Now can I open mine?’ Stephanie urged.

  ‘Yes, go on.’ Ellen stood in the shelter of Doug’s arms and watched happily as her daughter dived under the Christmas tree and hauled out the big rectangular box. She tore the wrappings impatiently, her eyes bright with anticipation.

  ‘Ooohhh, Doug. Mammy, look, it’s Spirograph. Brillo! Thanks, Doug.’ She launched herself at him, the precious gift tucked under one arm.

  Doug hugged her tight. ‘I’ll want loads of pictures. Really artistic ones.’

  ‘You’ll get them. Can I start one now?’

  ‘No, pet, we’ll have to go soon but you can bring it over to Nannie’s and do one this evening,’ Ellen said.

  Stephanie’s eyes lit up. ‘I know, I’ll do one for Santa this evening before I go to bed. Just think of the surprise he’ll get.’

  ‘There’s another surprise for you under the tree,’ Doug reminded her.

  ‘Oh yeah!’ Stephanie burrowed under the tree again and came out clasping the small square box. ‘Two presents. Mammy, I’m dead lucky,’ she declared earnestly as her fingers struggled with the well-sellotaped gift. ‘Oh look,’ her eyes widened. ‘It’s in a box like yours. Oooohhh!’ she gasped in delight. ‘Mammy, it’s a charm bracelet. Look at the little kitten. It’s like Sooty when she was a kitten.’ Sooty was Stephanie’s much loved cat. She presented the box to Ellen for inspection.

  ‘Doug, it’s beautiful.’ Ellen lifted the bracelet from its soft paper. ‘Here, let me put it on.’

  ‘No, Mam, Doug has to put it on, like he put your chain on,’ Stephanie insisted.

  ‘Of course he has to.’ Ellen handed the bracelet to Doug.

  Doug knelt down in front of Stephanie. ‘For the second lady in my life.’ He smiled at her as he fastened the clasp.

  ‘And have I to wear mine for ever?’ Stephanie asked solemnly.

  ‘You do.’ Doug nodded.

  ‘And is it with all your love, too?’

  ‘It is. Ellen, can I have the mistletoe, please?’

  Ellen wordlessly handed him the mistletoe. She had a lump as big as a football stuck in her throat.

  Doug held the mistletoe over Stephanie’s head. Trustingly she raised her face for his kiss.

  Tears brimmed in Ellen’s eyes as she watched Doug softly kiss Stephanie’s pink cheek.

  ‘With all my love, Stephanie.’

  Stephanie flung her arms tight around his neck. ‘Thank you for my two presents. Especially my bracelet. Even Julie Ann doesn’t have a bracelet like this. No one in my class has one,’ she confided.

  ‘Next year, I’ll give you another charm,’ Doug promised.

  ‘Mammy, why are you crying?’ Stephanie spotted her mother’s tears.

  Doug looked up at Ellen and grinned. ‘Stephanie, your mother’s a great big softie. One night I took her to the pictures and she drenched me from crying at the sad bits.’

  ‘But this is a happy bit.’ Stephanie was confused.

  ‘Oh, she cries at them too,’ Doug said matter-of-factly.

  ‘Do you, Mam?’

  ‘Yes,’ Ellen sniffled.

  ‘Here, woman, have a good blow. I brought one specially for the occasion.’ Doug handed her a freshly laundered white handkerchief.

  Ellen gulped and laughed at the same time. She felt a fool but watching Doug with Stephanie had made her feel so emotional. His thought-fulness was immensely touching. His kindness so genuine. Ellen, who’d been sadly lacking in receiving kindness in her relationship with Chris, still found herself overwhelmed by Doug’s care. Secretly she didn’t feel she deserved such love.

  Doug put his arm around her.

  ‘Come on, woman, pull yourself together. You promised me a piece of pudding and brandy butter.’

  ‘But wait, Doug. You’ve to open your presents.’ Stephanie hauled out a large parcel from under the tree.

  ‘Mammy, you have to give him this one. This is Mammy’s. Wait until you see it, Doug! You’ll love it,’ Stephanie assured him.

  ‘I hope you like it, Doug.’ Ellen handed it to him.

  Doug was even more impatient than Stephanie as he tried to unwrap his parcel. But Ellen had bound it tightly.

  ‘That’s cruelty,’ he exclaimed as he struggled with yards of sellotape.

  Stephanie squealed with excitement and clapped her hands. ‘Can you not wait, Doug?’

  ‘No, I can’t. Your mother’s an awful woman for keeping me in suspense like this.’

  ‘Take it slowly,’ Ellen said firmly, enjoying his boyish eagerness.

  ‘Oh Ellen!’ His face was a study when he unwrapped his gift. ‘It’s beautiful.’ He sighed. ‘A real stunner.’

  Ellen laughed. ‘I don’t know how you can call a fishing-rod beautiful.’

  ‘It’s an Abu! The best of swag. She’s a beauty, Ellen. How did you know which one to pick?’ Doug studied his new prize proudly.

  ‘Dad helped,’ Ellen admitted.

  ‘There’s something else.’ Stephanie, sporting a
melon-slice grin, handed him another box. ‘That’s to go with that one. It’s from Mammy, too.’

  Doug eyed Ellen sternly. ‘Two presents. One was more than enough.’

  ‘Well, this one complements the other one,’ Ellen explained, chuffed with his reaction.

  ‘Ahh, Ellen!’ He looked so happy when he opened the box of flies that she’d bought to go with the rod that she almost started crying again.

  He fingered the feathery fronds lovingly. ‘The trout’ll go mad for these,’ he murmured.

  Ellen laughed. Mick was exactly the same about flies. He had a huge collection and he was always driving Sheila mad, looking for the feathers on her hats.

  ‘Thanks very much, Ellen.’ Doug enveloped her in a bear-hug. She hugged him back, unable to speak.

  ‘Now you’ve to open mine.’ Stephanie thrust her gift at him.

  ‘Have you tied yours as tightly as your mad mother’s?’ Doug demanded.

  ‘Yes,’ Stephanie giggled.

  ‘Lord above! I’ve two mad women in my life.’ He struggled again to untie the ungainly parcel.

  ‘Ah! Stephanie!’ He was delighted when he saw the photo of her and Ellen in a home-made varnished ice-lolly-stick frame.

  ‘I made it myself,’ she said proudly.

  ‘That makes it all the more special. I’ll put this beside my bed. I’ll see the two of you first thing in the morning. And last thing at night.’ He studied the photo with pleasure.

  ‘And there’s something else,’ Stephanie pointed out.

  ‘My goodness!’ Doug delved deeper. ‘Wow! Bay Rum aftershave. I’ll have to fight the women off. Thank you very much, Stephanie. I’m a lucky man.’

  ‘That’s ’cos you’re always kind to us. We wanted to buy you really, really nice presents. Mammy said she wished she had a fortune to spend on you,’ Stephanie divulged innocently.

  ‘Did she?’ Doug glanced at Ellen, who blushed.

  ‘Yep, she did. ’Cos she really likes you. ’Cos you make her laugh,’ Stephanie remarked airily as she petted her kitten charm. ‘You know what I was thinking?’ she said seriously, her blue eyes earnest.

  ‘What were you thinking?’ Doug tried to keep his face straight. Ellen bit her lip wondering what indiscretion her daughter was going to come out with next.

  ‘I was thinking that when Christmas Day is over, could you put one of your seeds in Mammy’s belly button so she could get a new baby? Julie Ann says it’s dead easy. That’s how Andrew came. And can we watch ’cos Auntie Emma and Uncle Vincent won’t let her see how they do it. I told her, I bet Doug wouldn’t mind. He even showed me how to grow peas in a glass.’ Stephanie was completely oblivious to the consternation she was causing.

  Doug and Ellen stared at each other.

  ‘Mmm . . . Stephanie—’ Ellen paused. She’d been just about to say that people had to be married before they could make babies, when she remembered her own circumstances. She didn’t really want to get into any convoluted explanations.

  ‘Stephanie . . . making babies is kind of private. It’s only for grown-ups. And that’s why Julie Ann’s not allowed watch. And it’s really up to Holy God if he sends a baby or not,’ she said weakly, chickening out.

  ‘Well, I’ll ask him in my special intentions.’ Stephanie was full of confidence.

  ‘Right! But don’t talk to Julie Ann about it. Or anyone else. Those kind of things are private.’

  ‘When I’m big, Doug, can you give me some seeds too? If I can grow peas, I’m sure I could grow babies. Mammy, can I go down to Grandad Mick and show him my bracelet?’

  ‘Oh very good idea.’ Ellen nodded vigorously. ‘Tell him we’ll be going home to Nannie soon and that I’ll collect the turkey and ham from him.’

  ‘OK.’ Stephanie skipped happily out of the room, her arm held up in front of her, admiring her jewellery.

  ‘God bless her innocence,’ Doug laughed. ‘Great idea though.’

  ‘I’ll have to talk to her. Julie Ann would wilt you. She’s as precocious!’ Ellen groaned.

  ‘But look, she’s forgotten about it now. They get an idea in their heads, they air it and move on to something else.’

  ‘I know but just say she came out with that in front of Mam. Could you imagine the reaction?’ Ellen sighed. ‘I hope she doesn’t say anything like that when we go to visit Mrs Wallace. I’ll have to warn her.’

  Doug looked at her in surprise. ‘Mrs Wallace? Is she something to do with that other bastard?’ He was scowling.

  ‘Oh Doug, don’t be like that,’ Ellen remonstrated. ‘Chris’s mother rang me a while back. She’s bought Stephanie a Christmas present. And she invited us to tea.’

  ‘You never told me,’ he said quietly.

  ‘Doug!’ Ellen was dismayed by his tone. ‘I forgot all about it. Things have been so mad. That guild dinner was a nightmare. I would have said it to you. I’m only going to the woman’s house for tea. It’s got nothing to do with Chris.’

  ‘I wish you weren’t. I can’t help how I feel,’ Doug growled.

  ‘Look, Doug. She rang me. And she’s very nice actually. She feels bad that Chris deserted Stephanie. I think she wants to try and make up for it in some way. And she is Stephanie’s grandmother. I’m glad she’s acknowledging that for Stephanie’s sake. I think it will be good for Stephanie to have some contact with her father’s family. Maybe she won’t feel so rejected when she starts to reason these things out for herself. And another thing I can’t ignore is the fact that she has a half brother and sister. There may be meetings with them in the future. I don’t know. I’ll just have to play it by ear. It’s not an easy situation. But I can’t deny Stephanie access to her relatives just because it makes my life easier. That wouldn’t be fair, Doug,’ Ellen pointed out.

  ‘I know. You’re right. It doesn’t mean I have to like it though,’ Doug retorted grimly.

  ‘You have a choice in all of this, Doug. I don’t,’ Ellen said quietly.

  They stared at each other. Doug stony-faced and angry. Ellen resolute.

  ‘Fuck that bastard!’ Doug exploded. ‘He’s even managed to ruin the loveliest Christmas Eve I’ve ever had.’

  ‘That’s only because you’re letting him. And he’s not going to ruin mine.’ Ellen put her arms around Doug and raised her lips to his.

  ‘Thank you for my beautiful present. Thank you for your kindness to Stephanie. Thank you for being the nicest man I’ve ever met.’ She kissed him lovingly, passionately, wantonly.

  He kissed her back fiercely, holding her tightly to him.

  She was breathless when they drew apart.

  ‘We’d better stop,’ Doug said huskily. ‘Stephanie might come up and get a lesson in the facts of life that would have Julie Ann’s eyes out on stalks.’

  Ellen giggled in spite of herself.

  ‘Oh, Doug, Doug, Doug.’ She buried her face in his shoulder.

  ‘Ellen, soon it will be a new year and a new decade. You’re going to have to make some decisions about where we’re going. You can’t run away from it for ever,’ Doug murmured into her hair.

  ‘I know,’ she whispered.

  ‘I only want to make you happy,’ he said earnestly.

  ‘You do make me happy, Doug.’ Ellen looked into his eyes. ‘I never had a nicer Christmas Eve either. Not with anyone,’ she added emphatically.

  ‘Could you keep New Year’s Eve free for me?’

  ‘Why? What are we doing?’

  ‘You’ll see,’ he promised. ‘Will you be able to get a babysitter?’

  ‘I’m sure Mam and Dad wouldn’t mind looking after Stephanie. Mam doesn’t like New Year’s Eve. She never goes out that night.’

  ‘Right. Well, wear your poshest frock. And leave the rest to me,’ Doug instructed.

  ‘OK,’ Ellen agreed happily. And kissed him again for good measure.

  ‘Here you go, darling, don’t drink it all at the one go.’ Alexandra held out a wrapped bottle to Chris.

  ‘Oh! Thanks. Hold
on, I’ll go and get yours.’ Chris put the bottle down on the sofa without unwrapping it and walked out of the room.

  Alexandra glanced impatiently at her watch. Chris had offered to drop her to the airport but time was getting on and she didn’t want to be late. She wanted to have plenty of time to wander around the Duty Free.

  He might at least have opened his present, she thought crossly. That bottle of Hennessy had cost an arm and a leg, considering her circumstances. Brandy was too bloody good for him. She should have bought him a bottle of plonk. She’d deliberated about buying him a present at all, but decided reluctantly that she couldn’t burn her bridges with him until her new job was in the bag. It was best to keep him sweet just in case.

  Alexandra sighed. If she didn’t get the job with Arthur Reynolds, she might very well slit her wrists. She’d met Karen Finlay, a PR she’d been friendly with in Stuart and Stuart’s, and they’d gone for a drink. Karen, who couldn’t stand Ron Evans and who wasn’t too enamoured of Malachy, had told Alexandra that Malachy was bad-mouthing her to anyone who would listen. And Ron Evans had told one of the typists that, if she didn’t pull up her socks, he’d give her the sack the same way he’d given Alexandra Johnston the boot. She was being held up as an example.

  Alexandra was furious. Typical of that lying toe-rag. She was so mad she seriously considered ratting on Ron to the tax people about all the nixers he did. If he had the taxman down on him for tax evasion that would soon wipe the self-satisfied smirk off his pimply mush.

  As for Malachy, if he was going to play dirty, she was going to play twice as dirty. He had a few skeletons in his closet that she knew about, regarding his practice of ripping clients off. She knew about the padded bills and false accounting.

  That evening she sat down and sent him a note, short and to the point.

  Malachy,

  If I hear one more squeak out of you about me, I’ll be writing to the Dillon Group, Victor Conway and Ganley Inc. I’m sure they’d be very interested to find out about the way their bills were beefed up! The choice is yours. So bugger off and shut up . . . or else.

  Yours sincerely,

  Alexandra Johnston.

  PS The same goes for Ron Evans.