by Iris Blobel
“I’m glad you slept well.” He leaned over and gave her a kiss. “Coffee or tea?”
“Yes, fortunately. And tea please.”
When Jeremy got out of bed, Hollie saw again how well trained his body was and couldn’t help but stare at him.
“Like what you’re seeing?” he teased, but she just threw the pillow at him. “I take that as a yes.”
“I got the job, Jeremy,” she said just above a whisper.
Jeremy turned around and came closer. “Congratulations! How come I only hear about that now?”
Hollie blushed. “Well, I sort of forgot.”
His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You forgot?”
She bit her lip and slowly nodded.
Shaking his head in disbelief, he said, “You’ve got a new job, a job you’ve wanted for a long time, and you forgot to tell me?”
Hollie came closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I sort of had different things on my mind.”
He smiled and kissed her nose. “Congratulations, you deserve it. We’ll have to celebrate that with a dinner next week.”
“It’s a date.” She smiled.
“So, I’ll have my first official date with you. Woo-hoo!”
“This time, no Subway sandwich, though.”
“I promise. Okay, I’d better get this tea done. Otherwise we’ll never get back to Davo’s place for breakfast—and as tempting as this situation here is, I’m starving.”
Hollie laughed and took her arms off him. As soon as she heard Jeremy in the kitchen, she got up and made her way to the bathroom to get dressed and then joined him in the kitchen—at least she tried. When she stepped out of the bedroom, she wasn’t totally sure which way the kitchen was.
She glanced around. “Jeremy?”
“In the kitchen,” she heard from a distance.
Hollie rolled her eyes. “I know that, but where is the kitchen?”
There was a hearty laugh coming from down the hall and then he appeared at the end of the hallway. “Down this way, Twinkles.”
Hollie walked along the hallway past the bedrooms. She peeked into one of them and saw girls’ toys spread all over the floor. She assumed this to be Mary’s room when she was staying here. As she came to the little landing opposite the entrance, she went down the steps and to the left, into the kitchen area.
Taking the cup of tea Jeremy handed her, she said, “You can get completely lost in here.”
“Come on through here. It’s beautiful outside and a good opportunity to sit on the patio.”
Hollie followed him through the lounge room. She was mesmerised by the size of the house, but also by the interior design. Her Jeremy did have taste indeed. There was the typical male mess, but she admitted she wasn’t crash hot on tidying up herself.
She stopped in front of the big TV. “Instead of dinner, I think I’d prefer watching a great movie on this telly. Plus your prosciutto.”
Jeremy smiled. “Deal.”
The back yard seemed to be a bit of a mess, but it had a beautiful view over the river. Hollie noticed the plants and yard were in desperate need of some attention.
“I might have to send Dad over to give you a hand with your back yard one day,” she teased him.
****
Davo opened the door for the two when they arrived back at his house.
“Good morning, Hollie. Jez, how are you, mate?” Davo asked with a big grin.
“Happy New Year, Davo. All in good swing already, it seems.”
“Yeah, help yourself. There should still be some bacon and eggs. Murray’s friend donated the eggs. We have them flowing out of our ears.” He laughed as he stepped closer to Hollie and placed a kiss on her cheek.
“Happy New Year, Hollie.”
She smiled. “Thanks, Davo. Same to you.”
“It seems to be a great start for you,” he whispered and winked at her.
Hollie blushed. “Ditto for you, I reckon.” And her eyes wandered over to the dark haired girl who had been all over Davo the previous night.
“Naa,” he said with a grin.
Davo was a laid-back person who was extremely popular with nearly everyone and a good friend to many. According to Davo’s mum, he carried around a few kilos too many, but weight aside, Davo sported good looks with his dark blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and round-shaped, full face, which constantly showed a few stubbles, because he often neglected it—just as he had done with the few relationships he’d had, which all failed due to his commitment issues. He liked the freedom of a single person, with a relationship here and there. So his reply didn’t entirely surprise Hollie.
“Hollie!”
She turned around and saw Alex running towards her and opened up her arms straightaway. “Alex! Happy New Year.”
She smiled. “Oh, same to you. And it’s going to be a great year, isn’t it?”
“I hope so.”
“Hollie! You know it’ll be fine. You’re the all-time pessimist!”
“Amen! I’d drink to that if I had one.”
Alex laughed and gave her a gentle bump against her arm. “Nice night?” Alex winked.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“Hi, Jeremy. Hope the New Year will be a good one for you, too.” Alex went over to Jeremy and gave him a hug. “Hope you took real good care of my beautiful sister last night,” she said with a grin.
Jeremy, with his arm still around Alex’s waist, smiled mischievously. “I did, indeed! And with your permission, there will be many more to come.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Are you sure you don’t want to join me for New Year's Eve?” Padraic asked, about to open the car door.
Sam nodded. “We’ve been through this, Padraic.”
He took her hand into his. “And there’s nothing I can do to convince you, is there?”
She shook her head. “You arranged this trip a few months back. You knew about it then. I’d feel bad if I didn’t see Mum and Dad for Christmas.” And then she said, as she exhaled, “And if it bothers you so much, why don’t you come back home early?”
His mouth twitched into a smile. “And miss a good party with the lads? No way!”
Sam turned away from him. Deep inside she knew she needed some days without him to think about her situation. She was tired of being apprehensive of what might happen at night when going to bed. Tired of the pain and tired of being abused. She looked forward to a few relaxing days with her parents, as well as Claire’s party in Limerick, without having to worry about how many drinks Padraic would drown into his body.
She blinked a couple of times to focus back on him. “You enjoy your time in the snow and on New Year's Eve. It’s just a day, just another party. We'll celebrate when you come back. Perhaps instead of a family dinner we could have a party for my birthday.”
“I love you, Sam.” A quick kiss for her, and then he opened the door.
“Love you, too. Give me a call when you get there.”
When she got onto the main streets and drove south, there were no tears, no feelings of missing her husband like previous years. She turned on the radio and was pleased to hear a couple of familiar songs. She sang along with the ABBA songs and noticed her fingers tapping on the steering wheel when she heard the latest Madonna song. Time flew by quickly.
****
“Hello, love. How was your drive? Awful weather again, isn’t it?”
Sam stepped into the house, got out of her wet coat and gave her mother a hug. “Hi, Mum. Merry Christmas.”
Sam heard her father’s heavy steps coming down the hall and wrapped herself into his big arms.
“Hello, Dad. How are you?”
“Doing well, love. But getting old, I suppose.”
She gave him a kiss. “Hope you had a good Christmas.”
“Come on in, love. You’re just in time for lunch.”
Sam sat in her parents’ small kitchen and had a few bites of lunch. Leftovers from Christmas Day. She wasn’t at all
hungry for more turkey, more potatoes, and more vegetables. But she made an effort.
“How was your Christmas Day with Padraic’s family?”
She stopped halfway biting into her meat and glanced at Joyce. “Actually, quite good. Would you believe it, Angus didn’t even mention our childless marriage once!”
Her mother’s relief was obvious in her voice as she spoke. “How’s Patricia?”
“She’s doing well,” Sam answered, slightly upset. Her decision to not have children at this stage of her life didn’t sit well with her parents, either, but it was her and Padraic’s choice. So she just went along with the different question.
“She’s looking after the two girls a few days a week now to help out Kieran and his wife. They’re busy with the election.”
“How’s that going?”
Sam shrugged. “No idea.” And I actually don’t care.
Her father shook his head and smiled. “Still not close to the family, are you?”
Turning to her dad, she said with a slight sigh, “Dad, I will never be close to the family. I’m a nobody to them. But then again, I’m not sure whether I want to be close to them, either. It’s all so fake.”
“How’s Padraic?”
I don’t care at the moment! “He’s grand. He got the promotion he was working towards the whole year. He'll now oversee the development of a new estate they’re planning and the merger with another real estate agency.” She took another small piece of turkey.
“How are you two doing?” Sam’s father asked carefully.
What is it with all these questions? Sam gave a weary smile, but avoided direct eye contact with her dad. “We’re fine.”
“We’re used to him not coming here, but what’s with you not spending New Year’s Eve together?”
“You’re putting too much into this. He arranged this trip a few months back. And bottom line is, this was the only week everyone was able to join. It’s just another day on the calendar. I’m hoping to get up to Limerick to see Claire for New Year’s Eve. Her sister has invited me for a party, and I’m looking forward to catching up with her. You remember Claire, don’t you? We used to work together at the newspaper.”
“So all’s okay with you two?”
Closing her eyes momentarily, Sam tried to stay calm. All the questioning got to her, but she answered more abruptly than she’d intended to. “Of course it is.”
As soon as the words had been spoken, she stood up to get herself some juice out of the fridge to put some distance between herself and her parents. And the conversation. So lost in thought, she hadn’t noticed the juice bottle was already on the table. Her parents stared at her.
Hands on hips, she returned their stare. “What?”
“Nothing. You do know you can talk to us if something’s not right, don’t you?”
Sam swirled her juice in her glass before taking a drink. “But everything is right, Mum.”
****
Sam enjoyed the days at home. She didn’t have to get up early, rush to work, cook or clean up, and most importantly, she slept well and ate well. Every morning, she joined her father for his usual walk, though she struggled with his slow pace. He explained it was one of the aftereffects of his angina attack. It saddened her somewhat, the way he had lost so much weight and all the energy he used to have. Sam hooked her arm under his, and some mornings they would talk about old times, or some news they had heard on the radio. Some days they would just walk side by side, but never, not once, did they talk about Padraic.
“You’re a beautiful, intelligent young girl, and I know appearance, money, and success are important to your generation, but, love, he’s not for you,” he’d said when Sam had introduced Padraic to her parents. She’d been madly in love, and for once had disagreed with her father—he had been the one for her, and in time, everyone would agree. She had been convinced of that.
Sam caught up with some of her old school friends, too, as well as Auntie Aileen. Aileen, Joyce’s sister, wasn’t married, and Sam loved her. Auntie Aileen had an uncanny resemblance to Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote, and Sam sometimes wondered if her auntie would solve crimes if she’d had a chance—after all, she had the same nosy interest and rational thinking. Her hair was the same blonde hair as Jessica’s—all puffed up like most of the elderly were wearing their hair nowadays. Her makeup was done sparingly, and Sam sometimes thought she’d be well-advised to do the same with her foundation. Sam had spent so many wonderful hours with her at the beach, driving through the countryside to find the perfect picnic spot, going to the movies, or just sitting on a bench down the main road to watch the world—or in Sam’s case, the boys—go by.
Auntie Aileen was up for anything and everything, and her wonderful, nonchalant attitude made her the perfect companion any old day. Sam had even joined her when Auntie Aileen had her book club meetings. Most of the time, she had to try hard not to laugh. The things these women interpreted in the books and the discussions about characters seemed beyond any logic, and she had a feeling the authors would probably roll their eyes as well.
Sam knew Auntie Aileen had never been able to warm up to Padraic, either. So when she told her auntie that Padraic, yet again, hadn’t joined her in her visit, Auntie Aileen happily invited Sam for a lunch at the new restaurant in town.
“I read your horoscope the other day, Sam.”
“Auntie Aileen, you should stop that. You know I don’t believe in it. You are what you make of yourself, and you will be what you work towards.”
“Darling, you don’t have to believe, but just listen to me. There will be grand things happening to you soon.”
“Grand things? I’m having grand things happening now.” Sam placed her hand onto her auntie's. “I’m not sure why everyone has doubts about what I’m saying. I’ve got a grand job and I just signed a grand deal before Christmas. My life’s good!”
“Yet, your husband is not here with you,” Auntie Aileen interrupted her.
Sam took a deep breath. “I know you don’t like Padraic, but there’s a genuine reason he’s not here.”
“I know, my dear, I know.” Aileen smiled, removed her hands from Sam’s and had another piece of her lunch.
“What is it with everyone giving me a hard time when it comes to Padraic? I love him. End of story. Shouldn’t everyone be happy for me?” Surprised by her outburst, she apologised straightaway.
“Darling, life’s hard and finding a balance is even harder. But the hardest thing, my dear Sam, is to accept the truth. Only you know the truth. We can guide you and help you, but you have to accept it.”
“Auntie Aileen, the truth is…”
“Sshhh, my dear. You know the truth, and I trust you will accept it.” Aileen took Sam’s hand into hers and smiled. “You will accept it, I know, and there will be wonderful things happening soon.”
Sam shook her head. She knew better than to say anything else. Momentarily lost in her own thoughts, she acknowledged to herself she knew the truth. She knew her auntie’s words echoed her own feelings. How much she yearned for wonderful things to be happening soon.
Chapter Nineteen
Joyce was surprised to see her daughter up so early. “Love, didn’t you sleep well?”
“I did, Mum, but remember, I’m off to see Claire to join her for Hannah’s party on New Year’s Eve.”
“You’re leaving already?”
“Well, it’s a bit of a drive, so it doesn’t hurt to leave early. Dad told me last night they’re expecting a weather front with strong winds this afternoon.”
“You drive safely, love.”
Sam gave her mum a kiss on the cheek. “I will, Mum. Have a happy New Year.”
She went over to the lounge room and stood in the doorframe for a moment, watching Graham sorting the newspaper, which she had messed up earlier. She had never come across someone so finicky and detail-loving as her father, and she had a chuckle.
“Don’t laugh, Sam. How am I supposed to read th
e stories if the newspaper is not in order?”
She stepped closer and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I know, Dad. How thoughtless of us.”
“You wait until you get older. Now, where are you off to at this time of the day?”
“I’m off to stay with Claire overnight. Her sister’s birthday party is tonight.”
Graham touched her nose with his finger. “Have a grand time, love. Have a good start into the New Year.”
She smiled contentedly. “You too, Dad.”
It had been years since Sam drove to Limerick across the southern part of the Emerald Isle. Joyce had packed her a snack and prepared some tea in a thermos. Sam laughed at the old-fashioned way of travelling.
“Mum, there are shops and petrol stations for me to grab a fast bite.”
“Save your money, love. Not to mention the stuff they put into fast food nowadays.”
****
The scenery was breathtaking, with the lush green landscape, the castles, and ruins. Sam had found a local radio station that was playing some famous Irish bands and, in no time, she arrived at Claire’s parents' house just outside of the city. As she parked her car outside the house, Claire flung open the door and ran towards her.
“Hi, Sam.”
Sam slowly opened the door and shivered when the cold breeze touched her face. “Hi, there. How are you?”
Claire came closer and gave her a hug. “You look good.”
Sam rubbed her tummy and smiled. “Thanks. Mum and Dad are taking care of me quite well.” Sam enjoyed her friend’s warm hug. She had been hesitant about coming, and it must have cost Claire half a fortune in phone texts, but in the end, she knew her friend meant well. Even if Sam didn’t want to hear Claire’s criticism of Padraic, they always had fun together—and that was what she was looking forward to.
They both went into the small house, where Claire introduced Sam to her parents. The house smelled of baking, and the open fire in the lounge room did a wonderful job warming up the house.
Sam took off her coat. There was a cosy atmosphere in the house. She loved the wooden floor covered with only a few rugs, the two oversized sofas and the small coffee table. A bright glow came from the stone fireplace. There were window seats overlooking the front yard, and she thought how this would probably be her favourite spot if she lived in this house.