A Year Like No Other

by Pauline Lawless

  Her parents left on the 29th of December and Georgina reluctantly agreed with her husband that it was indeed the best Christmas they’d ever had.

  “We’ll come to you in Holland Park next Christmas,” her mother announced haughtily.

  “Well, we’ll see,” Felicity replied. “It all depends on what other plans we may have. We may not stay in England for it at all.”

  Pippa and Alex had to smother a giggle at their grandmother’s outraged face. However, Georgina simply pressed her lips tight together and said nothing before kissing them all goodbye.

  The two girls had met up with Nicole and her friends again and were out partying every night. Alex had kept in touch with one of the boys, Jean Michel, and it looked like young love was in the air. Two of her friends and two of Pippa’s were coming to visit the following day, from London, and Felicity had agreed that they could throw a New Year’s Eve party and also invite their new French friends.

  She and Max opened a bottle of champagne at midnight on New Year’s Eve after wishing the youngsters a Happy New Year. They took it up to bed where they watched the Hogmanay parties on television as they toasted each other. They were both looking forward to an even more exciting year to come.

  Sophie did not have as good a Christmas as the others, thanks, in part, to Yves’s moodiness. Even her sister, Vianne, noticed that he was not his usual self and worried that there was something serious bothering him. Sophie could throw no light on the matter as he wouldn’t discuss it with her. She hoped it wasn’t because he was missing Marilyn. Although he assured her that he loved her, their lovemaking was practically non-existent.

  They returned to Paris on New Year’s Day and Sophie was relieved when he returned to work the day after.

  45

  Kieran was not in good form as they arrived back in Paris. Because of his mother’s death, followed by the funeral and Christmas, he’d had no chance to sit down and have a talk with Ashling. He knew it would have to happen soon. He couldn’t go on like an ostrich any longer, burying his head in the sand. They would have to have it out.

  Hugh had been over to Ireland for Christmas and Fiona had returned to Paris with him and would stay until college started back. They were madly in love and making plans to live together once she had finished her degree. Ashling was delighted for her sister and was happy that she’d see her every day while Hugh was working. She asked Fiona to baby-sit the day after they arrived back in Paris so that she could go to Les Deux Magots and see Corey.

  He greeted her with delight and gave her the news she’d been hoping to hear.

  “I can’t believe it, I just can’t believe it,” she cried, hugging him. “Are you serious? My book is going to be published?” She had to sit down as she was shaking. “Oh my God, I can’t believe it!”

  Corey laughed at her reaction. He’d never had any doubt but that she’d be published. She was a talented writer and he was delighted that he’d been able to help her.

  Brandon and Jazz were both looking tanned and relaxed as they started back to work on January 2nd. Brandon had gone back to New York from Barbados to talk with his lawyer. To his amazement Taylor wanted very little from him. He’d been expecting a long list of demands. This proved to him, more than ever, that she’d lost the plot. Bob had told him that Taylor and Dylan were still hard at it partying and doing more and more drugs every day. Dylan’s family wanted him to go in to rehab again but he was refusing. Probably because he now had a partner in crime!

  Brandon would wait until he returned from Paris to decide what he would do with the apartment on New York’s Upper East Side. It was too big and ornate for him. He would prefer something simpler. Sophie, true to her word, had found a lovely little place for him on the Île Saint-Louis, very similar to Jazz’s and just two houses down from hers. It was perfect for him and he moved in on New Year’s Day, the day he’d come back from the States. Now he and Jazz were neighbours.

  Jazz checked her diary the day she got back from Munich. Shocked, she discovered that she was two weeks late with her period. This was very unusual as she was normally as regular as clockwork. Probably all the stress, she thought, collapsing into bed. When it still hadn’t arrived a week later and she found herself feeling sick three mornings in a row, the penny dropped.

  “I couldn’t possibly be pregnant, could I?” she asked her reflection in the mirror. She remembered the one night that she’d had unprotected sex with Yves. It was the first night that he’d come to her apartment. Neither of them had had a condom but they’d gone ahead anyway. Surely that one occasion couldn’t have made her pregnant, could it? Of course it could, she realised, thinking that she was acting like a naïve young teenager who thought it couldn’t happen to them.

  She put her hands on her stomach. Could there be a little person in there? She felt confused. One part of her was enchanted to think that she might be carrying a baby inside her and the other part was horrified to think that Yves would be the father. She really did not want any permanent tie with him but, still, she knew he’d have a right to know if she was carrying his child. God, what a mess! She’d have to think this through carefully.

  Kieran came home to find Fiona there as Hugh had to work that night. No chance of a serious talk then!

  “Put on your glad rags,” Ashling told him. “You and I are going out to dinner. Fee is baby-sitting for us.”

  He couldn’t mask his surprise. “What’s the occasion?”

  “Do I need an occasion to take my husband out to dinner?”

  Mystified, he did as she asked and was just ready when the taxi she’d ordered arrived.

  “Where are we going?” he asked, wondering what this was all about.

  He was shocked when she ordered the taxi to stop at La Tour d’Argent, the most famous and expensive restaurant in Paris. He paled.

  “We can’t afford this,” he hissed.

  “Don’t worry, we’re not paying,” she laughed. “Trust me,” she replied, her eyes shining as she led him into the building.

  Nothing could have surprised him more than to see the silver-haired Corey sitting there, a bottle of Roederer Cristal on ice.

  “What the hell!” Kieran exclaimed.

  “Kieran, I’d like you to meet my friend, Corey Danz. He has some exciting news for us,” Ashling said, grinning from ear to ear.

  “I’m happy to meet you, at last,” Corey said, pumping his hand. “Ashling has told me so much about you.”

  He was obviously American and, Kieran had to admit, very charming. Corey beckoned the waiter to open the champagne.

  As the waiter poured Corey beamed at them both and Ashling was glowing so much that Kieran thought she might combust at any moment.

  “What’s this exciting news?” he asked, looking from one to the other.

  “Your wife is a very talented writer and the exciting news is that one of the top UK publishers has agreed to publish her novel.”

  Kieran was gobsmacked. He didn’t know what to say. “Are you serious?” he asked, finding it hard to take in.

  “Absolutely.” Corey smiled broadly, handing them both a glass of champagne.

  “To a bright future!” he toasted Ashling.

  She clinked her glass to his and then turned to Kieran and kissed him on the lips.

  “When did all this happen?” Kieran asked, taken aback.

  “Well, Corey’s agent in New York has contacts with the UK company – they’ve published just about anybody who’s anybody really – well, he read it and thought it was good enough, so he sent it off to them the day before we left for Ireland. Corey took me out to lunch that day to celebrate. I didn’t want to say anything to you in case nothing came of it. I was afraid I’d jinx it. But now it’s really happened!” Her eyes were sparkling with happiness. She took his hand and squeezed it. “What do you think of that? Corey has been a fantastic help and support. I couldn’t have done it without him.” She smiled at her friend.

  “Of course you would,” Corey re
plied. “Talent will out. And now I’d like to invite you both to dinner to celebrate the occasion.”

  Relief flooded through Kieran. So that’s what she was doing with Corey the day he’d seen them together. They weren’t having an affair. He’d been helping her with her book. Kieran felt a fool for having doubted her. When they stood up to go to dinner, she kissed him again and held his hand as they were shown to their table. She was bubbling with happiness and he thought she’d never looked more beautiful. He was so lucky!

  It was the best table in the house and they had a magnificent view across the Seine to Notre Dame Cathedral. The maitre d’ came and greeted Corey like an old friend and it was obvious that he was a valued customer. Kieran couldn’t believe it when he discovered that Corey was in fact the famous writer Dan Corey. He was a big fan of the author and had read all his books. The dinner was a huge success and Corey recommended that they try the duck which was a speciality of the house. It was the most divine duck that they’d ever tasted.

  “You’ll have to come and have lunch with us some Sunday,” Kieran said as they parted. He had been utterly charmed by Corey and had found him to be fascinating company.

  “I can’t think of anything I’d like better. You’re a very lucky man, Kieran, to have such a beautiful family.”

  As they rode home in the taxi Ashling was on cloud nine.

  “I’m really glad you two got on so well,” she said. “Corey has been such a great help to me with my writing.”

  Kieran looked at her sheepishly. “I have a confession to make. I actually thought that you and he were having an affair.”

  “You’re not serious? How could you think that?”

  “Well, the day we broke up for the Christmas holidays I came to Les Deux Magots to surprise you and take you out to lunch and I saw you walking out of there hand in hand with Corey and I put two and two together and – ”

  “You came up with five,” she said reproachfully.

  “Well, you looked awfully happy together and – oh, Ash, I was terrified of losing you.” He looked at her and she saw the pain in his eyes. “Then I discovered that your mother and the girls had met him and that you’d never even mentioned him to me – and well you know –”

  “You didn’t really think that, did you?” She looked at him, her eyes wide.

  “Yes, I did.”

  “Surely you know I’d never be unfaithful to you.” She leant in close to him. “You’re the only man for me.” She took his face in her hands. “You silly clown! How could you ever have thought that? You know I love you more than anything.” She kissed him then, to show him how much she meant it.

  “Oh, Ash. I went through hell. Then with Mam dying and everything I just couldn’t face bringing it up –”

  She took him in her arms then and the taxi driver, who hadn’t understood a word they’d said, smiled as they kissed again.

  “You poor darling! To think you had that on your mind all that time.” She had tears in her eyes as she thought what he must have gone through.

  “Well, it’s taught me one thing.” He smiled at her. You’re the most important thing in my life. More than my work, or golf or even rugby,” he added.

  “Wow! That really means a lot,” she said. “More than rugby! I feel honoured.”

  They laughed together then, knowing everything was okay again, and when they got home they went straight to bed where they made wonderful love.

  Looking at her afterwards as she lay back on the pillow smiling sleepily at him, he knew how lucky he was. He’d learnt his lesson. He’d never take her for granted again. From now on Ashling would be his top priority. Without her nothing would have any meaning.

  As they curled up and prepared to go to sleep, he nuzzled her neck.

  “Just think, I’m in bed with a soon-to-be-famous author,” he murmured.

  She sighed with happiness as she drifted off to sleep.

  46

  Jazz tried to put it out of her mind during the following week but all she could think of was the fact that she might be pregnant. Eventually, when her period still hadn’t come, she bought a pregnancy test. She waited another three days before she had the courage to use it. She hardly slept a wink the night before, wondering what she would do if the test was positive.

  At six the following morning, she went into the bathroom and taking a deep breath took out the kit. She could barely breathe as she waited the required time before reading the result. She looked at the strip. There was no mistaking it. Pregnant, it said.

  In a trance she made a coffee and curled up on the sofa. I’m pregnant, she thought, something that she’d often thought about but never actually dreamed would happen for her. Rubbing her tummy, she tried to imagine the new little life that was starting in there.

  She felt desperately confused. The thought of killing this baby was abhorrent to her but what other choice did she have? If it was anyone other than Yves who was the father she would have bravely faced off all criticism, but what about Sophie and Pierre? Could she do this to them? She was sure that it would rock Sophie’s world if she were to have Yves’s child. There was no way she could hide it from them either. God, what a mess! The only person that didn’t deserve consideration in all this was Yves. He’d taken his pleasure without a thought of the consequences. Now, it was her problem. She hadn’t prayed in ages but now she found herself calling on her favourite saints to guide her and help her to do the right thing. She hoped they were listening.

  Sophie was at the end of her tether. She knew there was something bothering Yves and was beginning to suspect that it was more than just Marilyn but she had no idea what it could be. She found out a few weeks later when two plainclothes gendarmes called to the door one Sunday evening. They were flashing their badges at her. Fraud squad, they said. They were looking for Yves and asked to come in. When Yves saw them, he paled.

  “Monsieur Durbuis? We have a warrant for your arrest on charges of embezzlement and fraud.”

  Sophie thought she was going to faint. “There must be some mistake,” she cried, the colour leaving her face.

  “There’s no mistake, madame,” the older man said.

  She looked to Yves for confirmation that it wasn’t true but he was hanging his head, not able to look at her.

  “Yves, tell me it’s not true,” she begged him.

  “I’m sorry, Sophie,” he said softly. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

  Without so much as a word or a kiss, he left with the two gendarmes. She sank to the floor, unable to comprehend what was happening. Cosette, seeing the two gendarmes, had spirited Pierre off to the playroom. On hearing the door close she came quickly downstairs. Picking Sophie up gently, she led her to a chair and then handed her a brandy which she made her sip.

  “Thank you, Cosette,” Sophie said, her eyes brimming with tears.

  “I’m sure there’s some mistake, madame,” Cosette said quietly.

  “No, I don’t think so, Cosette. Yves didn’t deny it.”

  She finished her brandy and then rang her father who came straight over along with her mother and brother.

  “I’ll find out what’s going on,” her father, who was a lawyer, reassured her. “Leave it to me.”

  She felt shattered and empty and was happy to let them take over.

  Nothing could have prepared Brandon for the bombshell that Sophie dropped when she rang on Monday morning. Yves was in jail, accused of fraud and embezzlement from his bank.

  “My God, that’s terrible news. How are you holding up?”

  “Oh, Brandon, it’s been hell. Yves refuses to see me. He says he’s too ashamed to face me. I don’t know what’s happened. I thought it must have been some dreadful mistake but his lawyer says he’s pleading guilty. I feel like I’m living a nightmare. If only he’d talk to me. His hearing is tomorrow.” Her voice was so anguished that it broke Brandon’s heart.

  “What about Pierre?”

  “I’m trying to keep things as normal as p
ossible for him. My family are with me and they’ve been fantastic. I just rang Ashling and she’s taking Pierre from school today and keeping him till after the hearing tomorrow.”

  She told him the time and place of the hearing and he assured her that he’d be there. Her voice was pitiful as she thanked him.

  “Well, I can’t believe it! What was he thinking of?” Brandon exclaimed as he put down the phone, looking at Jazz in astonishment.

  Jazz wondered what was so terrible. “What is it?”

  He told her and she was as shocked as he had been.

  “How’s Sophie?”

  “Devastated, as you can imagine. The poor girl doesn’t know what way to turn.”

  “The poor thing,” Jazz said with feeling. “She doesn’t deserve this. Did she say what happened?”

  “She has no idea what went on. Yves refuses to see her or talk to her. All she knows is that he’s pleading guilty. The hearing is at ten o’clock tomorrow. I said I’d be there to give them some support.”

  “I’ll come too and I know Ashling and Kieran would want to be there also.”

  “That’s good. They need all the support we can give them. It’s at times like these that you find out who your true friends are,” he said bitterly.

  He went into Max and Kieran’s office to find they were as shocked as he was. Ashling had contacted Kieran with the awful news. They both agreed that they should all show a united front in support of Sophie and Yves the following day.

  “Poor girl,” Kieran said. “I know Ashling wants to come too.”

  Brandon knew that within minutes the news would be all over the building. He called into Yves’s office to find Chantal in floods of tears. The news was already on the grapevine.

  “Isn’t it awful?” she whispered, her face streaked with tears. “Poor Yves . . . and his poor wife and little boy,” she said through her tears.

  He could think of nothing to say to comfort her.