The Heart of Winter

by Emma Hannigan

  Wordlessly, Danny scooped her into his arms and brought her to a small, dimly lit side room. It looked like a brothel. Not that Pippa had ever been to one. But this place was what she imagined one would look like. It was awash with dark burgundy and leopard-print accents and more velvet than a 1980s furniture showroom.

  ‘A bottle of Evian with ice and a bottle of Moët, please, love,’ Danny said to a hovering hostess. ‘Give us five minutes’ peace, yeah?’

  Pippa looked over, longing to catch the girl’s eye so she could at least apologise for being so drunk. But she’d vanished. Danny fiddled around in his pocket before producing a small silver box.

  ‘Roll that,’ he said handing her a fifty-euro note.

  ‘Pardon?’ Pippa said, licking her lips. Her mouth was bone dry and she needed to sit up straight. Inhaling deeply through her nose, she fought another wave of nausea.

  ‘Shit, I’m shit-faced,’ she said with a moan.

  ‘Hey, you’re in a bad way, kid.’ He grinned, chucking her under the chin. ‘Hang in there. Danny will make it all better.’

  Groaning, she lay back on the squashy sofa and waited for her pint of water. Her eyes kept closing, much as she wanted to stay awake and say cute or flirty things, it wasn’t happening.

  ‘Here baby, lean forward. I’ve it all lined up for you.’

  ‘Huh?’ Pippa peeled her eyes open, willing her head to stop rolling. As she sat up and focused, the unmistakable lines of white powder on the table came into view.

  ‘Oh no, I’m not into that shit,’ she said waving her hand floppily. ‘Never was and never will be. Uh-uh,’ she said wagging a finger. ‘It’s a mug’s game, honey.’

  ‘And you’re holding it all together so well right now?’ said Danny with a smirk. ‘I actually think it’s darn sexy that you clearly don’t do this stuff. But believe me, it’ll make you feel a hell of a lot better than you do this second. It’ll sober you up in minutes.’

  ‘I don’t need sobering up,’ she said. ‘Not with that muck. I’ll go home to bed and wake up tomorrow feeling like I’ve been hit by a lorry. That’s the routine.’

  ‘Doesn’t have to be,’ he said mildly as he leaned forward, shoved the rolled-up note in one nostril, covered the other and snorted. Without speaking he passed her the note and held her hair back. On auto-pilot, Pippa did what he’d just done.

  The sensation as the powder hit her nose made her cough.

  ‘Ugh, it’s like sniffing swimming pool water as a kid.’

  He roared laughing. ‘You’re so funny. That’s the cutest comparison. From now on, I’ll ask you if you’d like to go for a swim! That’ll be our code for coke, OK?’

  She knew she should feel dreadfully guilty and ashamed for what she’d just done, but Pippa didn’t. Instead, she was instantly less ill and for some unknown reason she wanted to do it again. She pointed at the other lines on the table.

  ‘Can I try another one?’

  ‘Sure thing, pretty Pippa.’

  By the time the waitress returned with the drinks the table was clear and they were sitting nonchalantly as Danny draped his arm over her shoulder.

  ‘Thanks so much,’ Danny said to the lady as he handed her cash.

  ‘Pleasure,’ she said with an easy smile. ‘Call if you need anything else.’

  Pippa drank most of the bottle of water and would’ve finished it if Danny hadn’t pulled it away.

  ‘Hey,’ she said. ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘Don’t glug it so quick. You’ll be sick. Give your tummy a chance. Lots of people make that mistake when they’re high. Kids have drowned.’

  ‘No way! By drinking water too quickly?’

  ‘Yeah, it’s a condition called hyponatremia. All the water lowers the normal sodium levels in the blood.’

  ‘Wow,’ she said as the sounds of the club along with the flashing lights came back into her main focus. ‘How do you know this stuff? Are you a doctor or something?’

  ‘Hardly,’ he said wryly.

  ‘Oh yeah, sorry,’ she smiled. ‘Silly question considering what we’ve done.’

  ‘I studied science in university,’ he said.

  ‘Ah ha! So you know exactly what’s going on in my brain right now. God, I feel great.’

  ‘That makes two of us,’ he said with a smile. Instinctively she leaned over and kissed him.

  ‘You,’ she said holding his face with her hands, ‘are amazing. I am amazing. This night is amazing.’

  As if she was being controlled by a puppeteer Pippa stood up and walked, catwalk style, toward the balcony that overlooked the dance floor.

  Raising her hands high above her head she began to dance with less inhibition than she’d ever experienced. Danny appeared with two full glasses of bubbly, which they downed swiftly before joining the frenzied crowd on the dance floor below. As the time slipped away, Pippa danced and moved like she’d never done before. With Danny’s arms around her she felt as if she and the music were one.

  She couldn’t believe it when the club ended.

  ‘I thought this place stayed open all night,’ she said sulkily.

  ‘It does,’ Danny smiled. ‘You danced till dawn, baby.’

  ‘No way!’ she said, wide-eyed as the overhead lights came on and the place began to empty.

  They ran back upstairs and finished the champagne before wandering out into the murky, early morning half-light of Dublin city.

  ‘This is terrible,’ she giggled. ‘People are starting their day and we haven’t gone home yet.’

  Pippa knew she was taking a chance going back to Danny’s apartment. She didn’t know the first thing about him, after all. But she couldn’t stop herself – she was intoxicated by him.

  His place was a five-minute taxi ride from the club.

  ‘Wow, talk about central,’ she said, as they emerged from the taxi and made their way to the lifts.

  The apartment wasn’t any great shakes. The décor was boring and there were no little personal touches to make it seem homely. He flicked on the heating.

  ‘Who lives here with you?’ she asked peeking around.

  ‘Nobody,’ he said, grabbing a bottle of beer from the fridge. ‘The way I like it. I had a girlfriend but she treated me like dirt, so I walked away. Moved in here a couple of months ago. It’s not the most amazing place, but it’ll do.’

  Danny turned on some music.

  ‘Oh I love this song,’ Pippa said closing her eyes and dancing. ‘I’m having the best night of my life.’

  ‘So I see,’ he grinned.

  Danny pulled off his shoes and sat on the sofa watching her.

  ‘What do you do when you’re not driving me crazy, pretty Pippa?’

  ‘I work as a designer,’ she said. ‘But let’s not talk about work. It’s so not what I want to think of right now. Dance with me, Danny.’

  He grinned and put his bottle of beer down and stood to take her in his arms. It was Pippa who led him to the compact bedroom just off the living room.

  She heard her mobile phone ringing in her handbag, but nothing was going to pull Pippa away from Danny. Before long they were in his bed, peeling off their clothes and pushing their bodies deliciously together.

  After what felt like hours, she dragged herself into the shower. The bathroom was surprisingly clean and the towels were freshly washed. There was decent shampoo, conditioner and shower gel on offer too. As the hot water hit her back, Pippa’s body felt suddenly tired. But she knew there was no possible way she could sleep.

  By the time she emerged from the bathroom, Danny was in the kitchen making a pot of coffee.

  ‘I’m wildly impressed by you,’ Pippa said. ‘You’re very domesticated. I was half expecting a filthy slimy shower complete with a plug clogged with hair and no shampoo!’

  ‘Ah no, not around here,’ he said with a grin. ‘Coffee?’

  She nodded emphatically, feeling a bit scuzzy having to reappear in the clothes she’d had to pluck off the floor. They cha
tted happily as they drank their coffee. Pippa kept waiting for it all to feel slightly weird, but it didn’t. Danny was articulate and funny and kept complimenting her.

  ‘How long have you been working in IT?’ she asked.

  ‘Since I left college,’ he said. ‘I did a degree in computer science and marketing. I work for a multinational firm where there are massive benefits for loyalty. I’ll be twenty-eight next month, which sounds so old.’

  ‘I’m twenty-five and in ways I still feel eighteen, but in others I can’t help thinking I’m getting old too.’

  She told him all about Huntersbrook, growing up there and how she had fallen into her job at the department store.

  ‘So your boss saw your designs online on your website and just called you out of the blue?’

  ‘Yup,’ she said.

  ‘So you’re clearly a gifted artist.’ He nodded. ‘That’s cool. Being able to express yourself is really important. So many people are one-dimensional now. At least lots of the people in the computer firm where I work are. They’re total techy wizards, but they don’t do a darn thing outside of their field.’

  Danny had grown up in a suburb not far from the city centre. As the eldest of four children, he’d been dying to move out of home and spread his wings.

  ‘I’m one of those guys who had a summer job making burgers and came home to wash cars in the evenings. I always wanted to make money and be in a position to be my own person.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Pippa fibbed. ‘Me too. I’m totally independent.’

  ‘That’s cool.’

  Pippa finished her coffee and was immeasurably glad that none of her family were here. Lainey and Joey would bust a gut laughing if they’d heard what she just said. Of all the Craig family, Pippa was the one constantly in debt and getting into hot water. But Danny didn’t need to know any of that. Pippa liked his vibe. He was totally different from any of the guys she’d met before. He had this burning ambition she found wildly attractive. As she sat chatting to him, she realised she was really into the idea of being her own person too. She had a job now, so she could build on it. Zach was looking to buy her website, so she’d make a killing on that and possibly ask Joey about investing the cash.

  ‘I’m in the middle of selling one of my companies,’ Pippa said nonchalantly. ‘It’s a fairly slow process, but I’m trying to build my resources as I go along.’

  Pippa was thoroughly enjoying this newly invented corporate version of herself. More importantly, she loved how Danny was reacting to this image of her. He couldn’t get enough of her. He was hanging on her every word and it wasn’t because she was doing her usual sexy/cutesy and girly act either.

  Pippa was the queen of getting what she wanted. Always had been. But she was growing tired of doing the same thing with the same crowd. It was time to take things up a notch. She wasn’t looking for a house in the country with a dependable corduroy-wearing geek. She wanted a man about town. Someone who looked good, partied hard and knew how to make money. They’d only just met, but already Danny was ticking a lot of boxes. They moved into the bedroom where they got very little sleep. Pippa wasn’t in the habit of sleeping with guys she’d just met, but somehow it seemed right with Danny. She felt like she’d only closed her eyes for a second when Danny climbed out of bed and disappeared to the shower. He returned smelling deliciously spicy with a towel wrapped around his waist.

  ‘So I’m doing a bit of work this evening. How about we get a bite to eat and you can come with me?’ Danny asked.

  ‘I’ll need to change, I feel yuck.’

  ‘No time, my precious,’ he said as his phone began to bleep with one text message after another. ‘I’ve to hook up with a guy near Grafton Street. I’ll do that while you grab yourself a new outfit.’

  ‘Huh, I wish,’ Pippa said. ‘Soz darling, but I’m skint.’

  ‘That’s not a problem, I’ll sort you out.’

  ‘Pardon?’ Pippa’s heart lunged. ‘Oh no, I couldn’t. I barely know you . . . We’ve only met . . . I mean . . .’

  ‘So you’ll have sex with me and sit and bare your soul to me, but you won’t allow me to buy you a dress? Hey, roll with the punches, pretty Pippa. Live life on the edge.’

  Not wanting to seem like a nerd, she found herself agreeing.

  ‘Can I have a quick shower?’

  ‘Be my guest. Hurry though. I’ve people to see and things to do!’

  She felt infinitely better as she rubbed her hair with a towel. Luckily she had her makeup bag and a fold up toothbrush with her so she did as good a job as she could in the circumstances. Her clothes smelled stale as she pulled them back on.

  ‘Nearly ready in there?’ Danny asked tapping on the door. ‘Sorry to rush you, Pippa, but I’ve gotta shoot.’

  They swapped phone numbers and Danny rummaged in his wallet.

  ‘Here’s a credit card, show me your hand and I’ll write the pin number for you. Wash it off when you’re done, OK?’

  The short taxi ride was surreal. In one way, Pippa was on cloud nine. This was exactly what she’d always wanted. This guy was the bomb and he wanted to spend his cash on her.

  Her voice of reason, however, was telling her this was only two steps away from prostitution.

  As she was kissing him goodbye, her phone rang. It was Lainey. There were a pile of missed calls from Huntersbrook and from her mum, too. Knowing it would be easier to answer and say she was working, something stopped her.

  She didn’t trust herself not to blurt out something about Danny and her wild night. Deciding it was better not to chance it, Pippa planned to call her mother and text Lainey on Monday, saying she had an overnight work thing and had left her phone at the apartment. She knew she should be there helping. She’d already skipped last weekend, but she’d make it up to them again, she reasoned. There was so much to be done down there, it wasn’t as if it’d all be done and dusted today. Besides the others loved all the activity. It gave them something to occupy their time. Unlike her, they were in need of a bit of diversion.

  She didn’t want to go near the department store where she worked, so she hit the high street. All thoughts of family and Huntersbrook well and truly faded as she skipped about picking out something figure-hugging and sexy to wow Danny.

  Wondering how much she could spend, she got totally lost in the game and ended up racking up a bill of several hundred euros. Suddenly unsure, she floundered and told the assistant she needed to run something by her boyfriend. Danny called before she had a chance to dial his number.

  ‘Hey, I’m at the cash desk in Top Fashion boutique, but I’ve kind of binged. What’s my budget?’

  ‘There is no budget. Knock yourself out.’

  ‘Seriously?’ she giggled.

  ‘I’m around the corner. I’ll meet you there in five.’ Danny hung up and she smiled at the sales assistant. As soon as she typed in the correct pin code, she licked her hand and rubbed vigorously with her thumb until the numbers faded.

  Thanking the sales assistant she rushed to the door, where Danny was waiting.

  ‘I need to go somewhere and change,’ she said kissing him.

  ‘We’ll go to the Brasserie Hotel. Five star places tend to have plush bathrooms. You can change there while I order us some food.’

  Pippa was relieved to find the ladies’ room empty. She slipped into a roomy cubicle and changed quickly. The array of deodorants, hair sprays and creams on offer meant she could freshen up as well. She pulled out her make-up bag and touched up her face. Shoving her other clothes into the shop bag, she examined her new look. Satisfied she’d do, she found Danny.

  ‘Jeez, you look amazing,’ he said standing up from the table to kiss her. ‘Please tell me you’re not married or anything,’ he said, looking suddenly paranoid.

  ‘What kind of girl do you think I am?’ she pouted. ‘I’ve a good mind to walk right out of here.’

  ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I just can’t believe my luck. You’re amazing. How are you single?’


  Pippa softened. Danny really knew how to make a girl feel special. Their food arrived and although she hadn’t eaten much in the past twenty-four hours, Pippa wasn’t that hungry.

  ‘Try to eat,’ Danny encouraged. ‘We’re headed for another fun night. You’ll be doubled over with stomach cramps if you don’t get something into you.’

  The bottle of white wine they shared helped with her appetite. It also perked her up considerably. The previously seedy feeling that had been creeping through her body lifted.

  By the time they made their way to the trendy bar in the hotel, the hair-of-the-dog method had kicked in and Pippa was raring to go. Danny, chivalrous to the last, showed her to a high stool and ordered a bottle of bubbly.

  ‘I should pay,’ she said rooting for her credit card. ‘I’m not comfortable with you doing all this.’

  Danny was looking over her shoulder distractedly.

  ‘Danny?’

  ‘Huh?’ he focused on her again.

  ‘I said I’ll pay for this. Put your money away.’

  ‘Eh, no . . . Not at all . . . It’s cool.’ He nodded and waved over her head. Swivelling around she tried to see who he was engaging with.

  ‘Put that on my tab,’ Danny shouted to the barman. ‘Hang tight here for a few minutes. Don’t come looking for me, OK?’

  ‘But Danny . . .’

  He was gone. Pippa did as he’d asked and didn’t follow him. She chatted to the barman as he poured two glasses of champagne from the bottle. The bar was filling up fast, most people were in groups hugging and air-kissing and chatting excitedly about the night ahead.

  Pippa had drained her glass by the time Danny reappeared.

  ‘Sorry, Pippa. I got caught chatting. You know the way it is?’ Danny said sitting opposite her. Leaning forward, he kissed her. As soon as he picked up his glass to take a mouthful, his eye wandered to the far corner of the room. Turning around Pippa tried to follow his gaze.

  ‘Apologies, babe. This won’t take long.’

  Before she could protest, Danny was gone again. This time when he returned, she pressed him for answers.

  ‘Ah I just know a lot of people about town. It’s business, that’s all. I have to do the meet-and-greet thing. You know yourself?’