The Heart of Winter

by Emma Hannigan

  It was obvious that Missy had her poor father wrapped around her little finger. He looked at her adoringly as she spoke as if she were the next Messiah. Pippa played hostess and introduced Mr Hassett to her family while wishing them a pleasant evening. As Joey took their bags to the room, he reiterated that they were all there to help and all the Hassetts had to do was ask, should they require anything.

  ‘Mrs Hassett looks like a melted version of Missy, doesn’t she?’ Pippa whispered to Skye as they disappeared after Joey. ‘Her poor skin has been pulled in so many directions by the surgeons, it’s hard to know whether she looks better or worse than another woman her age.’

  ‘Totally,’ Skye agreed. ‘But she only looks odd up close. From a distance they could be the same age. I’m all for making the most of yourself, but I can’t help thinking her look is a little creepy.’

  ‘Especially when Mr Hassett looks like both of their grandfathers.’

  ‘It might help matters if she weren’t so horrible,’ Skye said.

  The guests were astonishingly prompt and extremely thirsty.

  Joey and Matt looked very professional in their tuxedos as they poured champagne. Two of the hired barmen were mixing cocktails at a rate of knots in the corner of the hallway.

  ‘I thought Joey had gone overboard with the supplies,’ Skye admitted. ‘I’d mollified myself by reckoning the drink would be used at some point over the next few months. But now I’m beginning to worry they’re going to drink us dry.’

  Holly, Pippa and Skye were less poker-faced and far less proficient than the men as they drank in the style, of which there was plenty.

  Holly was wearing a dress belonging to Grandma that had been around for as long as Pippa could recall.

  ‘You look great, Mum,’ she said loyally.

  ‘I’m hardly happening compared with Mrs Hassett.’

  ‘Yes, but you’re in genuine vintage gear and your face is your own and you’re not a thundering bitch which can’t be said for Mrs H!’

  Pippa recognised a few of Missy’s group from Fire and Rain. She did the air-kissing thing and nodded a lot as they told her how much they were loving the whole Downton Abbey vibe.

  ‘It’s such a current theme,’ said Liddy. ‘This is the type of countryside I like. No cow dung or dreadful big tin barns to blot the landscape.’

  Pippa was finding it really difficult to be polite, but she did her best. As she turned to leave the group, she spotted Danny across the room, smiling at her. He looked gorgeous in his tux and was surrounded by stick-thin simpering women. It felt weird to be in the same room as him after all the emotion of their last talk, but she smiled and winked at him. As she was about to walk off, he made a bee-line for her.

  ‘Hi,’ he said kissing her. ‘You look amazing.’

  ‘In this?’ she shrugged a shoulder. ‘You don’t look too bad yourself.’

  Before he could answer, Missy shot over.

  ‘There you are. I’ve been looking for you all over,’ she said breathlessly to Danny.

  ‘Well now you’ve found me. Happy birthday,’ he said kissing her cheek.

  ‘Yeah, thanks. Listen I’ve got quite a bit of Charlie, but some of my friends are looking for more. You see the group over there by the front door? Can you go sort them, please?’

  ‘Ah sorry honey, but I’ve retired from crime,’ Danny said evenly.

  ‘Yeah, right,’ Missy laughed. She turned on her heel to walk away, so Danny caught her wrist. ‘I’m serious, Missy. I’m done with it all. So from here on in, you can’t rely on me. Sorry. It’s all too dodgy and I wanted out. I don’t owe any money, I didn’t get caught and I’ve had my fun. So that’s it, I’m finished.’

  ‘Holy shit, you’re serious,’ she said as her eyes darkened. ‘Well if I’d known that, I wouldn’t have bothered inviting you.’

  ‘Missy!’ Pippa said. ‘That’s so rude! I thought you said you like Danny?’

  Missy looked Pippa up and down and smirked. ‘Looks like both of you deserve one another. Pippa, you’re a drag. You think you’re the party queen but let me tell you, you suck. I have more fun with my mother.’

  Pippa opened her mouth to retaliate and decided not to bother, instead leaving Missy to trot over to her group of minions.

  ‘I’m definitely growing up,’ she said to Danny. ‘My usual response to an outpour of bull like that would be a savage attack. But it’s Missy’s party, she’s a paying guest and, above all, she’s a complete nightmare. So if I’m no longer on her partying list, that’s cool by me.’

  ‘Happily, I think she’s burned both of our bridges,’ Danny said with a smile. ‘Here’s to change,’ he said as he sipped his champagne.

  Pippa’s heart fluttered in her chest.

  ‘Now do you trust me, Pippa,’ he said seriously. ‘That I mean what I say about going a new direction with you?’

  ‘I think maybe I do,’ she said as she kissed him.

  The guests were very merry by the time the gong was sounded by Paddy to signify dinner was served.

  ‘Your father is beside himself with that gong,’ Holly said giggling. ‘I’m sure he’s hoping they don’t go in on time so he can do it again.’

  Joey grinned as he ushered the revellers toward the marquee.

  Chef Sally looked as cool as a cucumber as the hungry hoards filled the room. Once the table plan was studied and people had found their seat, the Craigs began to guide set groups up toward the buffet. They devoured the extensive salads selection and meats. There was a surplus of desserts, and the four-tiered birthday cake was barely touched. ‘This is more like a wedding than a birthday,’ Skye said to Pippa. She had popped some painkillers and was determined to do her bit.

  ‘Except little Miss Sunshine hasn’t managed to find a man who can stick her for more than a couple of weeks.’

  ‘She’s a bit of a diva all right.’

  ‘Eh, understatement of the year!’

  After Missy’s speech, which went on for fifteen minutes, leaving most of the guests looking glazed with frozen smiles on their faces, the band struck up.

  Pippa knew from chatting to them earlier that they were being paid a small fortune for their appearance. They were big on the Dublin scene and Missy was beaming as her guests were visibly impressed by their presence.

  It was clearly meant to be a wonderful surprise and Mrs Hassett silenced the room by banging on a microphone with her hand.

  ‘Sorry to interrupt proceedings folks. But I have a little pressie for Missy. Darling, you’re more like my sister than my daughter,’ she said, glancing around the room for applause. There was a soggy ripple followed by silence again. ‘So without further ado, happy birthday darling!’

  As Paddy pulled on a rope and Joey swivelled, two white spotlights one side of the marquee rose to reveal a brand new BMW jeep.

  ‘Another bloody car!’ Pippa said to Skye. ‘Seriously?’

  The applause began and as everyone focused on the windscreen Mrs Hassett screamed into the microphone before collapsing like an ancient rag doll, waving for the spot lights to be moved.

  The booming laughter filled the air as three bare, hairy bottoms came into view inside the car.

  ‘Holy shit!’ Joey said to Matt. ‘Mooners! I love it.’

  Knowing he should move the spotlight instantly, he kept it there for a few more moments to give everyone a giggle.

  ‘Ugh!’ Missy yelled. ‘I’m not driving that thing with bum juice on the windscreen!’

  Joey thought he was going to fall off the ladder. His stomach ached from laughing as he flicked the lights off. The band struck up once more and the atmosphere was electric.

  ‘Amazing,’ said Pippa to Joey and Skye as the dance floor filled. ‘All the technology and money they’ve thrown at the party and the highlight of the night is three bare derrieres!’

  ‘We can safely say the night has bottomed out!’ Joey grinned.

  Pippa was busy clearing glasses when she spotted Danny coming her way.
He really did look gorgeous in that tux.

  ‘Hey, pretty Pippa. I think I’m going to head back to Dublin now. I have a lift that’s leaving shortly. I think it might be best if I see you tomorrow or the next day? You said we ought to take it slow . . .’

  Pippa longed to tell Danny to stay at the farmhouse with her. But she knew she needed to make him work for her acceptance. Even though they’d already slept together and hung out in Dublin. This was different. This was real, with no crazy edge to it.

  ‘I think that’s a good plan,’ she lied. ‘I need to be here for my family. What about you give me a call and we’ll arrange to hook up during the week?’

  ‘Like a date?’ he grinned.

  ‘Exactly like a date,’ she said.

  ‘OK, you got it,’ he said. As he leaned in to kiss her, it took all her restraint to let him go.

  Holly and Paddy lasted until two in the morning. Missy’s parents had gone to bed and all of the older guests had dispersed. The lights went down and when they came up again, DJ Zoom from Fire and Rain was at the decks and the crowd went wild at the sight of him. The atmosphere changed as it was all taken up another notch.

  ‘Jeez, this lot are insane,’ Matt said with one finger in his ear. ‘I know I’m hardly what one would describe as a raver, but this is lunacy!’

  Luckily, Joey had had the foresight to hire young barmen, who were bopping around behind the bar, enjoying every second of the night. Skye went to bed over at the farmhouse, as did an equally shattered Matt, leaving Pippa and Joey to man the proceedings.

  ‘We can’t go to bed until the last person leaves,’ he said. ‘Which I’ve got a feeling won’t be before dawn.’

  ‘Ah ha!’ Pippa said. ‘The buses are arriving at four so the end is in sight!’

  As the last person was encouraged onto the bus by Joey, Missy was spotted in a heap and needed to be supported up the stairs to her room.

  Joey paid the exhausted barmen and thanked them for their work.

  ‘Any time, this place is sick. That was one hell of a party,’ one of them said.

  Knowing Holly and Paddy were probably intending on rising early to clean up, Pippa and Joey decided to make a start. Grabbing a black sack each, they picked up the burst balloons, soiled paper napkins and abandoned beer bottles. Glancing at the jeep that was still parked in the parted fabric of the marquee, they burst out laughing.

  It was almost six by the time they made their way next door to the farmhouse.

  Ely and Matt were having breakfast.

  ‘Morning, bleary-eyed-Daddy and full-of-beans-Ely,’ Pippa said with a grin.

  ‘How did it all pan out?’ Matt asked.

  They sat and had tea and toast with Matt and Pippa played with Ely until she couldn’t stay awake a second longer.

  Matt was going to the hospital to tell Lainey all about it, so they sent their love and went to bed.

  As Pippa lay down her head buzzed after all the loud music. She’d heard so many people complimenting the venue and the house. She was certain they’d get at least one further booking from tonight. She was unbelievably proud of everything they’d achieved. She knew that Huntersbrook had not only survived the re-birthing, but it had been injected with a whole new lease of life.

  As she drifted off into a much-needed sleep, all Pippa could think about was Danny. She had no intention of stringing him along for too long. But she was thoroughly enjoying making him wait until she was ready. Delighted to be off Missy’s radar finally, Pippa felt more in control than she had for quite a while.

  Lainey

  ON MONDAY MORNING, LAINEY LAY IN HER hospital bed feeling a gnawing fear deep inside her. The nurses had tipped her off that Dr Cumisky was on his way with her test results.

  Phoning Matt, she asked him to come and be there with her. When he arrived ten minutes later without Ely, Lainey had a mild panic.

  ‘What have you done with Ely?’

  ‘Ah I gave him a bar of chocolate and left him at home in front of the telly. I handed him the house phone and wrote my mobile number on a sheet of paper and told him to call if he needs me.’

  ‘That’s not even funny,’ she said smiling distractedly.

  ‘Your mother is minding him,’ Matt said.

  ‘But . . .’

  ‘Lainey, she’s been there all the time over the past few days. It’s not easy for her, not being able to come in here, and I think it’s a good way of letting her feel she’s doing something pro-active.’

  ‘I suppose . . .’

  ‘Besides, Ely could have gotten lost whether you were there or not the other day, so there’s no point in zoning in on one little mishap . . .’

  ‘Whaaat?’ Lainey shrieked. ‘What the hell are you talking about?’

  ‘Eh . . . Ah, it’s nothing. Sorry, I’m so tired, I totally forgot you didn’t know,’ Matt said pulling his fingers through his hair in agitation. ‘It was something and nothing . . . Ely ran from the marquee on Friday. We were all meant to be keeping an eye. But he’d been with Holly, so . . .’

  ‘Where did he go?’ Lainey demanded.

  ‘Your folks found him out on the road. But he was totally fine. A lady had pulled over and waited with him. We all ran frantically looking for him, Lainey. But it was nobody’s fault.’

  Lainey felt her head thudding horribly. She felt as if she was going to vomit.

  ‘He could’ve been killed . . .’ She started to gulp and sob in panic. ‘He could’ve been knocked down and killed. He’s the only child we’ll ever have and my mother could’ve allowed him to be fatally injured.’

  ‘Lainey, please!’ Matt said. ‘It’s not as awful as all that. Holly was devastated. She was shaking and so upset. Please don’t hold it against her.’

  ‘Don’t hold it against her? Are you insane?’ she said as tears soaked her cheeks.

  ‘Listen, this isn’t doing either of us any good,’ Matt said firmly. ‘I know it’s shocking and upsetting to hear that Ely was missing. But he’s fine. All’s well that ends well. Dr Cumisky is about to come in here and deliver some news that could wipe the floor with us for the next while. So I suggest you go to the bathroom, splash cold water on your face and calm the hell down.’

  ‘Oh . . . O-K,’ Lainey said. She crawled out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom at the end of the ward. Matt had never spoken to her like that before. She was slightly shocked. She was only standing up for Ely. For their son . . . If he wanted to take her mother’s side in all of this, then that was his prerogative.

  No wonder Holly had been so damn nice on the phone. She was guilty as hell for almost killing Ely. It was obvious that Matt wasn’t going to take her side in all of this. So she’d put on a brave face in front of him. That was fine. She could do that. But Lainey vowed she was never allowing her mother near Ely again once she got out of this damn hospital.

  Skye had asked her to fight, should she get a cancer diagnosis. Well, Lainey was going to do just that. There was no chance in hell she was dying now. Not while other people were capable of letting her son run on a road by himself.

  Lainey had just settled back in her bed when Dr Cumisky came into the ward, accompanied by two nurses.

  ‘Good morning,’ he said evenly. ‘So let’s cut to the chase. I have your test results back.’

  Lainey felt lightheaded. This was it, the moment of truth. The next sentence would change her life, either way. If she had cancer, they’d be going down a whole new road. And if she didn’t . . . Well, she wouldn’t take another day for granted.

  Matt took her hand and moved onto the bed.

  ‘The tumours I removed were all benign,’ he said. ‘Thankfully, you won’t require any further treatment at the moment. You’ve been very lucky. Often these things start off as fairly innocuous and can change and become sinister. So it was as well we did the surgery now.’

  Lainey heard the words. They washed over her like lukewarm water, cleansing so much worry and fear and leaving her feeling instantly giddy with reli
ef.

  ‘Oh dear Lord, I’m so happy,’ she said, bursting into tears. ‘Thank you, Dr Cumisky.’

  ‘I’m sorry you had to lose your uterus and fallopian tubes, but I stand by my decision. This is the best outcome we could have hoped for.’

  Lainey was delighted to learn she could also go home.

  ‘Provided you have some support with your little boy and that you promise to take things very easy, I think your own bed is the best place for you now.’

  ‘I’ll behave, I promise,’ Lainey assured him.

  As soon as the medical team left Matt began to shove all her belongings into a bag, delighted she was getting out. Lainey decided to put her coat on over her pyjamas and travel the short distance home like that.

  Holly was at the farmhouse when they walked in the back door.

  ‘Lainey!’ she said rushing to give her a gentle hug. Lainey didn’t want to cause a scene in front of the others so she simply stood motionlessly until her mother eventually stood back. Ely looked up from his high-chair where he was busy pushing the crusts from his toast around his tray. His smile was the best medicine Lainey could have wished for.

  Instinctively, she tried to pick him up. Realising she couldn’t stoop or bear his weight, she sat on the chair beside him and wrapped her arms around him.

  Jacob appeared, followed closely by Paddy, both having received a text from Matt.

  ‘You’re home, love!’ Paddy said hugging her tightly.

  ‘She certainly is,’ Matt beamed. ‘We’ve to mind her and let her recover. But her test results were all clear. There’s no further treatment required and there’s no cancer.’

  Tears sprang to Holly’s eyes as she took Lainey’s hand.

  ‘I’m so unbelievably relieved, love. You’ve no idea how worried I’ve been. We all have . . . Your little boy needs his mummy and we all need you here. It’s been awful without you.’