The Heart of Winter

by Emma Hannigan

  ‘It has?’

  ‘Ah Lainey, love, don’t be silly,’ Paddy said. ‘We’d all be devastated if anything happened to you. Thank God we don’t have to imagine that nightmare any longer.’

  ‘At least Ely wasn’t killed on the road the other day. So that’s two things we can be thankful for,’ she said, as she walked toward the stairs. ‘Thanks for your help, Mum, but I’ll be minding Ely from here on in.’

  Skye had slipped upstairs and changed the bedclothes. Not only that, she’d bought brand new ones and laid out a matching set of pyjamas to boot. On the nightstand was a pretty bowl filled with fruit and a little heart shaped box of chocolates. There were two new novels and a gorgeous glass bottle of pink lemonade. She was putting the final clean pillowslip in place when Lainey found her.

  ‘Men don’t notice things like clean sheets. But you’ll want to be as comfy as possible after that dreadful ordeal.’

  ‘Thanks, Skye,’ Lainey said. ‘You’ve been so good . . . I can’t believe you went and bought all this stuff. You’re so generous.’

  After a shower, Lainey managed to change her bandage and put on the fresh new pyjamas. As she slid gingerly into bed and lay back against the cool soft pillows, she finally relaxed. Home. It was the best feeling in the world.

  Lainey, Joey & Pippa

  AFTER A NIGHT IN HER OWN BED, LAINEY FELT like a different person. She’d always loved the farmhouse but she’d never been so grateful to be home.

  She and Matt shared breakfast before he went to work. Jacob needed to go to Wicklow to look at fencing.

  ‘The hen coop needs strengthening before the winter kicks in. I remember Cynthia lost a few birds due to a weakness in the side. The fox is a sly fellow and will be hungry with the biting cold. I’ll take little Ely and we’ll go to a café.’

  ‘That’d be super,’ Lainey said, relieved she didn’t need to argue with Holly about minding him. ‘Take your time.’

  ‘I was half thinking of bringing him to the indoor play centre. A few of the men who I meet at the community centre have said it’s great. There’s tea and coffee there and plenty of grandparents go seeing as they’re the minders.’

  ‘Well I know Ely would prefer that to a café,’ Lainey said. ‘If you think you can cope with the noise, go for it!’

  By the time she’d waved them all off, Lainey was tired again. She made her way back up the stairs. She was settled in bed ready to read one of the books Skye had chosen when she heard voices down stairs.

  ‘Only us!’ Joey called up. ‘Coffee or tea? We’ve robbed some of Sadie’s coffee cake.’

  Lainey grinned. ‘Coffee in that case,’ she answered.

  Moments later he and Pippa appeared at the top of the stairs.

  ‘Hey you two,’ she said pleasantly surprised. ‘I thought you’d both be at work.’

  ‘I suggested we come visit,’ Pippa said. ‘It’s only a quickie and we’ll both head back to Dublin.’

  ‘Well, thank you,’ Lainey said. ‘I’m touched.’

  Joey could barely get the words out as he recounted the moment when Missy’s new jeep was revealed.

  ‘You’re still snorting about it,’ Pippa giggled. ‘It was so funny though, Lainey. And poor Mrs H nearly died. She couldn’t look shocked due to her plastic surgery, but her legs went from under her.’

  ‘It’ll go down in history as a bummer of a party,’ Joey added. ‘Speaking of parties, I’ve got this Christmas ball coming up. It’s a massive deal at the firm and I need you gals to give Skye a dig out.’

  ‘Oh really?’ Lainey said looking over. ‘In what way?’

  ‘Well,’ Joey pulled his fingers through his hair. ‘Janet, Clive’s wife is running the show and she’s high-end.’

  ‘High maintenance more like it,’ Pippa scoffed. ‘From what I’ve heard about her, she’s a total rip.’

  ‘Who told you that?’ Joey asked defensively.

  ‘She shops at the store,’ Pippa said. ‘She’s obnoxiously rude to the staff and short of spitting on us, thinks we’re all beneath her.’

  ‘Well they are very wealthy and influential,’ Joey said.

  ‘Joey!’ Lainey scolded. ‘Don’t tell me you’re taken in by that nonsense. Shame on you! You know better than to kow-tow to that kind of bullshit.’

  He scratched his head and splayed his hands.

  ‘This isn’t let’s-all-attack-Joey hour,’ he said. ‘All I wanted was for you two to help Skye. She’s going to be way off the mark with her usual gear. So would you girls talk her into a bit of a make-over session?’

  They both burst out laughing.

  ‘What? It’s not a joke. I need her to look the part.’

  ‘Why don’t you bring a blow-up doll instead?’ Lainey said grinning. ‘You could dress it in a nice slinky black number. Make it one of those thigh-high slits and it could do an Angelina Jolie with its leg stuck out!’

  ‘Now you’re being ridiculous,’ he scoffed. ‘Pippa, will you help Skye?’

  ‘Bog off, Joey,’ she spat. ‘Skye is a grown woman with her own sense of style. She would drop-kick us if we tried to barge in and make her do what you’re suggesting. And she’d be dead right. You’re the one who fell in love with the girl and asked her to marry you. You didn’t fall for her because she looks like a clone of all the other men’s wives.’

  ‘True,’ he said guardedly. ‘But when it comes to these corporate events, there’s a certain level of expectation. I’m a partner now. I need to act accordingly and sad as you two clearly think it is, that also entails having a potential wife who fits the bill.’

  ‘Huh, good luck with that, brother dearest,’ Pippa said. ‘None of the women in your life are silly saps. So you ought to know by now that we don’t do sad-submissive little wifey crap.’

  Joey looked utterly perplexed, but the girls weren’t giving in. Knowing he should drop it, he figured it would all work out in the long run. He’d buy Skye a nice voucher for the beauty salon and tell her to treat herself. Say that it was to cheer her up and make her feel better with this ulcer business making her feel awful. Satisfied he’d made yet another good executive decision, he congratulated himself.

  ‘So what’s the beef with you and Mum?’ Pippa asked Lainey.

  ‘In what way?’ Now it was Lainey’s turn to act defensively.

  ‘She’s really cut up about the incident with Ely. Dad says she hasn’t slept properly since. She’s waking up sweating and crying. And the fact you’re not speaking to her much isn’t helping. She totally blames herself.’

  ‘So she bloody well should,’ Lainey shouted. ‘Pippa, in case you’ve forgotten I’ve just had all my baby-making bits chopped out. My only child could’ve been killed and it was on her watch.’

  ‘Lainey, we all know why you’re so upset. It’s a terrible thing to have happened,’ Joey reasoned. ‘But Mum wasn’t the only one there that day. You can’t lay the blame solely at her feet. That’s unreasonable. It really is.’

  Lainey folded her arms and pouted.

  ‘She’s never been on my side. Everything I do is sub-standard as far as she’s concerned,’ Lainey said.

  ‘That’s not true,’ said Pippa. ‘She adores us all. She’d walk over hot coals for each one of us. And as for Ely . . . We all pale into insignificance when he’s around. He’s the apple of her eye. You’re really killing her by shutting her out, Lainey.’

  ‘I did have a really lovely chat with her on the phone while I was in hospital,’ Lainey admitted. ‘She said she loved me.’

  ‘Of course she loves you, you bloody goon,’ Joey said. ‘She loves all of us and she doesn’t deserve to be given the cold shoulder. Why don’t you try and put your worry and hurt over the attempted murder on your son aside and try again.’

  ‘Jeez, Joey!’ Pippa laughed. ‘It was hardly an attempted murder.’

  ‘OK,’ Lainey conceded. ‘Point taken. But if we’re all having a grilling here, spill about Danny-boy, Pippa! What’s the suss there?’
r />   ‘Yeah, Pippa!’ Joey chimed in.

  ‘Ah it’s a work in progress,’ she said coyly. ‘He’s a great guy and we’re taking it as it comes.’

  ‘Does he make good money?’ Joey asked.

  ‘What the hell has that got to do with anything?’ Pippa asked. ‘Joey, you’re turning into a real corporate bore, do you know that? I’m not sure this being made partner situation is good for you. Back off and stop acting as if you’re Bill Gates all of a sudden. It’s kind of nasty.’

  ‘Whatever,’ he said rolling his eyes.

  ‘So you really like Danny,’ Lainey said lying back against the pillows. ‘I’m glad you’re being level-headed about it though. Good for you, Pippa.’

  Lainey yawned and the other two took the hint.

  ‘We’ll leave you to rest. Take it easy, sis,’ Joey said kissing her.

  ‘See you soon,’ Pippa promised.

  ‘Don’t be strangers,’ she begged. ‘And thanks for coming. You’ve both been great. I’m so lucky to have such an amazing family. Between yourselves and Jules I really know I’m loved. I couldn’t have gotten through without you.’

  If Lainey noticed the uneasy glance between Pippa and Joey, she didn’t comment.

  Joey

  JOEY WAS STANDING IN THE FOYER OF THE IMPERIAL hotel. Above him a crystal chandelier was elegantly decorated with candles and mistletoe. The place looked beautiful – he’d actually taken some photos to give Holly inspiration for Jodi’s wedding décor. If they could do something as good as this, Jodi would be singing their praises.

  He looked at his watch for the umpteenth time and looked anxiously about the foyer and towards the entrance doors. He’d told Skye how important this night was to him and yet here he was, waiting for her and she was late. He called her mobile for what must be the tenth time in half an hour. Clive and Janet wouldn’t stop going on about Skye helping out and it was making him decidedly nervous.

  ‘No sign of your lady friend yet, I take it?’ Janet asked walking across to him. She wasn’t his type, but he had to admit she looked stunning tonight in a floor-sweeping black gown with diamonds studded in her ears and around her neck.

  ‘She’s stuck in traffic. She’ll be along any second,’ Joey lied. He sincerely hoped Skye was on her way and had forgotten her mobile. He was about to call her again when she raced through the revolving hotel door in a flurry.

  ‘Sorry, were you waiting for me?’ she asked.

  ‘You’re really late,’ he whispered through gritted teeth. ‘I’ve had Janet asking repeatedly where you are. She needs someone to put up balloon bunches and I said you could do it.’

  Skye looked crestfallen. She also looked a bit of a mess, Joey noticed. She removed her waxy rain jacket and woolly hat to reveal a static mass of unruly curls.

  ‘I thought you were going to the salon,’ he said impatiently. ‘That voucher is for three-hundred euros.’

  ‘I told you . . . I don’t feel like going at the moment. Besides, when I’ve gone in the past, which isn’t often let’s face it, they always seem to feel I’d be better off with poker-straight hair and make-up that resembles pancake batter. It makes me feel quashed. I’d only be uncomfortable all night.’

  ‘It’s black-tie, Skye,’ he said looking down at her. ‘Why didn’t you borrow something from Lainey or Pippa?’

  She stared down at her dress and smoothed her hand over the skirt in dismay.

  ‘I always wear this. It was really expensive when I bought it. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with . . .’

  ‘It’s brown.’ He threw his hands up in the air and strode off toward the function room.

  Not sure what she was meant to do, Skye followed him. She was wearing some semi-high shoes, which she’d thought would add a touch of glamour. She’d also added diamanté earrings, which she’d felt were pretty when she’d scanned her reflection at home.

  As she entered the massive bedecked room that dripped from roof to ceiling with black and silver themed decorations, her jaw dropped. Skye thought it was horribly tacky.

  ‘Ah,’ Janet said as she walked toward Skye. ‘So you’re here. Joey did tell you this is black tie didn’t he, sweetie?’

  ‘I told her,’ Joey said snidely. Skye felt as if she’d been slapped. Wanting to turn and run out of the room, she stood feeling vulnerable and let down as her cheeks burned.

  ‘You won’t have a massive amount of time to change and get your hair and make-up done. You’ll be cutting it quite fine actually,’ Janet said. ‘But anyhow . . . Let’s press on. Can you take the stepladder from over there and tie the remainder of the balloons around the pillars? Maria and I are wearing Valentino and Westwood respectively, so obviously we’re not chancing climbing ladders.’

  Janet swatted Skye’s arm and did a false laugh. She pointed a long shiny painted claw-like finger in the direction of the stepladder. When Skye didn’t walk toward it immediately she stopped, put her hand on her hip and stared at her.

  ‘Well? Come on. Chop-chop, get to it. Nothing is going to get done by standing and gawping. Maria and I have to finish putting goodie bags on the chairs. We’re all pitching in here, Sly.’

  ‘It’s Skye,’ she said.

  ‘Yes of course, dear,’ Janet said. ‘Listen,’ she moved in close and talked out the corner of her mouth. ‘It’s not my fault if you have such a funny nickname. But you’re not the first. Petra McGuinness’s real name is Petunia, Lord help us all. So I’ve no doubt you were called some God-awful name by a narrow-minded mother and have longed to change it since. I get it.’

  She strode off, leaving Skye standing dumbfounded. Terrified she’d be yelled at, she scanned the room to find Joey. He was over near the stage at the other end of the room with his head bowed as another man was clearly briefing him.

  She made her way to his side and waited for him to talk to her. She coughed gently and he moved his hand to touch her, but didn’t actually address her or even turn to face her.

  ‘Eh can we help you?’ said the man.

  ‘Yeah, Clive, meet Skye, my fiancée,’ Joey said.

  ‘You’re joking?’ Clive guffawed rudely.

  Skye turned and walked as fast as she could without running. She bore down on her tongue in an effort to stop the tears from falling. She didn’t care what Joey said to her, she wasn’t staying in that room.

  ‘Skye!’ he called. She kept walking. She’d almost reached the end of the room when he grabbed her.

  ‘What’s going on?’ he said. ‘I need your support here. Of all the times to choose to go off in a strop, this isn’t a good one. Clive is a bit of a messer. Don’t take his comments to heart. He was only joking. Please just do the balloons and then we can have a few drinks.’

  ‘I’m not getting up on the ladder,’ she said.

  ‘Skye, for fuck’s sake,’ Joey said, throwing his hands up. ‘You turn up late dressed as if you’re going to a druids’ day out and you’re rude to my boss and his wife. Thanks a bunch.’

  She stood and squeezed her eyes shut. She could hear him hyperventilating. She knew he was fuming . . . Absolutely boiling with anger. She knew it was now or never.

  ‘I’m not getting on the ladder, Joey, because I’m pregnant,’ she said. ‘I’m dressed this way because that’s the way I feel comfortable. I’ve never been any different and until recently that was OK by you.’

  He stood wide-eyed as his hand shot to his mouth.

  ‘I’m leaving now. You can make up whatever excuse you like. I don’t belong here and quite clearly I don’t belong in your new world. I love you, Joey, but I’m not prepared to spend the rest of my life being made a mockery of.’ Her hands were hot and swollen, but Skye managed to twist the engagement ring off her finger. Carefully she took his hand and folded it into his palm.

  ‘Please don’t lose it. Holly deserves to have it back safely.’

  Joey didn’t protest or even speak, so she turned and walked out. The hailstones were falling in hard, face-stinging fist
fuls as she negotiated the slippery footpath.

  The past few weeks had been awful. She’d found out about the pregnancy the day Lainey had come out of hospital. But Skye hadn’t wanted to tell anyone. For a start Joey was so caught up in his work, she hadn’t even had an opportunity. But secondly she couldn’t bring herself to make such a heartless announcement in light of Lainey’s surgery.

  The look on Joey’s face just now had said it all. He was completely stumped when she said she was pregnant. Not for one second had he shown any sign of delight or excitement. In her dreams he’d picked her up and spun her around and told her he was ecstatic at the thought of becoming a father.

  But she’d known deep down that it wasn’t about to happen any time soon. Joey had changed. He was moving up the ladder in work and he was certain to be a massive success.

  Skye was sadly aware that he would need a more cosmopolitan girl by his side. Someone who would be in a position to fit in with Janet and her crew . . . Someone who would add to his CV by being pretty, bright, funny and a social butterfly . . . Not a bog standard brown moth like her.

  By the time she reached their apartment, Skye was feeling truly awful. Her tummy ached and her head pounded. When she’d found out she was pregnant she’d been so relieved. At least she wasn’t sick.

  But now that Skye knew she’d be doing this on her own, the full realisation of what was happening hit her.

  She made her way into their bedroom, removed her dress and shoes and curled into bed.

  All her dreams of spending Christmases and summers at Huntersbrook faded before her. She’d miss Holly and Paddy dreadfully. She adored them. They had always made her feel welcome and worthy. But she wasn’t meant to be marrying them. If Joey didn’t love and respect her, nothing they said or did would change that.

  Pippa was a sparky, wonderful girl and she’d miss her too. Lainey had become such a close friend. They were like sisters. The thought of not seeing her and watching little Ely grow up tore at her heart. Perhaps, over time, they’d all find some sort of footing. She was going to be mother to their grandchild and niece or nephew so Skye hoped they’d all want some kind of contact. But it wasn’t going to be the same. She wasn’t going to be Joey’s wife. She’d give him a year at the outside before he replaced her with a more cosmopolitan and streetwise girl.