If the Shoes Fit

by Pauline Lawless

  “Hello, Contessa. I’m Grace, the managing director of If the Shoes Fit. Thank you for coming.” She extended her hand and Tessa shook it.

  “Please call me Tessa, everyone does. I had to put my full name on my CV but nobody uses it at all.”

  “Let me introduce you to Carlo, one of our directors,” Grace said.

  Tessa turned to shake hands with the most drop-dead gorgeous man she’d ever seen. He was at least six inches taller than her, which in itself was highly unusual, as she was five-feet-eleven, but it was his dark Latin looks that really rocked her. This man was d-i-v-i-n-e! She loved his large serious brown eyes and long curly dark hair. Italian, no doubt about it. No other men in the world could wear clothes with such elegant chic. He took her hand in a firm handshake – another plus – and then spoke in a deliciously deep, sexy Italian voice. She had to restrain herself from sighing.

  “Incantata, Contessa,” he smiled a devastating smile. “What a beautiful Italian name.”

  “Yes, my mother was Italian,” she explained, smiling back at him. “She always called me that – she died when I was a child – but here in Ireland people take the mickey, so I prefer Tessa.”

  For a moment he frowned, puzzled, but then realised what she meant and threw his head back laughing. She loved the way he laughed and how his dark eyes sparkled as he did so. He was soooo sexy.

  “Very well, when we are in Italy I shall call you Contessa,” he replied, still laughing.

  Oh boy! Tessa thought. You can call me anything you like.

  Because of her stunning looks, Grace and Carlo had half-expected her to be arrogant and full of herself. The fact that she was so sweet, so nice and down-to-earth came as a surprise. They found her story interesting and it didn’t take them long to realise that she would be perfect for the position.

  “You would be working in Dublin initially. Would that be a problem?” Grace asked.

  “Not at all. Ballyfern is only a forty-minute drive from the city centre.”

  “We could, in fact, assign Dublin West to you so it would be even less,” Grace said, studying a map in front of her.

  Tessa supposed that them saying this was a very positive sign and she was impressed with the company and with what they were offering. It sounded just the thing for her. She felt the interview had gone very well and she left with a spring in her step, throwing a dazzling smile at Carlo. I would have no problem working with him, she thought. No problem whatsoever! Now she really wanted the job. Coming out of the interview, she smiled at Rosie and Gail who were in the waiting room.

  “Wow!” Carlo exclaimed when Tessa had left the room.

  “She is stunning,” Grace said, sighing. “She makes me feel plain and dowdy but she is a lovely girl.”

  “She’d make Heidi Klum feel plain,” Carlo said kindly, “and she seems totally unaware of how beautiful she is.”

  “Yeah, I thought that too. If anything she seems a bit shy. Strange!”

  “I think that she’s a very suitable candidate, don’t you?” Carlo asked.

  “Absolutely! She’s a definite,” Grace replied, marking a large tick on Tessa’s file and placing it on top of Amber’s and Niamh’s. “Three definite and three possibles – we’re doing well, so far.”

  Tessa had adjourned to the bar after her interview, as she had twenty-five minutes to spare before she left to join Kate for lunch. She ordered a cappuccino and was about to sit down when Gail walked in.

  “Are you not waiting for your interview?” Tessa asked her.

  “Oh, I’m not going for it. It’s my mum who’s in there now. I hope she does okay.”

  Tessa introduced herself. “Would you like to join me while you’re waiting?”

  “Thanks. That would be great. I’m Gail and my mum is Rosie.”

  Gail ordered a coffee while Tessa chose a table and sat down.

  “I really want Mum to get this job,” Gail confided in Tessa when she joined her and then somehow found herself telling her all about Jack’s death and how it had affected Rosie.

  “How sad! I do hope she gets it,” Tessa said. “They’re looking for seven people, so fingers crossed.”

  Fifteen minutes later Rosie joined them, smiling.

  “Well, that wasn’t too bad. Much better than I expected!”

  “Mum, this is Tessa,” said Gail. “Tessa, my mum Rosie.”

  The two women smiled and said hello.

  “The job sounds good, doesn’t it?” Tessa remarked to Rosie.

  “Yes. I wasn’t too interested in the beginning, thinking I was much too old, but now I’d quite like to get it.”

  “Me too,” laughed Tessa. “I thought they’d be looking for much younger people!”

  Rosie couldn’t understand how Tessa could have felt too old. She was young and beautiful to Rosie’s eyes.

  “Isn’t Carlo the most divine man you’ve ever seen?” Tessa sighed.

  “Gorgeous,” Rosie agreed. “Very sexy.”

  “Mum!” Gail cried, in a shocked voice.

  “I’m not dead, Gail,” Rosie replied, pretending to look affronted, and they all laughed at this.

  “They asked if I would be available to start training next Tuesday,” Tessa said when they’d stopped laughing, “so I hope that’s a good sign.”

  “They asked me that too and I thought the same,” said Rosie. “Maybe we’ll both get it – or maybe they just ask everybody.”

  “I don’t think so. Fingers crossed then and hope to see you next Tuesday.” Tessa bade them goodbye as it was time to meet Kate for lunch.

  “How did it go?” Kate asked, as she joined her in the Unicorn.

  “Good, I think – I hope! It sounds good. I really hope I get it and there was this divine man interviewing me. He’s Italian,” Tessa enthused.

  “Uh-oh! Watch out there! He could spell trouble,” Kate warned.

  In fact, Tessa had been more than a little disturbed by Carlo. It wasn’t just that he was so good looking but that he exuded a sex appeal that was irresistible.

  During her modelling days, she had developed a marking system for men that rarely failed her. She awarded marks for kind eyes, a nice smile, a firm handshake – amongst other things – and it looked like Carlo had ticked all her boxes. Most importantly, a man had to be taller than her, so that she could look up at him, even in four-inch heels. Not too many men were and Carlo had certainly earned points there! She didn’t care how fantastic Tom Cruise was, she could never fathom how Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes – both tall women – could have fallen for him. She wouldn’t have given him the time of day! But Carlo – he was pretty much perfect!

  Grace and Carlo had found their fourth definite. Rosie had impressed them very much and they agreed that she would be perfect for the Dublin South area that they had decided to allot to her. Matching the right person to the right area was crucial, as Grace had found out when doing her market research.

  “We’re doing well here,” Grace remarked. “I think we have the basis of a great team.”

  “We sure do, and a good-looking team at that. I can’t wait to work with them,” Carlo grinned wickedly.

  “I bet you can’t!” And Grace smacked his hand playfully.

  “What a lovely girl Tessa is,” Rosie remarked to Gail as they drove home.

  “Yes,” said Gail, “she told me she’d been a model in London and even had her own modelling agency there before she came to live in Ireland.”

  “She’s so glamorous. She certainly looks like a model – or even a film star. She reminds me of that Hollywood actress . . . you know . . . the one with the young husband. She was married to that guy from the Die Hard movies . . .” Rosie waved her coral-tipped hands about, trying to remember the name.

  “Demi Moore? Yeah, she has that same dark, exotic look. I saw the resemblance also, but Tessa is a lot taller and probably a lot nicer too.”

  “I’m sure she is.”

  “It will be great if you both get it. When will they le
t you know?”

  “They said they’ll ring on Friday,” Rosie said anxiously.

  Gail was delighted that Rosie wanted the job and hoped desperately that she would get it. All they could do now was wait and pray.

  Chapter 6

  That Friday, Rosie, Tessa and Niamh received the longed-for phone call from Rome.

  Rosie danced around the kitchen and invited Gail and Sheila out that evening to celebrate with her.

  “Looks like you won’t need my counselling any more,” Sheila said, over a delicious meal.

  “If it wasn’t for you, I’d never have had the will to go for it,” Rosie told her. “And if it wasn’t for my wonderful daughter here . . .” Full of emotion, she couldn’t continue. And if it wasn’t for Jack taking care of me – she thought secretly – well, I don’t know where I’d be.

  Niamh rushed around to her mother’s as soon as she got the news. Eileen was overjoyed. She brought out the sherry and insisted that Niamh have a glass. “Has Val been in?” Niamh asked as they sat at the kitchen table, sipping the sweet sherry. “I thought we might all go out for a few drinks tonight, to celebrate.”

  “No. Strangely, I haven’t seen her since you were going for your interview on Wednesday.” Eileen sounded perplexed. “She didn’t even ring to see how you’d got on. I’ll call her this afternoon and give her your news and ask her to come out tonight.”

  “Now I have to think how I can break the news to Gavin,” Niamh told her mother, a worried look on her face.

  “Hrrmph!” Eileen snorted. “He should be delighted that someone in the family is willing to work. He certainly isn’t.”

  “Oh, Mam, give over!” Niamh said in exasperation. “He does try to find work but it’s not easy.”

  Eileen could never understand why Niamh always defended the lazy son-of-a-bitch. It seemed that she still loved her waster of a husband. Eileen would have thrown him out years ago.

  They finished their sherry and as Niamh walked home, she wondered why it was that she always felt the need to defend Gavin. She knew that he was immature and irresponsible but she blamed that on his mother. Bridget still treated him like a teenager and did everything for him. Niamh knew they had to get out of there if they wanted their marriage to survive. He would never grow up while under Bridget’s roof.

  Niamh was the youngest of a large happy family – an afterthought, her mother always said – but her father had called her the twinkle in his eye. Her older brothers and sisters had all left school early but she had loved studying and had been the brightest student in her class. Her parents had had great hopes for her. She’d had great hopes for herself.

  Unfortunately, none of them foresaw that she would fall in love with Gavin Byrne and get pregnant, all in her final year at school. From the moment she set eyes on him, at the Soccer Club disco, she’d been hooked. At twenty-two, he’d been six years older than her. He was tall and muscular with blond film-star looks, not unlike a young David Beckham. He was the star of the soccer team and girls for miles around flocked to the matches every Sunday, hoping to catch his eye. Even her older sister Val had been crazy about him. He had a charisma that drew people to him, male and female, young and old. Niamh was no exception and she still couldn’t understand what he’d ever seen in her. She’d been a late starter when it came to boys, preferring to curl up with a book than go out clubbing with her friends, so she’d been quite unprepared for the feelings that had overwhelmed her when she’d fallen in love with him. Crazily, wildly, madly in love with him!

  It was a piece of cake for him to seduce her and when she discovered she was pregnant, she was distraught. She almost died of happiness at his reaction to the news.

  “Well, now you’ll have to marry me,” he’d said, with his lopsided smile.

  “You don’t have to,” she’d replied, although spending the rest of her life with him was what she’d wanted more than anything.

  “I want to. I love you and we’re going to get married someday, so why wait? Why not now?” he’d asked.

  This was like music to her ears. The way he’d said it had made sense.

  Her parents had been very disappointed with her and she’d felt very bad about that. They’d secretly harboured hopes that she’d go to university but those dreams had now flown out the window. At least Gavin was standing by her, which was something. Her father was totally against the marriage, believing Niamh deserved better, but in the end he gave in. Gavin’s mother was furious with him and treated Niamh like a pariah, come to prey on her darling son.

  They were married quietly, the week after she finished her Leaving Cert., with just the two families present. She was two months short of her seventeenth birthday and six months pregnant. Not quite the wedding she’d always dreamed of, but she was madly in love with her gorgeous husband and blissfully happy. Her baby boy, Ian, was born three months later and she adored him from the moment she set eyes on him. He was so tiny that Niamh was almost afraid to hold him. Gavin wouldn’t hold him at all, in case he hurt him or Lord forbid, drop him, but he was very much the proud father.

  “He’s going to play for Man. United one day,” he’d say later when Ian had become more sturdy. He spent hours throwing a ball to him and playing with him but he would get irritated when Ian cried. As for things like nappy-changing – forget it – he would have none of it!

  Living with Bridget – a widow, who worshipped her son and spoilt him rotten – was not the ideal start to their marriage. She was jealous of Niamh, convinced that she had trapped her beloved son into marriage. Bridget had scowled throughout their wedding day, as could be seen in all the wedding photographs. Niamh tried to keep out of her way as much as possible but it was difficult in the small cottage. They had put their name down for a council house but Niamh knew that the waiting list was so long, it would be years before they would get one.

  Gavin was perfectly happy living as he’d always done – his mother taking care of him, washing and cooking for her darling son. Niamh sometimes felt that Gavin still thought of himself as a single man. All he wanted was an easy life. Marriage and fatherhood had changed nothing for him, whereas her whole world had been turned upside down.

  She knew he loved her and she still loved him madly. He had a voracious sexual appetite and in the beginning they’d made love every night and every morning and sometimes he’d want her during the day as well. Niamh wasn’t complaining. She adored sex with her handsome husband. However, she was always conscious of the paper-thin walls and the fact that Bridget could hear them, put her off somewhat.

  To her horror, when Ian was only six months old, she discovered that she was pregnant again. This time Gavin suggested that she have an abortion but she wouldn’t hear of it. Not only was she pregnant but she was expecting twins. Lily and Rose arrived two months early, kicking and punching their little fists in the air and perfectly healthy, although they were very, very tiny. They were hungry babies and Niamh, who was breastfeeding them, was exhausted all the time. Her sexual marathons with Gavin became a thing of the past – sleep became more important – and eventually they were down to once-a-week sessions. Gavin showed little interest in the babies and she knew he felt trapped.

  Although it was tough going, she was happy with her little family and longed for the day when they would have their own place. She was still very much in love with her charming husband, despite his faults.

  Gavin was working as a carpenter, but he didn’t earn very much and they were always short of cash. Bridget didn’t do them any favours and expected them to pay rent and help with the household bills. Niamh paid for all the groceries, Bridget’s included. On top of that, she couldn’t believe how much the babies cost. Gavin still didn’t get it. He still spent as many evenings in the pub, with his mates, as ever and no match went unattended by him. No matter how much she scrimped and saved, there was never any money left over to put aside towards a deposit on their own house.

  Then the unthinkable happened. Gavin lost his job. That
was when their troubles began in earnest. He didn’t seem interested in looking for another job. They started arguing a lot and, when she tried to tackle him about it, he would walk out, slamming the door after him. His mother was no help and always sided with her son. Niamh found it a struggle but she couldn’t trust anyone to look after the babies as well as she did herself, so taking a job and leaving them was out of the question for the moment.

  The twins had thrived over the years and now that they’d started school Niamh decided she absolutely had to get a job. She had accepted the fact that if it was left to Gavin they would be living with Bridget forever. She knew it would be up to her to make a life for her family. She didn’t know where to start as she’d had no training or experience. When she spotted the If the Shoes Fit ad in the magazine, she’d felt it might be fate. Now it looked as if it was.

  Tessa was delighted when Grace rang with the good news. Luckily, George was out playing golf, otherwise she would have had to tell him about the job and she hadn’t quite decided how to break the news to him. She drove over to Kate’s.

  “I got it, I got it, I got it!” she cried, whirling Kate around the kitchen.

  Kevin, Kate’s husband, came in to see what all the shrieking was about.

  “Tessa got the shoe job I told you about,” Kate said, thrilled with the news.

  “Congratulations!” he said, swinging her off her feet, which was quite a feat, given her height.

  “This calls for some champagne!” Kate cried.

  Kevin duly brought out the bottle and some glasses. Caoimhe, their baby daughter, was laughing and clapping her hands, having no idea what the grown-ups were so happy about but determined not to be left out. Tessa took her out of her high chair and twirled her around the room. She squealed with excitement, chuckling happily and wriggling her chubby arms and legs in the air.