If the Shoes Fit

by Pauline Lawless

  “We’ll tell you sometime,” Lauren smiled at her.

  “If you have about a month to spare,” Jenny added, and they all laughed.

  “To us girls!” Tara raised her glass.

  “Because we’re worth it!” they all chorused, howling with laughter now.

  Seeing Tessa’s bewildered look, Lauren added, “We’ll explain all to you next time we meet. It looks like you’ll be a new member to our little group.”

  The others nodded their agreement. She hadn’t had such a good girls’ night out since she’d left London. The three women offered to have a party for her and she said she’d ring them over the weekend to discuss it.

  She didn’t know how to thank Kate. Well, she did actually. She was going to give her a pair of the grey patent shoes that she liked so much.

  Niamh had set off on Tuesday, wearing the red strappy shoes which she hoped would wow the prospective representatives. She was nervous as hell about inter-viewing the women but it went wonderfully well and they all signed up. The fact that they adored the shoes, helped to convince them. The following day she signed up two more women, this time wearing the purple suede shoes. It amazed her that these ordinary women were so crazy about shoes. Who’d have thought it in the Ireland of the noughties!

  She found that she had a good instinct for people. The girl she had thought would be a waster, when speaking to her on the phone, turned out to be exactly that. Niamh didn’t waste too much time on her.

  Her hard work putting out posters and leaflets had paid off and by Friday she had signed up ten representatives who, as she told Gavin, were all out there working and making money for her. She’d had phone calls from another twelve and she was planning to sign them up the following week. It was exhilarating.

  Rosie rang her on Friday evening to find out how she’d got on and when she heard, congratulated her on her success. Although Rosie hadn’t done as well as Niamh, she was very happy with the ten pairs she’d sold at Gail’s party. She was pleased with the response she’d got and had some meetings planned for the following week.

  Val rang Phoebe on Saturday to see how things were going for her.

  “Fantastic, absolutely fantastic, darling! I’ve employed six women to put around posters and leaflets for me. It’s looking good.”

  Val was taken aback. She couldn’t afford to pay women to do this for her.

  “Have you signed up many reps?” she asked Phoebe.

  “Just one, but it’s still early days. This will take time. I feel very confident.”

  Val wished she could share Phoebe’s confidence. The fact was that she hadn’t done a tap all week except mope around the house, wondering where Keith was. He had finally showed up on Thursday, behaving as though everything was normal and as if he hadn’t been missing for four days. She played along with it. She had no choice.

  She’d finally managed to get her mother to talk to her again. Val was green with envy when Eileen told her that Niamh had already signed up ten women and had twelve more to interview the following week. Val just had to find out how she’d done it. She went around to her mother’s that afternoon.

  “Well, Miss. I hope you’re sorry for what you did. If it wasn’t for Niamh asking me to make up with you, I never would.”

  “Ah, Mam, you don’t mean that!” Val’s voice was wheedling.

  Eileen knew in her heart that she didn’t, but she was damned if she’d let Val know it.

  “How is Niamh recruiting so many reps?” Val asked, her eyes all innocence.

  “You’ll have to ask her that,” Eileen replied, making the tea. “I do know that she’s been in touch with Amber and Tessa and they’ve had a great week too.”

  Val felt that old jealousy rise up inside her. Typical Niamh – the two posh ones ringing her. She’d have to find out more. That meant swallowing her pride and ringing Niamh. Well, one does what one has to do.

  Niamh was surprised to hear Val, all sweetness and light, on the other end of the phone. She was glad that they were talking again. She hated any kind of conflict. She’d had enough of that to last her a lifetime with Bridget.

  “How’s it going for you?” Val asked, all innocence, as if she hadn’t heard.

  Niamh couldn’t keep the excitement out of her voice as she told Val all that had happened.

  “What about the others?” Val asked sweetly.

  Niamh naïvely told her how well Amber, Tessa and Rosie had done.

  “Oh, Niamh! You’ve all done so much better than me. I feel such a failure,” she said, her voice trembling. Her performance was worthy of an Oscar. “Could you help me and show me how you went about it?” she asked plaintively.

  Niamh, ever the softie, couldn’t refuse. “Of course,” she replied. “Can you come around tomorrow? About three.”

  “Gee, thanks.” Val couldn’t believe her luck. Her stupid sister would not only tell her how she’d managed it but she’d get to spend time with Gavin too. Yipee!

  Tessa and George were having an aperitif at Kate’s. He was fawning over Jonathan, as he always did, and ignoring Kevin, Kate’s lovely husband.

  “We’ve decided to eat in the kitchen as it’s such a miserably cold night,” Kate informed them. “The kitchen is nice and cosy and, as it’s just the six of us, we thought it would be more informal.”

  Tessa saw the way George pursed his lips together with disapproval.

  “Lovely, I prefer that,” Jonathan said in his lovely, deep, rumbling voice.

  George, the hypocrite, concurred.

  Tessa really liked Lauren, Jonathan’s wife, who was also Kate’s best friend. She’d been a top model in Dublin, so they had a lot in common. Tessa was pleased to be sitting across from her, between Kevin and Jonathan. Kate served up a superb meal and everyone was at ease and relaxed. Everyone, that is, except George. For starters, he’d come dressed in a suit and tie although she’d told him it was casual. Kevin and Jonathan were both dressed in sweaters and polo shirts. Well, she’d warned him – it was his own fault. He looked most uncomfortable but she daren’t suggest that he take off his jacket and tie. Lord forbid!

  It was a great evening although Tessa didn’t say very much. Every time she started to voice an opinion, George either put her down or cut her short. Kate and Lauren couldn’t bear to watch it. Even Jonathan thought it was too much.

  “I believe you relieved my wife of a pretty penny last night, Tessa,” he turned to her smiling, hoping to ease the tension. “She tells me that she just couldn’t resist your shoes. Seems to me you’ve got a very successful business on your hands. Congratulations!”

  “Yes. It was great –”

  George stopped her in her tracks. “Oh, it’s just a little nonsense. You know women,” he said to Jonathan. “They need their playthings and we must indulge them. Ha-ha-ha!”

  Nobody else laughed, least of all the women. Kate and Lauren were both seething. Tessa was afraid she would disgrace herself by bursting into tears.

  Shortly afterwards, George said they had to be going and they said their goodbyes.

  “How could you embarrass me like that?” Tessa asked, as soon as they had reached the privacy of the car.

  “Don’t be silly, you’re overreacting,” he snapped back. “Let’s face it, we both know this shoe thing won’t last. You’ll get bored with it. In the meantime I’ve decided to indulge you.”

  He looked so smug that she didn’t know how she restrained herself from hitting him, but she did. Pompous asshole, she thought. I’ll show you!

  Back at Kate’s house, Lauren was saying those exact same words.

  “What a pompous asshole! What on earth does she see in him? He’s dreadful!”

  “He was very patronising. She seems like a very bright woman,” Jonathan remarked.

  “She is. She’s fantastic,” Kate joined in. “She’s very intelligent and funny and normally great company. But did you see the way he kept putting her down?” Kate spoke furiously. “It’s dreadful! In the end she jus
t stays mum and she’s usually so lively and such fun.”

  “Why does she stay with him?” Lauren asked.

  “God knows. I wouldn’t,” Kate replied with some vehemence. “I do know she’s not happy and now he doesn’t want her doing this job.”

  “Oh, for God’s sake – this is the twenty-first century,” Kevin joined in. “Women are not chained to the kitchen sink any more.”

  “Well said, my darling,” Kate patted him on the arm.

  “Agreed,” Jonathan backed him up, hoping for a similar show of affection from Lauren. She pushed him playfully – not quite what he had in mind!

  Chapter 18

  On Sunday afternoon, Bridget opened the door to Val, glowering at her skimpy outfit.

  “Did someone rob your clothes on the way over?” she asked her, with a snort.

  “This is called fashion, Bridget,” Val replied cheekily, as she brushed past her, nose in the air, “not that you’d know it if it jumped up and bit you!”

  “Common as muck!” Bridget shot after her.

  Niamh had heard this exchange and tried to get Val out of Bridget’s way as quickly as possible.

  She had to admit that Bridget had a point though. Val’s skirt was little more than a pelmet and her top was so low that it left nothing to the imagination. Niamh just couldn’t understand why Val dressed like this. It was no wonder men got the wrong idea.

  “Come on up to the bedroom. We’ll have privacy there,” she said.

  “Where’s Gav?” her sister asked, looking around.

  “Where do you think?” Niamh laughed. “He’s watching the football, in the sitting-room.”

  “Can we not go in there?” Val asked, heading in that direction.

  “God no!” Niamh replied, pulling her away and directing her up the stairs. “He’d hate it if we disturbed his game. Anyway, I keep all my stuff in our bedroom so the kids can’t mess it up.” She followed Val up the stairs.

  “Where are they?” Val asked. “The place seems awfully quiet.”

  “They’re at a birthday party till five, so we can work in peace.”

  Val made a face. She’d gone to so much trouble to look good for Gav, and for what? She mightn’t even meet him!

  Niamh sat at the little table she had installed in the bedroom while Val lounged on the bed.

  “Which side of the bed do you sleep on?” Val asked her sister.

  Niamh couldn’t figure out why she wanted to know. “The right, why?” she replied, raising her eyebrows.

  “Just wondering,” Val said nonchalantly.

  She took the pillows from Gavin’s side and put them behind her head, inhaling his scent as she did so. God he had such a sexy smell!

  Niamh spent the next hour explaining how she’d operated during the week.

  “That seems like so much work,” Val complained.

  “Well, it is work. That’s what we’re supposed to be doing. You get nothing for nothing, Val.” Niamh was perplexed. Did Val not understand that it was a job and, as Grace said, you got out of it what you put into it? Seemingly not!

  “It’s all right for you,” Val whined. “You’ve got a great area.”

  “Women everywhere will love these shoes, Val. You just have to make sure they get to see them.” Niamh picked up a pen. “Here, let’s make a plan for you.”

  Val wasn’t convinced but she knew she had to do something. She listened to Niamh’s ideas. They’d obviously worked for her and she had to admit they made sense.

  “Okay, I’ll start with posters on Monday but can you come out with me?” she asked, turning big puppy-dog eyes on her sister.

  “Oh, Val, putting out posters is child’s play. Anyone can do it. I honestly need every minute I have, to work my own area,” Niamh explained patiently.

  “Well then, will you come out with me when I go out to interview?” Val asked, in a wheedling voice.

  What could Niamh say? She agreed, as Val knew she would.

  “Okay, let’s go have a cup of tea in the kitchen,” Niamh said when they’d finished.

  “Will that dragon, Bridget, be around?’ Val asked. “If she is, I’ll go. Honestly, I don’t know how you stick her!” She stuck out her tongue.

  “No, she isn’t – she goes out every Sunday afternoon,” Niamh assured her, laughing.

  “Okay so, but I’d much prefer a glass of wine. Do you have any?”

  Niamh looked at her sister in exasperation. “Val, how the hell do you think we can afford wine? We’re bloody lucky to have tea.”

  “What about all the money you’re making?” her sister demanded.

  “I haven’t seen any of it yet,” Niamh informed her, “and trust me, when I do, I won’t be spending it on wine. I’ll be saving it for a deposit on a house.” She stuck her chin out in the defiant way Val recognised. Niamh didn’t often put her foot down but when she did, she was immovable. Poor Gav, Val thought, as they came down the stairs. What a miserable time he must have between his mother and his wife.

  “I’ll just pop in and say hello to Gav,” she said, sticking her tongue out at Niamh, whose back was turned to her as she headed for the kitchen. She was gone before Niamh could say anything.

  Val pushed open the sitting-room door. “Hi, Gav,” she greeted him, in her sexiest voice.

  “Oh, hi, Val,” he said, not taking his eyes off the television screen.

  “That’s a nice way to greet your favourite sister-in-law,” she replied, coming between him and the TV.

  She bent over and gave him a kiss, full on the lips, aware that her top had sagged, giving him an eyeful of her boobs. She was gratified to see that he had forgotten about his football and was taking them in. He was turned on, she could tell. God, she was glad that she’d spent the money on that boob job. Men just couldn’t resist them. Well, she hadn’t actually spent the money on them. Keith had paid for them but she reckoned he’d got his money’s worth. He hadn’t stopped groping them for six months. It was different now, she thought, he’s feeling up some other tits. But you know what they say, plenty of other fish in the sea and Gavin was the one she would not let get away. Pleased with his reaction, she left him and went into the kitchen, a smug smile on her face.

  “That was a great night in La Stampa, wasn’t it?” Niamh remarked as she poured the tea.

  “Yeah. You should have come on to the nightclub. It was great craic,” Val told her, refusing milk and sugar. “I’m on Atkins,” she explained.

  Niamh threw her eyes to heaven. Val was so slim, yet she was always on a diet.

  “Lesley is fantastic, isn’t she?” Val continued. “Pete was glued to her all night. They were practically at it on the dance floor.” She grinned, remembering how the bouncers had told them to cool it. “She’s been out with him since and they seem to be really into each other. The sex is fantastic, according to Lesley. Lucky her!”

  “But she’s married!” Niamh exclaimed, her green eyes open wide in shock.

  “What difference does that make?” Val asked, looking at Niamh to see if she was serious.

  “A lot, I would think,” Niamh replied, munching on a biscuit.

  “Oh, for God’s sake, Niamh, grow up!” Val said scornfully. “Everyone’s at it nowadays.”

  “Gav and I aren’t,” Niamh replied primly.

  “Maybe you’re not,” Val sneered, “but how can you be sure Gav’s not?”

  Niamh went pale. “You’re not saying . . . ?” She stopped, the lump in her throat preventing her from saying more.

  “I’m not saying bloody anything but honestly, Niamh, you’re so naïve. Hey, that’s a good one, Naïve Niamh!” she laughed. “Cop on. Most men stray. It’s the nature of the beast.”

  She saw with satisfaction that she had rocked her smug sister’s boat.

  “I’d better be off,” she said, a few minutes later. “I’ll just pop in and say cheerio to Gav.”

  As she left, she looked over her shoulder at Niamh and was pleased to see her sister was clearly
upset.

  It was half-time in the match.

  “I’m off, Gav,” Val said as she bent over him once more to kiss him goodbye.

  Her top sagged even lower this time and he couldn’t take his eyes off her fabulous breasts. She had no bra on and he could see her nipples, large and erect. For one crazy moment, he was tempted to take them in his hand and caress them but luckily he stopped himself, just in time. Val didn’t move. He knew that she knew what he’d been thinking.

  “Very nice,” he said, nodding at her breasts. “More than a handful there, eh Val?” he grinned.

  “They’re all yours. Anytime you want, babe. Just say the word,” she whispered, jiggling from side to side.

  Holy Christ! He drew back like a scalded cat, realising she was serious. He pushed her away. So, she still had a thing for him then. He’d thought she’d got over that, years ago. She was a little witch. He watched her sashay out of the room, wiggling her bum in that ridiculously short skirt. He knew she was trying to turn him on. And she’d succeeded. God, you’d want to be a saint not to be turned on when it’s shoved in your face like that, he thought, adjusting his trousers so that Niamh wouldn’t notice the bulge in them.

  Val saw him do it and grinned cheekily at him over her shoulder as she let herself out.

  Phew! That was close! He was sweating. Can you imagine if he had touched her or Niamh had walked in on them? God, it didn’t bear thinking about. Funny thing that, he thought. If this had happened six months ago when he and Niamh were fighting all the time over money, then he might have gone there. But not now – not since Niamh got this job. She’d changed. She was excited and confident and damned hot too. Things were going great between them and he was damned if he was going to let Val ruin that.

  The match had resumed so he quickly forgot all about her.

  Shortly afterwards, Niamh brought him in a mug of tea and biscuits.

  “Thanks, babe,” he said, pulling her down for a kiss. “Hey, did you get a look at Val’s bazoukas in that top? They’re really something. Maybe you could have a boob job like that, if you make money with this crowd!”