The Rose Garden

by Marita Conlon-McKenna

  Outside it looked cold and rather damp, but thank heaven there was no sign of the heavy rains the weather forecasters had been predicting. Pulling on her dressing gown, she began to get everything sorted: twenty-one presents wrapped and hidden ready to surprise Grace. She’d been buying things for the past few months and hiding them away, big things and little things and quirky things that she knew her younger daughter would love.

  ‘Mum, are you awake?’ whispered Emma, padding in in her pink fleece pyjamas.

  ‘Yes,’ she laughed, hugging her. ‘You can help me carry all this lot into her bedroom.’

  ‘What’s in this one?’ quizzed Emma, turning a box wrapped in butterfly-design paper. ‘It’s so heavy.’

  ‘A kettle bell!’

  ‘No wonder I can hardly lift it!’ she grinned, helping her.

  As they opened Grace’s door they began to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and Grace sat up in bed as they both hugged her madly while they performed the birthday song.

  ‘Twenty-one presents,’ nodded Emma. ‘It’s a family tradition.’

  Molly sat down on the side of the bed as Emma began to take the presents and pass them to Grace to open one by one.

  ‘A new hair straightener! It’s exactly what I need.’

  ‘Well, you broke the old one!’ Emma reminded her.

  ‘Oh, a glass angel – I love it! My favourite lip gloss – let me put a bit on.’

  Soon the bed was covered with wrapping paper and boxes as Grace opened present after present, Emma taking a few photos with the new compact camera they had bought for Grace. There were books, a new top, slippers, pyjamas, hair clips, nail polish and eye shadow, and a big bag of jelly babies, a cuddly dog, her favourite sweets and some chocolate. They were almost down to the last present. Molly took it from her pocket and passed it to Grace.

  ‘Present twenty-one,’ she said, hugging her close.

  ‘Oh Mum, what is it?’ she asked as she began to unwrap the small, hard box.

  ‘It’s a diamond, Grace – your granny’s diamond. Put it on and see how it looks!’

  ‘Oh Mum, I love it! It’s just like Emma’s!’ she said, fastening it around her neck where the single diamond on its white-gold chain sparkled against her skin. ‘I’m going to wear it for my party tonight.’

  ‘It looks beautiful,’ admired Molly, ‘and I know that your granny would be very pleased that you are wearing it.’

  When her mother, Sally, knew that she was dying fourteen years ago she had divided her jewellery between Ruth, their brother Stephen and herself. ‘I want you all to have something of mine for yourselves or my grandchildren,’ she had insisted. So Molly had inherited her mother’s two-stone diamond engagement ring and had worn it over the years, but once her daughters had got older she and David had decided that the fair thing was to give each of the girls a single diamond in a simple setting on a chain of gold that they could wear, so that it would always remind them of their granny. Today being a special day was the perfect time to give such a present.

  ‘Now you have my present to open,’ urged Emma excitedly.

  ‘It’s an Eiffel tower and some cheese!’ laughed Grace.

  ‘Look again, stupid,’ prompted Emma.

  ‘Oh my God – there are two tickets to Paris for the end of March!’

  ‘Yeah, I’ve already booked the flights and the two of us are going shopping and seeing all the sights, and we can stay in the spare room in my friend Clara’s apartment. Springtime is the best time to go,’ Emma laughed as Grace hugged her wildly.

  ‘I can’t believe it – the two of us going to Paris for a few days!’

  ‘I knew you’d love it!’ said Emma proudly.

  Downstairs in the kitchen Kim was up making breakfast for everyone, putting on bacon and mixing up pancakes, Grace’s favourite.

  ‘Here are my presents!’ Kim offered, kissing her.

  Molly watched as Grace unwrapped them. There was a beautiful grey-and-green skirt.

  ‘Oh God, it’s stunning!’ shouted Grace, trying it on over her pyjamas. ‘I love it!’

  ‘Good! Now open the other one!’ urged her cousin.

  Molly couldn’t believe it. Kim had taken a wonderful picture of the three of them walking down by the river during the summer, the light catching them all as they laughed at something. It was a most beautiful picture and she had got it framed.

  ‘Oh Kim, thanks!’ said Grace. ‘I’ll take this photo everywhere with me!’

  As they ate a long, lazy breakfast, Molly was conscious that they had lots to do. There were eighty people coming to the party and six of Grace’s closest friends were staying here in the house. She had made up their beds and had the heating on full tilt in their rooms.

  ‘What time are we booked for the hairdresser’s?’ Grace asked, pouring maple syrup over her plate of pancakes.

  ‘I told Dee that we would be there for around eleven. I have to be back here around twelve as Gina’s husband, Paul, is going to put up the lights in the orangery for us and the extra trestle tables are being delivered.’

  ‘And the girls are all arriving around four o’clock,’ Grace added.

  ‘And Jake will be here about six,’ Emma reminded them.

  ‘Mum, go on – tell me about the day I was born,’ urged Grace.

  Molly sipped her coffee. The girls always loved on their birthday to hear the blow-by-blow account of the day they were born.

  ‘I remember we’d only just moved in here and I didn’t know a soul. The house was freezing cold as we couldn’t get the heating and the old boiler working! You weren’t due for another four weeks. I was about to go upstairs to do a bit more unpacking when suddenly I realized that I was in labour. Your dad had already gone to work. He’d only just started working with Michael Quinn, and as a new junior partner he didn’t want to be late. They were seeing a client about some upcoming court case. I was getting a bit panicky as the contractions were getting stronger and I couldn’t contact your dad because the phone still hadn’t been connected. I put Emma in the car, and my hospital bag, and somehow managed to drive to Castlecomer where your dad worked. How I drove was a miracle! I remember hooting the horn madly outside the office until your dad came out and took over. We barely made it to the hospital in Kilkenny and in a few minutes this perfect pixie of a baby was born. It was a bit of a shock! Emma saw you when you were literally only a few minutes old. You were such a beautiful baby.’

  ‘Then what happened?’ prompted Emma.

  ‘I remember dreading bringing a new baby home to a cold house full of packing cases and chaos, but when I arrived your granny and grandad were here and the fires were blazing in the hall and the drawing room. Your granny made massive meals in the Aga which kept us all warm. Then Ruth and Bill drove down with Liz and Mike and Kim to have Halloween with us and stay the night. I remember there was a power cut as we had a storm, and we all sat around with candles, talking while I sat in the armchair feeding you in the candlelight and just being so happy … It was the best Halloween ever, having everyone here in Mossbawn with us.’

  ‘Let’s hope there’s no power cuts tonight!’ teased Emma.

  ‘Don’t even say that!’ Molly laughed, glancing at the clock.

  ‘Come on you lot: finish up breakfast! We’ve a party to organize!’

  Chapter 43

  MOLLY STUDIED THE HOUSE. EVERYTHING LOOKED PERFECT. THE driveway was lit up and lights sparkled on the trees that stood near the front of the house. Log fires blazed in the hall, drawing room and dining room; and there were arrangements of pumpkins and candles with autumn leaves and berries everywhere to add to the atmosphere. They had put up fairy lights in the orangery and dozens of sparkling crystal champagne flutes stood on the circular table in the hall to welcome the party guests to Grace’s twenty-first birthday. The whole house was in a frenzy of excitement and in the kitchen Gina was busy organizing all the food and canapés for the large crowd.

  Grace and Emma were shrieking and laughing as the
y got changed in their bedrooms. Grace was wearing a stunning pale-pink chiffon dress which made her look so slim and delicate, with her sparkling diamond around her neck. Emma, with her brown hair, looked striking in a figure-hugging, vibrant purple satin dress.

  Molly had spent ages trying to decide what to wear for such an occasion, aware of treading a fine line between looking old and dowdy and trying to be trendy and too young. Cara, who was fashion mad and had a real eye for style, had insisted on going shopping with her.

  ‘Molly, this is a big party and whether you like it or not you are going to look good,’ she warned. ‘You are treating yourself to something new and elegant.’

  They had found the most perfect silver-grey knee-length lace dress with a mid-length sleeve in a boutique near the castle in Kilkenny. She absolutely loved it and both girls had given it their immediate approval.

  Today was a poignant reminder of David’s loss, which always seemed worse on family occasions like this. She was nervous about the party and wished that David was here to organize and run things instead of it all falling on her. She had written a birthday speech and just hoped that her confidence would hold up enough to make it. Grace deserved this party and to have a parent say good things about her.

  However, one less worry was that Gina seemed to have everything running smoothly in the kitchen and dining room. There was Inga from the café, along with a barman to help serve the drinks and a young waitress to help with the food. Gina was so calm Molly knew that she could totally trust her to ensure that the food was a success.

  Grace’s friend, the DJ, had set up in a part of the orangery and there would be dancing there later.

  Taking a deep breath, she gathered herself and went downstairs as the doorbell rang and the first guests began to arrive. Grace, in a swirl of chiffon, was being congratulated by a group of old schoolfriends. Molly went to welcome them as Kim helped to take the coats and put them in the study and the barman began pouring them some champagne.

  An hour later and the hall, drawing room and orangery were filling with people, the noise level huge as everyone chatted. The orangery looked magical with its fairy lights and flickering candles reflecting and shimmering in the glass. Grace’s eyes were sparkling as everyone wished her happy birthday. Her friends were like long, leggy models wearing the most incredible cocktail and evening dresses, while the guys were so handsome in their black tuxes, introducing themselves politely.

  Molly had invited some of the family and was delighted to see that Bill and Carole had arrived with Liz and Joe; they had all booked into the hotel for the night, like many of the other guests. Her brother, Stephen, and his wife, Maeve; David’s brother, Chris, who was Grace’s godfather, and his wife, Penny; David’s sister, Jenny, and her husband, Sean, and their son, Rory, who was Grace’s age, had all come along too. Grace had insisted that Molly also invite a few of her own closest friends, so Roz, Cara and Tim, Trish and Larry, Avril and Pete, and Rena and Jack were there to join in the celebrations too.

  Standing in the orangery, Molly couldn’t believe what a wonderful place it was to have a party. You could see out over the lawn and gardens, the high glass ceiling looking up to the starry night sky.

  The wine, champagne and beer flowed smoothly, and at ten o’clock Gina served the meal. The guests had a choice of beef stroganoff or chicken in white-wine sauce. They ate in the large dining room, where a number of tables had been set up, each with silver candelabras and a centrepiece of ivy and autumn flowers. For dessert Gina had produced a rich chocolate and caramel tart and a winter-berry-filled Pavlova, both served with cream and ice cream.

  ‘The food is amazing!’ beamed Emma, her plate laden with a sample of each.

  After the food was served, David’s brother, Chris, insisted on standing up and introducing Molly, thanking her for such a wonderful party to celebrate his niece’s birthday. Almost shaking with nerves, Molly glanced quickly at the cards that she had written her speech on and then, taking a deep breath, she stood up. Emma squeezed her hand reassuringly.

  ‘I would like to thank everyone for helping us to celebrate our beloved Grace’s twenty-first birthday. Twenty-one years ago this beautiful little baby girl with her big blue eyes came into our lives and our hearts. We had just moved into Mossbawn and the house was a wreck, and we found ourselves not only with a new house but a new baby too! Luckily for us, Grace was a happy, good, smiley baby – and if I look back on her childhood years and teenage years, she has never really changed. She is still as beautiful and kind-hearted and smiley as ever.’

  Grace’s friends from primary school cheered madly in agreement.

  ‘Her childhood was full of dogs, kittens, ponies and all kinds of pets. One time she even had a pet white rat which was kept hidden in her bedroom for weeks so I wouldn’t see it, and of course the house was always full of her friends. She climbed trees and built houses and almost every birthday party involved a treasure hunt or a hide-and-seek game of some sort. Now she’s in college in UCD, where she’s made lots more friends, and I’m so glad you are all here. She and Emma have always been more than just sisters, they’ve been the best of friends and supported each other, and I know that this will continue all through their lives. As I watch Grace I see a daughter I not only love but am so proud of for all the good things she does and the way she faces life and brings happiness to those lucky enough to be around her. However, there is one person who should be here tonight – someone who loved Grace dearly, and that is her dad, David. We all miss him terribly, but I do feel that he is here in spirit with us tonight as we celebrate Grace’s twenty-first birthday.’

  Molly took a breath, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her. ‘Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who helped with organizing the party: Emma and Kim, and Gina who has made all the lovely food; and of course to thank all of you good friends who have come from all over the place to be here with us as we celebrate Grace’s birthday tonight.’

  As she finished talking, Gina appeared with the large iced birthday cake with its twenty-one candles and everyone sang, ‘Happy birthday to you’. Grace stood up to blow out her candles and then began to say a few words.

  ‘I want to thank my mum for not only having my party but for being the most amazing mum ever, for all her love and support and for not just being my mum but also my friend. Emma and I had the most wonderful childhood, growing up here with the best parents ever. You all know this past year has been a pretty terrible one for my family, but my mum has kept the family together. I miss my dad so much … and I wish that he was here tonight with us all,’ she said, her eyes welling with tears, ‘but I have the most amazing friends, from my Kilfinn primary-school gang to my college crew, and my best friends Ali and Lola and Johnny – you are all the best! Also thanks to my aunties and uncles and cousins, and our family friends who are here with us too. I’m having the best birthday ever! Thank you so much everyone for coming and thanks for all your lovely pressies too! Being twenty-one is great. It’s a bit scary to think that now you are an adult and have to be a proper grown-up. Tonight is a night that I will never forget, being here with everyone I love and care about – and the best thing is that the party is only getting started!’

  Molly laughed and hugged Grace as the music began and everyone returned to the orangery where the DJ was in full swing. As she looked around her she couldn’t help but wonder if this would be the last big family party held here in the house. It certainly was a night to remember … she was glad of that. She lost track of how many times she was up dancing with everyone from Stephen to Chris and Rory and Bill to Emma’s boyfriend and Tim and a whole load of Grace’s college friends. A few times she retired to the drawing room to have a rest but would be dragged back up again on to the dance floor.

  Finally managing to get to the kitchen, she found Gina busy tidying away everything, the dishwasher loaded and the remaining plates and dishes stacked ready to go in later, the place almost immaculate.

  ‘Gina, th
e food was amazing! Thank you so much. Everything went perfectly!’

  ‘I enjoy doing a big party like this,’ Gina admitted. ‘It’s lovely to see guests happy and enjoying themselves.’

  ‘Well, they sure are. Everyone is dancing like crazy. I was nervous about having it, but I’m so glad we did as Grace is so happy. Will you come and join us for a drink?’

  ‘Thanks, but I’d prefer to finish up here and then pack up some of my cooking things and go home, if that is okay. We’re taking the kids to Kilkenny tomorrow as Conor’s team have a big football match.’

  Back in the drawing room, Molly made an effort to sit down and talk to Carole, who was full of praise for the night.

  ‘The house really lends itself to a big party like this,’ Carole enthused. ‘It’s like something out of a film with the lights and the candles.’

  ‘Times like this, the house comes into its own!’ she smiled, glad that Bill and Carole had come along, the two of them getting on really well with Rena and her husband.

  At 3 a.m. most of her friends had left, and Grace and Emma were still dancing away with a big gang of friends. She could barely keep her eyes open and, kissing them goodnight, slipped away to bed as the party continued till nearly breakfast time.

  Curling up in bed, Molly pulled the pillow near her, pretending, as she did almost every night, that David was lying close to her.

  Chapter 44

  GINA STUDIED HER ORDER BOOK. THIS CHRISTMAS, HOPEFULLY, should be a busy one! She’d enjoyed catering for Grace Hennessy’s twenty-first and with any luck should have a few more events to cater for in the coming weeks. Dr Jim and his wife, Frances, had already ordered trays of canapés for their annual New Year’s Day drinks party. And Bridget Jennings, who was an old friend of Norah’s, had approached her about doing a special lunch to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

  ‘Donal and I will be married fifty years. The children want us to have a big fancy meal in the hotel, but it would be far too noisy and too busy there. Poor Donal has gone a wee bit deaf, so we’d far prefer to have it at home in our own house. Then everyone can come to us, all the grandchildren and even our new little great-granddaughter, and we can take photos. There’ll be no one rushing us off tables or the men disappearing to the hotel bar!’