When Eliza’s car eventually swept into the drive the three women and Hugo went to the steps to greet her.There was something about the way she got out of the car that made them realise that all was not well.All four of them paused and then Hugo walked towards her with his arms outstretched.She collapsed into his arms and silently began to weep.The three women stood there, not knowing what to say.
Nicola was the first to regain her voice.“We should go.”
She and Cassandra left without another word, afraid to think about what had transpired at Eliza’s appointment.
About an hour later Nicola had a phone call from Alice.
“You and Cassandra are invited to The Coven for dinner tonight.Eliza insists.Hugo and I are cooking.You can bring dessert if you like.”
“Are you sure it’s okay? It looked as if Eliza got bad news.”
“She hasn’t told me what it is but I gather though it’s bad it’s not completely awful. She insists that she wants us all to have dinner together.She will tell you her news herself and she wants to know all about our day.”
“Okay. I’ll phone Cassandra and hope she’s free this evening.”
“Oh, and Eliza said that if you bring a bottle of wine you can stay over! So bring a change of clothes so that you can go to work from here.”
“Sounds great,” said Nicola.
“See you then.”
Nicolathen rang Cassandra, who was very surprised to get the invitation.
“Yes, I am free tonight,” she said. “I deliberately didn’t make any appointments because I didn’t know how I would feel after the court.I’ll call into Goya and get a tiramisu if I can or maybe Death by Chocolate – that ought to cheer us up.”
“Not Death by Chocolate.We don’t know what Eliza’s news is.”
“Oh, God, you’re right.How crass of me!”
“I’ll call for you at eight thirty. I suppose I had better not call to the door.I’ll pick you up at the traffic lights again. Did I say we’re invited to stay?”
“You didn’t but that might be nice.I hope that what Eliza has to say isn’t too bad.”
Nicola could hear the doubt in Cassandra’s voice.“I suppose it can’t be too bad – otherwise they wouldn’t have invited us.”
“I suppose not,” Cassandra said.
Nicola couldn’t believe it but since she had met Cassandra she was always more careful about what she wore, in particular if she was going to meet up with her.So she rifled in her wardrobe, wondering what would be sufficiently casual but stylish for the forthcoming event.
Event!Is that what you’d call this evening, she thought. She didn’t know what to call it really.It wasn’t going to be a celebration now and she hoped it wouldn’t turn out to be a sort of Last Supper.She was not sure how to approach it but she decided that an ‘event’ was indeed the best way to describe it.She took off the carefully chosen suit which she had worn to the court.Her wardrobe wasn’t exactly replete – living with a scrounger had seen to that.She resolved straight away to buy herself some new clothes before she went to Inchydoney – even if she had to use her credit card – it wouldn’t take long to pay off now that she was feeding, entertaining and clothing only one.Yes, she needed some new clothes.
She had a long soak in a bubble bath one of her clients had given her when she had helped her with the procedure for being allocated a local authority house.She hadn’t wanted to take it, being conscious of how little the woman could afford it, but she didn’t want to offend and the look of pure pleasure on the woman’s face when she accepted it indicated to her that she had made the right decision. She felt refreshed if no less apprehensive when she got out of the bath and again surveyed her scant wardrobe.Eventually she settled on simple linen-look trousers and a matching top, deciding that it looked appropriate no matter how this evening turned out.She then packed her overnight things and an outfit for the following day and turned on the news.
Things were beginning to settle down on the political front at least.Another major developer had gone to the wall, leaving a half-built office block in a prime site in Dublin.She could almost hear other developers, like vultures, flying in for the kill.One of them could certainly pick that up for a good price if they were solvent.Their ruthlessness never failed to amaze her.Anyway it was a relief that the whole news bulletin was not taken up with Jack Madden and there was not a whisper about the proceedings in the Circuit Court in Ennis that day.
Suddenly she felt extremely tired but it was too late to have a nap.If she went to bed now she would be very reluctant to get up again and tonight of all nights she had to go to The Coven.Idly she flicked through a magazine while she waited until it was time to pick Cassandra up.
Cassandra was standing at the traffic lights when Nicola pulled up.She was wearing a really elegant knit trouser suit. Nicola didn’t allow herself to be envious.They were in a different league in every sense of the expression and there were a lot of things about Cassandra’s life that Nicola certainly didn’t envy.
“You look fabulous,” she said as Cassandra opened the passenger door.“Your style always appears so effortless.”
“Effortless it certainly is not.It took me many years and a lot of thought and advice to get as far as thisstyle-wise.But I like clothes and in my line of work it is important to be well presented, in particular if a client wants to take me to a dinner or a corporate event.”She spoke as if she were a PR executive.
“And does that happen often?”Nicola was curious and knew that Cassandra would soon tell her to mind her own business if she overstepped the mark, so she felt safe enough asking the question.
“A bit, particularly if the client is from out of town. Obviously if they are local they take their wives.I also have to be fairly up to date in current affairs so as to make an interesting dinner companion and so that nobody will suspect that I am being paid for my presence.”
“Wow, I never thought of it like that!”
“Like what?” enquired Cassandra with a wry smile.“That a call girl has to be a companion as well as a sex slave?”
There was only a hint of mirth in her voice and Nicola decided to bring this conversation to an end.“In any case you look gorgeous, as usual.Maybe we could go shopping together some time and you can give me a few tips.”
“That would be fun,” Cassandra answered.“You know, because nobody that I socialise with knows what I do for a living, I’m always on my guard.It would be nice to go shopping with someone who knows exactly who and what I am and is comfortable with that.”
Nicola wasn’t sure about the comfortable bit but she accepted Cassandra’s position and didn’t consider it her place to pass judgement.
“Great,” she smiled.“You can be my stylist.”
When they parked their car at The Coven Alice was waiting for them at the large front door.She looked as frail as she had looked when she’d first arrived.The new confidence she had exhibited earlier in the day had evaporated completely.
“Do you know Eliza’s news?”Nicola asked apprehensively.
“I have made an educated guess,” was the reply.“Come in. Hugo is pouring the wine and Eliza is getting ready.”
“How is Hugo?” asked Cassandra.
“He’s a rock,” Alice replied.
“Every woman should have a Hugo,” Nicola said with feeling.
The three women smiled as they went into the large kitchen.
“Can we do anything, Hugo?”Nicola asked though she could see that the table was already set for five. Clearly this dinner was going to be an all-adult affair and no other residents of The Coven were invited.
Nicola had wondered about the other residents from time to time since Alice had come to live in The Coven.They weren’t much in evidence, though that could be explained by the fact that the edifice was large and other than the weekly communal dinner they probably lived quite separate lives.She wondered though if Alice wasn’t a sort of favourite with Eliza and Hugo or perhaps it was just that at the beginning of
everybody’s tenancy they were given special attention.She decided that this was most likely the case.
“No, thank you, my dear, I think myself and Alice have it all organised.”
Eliza appeared at the door of the kitchen, more composed than earlier.Hugo went over to her, kissed her gently on the forehead and handed her a glass of wine.The other women didn’t speak.
She looked more fragile than Nicola had ever seen her but there was aresolute air about her that Nicolawas relieved to see.She wondered how soon she would tell them what her diagnosis was.She couldn’t stand the suspense for much longer.
Hugo told them to sit at the table while Alice went to bring out the starter.
“I believe you had a good outcome in Ennis,” Eliza said.
“Yes, we got the injunction,” said Nicola. She looked apprehensively at Eliza.“Tell us your news – please.”
Eliza looked from oneof themto the other.
“It appears I have breast cancer.The doctor thinks I will need a full mastectomy, but he says that the prognosis is still quite good.With chemotherapy I should be as right as rain in about a year.I will, of course, have to visit an oncologist to confirm the diagnosis and to find out exactly what has to be done and when, but in a nutshell that is what the doctor said to me.”
Her words hung in the air for a few moments and no one spoke.
Alice was the first to break the silence.“Is there anything we can do for you?”
Eliza looked at her.“Sweet Alice,” she said. “Over the next few months I expect I will need the company of friends.I don’t want all of this to fall on poor old Hugo.He has broad shoulders but he will need a break from looking after me – emotionally, at any rate.I would be delighted if you would just be my friends, a sort of shoulder to cry on if I need it.”
“Of course we will.” Alice was speaking for all of them.
It occurred to Nicola that in a few short weeks her life had become intimately entwined with three women that she had never laid eyes on until the day after Alice’s first phone call.She knew that it was inappropriate for her to befriend a client and others connected with her case but this was different and it felt right.
“And now,” said Eliza, “we’ll have no more talk of illness.Tell me about your day.”
While of course they were all delighted with what had gone on in the court that morning, somehow their news had lost its shine.
“It was all over in a few minutes really,” said Cassandra. “We just went in and the legal team asked for an injunction to prevent the sale of 3 Lady Gregory Court.The judge asked why and when he was given the reason he just asked Alice to tell him in her own words why she thought she was entitled to prevent the sale of the property.I’d say that Alice was only giving evidence for a few minutes.The legal team for Tower Properties maintained that Jack Madden only visited Alice because she was an ex-employee for whom he had sympathy and that he gave her the apartment for free.The judge said that he thought there was a case to be answered in relation to the sale and granted the injunction.It was all over just like that.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Eliza said enthusiastically.
“Yes,” agreed Hugo but he had a distracted air of someone who has other things on his mind, which of course he had.
“What next?”Eliza asked.
“Well, we will have to go to court again to try and establish my entitlement to the property,” Alice replied, amazed that Eliza could still be interested after the news she’d had that day, “on the basis that I lived there for twelve years without the permission of the owner.”
“But surely that is where you have a huge problem,” Eliza said, puzzled. “You had Jack Madden’s permission.”
“Yes, but in fact that apartment is owned by a company,” Nicola explained. “Alice’s solicitor got hold of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the companyalong with minutes of AGMs etc. There was no evidence in the minutes that she was given permission to live there. It only says that it was bought as an investment and for the occasional use of Jack Madden.Because a company is a separate legal person, there should be some record of the directors agreeing to allow her to be there.”
“And there isn’t, of course,” Hugosaid.
“No. It’s looking very good for me at the moment, though the judge said it is very complicated which is a bit worrying.” Alice said.“If I didn’t have to go through another court case I would be delighted but it will be a small price to pay if I get ownership of the apartment.”
“It will indeed,” Eliza said.“Now shouldn’t we eat or else the food will be cold?”
“I’ve invited Nicola and Cassandra to stay the night,” Hugo said. He appeared glad of the company.
“That’s a good idea,” Eliza said.
“Thank you,” said Cassandra. “That way we won’t be up too late.” As she spoke she thought it was likely that, though they might get a reasonably early night, it was likely that Eliza at least wouldn’t sleep.
Life certainly had a habit of giving with one hand and taking away with the other.
Chapter 12
The day of Nicola and Cassandra’s departure for Inchydoney was bitterly cold.The November winds did their worst and initially the rain was coming down in torrents.They could feel the wind push against the car – they had takenNicola’s – as they drove between Ennis and Limerick but they were in high spirits and chatted animatedly, planning their break.They hadabandoned the idea of booking separately and had managed to alter Nicola’s booking, so they would be sharing a deluxe twin room. They had already chosen the treatments they would have.
“This is going to put such a hole in my bank account,” Nicola laughed.“But I think I deserve it.I have never done anything like this before.But I’m sick of being sensible, watching my money in case I might need some for a rainy day!”
“Yes, there’s such a thing as too sensible, though it’s nothing I’ve ever been accused of,” Cassandra agreed.
“What I never took into account was that with Jonathan every day was a rainy day. I am so much better off without him.Financially, I notice it already and he’s only gone a little more than a fortnight.And there’s a great feeling of freedom which I didn’t expect.I don’t even feel lonely.”
“You know, I can’t remember when I last had a boyfriend,” Cassandra mused.“The job makes it practically impossible.”
“I suppose so,” Nicola agreed.She didn’t know how else to answer that statement.
“It’s quite the conversation-stopper, you know.”
“What exactly?” asked Nicola, startled.
“The truthful answer to ‘What do you do for a living?’” Cassandra said with a grin.
“I suppose so! So what do you usually answer?”
“I told you before – I say I’m a consultant! They usually presume that I’m in interior design or perhaps a fashion consultant and you’d be surprised how many people don’t ask you to expand, especially men.A consultant has a good ring to it and they usually think they have you sussed.”
“How do you manage friendships?”
“With great difficulty!If they come to my apartment I have to keep my work room locked.Try explaining a locked room to people who want to be your friend or maybe more.”
“How do you explain it?”
“I say that I am storing furniture for a friend or relation and that the room is so packed I just want to close the door on it.”
“And do they believe that?”Nicola was plain curious but it was Cassandra who had started this topic so she felt she could ask the questions.
“It satisfies most of them, though one person did smell a rat and got quite nasty when I wouldn’t show him the room.As I said, I don’t really do relationships.”
“When was your last relationship – apart from the one you have with the client you like?” Nicola asked tentatively.
“Sadly, that is not really a relationship. The last relationship that I thought could develop into something more was about
five years ago.”
“Wow, that’s a long time! What happened?”
“I realised that I could never tell him about my way of life and I couldn’t have a long-term relationship based on a lie.He didn’t seem too put out when I finished with him.I think he suspected that I was married or something but he never said anything.I was sad to finish it but I don’t think he would have been interested in me if he knew the truth.”Cassandra fell silent.
“And do you want a long-term relationship?”
“Who doesn’t!And unlike you I often feel lonely. Achingly so!”
“Where are your family?”Nicola asked.“Have you any siblings?Are your parents alive?”
“I’m from Limerick originally and I was an only child.My mother and father were devoted to each other but my mother died about ten years ago and unfortunately my father has Alzheimer’s and is in a nursing home near Ennis.”
“That’s difficult.I have a sister and a brother and even though I don’t often see them I feel they would be there for me if I needed them. Both my parents are still alive.So I visit them occasionally.”
The journey to Cork took them about four hours – three to the city and another to West Cork and Inchydoney.Neither had ever been there before so they weren’t quite prepared for the narrow country roads leading from Clonakilty.Despite this and the weather, the beauty of the place took their breath away and when they could see the white horses of the Atlantic they knew they were nearly there.
The weather still wasn’t doing them any favours and while walking from the car park to the hotel they were nearly blown away. But inside they relaxed and quickly checked in and went to their room, which was suitably opulent. Then they freshened up before going down to a latish lunch.
“Do you know what I was thinking?” Nicola said as they headed down for their first therapy session. “Should we look for Eliza’s daughter?I’d say that Eliza would be delighted if she came to see her.”
“I don’t know, Nicola.” Cassandra was very doubtful.“That smacks a bit of interference.”
Who is Alice? Page 11