“Yes.You think that just because I’m a call girl I should accept any proposition, without being clear on what exactly it is, just because I’m being paid.Well, I don’t work like that.”
“Sorry.The situation is that I am going to Paris on business for four days. I will be caught up in meetings during the day but I would like to have someone to attend functions with me at night.”
“That’s understandable but again I can’t see why you wouldn’t just find someone in Paris.”
“Well, the truth is I’m gay.That’s not normally a problem but I want to do business with a very large winery in Burgundy which has an outlet in Paris.”
Cassandra was perplexed. “So why, if you’re gay, would you need a female companion?”
“Because the guy who owns the winery is also gay and I am pretty sure he is interested in me.”
“I take it that you are not interested?”
“No, but I think if I have a female partner he won’t be offended by my lack of interest.He may have twigged that I’m gay but if I turn up in Paris with a woman he’ll think he was mistaken.To be honest I am worried about not being able to do the deal if he feels I have rebuffed him.”
“Okay, but if I’m to do this I will need your real name.I have a security system in Galway but that won’t work in Paris.I want to look you up on the internet and verify that you are who you say you are.”
He looked a bit concerned about this.He seemed to think about it for a while.
“I have no interest in exposing you as a customer,” she assured him.“But I have to be sure that I am safe with you and knowing who you are would give me that security.”
She explained that she would put his name in an envelope in her safe-deposit box at the bank which would only be opened by the bank if she disappeared.
“That way you would only be exposed if anything happened to me.”
“Okay.” He sounded doubtful.
“To be honest, I have not accepted this assignment and I don’t intend to until I have checked you out, so as far as you are concerned there is no decision to be made.If you don’t want to tell me who you are, I won’t go to Paris with you.”
“Okay,” he said again.
She could tell that he was not happy but she knew she would have been mad not to take precautions.She was very much aware of what could happen to a woman in her profession if she went with the wrong man.
“If you tell me your name and address and if I am happy with what I find out about you in my research, I will go to Paris with you on the dates specified. You have my word.”
“And if not?” he asked anxiously.
“You’ll have to find someone else.”
“My name is James Madden,” he said.
Cassandra held her breath.She wondered if he were related to Jack Madden.That would certainly make a difference as to whether she would go or not.If he was, say, Jack Madden’s brother, the agenda for this visit could be anything.She kept her voice calm.
“Any relation of our new Taoiseach?”
“God, no. Can’t stand the man. I think if I was related to him I’d disown him.”
“That’s an unusual reaction.He’s very popular.”
“He pretends to be broadminded and inclusive but he’s not.But the main reason I don’t like him is that recently he was involved in a car accident in which he crashed into a friend of mine.He apparently behaved like a complete imbecile – effing and blinding and threatening to destroy him.And all over an accident where nobody was injured even though both the cars were write-offs. Apparently it was like a scene out of a movie that could have been entitled Road Rage. His chauffeurapparently had to calm him down and stop him from starting an all-out brawl. It’s coloured my view of his ability to conduct even the most peripheral of relationships.I don’t like the fact that a guy who can’t negotiate a situation like that in a civil manner is running the country.God knows what kind of bother he could get us into.”
“Not that keen on him myself,” Cassandra rejoined without expanding.She was thinking that she didn’t exactly admire the way in which he conducted relationships either. “When did this happen?”
“A few weeks ago.I don’t exactly remember when.”
Cassandra smiled.Something must have been rattling Jack Madden and she was pretty sure she knew what it was.
“Where did you say your business is situated?” she asked.
“Madden’s Wine Cellar, in Exchequer Street.”
“I know it.I considered joining the Wine Club there once.”
James had a slightly anxious look as she got up to leave.
“I’ll do my research,” she said, “and I’ll get back to you within forty-eight hours. If I don’t find anything that worries me, we have a date!”
He smiled a little when she said that and she headed for Heuston to get the train back to Galway.
She hoped that the trip would work out.It would be like a holiday.Spending a few days in a beautiful city, where all she had to do would be turn up and look elegant and behave as if she and her companion were an item, was almost too good to be true.
Nicola was always busy in December.It was an emotive time for families who had problems.There were visits to be arranged between parents who were separated, and decisions to be made about how the children would spend Christmas Day.The financial aspect was often very complicated – helping the clients explain to their children that they might not get exactly what they wanted and then helping the parents provide as good a Christmas as possible for their children.
People who were going to be alone at Christmas had to be considered as had clients who have suffered a bereavement during the year, and people in hospital.
Though not a churchgoer herself Nicola found that the churches of most faiths really pulled out the stops when it came to Christmas.They took the issue of community seriously and if she was able to link in a client with a church group it often made Christmas easier.The Vincent de Paul, of course, were excellent, providing much-needed food and toys and other Christmas essentials for those in need.
With increasing multiculturalism Nicola found also that those cultures who did not celebrate Christmas found themselves a bit isolated when it appeared that the whole country was en fête. She linked people in with people of similar beliefs and usually it worked out okay.
She had herself to think of as well. This would be the first year in ages that she hadn’t had a partner.She would probably go home.Her mother was always asking her to go home for Christmas but Jonathan didn’t ever want to be part of their family Christmas.He found all the reminiscing boring. In fact, he found any occasion which wasn’t all about him boring.He insisted it would be ‘more romantic’ with just the two of them together.For some reason there was never a possibility of their going to his parents.They were probably as bored with his egocentricity as everyone else, she thought grimly.She and Jonathan had never really had a good Christmas together so going home to Mammy this year seemed almost like a good idea and she hoped that Séamus would still be waiting in the wings when she got back.She wondered vaguely what he was doing for Christmas.They hadn’t discussed it.
She hoped that she would have time to drop out to The Coven and see what was what a few times in December.Alice was still a client, in theory at least, so that could be the excuse.
Chapter 21
Cassandra went to Paris with James Madden on the 11thof December as arranged.It was the strangest assignment she had ever taken on.He was the perfect gentleman.They stayed in a beautiful hotel near the Elysée Palace and she was free every day.She wrapped up warm and spent the days walking around the city centre.She visited the Musée de l’Orangerie which been created by the architect Camille Lefèvre in collaboration with the painter Claude Monet to house paintings by the artist. The Musée had been closed for extensive renovation the last time she had visited so this opportunity to visit it was a real treat. It was superb. She spent two days browsing through the works of Monet, Picasso, Renoir, Matisse,
Cézanne and others.She then made her way to the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise where Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison are buried – among other very famous names. She had very mixed feelings about the glass barrier erected around Oscar Wilde’s grave to protect it from lipstick kisses but she supposed she could see the purpose of it.
She got particular pleasure out of the elegant Christmas lights in the city. But it was the window of Printemps in the Rue Lafayette which really enchanted her. It reminded her of the Switzers window in Dublin when she was a child and her parents took her every Christmas so see the fantasy world created within.The window in Printemps was similar, with Santa’s workshop, a scene from Snow Whiteand a beautiful Sleeping Beauty.There was a tiny passageway outside the window cordoned off for children so that they could walk past the window and see everything while their parents walked behind them outside the cordon.She stood for quite some time just watching the wonder on the faces of the children and, not for the first time,regretted that she might not have children of her own.
In the evenings she dined with James and his business associates or attended wine tastings. They paid particular attention to the ullage, they peered at the meniscus, while they eulogised the nose and commented on the legs to the extent that Cassandra began to believe that she was in a physiology lesson. But the company was interesting enough and she liked wine in any case though she wouldn’t have regarded herself as an expert.
She did a little bit of Christmas shopping.She bought a very elegant scarf for her dad though he seldom went out but, like herself, liked elegant clothes and she got some beautiful Christmas tree decorations for Alice – a sort of start-up pack for her apartment since Cassandra knew that she had lost everything in that line in the eviction.
On the evening before they left, she and James and his business associates went to the Opéra, which rounded off the stay beautifully.She caught the wine merchant eyeing her up several times.James was right – he did fancy him – so Cassandra played her part and behaved like a particularly affectionate lover which she considered to be part of her job.
By the time they headed for the airportshe felt beautifully relaxed. James got her a dry white wine in the executive lounge as they waited for their flight. He was very good company and she was enjoying herself thoroughly until Jack Madden came into the lounge surrounded by his entourage. Cassandra could feel the colour drain from her face. It was the first time she had seen him since Alice had been evicted – and more importantly since her car was tampered with. He saw her instantly and paused momentarily before sitting down at a table as far as possible from hers and ordering a large Irish.
“There’s your friendly neighbourhood Taoiseach,” James said with a grin.
“Neighbourhood he may be but I’m not so sure about the friendly,” Cassandra returned, hoping that he wouldn’t be on the same flight.
“I suppose he has the government jet,” James said and Cassandra relaxed again, realising that James was probably right.
But the gloss was gone from the trip and when they got back to Dublin Cassandra was glad to be able to catch a connecting flight to Galway and get back to her own apartment.
She had only a few clients before Christmas and James had paid her so handsomely that she decided not to take on any more.
Alice was trying with all her might not to be frazzled.There was no end to the demand for her Christmas ‘fayre’ at the hotel and she was at the same time trying to prepare for Christmas at The Coven and give the girls quality timebecause this would be their first Christmas without Jack and she wanted them to enjoy it. Nicola and Cassandra had been full of admiration when she told them about her business venture but the work was hard, she was permanently tired, and there were times when she wondered if she had bitten off more than she could chew.
On the 8th of December she took the girls Christmas shopping, continuing a tradition which her own mother had established when she and her brother and sister were children. The atmosphere was wonderful, the street lights spectacular and both girls noticed their mother went out of her way to put €15 into a collection box of a group of students who were singing carols in aid of the homeless. As well as presents for everyone at The Coven, they bought craft books because Orla was particularly anxious to make Christmas decorations this year – shehad learned how to make some tree decorations at school.Alice considered this a good idea – in particular because they had none left from Lady Gregory Court, so they bought the materials for those and other decorations they found in the books.
After that, Alice made it her business to have delivered her orders before collecting the girls from school and then she devoted the evenings to them. The girls worked with huge enthusiasm on the decorations and on several days Alice let them invite friends so that they could all do the decorations together which made it even more fun.The visitors usually took home some of the handiwork but that was also part of the fun. By the time the girls were ready for bed every evening that month so was Alice.The girls didn’t seem to notice how tired she was but Hugo and Eliza did and helped out as much as they could, given their own circumstances. They were determined that Alice’s first Christmas without Jack Madden would be one to remember for all the right reasons.
Alice had written a letter to her parents, telling them that her relationship with Jack was over and that she was now living in temporary accommodation until she found a place of her own.She didn’t go into detail because she didn’t want to burden them with the truth and she put in a photograph of the three of them which had been taken in the street on the day they went Christmas shopping.She sent them a Christmas cake by courier though her mother was a great baker and had probably already made a few for herself and other family members.
Hugo and Eliza were beside themselves with excitement at the prospect of meeting their grandchildren for the first time. Lizzie and the boys were expected on the 23rdof December and they would be staying until the 29th. It would be a great family Christmas.They invited Alice and the girls to Christmas dinner because they were the only tenants who would be remaining in The Coven for Christmas.
“We can’t intrude,” Alice said, conscious that this would be their first Christmas with their grandchildren but Eliza wouldn’t hear of her and the girls having Christmas dinner in their apartment.
“It won’t be an intrusion,” she insisted. “The boys will probably get bored of the adult company and will be glad of the girls to show off to.I’m not sure what they’re getting for Christmas but I guarantee you boys love to show off so the girls can be their audience. In any case, how could we hope to keep them apart?”
“You know, I’d been wondering about that,” said Alice. “Well, I’ll help with the dinner so.”
“We’ll be glad of your help,” Hugo said.“We are so out of practice these last few weeks we’re not sure where we keep the pots and pans any more!”
“I’ll bring a trifle,” Alice said. “It’s my grandmother’s recipe and it has to be eaten to be believed.I haven’t met a person yet who didn’t find it scrumptious.”
“That’s settled then,” said Eliza.
Nicola was really looking forward to the break, though she and Séamus wouldn’t be spending the actual day together.They were each going back to their families and had arranged that they would return to Galway before the New Year and spend their first New Year’s Eve together.She was still very comfortable with Séamus and she knew that he was very happy with her.After Jonathan, comfortable was what she wanted.She’d had enough of excitement and passion (though there was a fair share of passion in Séamus as well!). She was glad to see the back of the excitement because towards the end most of it was unpleasant.
On the 22ndof December she and Cassandra made their way once again to The Coven and were greeted at the door by Hugo. Alice had prepared a wonderful dinner, aided and abetted by Hugo. They both thought that Alice looked tired and maybe a bit stressed though she participated enthusiastically in the evening.
When carol singers came
to the door they all went to listen to them and they joined in with enthusiasm.The girls were delighted with this so they put on a Christmas CD and they all belted out such favourites as “Deck the Halls” and “Jingle Bells” until it was time for the girls to go to bed and Cassandra and Nicola to go home.
Chapter 22
Cassandra headed down to Clare early on Christmas Eve morning.She liked to get there early because the nursing home was usually very busy.The people who were not going anywhere for Christmas usually had visitors that day and the Matron was very pleased that Cassandra was willing to muck in. Cassandra paid particular attention to the ones who appeared to her to be lonely.There was a woman who had never had a visitor since she came to the home so Cassandra usually spent time with her on Christmas Eve and brought her a small gift for Christmas morning as well.She did her hair and her nails and in general made a bit of a fuss of her so that she would not feel excluded.She helped the ones who were going to family for the celebration with their packing and she made sure that those who were going on Christmas morning were well wrapped up against the cold.Her father smiled at her every time he saw her as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him to be there among a group of people neither of them knew well and that she should be helping to look after the others. Cassandra believed that this might have been because at home her mother was always inviting people in if she felt they were lonely and there was many a Christmas when they had someone not that well known to any of them at the table for dinner.
Christmas Eve was busier than Christmas Day because there were more people there.After some had left in the afternoon she helped serve the tea and turned on a suitable CD in the recreation room for those who did not wish to watch television in the lounge. She found working with these elderly people forced her to slow down.She was away from the rat race and she liked it.The fact that she was so near her beloved father was the icing on the cake.
Who is Alice? Page 18