‘Oh! I’m sorry, Oliver. That’s rough,’ Heather sympathized, trying to hide her surprise. What had gone wrong there?
‘That’s life. You never know what’s going to happen next.’ Oliver smiled ruefully and her heart went out to him. What a horrible thing to happen. He seemed such a nice bloke.
‘Well, I’ll get Ray to make an appointment with you to have a look around and give you a price guideline. And I can organize for a photographer to take a few photos. We’ll get the signs up in the next few days, get the ads in the property pages and organize the viewings. If you’ll just give me a number we can contact you at, that’s all I need for the moment,’ Heather said matter-of-factly.
‘I’ll give you my mobile number.’ He called out the digits and she took it down, feeling sorry for the harassed-looking man in front of her.
‘As soon as Ray comes back I’ll get him to give you a call. If I can get my hands on our photographer, would tomorrow morning be all right for him to take a few photos? Exterior shots are fine, if that’s what you prefer, but a few interior shots always help that little bit extra,’ she said tactfully.
‘That’s no problem, Heather. I’ll take a couple of hours off.’
‘If you like, I can come and let him in so that you don’t have to hang around,’ she offered.
‘Would you? I did have a meeting with architects that I’d prefer not to postpone. I’d appreciate that, Heather.’
‘OK, I’ll be at your house for nine and I can set the alarm when we’re finished,’ Heather assured him.
She watched him leave. At least she and Neil hadn’t been married or even engaged when they’d parted. Break-ups must be even worse when you were married. All that legal stuff that had to be dealt with. She chewed the top of her pen, glad that she hadn’t had those complications in her break-up. Sighing, she flicked through her Rolodex for the photographer’s number.
* * *
‘Call for you, Neil, I’ll transfer it.’ Carol stood at the door of her office and yelled at her boss. ‘You better hurry, it’s transatlantic.’
Neil’s heart did a somersault. ‘Catch you again, Tony,’ he said to the man he was talking to and took off at a trot to his office. He took a couple of deep breaths before he picked up the receiver.
‘Hello, Neil Brennan,’ he said coolly.
‘Well, hello there, big boy,’ Lorna drawled down the phone. ‘Are you getting in training for me?’
‘Do I need to? I’m fairly fit,’ he riposted.
‘You could never be fit enough for New York and a demanding woman.’ Lorna giggled. ‘Listen, we’re putting the latest edition of the magazine to bed so I’m not going to be able to meet you at the airport. Just take a cab to the hotel and I’ll meet you in Jack’s bar. You should get there around four, NY time.’
‘Oh, I was looking forward to a big kiss in arrivals.’ Neil was crestfallen.
‘Sorry about that,’ Lorna said airily. ‘It’s not like home here. I’m lucky to be getting time off. You know, the mighty dollar and all that. Make sure your credit card is clear. I’m going to take you shopping. Saks men’s department is waiting for you. No one in Kilronan will be able to keep up with you.’
‘Sounds good. We might go shopping to that Victoria’s place too,’ he suggested.
‘We’ll see. I have my eye on a few things that I might allow you to buy me. And we’re only a stone’s throw from Tiffany’s.’
‘Steady on, Lorna,’ Neil said in alarm.
‘I’m high maintenance, Neil, don’t ever forget that,’ Lorna warned. ‘Have to go now, I’ve to go to a meeting with the editor-in-chief. ’Byeeee.’
Neil heard the click of the receiver being put down. She was something else. And the thing was, she was perfectly serious about Tiffany’s. He was paying a fortune for a top-notch hotel, now she was looking for jewellery from Tiffany’s. Lorna hadn’t been exaggerating when she announced that she was ‘high maintenance’. Was she worth it though? That was the big question. At least she’d phoned him. He’d better get down to the bank and see if he could increase his credit limit on his Visa card. His accountant would have a fit, but it was a once-off, he comforted himself. He couldn’t go to New York on a shoestring.
Whistling, he shrugged into his jacket and headed for the bank.
* * *
‘Noreen, you’re back in London.’ Rajiv couldn’t hide his delight at the other end of the phone.
‘Yes, I am. I wondered could we meet. Somewhere private?’ she asked, feeling butterflies doing tangos in her tummy.
‘But of course, Noreen. Is something wrong?’
‘I just need to talk to you,’ Noreen repeated.
‘There’s a very nice hotel in Knightsbridge, just behind Harrods, called the Franklin, they have discreet drawing-rooms that we could talk in, and a rather good restaurant downstairs if you’d like dinner,’ he suggested.
‘That sounds perfect, Rajiv. Could we meet tomorrow?’ she asked hesitantly.
‘This evening if you wish. I can be free,’ he said in his melodic lilting voice.
‘OK,’ she agreed, wanting to get it over with.
‘Shall I pick you up? Where are you staying?’
‘No, no,’ she demurred hastily, preferring to make her own way there. ‘I might indulge in a little bit of shopping first,’ she fibbed.
‘OK, Noreen, whatever you wish. The Franklin for five thirty? Six?’
‘Five thirty’s fine. I’ll see you there,’ Noreen said lightly. ‘’Bye.’ She put down the receiver and exhaled deeply. Telling a man that you’ve slept with once, and only then because you were pissed, that you were pregnant was not what she had ever planned for herself, and at her age it was ridiculous. Once she’d told Rajiv and got that out of the way she was going to rent a flat of her own until she found a place where she wanted to live.
She took a deep breath and keyed in Rita’s number. She hadn’t phoned her since she’d missed her when she called at the house. Rita was another ordeal to get through.
‘Halloo,’ her sister’s lawdy-daw tones floated down the line.
‘Rita, hi, it’s me—’
‘Very poor line,’ Rita remarked. ‘Where are you ringing from?’
‘Sorry about that. I’m phoning from my mobile. I’m in London,’ Noreen said briskly.
‘You’ve gone back! How long—’
‘Rita, I won’t be back. Oliver and I have separated. And I’m having a baby in December and it’s not his,’ Noreen declared bluntly.
‘Good God!’ Merciful hour!’ Rita was flabbergasted. Noreen felt like laughing hysterically. It was rare for Rita to be completely floored.
‘So that’s the way it is, Rita. I don’t know when I’ll be back in Kilronan again.’
‘But … but … Noreen, are you mad? Getting pregnant by someone else. Mind, I always felt that Oliver was a surly ignoramus. His behaviour at the chris—’
‘Rita, Oliver is the most steadfast man a woman could wish for and I won’t hear a word against him. Now I have to go. I’ll be in touch,’ Noreen said coldly.
‘Oh! Well! Suit yourself,’ Rita said huffily.
‘’Bye, Rita,’ Noreen retorted and hung up. She was certainly not going to allow her sister to call Oliver names under any circumstances. Still, at least she’d got Rita out of the way, now she only had to break the news to Rajiv and she could get on with things.
The afternoon dragged by and she was like a cat on a griddle by the time she hailed a taxi to take her to Knightsbridge. Her stomach was queasy and tight with tension. What would Rajiv say? Would he want her to have a termination like Pete had all those years ago?
It doesn’t matter what he says.
This is not about him.
It’s about you and your baby.
You don’t need him if he’s not prepared to support you, she argued silently in the back of the taxi. Noreen suddenly sat up straight. She wasn’t a pathetic, lovestruck doormat any more. She was a strong, determined wo
man. And Rajiv was no Pete. This time it would be totally different.
The traffic wasn’t too bad, and she felt better when she got out at the elegant redbrick building with the discreet gold nameplate gleaming in the late afternoon sun. A small reception area led on to two reception rooms with comfy chairs and sofas. Both were empty. She choose the smaller one and went back out to reception to order a pot of tea. ‘English breakfast, please,’ she said briskly as the receptionist recited her litany of teas.
It was a peaceful room and she picked one of the daily papers off a side table and flicked through it as she waited for her tea to arrive. It and Rajiv arrived at the same time, so she ordered another cup for him.
‘Hello.’ He smiled at her with a hint of embarrassment. Noreen felt herself blush and laughed.
‘Let’s not be embarrassed, Rajiv,’ she said warmly, giving him a hug.
‘I never did anything like that before,’ he confessed as he sat beside her on the sofa.
‘Me neither,’ Noreen admitted. ‘Oh, Rajiv, I’ve something to tell you and I just want you to know that I’m happy about it in one way. I’m going to have a baby. It’s yours. And Oliver and I have split up.’ It all came out rather breathlessly and not in the calm measured way that she had been practising earlier in the afternoon.
Rajiv could only stare, his brown eyes getting bigger and rounder as he assimilated the news. ‘A … a baby…’ he stuttered. ‘Mine? Does Oliver know?’
Noreen nodded. ‘I told him a few days ago. He was very kind, Rajiv, he wanted us to stay together and just get on with things. But I didn’t think it was fair. Everyone would know it wasn’t his. He’d know every time he looked at it and I think I’ve caused him enough hurt and damage in his life,’ she said sadly.
‘No … no … don’t say that. It wasn’t intentional.’ Rajiv gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder.
‘How do you feel about it?’ She looked him in the eye, not sure of what she’d find.
He smiled his warm lopsided smile. ‘I feel joyous, Noreen. Here I was living an empty sort of life and now you are back. And having a baby that I fathered. Children are joy. So indeed I feel great joy. I hope I can be part of the child’s life. And if I am, I hope it will be a little girl. I always wanted a little girl, but my wife felt one child was enough.’
Noreen burst into tears. ‘Oh Rajiv, I’m happy to be having this baby. You’ll never know how happy. But I feel so bad about Oliver and I miss him. I’ll need your help.’
‘You’ll have it. I promise. I promise. We must find you somewhere nice to live. But are you sure leaving your husband is the right thing?’ He looked perturbed as he handed her a fresh hanky, completely unabashed by her tears – so unlike poor Oliver, she thought fleetingly.
‘It is, I know it is, for him and for me. We weren’t really suited, Rajiv. He couldn’t give me what I needed. And I only caused him grief. And I didn’t mean that I needed financial help or anything like that,’ she added quickly, anxious that he wouldn’t think she was looking for money from him. ‘I just want to know that I can share the good times and the difficult times of our child’s life with you.’
‘With pleasure, Noreen, with pleasure. Just tell me what you want from me and I will try my best to give it,’ Rajiv said earnestly. ‘But you must let me help look for somewhere to live. That I insist.’ He spoke quite firmly.
‘Well, if you insist then, Rajiv, that’s fine,’ Noreen agreed.
‘Excellent! Now, are you well? Do you have sickness? Have you had a scan yet? When is the baby due?’ The questions came pouring out, and relieved that she no longer had to shoulder her pregnancy alone and that everyone she needed to tell had been told, she sipped her tea and brought him up to date.
* * *
Oliver vacuumed the bedroom, dusted, and used a couple of Flash wipes to clean the ensuite. What a pain this was going to be, keeping the house tidy so that strangers could wander at will through the rooms. Half the town would probably come to poke their noses in, he thought grumpily as he jiggled the toilet brush up and down the loo and sprayed it with bleach. Heather Williams and that photographer were coming first thing. Noreen would go mad if she thought that the house was like a pigsty. Pity she wasn’t here to do the cleaning, he thought resentfully, angry with her that things had come to this.
Maybe he was making a mistake putting the house on the market, but he’d told Noreen he was selling and he’d better do it now, he frowned, as he flushed the toilet.
His mother had phoned him on his mobile to say that there was a dinner ready for him, so he supposed he’d better drive over and have it. Then he was going to go to the pub and lower a few pints for himself. He couldn’t get mouldy drunk. He had a meeting in the morning and he needed his wits about him, but one of these days he was going to go on a batter and blot everything out for a few hours. It was the least he deserved.
42
What a city! What a city! Neil didn’t know which side of the cab to look out of. He was wide-eyed with excitement. All around him skyscrapers soared into the clear blue sky. Horns honked. ‘Walk Don’t Walk’ signs flashed overhead, just like he’d seen in numerous films and TV series. Even if he hadn’t been going to spend a weekend with Lorna he’d have a ball here. He could feel the buzz. Whatever the weekend cost, it would be well worth the money. He was on an absolute high.
He thoroughly enjoyed the attentions of the doorman and bellboys when the taxi drew to a halt outside the hotel. He signed his registration form with a flourish. This is the way to live, he thought proudly as he was taken to his room and respectfully ushered in. The bed was huge. It was the first thing he noticed. As wide as it was long, with big fluffy pillows, he’d have a great time in it with Lorna. Neil was surprised at the size of the room. He’d stayed in London a few times and had found hotel rooms small and cramped. He’d expected the same if not worse in New York. This was a very pleasant surprise.
There was a state of the art entertainment deck with a VCP and DVD, a safe, desk, fax machine, data port and voicemail, call waiting and modem. He could work from here if he wanted. Lorna had chosen well. Terrific room-service menu as well, he noted as he flicked through the hotel information folder. Pity he was only staying for three nights. He felt hot and sticky after his flight so he headed into the bathroom and had a quick shower. He wanted to appear cool, casual and in control when Lorna walked into the bar. He was sipping a cold, refreshing Bud when she sashayed into the bar, dressed in a short suede skirt and a body-hugging white shirt, with her suede fringed bag slung casually over her shoulder. She looked a million dollars and he felt a flicker of nervous anticipation when he saw her.
‘Hi, babe, I’ll have a Margarita,’ she said insouciantly, as though she’d only seen him hours ago. She leaned across and kissed him lightly on the cheek. He inhaled the scent of her. What a woman!
‘So you made it,’ she said coolly, when he’d ordered.
‘Wild horses wouldn’t keep me away,’ he said huskily. ‘Let’s go up to the room.’
Lorna laughed. ‘Neil, you’re like, so unsubtle. Totally uncool. Really! There’ll be plenty of time for that.’ He flushed at her rebuke, feeling crass and unsophisticated. What a daft thing to say. She eyed him curiously. ‘How did you manage to get here? What did you tell Heather? Are you supposed to be at a conference?’
‘Heather found out about us a week after you flew out. She flipped, needless to say.’ Neil grimaced. ‘Left my computer and the files in a right mess before she left. It took me ages to get it sorted. I never thought she could be so bitchy. I was shocked,’ he said plaintively, playing the sympathy card.
‘Oh dear, are we the talk of the parish? Mum can’t have heard anything or she would have said it to me. Just as well she doesn’t hob-nob with the plebs.’ Lorna gave a little giggle. Kilronan was thousands of miles away and she didn’t give a hoot. Heather would get over it and find someone else.
‘It’s not funny. Heather hates my guts,’ Neil reproached.
‘Mine too, I’m sure.’ Lorna sipped her Margarita. ‘Let’s face it, Neil, we weren’t exactly discreet. We didn’t care if we were found out.’
‘I suppose you’re right,’ he agreed. ‘What does that say about us?’
‘Not a lot,’ Lorna said cheekily. ‘Now drink up and come on, you’re in New York and you’re only here until Sunday. Where do you want to go first?’
‘Bed,’ he said hopefully, not caring if he sounded gauche or un-PC. Lorna was right, he only had until Sunday afternoon to have his wicked way with her.
‘Later! I told you. We’re going to do the tourist thing now and tomorrow, interspersed with serious shopping. Bed is for nighttime. I’ve booked us a table at the Russian Tea Rooms for dinner. It’s just a few blocks down the street. That means we’ve time to walk across to Fifth Avenue and Madison, to do a little shopping, come back here, change, have dinner, fall into bed, get up at the crack of dawn to go for a swim, do some sightseeing, more shopping, go to dinner and a club, fall into bed, make mad passionate love, get up, go for a—’
‘Whoa!’ Neil laughed. ‘I’m exhausted already.’
‘Welcome to New York.’ Lorna smirked.
* * *
The jelly was cold and slithery against her tummy and her heart raced with excitement. Noreen studied the monitor carefully. Was she seeing things? It couldn’t be right. She looked again and looked at the doctor. She was smiling at her. ‘You’re not seeing things, Noreen. Congratulations, you’re having twins.’
‘Oh my God.’ Noreen was stunned. God, You really have forgiven me, she thought with a great burst of happiness as she turned to Rajiv. His eyes were aglow with delight, a melon-sliced smile creasing his face.
‘We’ve been doubly blessed, Noreen. This is a very good day,’ he said tenderly, bending down to gently kiss her on the forehead.
Two little babies, two little souls entrusted to her care; she would be the best mother she could possibly be, she vowed. She couldn’t believe it, but there they were, on the monitor, with two fine strong heartbeats. Tears of happiness brimmed in her eyes. This was much more than she deserved.
Two For Joy Page 39