Two For Joy

by Patricia Scanlan

  Oliver would be happy for her. He’d understand what a joy it was for her to be having two babies. Part of her wished with all her heart that it was him that was holding her hand and kissing her on the forehead and sharing her happiness. But that was a path she couldn’t go down, she had to look forward. She owed that to her babies. They would be attuned to every emotion, tucked snugly in her womb. She couldn’t wallow in regrets and sadness. She had to be as positive as she could possibly be. It wasn’t all about her any more. Noreen resolutely banished all thoughts of Oliver from her head. The past was the past, she had to move on.

  * * *

  ‘I hear Mister Brennan’s gone off to New York. I wonder will he bump into Lorna?’ Anne Williams said disdainfully as she poured Heather a cup of tea and handed her a plate of buttered toast.

  Heather’s stomach lurched and the old familiar heartache returned with a vengeance. He was going to her! They must be keeping in touch. Maybe it was serious between them. She just couldn’t bear it if Neil and Lorna ended up together. He could go and see anyone else, she’d get over that, but she so much wanted for things to end badly between her ex-boyfriend and her cousin. Her favourite fantasy was of Neil seeing Lorna in her true colours and coming back to her, broken and penitent, begging her to take him back. And how she would enjoy his grovelling before telling him she wanted nothing to do with him.

  Anne took a closer look at her, noting her pallor. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. Sorry, Heather, it was a bit tactless of me,’ she said contritely.

  ‘Ah, why should it bother me any more. They’re welcome to each other,’ Heather said despondently.

  ‘What! What do you mean, welcome to each other?’ Anne said sharply.

  Oh no! Heather could have kicked herself. It had slipped out in an unguarded moment. Now her mother was going to do handstands.

  ‘Are you telling me that that … that two-faced slug slept with Lorna? Are you telling me that that little bitch did that to you, Heather?’

  ‘Forget it, Mother, I’m doing my best to,’ Heather said tightly.

  ‘Indeed I won’t. I’ve a good mind to go over to Jane and Gerard and tell them what that little tart of a daughter of theirs has done. How mean and underhand. Who does she think she is?’

  ‘Oh, Mam, don’t! Just stay out of it. I mean that now,’ Heather exclaimed angrily.

  ‘I’m only standing up for you, Heather,’ her mother declared indignantly.

  ‘Mam, I don’t need you to stand up for me. I’m not a child. I can stand on my own two feet, but thank you anyway.’

  ‘Well, it’s a disgrace! An absolute disgrace, and if I ever get my hands on that pair they’ll be the sorry ones.’ Anne was fit to be tied.

  ‘I’m off to work, Ma. I’ll see you, and for God’s sake please don’t say it to Dad,’ Heather warned.

  ‘Don’t worry, he’s the last one I’d tell,’ her mother said grimly.

  ‘You idiot!’ Ruth declared later, as Heather gave her the low-down on her mobile.

  ‘I know. I wasn’t thinking. I just got such a shock when I heard he’d gone to New York. It hurt,’ she said defensively.

  ‘What do you care what that bastard does any more? Didn’t Anne Jensen tell you there was a much nicer man for you? She was right about the job, wasn’t she? Forget that pair and don’t be wasting your energy on them.’

  ‘Ah, it’s easier said than done,’ Heather said mournfully, feeling very sorry for herself. Ruth had no idea what she was going through. She’d never been dumped. And certainly not in favour of her own cousin. ‘I’ll talk to you later,’ she said crossly. ‘’Bye.’

  She drove directly to Oliver’s house. She had a couple coming to view at nine thirty. She now had a set of keys. She knew the house would be shipshape. Oliver was very good like that, she approved, as she turned left off the main street and headed towards the lake. She liked showing Oliver’s house and she enjoyed her conversations with him. He had an extremely dry sense of humour and often made her laugh with his wry observations. To her surprise his car was parked outside. She knocked on the front door. Moments later he opened it.

  ‘Hi, Heather,’ he said politely. ‘I had to come back to get my chequebook. I forgot it this morning. Who’s coming today? Any nosy parkers?’

  Heather shook her head. ‘No, this couple are from Dublin. They want to move to the country and still be within commuting range to visit their family.’ Unconsciously she gave a deep, deep sigh as she followed him into the kitchen.

  ‘That came from the toes,’ he observed.

  ‘Sorry,’ Heather apologized. ‘Bad day.’

  ‘Tell me about them,’ he said wryly. ‘What’s up?’

  ‘Ah, I just heard that Neil’s gone out to New York to see Lorna. I feel like stabbing them,’ she said viciously.

  Oliver laughed. ‘Woman, don’t let bitterness eat you up, it’s not worth it.’ He looked at her in some surprise. ‘Is that Lorna Morgan, your cousin?’

  ‘Yep. That’s who I got ditched for. My own cousin.’ She made a face.

  ‘He’s a bit of a moron, isn’t he?’ Oliver remarked. ‘Anyone can see she’s only interested in herself.’

  ‘I know. But he can’t see that. He mustn’t have had any feelings for me at all.’ Heather started feeling sorry for herself again.

  ‘Do you think that he’s thinking about you or your feelings, right now?’ he asked bluntly.

  She shook her head.

  ‘Well then, don’t give him free lodgings in your head any more. Just get on with it.’

  ‘It’s hard, though,’ she protested, taking the cup of tea he poured for her.

  ‘I know. No one knows better than me. I don’t say it lightly,’ he said kindly.

  ‘Are you bitter about Noreen?’ Heather was curious. He was surprisingly easy to talk to. It helped that they were in the same boat.

  ‘I’m trying not to be,’ he said gruffly.

  ‘How do you keep her out of your head?’

  ‘Work! Work! Work! And then you’re so tired when you fall into bed you conk out. Walking’s good too.’

  ‘Yeah, but your work is very physical,’ she pointed out. ‘It wears you out. Mine doesn’t.’

  ‘Go to the gym, walk, swim,’ Oliver advised, matter-of-factly.

  ‘I need to. I put on ten pounds comfort eating, and I couldn’t afford that anyway.’

  ‘Better to be looking at it than looking for it,’ Oliver said diplomatically with a twinkle in his eye, and she started to laugh.

  ‘There’s a lovely view from this window. This house won’t take long to sell.’ She changed the subject. ‘No, no, wait, don’t look out now,’ she said hastily, spying a single magpie on the lawn as he turned his head to look out.

  ‘Why not?’ He looked startled at her vehemence.

  ‘There’s one magpie out there,’ she informed him, scanning the skies for his mate. ‘I hate that,’ she muttered.

  ‘Do you believe in that old nonsense?’ Oliver jeered.

  ‘Well, I know it’s silly, I’d just prefer to see two,’ she said defensively. ‘Two for joy, you know!’

  ‘I suppose you read your stars too,’ he teased. ‘You women, always looking for signs and portents.’

  ‘Oliver, I went to a fortune-teller a while ago and she told me I’d change my job and use skills that I’d learned in a previous job. And she was right. Don’t dismiss it all out of hand.’

  ‘What else did she tell you, that you’d win the lottery?’ he scoffed.

  Heather laughed. ‘No, smarty-pants, but she told me there was a new man on the periphery of my life.’

  ‘And is there?’

  ‘I don’t know, he’s staying rooted to the periphery so far, but I live in hopes.’ She smiled, feeling much more cheerful after her little chat with him.

  ‘I wonder what she’d say to me?’ Oliver raised an eyebrow.

  ‘You should go to her, she’s good,’ Heather said earnestly.

  ‘Ah,
I’ll leave that to you, Heather. The next time you go you can ask her if she sees anything nice for me.’

  ‘I will,’ she promised as he rinsed his cup and left her to await her clients.

  * * *

  Lorna was pleasantly tipsy as she pointed out Carnegie Hall to Neil on their way back to the hotel. It was a balmy evening, a lovely end to one of the best days she’d had since she’d come to New York. They’d gone shopping with gusto and Neil was the proud owner of two new suits, one an Armani, a Calvin Klein sweater, and some classic Ralph Lauren casuals, from the snazzy Madison Avenue store. A leather belt in Saks had cost him $200. He’d been reluctant to buy it but she’d persuaded him; the spirit of New York had overtaken him and he’d thrown caution to the wind and treated her to a DKNY little black number to die for and a beautiful Nicole Farhi top and trousers that made her look a million dollars.

  Exhilarated, she had taken him to the Rockefeller Center for coffee when he’d started to flag, the five-hour difference beginning to kick in.

  ‘That’s Saint Patrick’s Cathedral across the street. I haven’t actually visited. Churches aren’t my thing.’

  ‘Me neither.’ Neil grinned. ‘Will we go to the Empire State?’

  ‘No, not with all these parcels, it will be packed now anyway and you have a lot of queuing to do. We’ll go first thing in the morning. I think we should go back to the hotel, drop our stuff and go for a swim and then change for dinner. We shouldn’t waste the hotel; after all, it’s one of the best in New York and has one of the top ten health clubs.’

  ‘I couldn’t agree more.’ Neil stared lustfully at her. Lorna felt her heart sink. What would the sex be like this time? She’d been as drunk as a skunk the last time. She felt nervous.

  She needn’t have worried. Neil was so horny it made her horny too, and it was all over in less than five minutes. And she’d felt quite tingly. Definitely getting better, she thought happily as she swam in the rooftop pool, with the lights of New York’s skyscrapers twinkling above her like a multitude of diamonds. She floated along lazily, utterly relaxed. Their room was perfect. She was very pleased with her choice of hotel. Minimalist chic, muted greys and blues.

  Tasteful. So unlike the boring creams and yellows of the hotels she’d worked in. This was the life she was cut out for! How was she going to endure going back to work in Zack’s crummy diner, when Neil went home?

  He was extremely impressed by the fact that she knew her way around so well. He didn’t realize yet that it was practically impossible to get lost in New York with the grid system. Still, it was nice that he believed her façade and saw her as a chic, sophisticated, uptown babe. It helped her believe that she was one for a little while. Lorna sighed. Why couldn’t she be like Carina and simply enjoy the buzz and the different lifestyle? Why was she always grasping for something that seemed so out of reach? It was a pity Neil wasn’t rich enough for her. She’d really enjoyed shopping with him. He too liked the good things in life. He too had social aspirations.

  She climbed elegantly out of the pool, conscious that his eyes were on her, and wrapped herself in the luxurious terry-towelling robe that had been waiting for her in the room. She was tired now, and Neil was exhausted. Just as well they were dining close by.

  The Russian Tearooms had impressed Neil no end. Lorna thought the bright golds and reds more than a tad garish but the food was luscious, the caviar with buckwheat blinis and melted butter a culinary delight. Neil had wolfed down his beef Stroganoff in mustard cream sauce. Lorna had gone for the flame-grilled skewered lamb.

  Neil had brought her up to date on the home gossip as they lingered over brandies.

  ‘I think Oliver Flynn and his wife have split. I heard she’s in London. He sold me her car just before I came over. And the house is up for sale. It all happened out of the blue in the last few days.’

  ‘They didn’t last long. That’s a fabulous house, I had a look at it when it was being built. I wouldn’t mind a house like that,’ Lorna said wistfully.

  ‘I’ll buy it for you,’ joked Neil. ‘I wouldn’t mind living in it myself. What else? Heather has a new, well, second-hand, two-year-old Ford Focus. I saw her getting out of it the other day. She was working in Fred’s—’

  ‘The chipper!’ squawked Lorna, agog at this titbit. ‘Is she mad? How common.’ She turned up her pert little nose.

  ‘Yeah, well, it was only temporary. I saw her going into Carleton’s the other day all dressed up in a suit and carrying a briefcase. I don’t know if she’s buying some place or working there. I’ve seen her driving around in the car, so she must be still living in Kilronan.’

  ‘She’ll never speak to me again.’ Lorna made a little moue.

  ‘Or me,’ sighed Neil.

  ‘Anyway, there’s nothing we can do about it, let’s forget it and not ruin our evening. I wonder why the Flynns split up. He’s a fine thing, very sexy bod. And he’s loaded. He won’t stay on his own for long. I wonder would I have a chance?’ Lorna stretched sensuously, thrusting out her boobs.

  ‘Hey, less of that. You’ll be giving me a complex,’ Neil exclaimed, unable to take his eyes off her.

  ‘Well, he is sexy. I saw him once with his shirt off. What a chest. What shoulders. He’s not my type though, unfortunately. He really is a clodhopper.’

  ‘You used to think I was a clodhopper,’ Neil accused.

  ‘You’re coming on. That gear we bought today will really help the image. Looking smart is so key in business.’

  ‘Image is everything,’ Neil agreed, quoting his favourite axiom. ‘I’ll just have to come to New York every season to update my wardrobe.’ He smiled at her and Lorna found to her surprise that she felt quite fond of him.

  They strolled back to the hotel arm in arm and she was quite looking forward to some passionate lovemaking, now that she was getting the hang of it. Definitely the best day she’d had since she came to America, she decided as they entered the hotel.

  They kissed in the lift and when they got to their room Lorna huskily told him to give her a moment to change into the sexy outfit she’d bought in Victoria’s Secret. Tingly with anticipation, she changed into the see-through black wispy chiffon creation and emerged seductively into the bedroom. Only to find that Neil was flakers, snoring like a train. Technically because of the five-hour time difference he’d been up all night, she realized, and they’d had a few drinks. Nevertheless she was still miffed. Lorna slid out of her lingerie and got in beside him. So much for a night of passion. She pummelled her pillow into shape and snuggled down in her side of the bed, pleased that the bed was so big and that she could lie comfortably without touching him. She liked her own space in bed, hated men’s legs and arms flung over her as they slept. She yawned. It had been a long, busy, but very enjoyable day; they could have sex in the morning. Minutes later, she was asleep herself.

  * * *

  Heather tossed and turned restlessly. She could hear the birds chirruping, signalling the dawn. What were Neil and Lorna doing now? They were probably entwined together, making love and laughing at her. Did he whisper endearments into Lorna’s ear the way he used to with her? Was he feeding her croissants, dripping with butter and jam, for breakfast? Were they walking hand in hand through Central Park, or skimming stones across the lake? She’d never been away with Neil. They’d been meant to be going to the Slieve Russell, which was supposed to be pretty luxurious, until she’d found out about Lorna.

  She’d have been waiting a long time before he took her to New York, she thought bitterly. Lorna no doubt had clicked her fingers and he’d gone running. He was probably spending a fortune on her. Lorna would wheedle money out of Scrooge. Her cousin was such a manipulating little cow. It had taken her years to see it, despite Ruth’s constant nagging about it. Neil, the fool, probably couldn’t see beyond his dick. Well, one day he’d know the truth, and that day couldn’t come soon enough for Heather.

  It was all right for Oliver Flynn to tell her not to waste her time b
eing bitter. She had invested a lot of time and effort into Neil Brennan and it hurt desperately having it all thrown back in her face. Heather lay tormenting herself, knowing she’d have to get up for work in a few hours’ time. She’d hardly slept a wink all night and she was bog-eyed.

  If only she could get them out of her head. Where was this man on the periphery of her life? Was it Ray? She liked her new boss very much. He was a couple of years older than her and he was hugely interested in his work, but she wasn’t sure if she fancied him. And so far he had made no move to let her know if he fancied her. Her grandmother always said the only way to get over one man was to find another. Heather’s mystery man couldn’t make an appearance in her life quick enough as far as she was concerned, she thought tiredly, yawning so hard her jaw ached as the birds outside her window twittered and chirruped exuberantly as the sun rose high in the sky.

  * * *

  The shrill ring of the phone startled Oliver. It was only ten to eight, who on earth would be ringing him this early? Maybe there was something wrong with Cora.

  ‘Hello?’ he said anxiously.

  ‘Oliver, hi, it’s me.’ He heard Noreen’s voice down the line.

  ‘Is anything wrong?’ he demanded.

  ‘No, no, not at all. I just wanted to catch you before you went to work. You know the way your mobile can be out of range sometimes?’ Noreen said hastily.

  ‘How are you?’ he asked, surprised to hear his wife’s voice at this hour of the morning.

  ‘I’m fine, Oliver, feeling much better actually.’

  ‘That’s good,’ he said briskly.

  ‘I had my scan, Oliver. You’ll never guess. I’m going to have twins!’

  ‘Twins!’ exclaimed Oliver. ‘How do you feel about that?’

  ‘Oh, Oliver. How do you think after what I’ve told you? I’m chuffed! Two little babies. I really do feel forgiven,’ she bubbled.

  ‘Noreen, you weren’t ever being punished. You were the one that was punishing yourself.’

  ‘And you,’ Noreen said quietly.

  ‘Forget it. I’m delighted for you. Is everything OK with the bloke? Have you told him?’