by Anita Notaro
‘My God, Maddy, this is big.’ Clodagh danced her round the room and I did the same to a delighted Pete. ‘You’ve finally got the break you deserve. I am so thrilled for you.’ And with that she burst into happy tears.
‘What did your family say?’
‘What did Porky Pauline do?’
The questions came thick and fast.
‘No one knows, although I can’t wait to see that cow’s face when she realizes she can’t dangle a manky ten-week contract – maximum ten weeks, by the way, maybe even week to week if she really hates me – over me any longer. That’s my first task after New Year, and I’m dying for it. Anyway, I wanted my two best friends to be the first to know.’ She grinned. ‘I’ll let my gang in on it tomorrow.’
‘God, it’s huge. You’ll be a proper celebrity.’ I hugged her again.
‘And that fucking grotty hairnet can finally be burned.’ She whooped.
‘We’ll be invited everywhere,’ Clodagh said. ‘I might even get to meet Ryan Tubridy.’ He was one of her TV idols, and she lived in hope.
The next half-hour was absolute bedlam, so much so that the turkey was done and we hadn’t even put in the roasties, so we wrapped it in foil and each took a job while we drank and laughed and caught up.
‘So, what’s happening with Mike?’ Maddy slipped in as she made the gravy. The champagne had loosened my tongue, so it all came tumbling out, and I showed them the card that had come with the flowers. There were whoops and whistles and shouts of ‘I told you so,’ and ‘You owe me a tenner,’ as they slapped hands in the air and teased me like mad.
‘OK, calm down,’ Clodagh said eventually, ‘and let’s recap. We know that Maddy and Ronan have a date lined up—’
‘And Myrtle made me a Christmas pudding, so I’m in, I reckon,’ said Maddy, and we all cheered at that.
‘And Joe Quinn texted me last night after twelve to say he was thinking of me.’ Another round of whoops greeted that. ‘So what exactly is the state of play with you and Mike, Lulu?’
‘Listen, telling her she’s a great kisser is not a bad start,’ Maddy said firmly. ‘I haven’t even gotten that far myself.’
‘Really?’ Neither of us could believe it. Maddy was not one to waste time.
‘Well, there aren’t many opportunities to snog in full public view, usually with his granny beside you.’ She laughed.
‘I’ve nothing else to add,’ I told them. ‘I sent a text to say thanks for the present to both of them, and Louis rang to say it had all been Mike’s idea and that he had gone to New York that day to spend the holiday with his folks. Then he invited me – and you two, by the way – to his New Year bash on 2 January, so I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what happens.’
‘Will Mike be back?’
‘He’d better be,’ I laughed. ‘I’d like him there.’ I only realized it as I said it.
‘Bound to be, I’d say he wouldn’t miss it. And we’ll be right there with you anyway, babe,’ Maddy said. ‘I can’t wait.’
‘Me neither, I have great hopes for you two.’ Clodagh threw in her tuppence worth.
It was almost five when we finally sat down, but everything tasted delicious, or maybe we were just starving.
‘I keep forgetting to ask you, Lou,’ Clodagh said. ‘What about Becky, where is she spending the day?’
‘With Mum in San Diego. Seemingly, she was missing her girls and her husband offered to buy tickets for both of us. I said no, sure she barely knows I’ve moved house even.’
‘Well, you’re coming home with me tomorrow, that’ll make you appreciate yours, I reckon.’ Maddy grimaced. ‘You’re invited, too, Clodagh, you know that.’
‘Yes, sorry, I should have let you know, I’m being dragged to the races by Mum and Dad, along with about a dozen of the world’s most boring members of the Rich List. I only said yes because they still haven’t forgiven me for not going home today.’
My phone rang just then, and to my amazement it was Mum. I didn’t even know she knew my mobile number; normally, the odd email was all I got. Anyway, she told me how much she missed me, said she couldn’t believe I hadn’t come to see her and that I was spending Christmas in a caravan, then promptly burst into tears. I assured her that I was fine, and Maddy and Clodagh both blew kisses back at her all the way to the USA and agreed with her that Barack Obama was probably the messiah.
She’d been dipping into more than the cooking sherry, Maddy reckoned, and we turned off all phones then and toasted what was shaping up to be a great day and a New Year that looked rosy on all fronts.
25
THE NEXT DAY WAS HAPPY BEDLAM WITH MADDY’S GANG, AND I spent most of the day helping her mum and trying to persuade her to chill. Compared to my family, Maddy’s were a cross between the Waltons and the Brady Bunch, and they constantly got involved in each other’s lives without being asked, said whatever they liked and yet you just knew they’d always be friends. Because they’d known me practically all my life, they embraced me as one of their own, and just spending time with them always cheered me up. This year they wanted to know everything about the changes I’d made, and I got hugged and kissed more than usual as they all congratulated me and wished me well. They’d even bought me a ‘mobile-warming’ present of a pair of old-fashioned deckchairs, because Maddy told them being at my new place was just like being at the seaside.
Connie hugged me loads and told me how much she loved me, which she did often, and because it was such a contrast to my own mum, it never failed to make me gulp. And this year it hit home even more than before, and I resolved once again to talk to my own mother as soon as I could.
When Maddy finally dropped us off the following afternoon I knew I’d miss their warmth, but I was ready for the simple life once more. I spent the next few days catching up on paperwork, giving the van a good clean and indulging Pete with two-hour treks in remote parts of County Wicklow, where there were plenty of new smells and lots of nasty stuff to roll in.
Becky and I had planned to spend New Year’s Eve together, but our small family reunion never happened, simply because she forgot and made other plans and, for once, I hadn’t bothered to nail it down. I was disappointed although not surprised; it was just that, this year, I really wanted to show her my new life and talk openly for once. For the first time, I realized that I hated having a sister I didn’t really know. However, not sharing our lives bothered me but not her, or so it seemed.
When Maddy heard she dragged me off to a ‘luvvie’ party, and we had a great time, and Ronan texted both of us around midnight so she was happy. Clodagh had an unexpected date with Joe, who’d come back early from his ski trip because there was no snow. She rang us at midnight, so all was well with the world.
Between us, we’d made a ton of resolutions. Maddy wanted to ‘Become a star and get laid’; Clodagh was slightly more modest, declaring her number-one ambition was to start her own business, with ‘Find a nice man’ a close second; while I didn’t want anything really, except maybe to see where my friendship with Mike took me, but I was trying to be philosophical about it and it seemed to be working. I felt no pressure, although I was hoping he’d be at the party.
I did absolutely nothing next day; it had been my first big drinking session the night before since the ‘puke party’, as the girls called it, so I was a bit tender, even though I’d been reasonably careful. As I settled in that evening, Pete started barking for no reason and kept trying to get out. I didn’t let him go just in case it was teenagers with fireworks, which had been happening a bit since Halloween two months earlier, and he eventually settled down, but I noticed he cocked his ears at the slightest sound.
‘You’re a great watchdog.’ I felt a bit nervous as I got ready for bed, so I double-checked that all doors and windows were locked. Still, I fell asleep in an instant and didn’t stir until the alarm beeped – so not that nervous, obviously.
Next day it was back to work but, for the first time ever, I wasn’t dreading i
t, in fact I was in great form as I strapped Pete on the bike and headed off. There were lots of moans and groans in the corridors that morning, although everyone cheered up when they saw Pete, wearing his shades on his doggie sun visor – Maddy’s Christmas present – an instant smile-maker which helped combat those first-day-back blues which everyone, except me and Mary, seemed weighed down with.
‘If I take one more trip down Memory Lane with my uncle Dan or eat one more slice of Aunty Eileen’s pudding, I’ll scream,’ she told me the minute I saw her. ‘Am I the only one who’s happy it’s all over?’
‘Not if my previous life is anything to go by,’ I assured her. ‘Why do you think the Samaritans are at their busiest this time of year? All that enforced closeness and good cheer makes a lot of people feel the way you do.’
‘Thank God for that.’ She laughed, and we chatted a bit more, until I got a call from Louis, who was simply checking that I hadn’t forgotten his big night.
I assured him I was looking forward to it, then enquired if there was anything I could bring.
‘No, nothing, darling. Those fabulous caterers of yours are delivering everything – plates, glasses, the lot. And Mike’s just phoned. He’s on the way from the airport, and his office arranged a car for him, so he’s going to stop at the off licence and collect whatever we need, which is not much. I got masses of wine as presents this year, so it’s really only water and mixers. The caterers are even supplying a few kegs of beer and a couple of barmen, so I’m sorted. Oh, I do adore parties.’ He sighed happily and I agreed with him, delighted to hear about Mike.
I had only two of my newer clients that day, so I went out and treated myself to a blow dry then headed home early to get ready.
The girls and I met in O’Brien’s pub in Leeson Street, an old haunt of mine, which had always been trendy. Most of Dublin, it appeared, was on holiday until the following Monday, so the place was buzzing with movers and shakers who were not dressed for work.
In the end, by the time we’d beaten our way to the bar, we’d only time for one drink so we headed out into the cold January air and strolled up the canal.
‘I want you to see the house from the back first,’ I told them.
‘This had better be good, I’m wearing new shoes and they’re pinching already,’ Maddy told me, reaching down and stuffing a tissue against her heel.
‘Well, you tell me. There it is.’ They both looked up and gasped.
‘Oh my God, that is seriously gorgeous.’ Clodagh was impressed.
‘Does Mike own it as well?’ Maddy cut to the chase.
‘No, I told you, he only shares. He’s been looking for one close by though. The area’s become really trendy lately, and it’s within walking distance of town too, which helps.’ I’d been dying to see it from this side of the canal and, in the dark, with lights and candles and lots of people moving around, it looked surreal. For a moment you didn’t see the glass, because there were no obvious glazing bars, and it looked as if someone had removed the walls and you were looking straight in.
‘It’s magical, isn’t it?’
‘Sure is,’ they agreed, and because of the cold we didn’t linger, simply walked quickly to the nearby bridge, crossed over and doubled back to approach the house from the front. A stranger opened the door and ushered us in, and it was clear the party was in full swing.
‘Lulu, darling, you look divine.’ Louis swooped. ‘And Maddy and Clodagh, welcome. Let me take your coats.’ Within seconds we were in the middle of it all, but the first thing I heard was Pedro growling at a man who’d come in behind us.
‘Is it only men he reacts badly to?’ I asked Louis.
‘Now that you mention it, it does seem to be mainly men.’
‘Any improvement since you started the new regime?’ I wondered.
‘There was, but then I left them alone and suddenly Pedro is back as king of the castle.’ Mike appeared and smiled at us.
Without even thinking about it, I went into work mode. I made a signal at Pedro and kept walking towards him until he’d backed himself into a corner in the hall. Using a command, I made him drop, then stayed with my back to him, talking to the others. He made one more attempt to get by me but I used the same signal and he dropped again, and this time he stayed put.
‘Impressive.’ Mike winked at me, and I hated it that I went red. I’d forgotten him for a second when I saw Pedro’s aggression, because I immediately knew Louis hadn’t really made an effort.
‘Louis, we need to talk,’ I told him and was instantly sorry. I sounded like a schoolteacher, and I was a guest at his party, after all.
‘Be afraid.’ Mike nudged Louis. ‘I told you she’d get you eventually.’
‘Stop it.’ I seemed to be forever slapping him, but he was used to me by now so he dodged my hand easily. ‘Sorry, Louis,’ I said. ‘I forget when I’m off duty.’
‘No, you’re absolutely right,’ Louis surprised me by saying. ‘And so is Mike. We were making good progress, and then Mike went away and I started treating him like my partner again. Within hours he was the boss, and now he’s even growling at me occasionally.’ He looked like he thought I was going to give him a lecture. ‘Sorry, I’ll start again tomorrow, I promise. I really am getting a bit fed up humouring him, to be honest.’
‘Wow, Lulu, you’re good, I have to hand it to you. I mean, I’ve always been scared of you, but now you even have Louis grovelling. I reckon you’ve made it, bigtime,’ Mike said, tongue so firmly in his cheek it was practically poking through his jaw.
‘Watch it, or I’ll be forced to subdue you as well.’ I grinned.
‘That’s me told. Let me get you all a drink.’ Mike led the way to the kitchen while Louis took our coats then followed us in.
‘Pedro is still there, in the corner,’ he marvelled as we walked through the hall.
‘Yeah, but let’s see what happens when the doorbell rings again,’ I warned him. ‘It’ll take practice and a united approach.’
‘Can we talk about something else? And chill, would you, he’s a dog – you lot are very sad,’ Maddy declared, and pulled a face.
‘Sorry, sorry, I’m off duty from now,’ I promised. ‘Let’s start again. Louis, great party.’
‘Happy New Year, girls.’ Louis plonked several kisses on each of our cheeks and Mike announced he wasn’t even going to try and follow that routine, instead handing each of us a glass of champagne and toasting our health.
‘I wish the three of you everything you wish for yourselves,’ he told us.
‘In that case, you might even have a role to play.’ Maddy smiled innocently at him while I tried not to choke out loud.
‘Sorry?’
‘Well, I’ve just been offered a major TV role, so I reckon it’s only a matter of time before I have a hit single.’ She winked at me, knowing the effect her words would have had, and I could have strangled her for being so brazen.
‘Oh my God, darling, that’s amazing, there’s a director here you simply must meet. Come with me and, meanwhile, tell me everything while we find him.’ Louis was in his element.
‘So, how did your Christmas go?’ Mike asked as Clodagh was enveloped in a bear-hug by someone she’d described as ‘a future client’ as soon as she laid eyes on him.
‘Great, stayed at home,’ I told him.
‘You had Christmas in a caravan?’
‘A very posh Christmas, I’ll have you know. And the girls joined me. And Pete was there too. It was fun.’
‘What about your family? Didn’t you tell me you’d a sister at least?’
‘Becky – don’t ask. My mother lives in San Diego, and normally she forgets to ring us even, but this year she decided she missed her babies and her very rich husband offered to fly the two of us over to visit.’
‘You didn’t go? I’d have been off like a shot.’
I shook my head. ‘Wanted to spend it in my new home with my new dog. Becky went; lots of drama apparently. So how about you? Lou
is said you went away?’
‘Yep, my folks moved to New York a few years ago so I try and get over to see them at least twice a year. My sister Eve and her husband had a baby six weeks ago, first grandchild and all that, so they came over from the west coast and it was a big family thing. My other sister Lyndsey flew in from Toronto so it was fun.’
‘New York for Christmas can’t be bad.’
‘No, I love it.’ He told me all about it until Louis arrived back and dragged us off to get food. Next time I saw Mike he was deep in conversation with two guys in the other room, and the three of us bopped the rest of the night away with Louis and his latest conquest.
It was after two o’clock when Maddy and I finally jumped into a cab and headed back to the van.
‘So, did you make any progress with Mike?’ she asked as soon as we were settled.
‘No, can’t say I did.’ I realized I was a bit disappointed. ‘He’s always the same – teases me, seems to enjoy my company, but it doesn’t go anywhere.’
‘He kissed you the last night,’ she reminded me. ‘That went somewhere.’
‘But that was only because Denis Cassidy handed him the mistletoe and more or less ordered him to,’ I told her.
‘And he sent you flowers. And they weren’t just your average, order-from-Interflora bunch. They were chosen with care. Did you thank him, even?’
‘Forgot,’ I admitted. ‘But I did text him the day they arrived. Anyway, they were probably chosen by his secretary.’ I was on a bit of a downer for some reason. I think I’d been expecting him to flirt a bit with me or something. Instead, he had appeared friendly, but he hadn’t made any real effort to corner me for a proper chat. Then he’d simply smiled and waved when the three of us shouted goodbye, and I was annoyed with myself because suddenly it mattered.
26
NEXT MORNING I WAS MY NORMAL SELF AGAIN. IT WAS SATURDAY, SO Maddy and I took Pete for a long walk, then bought a load of goodies and headed back to make pancakes with maple syrup for brunch. As we approached the house the dog started barking, and this time he strained to get off the lead, which he never did.