Second Time Around
Page 37
Jess nodded. ‘Yeah, she seems really nice.’
‘And fun, too, exactly what Noel needs.’
‘A pity she’s not from Dublin,’ their mother lamented. ‘She might tempt him back.’
‘Mum, there’s no chance of that,’ Sharon said firmly. ‘He loves it there and you know that Maurice is failing.’
Suzie looked up, her eyes widening. ‘No. No, I didn’t. I think Noel’s afraid to mention his name to me. I’m sorry to hear that.’
‘Really?’ Sharon raised an eyebrow.
‘I may not be his greatest fan, Shaz, but I’m not made of stone. How long has he got?’
‘Not long.’
‘And then Noel will have the farm.’ Suzie sighed.
‘Don’t be sad, Mum.’ Jess put an arm round her. ‘You want him to be happy, don’t you?’
‘Of course I do.’ Suzie glanced up at them. ‘Nora wants me to go back with her for a few days.’
Jess stopped making the salad dressing to exchange a surprised look with her sister. ‘And?’
Suzie shrugged. ‘I suppose I should go. Apart from anything I should make my peace with Maurice.’
‘Good on you, Mum. Noel will be chuffed. Oh!’ Sharon clutched her bump and bent over, her face screwed up in pain.
Suzie went to her side and put an arm round her. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes, just Baby doing its nightly aerobics,’ Sharon gasped.
‘Right. You’re not lifting a finger for the rest of the evening,’ Jess said, unnerved. ‘Just sit there and tell us what to do.’
She turned back to help her mother lift the pot of chilli onto the table, sneaking a taste. ‘Mmm, this is spicy. You should have a large portion, Shaz. It might bring on labour.’
There was a splash and Sharon sighed. ‘I don’t think that will be necessary.’
Jess stared. ‘What the hell?’
‘Her waters broke,’ Suzie said calmly.
‘What?’ Jess looked from her mother to her sister in horror.
‘Relax,’ Sharon said with a pained smile. ‘It’ll be hours before anything happens. We’ll get everyone fed and watered, and then Keith and I can head off to the hospital.’
‘I’ll get your bag ready and stay here tonight with Bobby. Everything will be grand. Oh, isn’t this exciting?’
Sharon let out a piercing scream. ‘Oh. My. Good. God.’ She clenched her eyes shut and clutched the chair as yet another contraction ripped through her.
‘You’ll be fine, sweetheart,’ Suzie said, putting some cushions behind Sharon’s back. ‘Jess, don’t just stand there. Get something to mop up this mess.’
Sharon let out another shriek, making Jess jump, and then opened her eyes wide and stared at her mother. ‘That was quite close to the last one, wasn’t it?’
‘It was. I’m afraid you’re going to miss your own party. Deep breaths, love.’ Suzie glanced over at Jess, her eyes full of excitement. ‘Get Keith, Jess. Oh, and Mal, too. Just in case.’
‘Meet Grace Anabel Mulvey,’ Suzie carried her granddaughter out to the hall, where Noel and Jess waited with their partners and Malcolm and Doug. Keith was behind her, his eyes glued to his new daughter.
‘Oh, she’s beautiful,’ Jess breathed as her mum placed the tiny little bundle into her arms. ‘Is Sharon all right?’
‘The paramedics are just making her comfortable and then they’ll be off to hospital but they seem confident that she’s in good shape,’ Keith said.
‘She looks just like you,’ Mal said, smiling at Suzie.
‘Ah, don’t say that to the poor child,’ Noel joked.
Suzie cuffed her son. ‘Cheeky.’
‘Smile,’ Cal said, taking a photo with his phone.
‘Congratulations,’ Doug said, his eyes suspiciously bright as he stared down at the tiny baby.
‘Suzie, would you bring Bobby in to meet his little sister? And are you staying here with him tonight?’ Keith asked.
‘Yes and yes.’ Suzie hurried over to her grandson’s room where he was now cuddled up in bed with his cushion, his eyes closing. ‘Hi, sleepy.’
He opened his eyes. ‘It’s very noisy.’
‘It’s a bit busy out there, Bobby. The thing is, your mummy just had her baby. Would you like to see your little sister?’
He nodded and slid out of bed, running ahead of Suzie. Keith swung him up in his arms and smiled. ‘You’re a big brother, Bobby!’ he said and took the child in to see Sharon and meet the new baby.
Within the hour, the ambulance had taken Sharon and her baby away, Keith following in his car and while the others went back down to join the stragglers from the party, Suzie sat by Bobby’s bed and sang to him, smiling as his eyes started to close. They had all been nervous of how the child would react when faced with a sibling but he’d seemed to take it in his stride. Time would tell. Thinking of how her grandson hated noise, Suzie prayed her granddaughter was a quiet baby. That would make the transition a lot easier for her big brother.
As she sat there she thought back on this turbulent year and counted her blessings, the main one being that she was still around. She felt so proud of her children. Sharon for her strength and single-mindedness in doing her best for Bobby. Jess for her professional success, she was really carving out a career for herself, and Suzie was so happy to finally see her in a stable relationship with a lovely man. And Noel, her baby. Not yet twenty-one and proving to be a huge support to his uncle. She’d got more of an insight into his new life over a cup of tea earlier with Finola than she had from her son. The young vet had told her how Noel had been welcomed by both the locals and the wider farming community whose respect he’d won by returning to support his uncle at this difficult time. His open disposition and eagerness to learn were standing him in good stead and people were rallying around to advise and assist him. Suzie was proud of him and, she knew, it was time she told him so.
It wasn’t surprising that Mandy envied her. She thought of her sister’s betrayal and the things she’d said about Suzie’s accident in those last few minutes at Doug’s. That was the final piece of the puzzle and she’d decided to keep it to herself. For all Mandy’s manipulations, the one she seemed to end up hurting the most was herself and Suzie wasn’t going to add to that.
Realising that Bobby was asleep, she tucked him in and went downstairs, helped herself to a glass of wine and, noticing Doug sitting alone, nursing a Jameson and staring into the fire, made her way over to him.
‘Penny for your thoughts,’ she said, sitting down beside him.
He looked over and smiled. ‘I was just thinking about the day that Jess was born.’
‘That was quite a day,’ she agreed.
‘Congratulations, Suzie. You were a fighter when we met and you’re still a fighter today. Everything you have, you’ve earned and you deserve.’
‘Thanks, Doug.’
‘Can I say something?’ he asked, leaning forward.
Suzie sobered at his grim expression. ‘Of course.’
‘Don’t let Mandy back into your life. No matter what she says or does, don’t take her back.’
Suzie stared back at him. ‘You know.’
He inclined his head. ‘I didn’t want to leave you alone with her so I just stepped outside and I heard everything.’
‘Ah. She was a bit over the top, Doug, but she’d had a lot to drink.’
‘Don’t make excuses for her,’ Doug protested. ‘She slept with your husband and as for the accident . . .’
Suzie held up her hand. ‘You don’t have to warn me about Mandy. I understand exactly what she is and what she’s capable of.’
‘But you’re not going to do anything about it.’ It was a statement not a question and Doug sank back in his chair, looking resigned.
‘She’s still my sister and she’s got so little in her life, Doug. You know that.’
‘Which is why I’m worried that you’ll fall for it the next time she comes running to you. She’ll be after Malcol
m next,’ he warned.
Suzie smiled. ‘And if he were the type of man to go along with that, Doug, then he’s not the man for me. Trust me. Second time around I won’t be so easily fooled.’
Doug sighed. ‘It’s rather depressing, really. Having to watch your back all the time.’
‘What we need is a break,’ Suzie told him. ‘You know that Croatia are still after you?’
He perked up. ‘I did tell you that they would work around me. Are you up for it, Ms Connors?’
Suzie gave a casual shrug. ‘Well, I’m going to be at a loose end. Keith is taking a month off and has an au pair lined up so I don’t have to mind Bobby. And Aileen, my neighbour, will be ecstatic to take Percy.’
‘What about Malcolm?’ he asked, his eyes hopeful.
‘I told you months ago, Doug, I’m my own woman and I don’t ask for permission from anyone anymore. But, don’t worry, Malcolm trusts me and, he trusts you too. And travelling is on my “to do” list so . . .’
He smiled at her, looking truly happy. ‘So, I’d better get cracking and organise the flights.’
‘I’m your personal assistant now. Isn’t that my job?’
He considered that. ‘Normally, yes, but I’ll take care of it this time before you change your mind and decide you want to stay home and drool over your granddaughter.’
Suzie had thought that through very carefully and, believing that Bobby was a lot smarter than he was given credit for, had decided that this was a perfect time for her to disappear instead of fussing over his little sister. She sat back with her glass of wine and smiled. ‘That’s fine by me, boss. Zagreb, here we come.’
Acknowledgements
My thanks to the mothers who told me their stories about their sons with ASD (it is very rare in females). Some were more serious than others. Some had yet to be assessed while others were grown men with families of their own and living full and independent lives. The one thing that they all had in common were parents who pushed and fought until their children received the assistance they needed. This book is dedicated to them.
By the same author:
A SUMMER BREEZE
FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN
FROM THIS MOMENT ON
EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE
ALWAYS ON MY MIND
THE SECRETS WE KEEP
BETWEEN THE SHEETS
IT’S ALL ABOUT HIM
THE BETRAYAL OF GRACE MULCAHY
CHANGING PLACES
RED LETTER DAY
TOO LITTLE TOO LATE
SHAKEN AND STIRRED
A CUT ABOVE
FOREVER FM
First published in Ireland by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2016
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Copyright © Colette Caddle 2016
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