Just as she was about to open the door to the hotel, her phone started to vibrate. Glancing at the screen, having no intention of answering it, she stopped in her tracks. It was Sharon. It went to her voicemail before she even had an opportunity to answer it. It was probably just as well. On second thoughts, Amy would love to see what Sharon had to say for herself. Banging Sharon’s number into the phone she waited as it rang and rang. Getting herself psyched up for her...what was it now...her third confrontation of the day, she paced up and down beside her car. Imagining her becoming more and more flustered, Amy hoped that she might give her friend a heart attack by ringing her back.
‘Eh hello’ came the meek reply at the other end of the phone.
‘Eh hello yourself’ snapped Amy
‘Listen em...I was just ringing to see if you are ok?’
‘Ok? Are you for real? You are ringing me to see if I’m ok? Now I have never in my born days heard such a joke of a statement. My friend....that’s you Sharon just in case that escaped you’
Amy was only getting started.
‘or should I say, my former friend, whom I used to consider one of my best friends had the balls to first of all steal my husband! And then...this is the best part...then had the gumption to stay with me, to pretend to look after and care for me after she had stolen him away’
‘Now Amy...what are you even talking about’ Sharon retaliated, not knowing what had taken place the day before. The two silent witnesses standing across the street from Frank and herself.
‘Don’t fucking Amy me, you walking self-centred, skinny arsed, limp haired bitch’ and with that she hung up the phone and tossed it at speed into her bag.
Wiping her brow after breaking into a sweat, she changed her mind at even bringing the phone with her and lobbed it back into the car.
‘Stupid mobiles’ she muttered to herself as she stormed on into the hotel. Trying to put visions of Sharon and her husband, sorry ex-husband out of her mind, she checked at reception which suite she was to use. Hitting the elevator button, visualising Sharon’s face she headed to the fourth floor. Standing impatiently, she tapped her foot impatiently. She couldn’t wait for this disaster of a day to be finally over.
Looking around her, she noticed the dark interior of the hotel. How it suited her mood. Finally, the doors to the lift opened and in the hall, a smiling man greeted her. It was Adam. WHAT! She may as well be in one of those Bridget Jones Movies. Someone was definitely out to get her!
‘Hello there’
‘Hi…eh…Adam, isn’t it? Amy turned a few shades of red.
‘Yeah, that’s right. Amy’
‘Yeah. Here for your second interview?’ Doh! Of course he was. Did she need to state the obvious?
‘Indeed, I am’
‘Great’
‘Great’ the awkwardness nearly killed her. It didn’t seem to knock a stir out of her elevator buddy. Reaching the allocated suite, she turned to Adam
‘Would you mind waiting a few minutes, I just want to see if the room is set up’
‘No problem’
Amy closed the door behind her. She was being ridiculous. This was a professional situation and she was a professional. Taking a glass of water, she drank it in one go. After a couple of minutes calming herself, she felt confident enough to call Adam in for his interview. Like the last time she interviewed him, the interview went on forever.
She asked him all the questions she had for him and he answered them perfectly. Watching him as he spoke, she realised that he was absolutely gorgeous. She knew she was being absurd even comparing him to anyone famous but he really did resemble someone from the movies. Thanking god when it was nearly over, she was about to wrap up the interview by asking if he had any questions at all.
‘Well just the one’
‘Sure, go ahead’
‘Would you have dinner with me?’
‘You what?’ she answered unable to understand the question.
‘I was just wondering if you would like to go for dinner with me sometime.’
‘Eh…Adam you know that canvassing will not get you the job!’ Adam laughed at Amy’s remark.
‘I’m not canvassing for the job. Actually, I’ve just been offered a job. The only thing I’m canvassing for is an evening with you?’
His eyes sparkled across the table. She was speechless. Whatever movie she was in was going so quick she was positive she was going to be sick.
‘Ahem’ Amy faked a little cough, still not knowing what to say. She laughed nervously ‘Mr Staunton, I’m sure you are aware that wasting my professional time is not about to impress me’
‘I can appreciate that’ looking down at his shoes almost afraid to look her in the eye.
By the look of his response, it appeared that it had taken a lot for him to ask the question he had just put to her. Despite this, she wasn’t about to go saying yes to such an invitation when she was in the predicament she was in. She knew that she didn’t want to hurt him either. Look what she had done to her friendship with Sean. She was not about to hurt any more people today.
‘Look Adam’ she said quietly ‘I’m not in any position to be going out with anybody’
‘I know you’ve just been trampled on. I just wanted to let you know that you still have the possibility of a good life. I promise you that there is happiness in your future. Just don’t close the doors on the people that could bring it to you’
His outburst made her smile for the first time that day.
‘I don’t know what to say Adam’
‘Don’t say anything. Just think about it’ Adam got up from his chair slowly and reached out his hand to Amy.
‘It was nice to see you again’
Amy reached back and shook Adam’s hand, both hands lingering for more than what would be considered normal for a handshake. Faking another small cough, Amy pulled away quickly.
‘I hope I’ll see you soon’ leaving his business card he turned and was gone. Amy sat there stunned thinking of what he had said before he left.
‘Don’t close the doors on the people who could bring it to you’.
Maybe there was something to be learned in what he said. Happiness was not something that was floating about in her life lately. Misery on the other hand came in the shape of two individuals. Both of whom were about to have their doors closed.
7
Still trying to find her bearings after the past few days, Amy yet again threw herself into her work. She coped best when she was doing something. Admittedly, she would have preferred to be in her garden or taking a drive with Sean but since neither of those was an option at the moment, work was her only escape.
The following day after the Adam incident, she came back from the photocopier to find a few people around Susan’s desk.
‘What’s going on here?’ Amy enquired.
Jim, Pat and Mike from downstairs moved aside for Amy to see the massive bouquet of flowers sitting on the desk. It was filled with white lilies, white roses and a mixture of other white flowers.
‘Wow, who’s the lucky girl? They’re gorgeous!’
‘Well’ she hesitated’ I was just about to bring them over! They’re for you!’
‘No, they’re not. Who’d send me flowers?’
‘That’s what we want to know’ Susan handed the card to Amy. Opening it in a hurry, she threw the envelope on the desk. On the cream coloured card it read:
‘Sorry if I upset you’
‘Who’s are the flowers’ Sean asked in a curious and heightened tone as he walked by.
‘They’re for Amy’ Susan volunteered.
‘Are they really?’ Sean eyed Amy ‘Who would send flowers?’ Amy thought he was mocking her.
‘Any amount of people would’ she retaliated.
‘Is that right?’
‘Yes that’s right’ Amy barked back. She wasn’t sure if she was reading him properly but she was sure that Sean was jealous.
‘Well lucky you then’ he
commented as he turned on his heel and walked away.
‘Never mind him’ Susan said grabbing the flowers. I’ll put them in some water for you’
‘Thanks Susan’
Deciding that she wasn’t going to let him away with whatever game he was playing, Amy headed towards Sean’s office. Just outside the door she heard him on the phone.
‘I know, I miss you too. Yes. We will’
Who was he talking to? Suddenly Sean wasn’t the only one who was jealous. ‘Ok, I know’ Amy was hardly able to hold in her curiosity. ‘Great well, I’ll see you then. Love you too’
Practically running back to her own office, she nearly tripped tumbling right into Tom. Clearly by the smell off him, he was returning from a smoke break.
‘Where’s the fire?’
‘Eh, no fire! Just have to get some work done’
‘Health and safety Amy, health and safety!’ Tom preached wagging his finger.
‘I know Tom. Sorry’
‘Don’t be sorry Amy; just leave your twelve year old head at home. This is a professional office, not a play ground!’
‘Understood’ turning the corner with Tom behind her she threw herself behind her desk. Who was Sean talking to? Why did she even care? Why was she even jealous? She really needed to get away for a few days. Her head needed a detox. She would just put it out of her mind. After all, it was none of her business. She had hurt Sean earlier and he had been nothing but a good friend to her. Yes, they had a kiss in Dublin but it came in the heat of the moment. Clearly, he had someone else in his life and had just felt sorry for her that weekend. She had absolutely no right at all to be jealous, absolutely none at all. Picking up the phone, she dialled Liz’s phone number. She realised with all the goings on over the past few days she had not had a chance to tell Liz. She had been away on a meditation retreat. Something about trying out new ways to help her busy life. Maybe Amy should try it. In any case, Liz would not be surprised.
‘The bastard’ Liz spat down the phone ‘You know how I feel about that bitch and I’m sorry to say it but I’m not surprised’ Liz really hated Sharon, especially since Amy’s wedding. To be fair, she never liked her to begin with, even in School. It had seemed that over the years it was Amy that was the glue which held the two of them together.
The three girls had gone on holidays to Crete a few years before the wedding with disastrous consequences. Liz wanted to go out every night and one night brought a strange man back to the apartment. Sharon was duly kicked out of her bed, much to her distaste. On hindsight, it didn’t matter if Liz acted like a saint, it never mattered to Sharon. Yes, she did things her way and liked to be the centre of attention. That was very clear. Nevertheless, Liz had a heart the size of a small city. She was so kind and all she wanted was fun. Amy could see the goodness in her but Sharon didn’t want to. She could only muse that it was jealousy making her dislike Liz so much. Up until that point, there was no major upset between the pair. They just couldn’t get on.
Liz had been known to try and dictate where they went and who they went with and when she wasn’t drinking she often complained of a migraine. If it wasn’t her impending aneurism, she complained about her allergies. Amy watched Sharon grinding her teeth when Liz would descend for breakfast by the pool each morning or afternoon depending on whether the night stretched into the early hours. Sharon’s tolerance levels were depleting with every conversation. She swore blind that she was going to throw herself into the pool if Liz mentioned migraines one more time. Amy laughed but inside she promised herself that she would never again go on holiday with both of these girls at the same time again.
‘Ah jasus, my head is splitting again. I’ll have to take a migraine tablet. Then I’ll be knocked out for the day’
‘Here’s hoping’ Sharon mumbled.
‘Excuse me, what did you say? Quizzed Liz. They had been bickering all week and something was going to give.
‘Nothing, I said nothing’
‘Hmmm, yeah right’ she eyed her suspiciously.
‘Here’s the waiter with the breakfast! I’m starved’ Amy cheered.
‘Yeah, me too’ Sharon agreed.
Placing the breakfast on the table, Liz put up her finger to the waiter.
‘Eh…I asked for no bananas. There’s bananas on my plate’
‘Oh Please miss, I take away, I take away’
The poor waiter didn’t know what to say. It seemed she was never happy. If it wasn’t the bananas it was the nuts. Something was always wrong. Her behaviour to the waiting staff left a sour taste in both Amy’s and Sharon’s mouth and both promised they had to say something to her. They wouldn’t be surprised if every single waiter in every restaurant spat in their food. They may have even done worse!
‘It’s just put me right off and I really can’t risk it. I’m allergic to bananas you know’ her big eyes expecting the waiter to understand.
‘Ah for God’s sake’ Sharon’s temper was simmering.
‘What?’ Liz asked innocently looking from Amy to her plate and back to the waiter.
The waiter was still standing, looking from one to the other, not knowing whether to stay or go.
‘Jesus. H. Christ’ Sharon got up from her seat about to walk away and then changed her mind. Shoving her chair back under the table nearly knocking over the waiter in the process she shouted ‘NUMBER ONE: it’s not an effing migraine when you’ve drank enough vodka the night before to float an effing boat!’
It looked like the vein in her forehead might explode. Amy watched Liz, her jaw dropping open at the display on front of her
‘NUMBER TWO: WHO….WHO I ask you is allergic to bananas?’
The waiter shrugged his shoulders. Clearly he had no problem understanding this time.
‘And NUMBER THREE’ her voice raised another octave ‘If you really feel the need to shag the entire male population inhabiting the island would you mind doing it elsewhere. Even when you kick me out of my own effing room I can hear you puffing and panting!’
The entire area around the pool had gone quiet. Parents had placed hands over their children’s ears. Others had stopped swimming and empty balcony’s had filled with eyes focused on the charade by the pool. Taking a deep breath, as if she had been waiting to say that for years, Sharon turned on her heel and left. Liz, wide eyed and white with shock didn’t know where to look. Amy, holding in her laughter, looked at Liz with little bit of pity. She couldn’t believe that someone had actually done that. Liz was often a pain in the behind but everyone who knew her rolled their eyes and laughed at her.
‘Are you ok?’
‘Yeah’ squeaked Liz ‘I think there is something seriously wrong with Sharon though. What is her problem?’ Liz was oblivious to the fact that it was her that was Sharon’s problem.
Thinking back to this time, Amy looked as Sharon through very different eyes. It was true, Liz could be a handful but there was simply no tolerance or acceptance for her at all. Sharon really didn’t like her even though she knew that Liz had tough time growing up, with a terrible tradegy befalling the family.
The thought danced in her head that maybe there was jealousy at the centre of it. Amy was very close to them both but Sharon always made the extra effort and stayed as close as she could, often staying over on the couch, when Frank was in the house. Liz never had anything to prove so just did her own thing. Sharon on the other hand, gave expensive gifts, turned up unexpectedly with wine and flowers. She often bought the same clothes and completely went over and above when Frank left Amy. She tried to banish these thoughts again as her blood pressure rose. Sharon was feeling guilty. How could she have been so silly, not to see what was right in front of her eyes.
Moving her thoughts back to Liz, she guessed that the way in which she handled herself was a product of her misspent youth and parents letting her away with murder. Unable to reign her in, they abandoned any attempt to make her see sense once she hit her teenage years. Amy often wondered how her parents coped a
t the time. It wasn’t that she did drugs, although she did drink a lot, she just attracted trouble at the time. She obsessed about boyfriends in her youth and even went as far as faking pregnancy when she was 16. It was all with a view to getting the guy back. She had cheated with Patrick who had been going out with a girl in their class. Staking her claim, she told him she was pregnant.
It never occurred to her that as the months wore on she would have to come up with an excuse. After the entire episode caused havoc at home and at school, the truth finally came out. Making her daughter go to the doctor, Liz’s mum had had enough. She found used toiletries in the bathroom, which belonged to no one else but Liz. Fuming that anyone would come up with such a lie, she ordered the doctor to do a pregnancy test. An instant negative was seen, at which point Liz faked a fainting spell.
On hindsight, Amy knew that she had needed help. Contemplating her friendship with Liz over the years, she had a soft spot for her. However crazy she acted she was always full of love and hope. She had never let her down and more than a decade on from these years, Liz was a different person. She changed not long after the 'pregnancy' episode. She had no choice.
On the other hand, look what Sharon had done to her. She had been sleeping with her husband behind her back. Not only had she come to stay with her during her near nervous breakdown. Amy had let Sharon in on her deepest feelings and thoughts about Frank and what he had done to her. A feeling of violation crept over her. How could she have done that? Pretend to be her friend and commit the worst sin one could ever commit against another friend.
‘I’m sorry Amy, I’m ranting here. I just can’t believe it. Although at the same time I can, if that makes any sense at all!’ Liz continued as Amy was brought back to the present conversation
‘I know what you mean’ Amy answered ‘I know you never liked her but she had a good side to her all the same. She would give you her left arm’
Whiplash Hotel Page 7