The Gift of Friends

by Emma Hannigan

  ‘Okay, great, thanks Mum. I’ll book tickets for travel in the next couple of weeks. I’ll let you know the dates. We’re really looking forward to seeing you guys,’ he said, sounding more Aussie than Irish. Betsy hated the fact he didn’t even sound Irish anymore. Nobody would guess he was from Vayhill, that was for certain.

  ‘We’re so happy, Graham. Keep us updated,’ she said, then he ended the call.

  Betsy put down the phone and she and Noel looked at each other in silence.

  ‘Well,’ Noel said finally. ‘It’s going to take me a while to get my head around all this.’

  ‘I know,’ Betsy said, feeling a little dazed. ‘My God, Arnie Cox. I can’t believe it.’

  Noel smiled and shook his head. ‘A grandson.’

  ‘It’ll take me a while to forgive him,’ Betsy said.

  ‘For not telling us?’

  ‘Yes. I mean, really, Noel, nine months of a pregnancy and the child is four months old and he never said one word in that whole time. What kind of a son does that?’

  Noel reached across the table and took her hand. ‘Don’t upset yourself, darling. I feel the same way, but this is where we’re at, and if we want to be in Arnie’s life, we’ll have to bottle up the anger. The important thing now is that they’re coming over, and we’ll get to meet him. That will be magic.’

  Betsy sighed and nodded. ‘You’re right. I’ll have to let it go. I’ll work on it between now and when their plane touches down, I promise.’ She grinned at Noel. ‘Wait till I tell Nancy and Maia and Pearl,’ she said. ‘They’ll be so shocked.’

  ‘That they will,’ Noel said drily.

  Deep down, Betsy prayed that her son had matured somewhat. She also hoped that dreadful Tasha had mellowed since becoming a mum. Surely they would both be less brash and aggressive than before?

  She’d tell the other women as soon as she saw them. They’d be delighted for her. Although whether it was in fact good news or bad news, only time would tell.

  Chapter 2

  ‘MUM, YOU HAVE GOT TO STOP LOOKING AT ME like that.’

  ‘Like what?’ Maia demanded. ‘Can’t I look at my beautiful daughter?’

  ‘Not all . . . soppy-eyed.’ Zara pouted. ‘I can’t look at that expression for the next two months.’

  ‘Give me a break,’ Maia said, raking her long blonde hair with her freshly manicured nails. She’d managed to get an early appointment with her favourite nail artist, Mila, and she kept holding out her hands to admire her expertly applied soft pink falsies. Mila was worth her weight in gold.

  ‘You give me a break,’ Zara said. ‘You’ve still got me for another while, so no need to keep gazing at me like I’m a cute puppy.’

  Maia laughed. ‘I really can’t wait for you to have children and finally understand all you put me through.’

  Zara rolled her eyes. ‘Okay, I’ll leave you to your pity party.’ She left the kitchen, wafting the scent of Coco Mademoiselle behind her. Maia watched her go, aching when she thought of what she was about to lose.

  ‘You do keep looking at her like you’re heartsick,’ Nancy said. She was perched on a stool at the breakfast bar, nursing a black coffee.

  Maia sighed heavily. ‘That’s because I am,’ she said, taking the stool next to Nancy’s. ‘You know more than anyone what that girl means to me. The idea of her leaving home, I just . . .’ She trailed off.

  Nancy reached over and patted her hand. ‘I know, Maia,’ she said. ‘I’ve watched that girl grow from a baby, and you grow into a woman and a devoted mother. I haven’t gone through it myself, but I can imagine how torn you must be feeling. I’m sure you’re proud of what she’s achieved but wish you could turn back the clock at the same time.’

  ‘Exactly,’ Maia said. ‘I’m so happy to see her do well and follow her dreams, but it makes me feel, I don’t know, left out. I don’t feel like I have any dreams. I’ve just poured myself into Zara and Zach for the past seventeen years, so who the hell will I be without them?’ She bit her lip to stop the tears that were threatening. She was daft to be sitting here crying because her kids were high-achievers. What kind of nutter did that?

  Nancy smiled at her. ‘Always hard on yourself, Maia. Ever since I first met you. I remember you when you moved here, a skinny streak of defiance, weren’t you?’

  Maia grinned at her. ‘Such a way with words, Nancy. Just lovely.’

  Nancy threw back her head and laughed. ‘It’s true. You thought we were all going to look down on you, or make a fool of you, that you didn’t measure up somehow. You were wrong then and do you know what? You’re wrong now. You do have dreams, you’ve just ignored your own inner voice for so long, you can’t hear it. But it’s still there. I see it with you mothers all the time. Your worlds are so noisy for so many years, you go deaf to yourselves. Common complaint.’

  ‘Thank you, Doctor Smyth, for your wise insights,’ Maia said, pouring herself a cup of coffee from the cafetière. ‘Maybe you’re right,’ she said. ‘But right now, all I can think about is that Zara is going travelling for a year and then going to university in Belfast, and Zach . . .’ Maia groaned and put her head in her hands.

  ‘Ah now,’ said Nancy, ‘it’s not that bad.’

  Maia could feel the tears welling again. ‘Yes, it is,’ she wailed. ‘At least Belfast is up the road and I can drive there in two hours, but America! Zach is going to be so far away. I mean, my little baby. How can he head off halfway across the world?’

  ‘Little baby? He’s six foot two and built like a brick shithouse,’ Nancy said, making Maia laugh through her tears. ‘He’s won a scholarship to study and play the sport he loves, and he’s going to do it in a fantastic college that will open up so many opportunities for him. Maia, my love, this is what you’ve worked so hard for, to give him a life he can live with passion. America will be the making of him.’

  ‘I know it in one part of my brain,’ Maia said, ‘but that’s not enough to cancel out the bit of my brain that’s screaming with sadness. The idea of them not in the house. How will Frankie and me manage, just the two of us?’

  ‘Sex from the chandeliers would be my suggestion,’ Nancy said, and the two of them burst out laughing.

  ‘You’re such a tonic, Nancy,’ Maia said. She smiled warmly at her friend. ‘You’ve been an absolute rock to me all these years. I hope you know how much I appreciate it, and how much I love you.’

  ‘We’ll be weeping into these coffees if you keep that up,’ Nancy said. ‘Remember, I’m nearly thirty years older than you, which means I know that time truly is a healer. It’ll be horrible when they go. I’ll miss them terribly myself. But then things will move on and flow and change and you’ll find yourself with a different perspective. That’s always how it goes. You’ll just have to hang in there.’

  Maia nodded. ‘By my fingernails,’ she said.

  ‘By your incredibly expensive talons, you mean,’ Nancy said.

  Maia regarded her nails and tried to believe in Nancy’s words. The truth was, she felt a rising sense of panic every time she looked into the future. It was October now, and by January the twins would be gone, and their little family would be broken up. She hadn’t even really thought that Zach would get a place on the scholarship programme. She’d encouraged him and told him he could, but privately she’d been relying on his results not being good enough to get him over the line. But he’d knuckled down this year and studied like a demon and surprised everyone – not least his long-suffering teachers – by scoring two points more than he needed. His soccer skills did the rest, and now her boy would move to the US in January for three years. She felt sick at the idea of it. It wasn’t just losing them, it was that sickening feeling that she was going to lose herself right along with them. Who was she if she wasn’t Zara and Zach’s mum? She honestly hadn’t a clue.

  ‘You should plan something nice,’ Nancy said. ‘Something to look forward to, like a holiday.’

  Before Maia could answer, there was a rapping
on the kitchen window. The two women looked over. Pearl was outside, hair and makeup beautifully done and wearing a white shirt and jeans, gesticulating wildly at them.

  Maia raced over and unlocked the sliding door and pulled it open. ‘Wow, you look gorgeous,’ she said. ‘Did you go to Mila’s place like I suggested?’

  Pearl nodded. ‘They were so good. They sent two girls up to do our hair and makeup. The bridal party are being done now. I don’t really ever get an up-do, but I decided to go for it. Is it alright?’

  ‘It’s perfect,’ Maia said, appraising her with an expert eye. ‘And I adore the fresh flower. Is that a gardenia?’

  ‘Yes. Thank you,’ Pearl said gratefully. ‘Seth hasn’t mentioned my hair, so I was starting to think I got it wrong.’

  ‘No way!’ Maia said. ‘That’s just him being a man. You look stunning.’

  ‘I’ll take my compliments wherever I can get them,’ Pearl said, blushing. ‘But I’m so glad you’re both here. The caterer just delivered the tables and chairs, but they’ve left me eight chairs short. The guy said he couldn’t get across town and back again in time. Would either of you have spares I could use?’

  ‘You’ve come to the right house,’ Maia said. ‘I’m the queen of party planning, as you know.’

  ‘That’s exactly why I ran straight here,’ Pearl said, laughing.

  ‘I have stacking chairs in the garage that will be perfect. You run on back, okay? I am not letting you ruin your perfect look by lugging chairs. I’ll bring them across.’

  ‘I’ll help,’ Nancy said, hopping down lightly from the stool. ‘I may be nearly seventy, but I’m a good old workhorse all the same.’

  ‘Oh no, I’ll send Seth over,’ Pearl said.

  ‘Not at all,’ Maia said, waving her hand. ‘He’s probably in his suit by now. We can manage. You run back and we’ll see you in five.’

  ‘Lifesavers,’ Pearl said. ‘Thank you so much.’ She jogged off down the driveway and next door to her own house.

  ‘Fair play to her hosting that wedding,’ Nancy said. ‘I’d be a basket-case if I had that level of hostessing to do.’

  ‘I’d love it,’ Maia said with a grin. ‘I’m thrilled we’re getting a preview. Let’s go.’

  She led the way outside and to the two-car garage that stood separate from the house. She tapped the keypad on the wall and the doors raised up, revealing her BMW, Freddie’s Range Rover and walls of shelving all neatly arranged with tools, boxes, hanging bicycles – and chairs.

  ‘Dear God, Maia, it’s like an OCD paradise in here,’ Nancy said, looking around in awe.

  ‘You know me,’ Maia said, making straight for the chair section. ‘Have to have everything in its place.’

  ‘This is actually kind of creepy,’ Nancy said as she followed her.

  Maia made four stacks of two chairs each. ‘That’s enough to carry in one go,’ she said.

  They both picked up a stack and walked around to Pearl’s house.

  ‘Are you sure you can manage?’ Maia asked.

  ‘I’m grand,’ Nancy said. ‘Pilates keeps me fit as a fiddle.’

  ‘I want to be just like you when I’m your age,’ Maia said. ‘Fit and naughty.’

  Nancy laughed. ‘Just keep doing what you’re doing, that’ll get you there.’

  ‘Nancy! Maia! Hey!’

  ‘Good morning, Drew. Isn’t this an exciting day?’

  Pearl’s son came bounding towards them, his eyes lit up with pleasure. He grabbed Maia in a hug, nearly sending her and the chairs flying.

  ‘Hang on,’ she laughed. ‘Let me get these out of my hands then I can give you a proper bear hug.’

  ‘Get away from her this instant, Drew,’ Seth barked as he came towards them. ‘Nancy. Maia. Very kind of you. I’ll take those.’ He took the chairs from Nancy’s hands and glared at Drew. ‘Are you capable of helping?’

  Nancy winced at his angry tone. ‘That’s grand, Seth,’ she said calmly. ‘They’re no weight, and Maia is dying to get a look around at the grand preparations.’

  ‘This way,’ Seth said curtly. ‘Don’t get in the way, Drew.’

  Maia and Nancy exchanged a look and Nancy took Drew’s hand and squeezed it. The boy shrank into himself whenever his father was around and it pained Nancy to see it. She knew Seth had wanted a son just like himself, but Drew was sixteen years old now and she couldn’t understand why Seth hadn’t moved on to acceptance. When Drew was born and they’d discovered he was never going to progress beyond the mental age of a child, Pearl had been devastated at first, but then she had quickly accepted Drew for who he was and loved him fiercely. Pearl was devoted to Drew, and it was down to her hard work that he had come along so well over the years, but as far as Nancy could see, she got precious little help from her husband. His focus was the army, and always had been.

  ‘I don’t know how she puts up with him,’ Maia said quietly as Seth marched up the path ahead of them.

  Nancy shook her head. ‘Certainly wouldn’t be my cup of tea.’

  ‘Cup of tea?’ Drew said, looking eager to help.

  ‘No, no, you’re grand, Drew,’ Nancy said, smiling at him. ‘We just had one. Now, will you show us this fantastic wedding set-up.’

  ‘Come on,’ Drew said, dragging Nancy by the hand so that she had to canter to keep up.

  They went around to the back garden and stopped in astonishment. The long garden was festooned in the colour theme of the wedding: cream and silvery-grey. The chairs were cream, with grey silk bows. There was a podium at the end of the garden, with a long wooden table set up with candles and a sweeping bouquet of gardenias. A flower-adorned archway stood nearby, for Lily-Rose to walk through on her way down the ‘aisle’. Old Kilner jars hung from the trees by ribbons, each holding a nightlight candle. A ‘red carpet’ in the same silvery-cream was waiting for the bride’s Louboutin-clad feet to sashay across it. Strings of tiny white Chinese lanterns were hung across the whole width of the garden. The whole scene looked like an extravagantly beautiful movie set.

  ‘My God,’ Maia breathed, ‘Pearl has played an absolute blinder. I couldn’t actually have done any better myself, and that’s saying something. This is amazing.’

  ‘Wow!’ Nancy said. ‘Drew, this is spectacular.’

  Drew grinned at them. ‘I know. I know,’ he said, nodding enthusiastically.

  Seth walked over to join them. ‘Are there any more?’ he asked, gesturing at the chairs.

  ‘Yeah, another four,’ Maia said. ‘I’ll just . . .’

  ‘I’ll get them,’ Seth said and turned on his heel and walked briskly away.

  ‘Don’t mind him,’ Pearl said, her voice at a nervous pitch. ‘He hates all this girlie stuff. But I’d say he’s enjoying it really.’

  ‘The important thing is to ignore him completely if he’s annoying you,’ Maia said. ‘You look gorgeous, the place looks gorgeous and it’s going to be a fabulous day, so don’t let Sergeant Grumpy-arse ruin it for you.’

  Drew started laughing hysterically. ‘Sergeant Grumpy-arse,’ he gasped.

  ‘Oh God,’ Pearl said, going pale. ‘Drew, you can’t say that,’ she begged. ‘Daddy will be angry. Please don’t say that. It’s just our secret, okay? You, me, Maia and Nancy. Our secret. We don’t tell Daddy, okay?’

  Drew grinned wickedly, but he seemed to catch the note of terror in his mother’s voice.

  ‘Sergeant Grumpy-arse,’ he whispered, giggling to himself. ‘I’m going to tell Tommy.’

  He walked off and Pearl took a deep breath. ‘Maia, please don’t say stuff like that in front of him. Seth will blow a gasket if he hears that.’

  Maia looked stricken. ‘Jesus, I’m so sorry, Pearl. I wasn’t thinking that Drew was there. Will I go after him and tell him he’s never to say it again?’

  Pearl shook her head. ‘It’s okay. Tommy is brilliant with him. He’ll understand and make sure Drew knows not to say it out loud in front of Seth.’ Pearl smiled tightly. ‘Don’t mind me,
I’m just nervous about today. The bride is nearly ready inside and guests will be here in less than two hours and my nerves are shot.’

  ‘You need a nip of brandy in your coffee,’ Nancy said.

  ‘God, no,’ Pearl said. ‘I’d fall over in a heap if I touched alcohol. I’m so tired from all the toing and froing this week. It’s been crazy to get it all done.’

  Maia looked around the garden. ‘But my God, Pearl, you’ve done yourself proud. This place looks absolutely incredible. If I ever dump Freddie and find a hot young thing to marry, you’re definitely my event organiser.’

  Pearl laughed. ‘I’m never doing this again, not for any amount of money.’

  ‘Is there anything else we can do to help?’ Nancy said, as Seth arrived back carrying all four chairs.

  ‘No, thank you,’ Pearl said. ‘The caterers are brilliant, they have it all under control. And now I have the right amount of chairs, I can breathe again. I just have to get changed myself and then hopefully it’ll all go smoothly.’

  ‘You’d think you were organising a military campaign that involved life and death,’ Seth said scornfully. ‘It’s just a party, Pearl. Keep it in perspective.’

  Maia turned on him. ‘Excuse me, Seth, but being responsible for your niece’s wedding is a huge stress, and it’s all on Pearl. You should be thanking her for putting such a huge amount of care and effort into it. It might look easy to you, but these things are a nightmare to plan and get right. Pearl deserves a medal.’

  ‘A medal,’ Seth snorted. ‘You women. Talk about exaggerating.’

  Maia looked like she was going to explode with anger, so Nancy put a hand on her arm and said quickly, ‘We should go get ready, too, Maia.’

  ‘Yes, I’ll see you later then,’ Seth said and walked off towards the house.

  ‘Jesus Christ,’ Maia muttered.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Pearl said. ‘He’s just useless at this sort of thing. He’s not mad on socialising and people around the house, so this kind of a day brings out the worst in him. Sorry about him speaking like that.’