The Gift of Friends

by Emma Hannigan

  ‘That bloody woman,’ Maia said. ‘She’d stoop to anything.’

  Zara was looking at them in disbelief. ‘Do people actually do things like that?’ she said. ‘She actually offered you money to leave the man you love?’

  Danielle nodded miserably. ‘How do I fight someone like that?’ she said. ‘I’m not like her. I hardly know which end of a horse is which, I don’t know how to make afternoon tea, and I like to wear old PJs and slippers when I’m watching TV at night. I’m just, like, the opposite of her, and she hates me. How can I bring a baby into that, Maia?’

  ‘You’re not bringing a baby into that,’ Maia said. ‘You’re bringing a baby into number ten Kingfisher Road where only Danielle and Justin live. Yer woman doesn’t live over there. That’s your jurisdiction, and you can tell her to stay the hell away from it. You and Justin will be happy, Danielle. You’ll have to learn to handle her, but you can do that.’

  ‘It’s so hard when Justin won’t stand up to her,’ Danielle said.

  ‘Yeah, why did you say you think he’s over you?’ Maia said. ‘What did he say about her horrible conniving offer?’

  ‘Not much,’ Danielle said. ‘He was half drunk and enjoying himself with his brothers and mates, so he just told me she’s mischievous and to ignore her. When I said I wanted to leave, he said he didn’t want to. In the end, me and Mam got a taxi and came home.’

  ‘Men!’ Maia said, shaking her head. ‘Why isn’t he clued in to what his own mother’s like?’

  ‘Well she is his mum,’ Zara said. ‘He probably feels he can’t be nasty to her, you know.’

  ‘He didn’t come home,’ Danielle said, her voice heavy with sadness.

  ‘What, since then?’ Maia said.

  ‘Not that night,’ Danielle said. ‘He stayed out there, did his work in the stables the next day, then came home that evening. He didn’t seem to think we needed to talk about it or anything. Just acted like nothing had happened. But I can’t do that. I’m so upset about it. I’d like him to stand by me and tell her where to go.’

  ‘Oh God, you poor thing,’ Maia said, reaching over to rub Danielle’s arm. ‘That’s really tough. Rachel must have been spitting nails.’

  ‘That’s the thing,’ Danielle said. ‘She’s now telling me to leave him. And Celia-Ann is telling me to leave him if I love him, and I feel I don’t know what I think anymore.’

  ‘Well, do you believe him that nothing happened and he loves you?’ Maia said. ‘If you trust him, that’s your answer.’

  Danielle stared down at her hands, turning the mug around and around. ‘I’m just not sure about anything anymore.’

  ‘If his mother wasn’t a complete bitch, you and him wouldn’t be having any problems,’ Maia said. ‘I can see her hand in all of this. You can’t let her split you up, Danielle. If you fall out of love with him, fair enough. But don’t let her lies and tricks be the cause of you losing someone you do love. Somehow you have to find a way of standing united against her.’

  ‘Do you love him?’ Zara asked.

  Danielle nodded. ‘I’m mad about him. I know other people see the money and all that, but I just love how decent he is, and how he makes me laugh. We just get on great, you know. When I hear his car pull up, I feel so happy, even if we’re just going to sit on the couch and watch a film.’

  Maia smiled. ‘That certainly sounds like true love,’ she said.

  ‘But I didn’t intend for all this to happen,’ Danielle said. ‘We were having a brilliant time together, but then I missed a period and suddenly my whole life snowballed. I had an engagement ring and a house before I knew where I was. It’s been so fast, I feel like I’m only processing it all now.’

  ‘That makes sense,’ Maia said. ‘The pregnancy was unexpected, so you’d be reeling anyhow, but to then have to move out and into a new house and you probably wouldn’t have got engaged so fast if you weren’t pregnant.’

  ‘Exactly,’ Danielle said. ‘We went from messing around and having fun to accelerating into living together and playing at house. I think that’s why I feel like everything is out of my control. And then his mother makes it all worse.’

  ‘You’ve got to get her out of the equation,’ Maia said firmly. ‘Me and Freddie had to do that with our mothers. It’s not easy, and you’ll feel like a cow, but it really does make life easier.’

  Danielle nodded. ‘I know, I’m just not sure if I can do it. Or even how to do it.’

  ‘Em . . .’ Zara bit her lip. ‘There’s something . . . I wasn’t sure whether to show you.’

  ‘What is it?’ Maia said.

  ‘It’s not good,’ Zara said carefully, ‘but it might give you the ammunition to prove that his mother is against you, and then it might be easier to get him to take a stand, maybe.’

  Danielle was looking at her with an expression of fear, and Maia was worried about what Zara was going to do. Danielle already looked on the edge of exhaustion and anxiety, anything else might push her over. She tried to catch Zara’s eye and give her a warning look, but Zara was focused on Danielle.

  ‘I’ll get it and show you,’ Zara said, and she ran out of the room.

  Danielle looked at Maia, and Maia shrugged. ‘I’ve no idea what she’s talking about,’ she said.

  Zara came back in carrying a copy of Glam Life magazine. She flicked through the pages, then handed it to Danielle. Maia got up and went and sat beside Danielle to see what it was. She gasped when she saw the photograph. It was Justin standing next to an absolute stunner, who was clearly besotted with him.

  ‘That’s the photo his mother made the photographer take,’ Danielle said, her voice strained.

  The caption underneath read: Beautiful Mallory Beauchamp with the handsome and charming Justin Johnston. These two looked very loved-up at a recent glamorous bash at the family’s Westmeath stud. Could there be good news on the horizon?

  Maia could have hit Zara over the head with the magazine. What was she thinking, showing Danielle this?

  ‘You said yourself the mother organised that,’ she said quickly. ‘This is her doing, no question.’

  ‘Oh God,’ Danielle said, bending her head over the magazine.

  Zara looked at her in alarm, and looked at her mother. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you, Danielle,’ she said, looking anguished. ‘It just proves to him that his mother is trying to split you up, doesn’t it?’

  ‘Can I take this?’ Danielle asked. ‘I need to go talk to Justin.’

  ‘Now take it easy,’ Maia said urgently. ‘Don’t go off saying things you’ll regret. This isn’t his fault, remember. Don’t panic, Danielle. Stop and think for a minute.’

  ‘I don’t know what to think,’ Danielle said. ‘Everyone will be laughing at me.’

  ‘They don’t matter,’ Maia said. ‘If they treat you badly, they’re not worth it. They don’t matter.’

  Danielle picked up her phone and took a photo of the page, including the caption. She tapped at her phone, then looked up at them.

  ‘I’ve sent it to Justin,’ she said. ‘I can’t say anything stupid if I’m not there in front of him.’

  They all stared at her phone. It buzzed and lit up.

  I’m sorry you saw that. I love you Danielle. Mallory is long gone. I know that looks bad, but it’s just people making up stuff. Please come home and talk to me.

  ‘What are you going to do?’ Zara asked.

  Danielle took a deep breath. ‘I can’t really do anything other than go home, can I?’ she said.

  ‘Just stay calm and hear him out,’ Maia said.

  ‘Okay,’ Danielle said, pulling herself wearily to her feet. ‘Maybe he will be able to take her on after this. Maybe it’s a good thing.’ She looked like she didn’t believe a word she was saying.

  ‘Talk it out,’ Maia said. ‘Let him know how upset you are. Don’t blackmail him or force him to choose, but try to show him how it feels from where you’re standing.’

  They walked back into the kitchen and
then down the hallway to the front door.

  ‘Do you want me to walk you across?’ Maia asked.

  ‘No, I’m fine,’ Danielle said. ‘Thanks for everything. Both of you. Goodnight.’

  ‘Good luck,’ Maia said softly.

  She closed the front door and turned to find Zara standing there, tears in her eyes.

  ‘Did I mess everything up, Mum?’ she asked, and Maia’s heart melted.

  ‘No, you didn’t, sweetheart. Come here.’ She wrapped Zara up in a big hug and breathed in the sweet scent of her shampoo. The thought of losing this nearly made her cry out in pain, but she reined it in and held Zara tighter. ‘Love is a difficult thing, Zara. It’s all ups and downs. This is a difficult time for Danielle, but if she rides it out, it’ll get better.’

  ‘What if I’ve split them up?’ Zara sobbed into her shoulder.

  ‘She would have seen that picture sooner or later,’ Maia said. ‘No doubt it’s up on social media. It’s best that she knows about it and can tackle him about it.’

  ‘Really?’ Zara said, pulling back and staring at her. ‘You really think that?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Maia, pushing a strand of Zara’s hair behind her ear. ‘You did the right thing. If they don’t make it, it certainly won’t be your fault. It’ll all be on that Johnston woman’s head.’

  Chapter 21

  PROTEST DAY, NANCY WAS UP BRIGHT AND EARLY, spoiling for a fight. She had got over the initial terrible shock of the CPO, and now she felt filled with a new energy. She wanted to knock the stuffing out of the council today, and that feeling gave her a boost. She’d been feeling like a defeated old woman since that horrible meeting with Derek Small, but now she’d picked herself up and was ready to get back in the running.

  She opened her curtains and looked out. Maia was already out on the road, zooming around, sorting out banners from Pearl’s garage, ordering Zara and Zach about and generally looking like a woman on a mission.

  ‘That’s my girl,’ Nancy said, smiling to herself.

  She got herself showered, dressed and breakfasted quickly, then pulled on a warm, fleece-lined puffa coat, a bright woollen hat and her furry boots and headed outside, with Nelly on the lead.

  Zara was parading around in skin-tight jeans and a belly-top. How the child hadn’t frozen solid was beyond her. Nancy wouldn’t have removed a single layer if you’d paid her good money. It was November, for heaven’s sake. How was Zara not blue-lipped and shivering? The joys of youth, Nancy thought.

  ‘Morning!’ Maia called out, waving wildly at her.

  ‘You’re well underway,’ Nancy said, joining her.

  ‘I want everything to be perfect when it starts,’ Maia said. ‘The twins have been drumming up interest on social media as well. They’ve been great. They actually got out of bed at eight o’clock. You are the only person in the world who could prise them out from under the covers at that hour, Nancy.’

  ‘They’re so good,’ Nancy said, feeling almost embarrassed at all the fuss she was causing. ‘I’ll get them a little gift each to say thank you. And you, Maia, I’ll never be able to thank you enough. With a huge party to organise, you needed this like a hole in the head.’

  Maia waved her hand dismissively. ‘I’d cancel that party in a heartbeat if it meant helping you. Don’t worry about it.’

  ‘Where shall I put this, Maia?’ asked a very tall, slim girl with striking red hair.

  ‘Just against the wall, Delia,’ Maia said. ‘Nancy, this is Delia, Zach’s girlfriend. Delia, this is our old friend, Nancy. This is the girlfriend he hid for ages. I’m just coming around to forgiving him.’

  ‘Oh hi, Nancy,’ the girl said, smiling widely and coming over to shake her hand. ‘Zach has told me, like, so much about you. He adores you.’

  Nancy smiled. ‘Ditto for me,’ she said.

  ‘He’s so upset that you might have to move out,’ the girl said. ‘I just wanted to be here to support him – and you, of course.’

  ‘Well I’m most grateful,’ Nancy said. ‘Hopefully I’ll get a coffee with you and Zach later and we can chat properly.’

  ‘That would be awesome,’ Delia said, and she headed off, humming to herself.

  ‘True love?’ Nancy said, looking at Maia.

  ‘Seems to be,’ Maia said. ‘I think he was ashamed to introduce her at first because her family is loaded and very well-to-do, but we’re becoming friends now. She’s a bit ditsy and out-there, but I’m getting quite fond of her.’

  ‘It’s great when they pick someone you like,’ Nancy said.

  ‘Good morning, ladies,’ Betsy called, coming up to them, pushing Arnie in his buggy. ‘Noel is going to take some cupcakes out of the oven for me in fifteen minutes, then he’ll join us.’

  ‘Hello Betsy,’ said Zara as she rushed over to peek in at the baby. ‘Aw no, he’s asleep. Can I come and play with him some day?’

  ‘Yes of course you can, dear,’ said Betsy, looking her up and down. ‘Zara, darling, I know you’re beautiful, but really and truly, a belly-top on a day like today? It’s freezing. Would you not go put on a coat?’

  ‘I’ve already lost that battle this morning, Betsy,’ Maia said, laughing.

  ‘I’ll put on a coat when I feel cold,’ Zara said, pouting.

  ‘Well, just don’t be a martyr,’ Betsy said. ‘You don’t want to jeopardise your trip by catching flu or bronchitis or some such.’

  Maia couldn’t help thinking it would be lovely if exactly that happened and Zara had to stay home longer, but she couldn’t say that out loud.

  ‘Thank you so much for all your work on this, Betsy,’ said Nancy, ‘but promise me not to keep the baby out here long. I’d hate him to catch a cold.’

  ‘We’ll stay as long as we can,’ Betsy said. ‘I have lots of cupcakes and coffee and tea ready to go, so send any cold and miserable people in my direction.’ She watched Maia haring about and smiled. ‘Gosh, she really is a force of nature, isn’t she?’

  Nancy smiled fondly in Maia’s direction. ‘She’s amazing. I can’t get over the support I’m getting.’

  By eleven o’clock, the place was heaving with people clapping their hands together as much to get the thing going as to keep themselves warm. They collected at the end of the road, outside Nancy’s house, and Maia gave a quick speech to welcome them and set out the reasons for the protest. Seven or eight photographers had turned up from local papers, and Zach had taken it on himself to stand with them, giving names, answering questions and ensuring they got the shots they wanted.

  Everyone picked up their banners, which had various versions of Save Nancy’s House across them, and they started a march up Kingfisher Road, towards the main road. Nancy and Nelly took pole position behind the first, long banner that said: Save My Home! Maia had managed to get her hands on a loudspeaker and she was bellowing, ‘What do want? No CPO. When do we want it? Now!’ The crowd rallied round her cry and joined in. The TV cameras captured it all. The march didn’t go far, they just paraded down the main road towards Vayhill, then turned and came back to Nancy’s house. It was enough to get the image of protest out there.

  Back at the house, the reporters crowded around Nancy, sticking microphones under her chin.

  ‘I’d like to thank everyone who turned out today,’ Nancy said. ‘Many people have questions to put to the council, but they refused to send any representatives here today. We were forced into this protest because they have placed a CPO on my home – my home of more than twenty-five years – and they won’t discuss it with me. I have no choice but to go public with it. I want to stay in my home until I die. That’s all I’m asking.’

  ‘Good girl, Nancy,’ Maia said, hugging her. ‘You’re playing a blinder.’

  The crowd fell into chatting, and the reporters knew it was over. Maia handed each of them a document with information about Nancy’s case and about Kingfisher Road; she had even come up with questions they might have and given answers to them.

  ‘If everyone did
things as well as you lot, our job would be a doddle,’ the woman from Channel 1 said to her. ‘This will make a great feature on the evening news.’ She asked to film Nancy walking up her garden path, then closing her front door with a wave. Nancy did it to perfection.

  ‘Lovely!’ shouted the film crew, giving her a thumbs-up. ‘Thanks so much.’

  The reporters and film crew departed, and most of the crowd started to disperse as well. Betsy invited the remaining people over to her house for a warming cuppa. The atmosphere was celebratory, and they were all certain there’d be a notice from the council in the post. After half-an-hour in Betsy’s crowded house, Nancy said she’d go on home and thanked everyone profusely.

  As she walked back towards Kingfisher cottage, Nancy heard footsteps running behind her. She turned around and saw Danielle jogging towards her.

  ‘I’ll come with you, Nancy,’ she said. ‘There were banners and papers left around your garden, so I’ll help clear it up.’

  ‘Oh, you don’t have to,’ Nancy said. ‘I’ve taken up so much of everyone’s time already. You go on back to Betsy’s and I’ll take care of it.’

  Danielle shook her head. ‘No, you’re stuck with me.’

  Nancy laughed. ‘Okay, neighbour,’ she said. ‘Many hands and all that.’

  As they worked, picking up rubbish and stuffing it into bin bags, Nancy asked Danielle what she felt about the protest.

  ‘It was great,’ Danielle said. ‘So many people, and the support was very genuine.’

  ‘But do you think it will work?’ Nancy asked.

  Danielle looked unsure. ‘Maybe,’ she said.

  ‘Oh come on, don’t go all shy on me,’ Nancy said. ‘I love a good fight, but my gut is telling me it won’t change anyone’s mind. I didn’t want to say that in front of the others because of all their hard work. Tell me what you really think.’

  ‘Okay,’ Danielle said, straightening up and dropping the last piece of paper into the bag. ‘I’d agree with your gut. I don’t think the council does U-turns quite as easily as everyone is imagining. They’d be ready for a reaction and feelings running high, but it doesn’t mean they’ll turn on their heels and run away.’ She shrugged. ‘To be really honest, I don’t think it will make a blind bit of difference to them. Although I really hope I’m wrong, obviously.’