The Gift of Friends

by Emma Hannigan

  ‘And now,’ he said, handing the box to her, ‘this is my first present to you as my wife.’

  Danielle nearly started crying at his thoughtfulness. She opened the box and on a velvet cushion lay another rose-gold charm depicting a mortar-board. Danielle took it out and Justin took it from her and attached it to the bracelet.

  ‘Now,’ he said, kissing her hand, ‘you’re wearing the future we hope to share.’

  The tears came then, and Justin kissed them away.

  ‘My darling Danielle,’ he murmured. ‘I’m going to do my best to be an excellent husband, and to make you happy. We’ll achieve all we want, all that’s important to us. I promise.’

  Danielle looked at him. ‘I believe you,’ she said, and she knew it was the first time she had really, truly felt that. She let go of all the doubts and the nagging sense of failure, and she embraced this new feeling of love, proper, solid love, the kind that would hold her up, no matter what. She had made a choice, and now she was going to live that choice fully. She couldn’t stop smiling. It felt amazing. It felt like she’d been on a long, gruelling journey, and she had finally made her way home.

  ‘My beautiful husband,’ she said, reaching up to stroke Justin’s cheek. ‘I’m ready for our future now, are you?’

  ‘I always was,’ he said, ‘but I’m so glad to hear that you’ve joined me.’

  He took her hand and they walked back into the dining room, where their little party broke into applause and raised their glasses towards them. It might not have been the kind of wedding day either of them had ever pictured, but it was perfect. Danielle wouldn’t have changed a thing. This was their day, done their way, and she was happier than she’d ever thought possible. When she thought about their life together, she no longer worried incessantly about how they’d manage or whether it would work out, now she just smiled and thought, Bring it on!

  Chapter 33

  MAIA WAS STILL ON A HIGH THE DAY AFTER THE wedding. It had been so simple and so romantic – and so unexpected, of course. She had reckoned it was something important when Danielle texted out of the blue, that’s why she had dressed up to an extent, but she hadn’t thought it was an actual wedding. When she’d seen Danielle walking down the street, all satin shimmer and confident red lippy, she had nearly fainted dead away. The change in Danielle was incredible. It seemed like Justin’s love for her had just made her blossom. Maia was so happy for her.

  She hadn’t told anyone yet about Freddie’s troubles or their plan. It all had to be handled with great care. Freddie would fly out the next day, and she was dreading it, but trying not to let him see that. It would only make it harder on him to go if he knew she was dying inside at the thought of it. She had to keep it together and stay strong, and this would hopefully all be over soon. They had emptied out the shop of all the high-end stuff, which she had deposited safely in the storage facility. So their plan was moving along nicely. She was keeping herself busy, washing his clothes and getting the toiletries and other bits he needed. He was upstairs packing, and she could tell that his heart was breaking too. But if this saved their asses, it was worth it.

  Maia folded another batch of Freddie’s clothes and steeled herself for going upstairs to face him. She picked up the neatly folded pile and headed out to the stairs. The front door was standing open, with the porch door locked. Freddie always did that when she was home, but she hated the front door being wide open like that. It always made her shiver, even though the house was toasty warm. As she passed by, she noticed a car parked outside Nancy’s house. She stepped into the porch to get a better look. It was one of those half-van, half-car yokes, and along the side was written: Berwick Estate Agents and Valuers. Maia stared at it, her brain working overtime. Why the hell would Nancy have them around when she wasn’t going anywhere? There was no way she wanted to sell the house, so what business could she have with them? There was another car parked at the bottom of the road between Nancy’s house and number six. The car was really familiar – where had she seen it before?

  Maia went on up the stairs, still thinking about the familiar car. She had definitely seen it before. She went into her bedroom, where Freddie’s case was standing open.

  ‘Thanks, love,’ he said, taking the pile from her. ‘Are you okay?’

  She nodded. ‘Yeah, just something bothering me. There’s a car outside Nancy’s and . . .’ she snapped her fingers, ‘. . . it’s yer man’s car, her son.’

  Freddie stared at her in shock. ‘Nancy has a son? I never knew that.’

  Maia went over and looked out the window. Both cars were still there.

  ‘It’s a secret really,’ she said, ‘but she had a baby when she was only sixteen, and she was sent to a Magdalene.’

  ‘Jesus,’ Freddie said. ‘Poor Nancy. I’m amazed she survived.’

  ‘She’s a tough one,’ Maia said. ‘She got out, but they took her baby son. But then just recently he contacted her and wanted to meet up. She’s been seeing him quite regularly. But that’s definitely his car, and there’s a real estate car there as well.’ Her face darkened. ‘The time I met him, he was saying she should get the house valued and invest in some scheme he knew about.’

  Freddie looked up. ‘Sell up and invest? I don’t like the sound of that. Is that what’s happening over there, do you think?’

  Maia was still watching the house, and now two men walked out and into the front garden, turning around to look up at the house. They were deep in discussion, waving their arms as they talked and taking a good look around.

  ‘There he is now,’ Maia said. ‘Look.’

  Freddie came to the window beside her and looked out. ‘Is it yer man with the suit?’

  ‘No, that must be the estate agent. The other fella, he’s her son.’

  Freddie stared at the man and then shouted, ‘Him? He says he’s her son?’

  Maia nodded. ‘What is it?’ she asked.

  ‘I saw him with her before,’ Freddie said, frowning. ‘In a café. I couldn’t place him, but I knew I’d seen him around. But I know who he is now. I’ve seen him hanging around with some of the lads who’ve been giving me trouble. He’s bad luck, that fella. I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.’ He looked at Maia. ‘I’ll feckin’ eat my jumper if he’s actually Nancy’s son. He’s a chancer of the highest order.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Maia asked. She felt scared now. Who was this man, and what the hell were his intentions towards Nancy?

  Freddie strode across the room and out of the door and down the stairs. Maia ran after him, shouting, ‘What are you going to do?’

  ‘I’m going to make sure Nancy is alright,’ he called back. ‘No one is going to get at her on my watch.’

  Maia ran after him all the way to Nancy’s house. He strode along like an angry bull, shoulders hunched, ready for battle. When he reached Nancy’s, he flung open the gate and the two men in the garden turned around, momentarily startled.

  ‘What’s going on here?’ Freddie fairly roared. ‘What’s your business with Nancy?’ He squared up to them, and the estate agent went pale.

  ‘Jesus, mister,’ he said, shrinking back, ‘I’m just doing an assessment to give the lady a valuation, that’s all.’

  Nancy came out then and saw them all standing in her garden, with Freddie evidently in a rage.

  ‘What’s wrong, Freddie?’ she called. ‘It’s okay, I know these men.’

  ‘How well?’ Freddie said, still staring hard at Steve. ‘And why is there an estate agent here?’

  Nancy walked down the path towards them. ‘This is my son, Steve. Sorry for not introducing you that last time, Freddie. He’s just getting a valuation done, although I’ve told him a million times I’m not selling it.’

  ‘Why didn’t you listen to her?’ Freddie said, and Maia could see that Steve was nervous in the face of his rage.

  ‘Back off, man,’ he snarled. ‘This is nothing to do with you.’

  ‘Oh yes it is,’ Freddie shot
back. ‘Nancy is an old and dear friend and I won’t let anyone, and I mean anyone, upset her and try to go against her. Do you get me?’

  ‘I’ve got her best interests at heart,’ Steve said. ‘I’m her flesh and blood. And this has nothing to do with you, so get off this property.’

  ‘Steve!’ Nancy said, sounding shocked. ‘These are my neighbours, my friends, don’t talk to them like that. What’s got into you?’

  Freddie walked right up to Steve and put his face up close to his.

  ‘I know you,’ he said. ‘I recognise your ugly mug. I think you’ve got connections to Mad Boy McKenna, if I’m not mistaken?’

  Steve looked from Nancy to Freddie and back again. Maia could see that he was actually terrified of Freddie. Although to be fair, Freddie was so angry he did look terrifying. His face was red and his veins were bulging in his neck and he was nearly sparking with suppressed rage.

  ‘I’ve got your number,’ Freddie said, ‘and if I see you around here again, I’ll . . .’

  Steve didn’t wait to hear what awful thing would befall him if he came around again, he suddenly made a run for it, pushing Maia over as he sped past her, then leaping into his car and screeching off up the road in a cloud of smoke.

  Freddie rushed over to help Maia to her feet.

  The estate agent held up his hands. ‘I’ve no idea what’s going on here,’ he said, ‘but honestly, I was just asked to come give an assessment. I don’t know that guy.’

  ‘This lady isn’t selling,’ Freddie said, ‘not now, not ever, so that fella just wasted your time.’

  ‘No problem,’ the man said, backing away. ‘Nice to meet you, Nancy,’ he said, then he too turned and hurried off.

  ‘What the hell is going on?’ Nancy said, looking astounded.

  ‘Nancy, my love,’ Freddie said, going over to her, ‘Maia told me about Steve, but I know him and he’s a con man. He hangs out with some dodgy people and no doubt he’s into all sorts of scams. I’d bet my life he isn’t connected to you at all.’

  ‘Not . . . not my son?’ Nancy looked dazed. ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘Come on, let’s go get this sorted. How did he find out about you?’

  Nancy still looked utterly confused. ‘He contacted Mill Hall Adoption Agency and found me that way.’

  Freddie put his arm around her. ‘Right then, let’s go pay them a visit.’

  ‘Now?’ Nancy said.

  ‘Right now,’ Freddie said. ‘If I’m right, we need to let them know he’s out there trying to con people out of their homes.’

  ‘Just let me get my coat and see to Nelly,’ Nancy said.

  She went inside and Maia went over to her husband and kissed him. Watching him in action, being so decisive and so protective of Nancy, had made her feel a huge surge of love.

  ‘You are amazing,’ she said to him.

  ‘Anyone would have done the same,’ he said, looking surprised. ‘You’re a tiger about your friends. I was just saving yer man from having to deal with you.’

  Maia laughed. ‘Yeah, right. You’re superman to me, and nothing you say can change that.’

  Nancy came back outside and locked the front door behind her. Then the three of them went across and got into Freddie’s car, and he drove the thirty minutes to the adoption agency. Once there, they went in and told the receptionist they needed to discuss an urgent matter.

  ‘The lady we need to talk to is called Angela,’ Nancy said, ‘but I’m afraid I don’t know her surname.’

  ‘That’s no problem,’ the receptionist said. ‘That’ll be Angela Griffith. I’ll find out where she is.’

  They had to wait another fifteen minutes before the receptionist called them over.

  ‘She can see you for five minutes,’ she said. ‘If you just go into the boardroom over there, she’ll be down shortly.’

  They went into the boardroom and sat around the large oval table. Finally, the door opened and Angela came in, wearing the same skirt suit Nancy remembered her in the last time they’d met.

  ‘Miss Smyth,’ Angela said, extending her hand. ‘Lovely to see you again. I presume this is about your son. Is there a problem?’

  ‘I think so,’ Nancy said, looking at Freddie.

  ‘The man you’re saying is her son . . .’ Freddie said, ‘are you absolutely sure that’s the truth?’

  Angela looked uncomfortable. ‘Why do you ask?’

  ‘Well, for starters, he seems determined to get Nancy to sell her house and give him the money to invest in some scheme, which doesn’t seem very caring to me. And on top of that, I’ve seen him around and as far as I’m concerned, he’s very dodgy. I’m finding it hard to believe that he is Nancy’s son. Is it possible that he’s not?’

  Angela shifted in her chair. ‘This is most unusual, Mr . . .’

  ‘Freddie,’ he said.

  ‘Right, Freddie then, this is most unusual. We don’t discuss clients with outsiders because these matters are very delicate. If there’s any suggestion of impropriety, we will of course investigate. But I think it best that you leave it to us now.’

  Freddie stared at her. ‘That’s it? This is something that changes Nancy’s life entirely, but we’re to bugger off and you’ll look into it. Are you kidding me?’

  Angela stared at him, but she looked embarrassed. ‘I’m not willing to enter into a discussion about this case,’ she said.

  Freddie sat back in his chair, still staring at her. ‘There’s something you’re not telling us, love,’ he said. ‘You know something, and you’re feeding us these lines to stop us from pursuing this.’ He stood up. ‘Seeing as that’s the case, I’m taking Nancy straight to Vayhill garda station and I’m going to report my worries about this individual.’

  ‘No, don’t do that,’ Angela said quickly.

  ‘Why not?’ Freddie demanded.

  ‘As I said, these things are very delicate and . . .’

  ‘Forget delicate,’ Freddie said. ‘My friend here has let this man into her life, thinking he’s her son, and I’ve a feeling you know something about that. Now either talk to us straight up, or we are going to the police. Your choice.’

  Angela took a deep breath. ‘Okay, look, sit down, please,’ she said.

  Maia could see that Nancy was on the edge of her seat, leaning forward to hear what Angela would say.

  ‘We are in the early stages of a confidential investigation,’ Angela said, ‘but we have a concern that this man, Steve Mannion, is not who he says he is.’

  ‘What gave you that concern?’ Nancy asked.

  Angela bit her lip. ‘We think he has contacted two other adoption agencies and claimed the same thing about two other women.’

  Nancy sat back heavily, looking totally shocked.

  ‘I’m so very sorry,’ Angela said quickly. ‘We do our very best to ensure people are authentic, but these cases do happen from time to time. The record-keeping back in those times was very poor, and sometimes deliberately false we’ve found, so it leaves us open to this type of fraud. I can’t say for sure if yours is a case of fraud, Nancy, but we are already investigating our concerns.’

  ‘Goddamnit,’ Nancy said, shaking her head.

  ‘I can give you information about him,’ Freddie said. ‘You can take it to the police. I think it’ll help you sort this out much quicker.’

  ‘Is that so?’ Angela said, looking interested. ‘That would be a fantastic help, thank you. What can you tell me?’

  Freddie began to tell her all he knew, as Angela wrote it all down as quickly as she could. Maia moved over and sat beside Nancy, taking her friend’s hand in hers.

  ‘Are you doing okay?’ she asked quietly.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Nancy said. ‘My brain can’t catch up with all this. I’ve no idea what I feel.’

  ‘He’s some lowlife to target women like this,’ Maia said. ‘I mean, what is wrong with people? How can he sleep at night, knowing he’s messing up someone’s life so badly? I hope they get him a
nd put him away, throw away the key.’

  ‘I’m not his mother,’ Nancy said. ‘I’m not a mother.’

  ‘You are,’ Maia said. ‘You did have a baby, but you might never find him. I’m so sorry, Nancy.’

  Angela clicked her pen closed. ‘Thank you so much for this,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t helpful to begin with, but when something like this happens, we kind of go into shutdown because we don’t know who to believe. But I’m going to talk to the gardaí today and set out all you’ve told me.’

  ‘Good on you,’ Freddie said. ‘The sooner they catch him, the better.’

  ‘Nancy, I have to offer you my deepest apologies,’ Angela said, looking nervously at Nancy. ‘We really do try our best, but it looks like this man might have got one over on us. I can’t apologise enough. I’m so sorry.’

  Nancy shook her head. ‘It’s okay, Angela. It’s not your fault. I just want to get the truth now. If he isn’t my son, I want to put this behind me and move on.’

  ‘We will keep you updated on progress,’ Angela said, ‘but I really think he’s not, Nancy. His description has been corroborated by the other two agencies. We have to be very careful not to jump to conclusions, but I’d be ninety-five per cent sure he’s not who he says he is. And if Freddie is right, then it’s definite. I’m sorry.’

  ‘Okay,’ Nancy said, taking a deep breath. ‘It’s a lot to take in. I need time to process it all.’

  ‘I know,’ Angela said. ‘But if you’ll excuse me, I really want to call the station and talk this through with them. I’ll be in touch when I know more.’ She left the room, and the others all looked at each other.

  ‘I don’t think I can take any more drama,’ Nancy said tiredly. ‘What a rollercoaster these past few months have been. My head aches just to think about it all.’

  ‘You poor thing,’ Maia said. ‘I really don’t know what to say, Nancy. It’s just so horrible.’

  ‘I’ll be alright,’ Nancy said. ‘I could certainly do with a quiet life for a while, though. Between CPOs and con men, my life feels like a freak show.’