Fergus stubbed out his cigarette and, looking defeated and frightened, nodded slowly. 'I'll do whatever you want.'
Celine finished ironing a pair of palazzo pants, hung them up and went to put on the kettle. She hadn't got much done this morning as she'd had visits from her father and Sadie. It had taken all of her patience to deal with Sadie, who wanted every last detail about the break-in and Rose's reaction to it. Celine assured her that it would be business as usual on Wednesday and that they would have plenty of stock. She wasn't sure how true that was. Though Rose had called many of her contacts no one had been in touch with Celine yet.
Her dad had been more philosophical. 'Little thugs, I know what I'd do with them if I got my hands on them!'
Celine smiled as she made her coffee. Her father believed that a kick in the arse was a lot more effective than a spell in a prison cell and it saved the taxpayer's money.
The one person she wanted to see was keeping his distance. Richard's reaction to Mary Boyle's outburst had annoyed her. A shutter had come down over his face and he'd turned into a frosty stranger. Dominic had looked from one to the other and left them to it and, with a heavy heart, Celine suggested they go up to her flat. Even as she explained what had happened she knew that Richard had already made up his mind. He was polite, too polite, and when she had finished he'd headed for the door without a word.
'Richard? Where are you going? Aren't you going to say something?'
He'd stopped in the doorway and looked at her, his beautiful brown eyes sad. 'I have to go. I'll call you later.'
And he was gone. Celine doubted now if he'd be back. She massaged the crick of her neck and closed her eyes. Would she ever stop paying for her affair with Kevin Gilligan? Their relationship had been the biggest mistake of her life and she regretted it more every day. Yesterday, she'd glimpsed a happy future spreading out in front of her. Now she was alone again and likely to stay that way. She didn't think she'd ever fall in love again after Dermot but then Richard had emerged from her airing cupboard and everything had changed. She glanced at her watch and decided to take the repaired stock back down to the shop. She was just walking out the door when the phone rang. She thought of ignoring it but it could be a customer or Brenda or even Rose. She hurried over and picked it up. 'Hello?'
'Celine, it's me.'
'Hi, Marina.' Celine took the phone over to the window.
'Are you okay? Dominic told me what happened. How are things with Richard? What did he say?'
Celine decided to answer the last question first. 'He didn't say anything.'
'Oh, so everything's okay?'
'I didn't say that. He didn't say anything, he just left. I suppose you could say actions speak louder than words.' Celine was trying to be glib but she was surprised by the catch in her voice. Marina heard it too. 'Oh, Celine, I'm sorry! But he'll come round. You need to explain things. I mean, did you tell him that it was all over with Kevin before you even moved to Hopefield?'
Celine closed her eyes. 'But it wasn't.'
'You mean you were still seeing Kevin? You never told me that! Jesus, Celine, you'd think you'd have learnt your lesson.'
'Give it a rest, Marina, it was just a couple of times.'
Marina sighed. 'Yeah, sorry.'
'Unfortunately one of the nights that he came to see me Richard was here.'
There was a gasp at the other end of the phone as Marina digested this. 'So they've met?'
The tears that Celine had managed to keep a lid on so far threatened to spill over. 'Yes,' she sniffed, realising how it must look from Richard's perspective.
'Oh, Celine. Look, I'll come over later. Hang on in there, pet, I'll see you around six.'
Celine hung up and went into the bathroom to wash her face. She stared at herself in the mirror. Red-eyed and pale, she looked exactly how she felt, miserable. She splashed cold water on her face, ran a comb through her hair and went to get the clothes. It took her three journeys to take them all back to the shop but once Celine had arranged them on the rails she felt a little more cheerful. The place was beginning to look normal again. She turned around as there was a rap on the door and smiled when she recognised one of Rose's regular customers laden down with bags and suit carriers. She flung open the door and relieved the woman of some of the bags. 'Hello! My goodness, this is wonderful!'
The older woman laughed. 'Rose did me a favour. I've been meaning to clean out my wardrobes for months. I didn't realise I had quite so much stuff.'
'This is all yours?'
'Lord, no! I nagged my daughter and next-door neighbour to have a rummage through their stuff too.'
'It's marvellous,' Celine murmured as she removed covers from some beautifully tailored suits. 'I don't know how to thank you.' '
I'd murder a cup of tea.'
Celine laughed. 'I'll put on the kettle.'
Chapter 38
Fergus stood outside the pub, shifting from one foot to the other and checking his watch every five seconds.
'Yo, Gus.'
Fergus swung round to see Mick grinning up at him. 'Where the hell were you? We said twelve.'
'Jeez, relax, man, will ye?' Mick opened the door and led the way into the dimly lit pub.
'Just give me the stuff and let me get out of here,' Fergus muttered, his eyes on the crowds around them.
Mick chuckled. 'For fuck's sake, get me a pint and pull yerself together. Ye may as well have a sign over yer head saying "I'm up to something".'
Fergus went to the bar and breathed deeply while the barman poured Mick's drink. He had to calm down or he could blow the whole deal. He paid for the pint and carried it back to the table, concentrating hard on not spilling it all over the place.
Mick grinned. 'Not joining me then?' He took a sip of his drink while Fergus watched him impatiently. 'That's better. Now, listen carefully. Ye do what I tell ye and we'll get on just fine.'
Fergus listened to his instructions, nodding occasionally.
'Have ye got all that?' Mick said when he'd finished.
Fergus nodded. 'Yeah, course I do.'
'Right.' Mick slipped a small package into Fergus's hand. 'That'll keep ye going for a few days.'
Fergus shoved it into his pocket and stood up. 'Okay, I'm off. Will you be in the club later?'
Mick's expression sobered. 'Nah, I've got to go and see someone. There's a piece of shit trying to move in on my patch. He needs to know that I'm not happy about it.' He slid a knife out of his pocket. 'It's not a good idea to mess me around, Gus, remember that.'
Fergus almost ran out of the pub and began to walk towards O'Connell Street. His heart was thumping and he could feel sweat dripping from his forehead. He ran for a bus, jumped on and flashed his monthly ticket. After a couple of stops, he got off, crossed the road and boarded another one going in the opposite direction. After the bus had cleared town, he got off again and walked to the nearest phone box. Taking out a piece of paper he dialled a number and waited. 'I'm here.'
'We're in the blue Mondeo parked across the road,' Declan Murphy told him.
Fergus hung up, crossed the road and climbed into the car.
'Did it go as planned?' Declan asked.
'Yeah, fine.' Fergus handed over the package and then wiped his forehead on his arm.
Declan opened it to reveal a clear packet of tablets. 'How many?'
'Ninety.'
'When do you see him again?'
Fergus shrugged. 'He said he'd call me.'
'What patch did he give you?'
'The nightclub and the pubs in Sandhill.'
Declan cursed. 'The clever bugger is keeping his eye on you. We'll have to move fast.'
'I don't think I can do this.' Fergus closed his eyes and dug his fingers into his seat.
'You don't have a choice.'
Marina was on the train on her way to a swimwear shoot in Brittas Bay when the manageress of Josh's nursery called.
'He has a temperature, Mrs Flynn, and a bad cough. I really
think he should be in bed.'
'I'm not in Dublin, Miss Brennan, I'll have to call my mother and see if she can pick him up. I'll call you back in five minutes.' Marina hurriedly dialled her mother's number and prayed that she was home.
'Hello?'
'Oh, Mum, thank God.'
'Marina? What's wrong?'
'It's Josh. I just got a call from the school. He's not very well.'
'I'll go and get him straight away.'
'Oh, thanks, Mum. And could you—'
'Take him to the doctor? Of course, love.'
'Thanks, Mum, I owe you one. I'll call the nursery and tell them you're on your way.'
'And I'll call you as soon as we get home,' Kay promised.
After thanking her mother again, Marina called Miss Brennan and then sat back in her seat to worry for the remainder of the journey.
'A nasty infection,' the doctor pronounced, patting Josh on the head. 'His throat and his ears, poor little lad. I'll write you a prescription for an antibiotic and give him Calpol or Neurofen to get his temperature down.'
Kay hugged Josh against her. 'And would some ice cream help, Doctor?'
'I insist that he has plenty of ice cream.' The doctor winked at Josh.
Kay was alarmed at the lack of response from her grandson. Usually any mention of ice cream or chocolate had him swinging from the rafters. But today he was lolling back against her, his eyes half closed and his cheeks roaring red.
'He'll be fine in a day or so,' the doctor promised. 'Plenty of drinks, sleep and some TLC is all he needs. Don't worry if he doesn't want to eat.'
Kay thanked him and led Josh out into the packed waiting room.
'I'm tired, Granny,' Josh murmured, sounding frail and frightened.
'I know, love, I'll have you home in no time.'
An hour later, Josh was propped up on the sofa, with a soft blanket tucked around him and his favourite teddy clutched in his little hands. Kay set the video and when she was satisfied that Josh was engrossed in the latest Teletubbies adventure, she crept outside to phone Marina.
'Is he all right, Mum? I've been worried sick.'
'He's fine, Marina, don't worry. The doctor gave him an antibiotic. He has an ear, nose and throat infection, but he should be fine in a couple of days.'
'The poor lamb! Can I talk to him, Mum?'
Kay brought the phone into Josh and after he'd answered his mother's questions with monosyllables, Kay told her daughter not to worry and hung up. 'How about that ice cream now, love?'
'No thanks, Granny, but will you sit with me?'
Kay, a lump in her throat, sat down and put an arm around him. 'That's a grand idea.'
Josh leaned his head against her chest and smiled for the first time that day.
Marina, bent one way, then another, tossed her hair and smiled into the camera, but in her head she was at home with Josh.
'Hey, darling, pull your cozzie up, the editor doesn't want too much boob.'
Marina adjusted her top and thought back to the time when photographers had urged her to show more. She noticed the goose bumps standing out on her chest and hoped that they'd be able to airbrush them out. It was always a hazard doing these kind of shots in Ireland even in summertime. As Marina's face and feet began to ache, she thought how nice it would be if she could give it all up and stay home with Josh. It was awful not to be with him when he was poorly. Thank God her mum was with him. Josh didn't like babysitters at the best of times but when he was ill he hated them. She risked a quick glance at her watch. It was nearly seven and it would be a miracle if she was home in time to give Josh his bath. Marina felt a lump in her throat as she imagined his tears. Kay would be at her wits' end.
'I think we'll do a few more shots in the sand dimes,' the photographer told her and started to march across the beach.
'Great,' Marina muttered, hurrying after him.
It was after nine before she finally got in. The house was in darkness and after taking her shoes off she tiptoed upstairs but a quick search revealed that the three bedrooms were empty. He must have got worse and her mum had taken him back to the doctor or even to the hospital. She went downstairs and rushed into the living room in search of the note that Kay would surely have left.
'Hello, love,' Kay whispered from her position on the sofa.
'Mum! Josh!' Marina fell in a heap at the feet of her sleeping son. 'God, I thought you'd taken him to the hospital. Why are you sitting down here in the dark?'
'He didn't want to go to bed alone so I decided to let him fall asleep in front of the television. He's only just nodded off, poor pet.'
Marina brushed his hair back out of his eyes with gentle fingers. 'Did he eat?'
Kay shook her head. 'He's had nothing but water.'
'My God, he must be sick.'
'Miserable,' Kay agreed, 'but his temperature's down. I'm sure he'll be fine after a night's sleep. Why don't you take him upstairs and I'll put on the kettle?'
'Great.' Marina gathered Josh up in her arms and took him up to bed. After she'd tucked him in and kissed him she went downstairs to her mother.
'You look exhausted,' Kay remarked as she set the table.
'I'm frozen.' Marina shivered, folding her slim arms to try to warm herself. 'I think I must be coming down with the same bug that Josh has. Only in this country could you get an infection in the summertime.'
Kay chuckled. 'To hell with the tea, I'll make you a nice hot toddy and you can take it to bed.'
'Thanks, Mum, I don't know what I'd do without you.'
When Marina was in bed, Kay took her tea into the sitting room and settled in front of the television. There was a film starting that she'd been wanting to see for ages but as she sat there she found her mind wandering back over the last few hours. In sickness, Josh had been a different child. There had been no cheekiness and no tantrums. He had curled up close to her and held on tight to her hand with his pudgy little fingers. It was the first time in years that Kay had felt close to him and, realising that he must be feeling really bad, she'd sung, told stories, done anything that would bring a smile to those tiny lips and big blue eyes. For the first time he'd reminded her of Marina when she was small. Kay sniffed as she remembered what a beautiful child her daughter had been. Women used to stop her in the supermarket to admire the blonde curls, large blue eyes and the pretty smile that never seemed to be far away. Kay was convinced that Josh's acerbic nature was due to the absence of his father. Marina had over-com-pensated for his absence and given Josh whatever he asked for. What the boy actually wanted was the love and presence of his father but Ray just swanned in and out of his life when it suited him.
Kay decided that instead of sitting on the sideline criticising maybe it was time she waded in and helped raise Josh to be the great kid she knew he could be. There was no doubt he was smart but at the moment he used his intelligence to outwit his mother. Perhaps it would be different when Marina and Dominic were married. Dominic was a sensible and kind man and would be a good influence on both her daughter and grandson. It was too soon for him to become a figure of authority in Josh's life but thankfully he seemed to realise that. He wasn't going out of his way to win Josh over but he was friendly and approachable. Of course, Josh was still treating him like a leper but Kay had noticed a softening in his behaviour lately. Especially when Dominic played football with him. How Josh would feel when he had to share Marina full-time though was another story.
Kay yawned, switched off the television and stood up. There was no point in staying up to watch the film when she wasn't even following the plot. It had been a long day and it was unlikely that Josh would sleep through the night. Best to get some sleep while she could.
She felt she had only settled her head on the pillow when Josh started to cry. By the time she dragged herself out of bed and went into his room, Marina was already there.
'I want Granny,' Josh was whining.
'Darling, it's Mummy.' Marina stroked his face and bent to kiss him.<
br />
He pushed her away. 'I want Granny,' he repeated, sounding slightly hysterical.
'Go on back to bed, love.' Kay put a hand on her daughter's shoulder. 'I'm a novelty, that's all. Get some sleep and you can take over in the morning.'
Marina hesitated for a moment but as Josh started to cry even louder, she got to her feet and left the room.
'Now, Josh, calm down.' Kay sat on the edge of the bed and reached for the beaker of water she'd left on his bedside table. 'Have a drink,' she said, helping him to sit up.
'My throat hurts,' he sobbed, large tears rolling down his cheeks.
'I know. Take a drink and I'll go and get some medicine.' She felt his forehead and as she'd expected it was hot and damp. She hurried into the bathroom to get the Calpol. When she returned, Josh had stopped crying. 'Now, love, open wide.'
Josh obediently opened his mouth and swallowed the medicine.
'Good boy. Now, lie down and I'll tuck you in.'
'Granny, will you stay with me?'
'Of course I will.'
'And rub my back?'
Kay smiled. 'Okay, then. But only if you promise to close your eyes.'
'Promise,' Josh mumbled and stuck his thumb in his mouth.
Kay stayed with him, humming softly and rubbing his back until his breathing was even. She crept out of his room and was about to go back to bed when she noticed that Marina's door was ajar. 'Marina, are you awake?' she whispered, sticking her head into the darkened room.
'Yeah.'
As her eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, Kay saw her daughter sitting cross-legged on the end of the bed. 'He's fine, love,' she said, sitting down beside her.
'I think I should give up work, Mum,' Marina replied. 'He obviously resents the fact that I wasn't here today.'
Kay chuckled. 'That's rubbish. He's acting up because he's sick. In the morning he'll have forgotten all about it and will hate me again.'
'He doesn't hate you,' Marina protested.
'He doesn't love me like he loves his mummy either.'
Marina's eyes looked even larger in the dim light. 'Sorry, Mum, I know I'm being silly. It's just that I love him so much.'
Red Letter Day Page 23