“Let me think about it,” Ronan said, as Ellie frowned, trying hard to think of anyone she knew who might be interested.
“Well, I’m heading to the Castle for a pint, if anyone would like to join me?” Samsaid as he tidied up his desk.
“Sure,” Ronan said. “I could murder a pint right now.”
“Sorry, I can’t,” Rachel apologised. “I’m driving tonightand I have a baby-sitter, but next week I’ll join youif you’re going and take a taxi.”
“How about you girls?” Ronan asked Zita and Ellie.
“Sorry, I can’t either,” Ellie replied. “But next week, I’ll come too.”
Zita decided that if Rachel wasn’t going, then she wouldn’t bother either.
“Sorry, I’d better not, I’m on my bike.”
“Well, we wouldn’t want you wobbling home,” Sam joked and they all laughed at the image, even Zita herself.
“I’ll stay next week,” she told him, and was rewarded with a big smile from Rachel.
Cycling home with just the merest wobble, Zita reflected that she’d actually had a great time. Much to her surprise she’d found the course very interesting although she would not be deflected from her real reason for being there. She still had Rachel in her sights.
Ronan helped Sam to tidy up and after Sam had locked up they headed for their pint.
“That was really interesting,” Ronan said. “You’re a born teacher.”
“Thank you,” Sam said modestly. “I get a great kick out of sharing my passion for wine. It’s a challenge for me to fire someone’s interest in it. I really enjoy running these courses.”
“Well, you certainly fired some of us up tonight. It’s a fascinating subject.”
Sam smiled happily and they made small talk until they arrived at the bar.
“I’ll get this,” Ronan insisted, grateful to Sam for the evening.
“You said you work for a firm of architects,” Sam queried him as they took the first sips of their Guinness. “How are things in the business? I guess it must be pretty dire at the moment with the state of things in the property market.”
“Dire isn’t the word. I’m afraid I’ll be out of a job soon.” Ronan looked dejected as he spoke. “There’s just nothing coming in and I fear the company I work for is about to close down.”
“God, I’m sorry,” Sam commiserated with him. He’d heard of professionals taking jobs in McDonald’s to help pay the mortgage. “Do you have a family?”
“Just a wife.”
Sam saw the way Ronan’s mouth turned downwards at the mention of her. Things were obviously not good between them. There but for the grace of God go I, Sam thought, thinking of the narrow escape he’d had with Amy, his ex-partner.
“I was actually wondering . . .” Ronan continued, looking away in embarrassment, “the part-time staff you were looking for in your shops . . .” He hesitated. “Well, I was wondering if you would consider me for the job?”
Sam was taken aback but when he saw the look in Ronan’s eyes he realised that he was deadly serious. What had things come to in this country when a qualified draughtsman had to plead for a job in a wine shop?Sam had taken a liking to the elegant, well-spoken man. He didn’t too often come across people as genuine as Ronan appeared to be.
“Of course – I’d be delighted to have you!” Sam smiled reassuringly at him. “Why don’t you call around to my house tomorrow night at – say – eight thirty and we’ll discuss it?”
Ronan smiled in relief. “Thank you, Sam, I’d appreciate that.”
They shook hands on it.
12
Ellie had promised her mother that she would colour her hair for her after the wine course, which was why she’d declined to go for a drink with the guys. She arrived home to find Marie-Noelle waiting and ready with the colour already mixed.
Ellie pulled on the rubber gloves and, as she parted the hair and started to apply the cream, she excitedly told her mother all about the evening.
“It was brilliant! I learnt so much. It’s really a fascinating subject,” she exclaimed breathlessly. “And Sam is a brilliant lecturer. I never felt the two hours go by.”
Marie-Noelle was delighted with this new-found interest.As she listened to Ellie gabbling on, she smiled to herself. Ellie had been hopeless at school, not because she was stupid but because her mind was so active, darting here and there. She was easily distracted so couldn’t concentrate on any one thing for very long. This had frustrated her teachers who had found it hard to hold the child’s interest for any length of time. But they told Marie-Noelle, who had known it already, that Ellie was exceptionally bright and that once she found her niche, she would be very successful. Sadly, it just wasn’t to be found in school. Her exam results had been dismal but her mother had hoped that as Ellie matured she would find her métier.She got the job as receptionist and odd-job girl in the beauty salon just a week after leaving school. Marie-Noelle had hoped she would find something else more challenging eventually but, five years down the road, Ellie was still there.
She was too easy-going and happy-go-lucky. Marie-Noelle often wished that Ellie had inherited some of Sandrine’s ambition. Her older daughter certainly had enough of it to go round and would benefit if she could exchange it for some of Ellie’s happy nature. Marie-Noelle sighed. They were as they were and she had to accept it but, hearing her daughter’s enthusiasm for this wine course, she dared to think that maybe things were about to change.
As they waited for the colour to take, Ellie recounted the tasting and had her mother in stitches as she described how they’d all spluttered trying to master it. She then described the other students in such detail that Marie-Noelle felt as if she’d been at the course herself. Ellie had missed nothing and left out no detail. Marie-Noelle thought she would make a terrific journalist.
“Carl Dunne’s wife was there – you know, the good-looking politician – and holy moly, you should see her! She is just per-fect! Fabulous skin and hair and her shoes were to die for. I felt so scruffy beside her.”
“Well, I suppose she has to look good all the time with the paparazzi always on the prowl. I see her photo in the paper every second day. What’s she like?”
“That’s just it – she’s lovely. She’s very friendly and really interested in everyone.”
Laughing at her daughter’s enthusiasm, her mother finally went to shampoo the colour out.
“Sam is brilliant. He knows so much about wine,” Ellie remarked as she blow-dried her mother’s hair.
“How did he get interested in it?”
“He went on a student exchange to Bordeaux and the family he stayed with owned a winery. He loved it there and later dropped out of school and went back there to work with them. He says it’s a fabulous place.”
“Oh, it is. I have fond memories of the one time Mother took me there as a child to visit my grandmother who was ill. She died shortly afterwards.”
“I’d love to go there. Does that cousin of yours still keep in touch?”
“Yes indeed. Josette writes every Christmas.”
“Wouldn’t it be fun to take a trip there? We could visit some wine places and you could meet up with her,” Ellie said excitedly.
“Maybe we will. That would be nice. I’ll write to Josette tomorrow.”
After hugging her daughter goodnight Marie-Noelle sat thinking about the possibility of returning to Bordeaux with Ellie. It would be so wonderful. Maybe Sandrine would come too. Yes, she’d definitely have to look into it.
Rachel arrived home from the wine course to discover that Carl was still not home. She checked on the children and then, kicking off her shoes, she changed into her dressing-gown. She opened a bottle of wine and curled up on the sofa to read theliterature that Sam had given them. She had thoroughly enjoyed the evening. She’d never imagined that so much went into the making of wine and was thrilled that she’d decided to join the course. Sam was so knowledgeable and made it all so interesting. Yes, she w
as going to enjoy the next eight weeks. The others at her table were very nice people too. Ellie was a darling and Ronan a thorough gentleman. She didn’t quite know what to make of Zita but she’d been very friendly and Rachel found her intriguing. She looked forward to getting to know her better.
When Carl arrived home he raised his eyebrows to see his wife with an almost empty bottle of wine in front of her.
“Well, how was the wine course?” he asked, throwing off his jacket.
“Fabulous! I loved it,” she said as she reached up for a kiss.
“Doing your homework, I see,” he said, lifting the wine bottle. “This is becoming a bit of a habit.”
“Absolutely! Sam said we’re to taste as much as possible during the week.”
Carl heard the slight slur in her voice and poured the rest of the wine into a glass for himself, figuring that Rachel had had enough. He drank it quickly and then stood up.
“I’m wrecked. Time for bed. You coming?”
Reluctantly Rachel left her wine and joined him.
Zita climbed the four flights of stairs to her apartment, anticipating an early night, but as she put her key in the lock her friend Marcus stuck his head out of the next-door apartment and waved a bottle of wine.
“Well, how’s the new wine expert?” he asked, grinning. “Want to come in and tell me which end of the vineyard this comes from?”
“Oh, shut it!” she replied, laughing at him but resigning herself to joining him. If Marcus wanted to chat she might as well do it comfortably over a glass of wine.
“Well, tell me, tell me – what’s the gossip?” he asked as he poured the wine for them.
Marcus was the biggest gossip in the land. He was also as gay as Christmas and he was probably the only true friend she had. He had managed to worm all of her secrets out of her – well, not all, but most of them. He knew things about her that nobody else did and yet still he accepted her as she was. Of course, Marcus had more than a few shady secrets in his own past.
“And how was Lady Dunne tonight? Have you persuaded her to be your BFF?”
Zita laughed. She had shared her plans with Marcus about how she was going to use Carl Dunne to forward her career. He thought it was a brilliant idea. He loved intrigue almost as much as gossip.
“Best Friends Forever? Actually, I was surprised. She’s quite nice and very friendly. A total airhead, of course, but it’s hard not to like her.” She got up to read the label of the wine bottle. “Mmmm . . . I thought so. Bordeaux.”
“You see, one lecture and she thinks she’s an expert! God, you’re not going to become one of those awful wine bores, are you?” He threw his hands up in mock-horror.
“Of course not, you idiot!” she cried, punching him playfully.
Ronan went home with a light heart. He had found the course riveting and Sam a great guy. To top it all it looked like Sam would give him some part-time work which would mean that he could clear off some of their debts. Things were looking up.
Louise was in a foul mood when he got home and he feared that it might be the start of another bout of depression. That meant that she would seek retail therapy and their finances just couldn’t take any more. He’d better keep an eye on their credit-card account – just to be sure.
He told her about the course but she didn’t seem interested. She didn’t even pass any comment when he told her about the part-time job Sam had offered him. She just kept staring listlessly at the TV.
13
Ronan was aware of an air of despondency in the office the following day. After lunch the managing director called a conference and announced that, if business did not improve immediately, they would have no option but to wind up the company. Everyone was fearful and all eight of the staff went for a drink after finishing work. Ronan stayed for just two pints as he had his appointment with Sam to think about. Anyway, the drink didn’t lift anyone’s spirits – it only made everyone even more downcast.
The meeting with Sam went even better than Ronan could have hoped. Sam asked him to work Wednesday nights, Thursday nights and all day Saturday in the Raheny shop. This suited Ronan perfectly as it was only a walk away from home. It meant that his weekly Saturday golf game would have to go by the board but, well, that was a sacrifice he’d have to make. He could always try and get a game in on Sundays. The way things were going he wouldn’t be able to afford to renew his membership next year anyway.
“You’ll be standing in for Fiona, who’s worked here for three years and lives in the flat above the shop. She’s unfortunately having problems with her pregnancy and has been ordered bed-rest by her doctor until the baby arrives,” Sam explained. “I’m not sure when she’ll be ready to come back to work. Until she does, I’m juggling people around from other shops to fill in for her – but I’m having difficulty covering these hours I am offering you. And so, if you can work these times, the job is yours.It’s primarily a wine shop but of course we sell beer and liquor too. No business can survive selling wine alone. I have a great manager there, Dermot, who’ll show you the ropes.”
Sam was being very generous and the pay he offered was €13 an hour – well above the basic rate.
“That’s very generous,” Ronan remarked, delighted.
“I find it pays me to pay my staff well,” Sam told him. “You know what they say – pay peanuts, get monkeys.”
Ronan laughed and Sam laughed along with him.
They shook hands on it and Ronan agreed to start the following Saturday. Sam would be there to introduce him and show him round. He was a lifesaver, although he didn’t know it, and Ronan was extremely grateful to him.
Ronan stopped off for a pint at his local on the way home. He couldn’t face Louise just yet. He wanted to enjoy the moment.The wine job wouldn’t clear his debts of course but he reckoned that he’d be working eighteen hours a week which would mean another €234 weekly, minus deductions, in his pocket. It was a start and every little helped. If only Louise would stop spending then he could manage it. He felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. The pint tasted better than any he’d had in a long time.
14
Ellie was on her lunch hour on Friday and flicking through some copies of Brides magazines that a newly married client had given her. She and David had finally decided on a winter wedding and Ellie was getting very excited about the whole thing. She had not been prepared for the large number of engagement presents that she’d received. Truly astonishing! No one had told her it would be like this.
There was so much to arrange and only seven months to do it all. Most important of all was the wedding venue. She wanted a beautiful big wedding with all her friends and family there and she wanted to have it in Clontarf Castle which was only a stone’s throw from her home. David had said he was quite happy to let Ellie take care of all the wedding arrangements as he was so busy at work. Earlier that week she had booked the Castle provisionally for the first Saturday in January. She explained to David how lucky they were to get a date at all. The banqueting manager had told her that Saturdays were fully booked out for two years but that they’d had a cancellation. Imagine! Two years in advance! She wondered why the couple in question had cancelled.
The reception was only a small part of the whole wedding of course. The hotel would take care of all that and they seemed to be very professional. Ellie had made a list of all the things that needed to be done. She would have to decide on what she wanted forthe table settings, the menu, the wines, the champagne, the flowers, the cake, the goodie bags, the music, what to serve to the evening crowd and last but not least who to invite. God, the list was endless!
Then there was the church and the flowers for there, the service, the music, the vows, the photographer, the cars . . . it went on and on. She had never imagined that there would be so much to do.
Very important, of course, was her dress and all the paraphernalia that went with it: flowers – again! – shoes, veil, headdress. The make-up, fake tan, nails and hairdresse
r would not be a problem – Chloe and Keisha would take care of all that. She had asked them to be her bridesmaids along with her sister Sandrine. Then there was all of the above for them and the flower-girl and her mother too, of course. It was overwhelming.
She’d have to decide on her henweekend too and last but not least the honeymoon. She was thinking of either Mauritius or Cuba. She’d never realised that weddings were so much work. No wonder people hired wedding-planners! Well, it would already be expensive enough without having to pay one of those. No matter, Ellie wanted to plan her own wedding and it would be just perfect. David would take care of himself and his bestman and groomsmen. She sighed.She understood now why people said that it was a very stressful time.Still, it would be worth it in the end.
Friday nights were not the same anymore and Ellie was annoyed with her two friends, Chloe and Keisha. They had started going steady lately with two brothers who now tagged along to the disco every Friday night with them. Ellie felt like a gooseberry and this Friday night was even worse than usual. While her friends smooched on the dancefloor she was left fending off numerous drunks who wanted her to dance.
“Dance, huh!” she snorted to the girls when they joined her again. “More like a free feel is what they’re after.” She was having a miserable time. She hadn’t pulled out of their Fridays when she’d met David, not even when she’d become engaged. Now it was no fun anymore with the two boys hogging her friends’ attention. She had no intention of getting up to dance with the four of them.
She decided to leave. Shewent into the hallway and had just called a taxi when she felt a tap on her arm and a masculine voice say, “Hello there.”
She turned around, scowling, to see who was annoying her now, about to snap his head off. Her eyes opened wide with surprise when she saw it was Sam. She saw the cheeky grin as he threw back his head and laughed.
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