He went straight from the office to meet Sam and discuss hours and salary before starting his evening shift. He stopped off on the way to buy flowers for Fiona. Thank heaven for small miracles, he thought as he strode to the wine shop.
Once again, Sam was a lifesaver. He was happy to have Ronan take over all of Fiona’s hours which meant he would have every Monday off and would have to work one Sunday in four. He would work the evening shift as before on Wednesday and Thursday and work till five the other days. The salary was more than Ronan could have hoped for. He couldn’t believe his luck.
When he had left Sam he took the stairs up to Fiona’s apartment two at a time. Fiona’s face broke into a huge smile when he presented her with the bouquet of yellow roses.
“They’re my favourite,” she cried, burying her nose in them before giving Ronan a big hug. She barely got her arms around him as her tummy was in the way.
They both laughed at the incongruity of it. She put the kettle on for tea. “Now it’s my turn to make you tea,” she laughed as she brought out a coffee cake that her mother had made.
“Mmmm . . . looks great.”
“It is. By the way, I’ve decided to stay in the flat as long as I possibly can, before going to my mam’s.”
“If that’s what you want to do, you should,” he advised. “Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“It’s a boy. ‘Ronan’ is actually one of the names I have for him on my shortlist.”
“Poor kid,” he laughedand then ventured to ask. “What about his father?”
Her face took on a disgusted look. “He did a runner the minute I mentioned I was pregnant,” she told him, a hint of bitterness in her voice. “I don’t even know where he is. Abroad, his mother told me. I don’t want anything more to do with him.” She stuck her chin out defiantly.
“Silly sod! Some men are fools.”
“I don’t need him in my life. I’m better off without him. I can see that now. He’s a waster.” She sounded strong and determined.
Ronan marvelled at her courage, her being willing to take sole responsibility for this little being she was about to bring into the world. He knew she would be a great mother. He ate two huge slices of the cake which was delicious and, as he took his leave, Fiona thanked him once again for the flowers. He could see that she was genuinely delighted and he was pleased that he’d thought to do it.
25
In the office the following day Ronan could sense the despair around him. He supposed he was luckier than most. It was with a heavy heart that they spent their last day working together. Ronan spent his lunchtime at the bank where he’d made an appointment to see the bank manager. Mr O’Mahony was very understanding.
“You’re not the only one in this position,” he’d assured Ronan. “At least you’ve got this wine job to tide you over. However, I do think that your credit-card spending is far too high and I suggest that you cancel the card, for the moment at least.”
“Yes. I’m afraid my wife doesn’t see it as spending when she uses it.”
“Ah yes, Louise. Charming girl. How is her jewellery business coming along?”
“Jewellery business?” Ronan asked mystified.
“She’s a wonderful girl. It’s great that she’s willing to help out by starting this little jewellery business. I hope it’s getting off the ground okay.”
“Oh, sure,” Ronan replied, shocked. He knew there was no jewellery business and suspected that Louise had conned the poor man into lending her money. He tried to keep his voice nonchalant as he asked, “How much is the interest rate on that loan? Louise couldn’t remember.”
“Let me see . . .” The manager turned to his computer and entered some information. “Yes, here it is. She borrowed €1200 to be paid back within twelve months at 12% interest rate.”
Ronan paled as he felt the anger rise inside him. How could she have done this without telling him? Jewellery business, my arse! He felt like throttling her. Then he remembered the lodgment for €905. This explained it. All that glib lying about Melissa borrowing her card!Ronan felt sick to his stomach.
Mr O’Mahony saw by his reaction that something was not right.
“There is no jewellery business, is there?” he asked, sympathy in his voice.
Ronan couldn’t trust himself to answer and just shook his head numbly.
“I’m sorry. I really do think we should cancel the card immediately – to prevent any more of this over-spending.” It was obvious from the tone of his voice that he was angry at having been conned and thathe understood the situation perfectly.
Ronan nodded his assent and reached into his wallet for his credit card.
“That won’t be necessary,” Mr O’Mahony told him gently. “But the next time someone tries to use it, it will not be accepted.”
The meaning of this was left unspoken between them. With a heavy heart, Ronan left the bank and trudged back to the office for his final afternoon there. There would be some fur flying tonight when he tackled Louise about the lies she’d told and the money she’d borrowed without telling him.
At three o’clock the managing director wrapped things up and all the staff headed to the local pub for a final drink together and in truth to drown their sorrows. Ronan was looking for Dutch courage to go home and face Louise.
They finally said their last farewells and Ronan trudged home, rehearsing how he would handle things. Besides tackling her over her lies, he had also to break the news to her that he was now officially unemployed – as a draughtsman at any rate. He didn’t think Louise would be too happy about the idea of him being a full-time off-licence salesman. Thank God his parents weren’t alive to see it. They’d struggled financially to keep him in Bolton Street College for the four years it had taken him to qualify as an architectural draughtsman. They’d been so proud on his graduation day. He wouldn’t have wanted them to see it come to this.
He knew the moment he opened the door that the house was empty. A waft of a perfume that he didn’t recognise enveloped him.Where the hell was Louise? Just what did she do all day that she could never be there when he arrived home? His anger, coupled with the few drinks, had made him irritable. There was a message for him on the kitchen table:
Decided to go with Mel to visit her sister in Galway. Your dinner is in the microwave. Will be back Sunday night. Louise.
Ronan slumped down in the chair. Could she not have called him to tell him this person to person instead of leaving this cold, impersonal note? He shook his head sadly. It was time to face facts. His marriage was heading down the tubes – just like his career. A chasm had opened up in their relationship that he now feltcouldn’t be bridged. Apart altogether from the problem of her profligate spending and lies, they just seemed to have no life together anymore.He remembered something that his dad had said to him around the time he’d met Louise: “Life is too short, son, to spend it with the wrong person.”He wondered now if his father had thought that she was the wrong person. Perhaps he had, and Ronan was now beginning to think so too.
26
Zita had never been pursued with such zeal. Text and voice messages were flowing from Carl like the Niagara Falls. It amused her and the more she ignored him, the more persistent he became. On Friday, he bypassed her mobile phone and rang her in the office. She wondered idly how he’d got her number. No doubt he’d charmed it out of the receptionist. Grudgingly, she had to admire his determination. She was so taken aback that she finally gave in and agreed to meet him.
“I can meet you . . . let me check my diary . . . next Friday,” she suggested.
He agreed immediately.
Carl had no idea what other engagements he may have had but he knew he wouldn’t get another chance with Zita. He was exhilarated as he came off the line. She had somehow got under his skin. She was on his mind day and night. He couldn’t understand it but all he knew was that he had to see her. On checking his diary he saw that he had arranged a meeting with a very important supporter for
the following Friday night. Nothing for it – he rang and rearranged it for another night.
Since the party he’d been busy arranging meetings with all those who’d offered their support. He was off now to have dinner with the director and editor of a national newspaper who certainly needed to be kept on-side. He had an extra spring in his step thanks to his conversation with Zita. What a woman!
Ellie had asked David to meet her on Friday night as she really felt they would have to have a serious talk and clear the air about some misunderstandings they appeared to have – like how many children they wanted, for example. She hadn’t seen David since the brunch in Kitty O’Shea’s when he’d shocked her by saying they’d have one, or possibly two children – eventually. It was the ‘eventually’ that really threw her. She wanted to start a family right away but David obviously had other ideas. This was a very important decision for them and it needed to be thrashed out before they got married. Unfortunately, David couldn’t meet her as he was getting together with the guys from the office to watch the football.
“Do you not see enough of each other all day, every day?” she asked, secretly hurt that he wouldn’t make the effort when she’d stressed that it was important.
“It’s all go in the office so it’s nice to relax together outside of it,” was his explanation.
Ellie said nothing. She didn’t want to appear possessive but she felt that he could have cancelled just this once.
She had decided she was not going to the disco with Keisha and Chloe any more. She was fed up playing gooseberry. She did, however, go to meet up with them in Gibneys for a drink as the three of them had done for years. The girls could see that she was in a foul mood and listened as she complained about David and his attitude.
“This is meant to be the happiest time of your life,”Chloe said, “but you’ve honestly been in bad form since you got engaged.”
“I suppose,” Ellie agreed. She looked crestfallen. “It’s all the fault of this new job David’s got. He’s changed so much. It’s given him airs and graces.”
“Well, at least he’s agreed to Clontarf Castle,” Keisha said, hoping to cheer her up. “Did you confirm it with them?”
“Yes, it’s definitely happening.”
“Well, you’d better get a move on then,” Chloe observed, rolling her eyes to heaven.
“Yeah. I want the three of us to meet on Tuesday night to look at some ideas for your dresses. What do you think?”
“What about Sandrine?” asked Keisha.
Neither she nor Chloe liked Ellie’s bossy sister too much.
“Yeah. She’s free. My house, eight o’clock. Okay?”
“Sure. Oh, I love all this wedding planning,” Chloe said, rubbing her hands together.
“Yeah,” Ellie replied but she didn’t sound too enthusiastic.
It was close to ten when Carlfinally got home to find Rachel sitting in her usual chair in the den, the customary glass of wine in her hand. There was a half-empty bottle on the coffee table. Somehow it irritated him.
“Don’t you think you should go easy on that stuff?” he remarked.
“Well, that’s a nice greeting, I must say,” she said truculently.
He knew by her voice that she’d had much more than one glass. Wine always made her aggressive. He preferred her drinking gin and tonic.
“I just worry that you’re drinking a lot these days,” he replied wearily as he sat down.
“Do you blame me? I hardly see you these days. When was the last time we had dinner together?”
“We’re going out with Anita and Bill tomorrow night.”
“That’s not what I meant. I mean sitting down to dinner here – just the two of us.”
He sighed. He could hear the slight slurring of her voice. He wondered was that her first bottle of wine. Possibly not. He made a mental note to check later.
“You know how busy we are now before the Dáil recess,” he said. “That’s political life, my dear. We’ll have the month of August together in France.”
He went up to change into something comfortable and look in on the children who, as usual, looked like perfect angels when asleep. He kissed them both and pulled the covers back up on Jacob before going to the kitchen for ice for his whiskey nightcap.The empty bottle of wine sitting on the counter top seemed to be mocking him. As he’d suspected, Rachel was on her second bottle.This was worrying. She really was drinking far too much. He would have to keep an eye on her.
When he got back to the den she was fast asleep, the glass of wine tilting in her hand. He took it from her with a sigh and put a pillow behind her head. Going into his office he caught up with his emails before settling down to watch TV.
It was almost midnight when Rachel appeared.
“I’m off to bed,” she mumbled, poking her head around the door of the TV room.
“I’ll be with you soon,” he told her, reluctant to join her in case she was feeling amorous, which she often was when drunk. That was the last thing he wanted tonight. He wondered what Zita was doing now and if she was making love to someone right at this very moment. He felt an irrational jealousy at the thought. This was crazy. Slowly, he went up to bed where he fell into a deep exhausted sleep.
27
Meanwhile Louise was in Paris, in seventh heaven. It was her first time there and she wasloving every minute of it.
Alan had texted her on Thursday: My driver will pick you up tomorrow morning at nine. Bring your passport.
She could hardly containher excitement and spent all that evening preparing for what she guessed would be the most exciting weekend of her life.
Then, that morning, Alan’s driver had collected her in a beautiful Jaguar and driven her to the airport where he handed her a ticket.
“Mr Brown will be waiting to meet you at Charles de Gaulle airport,” he’d told her, his face inscrutable.
Oh my God, Paris! She’d almost fainted with delight. Trust Alan, she smiled to herself.As she said goodbye to the driver she’d wondered briefly what he thought of her and whether he’d done this kind of thing before. It didn’t matter. She was giddy with excitement as she read the ticket and saw that Alan had booked her in business class. She’d always envied the people who could afford to travel like that. Now she was one of them.
She was like a kid in a sweet shop as she sipped champagne and ate the delicious lunch served to her. Beats Ryanair, she thought with a snort as the good-looking steward refilled her glass. She’d only ever flown Ryanair with Ronan.
All too soon they’d landed and, coming through the gate, she’d seen Alan, smiling and waving at her. She could hardly breathe her heart was racing so fast. He took her in his arms and this time she almost did faint.
After the longest kiss, he said huskily, “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
He led her outside and into a limousine which was waiting for them. It whisked them to the Ritz where Alan had booked a suite. Louise was completely overawed. She’d never seen such opulence in all her life. The doormen seemed to know Alan and addressed him as Monsieur Brown.
“Do you stay here often?” she whispered as he led her inside.
“Goodness no,” he laughed, “I usually stay in a much more modest place but I do have a lot of meetings here. However, for you, chérie, only the best is good enough.”
After they’d checked in they were shown to their suite and Louise was dumbstruck by the beautiful furnishings and opulence of the whole place. Alan laughed at her excitement.
“Paris is the city of love so where better to start our love affair,” he said gently as he took her in his arms.
Within seconds he had undressed her and carried her to the huge four-poster bed. Louise thought she was living a dream or acting in a fabulous film. Alan turned out to be the gentlest of lovers and took her to heights she’d never imagined existed. They made love all afternoon in between sipping the chilled Cristal champagne he’d ordered and talking – “catching up on our lives”, as he calle
d it. She was so blissfully happy that it was a huge effort to drag herself out of bed to prepare for dinner.
They’d had a shower together, he lathering the gorgeously scented shower gel all over her body – which of course led to another bout of lovemaking.
“Oh God, you’re so beautiful,” he’d exclaimed when they were finished. “I want to stay with you forever and never let you out of my sight.”
Louise felt pretty much the same way.
As they were being driven along the Champs Elysées on their way to dinner at Maxim’s, Louise’s eyes were out on stalks, taking in all the famous landmarks she’d only ever seen in photos.
“Don’t worry, my darling, tomorrow I’ll show you Paris, if I can drag myself out of bed with you, that is.”
He laughed and she joined in.
He couldn’t keep his hands off her and she didn’t want him to. He was forever stroking her skin and hair and planting little kisses on her arms and neck. He made her feel indescribably sexy. She could barely wait for the evening to be over and to be back making love again. She sighed a deep sigh of contentment. Life didn’t get any better than this.
28
Ellie and her mother headed for Swords on Saturday morning where she had made an appointment with Bridal Heaven, the well-known bridal shop. Sandrine, luckily, had had to work so couldn’t be there, much to Ellie’s relief. She absolutely had to get going on her wedding plans and the first and most important item was her dress. She couldn’t plan on flowers or anything else until that was decided. She’d made an appointment and they were welcomed warmly by the proprietor, Liz, who would give them an hour exclusively, to look through the wonderful range of dresses.
Ellie was spoilt for choice as Liz brought out one beautiful dress after another. Liz very quickly got an idea of what Ellie wanted and soon presented them with the most exquisite dress Ellie had ever seen. She gasped at its beauty. Shaking with excitement, she went into the dressing room and tried it on. Liz tied up the laces and, fixing the neckline so that it sat perfectly, she led Ellie out of the dressing-room.
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