Marie-Noelle gasped. She couldn’t help herself but suddenly seeing Ellie as a bride brought tears to her eyes. Her daughter looked radiant. The dress was breathtakingly beautiful and suited her perfectly.
“Oh, darling, it’s exquisite!” she exclaimed emotionally, as the tears slipped down her cheeks.
Liz directed Ellie to the wall of mirrors and she too was awestruck as she stared at her reflection.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, turning this way and that to get a better view. She felt like a princess. It was the most fabulous dress she’d ever seen. It was made of gossamer white-silk taffeta and the strapless top was beautifully cut in a V and studded with seed pearls. It was pleated into the waist and the skirt flared out over a net petticoat. It was simple but exquisite. This was the dress for her. No other one would do.
Liz then added a tiara and a long veil that completed the look. It was just perfect!
Somehow, seeing herself in this beautiful bridal gown brought it home to her that she was in fact going to be a bride very soon.
Ellie was in a great mood when she met David for lunch in The Yacht.
“I’ve found the perfect wedding dress,” she exclaimed as they kissed hello.
“That’s nice,” he said as they found a table and she could tell from his tone that he wasn’t particularly interested.
“Well, you could show a little bit more enthusiasm,” she rebuked him, expecting him to be happy for her.
“Sorry, I have a dreadful hangover. We didn’t finish up till after two last night. I am glad you’ve found a nice dress.”
They ordered lunch and David gradually started to feel better.
This was obviously going to be a weekly occurrence, this going out with the lads on a Friday night. Not that she begrudged him having fun but he seemed to have dropped all his old friends and his whole life was being defined now by his work and hiscolleagues there. His mother had even rung Ellie, complaining that David hadn’t called to see her in almost three weeks which was most unlike him.
“We need to have a serious talk, David,” she started, her voice full of concern. “We’ve got to sit down and discuss our wedding and not just that but our whole future. The weeks are flying by and we’ve done nothing really.”
“I’m leaving all that up to you, Ellie. You know how very involved I am with this new job. I just don’t have the time to organise a wedding.”
“You have time to stay out drinking till 2 a.m. with your work buddies!”
She hadn’t meant to sound so bitter, but she felt he was being very unfair. “It’s your wedding too, you know.” Her voice wobbled and she was afraid she was going to cry.
“Ah, honey, I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m not being much help.” He took her hands in his. “I promise I’ll try and be more co-operative, okay?”
Somewhat mollified, she told him that the girls were getting together on Tuesday night to get things moving.
“That’s great. Well, at least you’ve got your way about having the reception in Clontarf Castle. Whatever makes you happy makes me happy.”
She smiled at him then, things back on an even keel.
He patted her hand. “Now what is it about our future that you want to discuss,” he asked her.
“Well, I’ve been thinking about what you said in Kitty’s last week about having one, or maybe two children, eventually. You didn’t really mean that, did you?” she asked him, her eyes searching his earnestly.
David guessed that this was probably what had been bugging her all week. She’d been cool with him whenever he’d spoken to her on the phone. Now he understood. “What I really meant to say is that we have plenty of time. I want us to enjoy being a married couple first before we start a family. But of course we’ll have kids, eventually.”
She noticed that he’d said ‘kids’. Maybe she’d misjudged him, thinking that he didn’t want kids at all. She let out a huge sigh of relief and reached for his hand. “I understand, darling,” she said, feeling happier.
When Fiona came down to the wine shop on Saturday afternoon, she saw instantly that Ronan was in very bad form.
“Did you tell your wife about losing your job?” she asked, thinking this was the reason he was so downcast.
“No. When I got home last night I found a message to say she’d gone away for the weekend. My marriage is in deep trouble.”
Fiona thought he was joking. Surely his wife would have checked it out with him first? She shook her head. Louise sounded like a prize bitch and it was obvious that they had a pretty awful marriage. She had no doubt that it was more his wife’s fault than Ronan’s. He really was the kindest, gentlest soul she’d ever met and she’d grown very fond of him. Some women have all the luck, she thought. Why did I have to fall for a prick like Danny when there are nice guys out there? She sighed deeply. She’d made her bed and now she had to lie on it.
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Have you tried marriage counselling?” she asked hesitantly.
“I think maybe it’s too late for that.”
He looked so forlorn that her heart went out to him. “They can be a great help, I’m told. Maybe you should consider it.”
“Yeah. Maybe I’ll suggest that to Louise when she gets back. Yeah, that’s a good idea. Thanks, Fiona.”
She was glad she’d been able to help.
29
Ellie was feeling much more positive the following day and agreed to go to Kitty O’Shea’s again for brunch. She had to admit that David’s colleagues were friendly and welcoming and she could see how relaxed and animated he was in their company. She’d heard so many jokes about boring accountants but obviously when they got together as a group they were as much fun as any bunch of people out together.
After two glasses of wine she was in particularly good humour and when David suggested that they go and look at a townhouse he’d found, she agreed to go, thinking that it couldn’t do any harm to have a look.It was in Sandymount, literally ten paces off the Strand Road and Ellie wasn’t prepared for how much she would like it. It was the cutest townhouse she’d ever seen.
“Oh, it’s gorgeous!” she cried, as he let her go in ahead of him.
She went from room to room, exclaiming over the lovely features and the lovely wooden floors. The whole house was bright and airy and she loved it, particularly the master bedroom with its fabulous en-suite. The colour scheme was all neutral colours – but that could be changed.
“The colour scheme is a bit boring but we can repaint it in bright colours,” she suggested.
David quite liked the neutral colours, he thought they were chic, but if it meant she’d agree to the house then he’d paint them purple, if that’s what she wanted.
She squealed with joy when she realised that she could even see Clontarf across the bay from the window in the guest bedroom. There was a third smaller bedroom which David mentioned could be used as a study.
“Or a nursery,” she suggested, smiling.
“Or a nursery,” he agreed, pulling her to him. “Honestly, Ellie it’s going for a song. One of the guys in the office is moving to Canada and he’s selling it complete, furniture and all. I wouldn’t even need to take out any more of a mortgage than I have already.” His eyes were glowing as he placed his arms around her back. “Please think about it. We’ll need to move fast as it will fly once he puts it on the market.” He was pleading with her now.
“I don’t know . . .” She could think of no reason not to buy this lovely little house except that it was not in Malahide or Portmarnock, which is where they’d agreed they would live. This was a world away from her family and friends.
He read her thoughts. “Look, let’s drive straight to Clontarf right nowand if it takes longer than fifteen minutes then I’ll forget about it. What do you say?”
“Okay.”
They locked up behind them and, getting into the car, they synchronised their watches before he drove her across the East Link Bridge to her parents’ house.
“Eight minutes forty, exactly,” David whooped as he stopped on Kincora Road.
“I can’t believe it!” Ellie cried. “It’s faster than coming from Malahide or even Sutton.” She had to agree that he had a point.
“If you agree to it, Ellie, I’ll even buy you a new car to celebrate so that you can come and go here as often as you want. And, if you really hate living there, then we can sell and buy somewhere else.”
He obviously wanted it so much that she couldn’t resist him. “Okay, let’s go for it!”
He grabbed her in a bear-hug and squeezed her so hard that she thought she might deflate completely.
“It’s going to be perfect, Ellie. I just know it!”
She wasn’t quite as convinced as he was but at least it was another major problem solved. They would now have their own place to move into after their wedding.
Dress and house sorted in one weekend. Things were looking good!
Ronan was having a less good day. Having spent a long hard day in the wine shop on Saturday he’d met Conor later for a few pints too many. Nursing a hangover this morning, he’d played the worst golf of his life and he now sat eating a packet macaroni cheese which was doing nothing to cheer him up. He was watching the football on TV when he heard the door bang and Louise came breezing in. She looked beautiful and he could see that she was in an exhilarated mood.
“Had a good weekend then?” he asked.
“Brilliant!” she replied, going to the fridge and opening a bottle of white wine.
“Drink?” she asked, waving the bottle at him.
“Why not? I need to talk to you.” He figured he might as well get it over with. He’d have to tell her about losing his job. She’d know soon enough when he didn’t go to work tomorrow.
“Me too,” she said brightly, pouring the wine and raising her glass to him.
“Well, I don’t know how to tell you . . .”
“Me first!” she cried, looking straight at him. “I want a divorce.”
If she’d said ‘Pigs are flying outside’ Ronan couldn’t have been more gobsmacked. “A . . . divorce?” he repeated, hardly able to say it.
“Yes,” she replied as she smoothed her skirt with her elegant hands.
He looked at the perfectly manicured nails, mesmerised by their stroking action.
“A divorce?” he repeated yet again, thinking that he must have misheard.
“Yes, I’ve met someone else and I realise now that you and I are not meant for each other.” Her voice was matter-of-fact.
“Are you serious, Louise?” he asked her, standing up and pacing the room. He couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing.
“Deadly. I plan on moving out tomorrow.”
“Who is this guy? Did you just meet him this weekend?”Ronan couldn’t believe that even she could be that stupid.
“No. It’s someone I’ve known since I was single and I ran into him again recently. We’re in love and he wants me to move in with him as quickly as possible.”
Ronan was almost speechless. “How long has this been going on?” he managed to croak.
“Not long, but we know we’re right for each other.” She even smirked as she said it.
“Don’t you think you should take the time to consider this carefully? I thought maybe we could go for marriage counselling.”
“No, it’s much too late for that. I’ve made up my mind and so has Alan.” The manner in which she said his name, lovingly with a smile playing on her lips, made him want to throw up. “I’ll want a divorce of course but I won’t want anything from you. Alan is very wealthy.”
Not for long, with you around, Ronan thought bitterly. “Well, I take it there’s nothing I can do to get you to change your mind?” he asked, knowing the answer already.
“Absolutely not. It’s been decided. Now what was it you wanted to say?”
“Nothing, nothing at all,” he answered sadly.
“Well, in that case, I’ll go and start packing. Obviously, I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight.” She got up and headed for the bedroom.
Ronan sat forhe’d no idea how long, listening to her opening and closing doors and drawers and clattering hangers in wardrobes. She was serious. She was leaving him.
Bolting from the house, he walked down to the local pub. There, to the surprise of his mate, Jim, he downed the best part of a bottle of whiskey before finally telling him of his problem. Jim was horrified and took an almost comatose Ronan home with him and settled him comfortably on his sofa for the night.
Louise knew that she had given Ronan a huge shock but there was no point in beating around the bush, was there? There was no way she could have sweetened the bombshell she’d dropped so it was better all round to be honest and not fudge the issue. Their marriage was over and he would come to realise that it was for the best. Life was too short and they both needed to move on.
She did feel a little guilty that he hadn’t come home last night and she hoped that he was okay but, really, he wasn’t her responsibility anymore.
She had packed all her clothes and shoes and was shocked at just how many cases and large black plastic bags she’d filled. She looked around, wondering if she had missed anything, but there was nothing more she wanted from the house except for her CDs. In any case she had run out of bags. With a last look around the house she’d lived in for the past fifteen years, she left to start her new life with Alan.
Alan had organised a van to move her stuff and, when the guy had loaded up, she ordered him to follow her in the chauffeured car that Alan had sent to take herto her new abode. She gasped in awe as they pulled up at the beautiful big detached house on the leafy Ailesbury Road in Ballsbridge. It was simply fabulous.
Alan was standing at the front door and ran down the steps to greet her, swinging her off her feet. She gasped with pleasure, laughing up into his face with sheer joy. She was home. Everything was going to be simply wonderful from now on. Her life was truly beginning.
30
Ronan finally surfaced and felt bewildered to be in a strange room. He started to get up but the blinding pain in his head knocked him back. Then he remembered where he was and why.
“Well, you certainly did a good job on yourself last night,” Jim said, coming into the room with a steaming cup of coffee.
“Oh God!” Ronan moaned, holding his head in his hands as he tried to sit up.
“Here, drink this,” said Jim. “It might help you feel better.”
Ronan took the coffee. “Sorry for all the trouble. I hope Sheila didn’t mind my staying here last night.”
“Of course not. My wife was very sympathetic when I explained about you and Louise.”
Ronan moaned. “Yeah, well, what’s done is done. What time is it?” He looked at his watch, surprised to see it was almost midday. “Just as well I don’t work Mondays in the wine shop. I suppose I’d better get home. I’ll feel better after a good shower.” He started for the door.
“I’ll drive you home.”
“Thanks, Jim. I appreciate what you’ve done. Sorry if I talked the ear off you last night.”
“What else are friends for?” Jim replied, his voice gruff.
He felt sorry for his pal but, really, that Louise was a bitch and Ronan would be far better off without her, though he’d never tell him that.
Ellie bounced into the wine course that evening, full of beans and smiling brightly.
“You look like the cat that got the cream,” Rachelobserved.
“Yeah, well, I had a good weekend. I found the most divine wedding dress. Honestly, it’s just out of this world,” Ellie’s eyes were sparkling as she spoke.
“And . . . we found the cutest little house as well,” she added, her big smile making her dimples more pronounced than ever.
“That would rate as a good weekend, I guess,” Rachel smiled back at her, happy for the bubbly youngwoman.
“Where is the house?” Sam asked, on hearing the exchange.
&nbs
p; “In Sandymount.”
Sam raised his eyebrows, his eyes twinkling with merriment. “Oh, so you’re deserting Mars then?”
Ellie blushed, as she did every time he mentioned Mars. Was he never going to let her forget that comment? “Well, we timed it and it is only eight minutes forty exactly, from there to here.” She busied herself putting out her wine glasses, not wanting him to see her discomfiture.
Rachel looked from one to the other, not understanding this exchange, although it was obvious Ellie was embarrassed.
Luckily for Ellie, Ronan and Zita came in just then, followed immediately by the young ones, so she escaped Sam’s teasing.
“Ronan looks dreadful,” she whispered to Rachel.
“I hope nothing’s happened,” Rachel whispered back, concerned to see the grey look on his face.
She smiled at Ronan as he took his place beside her. He gave her a wan smile.
They were all a little more subdued than usual as the class began. Ellie was still smarting from Sam’s remark and Rachel was concerned about Ronan who could barely focus on what Sam was saying and had to make a huge effort to concentrate and take it all in. The tasting session went a little better as they all became engrossed, surprised at how good the Italian wines Sam gave them were.
“There are some stupendous wines coming out of Italy, as well as a lot of crap, of course,” he explained.
There was certainly nocrap on offer here as they tasted one delicious wine after another. They all agreed that the final wine, an Amarone from the Veneto, was the best wine they’d ever tasted.
“I must order a case of this,” Rachel exclaimed, draining her glass.
Ronan sighed. Rachel’s life was so trouble-free. Did she realise how lucky she was?
They headed for the Castle again after the class.
Sam hadnoticed that Ronan wasn’t his usual self and fell into step beside him.
Behind Every Cloud Page 16