“
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 ho
me. 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 for
the 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 hairdresser 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 hen
weekend 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 best
man and groomsmen. She sighed.
She understood now why people s
aid that it was a very stressful time.
Still, it would be worth it in the end.
Friday nights were not the same any
more 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 dance
floor 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 any
more with the two boys hogging her friends
’
attention. She had no intenti
o
n of getting up to dance with the four of them.
She decided to leave. She
went 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.
“
Sam! What are you doing here?
”
she asked.
“
About to have my head bitten off, I gather, by the look on your face.
”
“
Sorry,
”
she said sheepishly.
“
I
’
ve been pestered by drunks all night and I can
’
t stand it a minute longer. I
’
m just waiting for my taxi
.”
“
And where
’
s Sir Galahad – your fiancé, I mean? Is he not protecting you?
”
“
Oh no, it
’
s not David
’
s kind of thing.
”
She gave a little laugh
,
shaking her head at the idea.
“
I come here with the girls every Friday but now they
’
ve met two guys and I feel like a right gooseberry.
”
“
Poor Ellie,
”
he said
,
trying to suppress a smile. She looked so forlorn and fed-up.
“
What about you? I wouldn
’
t have thought this was your scene either.
”
“
It
’
s not. I was dragged here by some friends.
”
He made a face.
“
Wish I could leave now too, to be honest wit
h you.
”
She could see every girl who passed eyeing him and trying to catch his attention. Just then Chloe and Keisha came into the hallway, on their way to the ladies
’.
“
Hey, Ellie, we
’
ve been looking for you
!”
Chloe cried, looking Sam up and down.
“
Fine, well
,
I
’
ll see you Monday, Sam,
”
Ellie said.
“
See you
!”
Sam said
,
giving a little wave to all three girls and grinning broadly. He knew Ellie would be in for the third degree from the inquisitive looks on her friends
’
faces.
“
Yummy . . . wouldn
’
t charge him a penny,
”
Chloe drawled as Sam started to walk away, winking as he looked over his shoulder at them
.
“
Hey, who
’
s the gorgeous hunk?
”
Keisha wanted to know.