“
I just thought maybe Sandrine could change your mind . . .
”
He tailed off feebly not knowing how to handle this situation.
“
Well, she didn
’
t. And no doubt she
’
ll probably be in touch to tell you what I said – if she hasn
’
t rung you already, that is.
”
“
She has actually,
”
he said sheepishly.
“
And what do you have to say about that?
”
Ellie demanded
.
“
It
’
s okay. We
’
ll have it in Clontarf Castle if it
’
s really so important to you
,”
he replied, resignation in his voice. He was afraid that she
’
d meant what she
’
d said about no wedding at all. He didn
’
t know what had got into Ellie. She
’
d been acting very out of character lately. Maybe it was her hormones. You never knew with women. He sighed.
“
That
’
s settled then,
”
she replied, somewhat mollified. They made small talk for a few minutes but when she
’
d hung up she was still feeling dejected. She hoped this arguing would not continue until their wedding day. She
’
d never stick it. Everyone had told her that it would be a stressful time but she hadn
’
t expected David and herself to be fighting. It was very upsetting.
Louise had been sleeping when Ronan left for the office that morning. He was relieved to be able to put off telling her that next Friday he
’
d be out of a job. Tuesday was the night she went to the gym and she and her girlfriends always went for a drink afterwards, so after work Ronan decided to go over to Conor
’
s house.
His brother was surprised to see him.
“
Hey, you look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. What
’
s up?
”
he asked, concern in his voice.
“
The company is closing on Friday. I
’
ll be joining the ranks of the unemployed.
”
Ronan tried to smile but none was forthcoming.
“
Jesus, Ronan, that
’
s desperate. When did you hear?
”
“
Yesterday. We
’
re all devastated.
”
He ran his fingers through his hair.
“
I can imagine,
”
Connor remarked as he poured two whiskeys.
“
Here, drink this – you need it.
”
He handed a glass to Ronan.
“
What will you do now?
”
“
I
’
ve no idea,
”
Ronan answered, taking a large gulp of the whiskey which warmed him as it went down.
“
I can
’
t think straight.
”
“
God
,
man, I don
’
t blame you. This country is in a mess.
”
Conor
’
s voice was bitter.
“
Have you told Louise? How
did she take it?
”
“
I haven
’
t had the courage to tell her yet to be honest. I
’
m sure she
’
ll go ballistic.
”
“
Well, it
’
s not your fault. It
’
s happening all over the place. People are losing their jobs every day. She
’
ll have to understand.
”
“
You don
’
t know Lou.
”
Ronan laughed bitterly.
Conor didn
’
t know what to say. He was angry. The bloody Fianna Fáil government and their buddies the banks! It made him furious to think how they had sold
out the country. He ran his fingers through his hair exact
ly as his brother had done earlier. It was a shared habit they both indulged in when they were worried.
“
Surely she
’
ll understand,
”
he said.
“
This will certainly put a stop to her gallop. No more shopping sprees for a while.
”
“
I doubt it. It
’
s when she
’
s depressed that she goes crazy. You know the saying
, ‘
might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb
’?
That
’
s her motto.”
Silly cow, Conor wanted to say but he resisted, not wanting to hurt his brother.
“
At least I
’
ve got the part-time work in the wine shop. That
’
s something but it
won
’
t pay the mortgage.
”
Ronan looked into his glass and drained the rest of the whiskey in one gulp.
Conor poured him another large one.
“
I
’
ll have to go and talk to the bank manager about the mortgage
–
God, I hope we don
’
t lose the house,
”
he said, his voice anguished.
“
Will you stay for dinner?
”
“
Well, I certainly can
’
t drive after these large whiskies.
”
He made a grimace as he went on.
“
Louise is not home anyway. She was out last night and again tonight
with her friends so I
’
ll stay for dinner but I
’
m not terribly hungry. Thankfully she
’
s out as it means I can put off telling her for a little longer.
”
He laughed harshly.
“
Great stuff! I
’
ll just tell Betty.
”
“
Isn
’
t this your card night?
”
Ronan asked him, suddenly remembering that his brother played cards with friends
every Tuesday.
“
Don
’
t worry about that,
”
Conor assured him, his hand on the door handle as he went out.
“
I can cancel that, no problem.
”
Conor left the room to tell Betty to put another name in the pot.
Ronan thought how lucky he was to have such a supportive brother. He could always rely on Conor
,
which was more than could be said for his own wife. Downing his whiskey, he went out to greet Betty.
Sitting at the table later, sipping yet another whiskey which he had to admit was dulling the pain somewhat, he marvelled that he had been able to eat a second serving of lasagne. Betty was such a great cook and his appetite had returned as he tasted the delicious dish.
After the children had been packed off to bed, the three of them had sat chatting for a while and then Conor insisted that Betty drive Ronan
’
s car home while he and Ronan followed in theirs. Louise wasn
’
t home and Conor took an unsteady Ronan by the arm as he opened the door f
or him. Ronan went straight up to bed and within seconds
was asleep.
24
The next evening Ronan went straight to the wine shop from the office
,
feeling very despondent. He had found a way to simplify withdrawals from the bonded warehouse and Sam had asked him to implement it. He worked on it every chance he got but tonight he couldn
’
t concentrate on it. Fiona came down when it was time for his break and they went into the staff kitchen where Ronan made a pot of tea and brought out the shortbread biscuits that she liked so much.
Dermot took over in the shop for him, as usual, while he took his break
.
“
My mother is really pressing for me to go and stay with her now,
”
Fiona confided as she nibbled on a biscuit.
“
She
’
s terrified I
’
ll go into labour when I
’
m on my own.
”
“
That would be pretty scary, I
’
m sure,
”
Ronan agreed
.
“
Well, I wanted to stay on here in the flat as long as possible but I suppose I
’
ll have to go sooner or later. I
’
ve only four weeks left although first babies are usually late. Mam
’
s a terrible fusser so the later the better.
”
She smiled ruefully.
“
I can imagine that
’
s the last thing you need,
”
he said sympathetically
.
Fiona heard the dejected note in his voice.
“
Is everything okay, Ronan?
”
she asked, her voice gentle.
“
No,
”
he replied, shocked to find tears coming to his eyes.
“
What is it?
”
she asked
,
her face suffused with alarm.
“
I
’
ve been made redundant and I haven
’
t even got the nerve to tell Louise. She
’
ll go ballistic.
”
“
It
’
s not your fault. Half the country is out of work. I
’
m sure she
’
ll understand.
”
“
You don
’
t know Louise!
”
Ronan thought it was funny that he
’
d had this exact c
onversation the night before with Conor. They all though
t that Louise would understand. He knew better.
Fiona wondered, not for the first time, what kind of a battle-axe Ronan was married to. She could sense that he was deeply unhappy.
“
I
’
m sure something will turn up,
”
she said reassuringly.
Ronan shrugged as he got to his feet, realising that it was time to get back to work.
They said goodnight and Ronan went back into the shop where Dermot was busy with customers. Fiona put the stuff away and washed the cups then waved goodbye before she
made her way
back up the stairs.
The next day Fiona came down to see Sam. She found him in a foul humour because the girl who was due to replace her that day had not turned up for work that morning.
“
No phone-call, no message, nothing!
”
Sam growled.
Fiona thought he looked even more handsome when he was angry. His navy eyes became almost black.
“
These young ones are so unreliable,
”
he grumbled.
“
That
’
s the second girl who hasn
’
t turned up this week. I
’
ll have to find someone else and quick. I can
’
t have people letting me down like this. I had to cancel two important meetings today.
”
He was lifting bottles out of boxes with
a vengeance.
“
Dermot can
’
t manage alone and I
’
ve too muc
h else going on to stay here
.”
“
What about Ronan?
”
she suggested.
“
What about Ronan?
”
He looked at her as if she was speaking double Dutch.