For a long time he
’
d never discussed it with anyone, feeling that it was just between them and that it would be disloyal to Louise to reveal it to an outsider. Last year, however, he
’
d finally confided in his brother, Conor, who had three children and was happily married to Betty, an
exemplary wife, not given to spending her husband
’
s wages on one shopping spree. Conor was at a loss to unders
tand Louise
’
s problem and could offer him no advic
e. There was no one else Ronan could discuss it with.
Things were so bad in this post-Celtic-Tiger Ireland, that they
’
d already taken a pay-cut and lived every day in fear of losing their jobs. There was not much call for draughtsmen these days with building sites standing idle
all over the country. What would happen to him if the firm closed down
?
Ronan couldn
’
t even begin to contemp
late the possibility
.
His
mortgage was so high that the chances were they would lose their house
,
which was already well into negative equity.
Ronan was feeling desperate. He could feel the blood pounding in his temples. This couldn
’
t go on. Her spending would have to stop
,
but how could he get this through to his shopaholic wife
?
Louise knew the moment she saw his face that he had found
her secret stash. She geared herself for a confrontation.
“
Louise, when did you buy this stuff?
”
he asked her, throwing one of the dresses on the table.
“
Oh, ages ago,
”
she replied nonchalantly.
“
They were reduced to nothing in the sale. They were practically giving them away.
”
She continued grilling the steaks, not looking at him.
He turned on his heel and went into the living-room for his laptop. Going online he accessed his credit-card account and sure enough there it was. A list of purchases, all made
the previous Friday in Dublin city. He blanched when he saw the final figure. How on earth would they pay this?
Returning to the kitchen, he walked to the cooker and turned Louise around to face him. He was shaking with fury.
“
Giving them away?
”
he cried, grabbing her arms.
“
You spent over five hundred euro in one day! Where do you think the money will come from to pay this bill? We
’
re already up to our eyes in debt, thanks to you
!”
“
Don
’
t get your knickers in a knot.
”
She wrenched away from him
,
her green eyes flashing.
“
It
’
s on the credit card. We won
’
t have to pay for ages.
”
“
You really don
’
t get it
,
do you?
”
he cried, white with anger.
“
We
–
just
–
cannot
–
afford
–
it!
”
He realised he was shouting and tried to calm down. He wanted to shake her to get this into her head but he let her go. He had never raised a hand to her in all their fifteen years of marriage and he wasn
’
t going to start now. His own fury shocked him. He was normally a quiet
,
gentle man.
“
Louise, this can
’
t go on,
”
he said, slumping down in a chair.
“
I just can
’
t take it any
more.
”
“
Oh, for God
’
s sake, you
’
re overreacting,
”
she snappe
d, putting his dinner on the table
. “
Everyone says that the recession is over and things are on the up again.
”
“
Not in our business, they
’
re not. Besides, even if I
don
’
t lose my job – which I possibly will – I still cannot afford
to have you spending like this.
”
“
You
’
re a cheapskate
!”
she cried, rushing from the room, her long auburn hair flying behind her.
He looked down at the plate of steak and onions in front of him and suddenly he had no appetite for it. He pushed it away. She was being very unfair. He
’
d always been very generous with her. How could he get her to realise the seriousness of the situation?
Now her addiction was in danger of wrecking their marriage beyond repair. Not that their marriage had been in great shape for quite some time. The love and joy had gone out of it and they were constantly bickering. It was very difficult to be loving and joyous when you were constantly worrying about money. He was at the end of his tether now and he knew it was affecting his health. The doctor had warned him to avoid stress but it was all very well for him to say that.
He wasn
’
t in debt or in danger of losing his job and perhaps even his house, or to top it off – married to a shopaholic!
Ronan sighed. He would have to try and find someone who could help Louise. But where could he turn for it
?
He decided to have another chat with Conor at the weekend. Maybe this time he
’
d confide in Betty. She might know someone who could help
.
The following Saturday was Ronan
’
s thirty-ninth birthday and they
’
d been invited to Conor and Betty
’
s for dinner. He
’
d warned Louise that he didn
’
t want a birthday present. God knows how much she would have splurged on that! She had been giving him the silent treatment since the row but he
’
d thought that as it was his birthday she
’
d relent and at least wish him a happy birthday. No such luck!
It was going to be very embarrassing at Conor
’
s if they were still not talking
.
After a silent cold-war breakfast, Ronan decided that he might as well go and play a round of golf. When he came home that afternoon, Louise was out.
Please God, let her not be out shopping, he prayed.
She arrived in after six, no bags in sight, thank God.
“
You do know we
’
re expected at Conor
’
s for dinner at seven,
”
he reminded her.
“
I
’
m not going,
”
she replied, the first words she
’
d spoken for three nights.
“
We can
’
t cancel at the last minute just like that.
”
He could feel his blood pressure rising yet again.
“
It
’
s okay. I rang Betty and told her I didn
’
t feel well,
”
she said sullenly.
“
I said you
’
d be going alone. She understood.
”
He looked at her sadly, shaking his head. She
’
d obvious
ly made up her mind.
“
Fine
,
if that
’
s how you want it.
”
At least he
’
d get a chance to talk to his sister-in-law about his problems now.
“
Happy birthday, old boy
!”
Conor greeted him with a hug.
“
Next year
’
s the biggie, eh? My God, forty! That
’
s seriously old!
”
Grinning broadly, he clapped him on the back.
He was one year younger than Ronan and never let him forget it. They were so alike that people had often taken
them for twins. Both were very tall and slim with similar dark hair, although Ronan
’
s was a tad longer. Their grey eyes held a warmth and gentleness that was reflected in both their characters. However, more than anything else it was the
graceful way they moved that confirmed, even to those who did not know them, that they were brothers.
“
Yeah, that
’
ll be you in two years
’
time!
”
Ronan punched him playfully.
“
Happy birthday, love!
”
Betty joined them in the hall, kissing her brother-in-law warmly. She was small and a little plump
–
unlike the tall, slim Louise
– with a kind happy face that was always smiling. It was obvious Conor adored her.
Their three children came bounding down the stairs.
“
Happy birthday, Uncle Ronan
!”
they chorused, almost strangling him with hugs.
He laughed at their enthusiasm.
“
Mercy, mercy!
”
he cried
,
untangling himself. He proffered the bag of goodies that he
always brought for them and they pounced on it greedily.
“
Now, k
ids, no chocolate before dinner,
”
Betty said sternly, whipping the bag away before they could protest.
“
Back upstairs while I give poor Uncle Ronan a drink
to revive him,
”
Conor said, ruffling the hair of his youngest
son, Myles.
They scampered away and Ronan looked after them fondly. How he wished he
’
d had kids of his own.
He envied Conor his lovely family more than anything. How different this house was to his own
!
He tried not to dwell on it too much.
Conor opened a bottle of champagne and poured them each a glass.
“
Happy birthday again, big bro!
”
he said as they cli
nked glasses.
“
We
’
re sorry Louise couldn
’
t make it.
Wha
t
’
s the matter with her?
”
Ronan pursed his lips.
“
Nothing physical. We
’
ve had a dreadful row. I
’
ll explain all after dinner. Let
’
s not spoil the evening so early on.
”
Conor and Betty glanced at each other knowingly and then at Ronan, sympathy in their eyes. They
’
d guessed it was something like that when Louise had cried off. They
’
d known for quite some time that things were not going well i
n that marriage. It made them appreciate all the more how very lucky they were. Conor patted Betty
’
s hand before getting up and taking an envelope off the mantelpiece.
“
Your birthday present,
”
he smiled, as he handed it to his older brother.
Ronan opened it, wondering what it could be. He slid out a gilt-edged card, which read:
CHÂTEAU WINES
GIFT VOUCHER
Eight-week Wine Course
“
Wow, that
’
s fantastic! Thank you both so much!
”
He beamed at them, kissing Betty and hugging Conor.
“
Something I
’
ve always wanted to do.
”
He read the rest of the details on the card.
“
You just have to ring them and they
’
ll tell you when and where,
”
Conor explained, pleased with Ronan
’
s reaction.
“
Just what I need right now,
”
Ronan said with a grimace.
“
Escapism!
”