‘No, Dot, I don’t think so. Mandy said it was important to be honest with them and anyway, a busted boiler wouldn’t account for them having to move schools.’
Dot looked upset. ‘Me and my bloody big mouth.’
‘It’s done now, don’t worry about it. Just follow my lead.’
‘I’m keeping my mouth shut from now on,’ Dot assured her.
They followed the children to the jeep and Marianne used delaying tactics for as long as she could. Were they all wearing seat belts? She couldn’t talk while she was reversing out of the drive, or pulling out into busy traffic for that matter but, finally, when she was cruising out along the coast road towards Portmarnock and the silence was heavy in the car, she knew she had to say something. She decided to follow Mandy James’ advice, and taking a deep breath, announced: ‘We’re moving to Granny’s house.’
Dot shot her a look of alarm but said nothing.
‘Cool,’ said Andrew, ‘there are loads of kids to play with there.’
Marianne exhaled. Taking them to that street party had been inspired. Both children had really enjoyed it.
‘But why?’ Kate asked.
Marianne took a quick look over her shoulder; Kate didn’t look upset so much as puzzled. ‘We don’t have as much money now that Daddy’s not here to look after us,’ she explained. ‘If we move to Granny’s, we can rent out our house and get more money that way.’
Kate absorbed this for a moment and then said, ‘So are we broke?’
‘Of course we’re not,’ Dot laughed.
‘But we aren’t rich either,’ Marianne added quickly; she didn’t want Dot making any promises they wouldn’t be able to keep. ‘We need to make some changes to the way we’ve been living.’
‘Like what?’ Kate asked.
‘Well, I’m going to sell the jeep and I’ll probably get a job and,’ Marianne took another deep breath; this was the cruncher, ‘you’ll be leaving school and going to the one around the corner from Granny’s.’
‘Oh good,’ Kate said. ‘I hate my school.’
Marianne almost crashed the car. ‘Don’t be silly; you don’t hate it.’
‘I do.’
‘But why, pet?’ Dot asked, turning around to look at her granddaughter.
‘There’s a gang in my year that are always picking on me, taking my stuff and trying to get me into trouble.’
‘The little bitches,’ Dot exclaimed, incensed.
‘Granny!’ Andrew crowed.
‘Well, really!’
Marianne stopped at the level crossing as the lights flashed and the barrier came down announcing the imminent arrival of a train. She turned to look at her daughter. ‘Why didn’t you tell me, darling?’
Kate shrugged. ‘It hasn’t been as bad since Daddy died; most of them feel sorry for me now and if the teachers catch them saying anything bad, they get into trouble.’
‘I hate school too,’ Andrew announced.
‘Do you, darling?’ Marianne took his statement with a pinch of salt; he always copied whatever his big sister said. She would let Kate’s comments go for now but they had worried her; she would revisit them another time when they were alone.
‘Do you think you’ll like going to school in Kilbarrack?’ Dot asked them.
‘Is it really only around the corner? Will we be able to walk?’ Andrew asked.
‘You will indeed or go on your bike; young Billy next door goes on one of those strange skate contraptions.’
‘A flicker? Oh, I’d love to get one of them!’
‘Dream on,’ Marianne told him. ‘I told you we need to save money, not spend it.’
‘It’s okay,’ he said. ‘I’ll get one for my birthday.’
‘Haven’t you heard a word Mum’s said, dork?’ Kate said to him. ‘We’re broke.’
‘You haven’t been listening either then, Kate,’ Marianne told her. ‘We’re not broke we just need to tighten our belts a little; there won’t be any foreign holidays for a while.’
‘Can we go camping?’ Andrew bounced up and down in his seat. ‘I’d love to go camping.’
Marianne exchanged an amused glance with Dot. ‘I suppose we could afford a tent.’
‘You can go without me.’ Dot shuddered. ‘I don’t fancy that at all, I’d lie awake all night worrying about what was crawling over me.’
‘Just like the hairy spiders in the outside toilet,’ Andrew giggled.
‘We could stay in a caravan,’ Dot suggested. ‘We had some great caravan holidays when your daddy was little, although there were a few dodgy ones too.’
Marianne frowned as she tried to recall a story that Dominic had told her. ‘Didn’t you get flooded once?’
Dot threw back her head and laughed. ‘That’s a slight exaggeration but we did have a close call right enough; Lord, I’d forgotten all about that!’
‘What happened, Granny?’ Kate asked.
‘Well, we had a caravan when your daddy was little. Oh, it wasn’t the fancy mobile homes they have now, it was very small and basic but it meant we could go anywhere at the drop of a hat and it cost next to nothing. It was in June and the weather forecast for the weekend was fantastic, so Granda took a half-day off work on the Friday and we headed down to Clare to a lovely spot we’d heard about on the Shannon River. Your daddy was only four and he hated being stuck in the car for long because he got so bored – there were no computer games in those days – so we would stop along the way for snacks or to let him have a run around. But the closer that we got to Clare, the darker the clouds got and by the time we arrived, it was raining hard, your daddy was tired and irritable and we were dying to get him to bed. But do you think we could find the feckin’ caravan park? Not at all. We drove round for nearly an hour before we finally found it and by this time it was dark. It was such a relief and your granda found a grand pitch looking out over the water, nice and close to the bathrooms.’
‘Bathrooms?’ Kate frowned. ‘Why did you need bathrooms?’
‘There was none in the caravan,’ Dot explained. ‘I told you it was basic.’
Even Marianne was surprised at this. ‘But you had a loo, right?’
‘Ah, yes, we did. Anyway, by the time we were settled, it was lashing rain but we were warm and cosy inside and that’s all that mattered. We were all tucked up fast asleep and then I heard a thump and a cry and hadn’t your daddy fallen out of bed!’
Andrew giggled. ‘I do that sometimes.’
Dot turned to smile at him. ‘You do and so did your daddy, only this time it wasn’t his fault; wasn’t the caravan leaning over to one side. Well, luckily he wasn’t really awake and I popped him back into bed and tucked in the bedclothes tight so he wouldn’t fall out again, and then I went to get Granda. Well, he was disgusted at me waking him up in the middle of the night, said I was imagining things until he stood up and went flying across the room.’
‘Oh my God,’ Kate gasped.
Marianne smiled as she turned off the main road and into the lovely little street where Helen and Johnny lived. The children were completely diverted by Dot’s story, her bombshell forgotten, although she knew that she would be inundated with questions tomorrow.
Dot continued with her story. ‘Granda had parked in a dodgy site that had flooded and we were sinking into the mud on one side and the water was lapping up the steps. There was a warning sign but, sure, we never saw it in the dark.’
‘So what did you do?’ Marianne asked.
‘Granda got dressed and went off to find the owner of the site. They had a guesthouse too, and so were able to give us a room for the night. Just as well, by morning the caravan was nearly on its side. But the next day was fine and with the help of a few other men on the site, Granda soon managed to rescue it. We were very lucky, it wasn’t damaged at all.’
‘I don’t think I want to go on holiday in a caravan,’ Andrew said, looking fearful.
‘Ah, sure they’re all very fancy nowadays, love, with all mod cons.’
‘What’s a mod con?’ he asked.
‘Modern convenience,’ Marianne explained. ‘It means all the things that make life easier like showers, microwaves, TVs, washing machines, that sort of thing.’
‘But it could still sink,’ he said, a stubborn look on his face.
‘If we went on a holiday like that, we would stay in a place where they provided the caravan and it would be on blocks or cement so it could never sink,’ Marianne assured him as she pulled into the driveway and parked next to Helen’s Audi as Johnny had instructed. ‘Now, let’s go and party!’
Chapter Fifteen
A smiling Johnny opened the door as they approached, looking suave in a beautiful grey suit and highly polished black shoes. ‘Welcome, Thomsons. Come in! You look sensational, Marianne,’ he said, bending to kiss her cheek before enveloping Dot in a tight hug.
‘Don’t be doing that,’ she laughed. ‘If your wife catches you, she’ll have your guts for garters.’
‘She knows that I can resist anything but a beautiful woman, Dot.’
‘Get away with you,’ she said giving him a playful push. ‘I’m old enough to be your mother.’
‘Ah, but you’re like a fine wine; you get better with age.’ He turned to smile at Kate. ‘And yet another beautiful lady! Hello, Kate, what a pretty dress.’
‘Thanks, Uncle Johnny,’ she said shyly.
‘And how’s the man of the house?’ Johnny picked Andrew up and tossed him in the air before catching him in his arms and throwing him over his shoulder.
‘Stop,’ the little boy squealed, giggling, kicking his feet and pummelling Johnny’s back with his tiny fists.
Johnny set him back down. ‘Well, aren’t you a tough little man? Let me see those muscles.’
‘Where’s Helen?’ Marianne asked as her son started to push up his sleeves.
‘In the kitchen, go on through. Dot, come, let me get you a drink and kids, wait until you see what’s in my garden.’
As he led the family through the living room towards the French windows that opened on to their large back garden, Marianne carefully carried the flowers down the hall and nudged the door open with her hip. Helen, elegant in a grey silk dress that complimented her dark hair and buxom figure, was sitting at the island frowning over a list. Marianne smiled. Helen had lists for everything and any event she organized always went off like clockwork.
‘You look lovely, Helen.’
Her friend hopped up, smiling, and came to hug her friend. ‘Thanks, Marianne, what beautiful flowers, but you shouldn’t have, they must have cost a fortune.’
‘Not a penny,’ Marianne laughed. ‘All Dot’s handiwork.’
‘No!’ Helen marvelled. ‘She has really excelled herself this time. They will look perfect in the centre of the buffet table; the one the caterers brought isn’t a patch on this. That’s a gorgeous dress, Marianne.’
‘I hadn’t intended to wear it; I feel a bit self-conscious to be honest. It’s not really what a new widow should be wearing, is it?’
‘Don’t be silly, no one expects you to wear black all of the time.’
Marianne perched on a stool. ‘So, what did you get for your anniversary? More diamonds?’ Johnny was a generous man and also a thoughtful one; Helen’s presents were always carefully chosen. It was something Marianne had always envied. Dominic had been useless at choosing gifts and most of the time had just pressed a few notes into her hand and told her to buy herself something nice. Had he had a mistress, she wondered and, if so, did she get the same treatment or had he showered her with gifts?
‘He only just told me, Marianne; he’s booked a cruise for us.’ Helen’s eyes shone with excitement. ‘Fourteen days touring the Caribbean, isn’t it wonderful?’
‘Fantastic,’ Marianne smiled thinking of the conversation in the car about caravans.
‘I never thought when we were in St Anne’s that one day I would end up living a life of luxury.’
‘You and Johnny have worked damn hard to get where you are today; you deserve it.’
‘Aw, bless you.’ Helen beamed. ‘Come on, we’d better show our faces; the other guests will be arriving soon.’
‘You are lucky with the weather, it’s a lovely day.’ Marianne followed her outside and stared at the sight that greeted her. A large, white-and-lemon striped marquee took up a third of the garden and a bouncy castle had been set up at the far end where her son was already playing, Dot encouraging him to go higher while Kate looked on. She wished her daughter was up there with him, laughing uproariously. Marianne did wonder about this bullying business; perhaps that was the real reason Kate was so withdrawn.
‘Here you are, Marianne.’
She looked around to find Johnny at her side, a glass of champagne in his hand. ‘Oh, no, thank you, Johnny. I’m driving.’
‘You won’t be leaving for hours yet and one glass won’t hurt.’
She smiled and took the glass. ‘Okay, thank you. Happy anniversary.’
‘Cheers. Shouldn’t I get a medal for putting up with her for this long?’ He nodded towards where Helen was going around the marquee, questioning staff and rearranging cutlery.
‘Oh, how you’ve suffered,’ Marianne teased him.
‘Ah, don’t I know it?’ he said, eyes twinkling. ‘You are looking particularly sexy today, sweetheart.’
‘You behave yourself,’ she warned him, but couldn’t help smiling. Johnny had always been an outrageous flirt.
‘You’re no fun,’ he laughed.
‘This all looks wonderful, Johnny.’
‘Ah, sure no one can throw a party quite like Helen,’ he said, pride in his voice. ‘Tell me, have you got together with Rob yet?’
Marianne looked at him, startled, caught off guard. It was so strange to hear Rob’s name and to think that her ex-lover would now become an acceptable part of her life.
‘He said he wanted to drop by and measure up the office so he could buy some extra fittings,’ Johnny explained.
‘Oh, that. Yes, he did call but he hasn’t had a chance to do it yet; I think he’s out of the country at the moment.’
In truth, she had been startled to get the phone call, immediately thinking Rob wanted to meet up. Instead he had been cool and businesslike and asked permission to replace her simple office fittings with his own.
‘I realize that probably doesn’t suit you and that you wanted to lease the house fully furnished, but I need to maximize the space—’
‘That’s absolutely fine,’ Marianne had assured him.
There had been a moment’s silence and then Rob had simply said that he would be in touch on his return and hung up.
‘Did you hear anything more from Matthews and Baldwin?’