‘Well, it did look pretty fishy to me. You can’t blame me for losing it. But I shouldn’t have resorted to spying on you. I don’t want us ever to have that lack of trust between us again.’
‘Yeah well, I know I was going out and getting pissed too much. I suppose work was getting to me and I thought staying out all night drinking would solve my problems. But I guess I’m sick of waking up on other people’s floors with a hangover. I should have done that as a student and got it out of my system like a normal bloke.’
Claire laughed, ‘It’s not a great feeling, is it?’
‘Nope, come here to me and give me a big hug.’ Claire sat down on her husband’s knee. ‘So do you
think you’ll be able to get another PA or what?’
‘It’ll be difficult,’ Simon admitted. ‘A lot of them just like to come in and look at the clock or while away the hours painting their nails. Most of the temps don’t last the day.’
‘I could do it,’ Claire said suddenly, ‘I mean, you could train me in.’
‘Are you serious?’
‘Why not? I want to get back into the work place anyway. But the thing is I could only do it for a few months.’
‘How come?’
‘I’m pregnant.’
‘What!’
Claire couldn’t keep the smile off her face. ‘Yes, I
was just waiting for the right moment to tell you.’
‘I can’t believe it!’
‘Are you pleased?’
‘Pleased? Jesus, Claire, I’m over the moon.’ He placed a hand over her tummy. ‘This is the best possible news you could give me.’ Claire relaxed. And then cried. The tears just wouldn’t stop flowing down her cheeks. Everything was going to work out. She was so happy she almost felt guilty. Guilty that she’d despised Shelley so much. Guilty that the father of Shelley’s baby wouldn’t be holding her this very minute, while the tears streamed down her cheeks, telling her he was the happiest man alive. Guilty for suspecting Simon of a crime he didn’t commit.
Thank God they were going to be a real family again.
Thank God.
‘Are you the manager?’ An irate customer drummed a handful of knuckles on the counter in front of Anna.
‘Yes,’ Anna said, bracing herself for a full tirade.
‘I bought these slippers three months ago and . . .’ Blah, blah, blah.
‘We’ll refund you the price of the slippers,’ Anna replied wearily, wishing she could tell the angry red-faced woman to fuck off with herself.
The store was crammed with frantic late-night shoppers. Seven-thirty couldn’t come fast enough for Anna. She wanted all these people to go away and leave her alone. In fact she wanted them to exit the world altogether so that herself and Darren could have it all to themselves. She adored the man. He was definitely her prince charming.
The Ferrari was waiting at the dot of seven-thirty. Anna slipped into the passenger seat with her little overnight bag, full of anticipation of the night yet to come.
It was still bright with no sign of rain, which was a miracle for Galway. Darren turned on the engine and they headed for Moran’s.
Moran’s was buzzing with tourists and locals. Anna relaxed, enjoyed her seafood and drank in the ambient atmosphere. Back at the hotel, their lovemaking was more passionate than the night before. More urgent. More frantic. They practically ripped the clothes off each other between glasses of champagne and room service.
For the second night, Anna slept peacefully in Darren’s arms, this time comforted by the fact that she didn’t have to set the alarm clock.
She woke just after ten to find the bed empty. She heard the sound of running water from the bathroom.
‘Can I join you?’ she stood in the doorway naked.
‘Hey, come on in,’ he called, ‘I’ll allow you to scrub my back.’
She stepped into the bath and let him work a lather of soap over her. The hot water sluiced over them. Then she did the same to him. She loved all this. Being part of a couple. A real couple. She was fed up with the games. Leave the players to the other women in the world. She wanted a real man. She
had
a real man.
Afterwards as they sat on the huge bed, drying each other off, Anna told Darren that she’d never felt this happy. She confided that she’d all but given up on finding Mr Right.
‘There’s a lot of dodgy men out there,’ Darren agreed. ‘You have to be careful.’
‘Then again you c
an’t be too wary,’ Anna coun
tered. ‘After all you were a dodgy stranger at the airport.’
‘True,’ Darren laughed.
‘So tell me,’ Anna tousled Darren’s damp hair playfully, ‘have you had many girlfriends?’
‘Not really,’ he answered uncomfortably. ‘Now,’ he said, swiftly changing the subject and giving her bare bottom a playful slap, ‘are you getting dressed or what?’
‘Yeah, yeah, leave me alone,’ Anna said lazily.
‘But seriously though, have you ever been like really madly in love with anybody?’
‘I don’t like to think too much about the past,’ Darren said.
After lunch, Darren insisted on hitting the road. Anna was disappointed. What was the rush all about?
‘I want to hit the road before the traffic,’ Darren explained and then kissed her lips tenderly.
‘I’ll be up in Dublin on Tuesday,’ Anna said eagerly.
‘I’ve Tuesday as well as Saturday and Sunday off this week to make up for last week’s workload. So we’ll be able to see lots of each other,’ she enthused.
‘Well, I’ll see what I can do. I’ve a load of meetings and stuff to get through next week so I can’t make any plans just yet.’
‘What about the weekend?’ Anna knew she should quit while she was ahead but somehow couldn’t find the lid to quash her motormouth.
‘Saturday, no – Friday? Yeah, we’ll definitely do something on Friday.’
‘I was hoping we could meet up on Saturday,’ Anna gushed. ‘Some of my friends are meeting up and I was thinking . . .’
‘I’ll see what I can do.’ Darren silenced her with a kiss.
And then he was gone.
Anna was glad when Aoife finally returned home that evening. She’d spent the whole day moping about the place, switching on the TV and then switching it off again. She’d watered Aoife’s plants at least three times and had made endless cups of tea she didn’t even feel like drinking. Why had Darren shot back up to Dublin when he could have spent the whole day with her?
Had she said something or what? Maybe it was because he’d seen her without her make-up. Maybe he felt she was hurrying things along too much. Then again he was the one saying
he
was mad about
her
. It was baffling.
Unfortunately Aoife insisted she couldn’t chat for very long. She said she was already feeling guilty for taking the rest of the weekend off and now she intended to put her head down and slog for a few hours.
She showed a slight
polite interest in Anna’s week
end before disappearing off to her room. Anna was left abandoned in the sitting room with the heavy black phone choosing to remain irritatingly silent.
Maybe she should ring Darren and thank him for the fabulous weekend.
Just a teeny weeny call.
No way,
a stern voice boomed inside her head.
Haven’t you learned your lesson yet, you thick eejit? Go out. Get busy. Do something useful, you clown
.
Okay, okay, I back down, Anna succumbed to the angry voice. She put on a heavy bomber jacket and a pair of sneakers and set off to march the prom.
There
was no point in worrying about
trivial things.
Darren
was
mad
about
her.
He’d said so.
‘Mrs Murphy has agreed to look after Andrew on a regular part-time basis,’ Claire told her husband happily.
They were walking in the Wicklow Mountains, Claire pushing Andrew’s buggy, Simon struggling with Blackie’s lead. Like an ad for Flora, Claire thought. When Sim
on had suggested Dún Laoig
haire pier, Claire
had swiftly suggested the moun
tains. It wouldn’t do to bump into Tom just now. Claire was determined to take her little secret to the grave. Sure, what would be the point in telling Simon anything now? It would only upset him.
Their marriage might not survive it.
‘That’s great news,’ Simon smiled and bent down to release their over-excited dog from his straining lead. ‘You’re a star.’
‘To be honest, I’m a bit nervous about going back to the workplace again.’
‘You’ll be fine,’ Simon assured her. ‘You’ve brains to burn. You’ve an honours degree, for God’s sake.’
‘Well, that’s true,’ Claire admitted. ‘Oh, I’m just being silly, aren’t I?’
‘You’ll be a massive support to me.’
‘What will we call the baby?’ She suddenly didn’t want to be talking about work any more.
‘If it’s a boy we could call him Simon, after me?’
‘Oh God, no. One Simon is enough,’ Claire laughed.
‘I don’t care if you call him Arnold Schwarzeneggar. As long as the baby is healthy, I’ll be one happy man.’
On Monday evening she tried on her new dress.
‘Stunning.’ Simon couldn’t hide his admiration.
‘You look sensational. Every man in the room will be hitting on you.’
‘As long as you’re hitting on me too, I don’t care,’ Claire twirled to give the dress its full effect. ‘As long as you’re after me that’s all that counts.’
The doorbell rang.
‘Oh, that must be Anna. I’ll get it.’ Claire made for the door and flung it open.
‘Are you going out?’ Anna looked startled.
‘No, silly, this is what I’m wearing to the party. Come in. Do you like it?’
‘Wow, it’s amazing.’
‘What are you wearing yourself, Anna?’
‘Me? Oh I haven’t a clue. What I’m going to wear is actually the least of my worries. Oh hi, Simon. Long time, no see.’
‘Hi, Anna. Now if you two ladies will excuse me, I’m sure you’ve loads of things to be gossiping about.’
‘Well, he looks happy,’ Anna said brightly and pulled up a chair for herself.
‘He’s every right to b
e,’ Claire grinned and instinc
tively moved her hand across her still impossibly flat stomach.
‘Is there something I should know?’ Anna asked warily.
‘God, where do I start?’
Claire told Anna about the pregnancy, about going back to work, and about Shelley.
Anna listened, gobsmacked.
Claire had blossomed since she’d last met her. Being pregnant suited her.
Still, rather her than me, Anna decided as Claire started to give a vivid description of her latest bout of morning sickness.
In turn, Anna spil
led the beans on her new rela
tionship.
‘He sounds almost too good,’ Claire said.
‘I can live with too good,’ Anna replied.
‘But what about Mark?’
‘What about him?’
‘Don’t you still hold a candle for him?’
‘No,’ Anna said firmly, ‘I never held a candle or anything for him.’
‘I dunno about that,’ Claire teased.
‘Oh shut up, will you?’
‘So when are you meeting this fella again?’
‘His name’s Darren,’ Anna said huffily.
‘Does he know you’ve the day off ?’
‘Yep.’
‘Well, give him a ring now so. It’s only nine o’clock.’
‘But suppose he wants to meet up tonight?’
‘Well then you tell him you won’t be able to,’ Claire insisted. ‘We’re meeting Alice and Olive.’
‘Olive Sharkey?’
‘Yeah, Alice ran into her and she’s dying to meet up.’
‘You have
got
to be joking,’ Anna fumed. ‘She was Victoria’s buddy in school. Don’t you remember her? The ultimate yes woman.’
‘I’m sure she’s chan
ged,’ Claire said diplomati
cally. ‘We’ve all changed in lots of ways, you know.’
‘Right, anyway I don’t think I’ll ring Darren tonight. I’m a bit wrecked after my journey from Galway.’
‘Whatever you think. Well, I’m ready when you are. Actually come in and have a peek at Andrew while I’m getting changed. He’s got so big.’