'I couldn't find anything to block up the window. I ended up using some of Ma's suit holders.'
'That's fine. Want a beer, tea, or would you prefer to get some sleep?'
'Beer, please.' Fergus sat up on a stool. 'I don't really feel like sleeping.'
'Me neither.' Celine took a beer from the fridge and handed it to Fergus. 'God, what's your mother going to say?'
'Once she knows no one was hurt she won't care,' Fergus assured her.
Celine nodded, realising the truth of this. 'Thanks for coming over.'
Fergus grinned suddenly. 'You'd never have asked me if Richard had been around.'
'No,' she admitted.
'You know, if I could change the past—'
Celine held up a hand. 'I don't want to talk about it.'
'Sorry.'
Celine looked at his crestfallen expression and relented. 'In my heart, I do know that it wasn't your fault. But Dermot only went there to see you.'
Fergus looked at her helplessly. 'If there was something I could do, I'd do it.'
Celine nodded. 'Is he out of jail?'
'He's dead,' Fergus replied, knowing immediately that she was talking about Dermot's killer. 'He managed to get drugs inside and took an overdose.'
'No one told me,' she murmured.
'He was lucky,' Fergus muttered. 'If I'd ever caught up with him when he got out he wouldn't have had such an easy escape.'
'You wouldn't have gone after him?'
'Damn right I would! Celine, you lost a husband and I lost the best friend I've ever had. Dermot saved my life long before that night.'
'Then I'm glad the bastard died in prison. It would be awful if you were locked up because of him and it wouldn't bring Dermot back.'
Fergus said nothing.
'He was very proud of you.'
'He was?'
'Yeah, he talked about you all the time. That morning, at the funeral, I recognised you immediately from his description.'
'Long and skinny.' A ghost of a smile played around Fergus's lips.
Celine smiled too. 'Yeah. He told me that he used to smuggle burgers into rehab for you.'
'The food in there was shite,' Fergus remembered. 'Not that I felt much like eating.'
'That's what scared him. You were so thin he was afraid you wouldn't make it.'
'With the pressure from him and Ma, I'd have been afraid not to!'
'You and Rose are very close.'
'We are now. When I was a teenager, though, we were always at each other's throats. I don't know how she put up with me for as long as she did.'
'Why did you start taking drugs?'
Fergus smiled slightly. 'You know, someone else asked me that question recently. I was shy, I wanted to fit in and I gave in to the pressure from kids in school. Then I realised that when I was high I was confident. I felt like one of the gang and everyone liked me. That's very hard to resist when you've been a loner.'
Celine nodded. 'I can understand that. How long were you using before Rose found out?'
'A couple of years.' Fergus saw her surprised look. 'You see, she was happy that I was finally mixing with other kids. She put down the changes in me to being part of a gang. She didn't really approve of them, they were too rough for her liking, but it was preferable to me spending all my spare time in front of the computer in my bedroom. When she finally realised what was going on she did everything she could to help me but I was too far gone. Finally she threw me out.'
'Is that when you met Dermot?'
He shook his head. 'No, he'd been on the scene for a while before that.'
'But he couldn't help?'
Fergus shrugged. 'I wasn't ready to be helped. It wasn't till I saw someone have a bad trip that I realised if I wanted to live I'd have to kick the habit. As soon as he knew I was serious, Dermot got me into rehab and that was that. Ma sold the house and by the time I got out she'd moved to Hopefield. Sometimes I think she decided to move here because of the name.'
Celine smiled. 'Sounds like Rose.' Her thoughts returned to the devastation downstairs. 'When do you think we should tell her about the break-in?'
'Let's wait until we've talked to the insurance people. There's no point in worrying her until we know what's happening.' He looked at his watch. 'I should get back down there and start the clean-up.'
Celine shook her head. 'First let me buy you breakfast. Café Napoli should be open by now.'
Fergus shot her a shy grin. 'That would be great.'
He should have felt better after his conversation with Celine but Fergus actually felt worse. She had been so nice, so grateful for his help cleaning up the shop, but then she didn't know that he was responsible for the break-in. He had no doubt that this was the handiwork of one of Mick Garvey's gang. Mick obviously meant business and Fergus was going to have to deal with him. Although how he would do that he had no idea. He opened the door of the small house he and Rose had shared for the last six years and climbed the stairs. He felt tired now and couldn't wait to get his head down. Vincent Burke had been very understanding when he had phoned and told him about the break-in. He had arranged for someone to stand in for him today and tomorrow as well if he needed more time. And the way he felt now, he probably would, Fergus thought as he flopped on the bed and closed his eyes.
Celine blinked at the apparition in the doorway.
Marina, resplendent in old jeans, T-shirt, hair tied back in a scarf and rubber gloves under her arm smiled at Celine. 'I thought you could use some help.'
'How did you know?' Celine asked, a lump in her throat.
'Dominic called me first thing. He'll be in later to help, although,' Marina paused as she looked around, 'it doesn't look too bad.'
'Fergus just left. He cleaned up most of it.'
'Fergus?' Marina stared at her, wide-eyed.
'I had to call him. It's his mum's shop, after all.'
Marina picked her way around the shop. 'Oh no,' she groaned, picking up a Chanel suit that was torn and filthy.
'Heartbreaking, isn't it? Some of the stuff will be fine once it's cleaned but a lot of the stock is ruined. I'll have to close for a few days.'
Marina touched a silk shift dress with reverential hands. 'Poor Rose, she must be devastated.'
'She doesn't know yet. Fergus decided not to tell her until we'd figured out the extent of the damage and talked to the insurance people. Come on, let's go across the road for a coffee.' Celine took her keys and went to the door. 'I need a break.'
Tracy smiled as they came through the door. 'Back again, Celine.'
Celine nodded wearily. 'I'm not getting much done,' she admitted.
'Once you've had your coffee you should lie down for a few hours.' Marina told her. 'It's been a very traumatic night.'
'But I have to sort through the clothes—'
'I can do that,' Marina retorted.
Celine smiled and nodded. Marina could always be trusted when it came to handling clothes.
'Where's Richard?'
'No idea.' Celine's tone was clipped. 'I haven't been able to get hold of him. Thank goodness Fergus was around. I don't know what I'd have done without him.'
Marina smiled. 'Did you ever think you would say those words?'
'No, never,' Celine admitted with a sigh. 'He's a good kid, Marina. I've been very unfair to him.'
'It's human nature, Celine, don't be too hard on yourself.'
They sipped their coffee in silence for a moment.
'Is Dominic disgusted with me?' Celine asked.
Marina laughed. 'Don't be ridiculous, Dominic's your biggest fan.'
'He hasn't told you then.'
'Told me what?'
'I got a bit upset at rehearsal the other night.' She held up a hand at Marina's questioning look. 'That's another story, but anyway, Dominic dropped by later to see if I was okay. He was just leaving when Kevin arrived.'
'Kevin?' Marina looked shocked. 'You're still seeing Kevin?'
'No, of course not! But Dominic obviously thought I was. God, Marina, the look he gave me.' Celine shivered.
'He just jumped to the wrong conclusion. Tell me about Kevin.'
Celine brought her up to date on the whole sorry saga. 'I never thought I'd feel sorry for Eileen,' she said finally. 'But I'm sure she really loves him. Unfortunately, when she was calling me all the names under the sun, a woman from the musical society was present and she told everyone what happened.'
Marina groaned. 'Oh, bloody hell!'
'Dominic didn't believe a word of it, of course, which made it worse. I felt awful. He dropped in on his way home to make sure I was okay.'
Marina smiled. 'No wonder I love him.'
'Anyway, when he arrived I was about to open a bottle of wine so he assumed that Richard was on his way over. Kevin arrived as he was leaving.'
'You had invited Kevin again?' Marina raised her eyebrows.
'Only to tell him about Eileen. He's never believed that she cared about him and I had to tell him he was wrong.'
'What did Dominic say?'
'He just gave me a filthy look and left.'
Marina gave her hand a sympathetic squeeze. 'Don't worry, I'll set him straight. Does Richard know about all this?'
'Not unless Dominic has told him. I suppose it's only matter of time. Now, if you don't mind I'm going for that nap. Call me if the police or insurance people call.'
'Sure.' Marina paid for their coffee and then guided her tired, miserable friend across the road.
Moments after Marina had opened the shop, Dominic appeared in the doorway. 'Hi.'
Marina moved forward to kiss him, careful not to touch his jacket with her dirty gloves. 'Hello, there. Are you avoiding Celine by any chance?'
He grimaced. 'Is it that obvious?'
'To me, yes.'
'I'm sorry, darling, but it was such a shock. I felt so stupid the way I was prattling on that she would never do something like that.' He gave a short laugh. 'I'm obviously not as good a judge of character as I thought I was.'
'Indeed you are!' Marina retorted. 'Celine hasn't been involved with Kevin for months. She asked him over last night to tell him that his wife loved him and he should give his marriage a chance. She's the first to admit she's made mistakes, Dominic, but she's doing her damnedest to put things right.'
'I'm afraid I jumped to the wrong conclusion,' Dominic admitted.
Maria hugged him. 'I can see why. But I don't see any reason why Richard should hear anything about this, do you?'
'I suppose not.'
'Excellent! Because I think Celine's got enough to worry about at the moment.'
'Is there a lot of damage?'
'It's not as bad as it looks. This pile is all fine.' She patted the clothes on the counter. 'That lot over there needs to be cleaned. And the clothes by the window need some minor repairs. Celine will have that done in no time.'
'What about them?' Dominic pointed to the clothes in the middle of the floor.
'They're for the bin, I'm afraid.'
'You've done a great job cleaning up,' Dominic replied.
'Not me, Fergus,' Marina said with a delighted grin. 'Talk about every cloud has a silver lining. Celine couldn't get hold of Richard last night so she called Fergus. He was here all night. I don't know how much they talked but certainly the ice is broken. It has to be the best thing for both of them.'
'Rose will be pleased.'
Marina made a face. 'Pity it had to happen under these circumstances. I don't know what kind of thugs would do such a thing. It's not as if they got anything.'
'The police seem to think they may have been trying to get into my place.'
'It would make more sense, I suppose.'
Dominic clapped his hands. 'Enough talk, what can I do to help?'
Marina smiled. 'Take that lot down to the cleaners and use your charms to get a good price and fast service.'
'I'll do my best.'
While he was gone, Marina dressed the window, hung up all of the undamaged stock and then arranged the rails so that the shop wouldn't look quite so bare. She was carefully folding scarves in tissue paper when Celine reappeared.
'The window display is wonderful, Marina!' One mannequin was dressed in a black suit and the other in a long black dress. Marina had contrasted the black with colourful scarves and hats at raunchy angles.
Marina smiled, delighted that her handiwork was appreciated. 'It's not bad, is it?'
'It's great. You've got quite a flair, Marina. When you've had enough of modelling, you can take over here.'
'I think I'd quite like that,' Marina admitted. 'It's lovely to be surrounded by such beautiful things.'
'Not so beautiful at the moment,' Celine murmured, looking at the pile of torn clothes in the corner. 'Hang on, that bundle looks a lot smaller.'
'That's the stuff that needs to be repaired. Dominic took the dirty clothes to the dry-cleaners. They've promised to get some of it back in the morning and the rest the day after.'
'That's wonderful. I'd better get to work with a needle and thread on the rest.'
'Take it upstairs,' Marina suggested, 'and I'll look after things down here.'
Celine shook her head. 'That's okay, I'm not opening the shop today.'
'In that case I'll wash the delicate stuff while you sew. We'll have everything done in no time at all.'
'Thanks, Marina, I don't know what I'd do without you.'
'Don't worry about it,' Marina said with a wink. 'I'll expect a special discount in future.'
Fergus had checked back in with Celine and was delighted to see the shop looking so well. The insurance people had visited and everything seemed very straightforward. Celine's concern about the alarm not going off didn't appear to be a problem.
'The kids always slip in the small windows,' the claims inspector had told her. 'They're usually in and out before anyone even notices.' The main problem that Celine had to face was replacing the stock. Fergus was happy to leave her and Marina to discuss that. Once they had some ideas, he and Celine would go down to visit his mother. After dropping in to say a quick hello to Dominic, Fergus went over to Richard's apartment. He'd tried to call him a couple of times but there was still no answer. This was a bit odd, Fergus thought, given that Richard had promised Rose he'd keep an eye on Celine and the shop.