Things We Never Say (40 page)

Zoey was using the money to keep herself in the style she was accustomed to without charging Donald’s credit card. He’d noticed the apparent decrease in her spending and had thanked her for cutting back in what was a difficult time, although, he added, she could go on a total spree when they won the challenge. Zoey congratulated herself on how she’d used Fred’s money to concentrate on visits to her hairdresser and the beauty salon rather than buying clothes. Clothes were important, but how you looked mattered even more, and Zoey knew that she would never compromise on that. Besides, whereas Donald expected her to look great all the time, he didn’t notice every salon trip in the way he noticed new clothes or shoes.

‘Disgruntled Deirdre was on the phone again,’ she added as she sipped her coffee (she’d bought ground beans for the cafetière on the basis that the instant muck in Fred’s cupboard was undrinkable). ‘She was banging on at Don about how she wanted her goddam money and that it was his fault that probate was delayed.’

‘It
is
Donald’s fault,’ said Lisette. ‘If it wasn’t for him, I could make Gareth accept the offer from the Americans. Suzanne would be delighted that the will had finally gone to probate, and even though it’s not enough for us, it would still help a lot. Are you sure you can’t persuade him, Zoey?’

Zoey shook her head. ‘He won’t listen to me. It’s a crusade as far as he’s concerned. He feels he’s been usurped as the head of the family, partly because Fred did this without talking to him first and partly because Abbey’s mother is actually his older sister. Or half-sister, I suppose. Donald’s always been the eldest. It really, really bothers him that she was born before him.’

‘Well, his obsession is racking up more bills for the rest of us!’ Lisette looked worried. ‘I keep thinking of what you said. Fifty thousand a day when it gets to court. That’s insane!’ She took another biscuit from the pack. She was comfort eating whenever she was with Zoey, but she wasn’t putting on any weight because at home she was unable to eat a thing. ‘Why won’t they make another offer to her?’

‘I asked Don to do that,’ said Zoey. ‘But he said that there was no point. That he wasn’t getting into horse-trading and that it was a matter of principle.’

‘What’s the point in having principles if we don’t have any money at the end of it?’

‘Don will work something out. He always does, no matter how bad it looks. You think he’s down and out and then – boom! He comes up with something. Anyway, this whole thing – who’s the eldest in the family, how they’re all treated – well, it matters a lot to him.’

‘Everyone in this family has their own agenda,’ muttered Lisette. ‘I thought that Fred dying might bring us all closer, but we’re as far apart as ever.’

‘It’s brought you and me closer.’ Zoey drained her coffee and rinsed the cup beneath the tap. ‘C’mon. We have work to do.’

Lisette slid slowly off the stool. In addition to raiding Fred’s cash, she and Zoey had decided that it was only right for them to take pieces of what had legitimately been left to them just in case things went badly in court and Abbey ended up with everything. They were choosing small items that wouldn’t be missed. Lisette had already taken the silver snuff box and a small silver photo frame, while Zoey had chosen an emerald ring and matching earrings which she’d sold for a few hundred euros. Not that she’d needed the cash there and then; she’d just wanted to see what it was like to do it. Lisette hadn’t sold the snuff box or the photo frame. She didn’t think she’d get much for them in any event. They were both in the bottom drawer of her bedside locker. Like the money, it comforted her to know that they were there.

Standing in the crowded cocktail bar, a favourite haunt of theirs in the past, Abbey listened as Cobey explained again how his finances had spiralled out of control and how the savage pay cuts at the tour company had made things worse. He’d hoped, he said, to resolve everything without telling her, to get his own tour company up and running and to make a lot of money. But things hadn’t worked out that way, and when the cruise ship opportunity came along, he’d jumped at it.

‘I needed to get away for a bit and clear my head,’ he told her.

‘You should have said something to me. You took my money and then walked out!’ She was still angry.

‘I made a mistake. I’m sorry.’

‘And now?’ she asked. ‘Where are you living now?’

‘With Mike.’

‘Right.’

‘I called to the apartment,’ he told her. ‘I thought you might be still there.’

‘How could I be? You were served with a notice to quit – which you didn’t even tell me about.’

‘I’m so, so sorry,’ repeated Cobey. ‘I never meant to put you in that position.’

But what did he think would happen when he walked out? she wondered. That the landlord would forget about the unpaid rent? Cobey knew better than that.

‘I know I owe you money,’ he said. ‘I’ll sort that out. But in the meantime …’ He opened his wallet and took out some bills. ‘Here’s five hundred dollars.’

She hadn’t been expecting that.

‘I pay my debts,’ said Cobey.

She didn’t need his money now. Soon she’d have more than enough of her own.

‘Take it,’ said Cobey.

He owed her, though. And maybe he’d be insulted if she refused. So she took the money and put it into her purse.

‘Good. That’s done. We’re back on a more equal footing. Let’s talk about something else for a while.’ Cobey looked at her hopefully.

She hadn’t thought she’d ever speak to him again. Yet he was truly remorseful, he’d repaid her some money, and she couldn’t help feeling sorry for him. Anyone could make a mistake. Besides, her mother’s oft-spoken words about forgiveness and understanding were echoing in her head. If she couldn’t forgive the man she’d once loved, then how could she possibly forgive other people? So she allowed him to buy her another five-spice margarita, which she drank while he told her stories about his life on the cruise ship and she felt her anger with him melt away. She’d forgotten how much he made her laugh. She’d forgotten how much she’d loved him.

‘So what about you?’ he asked as he ordered their fourth cocktail of the night. ‘What have you been doing?’

Not drinking like this, she thought, her head woozy from alcohol and lack of food. I only ever drink this much when I’m with you.

‘I heard,’ he continued, ‘that you’d been to Ireland.’

‘Who told you that?’ She drained her glass and put it on the bar counter.

‘Someone saw it on your Facebook page,’ he said vaguely. ‘Something about tracing your roots.’

‘Oh, that.’

‘Or maybe it was on someone else’s page,’ said Cobey. ‘Is it true that your grandmother left you a fortune?’

He must have seen the jokey comments, she thought. But she’d defriended him, hadn’t she? Though maybe they still had a joint friend somewhere. Bloody privacy settings, she thought. I never get it right.

‘Grandfather,’ she told him. ‘And not exactly.’

‘But you were left something?’

‘Mmm.’ This wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have. ‘Maybe. It’s a bit confusing at the moment.’

‘Why?’ asked Cobey.

‘Oh, I was left a share in a house, but some of the family don’t think I should have it, so there’s a bit of a row going on.’

‘Hopefully it’ll all work out and you’ll get what’s yours,’ said Cobey. ‘A house in Ireland sounds great. Is it one of those cute little cottages?’

‘No,’ said Abbey. ‘A proper house. But—’

‘How much is it worth?’ asked Cobey.

‘I …’

‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘None of my business. It would be nice for you to have something, that’s all. You deserve good things, Abbey.’

People were saying that all the time. But it was strange to hear it from Cobey, after what he’d done. Now he was back again, she thought suddenly, and he’d heard about her inheritance. That was a coincidence. Wasn’t it?

‘I might not get anything at all,’ she said.

‘Let’s hope you do.’ Cobey handed her a freshly mixed margarita. ‘But in the meantime – here’s something else nice for you. Cheers.’

‘I’m going to have a dreadful hangover in the morning,’ she said. But she raised the glass all the same.

Vanessa was horrified when she heard that Abbey had gone to a bar with Cobey.

‘You what?’ she exclaimed. She’d called around to Abbey’s apartment and the two of them were sitting in the living room. Vanessa was drinking coffee. Abbey was trying to rehydrate after the cocktails with an isotonic drink. ‘Are you nuts? Can I remind you that he cheated on you big time?’

‘I think cheating
on
a person means seeing someone else. Cheating a person is different.’

‘Now’s not the time to be splitting hairs grammatically,’ retorted Vanessa. ‘Now’s the time to cut that guy out of your life for ever.’

‘He deserved a chance to explain. I wanted him to explain,’ said Abbey.

‘And after his explanation I hope you kicked his butt to the sidewalk.’

‘I understood a bit more.’

‘What’s to understand?’ Vanessa looked at her in horror. ‘He’s a cheat and a loser and you can’t possibly be thinking of letting him into your life again.’

‘I’m not letting him into my life. I’m—’

‘Has he repaid you the money he owes you?’ Vanessa interrupted her.

‘He gave me five hundred dollars. He says he’ll give me the rest as soon as he can.’

‘You believe that?’

‘I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.’

‘Abbey! You’re not your mom. You don’t have to turn the other cheek on this one.’

‘People do things they regret,’ said Abbey. ‘He’s apologised and he’s trying to make reparation.’

‘He broke your heart.’

‘I let my heart be broken,’ said Abbey. ‘That’s a different situation altogether.’

‘Have you heard anything from your Irish lawyer about the will?’ asked Vanessa.

‘What’s that got to do with it?’

‘Nothing,’ said Vanessa. ‘Only it seems strange to me that Cobey has turned up again when you might be rich.’

‘That did cross my mind,’ acknowledged Abbey. ‘But it’s rubbish. He didn’t like the cruise ship, he came home, he apologised and he’s trying to make things right.’

‘Ever since you’ve come back from Ireland you’ve been in a much better place,’ said Vanessa. ‘You’re doing so well with your career and with your life. Don’t screw it up over a man.’

‘Where I am in my life right now has nothing to do with Cobey Missen,’ said Abbey. ‘Nor has it anything to do with the Irish connection. I’ve focused more, is all.’

‘Don’t allow him to blur your focus then,’ said Vanessa. ‘Please, Abbey.’

‘Stop nagging.’ Abbey looked at her friend in irritation. ‘Stop nagging and be happy that I’m OK with myself right now.’

Vanessa opened her mouth to protest. Then closed it again. There was no point in arguing with Abbey when she wore her grim and determined expression. All Vanessa could hope for was that her friend saw sense before she did something monumentally stupid.

Abbey went to Claudia and Pete’s for Thanksgiving. Cobey had asked if she’d like to spend it with him, but even though she felt she should disentangle herself from the Carusos’ lives, she wasn’t ready to spend such an important day with Cobey yet. The previous year she’d visited Ellen at the monastery, but despite enjoying the ecumenical service, which was open to the local community on that day, she found it difficult to be one of many other visitors. Besides, there wasn’t that much time available to spend on her own with Ellen.

She arrived with a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon for Pete and an enormous bouquet of flowers for Claudia. She’d also brought a box of cupcakes for Joely and Grady, as well as a large bone tied with a red ribbon for Battle.

‘Oh wow, this is amazing,’ she said as she walked into the dining room and looked at the table, which Claudia had decorated in purple and gold.

‘I did the stars,’ said Joely proudly, showing her the confetti-sized purple and gold stars scattered around each place setting.

‘You’re amazing too,’ said Abbey. ‘And if your mom says it’s OK, I’m going to paint your nails.’

‘Can she, Mom?’ Joely looked pleadingly at Claudia and then whooped in delight when her mother said yes. Abbey took the little girl into the children’s den and varnished her nails in pink with silver glitter.

‘Look at me!’ cried Joely as they had a drink before dinner. ‘I’m a princess.’

‘You sure are, honey,’ said Pete. ‘Did you say thank you to Abbey?’

‘Yes.’ But Joely put her arms around her and kissed her again.

‘Thanks for doing mine, too.’ Claudia stretched her hands in front of her. Abbey had done them the previous day, but she hadn’t realised that the purple and gold that Claudia had requested was to match her table decorations.

‘You’re welcome,’ she said.

‘Tina told me you did a wonderful job on hers for the event she was going to last week,’ added Claudia. ‘Something about her family tree?’

Abbey nodded. ‘I adapted old photos of her parents and grandparents,’ she said. ‘And on the other hand I did her husband’s folk. It looked great.’

‘You certainly seem to be incredibly busy lately,’ said Pete. ‘Sandra, from the office, said she has to wait two weeks for an appointment with you.’

‘What can I say!’ Abbey looked pleased. ‘I’m much in demand.’

‘Tina is very interested in you,’ Claudia told her. ‘I think that if you wanted to set up on your own, develop those nail colours, she’d be ready to listen.’

‘Perhaps in the future,’ said Abbey. ‘I’m not quite ready yet. But I’m not ruling it out.’

‘Hey, when Abbey gets her hands on the house in Ireland, she’ll have plenty of her own money to invest,’ said Pete.

‘Not if I buy the apartment from you,’ Abbey pointed out.

‘We’ll work something out,’ Pete told her. ‘Main thing is, you’re on the up. Definitely.’

‘You look fantastic too,’ added Claudia. ‘You’ve let your hair grow a bit and it suits you. Plus …’ She looked critically at Abbey. ‘There’s something else. It’s like you’re taller … more … more …’

‘More confident,’ finished Pete. ‘That’s it, Abbey. You’ve lost that hangdog expression you usually have.’

‘I don’t usually have a hangdog expression,’ protested Abbey.