Changing Places (23 page)

Anna leaned across to say gently, ‘Don’t worry, Sis, we’ll be there in no time.’

Rachel sleepily smiled her thanks and closed her eyes.

‘Can I get you ladies a drink?’ A pleasant-looking attendant stood over them.

‘Three white wines,’ Jill told her, rummaging for her purse.

‘Here, I’ll get them.’ Anna pulled out 20 Euros and handed it over.

‘Thanks.’ Jill took her drink and Rachel’s.

‘Do you think she’ll actually get to drink that?’ Anna asked.

‘No, but I’m sure you and I will manage it between us. Happy holiday!’

‘Cheers!’ Anna raised her plastic glass. ‘God, what are we like, boozing at this hour of the morning.’ Most of the people around them were drinking tea, coffee or
juice.

‘They’re just cheapskates,’ her cousin told her. ‘I’ve noticed that a lot of people don’t drink on planes when they have to pay for it themselves.’

Anna took another sip. ‘Miserable sods.’

Jill grinned as Rachel let out a small snore. ‘I think it’s safe to talk now. So, how are things?’

‘Terrible. Liam didn’t even get up to say goodbye to me.’

‘Well, it was the middle of the night,’ Jill said reasonably. ‘Has he said any more about Tara?’

‘He’s tried,’ Anna admitted, ‘but I don’t want to hear it. You know, I just don’t trust myself. I feel so angry I’m afraid of what I might
say.’

‘Anger’s good,’ Jill assured her.

‘It is?’

‘Yes. Much better than being sad or defeatist.’

‘Oh, I feel all that too but at the moment I feel mad more than anything. You know that day that I walked in on them, I had been feeling so guilty over Charlie?’

Jill’s eyes widened. ‘You didn’t!’

‘No! That’s just it, Jill, I didn’t do a damn thing! My biggest crime is that when Charlie tried to kiss me, I thought about letting him.’

‘You didn’t?’ Jill said again.

‘I didn’t. But I felt guilty because I was kind of sorry I didn’t. I wondered what it would be like.’ She sighed. ‘And because I felt like that, I went rushing home
to Liam and look what I found.’

‘It will all work out in the end. You two are made for each other.’

Anna stared into her drink. ‘I’m not so sure.’

‘One word of advice,’ Jill added.

‘What’s that?’

‘Keep away from Charlie Coleman. It’s harder to resist temptation when you’re vulnerable.’

‘You don’t have to worry about him, I won’t be seeing him any more. He’s put in an offer on a house and I’m pretty sure it will be accepted.’

‘That’s good. Isn’t it?’

‘I suppose it is, but to be honest, he’s the only thing that’s kept me going these last few weeks. You know I’ve deliberately been taking on extra work because it’s
preferable to going home?’

‘I didn’t know things were that bad.’

‘They’ve never been worse.’

‘Rachel, Anna, cooee!’ Bridie Gallagher bounced up and down on her tiptoes trying to attract her daughters’ attention.

‘Bridie!’ It was Jill who was the first to spot her aunt as they came through Arrivals. ‘Come on, girls.’

‘Howaya, Da.’ Anna hugged her father. ‘You’re still alive then?’

‘Hard to kill a bad thing,’ Shay said, swinging her off her feet.

‘I’d like to see you try that with me,’ Rachel joked as she kissed her mother.

‘No bother, you’re only a slip of a thing.’ Shay pulled her gently into his arms and patted her bump. ‘How’s my little grandchild doing then?’

‘Kicking like hell. How are you?’ She studied her father’s tanned face and bright eyes. He certainly didn’t look very sick.

‘I’d be fine if your mother fed me occasionally.’

‘Just ignore him.’ Bridie released Anna and turned to hug Jill. ‘Hello, love. You look a bit tired.’

‘Oh, I’m grand, Aunty.’

‘A bit of sun and sleep will do you the world of good.’ Bridie winked at her. ‘And I might even have a Señor for you.’

Anna rolled her eyes. ‘The last thing Jill needs is one of your lame dogs.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘It means you attract every loser for miles around,’ her husband said, taking Rachel’s case. ‘And then you swan off leaving me wondering how to get rid of
them.’

Bridie laughed. ‘Ah, will you stop! Sure I’m just doing my Christian duty. Love thy neighbour, and so on.’

‘Charity begins at home,’ Shay told her. ‘And you’re supposed to be looking after
me
at the moment.’

‘Ah, will you go away out of that! I’m fed up trying to look after you.’

‘How’s the diet going, Dad?’ Anna asked, falling into step beside her father.

‘Bloody rabbit food, fish and chicken, that’s all she’s feeding me. And one flamin’ glass of wine a night! I ask you!’

‘I’m sure you can have more than that once the ulcer is under control.’ As they emerged into brilliant sunshine, Anna looked around for the camper van. ‘Where’s the
passion wagon?’

‘Matt lent me his car,’ her father explained, leading the way to the car park. ‘Him and Trish are spending the day at the beach.’

‘So where are we sleeping, Mam?’ Rachel asked, praying she wouldn’t have to share with her sister.

‘Your father and I are going to sleep in the van and you three can have the apartment all to yourselves.’

‘Oh no, Bridie,’ Jill protested. ‘That’s not fair at all.’

‘You haven’t been in our van, have you, Jill?’ Shay remarked.

‘No, but—’

Bridie waved away her protests. ‘Trust me, love, it’s more than comfortable. We only took the apartment so we could entertain while we were here and that’s off now that Shay
has to behave himself.’

‘She’ll be making me go to bed at eight, next,’ Shay complained.

‘Are you sure about this, Mam?’ Anna asked.

‘Of course, love. You three will be able to roll in at whatever time you like without fear of disturbing us.’

Rachel looked down at her bump. ‘I may well come rolling in, but probably before teatime.’

‘Poor Rache.’ Jill hugged her cousin. ‘You could always have a siesta and that way you might last a bit longer.’

‘That’s not a bad idea.’ Rachel brightened as they climbed into the car and set off for the resort. With Alex around she rarely got to take a nap in the afternoon. ‘I
don’t know what’s going on. I can’t sleep at night and I can’t stay awake during the day.’

‘Your body goes through changes when you’re pregnant,’ her mother said wisely.

‘And so does your mind,’ Shay added. ‘And if you’re anything like your mother, it won’t change back.’

Bridie took a swipe at him. ‘It’s a wonder I still have a mind at all, married to you!’

Rachel and Anna exchanged smiles as they listened to their parents’ affectionate bickering.

‘I’m so glad we came.’ Rachel settled in against her mother’s ample figure.

Bridie patted her face. ‘And we’re happy to have you, love.’

The pretty one-bedroom apartment was like every other Spanish apartment Jill had stayed in, with the exception of the view. ‘Wow!’ She stood on the balcony drinking
in the scene. ‘This is incredible.’ Though the complex was close to the heart of Benalmadena, it was set out on a headland and all you could see for miles was sea and sand.

‘It is nice here, isn’t it?’ Bridie sighed happily. ‘If we were going to settle anywhere I think this might be the place.’

Anna looked at her in surprise. ‘After all the places you’ve been? I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s very nice but isn’t it a bit commercial?’

‘It’s rather like home,’ her father told her, coming out to join them. ‘There are a lot of Irish and English people living out here, it’s cheap, the food is good
and look at this weather! Your mother hasn’t complained once of her back since we got here.’

‘Really, Mam?’ Rachel asked.

Bridie nodded. ‘It’s the first time in years that I’ve had some relief from the arthritis.’

‘The swimming helps,’ Shay added.

‘It does,’ Bridie agreed. ‘I swim in the pool every morning without fail.’

‘I would too if I had a pool like that.’ Jill eyed the kidney-shaped pool with the waterfall at one end and hot tub at the other. There was a plentiful supply of sunbeds and brightly
coloured parasols, and a white-coated waiter weaved his way between the tourists, bringing drinks, ice-cream and fresh towels.

‘This place must be costing you a fortune,’ Rachel remarked.

Her father grinned. ‘We booked it in a travel agent in France a couple of days before we came out and got it for half-price.’

‘So what would you like to do first?’ Bridie asked as she served up tea, coffee and fresh croissants and cakes. ‘You can have a slice of wholemeal toast,’ she told her
husband.

‘I’d be quite happy to just lie by the pool,’ Rachel admitted.

‘I think that’s a good idea,’ Jill agreed. ‘And then when it gets too hot we could go and see the sights.’

‘All the shops will be closed from twelve till about four,’ Shay warned.

‘We can go to Kitty’s for lunch,’ Bridie announced. ‘You’ll love it, girls and you’ll get to meet all the locals. Well, the ex-pat locals anyway.
Everyone’s very friendly.’

‘Sounds good,’ Anna said, ‘although I’d like to go into Marbella at some stage.’

‘Do Marbella at night,’ her mother advised. ‘There are wonderful shops, great restaurants and everyone dresses up just to parade up and down looking at each other.’

Anna nodded. ‘I know, Mam, I have been here before, remember?’

‘Oh, that’s right! I’d forgotten. That was your first holiday with Liam, wasn’t it?’

‘Yeah,’ Anna murmured, regretting she’d brought the subject up.

‘How is he, love?’ Shay asked.

‘Oh, he’s okay.’

‘Pity he couldn’t come down with you.’ Bridie had a soft spot for her first son-in-law.

‘He has an interview this week.’

‘Oh, that’s great, love! We’ll go down to the church and light a candle for him. And how’s Gary and young Alex, Rachel?’

‘Fine, though I’m not sure how they’ll survive on their own.’

Shay laughed. ‘Ah, once they’ve a good chipper and video shop near them, they’ll be grand.’

‘Probably,’ Rachel agreed.

‘They’ll be counting the days till your return,’ her mother assured her. ‘There’s a great shoe shop up the road I must take you to, love. They have a wonderful
range for kids.’

‘That would be great, Mam. The ones you sent him are already scuffed.’

‘Are there any decent beauty salons around, Bridie?’ Jill asked. ‘I’d love to have a pedicure and a manicure while I’m here.’

‘There’s one here in the complex, they do a lovely facial.’

‘You went for a facial?’ Anna raised an eyebrow at her sister. The most their mother had ever indulged in at home was a shampoo and set.

Bridie reddened. ‘It was Patricia’s idea. I went along for the laugh but I must say it was very relaxing.’

‘I told her she should go back for a massage,’ Shay chipped in. ‘Keep those aches and pains at bay.’

‘We should
all
go,’ Jill announced. ‘This is supposed to be a holiday. We deserve some pampering.’

‘I don’t think so,’ Rachel looked down at her bump. ‘Even if I managed to climb on to a table, I doubt I’d get back down again.’

‘Maria has a lovely comfortable reclining chair,’ her mother said. ‘That’s what she uses for doing reflexology and pedicures. I’m sure she could do a facial for you
in that.’

Rachel brightened immediately. ‘Ooh, reflexology! I’ve always wanted to try that.’

‘I tried that in Powerscourt Springs,’ Jill told her. ‘It was cool.’

‘Well, I’m up for anything,’ Anna said. She couldn’t really afford to be indulging in such pampering but she didn’t give a damn any more and she certainly
didn’t have to worry about saving for a baby now. ‘I think I’ll go and unpack.’

‘I’ve cleared out the wardrobes for you,’ Bridie said, following her out to where their cases lined the hallway. ‘Do you think Jill will mind sleeping on the cot-bed in
the living room?’ she whispered to her eldest daughter.

‘I’ll take the cot-bed,’ Anna told her. ‘Jill can go in with Rachel.’

‘Whatever you want, love. There’s a small closet behind the door you could use if you don’t want to traipse back and forward to the bedroom.’

‘That’s grand.’

Bridie hugged her. ‘It’s so good to have you here, love.’

Anna held her mother close and breathed in the familiar perfume. ‘It’s good to be here, Mam.’

Rachel lay dozing in the shade of a palm tree while Anna, Jill and Bridie stretched out by the pool and chatted. ‘Where’s Dad gone?’ Anna asked as she rubbed
cream into her mother’s shoulders.

‘He’s gone for his daily constitutional and his sneaky beer.’

Jill laughed. ‘Does he know you know?’

‘Thanks, love.’ As Anna finished, Bridie settled down on her tummy. ‘No, he thinks he’s fooling me but sure you’ve got to let them have their little
vices.’

‘How is he doing, Mam?’ Anna asked, stretching out on the sunbed between her mother and her cousin.

‘He’s fine. We’ve found a lovely doctor just up the road and he’s keeping an eye on him.’

‘Any more pain?’ Jill asked.

‘No, unless he eats anything fatty, then he pays for it.’

‘He seems fed up with the diet,’ Anna remarked.

‘Not at all, he just enjoys moaning. We get lovely fish out here and he likes that, and he can still have his spuds, as long as they’re boiled. It’s just the fry-ups that he
misses. Sometimes I grill him a little bit of bacon,’ Bridie admitted, ‘because, as my mam always said, “a little of what you fancy does you good”.’

‘Well, I think he looks great. You both do,’ Jill said. ‘This Romany life must be agreeing with you.’

‘It’s been wonderful,’ Bridie admitted. ‘We’re closer now than we’ve been in years. You know what we used to be like, Anna. Propped up in front of the telly
every night, hardly saying a word to each other. Selling up was the best thing we could have done and has given us a whole new lease of life.’

‘What made you do it?’ Jill asked her aunt curiously. ‘It was very spur of the moment. My mother thought you’d both lost your reason.’

Bridie laughed. One night since then, after a couple of sherries, her sister had admitted to her that she had been a little bit envious. ‘It all came about when the car-insurance renewal
arrived.’