Behind Every Cloud (38 page)

They spent the next hour trying on
various dress styles until they decided on what looked best on everyone. These would then be made up in the pale yellow/gold
material.
There was no problem with Chloe and Keisha who were as thin as whippets but to find a style that suited them while also flattering Sandrine
’
s ample frame took a little longer. Eventually it was decided that an Empress-line style was the best option for all
.

The bridesmaids
’
dresses wouldn
’
t be made up until the last moment.

“
You have no idea how many times dresses have had to be cancelled because bridesmaids have either gained or lost weight or become pregnant
,
or even in a couple of cases fallen out with the bride,
”
Liz explained, laughing.
“
So we
’
ve learnt our lesson the hard way. We
’
ll fit the girls again about six weeks before the big day and have their dresses made up then.
”

“
That won
’
t happen with us,
”
Keisha and Chloe chorused.

Sandrine said nothing.

“
I think that
’
s very sensible,
”
Marie-Noelle observed.

After much laughter and giggling the girls got dressed again and left, kissing Liz
,
who was now like an old friend. To Ellie
’
s surprise and delight, her mother insisted on paying for her wedding dress and Ellie put down a deposit on the bridesmaids’ dresses. They left to go for lunch in The Old Schoolhouse and to the relief of all Sandrine cried off
,
saying she had work to do in the office.

They had a great time and
,
two bottles of wine later, when the bill was presented, Chloe and Keisha insisted on treating Ellie and her mother.

“
I just can
’
t wait for your wedding day,
”
Chloe said as she kissed Ellie goodbye.

“
It will be brill,
”
Keisha agreed as they left to get the bus into Dublin
,
to go shopping
.

37

Ronan drove around to pick up Fiona as arranged on Sunday morning. Although the off-licence would not open until half past twelve
,
he saw that Sam
’
s car was outside. He rang Fiona
’
s doorbell and she buzzed him up. To his surprise, Sam was there.

“
Just thought I
’
d pop in to give you a hand,
”
he said to Ronan, after greeting him.
“
For a woman, she has surprisingly little
‘
stuff
’
– like shoes and bags, I mean.
”

“
Tell me about it!
”
Ronan replied
,
grinning.

They were in sympathy with each other
,
having both experienced women
’
s
‘
stuff
’.

“
I love it here and I
’
ll miss it,
”
Fiona said sadly, looking a
round the living
room
.

“
But you
’
ll be back after the baby is born, won
’
t you?
”
Ronan asked.

“
Yes, but I
’
ll definitely take all my maternity leave. Now that Sam has you
,
I don
’
t feel as if I
’
m leaving him in the lurch. We
’
ll see.
”

“
You know you can come back any
time,
”
Sam told her affectionately.
“
Now, let
’
s get a move on.
”

They spent the next hour carrying boxes up and down the stairs
,
refusing to let Fiona lift as much as a feather.

At last she stood and took a long look around the room.

“
Just think, the next time I see this place I
’
ll have my son with me,
”
she said, a lump in her throat. Running her hand over the back of the leather sofa, she blew a kiss to the place and left.

“
You
’
re going into Holles Street to have Buster, aren
’
t
you?
”
Ronan asked her as they drove down to Blessington
.

She laughed, rubbing her tummy.
“
Don
’
t let him hear you calling him that. Yes, Holles Street.
”

“
Will I be able to come and visit?
”

“
Well, I
’
d love if you could but they have very strict visiting. Grandparents are allowed in every evening so Mam will come in then. I
’
m allowed one green card for my partner or whoever I nominate. Obviously
,
as my partner has flown the coop
,
it won
’
t be needed for him
,”
she said, looking forlorn,
“
and unfortunately with Mam coming up every evening
,
my sister-in-law Frances won
’
t be able to come. She
’
ll have no one to look after the five kids
while Mam is away. My two brothers are farmers and it
’
s a really busy time for them, but I could nominate you
,
if you
’
d like to visit that is
,”
she said shyly.

“
I
’
d be delighted. Could I masquerade as your partner, do you think?
”

Fiona looked at him to see if he was serious.
“
Would you, really?
”
she asked, her face breaking into a huge smile.
“
I
’
d love that, if you wouldn
’
t mind.
”

“
I
’
d be honoured.
”
He made a mock bow, as much as the steering wheel would allow.

“
I don
’
t mind being a single mother but I would feel strange if all the other mothers have partners visiting.
”

“
I
’
ll be a perfect partner, I promise,
”
he stated, pleased that he could do this for her.

“
You
’
re the best friend ever,
”
she said, throwing her arms around his neck.

“
Whoa there
!”
he cried
. “
We
’
ll crash and you might be in Holles Street sooner than you think.
”

“
Sorry,
”
she said, but her smile told him that he
’
d made her day.

“
Gosh, it
’
s lovely here. It
’
s like another world,
”
Ronan
remarked as he got out of the car at her mother
’
s bungalow
,
which overlooked the lake in Blessington. He could almost
feel the peace descend upon him.

Fiona
’
s mother, Doris, was a homely, plump woman who hugged him on being introduced.

“
Fiona
’
s told me what a good friend you
’
ve been to her and what a nice man you are,
”
she said, her smile lighting up her face.

“
Well, she
’
s been a good friend to me too,
”
he replied, warming to this lovely lady instantly.

“
Come on inside. John and Brendan, Fiona
’
s two brothers, will be here shortly to unload the car. Come in, come in
!”
She linked her arm through his and led him inside
.

The delicious smell of beef roasting assailed him. He closed his eyes and inhaled.
“
Aaahhh . . . this reminds me of my mother
’
s wonderful Sunday dinners when I
was a kid.
”

“
Is she still alive?
”
Doris asked.

“
Sadly not. She died ten years ago, just a year after my father.
”

“
Well then, I hope my dinner doesn
’
t disappoint.
”

“
Oh
,
I couldn
’
t stay for dinner,
”
he protested.

“
Of course you can
!”
Fiona
,
who was now sitting on the couch with her legs up, cried.
“
It
’
s the least we can do, after all
you
’
ve done for me.
”

Seduced by the wonderful aroma coming from the oven, he didn
’
t protest any
more.

“
I
’
m really happy she
’
s here under my roof now so that if anything happens, she won
’
t be alone,
”
Doris said
. “
You can
’
t be too careful with first babies.
”

“
Yes, I think it
’
s best for her.
”
He smiled at Fiona.
“
We were all getting a little nervous lately.
”

“
Well, she
’
s in good hands now.
”

After lunch, he stayed much longer than he
’
d intended, chatting to Doris and John while Fiona went for a lie-down. Brendan had gone home for lunch with his family.

Later
,
driving back to Dublin
,
he felt warm and happy.

Doris had insisted that he come down again for lunch the following Sunday.

“
I
’
ll do roast Wicklow lamb for you. You won
’
t get better,
”
she
’
d declared.

He didn
’
t doubt it!

He realised as he got ready for bed that night that he hadn
’
t thought about Louise all day. For some reason that made him feel good.

38

Ellie was bubbling as she arrived at the wine course on Monday night.

“
They
’
ve accepted our offer on the house,
”
she told Rachel excitedly as they waited for the others to arrive.
“
And I found the perfect bridesmaids
’
dresses too
!”

“
That
’
s great. I
’
m so glad things are going well for you. It
’
s a very stressful time, isn
’
t it?
”

“
You can say that again. My sister Sandrine is being a pain. She wants to run the whole show.
”
Ellie grimaced.

“
Thank God I didn
’
t have that problem, but I
’
m sure
you
’
ll cope with it. By the way, did you know that Ronan
’
s wife left him last weekend?
”