Behind Every Cloud (45 page)

As he booked the restaurant, she went to the playroom to break the good news to the kids and to tell Paloma that she could have the following day off. The nanny was delighted as
,
since the children were now on school holidays, she had them much more than usual.

“
Daddy
!
Daddy
!”
The kids came flying into the kitchen.
“
You
’
re coming to the zoo with us
!”
they yelled, jumping
up on him.

Rachel came in behind them
,
smiling at their exuberanc
e. Smothering them with kisses, Carl felt another pang of guilt. They were growing up so fast. He really would have to make more time for them in the future.

Winking at Rachel, he swung Jacob on his back and took Becky by the hand.
“
Come on
,
kids, let
’
s go out to play.
”

Whooping and yelling
,
the three of them made their way to the state-of-the-art playground. Rachel poured a glass of white wine and stood by the kitchen window
,
sipping it and smiling at her family. This was how she wanted it. This was how life was meant to be. Family was the most
important thing in the world. She wished Carl felt the same way.

As Carl was pushing Becky on the swing he thought about his situation. He was feeling guilty. He really would have to be more careful. Rachel wasn
’
t stupid. He dreaded to think what would happen if she ever found out about Zita. Phew! Not only would she kick him out but his political career would be in ruins. The Irish electorate wanted their politicians to be squeaky clean. Greater men than he had fallen foul of their high expectations.

He also suspected that Zita was falling for him and this was making him uneasy. Still, she was wildly exciting and a powerhouse in bed and he was getting excited just thinking about her. He
’
d have to be very careful now. He wasn
’
t willing to put his life on the line for her but he couldn
’
t give her up quite yet. She was coming to the house to film them the following Thursday and he
’
d need to play it very cool and keep his wits about him. He had much too much to lose.

44

Ellie was a little down in the dumps at the wine course on Monday
.

“
Are you okay
,
Ellie?
”
young Hayley
asked. She really admired Ellie and wished she could be like her.

“
The beauty salon where I work closed on Friday, just like that
!”
She clicked her fingers.
“
So now I
’
m unemployed, just like half the country
.”

“
Maybe Sam will give you a job. He rang me on Saturday and asked if I
’
d be interested in working in his new Marino shop.
”
Hayley was grinning broadly.
“
I said yes, of course.
”
She looked overjoyed.

“
Is he looking for other staff?
”
Ellie wanted to know.

“
I don
’
t know. Why don
’
t you ask him? He has two new shops opening, one in Marino and one in Howth
.”

“
When are you starting?
”

“
In six weeks. I
’
m very excited about it.
”

Ellie mulled over what she
’
d said as the others filed in. She had no experience of working in a wine shop but then neither had Ronan and by all accounts he was doing very well.

They couldn
’
t believe that there was only one more week of the wine course left. Where had the time gone? Sam sprang quite a surprise on them then.

“
Actually, there will be a little exam next week. It
’
s a simple, multiple
-
choice test and
,
for those of you who wish to continue on to the Higher Certificate Course in September
,
it
’
s essential to have passed this Lower Cert Exam.
”

“
An exam!
”
Ellie wailed.
“
I
’
m useless at exams.
”

“
You
’
ll pass it with your eyes closed, Ellie,
”
Sam assure
d her.

“
Lordy me, it
’
s over eighteen years since I sat an exam,
”
Rachel lamented, not feeling too happy about it.
“
I don
’
t think I
’
d pass.
”

“
Nonsense, you
’
re all more than capable of passing
it,
”
Sam said matter
of
factly. Afterwards we
’
ll have a really good t
asting and then I suggest we have a right knees-up to celebrate
.”

This was greeted with whoops and clapping. They really had all gelled together very well.

“
What do you say we organise some food from the local deli. If we collect ten euro from each of us for the food then I
’
ll be happy to supply the wine for free.
”

They all thought this was a great idea.
It somehow made the exam seem not that scary if there was to be a party after it.

They went to the Castle for a drink but Ellie didn
’
t get a chance to speak to Sam alone. She called him the next day.

“
Hi
,
Sam, it
’
s Ellie. Do you have a minute?
”

“
Of course, Ellie. What can I do for you?
”

“
Well, Hayley was telling me that you
’
re opening two new wine shops and I was wondering if there was any chance that you might need a salesgirl?
”

Sam was taken aback.
“
What about your job in the beauty salon?
”

“
It closed down on Friday,
”
she told him glumly.

“
Oh, I
’
m sorry to hear that. Gosh, businesses are closing left
,
right and centre.
Yeah, I
’
m sure I can find something for you but it won
’
t be for six weeks
.”

“
That
’
s okay. It
’
s better than nothing – especially with the wedding coming up.
”

“
Of course. That must be stressful enough without this landing on top of you. Leave it with me
,
Ellie. I
’
ll get back to you.
”

“
Thanks, Sam,
”
she said gratefully, relief flowing throu
gh her.

Sam rang back an hour later.
“
Ellie, can you work a computer?
”

“
Sure. I did computers at school and I took an advan
ced night course last year. I
’
m quite good on it actually,
”
she said proudly.

“
Fantastic! And you speak fluent French, I remember you telling me
?
You and your mother often speak French together, don
’
t you?
”

“
Yeah, all the time.
”

“
Brilliant!
”
Sam sounded really excited now.
“
Well,
I
’
ve been thinking. My PA is setting up my new online business at the moment and she
’
s completely overstretched. She could do with some help while she gets the onlin
e business up and running
,
but I need someone with fluent French and computer skills. How about it? Would you be interested, until the new shop opens up?
”

Ellie held her breath. She could hardly believe it. Her mother looked up from the book she was reading to see the big smile on her daughter
’
s face. Ellie gave her the thumbs
-
up.

“
Would I be interested? You bet I would!
”
She covered the mouthpiece with her hand and whispered to Marie-Noelle
, “
Sam
’
s looking for a temporary PA
!”

“
Great. You could start right away
,
I take it
?”

“
Tomorrow, if you like.
”

Sam laughed at her enthusiasm.
“
Can you meet me here Thursday morning
?
Is nine thirty okay?
”

“
Sure, see you then
!”

Ellie
hung up, grabbed her mother and waltzed her around the kitchen.

“
Tell me, tell me!
”
Marie-Noelle demanded, dying to know what had transpired.

Ellie explained and her mother hugged her tightly. This was fantastic! Maybe this was Ellie
’
s niche after all.
“
Thank you, God, thank you
,
Sam
!”
she prayed. Right now they seemed like one and the same person!

Ellie couldn
’
t believe her luck. She went to meet Sam on Thursday morning feeling apprehensive in case it didn
’
t work out. She needn
’
t have worried. Sam wanted her to start right away and to top it all he was offering her much more than she
’
d been earning in the salon. She would be
working from the office in his house which was just around the corner from where she lived. It was all working out
great.

He introduced her to Sylvia, his PA, who was overjoyed to have her on board.

“
You
’
ve no idea how delighted I am to have you here,
”
she exclaimed, pumping Ellie
’
s hand enthusiastically.
“
I was afraid my husband would divorce me if I kept up working these hours. He
’
s starting to suggest that I should pack it in as he never sees me
,
but I love my job and Sam is a great boss.
”
She smiled happily at Ellie.
“
Sam says you
’
re a computer expert and fluent in French. Probably much better than I am.
”
She made a face.

“
I wouldn
’
t exactly say I
’
m an expert on computers but I have done an advanced course, and I am fluent in French
.”

“
Thank God for that,
”
Sylvia sighed.
“
I dread having to try to understand the French producers when they call. I did French at Uni but my accent is crap.
”

Ellie liked Sylvia enormously. She was very open and friendly and Ellie knew that they
’
d get on well. Sylvia called a spade a spade and she liked that. Yes, she
’
d have no trouble working alongside this woman
.

“
Sam says you
’
re his top student on the wine course,
”
Sylvia continued.

“
Oh, I wouldn
’
t say that,
”
Ellie blushed at the
compliment,
“
but I do love it. Sam makes it all so interesting.
”