Changing Places (28 page)

‘Well, whatever you turn your hand to, you’ll be great.’

‘Thanks for the vote of confidence.’

‘Any ideas on what you’d like to do?’

Jill smiled slowly. ‘Maybe.’

Bridie patted her arm. ‘You tell me when you’re ready, and in the meantime don’t let those daughters of mine lean too heavily on you. They’ve got me too, you
know.’

‘I’m glad we came. I think they needed to see you both.’

‘Do you think we were wrong to leave Ireland, Jill?’ Bridie said suddenly, her voice tinged with worry and guilt.

‘No, of course not.’

‘Anna and Rachel do. I didn’t realize how much they resented it until this week.’

‘No, you’re wrong,’ Jill argued.

‘Okay, maybe resent is too strong a word but they obviously weren’t happy about it. But it’s not like they were teenagers, Jill! We waited until they were both settled and
happy before we did anything. And I had to think of what was best for me and Shay. I’m not sure our marriage would have survived if we’d stayed in Dublin. They wouldn’t have
wanted that, would they?’

‘No.’

‘But now I feel awful. They’re both going through such a difficult time.’ She shot Jill a knowing look. ‘You don’t have to break any confidences, love, we both know
what I’m talking about. But maybe if I was in Dublin I could have helped.’

Jill shook her head. ‘You can’t live their lives for them, Aunty.’

‘More’s the pity,’ Bridie muttered. ‘Right now I’d like to take my two sons-in-law and bang their heads together. If Shay knew . . .’ She broke off.
‘God, I feel so helpless. Maybe we should come home with you.’

Jill stared at her in alarm. ‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea. They’ve had a week away to think about things – maybe that’s all they needed.’

Bridie looked unconvinced. ‘Do either of them look any happier to you?’

‘No, but that’s because they haven’t tackled their problems yet,’ Jill said sensibly. ‘At least give it a few weeks and then decide. You’ll be coming over for
the birth, won’t you?’

Bridie nodded. ‘That’s the plan. And I told Rachel we’d stay on if she needed us.’

‘Then that’s all you can really do for the moment.’

Bridie shot her niece a curious look. ‘You’re a deep one, aren’t you, Jill?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You play your cards very close to your chest. Tell me, do Anna and Rachel have any idea what’s going on in each other’s lives?’

Jill sighed. ‘Not a clue.’

Anna dialled the house again but with no luck. Liam still wasn’t home and he hadn’t left the answering machine on. She couldn’t phone him on his mobile
because he didn’t have one. Patterson’s had taken the company one back and Liam had refused to pay out for another. Dammit, where was he? The interview should have been over hours ago.
Maybe he was in Josie’s. She could, of course, call Josie, but she dreaded the prospect of talking to her mother-in-law and she didn’t know exactly how much or how little Liam had told
the woman. Anna wandered through the town. It was still quiet, as the shopkeepers were only just opening up again after siesta-time and the tourists hadn’t returned from the beach or left the
poolside yet.

Fed up with her own company, Anna decided to go back to Kitty’s for another coffee. Pepe looked up and smiled as she walked into the gloom of the café.
‘
Hola!
’

‘Hi, Pepe. Are you on your own?’

He nodded. ‘They have all deserted me. But now I have beautiful company.’ He smiled, his teeth gleaming. ‘What can I get you?’

‘Just a latte, thanks.’ Anna climbed up on a bar stool. ‘Have you worked here long?’ she asked.

‘Since Kitty bought the place.’

‘Oh, so you knew her husband?’

‘Ben? Yes, I knew him. A great guy.’

Anna stared at him. ‘Really?’

Pepe slid her coffee in front of her. ‘Really. Some marriages just aren’t meant to be. It’s no one’s fault. If you make each other miserable, then you are better
apart.’

‘I suppose.’

Pepe went out front to set up tables while Anna sat staring into her coffee and wondering if she and Liam would be better off apart. If they weren’t talking and he was messing around with
Tara then maybe it was over between them. And then there was Charlie. Surely she wouldn’t have flirted with him the way she had if she was still in love with Liam? Her thoughts turned again
to the interview and she checked her phone to make sure the signal was strong. How could he do this to her? He must know she’d be wondering how he’d gotten on! Or maybe he was too busy
telling Tara all about it. Maybe he was sitting in her kitchen at this very moment going through the interview blow-by-blow, with her hanging on to his every word. Or maybe they’d progressed
to the bedroom. Anna closed her eyes and tried to block out the image.

‘Anna!’

She turned on her seat to see Jill standing in the doorway. ‘Hi. Were you sent to find me?’

‘Er, no. Your dad’s still asleep and your mam and Rachel were having a chat so I thought I’d make myself scarce.’ Jill glanced around the empty bar. ‘It’s
quiet, isn’t it? Where’s Kitty?’

‘Dunno. Pepe’s the only one here. Do you want a coffee?’

Jill climbed up beside her. ‘Yeah, okay.’

Pepe came back into the café and went behind the counter. ‘Hello, Jill, how are you today?’

‘Fine, thanks, Pepe.’

‘Coffee?’

‘Yes, a cappuccino, please.’

‘So is Mam annoyed with me?’ Anna asked.

‘No, but it would have saved a lot of hassle if you’d just told them you wanted to call Liam. So, how did it go?’

‘I don’t know, there’s no answer.’

‘Maybe it went really well and he’s gone for a drink to celebrate.’

Anna’s expression remained glum. ‘Yeah, but who with?’

Jill smiled her thanks as Pepe put her coffee in front of her. ‘Don’t think the worst, Anna. You’ve no reason to think he’s with Tara.’

‘I’ve no reason not to.’

‘Have you called Josie?’

Anna shook her head.

‘Do you think she has any idea what’s going on?’

‘So you agree now that something’s going on?’

‘I meant between you and Liam. Anna, stop being so prickly, you’re not with Rachel now.’

Anna dropped her head into her hands. ‘God, I’m sorry, Jill, I shouldn’t be taking this out on you. I’m turning into a right witch, aren’t I? It’s just
I’m so scared.’

‘I know.’ Jill took a sip from her coffee. ‘So like I said, do you think Josie knows?’

‘I doubt it.’

‘So you could phone and ask quite innocently if she’d heard from him? What could be more natural.’

Anna looked at her phone. ‘Maybe . . .’

‘You want to know how he got on, don’t you?’

Anna picked up the phone and dialled before she could change her mind. ‘Hello, Josie? It’s Anna.’

‘Anna?’ Josie sounded as if she were trying to place her. ‘Oh hello, how are you?’

‘Fine, thanks. I was wondering, is Liam there?’

‘No, no he’s not.’

‘Oh.’ Anna felt suddenly deflated. ‘I was just wondering how he got on. He had an interview today.’

‘Well, of course I knew that! He thinks he did very well.’

‘Oh, you were talking to him then?’

‘He came straight here afterwards.’ Josie’s tone implied, where else would he go?

Relief flooded over Anna. He hadn’t been with Tara. ‘I’ll wait for a while and ring him at home then.’

‘Oh, he won’t be there. He had somewhere else to go first.’

‘Oh, I see. Any idea where?’ Anna forced herself to keep her voice light.

‘I’m sure I didn’t ask.’

‘Oh, okay then. Well, I’ll keep trying. Maybe if you’re talking to him before I am, you’d ask him to call me?’

‘Of course.’

‘Okay, then. Well, goodbye, Josie.’

‘Goodbye.’

‘So, he got on well then?’ Jill enquired, having heard one half of the conversation.

Anna shrugged, distracted. ‘She says so. I wonder where he is.’

‘Well, it can’t be next door or Josie would know all about it.’

‘Yes, but would she tell me?’

‘I can’t see Josie approving of Liam carrying on, no matter how much she adores Tara Brady.’

‘I wouldn’t bet on it. Tara went to the right school, lived in the right street, has the right accent. Josie would kill to have someone like her in the family. I think she’d be
delighted if Liam and I broke up.’

‘That’s awful.’ Jill stared at her, her nose wrinkled in disgust.

‘That’s Josie.’

‘Try the house again,’ Jill prompted.

Anna dialled the number and listened while it rang out. ‘He obviously doesn’t want to talk to me.’

‘You don’t know that,’ Jill said. ‘He could be anywhere. It could be to do with the job, did you think of that?’

Anna stood up. ‘I know you’re trying to make me feel better, Jill . . .’

‘But you’re determined to think the worst.’

‘Can you blame me? Are you coming?’

As Jill went to get up, Kitty walked in the door and Jill settled herself back on her stool. ‘I’ll catch up on you after I’ve finished my coffee.’

‘Oh, sorry! God, what am I like?’ Anna went to sit down again.

Jill waved her away. ‘No, you go on. I’ll take my time and chat to Kitty.’

Anna turned and smiled at Kitty. ‘Oh, hi!’

‘Hello, ladies. I hope Pepe’s been looking after you.’

‘He’s been great.’ Anna shot the Spaniard a wide smile.

‘Hey, you, stop flirting with the staff,’ Jill warned.

Laughing, Anna picked up her bag and turned to leave. ‘See you later.’

‘Bye,’ Kitty called, as she slipped behind the bar and pulled on an apron. ‘So, Jill, how are you?’

‘I am just fine, Kitty. Sitting here, contemplating my future.’

‘Glad to hear it.’ Kitty glanced at the clock and then poured herself a coffee. ‘I’ve got about thirty minutes before the rush starts. Tell me more.’

Rachel was alone on the balcony when Anna returned to the apartment. ‘Where’s Mam and Dad?’

‘They’re out in the camper van.’ Rachel kept her head in her book.

Anna sat down opposite her. ‘Any good?’

Rachel shrugged. ‘It’s okay.’

‘Look, I’m sorry about earlier.’

‘Don’t worry about it.’

‘It’s just I wanted to call Liam.’

‘Yeah, Jill said. So how did it go?’

‘He wasn’t there.’ Anna gazed out at the beach where a young couple were messing about in the surf. The girl splashed him and he lunged at her, grabbing her around the waist
and pulling her down into the water. Her screams were mixed with delighted giggles that stopped abruptly when he turned her face to his and kissed her.

‘I can’t remember the last time Gary and I fooled around like that,’ Rachel said wistfully.

Anna looked at her in surprise and Rachel gave an embarrassed smile. ‘I suppose that’s what happens when you get married and have kids.’

‘Surely you can still have fun? Just you’ve got Alex too. Doesn’t that make it even better?’

‘Oh, well, yes, of course,’ Rachel sat up and nodded politely. ‘We have wonderful times with Alex.’

But not with Gary,
Anna was going to say, but decided against it. Rachel would probably jump down her throat. Anna pulled out her phone and checked the signal. Full strength. He could
call her any time he wanted.

‘Everything okay?’ Rachel was watching her curiously.

‘Sure. Why wouldn’t it be?’

‘Oh, forgive me for asking!’ Rachel rolled her eyes and heaved herself out of the chair. ‘I’m off for a bath.’

As soon as she was alone, Anna snatched up the phone and dialled again. She was just about to hang up when a breathless Liam answered.

‘Hello?’

‘Hi, it’s me.’

‘Anna!’

‘I just called to see how the interview went.’

‘It went really well.’

‘Oh good, I’m so happy for you.’

Liam laughed. ‘Me too. You know, I really think this could be it.’

‘And about time too. You deserve a break,’ Anna told him.

‘Thanks, sweetheart.’

‘I called you earlier to wish you good luck but I must have missed you.’

‘I left early, I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to find the place.’

‘Oh, right. And then I tried to get you at your mother’s but you had left.’ She waited.

‘Oh, yeah? I was going to call.’

‘Were you?’
Not before you visited your beloved Tara
. Anna felt misery engulf her.
Ask him
, she urged herself.
Ask him where he’s been
.

‘Yeah, of course.’

Anna waited but he still didn’t offer any explanation as to where he’d been. ‘Look, I’d better go. My battery’s low.’
Ask me not to hang up. Tell me where
you’ve been. Tell me you love me
.

‘Anna?’

‘Yes?’
Maybe . . .

‘Thanks for calling.’

She closed her eyes, as she held the phone tight against her ear. ‘No problem. Bye.’

‘Anna?’

‘Yes?’
Please, oh, please . . .
She realized she was holding her breath.

‘Would you like me to pick you up from the airport on Sunday?’

Tears rolled unchecked down Anna’s face. ‘No, that’s okay. We’re getting in really early. Gary’s going to be there so he can drop me.’

‘Well, if you’re sure.’

‘I’m sure.’

‘Then I’ll have breakfast waiting for you.’

‘That would be nice. Bye, Liam.’

‘Bye, sweetheart.’

‘Yoo-hoo, I’m home!’

‘Shit!’ Anna charged out to the kitchen as she heard Jill let herself into the hall.

‘Anna? Rachel?’

‘I’m in the bath,’ Rachel called back.

Anna was just wiping her eyes with a teacloth when her cousin walked in. She quickly turned away and buried her head in a cupboard. ‘Oh hi, I didn’t hear you.’

‘What on earth are you up to?’ Jill put down her bag and flopped into a chair.

‘Just looking for the chocolate biscuits.’

‘We finished them last night when we came in from the pub.’

‘Oh, right.’ Anna didn’t move.

‘Let me guess. You’ve been talking to Liam.’

Anna turned slowly to face her, her eyes red, and nodded.

‘So what happened? What did he say?’

‘The interview went very well.’

Jill arched an eyebrow. ‘And that made you cry?’