Changing Places (9 page)

Rachel was devastated. Anna and Jill did their best to cheer her up but nothing worked. They were all amazed and delighted a couple of months later when Rachel announced she’d met someone
and was going on a date. Gary Hanlon was not what they were expecting. He was as different from Eric as it was possible to be. Older than Rachel by three years, Gary was serious, conservative and
very ambitious. When he proposed just six months after they met and Rachel accepted, her family were stunned. But she seemed happy so they wished her well and it all seemed to have worked out for
the best.

When Alex came along a year after the wedding, he had adoring, delighted grandparents in Bridie and Shay and a thrilled Aunty Anna, only too eager to babysit. Life went on, but Rachel had
assumed a new role and didn’t have the same time or interest for shopping or girly nights out. Anna and Jill had continued their weekly shopping expeditions for a while but the junkets had
petered out a couple of years ago when Jill moved in with one of her boyfriends who liked to spend Saturdays in bed. It hadn’t bothered Anna too much. She’d continued to shop, sometimes
dragging her mum along too but now even she was gone.

‘Right, love, where will I drop you?’

With a start, Anna realized that the taxi had just turned into her road. ‘Number five, the one on the right with the white wall.’ After paying the man, Anna climbed out and started
to rummage in her bag for her key. When she got inside, she stepped out of her sandals, fetched a large glass of water and tiptoed, slightly unsteadily, up the stairs. As usual, Liam was on his
back, arms outstretched, snoring softly. Anna slipped out of her clothes, leaving them in an untidy heap on the floor, and climbed in beside him. To hell with her make-up and teeth, one night
wouldn’t kill her. She snuggled up against him and kissed his chest.

‘Good time?’ Liam murmured, kissing her hair.

‘Yeah, not bad.’

‘Good.’ Liam pulled her closer and promptly went back to sleep.

Rachel tucked the covers in around her son, kissed his forehead and then went into her own room. Gary was a silent heap on his side of the bed. Tiptoeing into the en-suite, she
carefully removed her make-up, brushed her teeth and changed into her pyjamas. She climbed into bed, switched off the lamp and settled down beside her husband. It hadn’t been too bad a night,
much better than she’d anticipated, although she’d felt a bit out of place in that trendy club that Anna and Jill had seemed so relaxed in.

When had they got so sophisticated? When had they left her behind? It was the same when she went out to any of Gary’s business functions, she always felt like the odd one out. It was
easier to let him go out alone and she often used Alex as an excuse to stay at home. Gary used to get annoyed when she made her excuses but now he took it in his stride and almost seemed to expect
it. If he did have the odd fling it was probably all her own fault. Maybe a new baby was exactly what they needed to get them back on track. It would bring them closer together and maybe Gary would
spend a bit more time at home.

‘Gary?’ Rachel put a tentative hand out to her husband but with a groan he moved further away and buried his head under the covers. With a sigh, she rolled over on her side and
closed her eyes. She could always tell him in the morning.

Jill was relieved that the evening was at an end and she could sink into her big soft bed. It was nice when Andy stayed over, but some nights it was even nicer to stretch out
and relax and not have to worry about how you looked or if your breath smelled! This was definitely one of those nights. The stressful day, energetic dancing and too many cocktails had exhausted
her. Setting her alarm, Jill switched off the light and put on her eyeshade. Time to get some sleep. She needed all her wits about her these days with Vinny Gray snapping at her heels.

Anna glanced impatiently at her watch and then up and down the road. The Gardiners were supposed to have met her here at four and now it was twenty past. Liam was expecting her
to meet him in the pub at five but there was no way she’d make it on time now. She pulled out her mobile and phoned Val.

‘Donnelly’s Real Estate, Val speaking, can I help you?’

‘Val, it’s me. Have you heard anything from Mick and Sara Gardiner?’

‘Not a dicky bird.’

‘Have you a mobile number for them?’

‘Hang on, let me check. Er, no, just a home and work number.’

‘Will you try them and call me back?’

‘Of course.’

Val rang off and Anna paced the narrow hallway. She was back in the doorway looking up and down the road again when Val called back. ‘They’re not coming, I’m afraid. It seems
they forgot all about it.’

‘Oh, for God’s sake!’

‘I know, love, it’s very annoying. You get yourself on home and have a nice cup of tea.’

‘Okay, thanks, Val. Have a good weekend.’

Anna set the alarm, locked up the house and went out to her car. At least she wasn’t going to be late now. Liam had asked her to join him and the gang from work because he thought it was
important to socialize with them.

‘I’m going to be their boss soon,’ he’d told her, ‘and I want them to know that they can always talk to me if there’s a problem.’

Anna didn’t think Liam’s colleagues would ever have a problem talking. They were a feisty, outspoken bunch and most of them had been working for Patterson’s since they left
school. Anna often wondered what the older men thought of Liam’s meteoric rise within the company. After all, he was only thirty-three and had been in nappies when some of the others had
started work.

After she’d found a spot in the car park outside the Swiss Cottage, Anna ran her fingers through her long hair and touched up her make-up. As the future boss’s wife she had to look
the part, after all. Smiling at the thought, Anna went into the lounge and pushed her way through the Friday crowd towards the corner where the Patterson staff usually sat.

‘Anna! Over here!’ Sarah, Liam’s secretary, waved at her and gave the man beside her a dig in the ribs. ‘Move up, Greg and let Anna sit down.’

Liam stood up and gave her a quick hug. ‘Hi, sweetheart, what would you like to drink?’

‘White wine, please. Hi, everybody.’

‘Howaya, gorgeous?’ Greg Dunne, the Purchasing Manager, winked at her.

Ciara, the nineteen-year-old receptionist, grunted something and then fluttered her eyelashes at Liam. ‘I’d love another Bacardi Breezer.’

Sarah rolled her eyes at Anna. ‘What’s she like?’

Anna laughed and squeezed in beside her. ‘How’s it going?’

‘Grand. Your timing is brilliant. Patterson and Frank just left.’

‘Yeah, it was like a bloody morgue,’ Greg told her.

‘Oh, yeah?’ Anna thought it best not to join in the slagging. After all, Liam was going to be ‘one of them’ soon. Looking at him standing at the bar joking with Phil
Johnson, the Accountant, she thought he’d probably miss being one of the lads. While he was the most senior manager here, because of his age and relaxed attitude he’d always been
accepted as one of the gang. Anna wondered if he realized that this would all change. It wouldn’t be long before it was him that they’d be moaning about, but then that was the price of
success.

‘Miserable old sod only bought one round,’ Sarah was saying. ‘No wonder he’s rolling in it.’

‘Hi, Anna, how’s it going?’ Phil brought over her drink and then took the seat across from her.

‘Great, Phil – you?’ Anna smiled at him. Phil Johnson was one of the nicest guys she’d ever met and she couldn’t understand why, at nearly forty, he was still
single.

‘Probably gay,’ Sarah had said when she’d mentioned it to her one time. ‘I mean, look at how well he dresses.’

‘No chance,’ Liam had scoffed when she’d told him what Sarah had said. ‘Phil’s as straight as I am.’

As Anna sat listening to Phil she couldn’t help wondering. He had such gorgeous brown twinkly eyes, shiny black wavy hair and he was in great shape – tall and not even a hint of a
paunch. ‘So, are you doing anything nice this weekend?’ she asked him.

‘Yeah, I’m heading off to Wexford in the morning.’

‘Oh?’ Anna’s ears pricked up. ‘Have you family down there?’ she asked as Liam came back from the bar and sat down.

‘No.’ Phil smiled easily but offered no further information.

‘So it’s a holiday?’ Anna probed.

‘Anna!’ Liam muttered.

‘Yeah, I suppose.’ Phil drained his glass and stood up. ‘Gotta go, guys. Have a good weekend.’

Liam shook his head. ‘Well done, Anna. Are you planning to interrogate everyone?’

‘I was just making conversation,’ Anna said innocently.

‘You’re wasting your time,’ Sarah told her. ‘We’ve all had a go at Phil but he plays his hand very close to his chest.’

‘I haven’t had a go,’ Eddie from the Finishing Department protested. ‘He’s not my type!’

‘Will you all leave the man alone,’ Liam told them.

Sarah frowned. ‘You’re very protective there, Liam. You and Phil aren’t at it, are you?’

‘Ah, now, please!’ Anna protested, laughing.

‘Okay, okay, I admit it.’ Liam held up his hands and received a thump from his wife.

Eddie leered at Anna. ‘If you need a shoulder to cry on, darling, I’m your man.’

‘Thanks, Eddie, I’ll remember that.’

‘No one’s that desperate,’ Ciara told him.

‘I’ll have you know I’m very popular with the ladies,’ Eddie retorted.

‘They must be the ones with bus passes,’ Ciara shot back.

‘Or guide dogs.’ Liam winked at her.

The girl smiled back at him and Sarah nudged Anna. ‘You’d better watch her,’ she murmured. ‘She’s got the hots for your hubby.’

Anna giggled. ‘God love her, she’d need to dance naked on the table in front of him before Liam would get the message.’

‘And don’t think she’s not capable of it,’ Sarah muttered.

Liam caught Anna’s eye as she finished her drink. ‘We’d better head.’

Ciara pouted. ‘But it’s early.’

‘And I’m starving. I booked a table in Silk’s, is that okay?’ he asked Anna.

She smiled. ‘Perfect.’

‘Have a nice evening, you two,’ Sarah told them.

‘Don’t forget my offer, Anna,’ Eddie winked at her.

‘You behave yourself or you’ll be making the tea on Monday,’ Liam warned him.

‘Bye, everyone.’ Anna followed Liam outside, blinking in the sunlight after the gloomy pub. ‘Crikey, you have a real admirer in Ciara, don’t you? She fancies you like
mad.’

Liam laughed. ‘She’s like that with everyone. Now, why don’t we go to the house first and drop your car?’

‘Great, I’ll follow you.’ Anna slid behind the wheel and waited while Liam walked over to his Peugeot.

‘We shouldn’t be here,’ Anna remarked when they were sitting in the Chinese restaurant tucking into spare ribs.

‘Why not?’

‘We’re supposed to be tightening our belts, remember? Saving our money. Getting ready for Baby.’

‘We’re not going to sit in every night either.’

Anna looked relieved. ‘I’m so glad you said that. I think I’d crack up if we did. I mean, we’re going to have to live a much quieter life anyway when we have a
baby.’

‘Why?’ Liam looked puzzled.

‘Well, for a start we’ll be too tired to go out all the time. I remember how exhausted Rachel was when Alex was small.’

‘I think your sister exaggerates just a bit. I mean, for God’s sake, it’s only a baby. All they do is sleep, eat and—’

‘Yes, why don’t you stop right there.’ Anna dabbed her lips with her napkin. ‘Seriously though, life isn’t going to be the same, Liam, don’t kid yourself
about that.’

‘Kid myself, ha-ha, very funny.’

Anna made a face. ‘It’s true.’

‘Are you having a change of heart?’ he asked, eyebrows raised.

‘No! Of course not!’

‘Good, ’cos I’m kind of getting used to the idea.’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah, but I want you to be sure about it, Anna, before you give everything up.’

Anna looked startled. ‘But I’m not going to give everything up.’

‘Oh?’ Liam topped up their wine glasses. ‘I thought you’d want to stay home with the baby.’

‘God, no! Well yes,’ she amended, ‘but not for ever. I thought I could work a three-day week or something to keep my hand in, and then when the child is older, I could go back
full-time.’

Liam smiled. ‘You love that job, don’t you?’

‘Yeah,’ she admitted. ‘I’d miss it if I had to give it up completely.’

‘Who would mind the little one?’

Anna shrugged. ‘He could go to a crêche or a babyminder.’

‘He?’

‘Or she,’ Anna smiled. ‘I won’t be like Rachel,’ she said after a moment. ‘I’m thirty-one, I’ve given this a lot of thought and I know it’s
what I want.’

‘I’m glad you feel like that, sweetheart. I mean, you’re the one who’ll be looking after the child most of the time, so this has to be your decision.’

‘I hope you’re not trying to tell me you won’t change nappies,’ she said, her tone severe.

‘I’ll change nappies, clean up puke, even watch bloody
Barney
, darling, whatever you want.’

Anna sighed happily. ‘I can’t wait.’

‘Alex, I won’t tell you again! Go and brush your teeth and wash your face and hands, we’re going to be late for school.’

‘But I feel sick,’ Alex whined.

‘Then I’d better not give you a muffin for your snack,’ Rachel snapped, dragging a weary hand through her hair. She had had barely two hours’ sleep and was feeling
nauseous and light-headed into the bargain. If Alex didn’t start to behave himself she was quite likely to burst into tears.

‘Don’t want a muffin,’ Alex sulked, digging his toes into the carpet.

‘Fine.’ Rachel grabbed his arm and frog-marched him into the bathroom. ‘Now, brush your teeth or there’ll be no muffins for the rest of the week.’

‘But Mum—’

‘Don’t say another word, Alex,’ Rachel warned.

The little boy looked up at her with mournful eyes, scrunched up his face and proceeded to throw up all over her slippers.

‘Jesus!’ Rachel kicked off her slippers, dropped to her knees and started to mop at her son with a towel. ‘I’m so sorry, darling. Do you think you’re going to be
sick again?’