Foreign Affairs (38 page)

‘Is there anything else. Mother?’ Paula asked briskly. ‘I’ve got to go to work this evening.’ It was Friday. She had shopping to do for Nick, and she had to collect
his laundry.

‘You work as well?’ Mother Andrew said disapprovingly, staring at the self-confident young woman in front of her.

‘Oh certainly, Mother, but it doesn’t interfere with my studies. I don’t let anything interfere with my studies,’ Paula said pointedly. ‘I want to better the five
honours I got in the mock exams.’

There was no answer to that. ‘You may go,’ Mother Andrew said coldly.

‘Thank you, Mother,’ Paula said politely.

She walked down the great wooden stairs to where Jenny and Beth were waiting for her.

‘Well! What’s up?’ Jenny asked.

‘Andy knows about me and Barry. Someone sent a photo of us kissing after a match. I’d love to know who did it,’ Paula said furiously. ‘Whoever it was thought I was going
to get into trouble. Well they can think again because Andy nearly wet herself when she heard that Helen knows all about him and is very fond of him. What could she say?’

‘I’d love to have seen her face.’ Beth giggled.

‘She went all purple and blotchy. You know the way she does when she’s mad. I should have told her Barry’s a fantastic lover as well. That would really give her something to
get upset about,’ Paula said wickedly and they all guffawed as they ran down the steps of the school, nearly bumping into Eilis McNally in their haste to get to the bus stop.

‘What’s so funny?’ the other girl asked curiously, staring intently at Paula.

‘Nothing that you’d be interested in, Eilis,’ Paula retorted. She wasn’t going to say anything to Eilis McNally about what had gone on with Andy.

‘You had to go and see Andy after last class, didn’t you? What was the royal summons for?’ Eilis asked chummily. Paula looked at her. Why on earth was Big-Mouth McNally being
so friendly? They’d hardly talked since the row at Sandra O’Reilly’s party. Eilis McNally’s curiosity was obviously getting the better of her. Why was she loitering around
the entrance when all her cronies were long gone? Could it have been Eilis who took that photo? Paula wouldn’t put it past her.

‘What do you think, Eilis?’ Paula asked pleasantly.

‘Oh! . . . Oh . . . I don’t know. A summons to Andy is usually something serious. I remember before your time, Marion Lyons was called to the office and told that her aunt was dead.
But it couldn’t be anything like that. Because you were laughing coming down the steps,’ Eilis said, flustered. Her face had gone scarlet. Paula
knew
she had sent the anonymous
photo to Andy.

Eilis was editor of the school magazine and she always took photos of the teams when they won their matches. She must have seen Barry kissing her and taken a photo of them. The spiteful little
wagon, Paula thought furiously. She was sorely tempted to let her classmate have it. But instinctively she knew that that was precisely what Eilis wanted. No, Paula decided. She wouldn’t give
Eilis that satisfaction. Much better to play it cool. That would drive the spiteful little cat up the walls.

‘You’re absolutely right, Eilis,’ Paula said airily. ‘It was nothing serious at all. Mother Andrew was just giving me a reference I’d asked her for some time ago.
And a glowing reference it is too, bless her.’ Paula smiled sweetly and brushed past her flabbergasted classmate.

‘I’m finished, Paula. That fucking little cow sent that photo to the other three girls’ schools I work in. You know I’m only part-time in all of them.
Andrew told me the budget for next year didn’t cover the services of a part-time PE teacher. She’s given me two weeks’ notice. That’s the line the others have taken as well.
Budget cuts my arse! I bet the phones have been hopping all morning. Sanctimonious bitches. They’ll blacklist me in every girls’ school in the city.’ Barry sank his head in his
hands. They were having a drink in the Addison Lodge. Barry was shattered. ‘I should have known better. I should have known something like this would happen. Wait until I get my hands on
Eilis McNally,’ he gritted.

‘Surely they won’t go that far,’ Paula soothed.

‘Of course they bloody well will,’ Barry snarled. ‘Why did you have to go and have a row with that cow McNally? Look at the trouble you’ve got me into.’

‘You got yourself into it, Barry. I told you to be discreet but of course you couldn’t keep your hands to yourself. So don’t blame me,’ Paula flared.

‘Well it’s true, McNally’s got at you by getting at me. Except I’ve much more to lose. She must have thought you’d be expelled. But I’m the fall guy
here,’ Barry said bitterly. ‘Come on, I’ll drop you home, I’ve had enough.’

‘I’ll walk, thanks,’ Paula said coldly.

‘Suit yourself.’ Barry glared. He grabbed his jacket and turned on his heel. Paula stared after him in fury as he barged through the door.

Barry didn’t care. He was fuming. Why had Paula got up Eilis McNally’s nose so much that the bitch had done such a malicious thing? He was just going to have to change his plans, he
thought angrily. He’d arranged to take a holiday in Australia during the school holidays. His brother lived there. He was always asking him to go out and join him. Fuck it, he just might do
that, Barry decided as he slammed the car door and sped out of the car park. There’d be no bloody nuns in Australia breathing down his neck. Australia was a man’s world. Just what he
needed. He’d had it with women.

How dare Barry walk out on her, Paula raged. No man walked away from her the way Barry just had. It was totally unfair of him to blame her for what had happened. It was all
Eilis McNally’s fault. And Barry’s for being so careless. She walked briskly along towards Mobhi Road. If Barry was going to behave like a shit, he could piss off. She didn’t need
him. There were plenty more men in the world. And some of them were a lot more interesting than Barry Bloody Keating.

An image of deep blue eyes, a straight nose and a firm mouth teased her memory. A recollection of a tanned body against a crisp white shirt made her sigh. Barry had a smooth, bare chest. Boyish
really. Nick Russell’s dark tangle of chest hair was much more masculine. Nick was a man . . . The longer she worked for him the more he intrigued her. Even though she’d been sleeping
with Barry, she’d been very much aware of Nick. And the task of running his house created an intimacy between them. Nick had never made a pass or anything like it. His behaviour was above
reproach . . . unfortunately. She wondered what it would be like to make love to him. Paula gave a shiver of pleasure at the thought. That was a private little dream she would keep to herself. Let
Barry get down on his knees and beg her to come back. She’d consider it. But things had changed. His attitude had disgusted her. In a couple of weeks she would finish school. She was eighteen
years old. An experienced young woman. Paula smiled in the dark as she walked home and felt invigorated by the thought of a new love affair. She would let Nick know that she and Barry were no
longer together. When he saw that the field was clear and she was interested in him, he might respond. What did she mean he might respond. He
would
respond. Her confidence was supreme. The
seduction of Nick would be her greatest challenge.

Chapter Thirty-Four

‘Please, Paula, stop being childish.’ Barry stood blocking her path as she made to enter the games room.

‘I’m not being childish and I’m not discussing it here,’ she snapped. It was a week after their row and Barry wanted to make it up. Paula was not so inclined. Barry had
said some very hurtful things and blamed her for the whole mess he was in. She couldn’t help Eilis McNally’s spite. And it was Barry’s own fault anyway. If he’d kept his
hands to himself he wouldn’t have got into trouble. She knew why he wanted to make up too. He wanted to have as much sex as he could with her before school finished and he headed off to
Australia. Barry loved making love to her. And she’d enjoyed it. But dating Barry, and having sex with him, had lost its attraction. She knew it was crazy but now it was Nick who filled her
thoughts.

‘Come on, Paula. I’ve said I’m sorry, let’s go for a drink tonight,’ Barry pleaded.

‘OK then.’ She relented. She was being a bitch, she knew. Barry had been good to her. He deserved more than a rude brush-off. But it was over whether he liked it or not. He was going
to Australia and she had to look to her future and she wanted Nick to be her future.

‘Look, Barry, I’m in a hurry. I’ve to get home to clean Nick’s house. Call for me at eight and we’ll have a drink. Just one, mind. I’ve got to get some
swotting done for the exams.’ Her tone was brisk. Barry threw his eyes up to heaven.

‘I was hoping to have a bit more time than that. We haven’t been together in over a week.’

‘And whose fault is that? One drink, that’s all, Barry, I’ll see you later,’ Paula retorted and stepped around him and went in to join the rest of the team in the games
room.

An hour later she was at Nick’s. Paula hoovered and polished with vigour. She took great pride in keeping Nick’s house spotless. He was extremely appreciative. She glanced at her
watch, it was almost seven. He should be home soon. He generally worked late on the evenings she cleaned so as not to get under her feet. Paula always had fresh coffee percolating and cream cakes
or doughnuts waiting for him when he got home. Nick had a very sweet tooth.

The time ticked away. She had done all her chores. Where the hell was Nick? She was dying to see him. In a few more weeks she’d have to go home to St Margaret’s Bay for the summer
and she wouldn’t see him for ten weeks. Although she was looking forward to seeing her family, the thought of spending ten weeks in St Margaret’s Bay did not exactly fill her with
delight. She would be working in the hotel as usual. Paula smiled wryly. Once, working in reception had been all she aspired to. She’d got her wish and now it bored her. But then that was her
all over, she thought glumly. When she got what she wanted, she got bored and moved on to something else. It was the same with men. First Conor, now Barry. She was a fickle woman for sure.

But with Nick it would be different, she thought happily as she heard the crunch of the car up the drive. Nick would satisfy every want and need. She would never ever be bored by Nick.

He looked tired when he came through the front door. But his face creased into a smile when he saw her and her heart lifted gloriously.

‘Hi, Mrs Mops, still here!’ he joked, shrugging out of his jacket and loosening the knot on his tie.

You are the most gorgeous man, Nick Russell, Paula thought to herself. Not even Paul Newman had eyes as blue as Nick’s.

‘I didn’t get in until late,’ she fibbed. ‘I’ve fresh coffee on, do you want a cup?’

‘You spoil me,’ Nick said affectionately.

‘Someone should, you work too hard,’ Paula said lightly.

‘Hard work never killed anyone, but I’ll tell you one thing, Paula, I’m dreading the summer.’ Nick followed her in to the kitchen and stood next to her as she poured the
coffee. She loved having him so close to her.

‘Why are you dreading the summer?’

‘Because you’ll be gone, and I’ll have to do my own shopping and I won’t have treats like this to look forward to.’

‘You could always get someone else in,’ Paula suggested.

‘I couldn’t be bothered just for the summer. I suppose I’ll have to consider that when you spread your wings.’ He made a face.

‘That won’t be for another year anyway, I’ve to go to college first,’ Paula said soothingly.

Nick looked at her quizzically. ‘Maybe you want to spread your wings now. You won’t have time to come in when you’re at college. Do you want me to get someone else
in?’

‘Of course I don’t!’ Paula was horrified. ‘I wouldn’t go home this summer only that my parents like to see me. And college won’t be that different to
secondary school. The money’s very handy,’ she added although she knew if Nick was only paying her a pittance she’d still want to work for him.

‘Well that’s a relief to know. I’ll tell you, Paula, you’ll be a hard act to follow.’

‘And flattery will get you everywhere,’ Paula teased. ‘Here’s your cream cake.’

‘Aren’t you going to have a cup of coffee with me?’ Nick asked.

She glanced at her watch. It was getting late and Barry was picking her up at eight. ‘I’ll have a quick one.’ She poured herself a coffee.

‘I suppose you’ve a few hours’ swotting ahead of you. At least the end is in sight,’ he said encouragingly as he handed her the plate of cakes.

‘No thanks, you have them. Barry’s taking me for a drink at eight.’ Paula was unenthusiastic. She really didn’t want to go out. She knew Barry was not going to take too
kindly to being told it was over. Even if he was going to Australia in a few weeks’ time. His ego would be hurt. She’d have broken it off with him even if he wasn’t going to
emigrate. Their affair was over. A clean break was the best.

‘And how’s the great romance?’ Nick smiled.

‘It’s over.’ Paula looked him straight in the eye.

‘What!’

‘It’s over,’ she repeated. ‘Barry’s emigrating to Australia.’ She didn’t want to go into the ins and outs of what had happened. Nick put his mug down
and put his arm around her.

‘I’m sorry about that, Paula. Are you heartbroken?’ His eyes were full of sympathy as he looked down at her. Paula savoured the feel of his arm around her and the solid
reassuring feel of his shoulder against her cheek. This was absolutely unexpected and utterly blissful. She was so tempted to kiss him. His mouth was only inches from hers. She wanted to kiss the
steady beating pulse at his throat and run her fingers through the dark tangle of hair where he had opened his shirt at the neck. Paula swallowed hard.

Nick mistook her silence. ‘Don’t be upset,’ he said gently. ‘It probably seems like a terrible thing now, but I can guarantee you one thing. You’ll come back to me
after the holidays and there’ll be a new romance. A new man. You’re young, you should be having lots of fun. Don’t tie yourself down. Believe me, it’s a big mistake to rush
into anything.’ His eyes darkened at some private pain. He’d married young, Helen had told her. Maybe he was referring to that.