Foreign Affairs (86 page)

And Rachel had been a topper. She’d been on a Cert with a bad dose of tonsillitis and laryngitis but once she’d heard of Jennifer’s accident, she’d arrived up to Dublin
to help out while Jennifer was confined to bed for the first few days home from the hospital. Rachel couldn’t do enough for her. She wouldn’t let Jennifer do a tap, even though she
wasn’t well herself. Rachel was unsettled too, knowing that she was going to have to leave the house she was living in and get a place of her own. Everybody had their own little problems,
Jennifer thought ruefully as she set out the cups. She wondered what was up with Paula. A half an hour later, Jennifer was hearing all about it.

‘I can’t believe I did it. I can’t believe I told Nick I loved him. I begged him to make love to me, Jenny, and then Helen walked in on top of us. I still feel sick when I
think about it.’ Paula put her hand up to her quivering lip and tried to control herself.

‘Oh, Paula.’ Jennifer put her arms around her friend and pitied her from the bottom of her heart. ‘Maybe Nick will blame it on the few drinks you had,’ she said.

‘No, I don’t think so. You should have seen the way he looked at me this morning. He thinks I’m the lowest of the low. And he’s right. If he’d wanted me I would
have made love with him there and then. Knowing that Helen was in my bedroom.’

‘You were drunk, Paula,’ Jennifer said firmly.

‘I wasn’t
that
drunk,’ Paula groaned. ‘I behaved very badly. And the awful thing is I still love him, I still want him. I don’t know how to get him out of
my head.’ She started to cry. Jennifer stroked her hair. Everyone always thought Paula was such a strong, controlled, on-top-of-things type of person. They should see her now, crying her eyes
out, frantic and unsure. Jennifer knew how difficult it had been for her to discover that Nick and Helen were lovers. That Helen was pregnant. She knew Paula had battled against her attraction to
Nick. Her moment of weakness had cost her much.

‘Do you think you could ever feel anything for Kieran?’ Jennifer asked gently.

Paula wiped her eyes. ‘I wish I could, Jenny. I’ve never thought of him like that. Kieran’s just Kieran. Someone to plan strategies with, someone to argue and fight with,
someone to have laughs with—’

‘You could be describing many a marriage there,’ Jennifer interjected, smiling. When Paula told Jennifer that Kieran was in love with her it was as if something had clicked into
place. She should have seen it straight away. It was sticking out a mile. Thinking back, Jennifer remembered how Kieran always wanted to talk about Paula and would steer the conversation in that
direction. When the Scullys had been acting up, threatening legal action, Jennifer had heard Kieran tell their legal advisor, ‘We back Paula the whole way on this, I don’t care what
money we lose.’ It hadn’t gone to court. The Scullys backed down and made an out-of-court settlement. Paula was away at the time and when she’d come back from her trip, Kieran
sent her a huge bouquet with a note of congratulations. When Paula was in the office, Kieran was always making excuses to go and sit on her desk and chat despite Paula’s protests that she had
work to do. They were very alike in some ways. Full of enthusiasm for their ventures, attractive charismatic people. Both extremely hard workers. If Paula hadn’t been so besotted with Nick
she might have looked at Kieran in a different light. It was ironic, thought Jennifer as she poured the coffee, Kieran was going through the same pain Paula was. He was in love with her and she
wasn’t in love with him. It was all very depressing.

Paula took the Holiday Villa brochure out of her bag. ‘How would you fancy a week, ten days or a fortnight away?’ She gave a wry grin. ‘Kieran got such a shock when I said I
might leave the country and go abroad that he suggested I go on holidays, have a good think and then make a decision.’

‘That’s a good idea,’ Jennifer said firmly. ‘There’s no point in you haring off just because you’re upset now. Kieran’s a very sensible guy.’

‘I know. He’s very generous too, it was he who suggested you come on holidays as well. He thinks you could do with the break.’

‘Did he?’ Jennifer was pleased by her employer’s thoughtfulness.

‘We can use any of the company facilities. I’ve checked out the availability of villas. Majorca, Lanzarote and Corfu are available. Would you be interested?’ Paula asked,
hopefully.

‘It sounds lovely,’ Jennifer said regretfully. ‘I know Ronan would think it’s a great idea but I have Rachel staying with me for her Easter holidays. Even though she was
sick herself, she came up to Dublin to look after me when I came out of hospital. It would be very rude to turn around and say, I’m taking off on holidays with Paula. Bye, bye.’

‘Ask her to come along. They’re all three-bedroom luxury villas, there’ll be more than enough room for three of us.’

‘Are you serious?’ Jennifer looked at Paula in surprise.

‘Sure, why not? Rachel’s easy to get on with. She might enjoy it.’

‘Oh, she would,’ Jennifer enthused. ‘She’s never been on a foreign holiday and she adores the sun. It would do her all the good in the world. Are you sure you
wouldn’t mind if she came along? I know you’re not in good form.’

‘I don’t mind at all if it means you’ll come away for a few days with me. It would be a bit like old times, wouldn’t it?’

Jennifer grinned. ‘You can say that again.’

‘Right, where are we going, and for how long?’ Paula opened the brochure and showed Jennifer the choices available.

They decided to take the villa in Corfu. Paula said it was a beautiful villa set in an olive grove just yards from the beach. It had its own pool, Jacuzzi and sauna. A housekeeper who came from
the nearby village would live in, if required. Of their four choices it was the most luxurious and the one Paula recommended.

‘Sounds gorgeous, I love the part that says “set in an olive grove and yards from a sandy tree-fringed beach.”’

Paula smiled. ‘Are we on then?’

‘I think so.’ Jennifer smiled back. ‘I’ll see what Ronan and Rachel have to say when they get home.’

‘Let me know, and I’ll make the arrangements on Monday morning. I’ll give the office a call and tell them to reserve Villa Athena, for ten days, from Holy Thursday. How’s
that?’

‘Are you sure ten days is enough? Only I’d feel a bit mean going off on two weeks’ holidays without Ronan. And Rachel would have to be back at school before the fortnight was
out,’ Jennifer said.

‘Ten days is fine,’ Paula assured her. ‘You know me, I’ll probably start to get itchy feet after a week.’

‘Paula, I’m warning you, you’d want to start taking things a bit easier or you’re going to get burnt out. You never give yourself a minute. You don’t know how to
relax any more. I’m telling you, when we get to Corfu, you’re going to flop, or I’ll want to know the reason why,’ Jennifer scolded.

‘OK, OK,’ Paula laughed. ‘It’s a deal.’ She stood up and gave Jennifer a hug. ‘Thanks for everything. Thanks for being a great pal. It really
helps.’

‘That’s what friends are for and you’ve done the same for me when I needed it.’ Jennifer hugged her back.

It would be nice going away with Paula for a holiday. They hadn’t been on one together since Jennifer’s marriage. She wouldn’t have to put on an act with Paula. She
wouldn’t have to pretend to feel cheerful when she was feeling sad. Paula wouldn’t expect her to gad about like they’d done when they’d been in Spain together. She was
pretty down in the dumps herself. She wouldn’t want to be out discoing and partying. Rachel certainly wasn’t into the hectic social life either. It could be ten days of relaxation and
coming to terms with their own problems. Maybe it would do them all the good in the world. Jennifer’s spirits lifted for the first time since the accident. She was dying for Rachel to come
home to see what she’d say about the idea.

‘I’d love to come,’ Rachel said ecstatically. ‘Are you sure, though? Would you not prefer to go off with Paula on your own?’

‘It was Paula’s idea and I think it’s great. We’d love you to come,’ Jennifer said warmly.

‘I’ve no passport,’ Rachel exclaimed.

‘We can organize that first thing Monday morning,’ Jennifer assured her.

‘I’ll have to go home to get clothes and things.’ Rachel frowned.

‘Listen to me, Rachel Stapleton.’ Jennifer seized her opportunity. ‘You and I are going in to town on Monday and you’re going to buy a whole new summer wardrobe. You
don’t need to go home. You have a case up here with you. You have your toiletries and make-up. Anything else you need, we can buy.’

‘I should be saving, Jenny, especially now as I’m going to have to get a place of my own.’

‘Bugger saving,’ Jennifer retorted. ‘You’ve been saving for years, you must have a small fortune saved. You never treat yourself. You never go anywhere. You never do
anything. All you have to pay for is the flight, the accommodation’s taken care of. You badly need some new clothes. And I’m just the woman to go on a spending spree with. Isn’t
that right, Ronan?’ She grinned at her husband, who was delighted to see a bit of her old spark.

‘Absolutely, Rach, you’ll be in the hands of an expert and you won’t know what’s hit you. But it’ll be fun,’ he promised. He was very pleased that Paula had
suggested Rachel go on holidays with her and Jenny. It was just what his sister needed.

‘Oh, all right!’ Rachel threw caution to the winds. ‘Will you be up to going into town?’

‘Try and stop me.’ Jennifer laughed.

‘Try on these culottes, I’ve a pair of Bermudas here as well,’ Jennifer instructed. They were in adjoining changing cubicles in Marks & Spencers. Rachel
didn’t know whether she was on her head or her heels. She’d spent the morning shopping with Jennifer. They’d bought bags of clothes in Dunnes. Swimwear, sandals, espadrilles,
shorts, T-shirts. They’d been to Roches and bought two beautiful sundresses and a gorgeous Michael H summer suit. Now they were in Marks & Spencers and she was trying on trousers and
leggings, Jennifer was passing in more clothes that she’d selected and Rachel felt on an absolute high. She’d gone beyond worrying about the price of things. She was now in the
exhilaration stage of a spree, when everything she saw, she wanted. Jennifer was no help in urging caution. All she’d said that morning was, ‘Buy it.’

‘Let’s see the culottes.’ Jennifer poked her head through the curtains. ‘They’re gorgeous,’ she exclaimed, staring in admiration at the khaki culottes with
matching jacket and white T-shirt. ‘Buy it,’ she instructed.

Rachel laughed. She’d every intention of buying it.

‘You know, you’ve a really good figure, you should make the most of it,’ Jennifer observed as they sat, an hour later, having lunch in Flanagans. ‘Those lycra miniskirts
look fabulous on you.’

‘I hope I’ll have the nerve to wear them,’ Rachel said.

‘You’ll wear them,’ Jennifer said with a glint in her eye.

‘She’s very bossy, isn’t she?’ Paula grinned. She’d met them for lunch. ‘Have you got everything?’

‘I think so. I think Jenny’s happy now that I’m practically penniless,’ Rachel teased.

‘I’m getting my hair done tomorrow and I’m having a leg wax. I think you should do the same,’ Jennifer retorted.

‘A leg wax!’ Rachel paled. ‘I don’t think so.’

‘It makes your legs very smooth, and when you’ve got a tan it looks great,’ Jennifer declared. ‘Go on. Be a devil!’ she dared.

‘Oh, all right,’ Rachel agreed. At this stage she was game for anything.

‘I’ll make an appointment for your hair with Nikki, my hairdresser, and one with Susan in the beauty salon in Kris Morton’s. It’s exactly what you need to finish up your
spree,’ Jennifer assured her.

‘I can’t believe the difference,’ Ronan said the next evening as he saw the vision before him. Rachel had been persuaded to have her hair cropped short in an elegant
sophisticated layered look. Nikki had put highlights in so that Rachel’s hair shone with blond glints. She’d stopped wearing glasses soon after she started working and wore contact
lenses instead. When she looked at herself in the mirror in her bedroom, wearing a tight floral lycra mini and a white T-shirt, Rachel couldn’t believe it was her.

It was as if she was another person. The curly hair that had straggled to her shoulders was gone. The short sharp hairstyle made her look much younger and very contemporary. Rachel
couldn’t believe how slim and nicely proportioned she was in her new clothes that fitted so snugly. Usually she wore loose-fitting cardigans and skirts and blouses. Really hickey clothes.
When she looked at herself now Rachel had to admit that she’d been a Mary Hick. She’d never bothered much with her appearance. She’d never tried to make herself glamorous like
Paula and Jennifer. From now on she would, she decided. It was fun buying clothes. She’d never looked as good. She was not going to slip back into her lazy couldn’t-care-less ways after
her holidays. As Jennifer said, ‘Bugger saving.’ She’d more than enough for a deposit on a small house or apartment. In future she was going to look after her appearance and treat
herself to new fashionable clothes every so often. Blouses and cardigans would be consigned to the bin.

‘What do you think?’ Rachel did a twirl for her brother as Jennifer looked on in satisfaction.

‘The men of Corfu will drool at the mouth when you three beauties arrive. Maybe I should go with you after all.’ Ronan pretended to scowl. Rachel giggled, she felt on top of the
world. She might even have a holiday affair. She was so excited by her new looks and her new wardrobe, she might do anything.

‘Wasn’t it very kind of Kieran to give Jennifer a free holiday all the same?’ Kit remarked to Brenda as she finished washing up after the tea. Brenda had
dropped the children in for her to mind for an hour at lunch-time, but as usual, Brenda had taken advantage and didn’t arrive to collect her offspring until after tea-time.

According to Brenda, there’d been some sort of protest march in town, and she’d got caught up in it and the traffic had been dire. Kit had to hand it to her daughter. Brenda never
used the same excuse twice and was never stuck for one either. There was no point in getting annoyed, Brenda would never change. Kit knew, when she agreed to mind the kids, that she’d be
landed with them. It was her own fault. All she had to do was say no. The next time she would.