It's All About Him (22 page)

When they pulled up outside the house, Lisa hurried out to greet them.

'What on earth are you still doing here? It's almost seven.' Dee asked as her friend hugged her tightly.

'I couldn't leave without seeing him,' Lisa whispered, watching as Conor lifted Sam down from the jeep. 'He looks a lot better.'

'He is.'

'Lisa! Look what Conor bought for me.' He held the forklift up for her inspection.

'Cool! Let's take it inside and you can show me how it works,' Lisa said. As Sam skipped inside she turned back to Conor and Dee. 'Why don't you two go and have a cuppa? I'll keep him with me in the crèche for a little while and let you catch your breath.'

'I don't know, Lisa—'

Lisa put her hand to her mouth. 'Oh, God, you don't trust me with him, do you?'

'Don't be daft, of course I do!' Dee retorted. 'It's just I'm terrified to take my eyes off him. I don't know what I would do if anything ever happened.'

Conor slipped an arm around her shoulders as the tears started to fall. 'Sam doesn't need to see you like this,' he murmured. 'Let Lisa look after him and take a short break.'

Dee nodded silently and allowed him to guide her down the hall towards the kitchen while Lisa hurried after Sam.

'So,' he said once she was sitting down, 'what will it be?'

'Tea, please.'

'Want me to put something in it?' he asked as he filled the kettle.

'No, I'm tired as it is and I want to keep my wits about me. What if he passed out again?'

'I'm sure he'll be fine. I'm so sorry you couldn't contact me, Dee. I went into the market and my phone ran out of juice. Dad didn't manage to get through to me until I was back in the car and so I drove straight to the hospital – well, via the toy shop.' He carried two mugs of tea over and sat down beside her.

'Thanks for the present, he loves it.'

He gave a short laugh. 'Then that's about the only useful thing I did today.'

'There was nothing you could have done.'

'I could have been with you. Like Neil.'

She put a hand on his when she heard the hurt in his voice. 'Neil wasn't with me. I phoned him from the hospital to tell him what happened – I felt I had to – but I never asked him to come; he just turned up minutes before you did.'

Conor nodded. 'Are you going to let him meet Sam?'

'I don't know yet,' she said honestly.

'You must have told him something.'

Dee massaged her forehead with a weary hand. 'I told him this morning that I'd like to talk to someone who can vouch for his recovery.'

Conor's eyes narrowed. 'You were talking to him this morning?'

Dee flushed. 'Yes, I met him in town.'

'So you didn't go to see a recruitment consultant,' he said slowly.

'I did! I did that too.'

'But the real reason you went in to Dublin was to meet Neil.'

'Conor, I can't make any decisions without talking to the man,' she snapped irritably, 'and I could hardly invite him here.'

'Agreed, I just wonder why you felt you couldn't tell me about it.'

'I was going to—'

'When, Dee, after he'd moved back in?' He hadn't raised his voice a fraction but Dee could hear the anger in his voice.

'Conor, please, you are completely overreacting. It's been a crazy week and so much has happened and I was planning on telling you all about it; there just hasn't been an opportunity.'

'Okay, then you can fill me in tonight over dinner.'

'Dinner?'

'We're going out, remember? Paula is booked for eight o'clock.'

Dee had completely forgotten. 'Oh, Conor, I can't leave Sam tonight, not now.'

'Then we'll stay in and talk.'

Dee sighed. 'Can't we do this tomorrow, Conor, I'm really beat.'

He stood up abruptly, splashing his tea. 'Fine, then, I'll head off so.'

'Conor!'

'I'll just go and say goodbye to Sam,' he said and strode out of the kitchen.

'Shit,' Dee murmured. She really should follow him and make him listen but she felt so exhausted; too exhausted for the heavy conversation that would ensue. Anyway, she was a bit annoyed with him. He was being completely unreasonable. How could he expect her to go out and leave Sam tonight? Right now she wasn't sure she'd ever let him out of her sight again. Hearing the front door close, she went through to the crèche and smiled when she saw Sam curled up on Lisa's lap Listening as she read him a story.

'Sam, it's time for your bath,' she said when Lisa had finished.

'Ah, Mum.'

'And if you're good,' Lisa interjected when his lip settled into a stubborn line, 'and your Mum doesn't mind, I'll read you another story when you're tucked up in bed.'

'Yes!'

'But only if you're really quick.'

He hopped up immediately. 'Okay, but Mum, can I have something to eat first?'

Dee nodded, delighted. 'Sure! Let's go out to the kitchen and see what we've got.'

He raced ahead and she turned back to Lisa. 'Thanks a million but don't you want to get off?'

'I'm in no rash and as Conor had to go I thought I could talk you into an extremely unhealthy takeaway.' She eyed her speculatively. 'I figured you might need the company.'

'I don't know what I'd do without you,' Dee said, hugging her.

'Mum? Mum? Are there any chocolate cookies?' Sam yelled from the kitchen.

Lisa laughed. 'I think he's on the mend.'

Though Sam was a lot better the next day, Dee kept a careful eye on him and insisted they have a quiet day at home. It was for her benefit as much as his. Though Sam had slept through the night and woken in wonderful form, Dee had crept in every so often to check on him. She was exhausted when she woke and was happy to spend the day quietly, just the two of them.

Julia called on Sunday morning, insisting Dee and Sam join them at the café for Sunday lunch. 'I'm sure you could do with the break and I happen to know the food there is quite good,' she joked.

Dee agreed. She hadn't talked to Conor since Friday night. Although he had sent a text to ask after Sam, he didn't call and neither did she. She knew she should but there was too much to be said and it couldn't be done on the phone, especially with little ears close by. Maybe she'd get an opportunity today to set the record straight.

When they arrived at Better Books, Ronan and Julia and Conor were already seated and sharing a bottle of wine. Immediately they saw Sam, they fussed over him, Julia producing a new football for the little boy. Conor, pleasant but distant with Dee, concentrated all his attentions on Sam and soon he, Sam and Ronan were arguing good-naturedly about who was really the best football team, Liverpool or Manchester United.

'You must have got such a fright,' Julia murmured to Dee as she poured her a glass of wine.

'I did,' Dee agreed. 'I'm still a bit nervous, to be honest. Who's to say it won't happen again?'

Julia nodded sympathetically. 'Still, he looks wonderful today and he seems to be in top form.'

'Yes.'

'You look tired,' Julia observed, 'you're doing too much.'

Dee smiled. 'You can talk!'

'I don't have a young child to look after,' Julia pointed out. 'Seriously, Dee, maybe you should reevaluate things. I mean, if you'd been there when Sam took ill—'

Dee bit her lip. 'He was in our home with my best and trusted friend who happens to have a string of qualifications in childcare not to mention being fully trained in First Aid.'

'But Conor said you found him unconscious.'

She sighed. 'He was in the same room and it all happened in a matter of minutes.'

Julia shrugged. 'All I'm saying is no one looks after your children the way you do.'

Dee stood up abruptly. 'Excuse me, I need to use the loo.' She pushed open the door and crashed into Zoe coming the other way. 'Oh, sorry.'

'You're in a hurry.' Zoe looked at her and then frowned at Dee's flushed face and glowering expression. 'What's up?'

'Julia,' Dee growled.

'Oh.' Zoe nodded in understanding. 'What's she said this time?'

'Basically that if I'd stayed home and looked after my son, he wouldn't have been taken ill.'

'Silly old bat, ignore her,' Zoe advised. 'I always do.'

After splashing water into her face and taking a moment to calm down, Dee went back inside and was relieved to see Julia had gone over to another table to chat to a neighbour. Conor and Sam were at the jukebox and Ronan was sitting alone, sipping his wine. As she sat back down next to him, he topped up her glass. 'It seems we've been deserted.'

'I'm glad of a chance to talk to you,' she told him. 'I had quite a successful meeting with the recruitment people on Friday and I'm hoping to interview at least one person next week.'

'Oh, that's great, love. I hope you don't feel I've forced your hand.'

She shook her head. 'No, not at all and with the latest developments, I'd have had to get help anyway.'

'Oh?' He looked at her curiously.

'I haven't had a chance to fill Conor in yet so I'd appreciate it if you kept it to yourself until we've had a chance to talk—'

'Yes, of course.'

'—but I've been asked to do a regular spot on the
Right Now
programme.'

'Dee, that's wonderful! Congratulations!'

Dee grinned. 'Thanks. It will mean I'll be spending Wednesdays at the studio so I am going to need the help. But I don't want you to worry,' she added hurriedly, 'I promise that standards won't drop.'

'I know that,' he admonished, 'and look at the crowds your fame will draw in, I'll have to build an extension to the place!'

She laughed. 'I doubt that.'

'I'm delighted for you, darling.' He kissed her cheek. 'I think you will be wonderful and, if it doesn't sound too patronizing, I'm proud of you.'

'What's all this?' Julia said bustling over, her face curious.

'Dee is going to be a TV star!' Ronan told her, smiling broadly, and instantly forgetting his promise to keep the news to himself. 'She's got a regular spot on that programme she was on.'

'No!' Julia's face was a picture.

Dee groaned inwardly. 'Yes, it's true,' she confirmed, shooting a nervous glance in Conor's direction. 'They've decided to do a weekly spot on nutrition and they've asked me to be on the panel.'

'How exciting!'

'What's exciting, Mother?' Conor asked as he and Sam returned to the table.

'Dee's just told us about her new job,' Julia said as Ronan shot Dee an apologetic look. 'Why didn't you tell us?' she added with a reproachful look.

He looked blankly at his mother. 'I've no idea what you're talking about.'

'Mum's going to be on telly every week,' Sam told him, bouncing up and down excitedly on his chair. 'She's going to teach people how to eat proply.'

'Properly,' Dee said automatically. 'Sorry, Conor, I never got a chance to tell you. With all the fuss over Sam on Friday it completely went out of my head.'

He nodded and gave a forced smile at no one in particular. 'Congratulations.'

'Thanks,' she said dully.

Julia prattled on through the meal, asking questions and offering her views on what topics should be discussed. Dee nodded and smiled but it was hard to ignore Conor's coolness. She wished Julia would shut up. All she wanted to do was to get Conor alone so she could explain everything. When Zoe had served them coffee, Dee sent Sam off to wash his hands.

'I know,' Ronan said, 'why don't Julia and I take Sam to the cinema?'

Julia stared at him. 'I'm not sure there's anything suitable on. Anyway, Dee probably has plans.'

'You don't, do you?' Ronan asked.

'Well, no, but I'm sure you have better things to do with your Sunday afternoon.'

'We'd like to, wouldn't we, Julia?' He squeezed his wife's knee probably a little harder than necessary.

'Yes, yes of course.'

'And you and Conor can go for a drink or a walk or something,' he went on.

Dee shot a look at Conor. He didn't look at all keen on the idea.

'I was going to do some paperwork this afternoon,' he murmured.

'Nonsense,' his mother retorted, 'it's Sunday. The poor girl needs a break after the terrible time she's had.'

Dee smiled. This was true Julia. One minute she was an irritating old busybody and the next she was a sweetheart.

Conor caught her eye and smiled. 'Do you want me to take you out after the terrible time you've had?'

'A walk might be nice.' She smiled too, glad to see some warmth back in his expression.

'Good, then that's settled.' Ronan stood up as Sam came running back. 'Now, young man, what would you say to a trip to the cinema?'

'Yeah!' Sam cheered. 'Can I have popcorn?'

Julia looked anxiously at Dee.

'Popcorn is fine,' Dee told her, 'but just water if he's thirsty.' She pulled Sam to her and hugged him. 'Behave yourself.'

'I will.'

Julia stood up and stretched out a hand to the little boy. 'Then let's go.'

'Thanks.' Dee smiled at her and then at Ronan.

'The least I can do,' Ronan murmured.

'You two go and enjoy yourselves and we'll see you at home later.' Julia squeezed Dee's hand. 'I promise we'll take very good care of him.'

Dee watched them leave and snuck a look at Conor. 'Sorry,' she said when his eyes met hers.

He shrugged. 'None of it seems very important after what happened to Sam.'

She smiled. 'Thank you.'

He stood up and held out his hand to her. 'What's it to be, a walk or the pub?'

'Both?' she suggested, taking it. 'A walk first, I think.'

They didn't talk as they walked the short distance to the beach but Conor kept a tight grip on her hand. She squeezed it gratefully and tucked her head down into the neck of her jacket to avoid the cool breeze.

'So you're going to be rich,' he said finally with a sideways grin.

She laughed. 'No, but the bank balance will be a lot healthier. Mind you, that isn't saying much.'

Conor did a double take at her sober expression. 'Are you finding things that hard?'

'I was,' she admitted and was relieved that she finally could. 'It's been a tough few months.'

He stopped and looked at her. 'Dee, you should have told me, I could have helped you.'