Red Letter Day (31 page)

As Rose was soon to return the decision might be out of her hands. If she wasn't working in Close Second she could hardly stay in a flat owned by Richard. He would want her out, she was sure of it. He wouldn't say so now because he would put up with the situation for Rose's sake. But as soon as she returned, Celine knew her days were numbered. Crunching the empty can in her fingers, Celine decided that she'd prefer to go before Richard asked her to leave. That would be just too hard to take.

Marina pulled the bedclothes up around Josh and tiptoed out of the room. She looked at her watch and smiled. It was just eight o'clock and he'd gone to bed like a lamb and even turned off the light himself after she'd read only one story. She went downstairs and joined Kay in front of the telly. Unable to sit still or concentrate on the programme that Kay was engrossed in, Marina decided to manicure her nails.

'Cup of tea, love?' Kay asked as the break came on.

'Sorry? Oh, stay where you are, Mum, I'll make it.' Marina leapt to her feet and went out to the kitchen. As she arrived back in with the tray, Kay turned down the volume, took off her glasses and looked at her daughter. 'What's up?'

'Sorry?'

'You've been walking around in a daze for the last few days, love — what's on your mind?'

'I do have something to tell you,' Marina admitted. 'Two things actually. I've decided to give up modelling and Dominic's asked me to move in with him. The two are sort of connected,' she hurried on. 'He'll be supporting us until I get another job.'

Kay's expression clouded. 'I see.'

'I know you'll miss Josh, Mum, but we would have been moving out in a few weeks anyway.'

'True.'

'You don't look impressed.' Marina looked at her mother's tight-lipped expression.

'Well, of course I'm going to miss you both but, well, do you think it's a good idea to give up work? It can get very boring in the home with only a child to talk to.'

Marina chuckled. 'Oh, really, Mum, just because I'm not working doesn't mean I won't be out and about.'

'I'm telling you it's not the same,' Kay warned.

Marina frowned. 'This isn't about me cracking up at home, is it? You want me to hang on to my job in case things don't work out with Dominic.'

'That's not what I meant,' Kay protested, but she wouldn't meet Marina's eyes.

'He's not like Ray, Mum.'

'I know that.'

'And if he does walk out on us I can always go back to modelling. Provided I don't let myself go I could take it up again any time I feel like it. But I won't have to because Dominic loves me.'

'I know he does, I'm sorry.'

Marina smiled. 'It's okay, Mum, I know you worry about us. I've given you enough cause over the years. But this time I really think it's going to be okay. Dominic is different.'

Kay blinked and managed a wobbly smile. 'Yes, he is. I'm sure the three of you are going to be very happy.'

Marina hugged her. 'So you don't mind us moving out?'

'Mind having my house back to myself, are you mad?'

Marina laughed. 'Don't relax too much. I think Josh plans to visit often.'

'His room will always be there for him,' Kay sniffed. 'I'm going to miss the little terror.'

'I'm very grateful for what you've done for him, for us.'

Kay gathered her into her arms. 'Oh, love, it's been my pleasure.'

Marina sat back and wiped her eyes. 'What are we like, sitting here blubbering?'

Kay stood up, laughing. 'This tea is freezing, I'll make us a fresh pot.'

'To hell with the tea, Mum, let's have a drink.'

Kay lay awake for a long time when they finally went to bed. If Marina had told her a month ago that she was moving out she'd probably have thrown a party. Now she felt sad at the thought of losing her daughter and grandson. It was nice to hear other voices around the house. It was wonderful to listen in as Josh talked to his toys. It often brought a lump to her throat when he cuddled up against her and slipped his little hand into hers. The house would seem so empty and lonely without him. Still, it would be good for Josh to have Dominic as a stepfather, even if he didn't realise that yet. Kay could bear to part with him as long as he was going to be happy. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. If he wasn't happy they'd have her to deal with!

Celine waved Sadie off, shut the door and flicked around the closed sign. With a feeling of pride, she looked around the shop, chock-full with wonderful stock. When word had got around about the break-in, Rose's customers had come up trumps and arrived in with armfuls of the most amazing clothes. Celine seemed to spend half of her time on the phone to Arklow telling her boss about the latest acquisitions. The best part was that the stock was going out the door as fast as it was coming in and takings had never been better. A sharp rap on the door interrupted her reverie and she hurried to answer it.

Richard, clad in his usual uniform of jeans and rugby shirt, was standing on the doorstep. Celine ventured a nervous smile. 'Hi.'

'I won't keep you.' Richard breezed past her. 'I just wanted to arrange a convenient time for you to meet the accountant.'

'Accountant?'

'Yes, didn't Rose tell you? He does the books every quarter.'

Celine nodded, trying to concentrate. 'Yes, of course, she did mention it.'

'So when do you want to do it?'

'I suppose Monday would be the best day. That's when Sadie's here.'

'Right, I'll set it up,' Richard said, moving back towards the door.

He hadn't looked at her during the whole exchange, Celine realised. 'Is that it?'

He paused, his hand on the door. 'Unless there's anything you want to discuss.'

Celine nodded. 'There is actually. Let me close up and we can go up to my flat.'

For the first time there was a hint of a smile in the brown eyes. 'To talk business?'

Celine's eyes widened, all innocence. 'Of course!' As she led the way upstairs her stomach was in a knot. He'd managed a smile, surely that was a good sign? 'Drink?' she asked, going straight into the kitchen.

Richard walked across to the window. 'A beer would be nice.'

Definitely a good sign, Celine thought, taking two bottles from the fridge and opening them.

'Thanks.' Richard took his beer and raised it to his lips.

Celine watched him drink and experienced a moment of pure lust.

'So?' He leaned against the wall and studied her.

'What? Oh, right.' Celine was about to sit down on the sofa but thought better of it. This was going to be hard enough without having him towering over her while she talked. Instead she moved across to the breakfast bar and perched on a stool. 'I want to explain. About Kevin.'

Richard's face was expressionless. 'There's no need.'

'I think there is.' Celine forced herself to look him in the eye. 'And you want to hear it. You could have phoned me to arrange the appointment with the accountant.'

Richard looked away. 'I was passing.'

'Of course you were. Anyway, back to Kevin.'

Richard grunted but he seemed slightly more at ease.

'I met him at my health club over a year ago. We got talking, went for a coffee — it became something of a ritual. Finally he asked me out for a drink and, well, it took off from there.'

'But you knew he was married?'

'Yeah, I knew Eileen.' She looked away from the disgust in his eyes. She'd promised herself she was going to tell him everything but she wasn't sure she could look at him as she was doing it. She got off the stool and went to her favourite spot by the windpw, staring out at the rooftops of Hopefield. 'I told myself that it didn't matter because she obviously didn't care about him.'

'I suppose he told you that.'

'Yep, and I believed it. Probably because I wanted to. Anyway, Eileen found out eventually and had a go at me in the middle of the golf club.'

Richard laughed. 'Good for her!'

'My dad and Brenda, that's Dermot's sister, were pretty upset and I started to get these notes in the door telling me to get out of Killmont.'

'So you applied for the job in Close Second?'

She nodded. 'It seemed the perfect answer.'

Richard cleared his throat. 'So you left Killmont.'

Celine sighed and turned her eyes back to the rooftops of Hopefield. 'Yeah, I was nervous about it but I knew it would be better for everyone if I left. Unfortunately, Kevin followed.'

'You could have sent him away.'

'I did try to finish with him but he can be very persuasive. He said that once we kept a low profile for a while we could carry on as before. That Eileen didn't care about the affair but she didn't want to be made a fool of publicly.'

Richard's hand tightened around the neck of the bottle. 'So you continued the affair?'

Celine looked at him. 'Do you remember the night that you met him?'

'Oh, yes, I remember.'

'That was the night I finished it.'

Richard looked at her, a cynical smile playing around his lips. 'Sure you did.'

'It's true. When you left, Kevin wanted to go to bed.'

Richard flinched.

'But I couldn't. I didn't want to. I wanted you. So be disgusted with me for having an affair with him, that's okay, but don't accuse me of being unfaithful to you. I've seen Kevin only twice since that night and that was only because it took a while to convince him that it was over and that his marriage wasn't the sham he thought it was.'

'What do you mean?'

'Eileen came to see me in the shop. She'd followed Kevin to my flat one night and she came to warn me off. That was the conversation Mary Boyle overheard. The woman was distraught, Richard, and for the first time I realised that she really did love Kevin. I promised her that it was over and I'm saying the same to you now.'

Richard looked down at her in silence.

'Do you believe me?'

'Yes.'

Celine sighed. 'But it doesn't make any difference, does it?'

'I don't know,' Richard admitted.

Celine sank back down onto the window ledge. 'I understand.'

'I have to go.'

Celine nodded without looking up. 'Sure.'

He bent and kissed her hair. 'I'll call you.'

'Right.' Celine closed her eyes as the door shut behind him.

When Celine heard the buzzer later that night, she flew across the room to press the button. He's come back. Everything's going to be okay. 'Yes?' she said, breathless.

'Celine, it's me, Fergus.'

'Fergus? Come on up.' Celine opened the door and watched his unsteady progress up the stairs. 'Are you okay?'

Fergus reached the top and looked at her with bloodshot eyes. 'Not really. Got any beer?'

'I think you should have some coffee.'

'Don't want coffee.'

'It's your funeral,' Celine said, going to the fridge.

'Ha! My funeral! That's funny.' Laughing, he collapsed on to the sofa.

Celine came back with two beers. 'What's up?'

'Oh, Celine, it's all such a bloody mess.'

'What is?'

'I have to go. There's no other way. I just have to go.'

Celine frowned. 'What is it, Fergus, what's wrong?'

'They don't understand, Celine. They don't realise how dangerous he is. I should never have listened to Richard.' He lit a cigarette with shaking fingers.

'Jesus, you're scaring me, Fergus. Will you tell me what the hell is going on?'

Over the next twenty minutes and three cigarettes, Celine managed to get the facts out of Fergus, although not necessarily in the right order. 'So, this guy Mick thinks you're working for him and the police want you to set him up?' Ignoring Fergus's pleas for another beer, Celine had gone the other side of the breakfast bar to make some strong coffee.

'Yeah.'

'Well, that's good, isn't it? Once he's in jail you can get on with your life.'

Fergus shot her a pitying look and lit another cigarette. 'Mick has more contacts in Dublin than I've had hot dinners. It'll take him about thirty seconds to figure out I shopped him and then he'll send his mates after me. And it won't be just me, Celine.'

'What do you mean?'

He put his head in his hands. 'Mick was behind the break-in.'

Celine placed a mug in front of Fergus and sat down on the window ledge. 'Shit.' She stared at him, her eyes large.

'Exactly. I can handle him coming after me but I can't let him destroy Ma. And the break-in was just a warning. Next time someone could get hurt.' He looked at her. 'You could get hurt. Jesus, it's not enough that I got Dermot killed, now I'm putting you in danger.'

'It's not your fault—' Celine broke off as Fergus's mobile rang. After looking at the display, he disconnected the call. 'Who was it, Mick?'

'The law.'

'Shouldn't you talk to them?'

He shook his head. 'I'm not going to do it. I can't do it.'

'But then won't you be in trouble?'

He gave a short laugh. 'I think I'm in trouble whatever happens.'

Celine closed her eyes. 'But if you help the police surely they'll take care of you afterwards?'

'Yeah, right. Trust me, Celine, I know what Mick and his gang are like. They'll find me wherever I go.'

'So what are you going to do? If you do a runner now won't Mick still come after you? And the police, they'll be after you as well. And if they don't get you they might come after Rose—' She broke off as she saw the look of terror in his eyes. 'I'm going to call Richard.'

'No!' Fergus shouted, making her jump. 'Sorry, Celine, but he's just going to insist I go along with whatever the police say.'

She moved over to sit beside him and put an arm around his thin shoulders. 'Maybe he's right, Fergus. If you don't deal with this now you're going to spend your life running away.'

Fergus sniffed back the tears. 'I know.' 'Let me call Richard. Between the three of us maybe we'll come up with something.'

Fergus nodded reluctantly and she grabbed the phone and took it into the bedroom.

'Richard?'

'Celine, hi.'

'Can you come over, Richard? Fergus is here.'

'What is it, what's wrong?'