What She Wants (84 page)

the post all sat unread on the kitchen table while Millie ran back and forth to the bathroom. When no vomit was forthcoming, Matt was thrilled, but Millie wasn’t, so she opened a tub of pickle from the fridge and got most of that all over herself. Then she spilled the rest into the toilet bowl and was looking into it happily when her father appeared at the bathroom door with a world-weary expression on his face. ‘Sick,’ she announced cheerfully, pointing at the mess. ‘I’m a big girl now like Mummy.’ Matt’s face was a picture as he realized what she was saying.

Sam knew that Hope would kill her. ‘Don’t interfere,’ she’d warned on several occasions. But sometimes, Sam reflected, you had to go with your gut instinct. Hope loved Matt and needed him. At the same time, Sam was sure, in spite of her reservations about him, that her bull-headed brother-in-law adored his wife, but between the pair of them, they were behaving like two immovable objects, both unyielding. Well, Sam decided the morning before the wedding, the time had come for action. First, she phoned Dan at Judd’s in Bath. He was delighted to give her Matt’s phone number. ‘I’ve told him not to be a fool and to make it up with her because I can tell he’s not happy without Hope,’ Dan said, ‘but then, when has anybody been able to tell Matt anything?’ ‘There’s a first time for everything,’ Sam said firmly. Matt’s phone nearly rang out before he picked it up, sounding out of breath. ‘Yes,’ he gasped. ‘I thought you weren’t in,’ Sam said. ‘I was dressing Toby and Millie got at the shoe polish,’ Matt said. ‘Her blue suede shoes are now blue and black, and the kitchen floor is not much better.’ ‘She is a handful,’ agreed Sam. ‘I’m sure you know why

I’m phoning you, Matt,’ she added, getting straight to the point as usual. ‘This has gone on too long and there’s something you should know …’ ‘Hope’s pregnant,’ interrupted Matt. For once, Sam was speechless. ‘How do you know? She hasn’t told anybody.’ ‘Millie’s new game is pretending to get morning sickness,’ Matt explained. ‘Oh. So what are you going to do about it?’ demanded Sam. ‘Don’t get on your high horse with me,’ began Matt hotly. ‘I don’t have to listen to your bossing me around …’ He stopped abruptly. ‘Sorry. You and I are like a broken record, aren’t we? Fighting is all we’re good for.’ ‘Yeah, you’re right, sorry,’ Sam said. What was she fighting with him for, anyway? The whole point of the conversation was to sort things out for Hope. ‘I love her, you know.’ Matt’s simple declaration touched Sam’s heart. ‘I know,’ she said. ‘I do too, that’s probably why you and I fight so much. We have trouble sharing her.’ She paused. ‘Nothing happened with Christy. He flirted with her and she was flattered, that was all. If she wasn’t so naive and trusting, she’d have told him to get lost.’ ‘I know that,’ admitted Matt. ‘And you’re to blame too,’ Sam went on. ‘You pretty much abandoned her in Kerry. She’s made a life for herself there but it was no thanks to you.’ ‘I know that too,’ he said ruefully. ‘I got so tied up in my own problems that I neglected her. I thought she’d always be waiting there for me, I took her for granted. That’s no excuse, I know, but I was going through a difficult time in my life.’ ‘And now?’ ‘I’m going back,’ Matt said simply. ‘I need her, more than she knows, to be honest.’ Sam felt tears prickling her eyes.

‘What about your job, though? Hope loves Kerry, she’d hate to leave, so how can you combine it all?’ That was when Matt told her his plan.

‘Why did you pick a dress with thirty silk-covered buttons?’ joked Hope on the Saturday of Delphine’s wedding, as her fingers fumbled to fasten the tiny silk loops over the tiny buttons. ‘I wanted Eugene to suffer tonight when he unbuttons me,’ replied Delphine, her long red curls falling down her back onto the buttons, adding to the difficulty. ‘He has to suffer to win me, you see, like the brave Celtic knights suffering to get their hands on the lovely maidens, or whatever. I can never remember the exact details of those old stories.’ ‘He’ll fall asleep before he’s half-way down your back,’ remarked Mary-Kate, arriving into the pink bedroom in Kilnagoshell, scene of the pre-wedding party. ‘Virginia is bringing up some nibbles for us all to keep us going because it’s going to be hours before we’re eating.’ ‘I can’t eat or I’ll burst out of the dress,’ Delphine said. ‘I want to be slim and virginal looking when Eddie says “I bless the marriage of Delphine Eustacia Lavinia Margaret Ryan and Eugene O’Neill…’” ‘Delphine Eustacia Lavinia Margaret?’ said Hope, awestruck. ‘My sister read a lot of romantic novels when she was expecting Delphine,’ revealed Mary-Kate. ‘Delphine has no idea that if it wasn’t for me putting my foot down, Pauline would have called her Marilyn Scarlett.’ Hope giggled so much she had to stop buttoning. ‘Delphine is bad enough,’ Delphine pointed out. ‘Even the registrar sniggered yesterday. You want to try being a ten-year-old in a class of boys and girls with a name like that. I wouldn’t like to tell you the horrible rhymes they came up with. Delphine rhymes with lots of things. When Eugene and I have children, they’re all going to be called Mary and Tom, nice simple names.’

‘I don’t know,’ Hope said dreamily, ‘I like Rosalie these days. And Rory. I like R names.’ Delphine and Virginia looked meaningfully at each other. ‘For the baby?’ asked Delphine. Hope stared at them and realized they knew. ‘Honestly, nothing’s secret round here!’ she said. ‘Pouring all that wine into your weeping fig plant is not keeping a secret,’ said Delphine. ‘Not having even one glass of champagne on Delphine’s hen night was an even bigger giveaway,’ Mary-Kate added. ‘And although I know you like chocolate, I didn’t think you liked it enough to make your midriff swell quite so much.’ Hope made a noise that was half sob, half laugh with relief. ‘How long have you known?’ ‘For ages,’ said Delphine. ‘Don’t cry. I spent half an hour making up your eyes, you’ll ruin them.’ ‘Does Matt know?’ inquired Mary-Kate gently. ‘You’re as bad as Sam,’ said Hope exasperated. ‘She never stops going on about it.’ ‘You have to tell him. He’s flying over with the children later. Will you tell him at the airport?’ asked Delphine. ‘Sam is going to the airport to pick them up,’ Hope said, avoiding their eyes. ‘Fine,’ said Mary-Kate. ‘Delphine, you know how much you hate people who interfere,’ she warned. ‘We can’t interfere.’ ‘I hate people who interfere in my life,’ grumbled Delphine. ‘This is different.’ ‘Baby sandwiches,’ announced Virginia, appearing at the door with Dinky at her heels and a plate of tiny cucumber sandwiches in one hand. ‘Is this a conspiracy?’ demanded Hope. ‘Baby sandwiches?’ Virginia bit her lip. ‘I meant that I cut the crusts off,’ she said. ‘I take it the news is now out in the open?’ ‘There’s going to be an advert in the local paper,’ Hope

said wryly. ‘Yes, I’m pregnant. No, Matt doesn’t know. No, I don’t want to tell him but Yes I will. Eventually.’ ‘Fine,’ said Virginia. ‘Tea anyone?’

‘You hold her,’ said Sally, thrusting a wriggling Alison into Jamie’s arms. ‘You’re her godfather after all.’ ‘I thought that meant I gave her money on her birthday, I didn’t know I had to actually do anything,’ Jamie grumbled, clutching inexpertly onto his niece who immediately stopped sobbing and smiled, happy now that she was causing the maximum difficulty. She pulled her uncle’s hair joyously, causing him to yelp. Everyone else ignored him, too busy watching the carousel for their luggage. ‘Is that your case, Dom?’ asked Laurence, as a battered old leather case appeared in front of them. ‘Er no,’ said Dominic. ‘Er, yes, yes, grab it!’ After ten minutes, the entire Connell family had collected their belongings and had hired a taxi to take them to Redlion. ‘Kilnagoshell House,’ said Sally, who had realized that once the three Connell brothers got together, they reverted to childhood and were incapable of looking after themselves. No wonder poor Virginia was so capable. ‘I don’t have precise directions but…’ ‘No bother,’ said the taxi driver, waving a laid-back hand. ‘I have a vague idea of where it is.’ ‘Well, if that’s all right with you,’ said Sally, used to taxi drivers who wanted a postcode before they even started the engine.

Sam saw Millie before she saw her brother-in-law. Millie was running, pigtails flying, eagerly looking for her mother, eyes scanning the waiting crowds at the airport. ‘Millie, hello,’ yelled Sam. Millie ran at her like a little hurricane and threw herself into Sam’s arms. ‘Where’s Mummy?’ she gasped.

‘Mummy’s waiting for you,’ Sam whispered into Millie’s dark hair. ‘She’s helping Auntie Delphine get married.’ ‘I’m going to be a bridesmaid,’ crowed Millie. ‘I’ve got my outfit. Daddy’s got it in my case.’ ‘Hello Sam.’ It was Daddy. Hoisting Millie up into her arms, Sam greeted Matt. Normally, they gave each other cool smiles, the smiles of people who were wary of each other. But today, Matt beamed at her and kissed her warmly on the cheek. ‘Hiya Sam, lovely to see you.’ ‘You look pretty smooth, Mr Parker,’ Sam grinned at him. ‘New suit?’ Matt grinned wickedly. ‘It’s a special day, I have to look my best.’ ‘Auntie Ham,’ said Toby from low down. Matt hoisted him up so he could be kissed. Sam lifted her nephew high in the air. ‘We better rush or we’ll be late. Do you want to drive, Toby?’ ‘No me, me, me drive!’ yelled Millie.

‘Sam’s taking a long time to come from the airport,’ said Hope, staring at her watch. ‘Don’t panic,’ said Virginia. ‘The blessing ceremony doesn’t start until two, it’s only a quarter to now.’ ‘I know, but Millie will never forgive me if she doesn’t get to be a flower girl,’ said Millie’s mother ruefully. She looked out the drawing-room window for her Metro, which Sam was driving from the airport. ‘Looks like more guests have turned up,’ she said, as a taxi disgorged a group of people, complete with suitcases. Three tall, chestnut-haired young men, a dark-haired woman and a small child with bright red curls stood on the drive looking around. ‘I didn’t think any of them were staying here, though,’ she added. Virginia crossed the room to look out. ‘Oh gosh!’ she shrieked. ‘It’s my family. I can’t believe it. They never told

me they were coming.’ And she shot out the front door to welcome Sally, Dominic, Jamie, Laurence and little Alison. ‘You never told me you were coming!’ she yelled. ‘It was a surprise to celebrate your new career as the landlady of a five-star B & B,’ said Sally. ‘The inspectors haven’t been in yet,’ said Virginia, delightedly hugging her family. ‘But you’ll get the top rating, we know it,’ Dominic told his mother confidently. ‘What’s going on here?’ asked Laurence, looking around at the people in finery who were milling round excitedly. ‘It’s a wedding, my friend Delphine’s getting married,’ Virginia said. ‘It will be lovely to have you here. Oh, Eugene’s here with Eddie. It’s time for the blessing. I do so wish Sam was here. Millie’s meant to be a flower girl and she’ll kill us all if she doesn’t get to be one.’ ‘This little poppet could be a flower girl,’ Mary-Kate said emerging from the house with a tray of glasses full of champagne. Alison beamed adorably up at all the adults and momentarily stopped pulling her Uncle Jamie’s hair. ‘We don’t want to gate-crash,’ Sally said, ‘I didn’t know the wedding was on today. I thought that was yesterday.’ ‘Only the civil ceremony,’ yelled Delphine, sticking her head out of an upstairs window. ‘The more the merrier, I say. So nice to meet you. I’m the bride,’ she added unnecessarily, as she was the only one with a wreath of white flowers on her head.

Pauline Ryan checked her reflection in the passenger seat mirror once again. Her lipstick was on fine and there was none on her teeth, but she was conscious of a sense that something wasn’t quite right. Looking down at her pale blue lap, Pauline suddenly recognized the culprit: her second-best suit, the blue one she’d bought for a distant relative’s wedding five years ago. Despite her best efforts to subdue her guilty feelings, a big wave of guilt kept bobbing up in her

mind, like a buoy floating in the harbour. She should have bought a new outfit after all, she thought crossly. This blue thing had been perfectly suitable until last week, which was when people began to stop her in the street and say how thrilled they were to get an invite to Delphine’s wedding, and wasn’t Eugene a lovely man and what a great idea to have the reception in Kilnagoshell House. Pauline, who had been planning to grace the wedding with her presence after all, was taken aback. In her eyes, this tawdry hole in the corner affair was one which would undoubtedly be shunned by everyone. Her second best outfit would be more than good enough. And now everyone from Miss Murphy to Belle Maguire was gaily telling her she must be proud of Delphine and how they were all in a dither over what to wear because you could never rely on the weather not to turn nasty. Suddenly, the second best suit wasn’t good enough, but when this really hit Pauline, on Friday, it was too late to do anything about it. She couldn’t shame herself by nipping slyly into Lucille’s for an outfit. The whole town would find out and she’d be humiliated if they realized that the mother of the bride hadn’t bothered to get herself a new suit. ‘It’s a fine house, isn’t it?’ said her husband, Fonsie, nervously as he drove up the winding, tree-lined drive to Kilnagoshell. He hated all this fighting. If only he was able to stand up to Pauline. He’d have loved to have told her to stop her nonsense and that he was going to his beloved daughter’s wedding, church or no church. But Fonsie was a mild man who stood in awe of his wife. ‘It’s nice enough,’ said Pauline grudgingly, looking at the gracious facade where a rambling rose blossomed sweetly over the portico. Fonsie parked the car and got out, suddenly eager to see Delphine and hug her. He loved her to bits and thought Eugene was a fine fellow. Of course, Pauline didn’t know he’d met Eugene. She’d flip her lid if she did. Fonsie slammed

the car door. He was fed up with his wife, and that was the truth. ‘I’m going in to Delphine,’ he announced. If the car had spoken to her, Pauline couldn’t have been more surprised. Fonsie always did what she wanted and right now, she wanted to mingle and see who’d turned up. But he was gone, striding into the big house as if he was the squire himself. Pauline walked around the side of the house to the rose garden and was astonished. There, enjoying one of the most beautiful days of the whole year, was half of Redlion, laughing and chattering and having a whale of a time. And there, she realized with shock, was Father McTeague, laughing his head off with his flock. Pauline’s chest inflated like an angry bullfrog, then deflated just as suddenly. What could she say? He was a man of God, he knew the rules, surely he wouldn’t be there if he thought Delphine would suffer eternal damnation for marrying a divorced man? ‘Pauline,’ he roared, spotting her. ‘Come on over here. We thought the mother of the bride would be too busy to spend time with us mere guests.’ Half-smiling weakly, Pauline allowed herself to be led into the group, who all congratulated her on the whole event. ‘I can’t wait to see her dress,’ Miss Murphy sighed romantically. ‘Mrs Connell tells me she looks like a fairy princess, isn’t that so? You must be so pleased?’ All eyes were on Pauline and for one uncomfortable moment, she wondered did they know that she’d opposed this Godless wedding. No, they couldn’t possibly. Giving an airy wave she’d copied from watching Queen Elizabeth on television, Pauline sighed. ‘Lovely isn’t the word,’ she said. ‘We’re delighted, of course.’ Father McTeague let his breath out and smiled. ‘I knew you would be thrilled,’ he said, his eyes twinkling. ‘Now, I don’t think you’ve met our visitors from London: Sandra, Reenie and Pammy Turner.’