Driving Home for Christmas

by Emma Hannigan

  Pippa scrutinised her face in the mirror. That weirdo taxi driver had given her a serious knock. With Vince’s help, the police had tracked him down.

  ‘It’s up to you if you want to press charges,’ the police had explained. Pippa’s gut instinct had been to leave it. She didn’t want to revisit that night, mainly because she blamed herself for what had happened. A surprise phone call changed her mind.

  ‘Pippa, this is Vince.’

  ‘Oh, hi,’ she said. Her heart dropped like a stone.

  ‘I got your number through a friend of Skye’s,’ he rushed to explain. ‘I asked the police but they wouldn’t give out your details, which is fair enough. Listen, I wanted to apologise for the other night.’ He sounded really tortured.

  ‘Why?’ Pippa was stunned. ‘You did nothing wrong. Jeez, I’m mortified. I’m the one who owes you an apology.’

  ‘I don’t see how,’ Vince said. ‘I shouldn’t have left you with that taxi guy. When I heard he’d assaulted you I was nearly sick.’

  ‘Vince, you’re a lovely guy. I’m the one who behaved abominably,’ Pippa insisted. ‘You were a perfect gentleman. You paid for everything and treated me like a princess.’ She didn’t want to add that she’d bitched about him to the taxi driver. That the reason he’d boxed her and lost his temper with her was because she was such a horrible little cow. That she deserved to be hit and yelled at.

  ‘I like you and that’s why I was happy to treat you,’ he said shyly. ‘I enjoyed the evening with you and I was kind of hoping we could see each other again. Maybe go for dinner somewhere nice?’

  The Pippa of two days ago would’ve smirked to herself and envisaged euro signs popping up in her mind’s eye. She would’ve gladly gone to dinner a couple of times and strung him along so she could get freebies and be wined and dined. But the attack, although it had terrified the life out of her, had knocked some conscience into her.

  ‘Vince, I really appreciate you asking me out. I think you’re a lovely person. I enjoyed your company too, but I don’t fancy you,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry if that’s brutally blunt and honest, but I wouldn’t feel right leading you on.’

  ‘Oh,’ he said, clearly crushed. ‘Fair enough, I guess.’ He was trying to sound nonchalant. ‘At least you’re telling me like it is, eh? There’s a lot to be said for that.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she reiterated.

  ‘No hassle. Besides, you’d probably always associate me with one of the worst nights of your life. That’s hardly a good place to start a relationship, is it?’

  ‘Please don’t think that,’ Pippa begged. ‘You were nothing to do with the awful incident. You weren’t to know, and that crazy man’s behaviour is no reflection on the evening we had. You’re great fun and I know you’ll make the most amazing boyfriend to some lucky girl. But she’s just not me. I’m sorry.’

  ‘That’s okay. Listen, I’ll go,’ he said. ‘First and foremost I wanted to check that you’re okay. I shouldn’t have asked you out. But sure there’s no harm in trying, is there?’ He chuckled.

  If Pippa could have made herself feel attracted to him, she would have done just that. He was a sweetheart, but she was finished with sponging and taking advantage of boys. Now she thought of Jay. She’d been a right wench to him. Skye had pointed out on more than one occasion that the rest of the girls were baffled as to why she’d dumped him. ‘He’s cute, has a brilliant job, makes you laugh like a drain and adores you. What’s the problem?’ Skye had said, after they’d come back from New York.

  Pippa had fancied the pants off him before they’d gone to New York. But as usual she’d decided there was a better offer just around the corner. She’d tossed him aside without so much as a second glance.

  ‘Pippa, I would urge you to press charges, though,’ Vince said. ‘That guy shouldn’t be driving young women around. He could do the same thing again.’

  ‘I suppose so,’ Pippa said, still unsure. ‘I’ll think about it. Thanks for calling and maybe I’ll see you if you’re in Diamonds or about town?’ she said.

  ‘Sure. Take care, Pippa,’ he said, and hung up.

  Pippa wandered into her bedroom. Skye was out meeting a client and she had the apartment to herself. She’d planned to go to the hospital and spend a bit of time with Joey. He seemed really pissed off and she didn’t blame him. Sophia wasn’t exactly in line for Girlfriend of the Year.

  It suddenly dawned on her that Joey had found a partner not too unlike herself. The two of them had always been close and now he’d landed himself a girl who was as heartless as she could be.

  Tears burned her eyes as she dialled the number the policewoman had given her on the night of the assault. ‘If you feel like going ahead and pressing charges, call this number,’ she’d said.

  The man who answered was kind and helpful and asked her to call by to sign some forms and file an official complaint.

  ‘Good for you for doing this,’ he encouraged her. ‘As you rightly say, this man could attack another innocent girl. We promise to make the whole process as painless as possible. Ask for me, Officer Thomas Grey, when you come down to the station and I’ll ensure you’re looked after.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Pippa said. As she hung up, she still harboured serious doubt. She believed she’d deserved that punch. But the voice of reason was driving her forward, telling her she had a duty to other, perhaps nicer, girls to stop that man driving a taxi.

  Feeling a bit lost, she padded into the living room where she spotted the holiday tickets she still hadn’t returned to Jay. Dialling his number she bit her lip, wondering, now that the line had connected, what she was going to say. Any time she’d called him before he’d answered on the first ring – second, at worst. This time it went to voicemail.

  ‘Hi, Jay,’ she said, feeling like a small child standing in front of an angry teacher. ‘It’s me, Pippa. I was wondering if you would possibly meet me for a drink. Or a coffee, even. Or just for a chat really …’ she said, as sweat beaded on her forehead. ‘If you could give me a call I’d really appreciate it. Thanks a million.’

  She put the phone down and exhaled loudly. Her nose hurt. Her head thudded and she wanted to curl up in a ball on her bed and stay there for ever.

  Skye had been amazing since she’d moved in. Pippa had used the accident to hand over the running of the apartment to her. She knew it was a bit of a cop-out but it also meant she’d have to keep up with her payments from here on.

  ‘Here’s the bank details and the dates the rent needs to be in by,’ Pippa had said.

  ‘I’ll make sure I keep abreast of it and transfer the money as required,’ Skye had agreed.

  There was still a massive problem that Pippa needed to address. Lainey had given her the money to pay off her bank and credit card debts, which she’d lodged. She was in the clear, thankfully, but she’d no way of paying Lainey back. She couldn’t work in Boutique Belle with a smashed-up face. ‘I’m sorry to be so callous, Pippa, but I need immediate help over Christmas,’ Sue had said when Pippa called to tell her what had happened. ‘I’ll have to hire someone else.’

  ‘I understand,’ Pippa said. ‘It wouldn’t really sell your new Chanel range or any of your other gorgeous stuff if your assistant is looking like she’s been in a scrap with Katie Taylor.’

  So Pippa was stuck in the apartment, wondering how on earth she was going to make ends meet. The cash Sue had given her for working last Sunday would tide her over for the next few days. She’d a couple of hundred left from Lainey’s loan so she could at least pay her share of the money to Skye for that week. But after that she was snookered.

  She hadn’t the energy to search out a cool outfit to visit Joey, so she pulled on her tracksuit, a puffa jacket and a woolly hat and set off for the police station, first, then the hospital. The complaint was swiftly filed and Pippa left feeling rotten. She’d nearly told the police officer it had been her own fault, but focused on the fact that violence against women was wrong.

  The cr
isp yet sunny December weather was just what she needed. As she walked the short distance to the hospital she pulled her shades from her pocket and placed them tentatively on her battered face, wincing at the pain.

  Moments later, she was in the hospital and walking towards Joey’s bed. ‘Hey, big brother.’

  ‘Hi,’ he said, sounding disappointed.

  ‘Don’t look so thrilled to see me,’ she said, perching on the end of his bed.

  ‘Sorry, Pippa. I’m not myself at the moment for obvious reasons,’ he said. ‘I’m like something from Carry On Nurse here. If I wasn’t so sore and fed up I’d find this almost funny.’

  ‘No sign of Sophia, then?’ Pippa raised an eyebrow.

  ‘No.’ He looked at the door to the ward. ‘I rang her earlier and she was busy. I assume she’s coming in this evening but I actually don’t think I’m going to call her again.’

  ‘Joey, don’t you think you should talk to her properly?’ Pippa suggested. ‘She’s hardly the most thoughtful person you’ve ever encountered. I’ve behaved like a serious idiot in the past so I’m not casting any aspersions here, and as you can see from my face I’m hardly the best person to give advice right now, but Sophia doesn’t seem to give a toss about you.’

  ‘She’s busy, that’s all,’ Joey said defensively. ‘She’s a really great person.’

  ‘Yeah, well, that’s a matter of opinion.’ Pippa sighed. ‘But the fact of the matter here and now is that you’re vulnerable and need her support for the next while. If she’s not there for you, why are you with her?’

  ‘I know I should reassess things a bit,’ Joey said, ‘but I need to get through the next couple of days first. Then I’ll sort it. Anyway, why are you looking like you’ve the worries of the world on your shoulders? And why are you being so self-deprecating?’ he asked. ‘It’s not like Princess Pippa to put herself down. Are you still freaked by what that taxi guy did?’

  ‘It was really scary,’ she said, ‘but that’s not it. I’m going to press charges and I hope that’ll put a stop to his gallop. It’s forced me into a real reality check. I need to get my act together, Joey.’ She explained about the money she’d borrowed from Lainey and that she’d no idea how she’d pay it back.

  ‘You’ll think of something. You’re a jammy cow,’ he said. ‘You’re like the cat with nine lives.’

  Suddenly tears were streaming down Pippa’s cheeks.

  ‘Hey!’ Joey struggled to move. ‘Shit, I’m stuck here. I can’t even lean forward to give you a hug. Don’t cry, Pip. I was only trying to cheer you up.’

  ‘I know,’ she sobbed. ‘But I’ve messed up big-time, Joey. I push people too far. I take, take, take and never give back. Mum and Dad must hate me. All I do is tap them for cash. I sponge from everyone and I deserved the punch I got the other night.’

  ‘Wait a second!’ Joey hissed. ‘You take that back! Nobody deserves to be hit, Pippa. Especially a young girl on her own late at night by a man she’s paid to take her home safely.’

  ‘I didn’t pay,’ Pippa said, with dead eyes.

  ‘What? Did you do a legger and he chased you? Was that why he was so angry? Not that it’s an excuse,’ Joey reiterated.

  ‘Nothing like that. The fella I met at the bar paid. But that’s just it …’ Pippa poured her heart out. ‘You’re such a good listener,’ she said with a shuddering sigh when she reached the end of the dismal tale a few minutes later.

  ‘Well, in all fairness, I can hardly walk away.’ He grinned. ‘But I’m glad you told me all this, Pippa. You already know that sponging and letting others take the financial heat isn’t cool, but please get it out of your head that it’s okay for anyone to hit you. Don’t you see? So many women, and even men, who are victims of abuse feel the same way.’

  ‘But I feel guilty, Joey. I should’ve been nicer. I shouldn’t have been so spoilt and mean. It’s my own fault.’

  ‘It’s not your fault that a man twice your size chose to punch you in the face. There is no excuse for that. End of.’ Joey’s eyes flashed with anger as he spoke. ‘Promise me you’re listening to what I’m saying.’

  ‘Yeah, I hear ya.’ She sighed. ‘I guess you’re right. I was behaving badly but two wrongs don’t make a right, do they?’

  ‘No!’

  ‘Well, seeing as it’s doling-out-advice hour,’ Pippa said, turning to face him, ‘what are you doing with Sophia?’

  ‘We love each other,’ he said.

  ‘Ah, come off it,’ she said. ‘I don’t think you even convinced yourself then.’

  ‘It’s complicated,’ he said, ruffling his hair. ‘Ugh, my head is like a chip pan.’

  ‘Nice,’ she said. ‘Sophia’s a selfish little mare. It takes one to know one.’ Pippa raised an eyebrow. ‘Honestly, she reminds me of myself at times. Except she has zero redeeming features.’ She grinned.

  ‘I’m a bit head-wrecked just now, Pip. I’ll deal with it when I have to, yeah?’ he said, glancing towards the door again. ‘Let’s stick to your messed-up life for today. I’m better at dealing with your problems than my own.’

  ‘Fair enough,’ she said. ‘I know I’ll have to go job hunting as soon as my face heals. But I’ve come to the conclusion I don’t want to float from one thing to another any more. A couple of years ago I had a good job. But since I did that foundation course last year I’ve been messing around,’ she admitted.

  ‘The most important thing is that you can see you need to sort yourself out,’ Joey said.

  ‘I was going to ask Mum and Dad for another loan but they already bailed me out at the end of the summer. Even I know I shouldn’t ask them again.’

  ‘You need to work out what you’re good at and start there,’ Joey said, lying back and trying to get comfortable.

  ‘I love art, but that doesn’t pay much. I’m brilliant at shopping but tend to lose money at it rather than making it. I’d adore to own a shop. After the short stint I did at Boutique Belle I know I’d be good at it. But paying rent and buying stock and all those things would cost a small fortune. Right now, I haven’t a pot to piss in, let alone the equity to open a shop.’

  ‘Why don’t you set up a shopping website so other crazy people like you can indulge?’ he joked.

  ‘That’s it!’ Pippa said, leaping from her chair. ‘I’ll set up a personal shopping service online. I did it with Lainey recently and it worked.’

  ‘What?’ Joey looked intrigued.

  ‘She needed an outfit for the Michael Bublé concert so I dropped into her office and directed her to a whole pile of stores and we chose the perfect thing,’ Pippa explained. ‘If I can set up my own version with links to specific stores I could help others too. I’ll charge a signing-up fee and sketch some funky designs to front each section. If I put outfit ideas together and show people finished looks that they can just click on and purchase it would save them time and effort.’

  ‘That sounds good, but how will you launch it?’ Joey asked, caught up in her enthusiasm.

  ‘I’ll ask Skye for help. She designs websites and works from the apartment. I’ll ask if I can pay her when I make some money back.’

  ‘Well, if you think Skye would help you, it’s worth a try.’

  ‘You’re brilliant. Thank you!’ Pippa stood up and kissed his forehead.

  ‘Is that it? Are you leaving me already?’

  ‘Sorry! I have to go and ask Skye this second. Christmas is around the corner and I haven’t a minute to lose.’

  As Pippa grabbed her coat and bag, she waved and blew kisses to Joey.

  ‘You’re a mental patient, do you know that, Pip?’ he called as she rushed away.

  It was seriously cold when she dashed outside from the heat of the hospital, ignoring the strange glances she attracted from everyone she passed. She hoped Skye would agree to help. She knew it was a long shot but she had such a good feeling about her website idea. It was something she knew she could build on over time.

  When she got home, she boiled
the kettle and made Skye a cup of tea before knocking on her bedroom door.

  ‘Come in,’ Skye said.

  ‘Sorry to disturb you,’ she began. ‘I’ve got an idea and wondered if there’s any way you could help me with it?’ She proceeded to outline it. ‘I have some sketches in my portfolio from my art course last year. I thought I could scan some of those and use the images to front the different pages the clients can click on,’ she said, and dashed into her room to find her work. ‘It might make it all stand out a bit more and add a professional touch.’

  Skye’s expression changed as she began to flick through the charcoal and watercolour drawings of swishy women’s clothing. ‘These are really good, Pippa,’ she said. ‘The vague brushstrokes creating the arms and legs and faces are fabulous. The movement you’ve injected into it all is amazing. You’re on to something here. They’ll be perfect on screen to mark each page.’

  ‘To get it on track quickly I’ll concentrate on Christmas party wear. I need to go live as soon as possible,’ Pippa admitted. ‘You see I borrowed some money from my sister and I have to pay her back.’

  ‘I’m directly connected to thousands of email accounts, not to mention Facebook and Twitter,’ Skye said. ‘I can spread the word.’

  ‘Wow! Thank you. One of my sister’s schoolfriends works for a Dublin PR firm. I’m guessing they have a massive database too.’ Pippa was getting more excited by the second. ‘I’ll see if Lainey will ask her to send a mail around as well.’

  ‘Once we’re ready to go live, you can think of who else might be good. It’s often surprising how many people can be helpful when it comes to this sort of thing. Social media is massive, so you can tap into a ready-made market fairly quickly these days.’

  ‘So does that mean you’ll help me?’ Pippa asked.

  ‘Of course I will,’ Skye said. ‘I reckon if we download lots of sketches and use them as the big draw for your site it’ll serve two purposes.’

  ‘How do you mean?’ Pippa asked.

  ‘If you really want to make some money, why not sell the sketches as well as the membership to your site?’