Changing Places

by Colette Caddle

  Rachel opened her eyes to see her mother lowering herself into the water beside her. ‘Finished the book?’

  ‘Yes, it was marvellous. I do love a good thriller. So, how are your ankles this morning?’

  Rachel lifted one foot out of the water for inspection. ‘Fine. They always are until I try walking anywhere.’

  ‘Not long now,’ her mother comforted her. ‘By Christmas you’ll be back in your high-heels.’

  Rachel laughed but her eyes were sad. ‘Where would I be going in high-heels? Out to the washing-line or down to the supermarket?’

  Bridie sighed. ‘You’re not looking forward to this baby, are you, love?’

  Rachel opened her mouth to protest and then closed it again.

  ‘Don’t beat yourself up about it, Rache, you wouldn’t be the first woman to feel that way. You know, your Aunty Pat went through a very tough time when she was expecting Jill.’

  ‘I didn’t know that.’ Rachel was immediately diverted. ‘What happened?’

  ‘Oh, God love her, she got sick all day every day for the first four months – or at least it seemed that way – and then they said there was something wrong with her womb and she’d have to stay in bed until the baby was born.’

  ‘She must have had pre-eclampsia,’ Rachel surmised.

  ‘It was a terrible time and the maternity hospitals weren’t very nice places in those days. She was totally miserable and decided there and then that she’d never have another child.’

  ‘Poor Aunty Pat.’

  ‘So you see, you’re not alone.’ Bridie shot her a knowing look. ‘Although I think your situation is a bit different, isn’t it?’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Rachel hedged.

  ‘It’s not your feet or your back or the insomnia that’s really bothering you, is it? Come on, love, what’s going on? You know you can tell me.’

  There was a lump in Rachel’s throat at her mother’s gentle, loving tone. ‘Oh Mam, I don’t know what to do.’

  ‘About what, love?’ Bridie moved closer.

  ‘About my life. I’m so unhappy and I don’t know what’s going to happen when the baby comes. I mean, how can I look after two children if I can’t even sort myself out?’

  Bridie patted her hand. ‘You have Anna, Jill and of course Gary to help you. And I’ll come home and stay with you for a while if you like.’

  ‘Oh, would you, Mam?’

  ‘Of course, love. You just let me know when you need me. I don’t want to get in the way though. You and Gary will want some time alone with the children. How much leave will he take?’

  Rachel shrugged. ‘As little as possible, probably.’

  Bridie frowned. ‘Don’t be silly, love. Sure, didn’t he take time off to mind Alex while you came out here?’

  ‘Yes, but that’s because I wasn’t going to be there. Gary does everything to avoid me. He goes out early, comes home late and when he is home, he’s working on that bloody laptop.’

  ‘Everyone works so hard these days,’ Bridie sighed. ‘But then again your father was the same. That’s why I’m so glad he took the early retirement.’

  Rachel glanced over at her father’s sleeping form. ‘He played hard too though, Mam, didn’t he?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘You know what I mean.’

  ‘That was all over a long time ago. Why are you bringing it up now?’ Bridie’s voice was reproachful.

  Rachel held her gaze. ‘Because I think I might finally understand what you went through.’

  Bridie’s puzzled frown disappeared as realization dawned. ‘Gary? Gary’s having an affair?’

  ‘I think so.’

  ‘Dear God, what a family,’ Bridie muttered.

  ‘Pardon?’

  ‘Never mind, just tell me everything.’

  ‘Not here.’ Two toddlers were now playing by the pool and their mother was hovering nearby.

  ‘Let’s go for a coffee,’ Bridie said, helping her daughter out of the pool.

  Shay was still snoring peacefully as they donned sarongs and went up the steps to the poolside bar.

  ‘Orange juice, please,’ Rachel told the waiter.

  ‘And a cappuccino for me.’ Bridie smiled at him and then turned concerned eyes on her daughter. ‘So?’

  Rachel sighed. ‘I’m not sure where to begin.’

  ‘When you first suspected there was someone else.’

  ‘That was the night Alex got his appendix out.’

  ‘But that was over a year ago!’

  Rachel nodded. ‘That’s right.’

  ‘And you’ve kept it to yourself all this time. Oh, you poor girl!’

  ‘He told me that I was wrong and he’d just been out with a colleague from work and some clients. I accepted his explanation and left it at that.’

  ‘Did you really?’

  ‘No. I have never been able to get past it and I’m suspicious whenever he’s late or he gets strange phone calls. God, I even go through his pockets.’

  ‘Perfectly natural,’ her mother assured her. ‘Have you ever followed him?’

  ‘No!’

  ‘I followed your father on a regular basis,’ Bridie said quietly. ‘It was after he had finally admitted everything. He told me it was all over and I forgave him, as you know, but I just had to be sure. I wanted to know I could trust him again.’

  Rachel nodded. ‘Trust. That’s what it comes down to. I suppose I just don’t feel I can trust Gary.’

  ‘Have you had it out with him?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘In case you’re right and he admits there’s someone else? In case he decides to leave?’

  Rachel looked up in surprise.

  Bridie smiled. ‘Been there and got the T-shirt, as they say. Oh love, what can I tell you? Yes, it would be terrible if that happened, but would it be any worse than what you’re going through now? This must be eating you up inside.’

  ‘It is,’ Rachel admitted.

  ‘Then it’s time to have it out with him.’

  ‘I can’t.’

  ‘You can and you must, Rache. Sure, the poor lad might be completely innocent. But you won’t know one way or the other unless you tackle him.’

  Rachel stared into her juice. ‘It’s not supposed to be like this. This wasn’t in my plan.’

  Bridie’s smile was sad. ‘It’s never in anyone’s plan, my darling, but you just have to handle what life throws at you. Dear Lord, it’s no wonder you haven’t been sleeping with all this rattling around inside your head. Promise me you’ll talk to him as soon as you get home.’

  ‘I’ll think about it, Mam, but if I decide not to, you have to promise me you won’t interfere.’

  ‘I promise, love. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll stand by you.’ Bridie’s eyes were full of pride at the look of determination on her daughter’s face.

  Rachel excused herself and went up to the apartment, leaving her mother sitting at the table staring into her cold coffee. It was heartbreaking that both her daughters were in these terrible situations, but it was even worse that she wasn’t able to comfort Rachel the way she’d comforted Anna. She couldn’t tell Rachel that it would be okay and that Gary loved her, because she wasn’t convinced that he did.

  She had been horrified at the haste in which they’d married but had said nothing. Bridie, unlike her sister Pat, didn’t believe in meddling in her daughters’ lives. And if she’d said anything negative about Gary, Rachel would have ignored her anyway. She’d convinced herself, as the years went by, that her worries had been unfounded. Gary and Rachel were never exactly love’s young dream but they seemed to be getting along all right. Until now. Bridie felt sick at the thought of what Rachel had been going through for more than a year. She knew first-hand how suspicion could devour you and colour everything you did. And now there was a new baby on the way and Rachel might well have to raise it alone. But Rachel would never be alone as long as she and Shay were alive, Bridie promised herself fiercely. Thos
e children would have all the love they needed and deserved, whatever happened.

  Anna had enjoyed the morning, rambling around the shops and selecting some small gifts for Val and Mark and a tablecloth for Josie. She was damned if she was bringing anything home for Liam but she couldn’t ignore her mother-in-law or the old bat would guess something was up. Anna wondered what she’d think if she knew about Liam and Tara. God, maybe she already did! After all, the girl did live next door. Anna felt sick at the thought of Liam slipping across the back fence for a quick massage with his mother’s blessing. It would be too weird if she was in on the whole sordid business.

  Anna glanced at her watch. ‘Damn.’ She was supposed to have met Jill in Kitty’s for lunch at noon. Hurrying down the road, she waved as she saw her cousin sitting on a chair outside the café, soaking up the sun.

  ‘Sorry I’m late, Jill,’ she panted.

  ‘No problem, I’ve been enjoying sitting here watching the world go by. You know I never get time to do that at home?’

  ‘Our weather doesn’t exactly lend itself to that kind of pastime, now does it?’

  Jill laughed. ‘True. Now, are we having lunch or would you prefer to get back?’

  ‘Oh, let’s have lunch.’

  ‘Hello, you two,’ Kitty said as they came in. ‘Where’s the rest of the gang?’

  ‘Probably still sleeping by the pool,’ Anna told her, climbing up on to a bar stool.

  ‘What will it be?’ Kitty asked.

  Jill looked at her cousin. ‘Beer, wine or are we being good?’

  ‘Good? Don’t be silly, we’re on our holidays. A bottle of house rosé, I think,’ Anna suggested.

  ‘Mmnn, yes, sounds good,’ Jill agreed.

  ‘And are you having some lunch?’

  ‘Definitely,’ Jill said, eyeing the Specials on the blackboard. ‘That tuna salad sounds good.’

  ‘It’s lovely and fresh,’ Kitty promised.

  ‘And I’ll have a Spanish omelette,’ Anna said hungrily.

  ‘That’s your third this week,’ Jill remarked. ‘Are you supposed to eat that many eggs?’

  ‘I don’t care, they’re gorgeous. Anyway, I never eat eggs at home.’

  Kitty cut some bread and put it, along with some olive oil flavoured with garlic and herbs, in front of them to nibble at. ‘Coming right up.’ She turned to the fridge and took out the eggs and milk and carried them to the work area.

  ‘I just love that you can see all the food being prepared,’ Anna whispered to Jill. ‘She is such a great cook.’

  Jill nodded as she too watched Kitty. ‘This place must be a goldmine.’

  ‘In the summer months yes, but it’s probably quiet the rest of the year.’

  ‘With the size of the Irish and English community living around here? I doubt it.’

  ‘I suppose.’

  ‘It’s not a bad life, is it? Imagine working in this climate and being your own boss.’

  ‘It’s hard work though.’

  ‘Yes, but if you’re working for yourself then the money’s going straight into your pocket.’

  Kitty moved back over to the worktop in front of them to prepare the salad.

  ‘Have you been here long, Kitty?’ Anna asked.

  ‘Nearly four years.’

  ‘What made you leave Ireland?’

  Kitty made a face. ‘It was my husband’s idea. He’d been made redundant and was finding it hard to get work. We’d visited the area a couple of times and he had a friend who was already working out here as a builder so he knew the score. This place came up for sale and within two months I’d chucked my job and we’d moved, lock, stock and barrel.’

  ‘Were you working as a chef in Dublin?’ Anna asked.

  ‘Lord, no.’ Kitty laughed. ‘I worked in the accounts department of a travel agent. Ben was the cook – we’d never have made such a move otherwise.’

  ‘You’re a quick learner then,’ Jill said finally. ‘The food here is great.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Kitty flashed her a smile. ‘Much as I hate to admit it, that’s thanks to my husband. He was a good teacher. Just as well, really, or I’d have been rightly stuck when he ran off with one of our customers.’

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry, Kitty. That’s awful,’ Anna said with feeling.

  ‘Don’t worry about it, I’m over it now. And to his credit, he let me keep everything.’

  Anna snorted. ‘Big deal.’

  ‘Well, technically, he could have made me sell up and claimed half of everything,’ Kitty told her. ‘But the woman he ran off with was loaded and has set him up in his own restaurant in Madrid.’

  ‘And have you been running the place single-handed ever since?’

  Kitty shook her head. ‘I had a Manager up until a couple of months ago, but she married a guy from Barcelona and has moved up there with him. I’ve been meaning to replace her but I haven’t had time.’

  ‘How do you keep going?’ Anna marvelled.

  ‘Well, Juan and Pepe are great.’ She gestured at the two waiters who were busy cleaning down tables and setting out cutlery. ‘And when it’s quiet I nip upstairs for a break.’

  ‘Is that where you live?’

  ‘No, I have an apartment outside town. Jeanette, my Manager, lived upstairs. It’s quite a nice apartment although a bit small. I thought about moving in but I like having some time away from the business and I was hoping that whoever eventually took the Manager’s job would live there.’ She looked up and smiled at Jill. ‘It would be nice to have someone on the premises all the time, just in case. Now, ladies, I hope you enjoy your meals,’ she said, setting their food in front of them and topping up their wine glasses. ‘Shall I get Pepe to carry them over to a table for you?’

  Anna shook her head. ‘No, we’re fine here. Thanks, Kitty, this looks delicious.’

  Jill was already forking tuna into her mouth. ‘Mmm – nothing like the stuff out of a tin. If I could have this sort of food every day, I’d be so thin.’

  Kitty smiled and then went back to the preparation area at the back of the kitchen.

  ‘She’s a very impressive woman – isn’t she?’ Jill murmured to her cousin.

  ‘She’s certainly got a head for business – and she’s very attractive,’ Anna said. ‘It’s a shame that she’s on her own.’

  ‘She’s probably better off. I mean, who wants a man if all he’s going to do is betray you at the first possible opportunity?’ Jill was stopped by the grief-stricken look on her cousin’s face. ‘Oh God, Anna, I’m sorry! What a bloody stupid thing to say. You know I didn’t mean Liam.’

  ‘Why not? If the cap fits . . .’

  Jill sighed ‘Has he been in touch?’

  ‘Only once, and that was just to tell me that my motor-tax renewal had arrived.’

  ‘That’s a good sign.’

  ‘It is?’

  ‘Yes. Think about it. You don’t have to pay that for a couple of weeks at least so it could have waited until you got home. He just used it as an excuse to call you.’

  Anna brightened. ‘Oh! I hadn’t thought of that.’

  Jill smiled. ‘There, you see? Sometimes I do have my uses.’

  ‘Occasionally,’ Anna allowed. Her gaze drifted to where Kitty worked, her hands moving deftly across the chopping board as she hummed along to the background music. ‘I don’t know if I could do what she’s done.’

  Jill followed her gaze. ‘Not everyone’s cut out to run their own business.’

  ‘No, I just mean carrying on without him,’ Anna explained. ‘Any plans I’ve made, I’ve made with Liam. And all those plans are based on us being together.’

  ‘Then you need to fight to make sure that they still happen. Go home and sort it out, Anna.’

  Anna glanced at her watch. ‘He’s got an interview this afternoon. It’s for a job as Factory Manager, and from what he’s told me, it’s exactly what he’s looking for and it would be more money than he got in Patterson’s.’

  Jill pushed the
mobile phone towards her cousin. ‘Call him. Wish him luck.’

  Anna picked up the mobile and took it outside. She held her breath as she waited for Liam to answer, but after the tenth ring, she gave up. ‘There’s no reply – he must have already left,’ she told Jill when she went back inside.

  ‘Want to drop into the church on the way back and light a candle?’

  Anna nodded. ‘Yes, please.’

  Chapter 26

  When the phone rang, Liam ignored it, concentrating instead on shaving without cutting himself to ribbons. His mother had been on twice already. Had he remembered to iron his shirt? And then, a few minutes later, had he polished his shoes?

  ‘For God’s sake, Mum, will you please stop calling me? I’m not a child.’

  ‘Shoes say a lot about a person,’ his mother went on, undeterred. ‘Now don’t forget, call me as soon as you get out, won’t you? Better still, drop over and I’ll make us a nice bit of dinner.’

  ‘I don’t know, Mum—’

  ‘Oh, do. Sure, where else have you to go?’

  Liam had smiled at his mother’s tactlessness. ‘Okay, then. See you later.’

  Now, as he splashed his face with water and patted it dry, his thoughts turned to the interview ahead. He was perfect for the job, he knew that, but what he didn’t know was what his competition was like. How many other guys out there fancied themselves as the future Factory Manager of Elektrix Ireland? It was a wonderful position in a great company that had been expanding steadily since it came to Ireland five years ago. Liam had done his homework and knew that this was a company that was going places. Unlike Patterson’s, it was more innovative and used the latest technology, something that made the job even more attractive. For years, Liam had had to work with ancient computer systems and meagre budgets, and it would be refreshing to be able to concentrate on the job at hand rather than worry about whether the payroll system would screw up the salary slips this month or the thirty-year-old forklift would break down.

  He showered and dressed quickly, his fingers trembling slightly as he knotted his tie. ‘You’ll do,’ he said, eyeing his reflection and splashing on some of the Boss aftershave Anna had bought him. For a moment, he thought about calling her but if he did that, they’d probably end up rowing and that was the last thing he needed right now. He felt a bit hurt that Anna hadn’t called to wish him luck. Maybe she’d forgotten all about it. Maybe she didn’t give a damn one way or the other. Banishing her from his head, Liam shrugged into his jacket and went downstairs to collect his briefcase. He was early but he wasn’t quite sure where the Elektrix premises were so he didn’t want to take any chances. He found his keys, locked up the house and went out to Anna’s car.