It's All About Him

by Colette Caddle

  Dee kissed him again. 'I'm sure it will be fine for another while.'

  Conor groaned as she climbed up on to his knee and started to open his belt.

  'Of course,' she said, tracing kisses down his throat and on to his chest, 'if you've got to go, you've got to go.'

  He closed his eyes and let his head fall back. 'I suppose I could stay a little bit longer.'

  'So would you like me to get you that beer?' she asked, her hands on his belt.

  'Not right now,' he murmured, his arms snaking around her, 'maybe later.'

  Chapter 22

  Dee's first official day at Seven TV passed by in a whirl and she enjoyed every minute of it. Carolyn told her that she and April would be the permanent panel members on the nutrition spot and that each week there would be a guest appearance from a variety of people from chefs to doctors to celebrities who felt strongly about the subject.

  'Or who just want to promote their book,' Marge said dryly.

  April laughed.

  'Polly Underwood will be back one week,' Carolyn said, ignoring her colleague's cynicism.

  'She's great,' Dee enthused. 'She hits the nail on the head every time.'

  Marge nodded. 'Yes, she's a good panellist. So many people get technical but Polly keeps it simple.'

  'So, topics for the first four shows,' Carolyn picked up a pad and pen and looked at Dee. 'What do you think?'

  Dee gulped. 'Well, I'm not sure—'

  Marge laughed. 'For goodness' sake, Carolyn, don't hurl the poor girl straight into the deep end, she hasn't done this before!'

  'I did come up with some ideas,' Dee said quickly, afraid they would think she'd given the programme no thought since their last meeting.

  'It's only twenty minutes,' Carolyn told her, 'so either we touch on a lot of things briefly or we take one topic and deal with it more extensively. April, what do you think?'

  April Deevers, a small, sparrow of a woman with a wide smile and intelligent hazel eyes, consulted her notes. 'I don't think twenty minutes is enough time to do an in-depth piece on any one aspect. Also, I agree that we should keep it simple otherwise people will just tune out.'

  'Dee was saying that the last day,' Carolyn told her.

  Dee smiled nervously at April. What could she possibly tell a woman who had years of training on the subject? 'I just think that people are more receptive if you tell them of simple ways to improve their diets rather than expecting them to change their whole way of life overnight.'

  April nodded. 'I couldn't agree more. Beating people up never works; I've learned that from experience.'

  Carolyn turned back to Dee. 'So, Dee, as a mother, what things would you like to see covered?'

  Dee glanced down at the page in her hand. 'Well, the first item on my list is the one that got me into all of this in the first place and that's food labelling. I thought we could come up with a shortlist of tips on what to watch out for.'

  'That's a good idea,' April agreed.

  'Like what?' Marge frowned. 'I thought the problem with labelling was the fact that labels can be double Dutch and they're all different.'

  'You're right, but there are a few pointers we could give the viewers,' April explained.

  Dee nodded. 'For example, ingredients are always shown in descending order of weight.'

  'I didn't know that,' said Marge.

  'And also, people need to be aware that if a produce is sold as low-fat, it's quite possible that it still may be high in salt or sugar, possibly even both.'

  Carolyn shook her head. 'Unbelievable. Is this topic enough to take up a full segment, April?'

  'Oh, I think so.'

  'Good, then can you and Dee decide on the points to include? Given the time and allowing for Marge's introduction and wrap-up, it probably should be limited to five.'

  Dee and April exchanged looks and nodded.

  'Right. What else have we got?' Carolyn prompted.

  After two hours they had come up with loose plans for four shows and some ideas about shows five and six too. After this meeting, Dee and April were going to iron out the exact details for the first two shows.

  'Are we going to take calls from viewers?' Marge asked as she and Carolyn prepared to leave.

  Carolyn nibbled her thumbnail as she considered this. 'I don't think so, it would just eat into our time. Maybe we could have a general phone-in once a month.'

  'I think that's an excellent idea,' April agreed. 'Then we could answer questions on any aspect of nutrition.'

  'Right.' Marge stood up and smiled down at them. 'I think this is going to be great! Dee, April, thanks for coming in.'

  'Yes,' Carolyn agreed as she gathered her papers together, 'I think it's going to be a very popular spot.' She checked her watch as she stood up. 'I'll check back in with you in a couple of hours and then we can have a last run-through of the details next week. April, could you be here an hour before the show, or is that asking too much?'

  'No, that's fine.'

  'Great.' Carolyn smiled. 'See you later.'

  When they were alone, April smiled at Dee. 'Well, we have a lot to do but well done you, Dee, for highlighting this area. I think it's wonderful that it's going to be a regular spot on the programme.'

  'It's just something I feel strongly about,' Dee said.

  'Carolyn says your little boy has allergies.'

  'Yes. He has asthma and eczema. He's allergic to some foods and to dogs and cats and things like washing powder. He's not too bad, but he definitely improved dramatically once I changed his diet.Sometimes, though, it can be really frustrating. He does well for months and then suddenly he's ill again and I've no idea why.'

  April nodded in understanding. 'It is hard but you do know he will probably grow out of it.'

  'Yes, that's what I've been told,' Dee laughed, 'but unfortunately it doesn't make me worry any less.'

  'I know.' April patted her hand.

  'Anyway, we're not here to talk about Sam. We'd better get stuck in.'

  April's eyes twinkled. 'It's fun, isn't it?'

  Dee laughed. 'It's brilliant!'

  By the time Carolyn returned they had not only come up with the material for the first two shows but, carried away by their mutual enthusiasm, they had gone on to work on shows three and four. The producer had been delighted and after a brief visit to the wardrobe department, Dee was on her way home by two o'clock. If it was like this every week it would be the easiest money she'd ever made and the most fun she'd ever had.

  As it was only mid-afternoon, traffic was light and she would be home a lot earlier than she'd expected. Given that all of her work was done for tomorrow, Dee decided to make the most of her free time and bring Sam back into town to get shoes and maybe treat him to a movie. They could take the train and it would be a double treat; Sam just loved trains. She phoned ahead to ask Lisa to check the movie times.

  'Happy Feet starts at four-thirty but he's already seen that, hasn't he?'

  'What's that got to do with anything?' Dee laughed.

  'True.'

  'So how are things with you?' Dee asked as she cruised up the M1.

  'Great. Two of the children are going home early so it will mean a nice quiet evening for us.'

  'Wonderful, you deserve it. Look, I should be home in about ten minutes, will you get Sam ready, please?'

  'No problem, see you soon.'

  Dee hummed along to the radio as she drove, happy at the thought of the free time ahead. When she had an assistant, she'd be able to do stuff like this more often, she realized. She had an interview set up for the following day with a girl who had previously worked as a cook in a nursing home. The recruitment consultant had said she was the perfect candidate for the job but Dee wasn't convinced.

  'You only need someone to follow orders, though,' Lisa had pointed out reasonably, 'not a creative genius who'd want to take over.'

  'I suppose you're right,' Dee had acknowledged, but she still wasn't sure. She felt that if she was going to h
ave to share her kitchen with another cook it had to be someone who was committed and switched on by food. She knew she was probably being too fussy but, as she'd said to Lisa, this person wouldn't just be sharing her kitchen but sharing her home, too. Oh, well, she reasoned as she turned off the motorway, she'd find out very soon if the ideal candidate was, in fact, ideal.

  As soon as she pulled up outside the house, she saw Sam waving excitedly at her from the window only to disappear and reappear seconds later in the doorway with Lisa beside him.

  'Mum, where are we going?'

  'I thought we could go into town for new shoes,' Dee said mildly but felt immediately guilty when his face fell. 'And then maybe you could take me to see Happy Feet.'

  'Yes!' Sam punched the air and did a little dance.

  Lisa raised an eyebrow. 'I think he likes the idea.'

  'Okay, sweetheart, into the car, we'll have to hurry if we want to make the train.'

  'We're going on the train?'

  'Dear God, the child will burst with excitement,' Lisa laughed, as she helped him into the car. 'Put your seatbelt on, Sam, and have a great time.'

  'Thanks!'

  Dee drove the short distance to the train station, Sam singing loudly all the way. Fate was on her side as a car pulled out of a spot near the entrance and she hurriedly took it and switched off the engine. 'Come on, little man, we have a train to catch.'

  'This is the best,' Sam said as they stood waiting on the platform. 'The only thing that would make it better would be if Conor could come too.' He whirled around excitedly. 'Mum, why don't you phone him and ask him?'

  'I'm afraid it's too late for that, sweetheart. Conor would never make it on time.'

  'I s'pose.'

  'Anyway, this was a last-minute idea because I got home early. I thought you'd like a trip out, just the two of us.' She cringed at the peevish note in her voice. Who exactly was the child here?

  'Of course I do, Mum,' he said hugging her, 'but I like spending time with Conor too and so do you. It's nice when the three of us go out.'

  Dee didn't have to reply as the train rounded the bend and Sam was immediately distracted.

  'Yippee, it's here. Let's get in the first carriage.'

  Dee took a firm grip of his hand until they were safely ensconced in the first carriage, Sam bobbing up and down happily in his seat. She really had no need to take him to the cinema at all, she realized. He'd be happy enough with this little jaunt to and from the city on the train! Still, it was nice to have time together and wonderful to see him looking so healthy and happy.

  Sam had been absolutely fine since his funny turn the previous Friday and Dee was starting to relax a little but a scare like that had made her realize how easy it would be to lose him. Lisa too had been troubled about how quickly he had gone downhill unobserved and she was taking steps to make sure it didn't happen again. When Dee had gone into the room on Monday evening it was to find the furniture in the crèche had been rearranged so that Lisa and Martha could see every area from their usual vantage points. Of course, there was no way to watch every child every minute of every day but they were still determined to be even more vigilant in future.

  The train pulled into Tara Street station and Dee stood up. 'Come on, Sam, this is our stop.'

  'Are we getting my shoes first, Mummy?' he asked, as they stepped down on to the platform.

  Dee checked her watch. 'No, the film is starting soon so we'll go to the cinema first.'

  'Cool!'

  Sam skipped along happily at her side, his hand in hers as they left the station and made for O'Connell Bridge. They were halfway across the Liffey, the wind whipping Dee's hair around her face, when Sam broke free with a cry.

  'It's Aunty Peggy! Aunty Peggy!'

  Sam raced ahead and as Dee pulled her hair out of her eyes and hurried after him she groaned when she saw that he was indeed right. Bending to hug Sam was Peggy Callen, a horrified expression on her face as her eyes met Dee's and, standing slightly behind her, looking shocked and confused, was her son Neil.

  Dee hurried over, her eyes flicking between mother and son, pleading with them not to say anything. 'Peggy, great to see you!' She kissed the older woman's cheek but her fingers dug into Peggy's arm.

  'And you.' Peggy replied, her voice shaky.

  'We're going to the cinema,' Sam announced, dancing around them.

  'Well, aren't you the lucky one.' Peg smiled down at him.

  But Sam had now noticed Neil and was looking at him curiously. 'I'm Sam, who are you?'

  Neil opened his mouth to answer but Peggy jumped in before he could say a word. 'This is my friend Ne—' She stopped. 'Noel. This is Noel.'

  'Nice to meet you.' Neil nodded at Dee and smiled at Sam. 'Hello, Sam.'

  'Hi,' Sam said shyly.

  'Hi,' Dee echoed. 'I'm sorry to run, Peggy, but if we don't hurry we'll miss the start of the film.'

  But Sam wasn't ready to go quite yet. 'We haven't seen you in ages, Aunty Peggy. Does Prince miss me? That's Peggy's dog,' he added for Neil's benefit.

  'Yes; yes, I know.' Neil looked from Sam to his mother.

  Peggy reddened but kept her eyes on Sam. 'He's fine, love.'

  'Can I come and see him soon?' he persisted.

  'Of course you can, darling.'

  'Come on, Sam.' Dee was actually dragging him away now. 'I'll call you, Peggy, and we'll set something up.' She avoided Neil's eyes completely.

  'Great, love. Bye, now. Bye, Sam, have a lovely time.'

  He waved furiously, walking backwards so he could still see her. 'Bye, Aunty Peggy,' he roared.

  Dee quickened her pace and Sam was forced to turn around. 'Mum, you're going too fast.'

  'Sorry, I just don't want us to be late.' Dee wondered if Sam could hear the wobble in her voice.

  'Why haven't we been over to Aunty Peggy's, Mum?' Sam asked as Dee held open the door for him and they went into the lobby of the movie theatre.

  'Mummy's been very busy,' Dee said, reaching into her bag for her purse.

  'Can we have popcorn?'

  'Sure,' she replied, knowing that right now she'd agree to anything.

  When the movie had started and Sam was engrossed in the story, Dee slumped back in her seat and closed her eyes, grateful for the darkness that enveloped them. She felt physically exhausted although she knew her weariness was due to shock. She wondered how Peggy was doing and how she would explain all of this to Neil. Would he be happy that Peggy and Sam had a relationship or just furious that she had kept it from him?

  Dee remembered vividly the first time she had come face to face with Peggy Callen after Neil had left her. She had gone to the airport to pick up Pauline and Jack after their annual visit to a cousin in Atlanta and was wandering around the arrivals area in the vain hope of finding a seat. She had paused when she became aware of a woman staring at her and had been horrified when she realized it was Neil's mum and her eyes were firmly fixed on Dee's eight-month-old bump. Dee had turned away and moved to the other side of the arrivals hall but Peggy had followed her and with a firm grip on her arm, guided her towards the coffee shop and sat her down.

  'I don't have time, I'm collecting my aunt,' Dee remembered protesting, but Peggy wasn't interested.

  'I won't keep you long,' she'd said, her voice quiet but determined. 'Is it Neil's?' Dee's eyes met hers and she knew she couldn't lie. She'd simply nodded.

  Peggy gasped and put a hand to her mouth. 'Oh, dear God.'

  'You don't have to worry,' Dee had retorted, 'this is my baby and I'll raise it. I don't want anything from your son and I don't want him anywhere near us.'

  'Oh, Dee, don't talk like that!' Peggy had been reproachful.

  'Sorry, but can you blame me after what happened? Have you heard from him?' she'd asked then although she knew she shouldn't care.

  Peggy's shoulders had slumped as she shook her head. 'He phoned last Easter and I gave him an earful about you as soon as I heard his voice. He hung up and I haven't hea
rd from him since.'

  'You're better off,' Dee had said bitterly but then she'd felt bad when she saw the wounded look in Peggy's eyes. They had always got on really well in the past and Peggy had been very kind when Dee's father had died. Whatever Neil had done it wasn't his mother's fault. Dee had stood up. 'I've got to go,' she'd said but put a hand on the woman's shoulder. 'I'll call you when the baby comes.'

  Peggy had grabbed her hand and squeezed it, tears shining in her eyes. 'If you need anything, anything at all, you only have to ask.'

  As promised, Dee had phoned Peggy the day she got home from the hospital and told her that she could see the baby on the condition that she never told Neil. Peggy had reluctantly agreed. 'I do understand, Dee, but I hope that if he comes back some day, you will change your mind.'

  After that Dee and Peggy met up a couple of times a year but once Sam hit three, he demanded more contact with his Aunty Peggy, loving every moment with her. Dee was happy to oblige. It was wonderful to watch the close relationship develop between them and it was only slightly overshadowed by the fact that Sam didn't know that this was, in fact, his grandmother.

  As Sam got older and started to wonder why he didn't have a father or grandparents, Dee had been sorely tempted to tell him the truth about Peggy but, realizing it would only confuse the child, she'd held her tongue.

  As far as everyone else was concerned, Peggy was a cousin of her mother's who was slightly agoraphobic; hence the reason no one ever got to meet her and all the meetings took place in Peggy's house. Dee did wonder why Peggy hadn't gotten in touch when Neil returned. Maybe she was afraid Dee would cut off contact completely.

  Looking down at her son now, his eyes riveted to the big screen, his hand mechanically feeding popcorn into his rosebud mouth, Dee knew there would be questions later. She hated the fact that it would mean she'd have to lie to him, but if she told him who Neil really was he'd know that she had been lying to him his whole life and that Aunty Peggy was in fact his grandmother.

  Chapter 23

  Sam went to bed without complaint that night and was asleep within minutes, a fact for which Dee was supremely grateful. Conor had called to say another cow seemed to have been hit by the same bug and he couldn't leave the farm and Dee was glad. She'd never told him who Peggy really was and she wasn't ready to do it tonight. She needed time to collect her thoughts and prepare herself for what lay ahead, whatever that might be. She decided to pour herself a large glass of the wine that Conor had brought over the previous night. En-route to the fridge, she switched on the answering machine. She was afraid that Neil or Peggy might call and she wasn't ready to talk to them either.