A Time for Friends

by Patricia Scanlan

  ‘It’s great, isn’t it? And all because we did a random lighting design course together. Imagine that was ten years ago!’

  ‘I have the grey hairs to prove it,’ Jonathan teased. ‘Now you know we’ll have to charge them an arm and a leg.’

  ‘Why? We haven’t even been on site yet. We don’t know what it’s going to cost.’ She looked at him, surprised.

  ‘That’s immaterial. If we don’t go high they won’t feel they’ve got something special. The more they spend, the more they can boast about it. That’s the way it works in that clique. Don’t let the Joneses keep up with you, whatever you do. Now they’ll have their own inhouse spa and a helicopter and a fleet of expensive cars and, and, and . . .’ Jonathan explained patiently.

  ‘It’s all a bit mad really, isn’t it? I wouldn’t like that type of lifestyle and all that goes with it. I’m happy enough with my attic conversion,’ Hilary chuckled.

  ‘Not just any old attic conversion . . . A Harpur-designed attic conversion,’ Jonathan reminded her as they drove across the bridge over the Avoca River at Ferrybank and into Arklow Town. ‘The river looks choppy and high,’ he observed, watching the waves whack angrily against the quays, the morning sun casting prisms of light that turned the water into a dazzling, silver, undulating sheath.

  ‘Bad place for flooding here; I hope the tide hasn’t risen before we come back. I wonder will we ever be able to afford our own helicopter?’ Hilary bantered.

  ‘Never say never. Ready for coffee?’

  ‘I sure am,’ Hilary replied. Jonathan had picked her up en route from Rosslara and she had just eaten a banana, knowing that they were stopping for refreshments before they got to Gorey.

  Joanne’s Hot Bread Shop was comfortingly warm and the scent of freshly baked bread wafted around them enticingly as they walked past the mouthwatering displays of cakes and breads. They tucked themselves into a little alcove at a table for two and scanned the menu.

  ‘Scrambled eggs and a slice of bacon for me,’ Hilary decided briskly.

  ‘And a croissant and a scone and jam for me, please, and a pot of coffee for two,’ Jonathan said to the waitress who had arrived to take their order.

  ‘Do you think I’m neglecting family? Am I being selfish, Jonathan?’ Hilary asked when the waitress had delivered their breakfast to them and Hilary had poured their coffee.

  ‘No! Not at all!’ he exclaimed. ‘You’re a very giving mother and wife, Hilary. Too giving sometimes, that’s your problem. So I’m glad you had your day of protest. It does them no harm to get a reminder sometimes that you aren’t Superwoman. Do you want to give up work?’ He smothered his croissant in butter and jam and bit into it.

  ‘No, I really enjoy it. It’s just the juggling that I find hard-going and the fact that Niall is keeping his head in the sand about Margaret, and is allowing Sue to get away with doing feck all! My time is as precious as hers, or his, and neither of them gets that and it makes me furious,’ she seethed. ‘They seem to have the impression that I’m just dabbling in work, that it’s some sort of friggin’ hobby!’ Her voice rose indignantly.

  ‘We don’t want to scare the natives, dear,’ Jonathan said soothingly, noticing two middle-aged women at another table looking in their direction.

  Hilary giggled. Her friend was so good at injecting humour when she got a bit fraught. ‘But you know what I’m saying!’ She bit into a slice of buttery toast.

  ‘I do. I see exactly where you’re coming from and if you want my advice, I would set my boundaries. Tell Niall, Sue and the girls that you have a career that’s important to you and you need them to respect that. Tell them that they all have to pull their weight because you’re not doing it all by yourself any more.’

  ‘I know you’re right and I do say things and they muck in for a while and then they forget and we all slip back into our old ways. I’ll just have to keep nagging,’ she grimaced. ‘Anyway enough of me, tell me about your weekend. How’s your mam? And any update on the new romance?’

  ‘Well now that you ask,’ Jonathan grinned, bursting to tell her his news. ‘There has been a development and you’ll be proud of me and so will Hannah.’

  ‘Tell me all,’ demanded Hilary eagerly, replenishing their coffee cups.

  ‘He phoned me and for once in my life I played it cool,’ Jonathan laughed, before telling her all about the events of his weekend.

  ‘Isn’t it great that we can tell each other everything,’ Hilary said an hour later, tucking her arm into her best friend’s as they walked up the hill at the side of the coffee shop to the car park. ‘I never feel I’m being disloyal to Niall if I say something about him, and you’re the only one I’d say things about him to.’

  ‘Real friendship is such a gift, isn’t it?’ Jonathan smiled down at her. ‘You know everything about me and I know everything about you and we can say what we like to each other.’

  ‘I know. I say things to you I wouldn’t dream of saying to Niall or anyone else. Even though I love him dearly.’

  ‘Well of course you’re not going to talk to him about your boobs and ass going south, and having to cross your legs when you sneeze! He doesn’t need to know about your leaky bladder,’ Jonathan teased.

  ‘Give over, that was only once when I had the flu and I got a simultaneous coughing and sneezing fit,’ she protested, getting into the car.

  ‘Just keep doing the exercises,’ he cautioned, clipping his seat belt on.

  Less than half an hour later they were on site and Hilary was fit to be tied. The electrician had ignored her plans and had taken short cuts wiring the spa area that were totally unacceptable.

  ‘Peter, this isn’t on,’ she said to the builder who was standing with his arms folded frowning at her. She turned to the electrician who was standing beside him glowering at her.

  ‘Rory, I told you where I wanted the spots. And those dimmer switches for the floor lights were to be separate from the wall lamps. You can’t have them all running off the one switch.’

  ‘Ah now you’re only complicating things. I’ve been doing electrics for years. I know what needs to be done and how to do it – don’t get your knickers in a twist,’ the florid, thickset electrician said patronizingly.

  ‘He does have a point,’ the builder remarked. ‘This is all a bit complicated and time-consuming.’

  ‘Is that right?’ Hilary gave him a withering stare. ‘Well I’m the lighting designer on this project, and I’m doing what the owner has asked me to do, so it’s like this, Peter, I’m getting my client on the phone right now and you can discuss it with her. It’s her money that’s being spent here and as far as I’m concerned, you, Rory, are not doing what you’ve been asked to do, or paid to do.’

  ‘Now wait a minute—’

  Hilary ignored him and dialled Norah Clancy’s number and gave her a brief rundown of the situation.

  ‘Put that little toad on to me,’ Norah commanded. Hilary handed Rory the phone and had to turn away and hide a smile as she heard the blistering tirade he had to endure.

  ‘Here, she wants to talk to you.’ The electrician handed her the phone back with bad grace and stomped off.

  ‘Yes, Norah?’ Hilary said.

  ‘I gave him what for and told him if he wasn’t able to do the job I’d get someone who was. Whatever expenses you’ve incurred coming down today invoice me for them. He’ll be paying. And if he hasn’t done what you want the next time you’re down, he’s off the project. I’ll tell Peter Ryan I want someone new on the job. OK?’ Norah said briskly.

  ‘Fine. Otherwise it’s all starting to take shape. Talk soon.’ Hilary hung up. Her client was a woman who took no crap, and Rory Tobin had made a big mistake thinking he could get away with ignoring both her and Hilary’s design.

  ‘Peter, tell your electrician to follow the plan we all agreed on or there’ll be financial consequences. Norah’s going to be talking to you herself,’ Hilary said coolly. ‘I’ll be getting on to the architect as well.
He needs to know what’s going on here as does the quantity surveyor.’

  ‘God help me with the lot of ye,’ the builder muttered. ‘Right, I’ll get it sorted.’

  ‘I’ll see you in a week then.’ She marched out of the building and left her hard hat in the prefab. Jonathan was standing on top of the grassy bank watching the sun glistening on the sea.

  ‘Sorted?’

  ‘Yep,’ she scowled. ‘Thank God Norah’s a strong woman and knows what she wants. Tweedledum and Tweedledee aren’t too happy though.’

  ‘Oh I think the filthy look you gave them and the ear-bashing from Norah will keep them in their boxes for a while. The place is going to be fabulous though. I can’t wait to decorate. That floor-to-ceiling wall of glass where the relaxation room is going to be will be stunning. What a view! We’ll come down for an overnighter when it’s up and running.’

  ‘Wonder will Norah give us a discount,’ Hilary grinned.

  ‘I wouldn’t hold my breath. She’s one tough cookie! She reminds me of Maggie Thatcher, with a hint of Bette Davis thrown in. You know, the permed blonde hair and the ruby-red lipstick and the square-handbag look.’

  ‘Well she’d need to be a tough nut to deal with that pair.’ Hilary took her wellies off and threw them into Jonathan’s boot and slipped on her shoes. It was a nuisance that she’d have to come back the following week but that was the way it went sometimes. ‘Thanks a million for driving me down,’ she said gratefully, leaning back against the soft leather headrest.

  ‘No probs. I wanted to see what the place was looking like with the windows in anyway. I can visualize it all much better now. I need to get cracking on sourcing my materials and fixtures and fittings.’

  ‘Well I could have driven us. It was a treat being chauf-feured.’

  ‘That’s what friends are for.’ Jonathan handed her a bottle of water and took a swig out of his own.

  ‘Speaking of “real friends” I got an unexpected text from Colette earlier. I haven’t heard from her in I don’t know how long!’ Hilary glanced over at him.

  ‘What does Little Miss Me Me Me want?’ Jonathan derided, reversing out of the parking space.

  ‘She told me she was in the Caribbean—’

  ‘Well for some, isn’t it?’

  ‘Don’t be like that,’ Hilary chided. ‘She said she was lonely and missed home and is planning a trip before the summer and hopes we can meet up.’

  ‘Something must be amiss and she needs your advice,’ Jonathan remarked as they emerged from the narrow secondary road onto the N11 and headed for the Gorey bypass.

  ‘I hope it isn’t,’ Hilary said firmly. ‘OK, she’s not the best friend in the world and never has been but I hope life is good for her and I’ll meet up with her when she’s home.’

  ‘You’re the biggest marshmallow going, Hammond! And don’t forget, the only people who appreciate a doormat are people with dirty shoes.’

  ‘Yes, Jonathan.’ Hilary smiled. ‘And even though I could say things about pots and kettles, I won’t.’

  ‘No don’t,’ he grinned back at her and put his foot on the accelerator. They sped along making the most of their time together and had a thoroughly enjoyable natter.

  The only people who appreciate a doormat are people with dirty shoes. Hilary couldn’t help remembering Jonathan’s acid comment while she sat in Buswells Hotel sipping a second cup of coffee waiting for her sister-in-law to arrive. Sue had chosen the hotel near the Dáil for their meeting, and Hilary had watched several well-known politicians making their way in and out over the past hour as she fumed about Sue’s lack of respect. Typical. She was always late when they arranged to meet. Sue being firmly of the opinion that her time was far more precious than Hilary’s. If she hadn’t wanted to finally have it out with her about her lack of assistance with Margaret, Hilary would have walked. It helped that by the time her tardy sister-in-law arrived she was steaming.

  ‘Soooo sorry for keeping you.’ Sue swept across the foyer, the long lilac tie-dye scarf wound around her neck floating out behind her. Her heels were impossibly high, her trouser-leg creases knife sharp and she was impeccably made up. ‘We were meeting with some TDs over in the Dáil bar and I simply couldn’t get away,’ she gushed, giving Hilary an air kiss on both cheeks and looking her up and down rather dismissively.

  ‘You did pick the time and the location, Sue, and I’ve been here for over an hour. I’ve had to postpone a client consult,’ Hilary said coldly. That was a fib but she wasn’t letting Sue know it. She had kept three hours free. She knew her sister-in-law of old.

  ‘Well I’m here now. Just let me order a peppermint tea and then I’m all ears,’ Sue said airily, catching a waiter’s eye with an imperious wave. It was a wonder she hadn’t clicked her fingers, Hilary thought irately as Sue gave her order without even bothering to ask if Hilary would like a fresh beverage.

  Hilary took a deep breath. ‘I’ll get straight to the point, Sue. I’m pressed for time,’ she added pointedly. ‘I can’t continue to bring your mum to her warfarin clinic and her various medical appointments. I have parents of my own to take care of, and a demanding job, as well as a husband, children and a house to manage. I—’

  ‘But I simply can’t take time off willy-nilly, Hilary. You’ve got to understand I have a very demanding boss and a very demanding job indeed,’ Sue cut in indignantly.

  ‘I appreciate that,’ Hilary said smoothly. ‘That’s why I’ve worked out a rota for you and Niall, and of course I will bring Mrs Hammond to some of her appointments because I love her and she’s a wonderful mother-in-law and grandmother. I just want you and Niall to pull your weight. After all Gran H is your mother.’

  ‘I know she’s my mother,’ Sue snapped. ‘But you have a sister to help you out. I don’t!’ She played a trump card.

  ‘You have Niall,’ Hilary retorted.

  ‘He’s not much use,’ Sue said insultingly.

  ‘Well the pair of you’d better work it out between you,’ Hilary snapped back.

  ‘I don’t like your tone, Hilary.’ Sue glared at her.

  ‘Deal with it, Sue,’ Hilary said sharply. For once in her life she wasn’t going to be the pacifier. She wasn’t going to swallow down her irritation and have heartburn for three days after their encounter. She was sick and tired of being taken for granted by the pinched-faced, self-absorbed woman opposite her. She was done trying to be nice. With Sue nice got you nowhere. She was fed up pandering to her and her moods and her airs and graces. Hilary took a typed-up sheet of paper out of her bag. ‘Here are your mum’s appointments for the next three months, including her next warfarin appointment. Niall will be away for that and I have an appointment but it’s ten days away so you have some leeway to schedule it in. Sort the other dates with Niall and I will fit in as best I can,’ she said crisply.

  ‘Are you suggesting I take time off? Annual leave?’ Sue exclaimed, aghast, taking the paper between her finger and thumb.

  ‘It’s what I have to do, Sue,’ she retorted. ‘I take time off to bring your mother to her appointments. I’m up to my eyes. I can’t do it any more.’

  ‘But your job is much more flexible than mine.’

  ‘Actually it’s not. And even if it was, that’s not the point. It’s not up to me. And let me tell you something else, Sue, you might as well prepare yourself. As time goes on there are going to be more appointments and more demands on your time, so you’d better get used to it. I will help out as much as I can but you need to start taking your share of the burden. You could start by cooking Margaret a meal every second weekend or inviting her over for dinner. Niall and I pay for the garden to be maintained; you could contribute to having her cleaner come an extra day. I actually shouldn’t have to be sitting here saying these things to you, Sue. And because they have to be said, it’s Niall that should have been saying them. I don’t want to fall out with you but frankly I’m sick of your self-absorbed behaviour and I’m heartily sick of being taken for granted.
I have a family to rear, and parents to look after myself. I would love to be able to go to the gym and go hill walking and partake in all the activities you have time for. I don’t even have time to read. So, Sue, there comes a time when you have to step up to the plate and your time is now. OK?’

  Hilary stood up and stared at her shocked sister-in-law. ‘I’d love to stay and have another coffee,’ she said acidly, ‘but I had to reschedule because you were late. I think it’s disrespectful to keep someone waiting so I have to go now to be at my next appointment on time. Work out the dates with Niall and try not to make your mother feel like a burden.’

  ‘I really don’t like your attitude, Hilary.’ Sue was furious at the way she’d been lectured. ‘In fact I strongly object to it and—’

  ‘Sue, build a bridge and get over it,’ Hilary retorted. ‘You’ve got away with it for years because I took so much on. Your mother deserves a lot more from you than what she’s getting and if I have to point that out to you, that’s such a sad reflection on you. Now I’m going. Bye.’

  She hurried out of the hotel without a backward glance and headed towards Pearse Street. She’d taken the DART into the city, unwilling to deal with bumper-to-bumper traffic and the hassle of looking for parking. She didn’t care if Sue was mad with her, as Hilary knew whatever polite façade they had kept up over the years there would be no coming back from today’s encounter. She scowled, jaywalking across Kildare Street. Frankly she didn’t really care any more. The older she got the less inclined she was to put up with crap from people and Sue was full of it. You couldn’t like everyone. And she didn’t particularly like Sue. So be it – she wasn’t going to lose sleep over the disintegration of their flimsy relationship. She had too much on her plate as it was.

  The nerve of her sister-in-law, Sue raged, lighting up a cigarette on the steps of the hotel as she stood under the flag-bedecked awning trying to compose herself. Just who did she think she was, lecturing her about her responsibilities? Her boss would not be best pleased when she started taking mornings off to bring Margaret to her clinics and medical appointments. Niall was going to have to do as much as she did. He needn’t think he was getting away with it. And she was going to tell him that in no uncertain terms, she decided, taking her phone out of the side pocket of her bag and dialling his number.