by Ella Grey
But she had also insisted that the decor Leah had chosen was “all wrong for the store’s image”. The company logo was cream with gold calligraphy lettering, something Amanda decided looked dated. With all the work she was doing to get the store set up, Leah had little time to tinker with her logo. But she held her tongue, simply because she hadn’t the time nor the inclination to get into an argument over something trivial. Not to mention the fact that Amanda and Andrew were, in effect her landlords. So Leah had said nothing, assuming that once Amanda found something else to occupy her she would soon get bored with the new store and leave her and Alan alone to get on with the day-to-day running of the business.
And in fairness, Amanda’s social connections might be a bit of bonus.
She’d insisted on having an official launch party and “a chocolate-tasting evening” for Elysium and suggested they issue invites to some of Blackrock’s most prominent business-people and some local media.
Leah suspected that most of the attendees would probably be more interested in a possible interview with hotshot entrepreneur Andrew Clarke than supporting her new store. Notwithstanding, the exposure would be terrific, and hopefully it would give the shop a timely boost. Then, after all the celebrations and excitement, it would be down to the tough task of growing turnover and making the business work, something Leah hoped she’d be doing on her own.
Still, she couldn’t get away from the fact Andrew had made all of this possible, and as much as she’d like to, she couldn’t very well turn around and tell Amanda to butt out. She had made a deal with the devil or more aptly, the devil’s husband.
She sat down at the kitchen table and went through the invite list for the official launch party. She knew most RSVPs were largely ignored or forgotten about – by her own friends anyway – and most of the old gang would be going.
It was such a pity that Robin wouldn’t be around, but she had missed lots of reunions over the years.
She sighed, remembering their college days. That last summer they were all together seemed like a lifetime ago. Back then they had nothing to worry about other than men, the occasional exam and whether they had enough money for a decent night out any given weekend.
How had things changed so much in just a few years? Robin had moved away, Olivia a grieving single mother, Kate was pregnant and …
Speaking of Kate, she really should give her friend a buzz. She hadn’t really spoken to her in a few weeks, and was eager to find out if she and Michael would be coming to the launch party, especially as it would be happening so close to Kate’s due date.
“Hello, stranger,” she said, when Kate answered. “How are you feeling?”
“Hello, yourself!” her friend replied, obviously pleased to hear from her. At this, Leah felt a little guilty. It was ages since they’d spoken, what with all the running around. It seemed Leah had had little time for anyone lately.
They chatted for a little while about this and that, Leah’s new store and Amanda’s unwanted interest.
“You should tell her where to go. The last thing you need is her under your feet all day. Anyway, I can’t see her being much good to you in her ‘condition’.”
Now eight months pregnant, Kate had only recently – and rather reluctantly – taken maternity leave from the city-centre advertising firm in which she worked. As with everything in life, her friend had taken pregnancy in her stride.
“I don’t think she even has to do any housework over in that mansion of hers,” Kate continued. “I mean, what about all these expectant women who go out and work in the fields, with one baby on their backs and another one on the way? I doubt anyone runs around after them, mopping brows and feeding them grapes on a chaise longue.”
Leah giggled, enjoying this gossipy diversion. “Well, she did tell me she couldn’t drink anything other than purified water until after the baby’s born, and that it’s only fair she gives up red meat, dairy products and potatoes too.”
“What? You’re joking.”
“That’s what she told me.”
Kate exhaled sharply. “Honestly, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear Amanda Clarke believes she’s the next Virgin Mary – although the virgin part might be a problem,” she added tittering.
“Ah give her a break. She’s just getting used to the idea. I expect most are the same in the early days.” No point in including Kate in that category; she had treated her pregnancy in the same no-nonsense way she did everything else.
Kate was unmoved. “If she’s like this while pregnant, what’ll she be like once she has the little sprog? You know how some mothers become about their little darlings.”
“So, do you think you and Michael will be able to come to the launch party?” Leah asked, changing the subject.
“Of course we’re coming. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Kate enthused. “Not when I finally have an opportunity to show off my toned bod in that Halle Berry style leather catsuit.”
Leah laughed. It would be just like a heavily pregnant Kate to turn up in something like that. She didn’t give a damn. And she would undoubtedly still look great.
“How’s Olivia? Is she going? I’m really looking forward to seeing her too. Feels like ages.”
“I know - with the way I’ve been carrying on, I’m lucky to have any friends left. But yes Olivia’s coming.”
“And Robin?” Kate asked, her tone changing slightly. “Did you invite her?”
“Sure she couldn’t possibly come all the way for something like this, Kate. You know how it is.”
“She could if she really wanted to,” Kate replied, unmoved. “Although, if she couldn’t be bothered coming home for the funeral that time …”
“She had her reasons, you know that. But I can’t imagine she’d want to come back for this either,” Leah said, breaking the terse silence that followed. “Her life is in New York now.”
“Still. The two of you were such good friends, and this is a big deal for you. I really think she should make the effort.”
But Leah knew better. What were the chances of Robin flying all the way back for her small gathering?
Little or none, she decided glumly, thinking it would be a very long time before their old friend returned to Ireland again.
If ever.
28
Olivia stood back and stared in awe at the newly-decorated facade of Leah’s chocolate store.
It was the evening of the official launch party and Elysium Chocolate was truly living up to its name. From the outside, the place looked like one of those old-style jewellery stores and Leah’s confections were little jewels in themselves, Olivia thought, running her eyes across the gorgeous glass-fronted displays.
Kate was already inside.
“You look fantastic!” Olivia said embracing her old friend warmly. “Not much longer to go?”
“Thanks, I know I look like the side of a bus,” Kate replied wryly. “Still, I’m determined to make the most of tonight. It won’t be long before I’m chained at home to the bottle-warmer.”
She sat down alongside Olivia, and the two chatted easily until Leah joined them with plates of food.
Dressed in a simple black shift, she looked great, her dark eyes lively and shining with pleasure. She soon had to leave in order to circulate among the guests and they saw her strike up an animated conversation with someone who was either a client, or shortly about to become one.
Josh, by contrast, seemed sullen. He’d greeted Olivia briefly upon arrival but since then sat quietly on his own in another corner of the room.
No doubt he and Leah were both very tired, the strain of working all hours to get the shop going obviously taking its toll on them. Hopefully things would improve soon. She and Josh were so well-suited that Olivia would hate to see them break up. Still, it could happen to best of them, as she herself knew well.
She remembered how she and Peter used to argue immediately before their big break-up after graduation. As though the two of them purposely e
ngineered these arguments to bring some form of drive or energy to the relationship. At that stage they had been together so long they had been in something of a rut. But when finally things did come to a head, and they spent some time apart after which Peter proposed, they hadn’t looked back.
Olivia wondered idly if it would take an upheaval like the one she and Peter had experienced to get Josh moving on a proposal.
She shook her head, thinking that she was beginning to sound like her own mother. Get moving on a proposal indeed! There was Leah, an extremely talented, independent, successful woman celebrating her success with her friends, and the only thing Olivia could think about was that Josh hadn’t proposed.
She was definitely turning into an old biddy, she thought, trying to push the recent spying incident on Matt Sheridan’s wife out of her mind.
Just then, Amanda floated across the room, looking healthy, tanned and – as Kate had pointed out earlier – designer-clad.
“But how can you tell the clothes are designer?” Olivia had asked. “I mean without physically lifting up her skirt and getting a look at the tag?”
“I have an eye for these things,” her friend said, stifling a grin. “Well, I don’t actually but whatever it is, it’s expensive and I don’t think the likes of Amanda Clarke – pregnant or otherwise – would be seen dead in anything other than haute couture.”
Amanda did look great though, Olivia thought, and pregnancy obviously suited her. Her blonde hair tumbled in long layers around her shoulders, Claudia Schiffer style. The dress was deep crimson red and with Amanda’s tanned skin and highlighted locks the effect was doubly striking.
And the shoes! Like nothing Olivia had ever seen before. They were almost too gorgeous, too elegant to be used for walking. If anything, they should be sitting in a glass case in some fashion museum somewhere. She wondered if they were designer too – if so they had to be Prada or Fendi or that guy the fashionistas loved, the one with the name that sounded like a cross between an Irishman and a toy train, Jimmy something …
“Guys how are you?” Amanda trilled, and as she embraced her Olivia caught the scent of expensive (probably designer too) perfume. “I’m so delighted you two could come along.”
Olivia smiled a dutiful smile. ‘I’m so delighted …?’ Wasn’t this Leah’s party?
“Sooo sorry I haven’t had a chance to say hello until now,” Amanda continued in that weird faintly-out-of-breath tone that she affected. Olivia knew that this drove Kate up the wall, and at that precise moment she could understand why. “This is exactly what it was like at my wedding, remember? Everywhere I went people were pulling out of me trying to chat – but tonight it’s all because of this.” She caressed her stomach softly and laughed, enjoying all the attention immensely.
“I heard. Congratulations.” Kate plastered a smile onto her face.
Olivia bristled. Yes, it was only natural for her to be excited about her news, but tonight was Leah’s night.
“Did you two get something to eat?” Amanda asked them, evidently a little put out that they didn’t seem as enthused as everyone else seemed to be about her ‘condition’.
“I’m fine, Leah got us something earlier,” she said, indicating the empty plates on the table.
“Oh she’s been great at keeping everyone happy,” Amanda gushed. “I just don’t know what we’d do without her,”
“Without her? This is Leah’s launch party, isn’t it?” Kate said aloud the words that had been right on the tip of Olivia’s tongue.
“Well, of course – of course it is. I just meant that she’s so good with people, you know? Of course she’s worked in retail for most of her life, so she knows how to deal with the general public.” She might as well have just been honest and came right out and said ‘riff-raff’. “Whereas I can’t deal with all these strangers wanting a piece of me, all because I happen to be married to Andrew Clarke.”
With that she beamed regally, and Olivia could see Kate physically struggling to hold her tongue.
“Anyhow,” she said, sitting down alongside Kate and patting her hand, “where’s Michael tonight? And more importantly, how have you been?” she asked dramatically.
“Michael’s on his way, he had to work late,” Kate replied shortly, knowing well that Amanda couldn’t really give a damn where her husband was, she just wanted another male to fawn over. “And me? I’m grand – besides the burning cystitis, crippling piles and constant farting.” At this Amanda visibly balked and Olivia had to bite down on her lip to keep from laughing. Kate had never been one to airbrush reality. Amanda should know better than to expect Kate to join her in gushing new-mommy sentiment.
For once, Amanda was lost for words. “Oh, there’s Grainne Fingleton, I’d better go and say hello.” With that, she quickly made her exit.
Olivia and Kate looked at one another and burst out laughing.
“You wicked woman,” Olivia said. “You’ve just ruined the dream.”
“Oh, come on, she was asking for it,” Kate took another sip of her mineral water.
Right then Leah approached, a glass of champagne in her hand. “Do you think it’s going OK?” she asked hesitantly, looking around the room “I can’t believe there’s so many people here. Lots of Amanda and Andrew’s friends, mind you but …”
“Well, whoever they are, they seem to be enjoying themselves – and the chocolates.” Kate looked across the room to where a couple were making serious inroads on a selection of truffles. “You should be very proud of yourself, lady.”
“At the moment, I’m too bloody nervous to be proud,” Leah confessed, sitting down at their table. “But it is going well, isn’t it? Amanda’s great at organising these things – I wouldn’t have known what to do.”
“So, is Amanda going to be permanently involved in this, or is she just helping you get started?” Olivia asked carefully.
Leah grimaced. “To be perfectly honest, I’m not quite sure. She pretty much organised this – you know how she is, always loves to be in the middle of everything. I think it’s a bit of a novelty for her at the moment so …” She trailed off and shrugged her shoulders. “Put it this way, I think me and my little chocolate store will be way down on her list of priorities once tonight is over.”
Olivia wasn’t so sure about that, not after the way Amanda had been so condescending earlier, but she said nothing. No point in saying anything to Leah tonight, not on one of the biggest nights of her life.
“I still can’t believe that you and Andrew are in business together,” Kate said, shaking her head in wonder. “He was so lazy in college – he was the last person I’d have said would end up a successful businessman. It’s weird the way things work out, isn’t it?”
“Andrew was always a dote,” Olivia smiled.
“Shame about the wife,” Kate added sardonically.
“Ah stop that, Amanda’s not that bad. You just have to know how to handle her, that’s all.”
“Mmm,” Kate wasn’t convinced.
Just then, a smile broke across Leah’s face, and Olivia followed her gaze to see the gorgeous Josh approach.
“Hey you two,” he said, smiling at Olivia and Kate. “Enjoying the night?”
“It’s a great night,” Kate said, beaming unashamedly.
One night over a few drinks, she had admitted to Leah that Josh was the only man alive that could tempt her to cheat on Michael. Olivia knew exactly what she meant. Josh was so attractive it was unreal. Deep blue watchful eyes, shiny tousled hair, a jaw-line made for snowboarding, and a tanned athletic body … he was most women’s idea of perfection.
“You’d run away with him,” her mother would say, and did when she met Josh for the first time at Olivia’s one night, keeping him talking in a corner for most of the evening.
“Have you taken anything video clips yet?” he asked Leah.
“No, I’d forgotten all about it. I suppose I’d better get some footage of the party oh – and outside too. We have to get ph
otos and video of the shopfront and all the balloons,” She leapt up out of her seat.
Josh was soothing.“Relax, hon, I’ll do it, you just stay there and enjoy yourself.”
“Would you mind? I left the camcorder out back it should be underneath my jacket –”
“It’s fine, I’ll find it,” he interjected and with a grin, said to the others, “Andrew Clarke doesn’t know what he’s letting himself in for. This one would forget her head if it wasn’t well screwed on.”
Leah feigned outrage but Olivia could see she was trying not to smile. Things had obviously improved between those two, and whatever rough patch she had thought they were experiencing must have been overcome. Good.
“If you keep on like that you’ll find yourself out on your ear one of these days,” Leah said. “Now stop annoying me and go and get some footage before people start leaving.”
“OK, OK, I’m going,” he said, and with a final cheeky wink at Olivia and Kate – one that left them panting in his wake – off he went.
“Don’t end up taking too much rubbish,” Leah called after him. “Short clips of something are better than long clips of nothing.” But Josh was already out of earshot. She turned to the others and shook her head. “He’s a disaster with that camera. It’s a terrible pity we don’t have one of those new-fangled LCD display ones, then he might have some idea of the rubbish he’s actually filming.”
“I’ll say it before and I’ll say it again: Leah Reid, you are one lucky wagon,” Kate said, shaking her head. “What I wouldn’t do …”
“Hey, honey.”
Kate froze instantly when, as if from nowhere, Michael appeared and put a protective arm around her shoulders. “Congratulations, Leah, great party.” He took a sip of champagne. “What were you saying, just then, love?” he asked his wife. “What wouldn’t you do?”
The three women looked at one another and promptly burst out laughing.
29
