Finishing Touches

by Patricia Scanlan

  It was a bit like launching a book, he mused, all the fuss and excitement. Well, if anyone deserved it, Cassie did, and he knew she was as excited as a child about it all. Tonight was her night and he was part of it. That made him very happy.

  Smiling, David put the ring back in the box and began to dress.

  He didn’t want to be late. He wanted to share every minute of Cassie’s pleasure.

  Cassie was trying to stay calm, but it wasn’t working! She had been up since the crack of dawn. Her first port of call had been Finishing Touches, to make sure everything was absolutely right. It gave her such a thrill to see the place. It looked superb.

  There had been times when she had thought it was never going to get off the ground, especially after the fuss over the fire regulations, when everything had ground to a halt, the pine ceiling had had to be taken down and the place treated with fire-resistant material before she got the all-clear. That had really delayed things and only now, six months later than planned, was she finally ready to move in.

  Well, it was worth the wait.

  She wondered whether Barbara and Martin would come tonight. She really hoped so. Irene could have phoned to wish her well, or sent a card or something, she thought, a bit sadly.

  ‘Don’t think about it; just keep going,’ she ordered herself, as she drove into Dublin to collect two ceramic urns she had ordered from Flamingos on Capel Street. They had arrived in the shop only the previous evening, but she wanted them. Filled with dried flowers, they would put the finishing touch to her décor.

  She parked at a meter on Mary Street, very near a beauty salon owned by a friend of Aileen’s. Her eyes glinted. Would she? It was her special day, after all. Why not treat herself? It was early in the morning, so maybe Aoibhinn would have a free session. She’d got her hair done yesterday; she might as well go the whole hog.

  Cassie ran lightly up the stairs of the Beauty Shop. She popped her head around the door. ‘Hi, Aoibhinn! Any chance of a facial and make-up?’

  Aoibhinn Hogan, the attractive beautician, smiled in welcome. ‘Cassie, I haven’t seen you in ages! Come in. How’s it going? How’s that O’Shaughnessy brat?’

  Cassie laughed. Aoibhinn and Aileen had trained in beauty school together and Aoibhinn had opened her own salon and made a lovely job of it, Cassie thought in admiration, as she gazed around at the soothing décor. Cassie couldn’t have improved on it if she tried!

  ‘Sit here in the chair. We’ll have a cup of coffee and you can tell me what you want done,’ Aoibhinn invited. ‘I don’t have an appointment until ten-thirty. And there’s just someone on the sunbed at the moment.’

  They chatted and drank their coffee and Aoibhinn gave her a manicure and then made up her face beautifully, emphasizing her eyes under their arched brows, highlighting her cheekbones with a light shading of blusher, and outlining her lips with a lip pencil before filling in her lipstick. Cassie couldn’t believe it was her, she looked so glamorous. David wouldn’t recognize her!

  Aoibhinn refused payment, despite Cassie’s protestations. ‘Indeed, I’m not taking it. I remember what it was like the first day I opened for business, I was so excited! It’s a great buzz and I wish you every success with the venture,’ Aoibhinn said warmly, accompanying Cassie to the door. ‘Tell Aileen to get in touch this time.’

  ‘I will,’ Cassie assured her. ‘She won’t be home until later. She’s flying in from London, so I won’t see her until tonight.’

  It was amazing what an hour in a beauty salon could achieve, Cassie thought, as she crossed over to Capel Street. She felt like a new woman. Aoibhinn had been very kind.

  Her urns were ready and Cassie drove back to Malahide in great humour. It was a lovely day, the sun was sparkling on the sea, and she felt ready for anything. She fixed up her newly acquired pieces, arranged the dried flowers and went back to her house. David was staying for the weekend and she wanted to change the bedclothes and have the place tidy. She was decorating one room at a time, although she hadn’t done much lately because of the business, but the bedroom with its big brass bed was finished and Cassie loved it. Decorated in cream and yellow, it was a soothing retreat from the world. The bed faced one of the small windows under the eaves and Cassie loved watching the sun and moon rise over the estuary. It was so peaceful. In this house her spirit was serene.

  She’d better get a move on, she decided; the caterers were coming and she wanted everything to be just right. The most important people in her life were going to be there tonight and Cassie wanted nothing but the best for them.

  It was almost dark! Barbara and Jean sat in Barbara’s car watching the comings and goings just up the street. Finishing Touches was a blaze of colour and Barbara had to admit in spite of herself that it looked very, very impressive. She had to admit, too, that she was sorely tempted to go inside and have a look. She and Jean had decided to motor down through Malahide and see what was happening, en route to their drinks destination, which they had not yet selected. That was what Barbara liked about her sister-in-law. She had a mind that worked just like her own.

  Guests were arriving at a great rate and she and Jean had a comment about everyone. ‘Oh look, there’s Laura Quinn and her husband. She’s put on a bit of weight!’ Jean announced smugly. ‘And would you look at that O’Shaughnessy one? Gaudy as they come! And who’s the one beside her? Who does she think she is? Ivana Trump?’

  Barbara peered forward to get a closer look at the sequinned apparition that was accompanying Aileen and nearly choked! ‘That’s Irene! What the hell is she doing here . . . the turncoat.’

  ‘Omigod! Look! Look!’ Jean nearly wet herself with excitement. ‘Who’s that getting out of the taxi? Oh crumbs, he’s as drunk as a skunk. Look at the flowers; they’re falling to pieces.’

  ‘Where? Let me see.’ Barbara craned her neck. ‘Ooh, there’ll be ructions! That’s Robbie MacDonald, who used to be engaged to Cassie. I told you about him already.’ Barbara was practically rubbing her hands with glee.

  ‘Oh look! Oh look! He’s being thrown out. David Williams and John are throwing him out. He hasn’t had a chance even to get through the door!’ Jean kept up a running commentary, as Barbara devoured her first sight of her idol!

  David had Robbie by the scruff of the neck and was telling him a few home truths. John hailed the taxi that had brought Robbie, as the driver was doing a U-turn to head back to town. Almost as quickly as he had come, Robbie was back in the taxi and John was handing the driver some money. Off went the taxi. David and John were shaking hands and laughing before going back into the party.

  Barbara was almost quivering with the excitement. David Williams was so masterful! Desire scorched through her. ‘Will we go in or what do you think?’ she asked her sister-in-law, hoping against hope that Jean might say yes.

  Jean was sitting like a stone, speechless, pointing her finger. ‘Look!’ she whispered. ‘How could he! How could he betray his own wife!’

  Barbara followed the line of Jean’s shaking finger and saw Martin, dressed up in his good Louis Copeland suit, with a huge bouquet of flowers in his arms, walking down the street towards Finishing Touches. Outside he paused, as if taking a deep breath. John and David appeared and Martin shook hands with the two men. Then, smiling as if he hadn’t a care in the world, with his brother’s arm around his shoulder, Martin disappeared through the door.

  ‘I’m going to leave him,’ vowed Jean as Barbara sat stunned. ‘The two-faced rat!’

  All the family had turned up for Cassie’s party, all of them except her. Had they no pride? Barbara thought in disgust.

  A familiar Alfa Romeo squealed past from the far end of the street and came to a halt with a screech of brakes. ‘Christ Almighty! I don’t believe it!’ exclaimed a horrified Barbara.

  ‘What?’ Jean didn’t think anything could be much worse than watching her own husband do the dirty on her.

  ‘It’s big-mouth Killeen! Duck quick; she can’t catch us sitting here!’ Bar
bara urged frantically.

  The pair of them slid down in their seats, as Kristi parked and marched past.

  ‘God, would you look at the rig-out! Look at the sunglasses and it’s almost pitch dark! Typical!’ Barbara slid cautiously up the seat. ‘Nosy bitch. I bet she hasn’t been invited. Cassie doesn’t know her. She’s going to gatecrash!’ Barbara was furious to think that her arch-enemy was going to be nosing around at Cassie’s party.

  Kristi waved at someone inside as if she knew them and swanned through the portals of Finishing Touches.

  ‘Oh I hate her guts!’ Barbara almost wept in rage.

  ‘Oh look, Barbara! Barbara, look, she’s coming out. Look at the face on her! Oh they’ve rumbled her! Quick, duck again!’

  They slid down in their seats and heard an angry clip-clop of high heels and then a slamming of a car door. Kristi did a U-turn that would have shamed a Grand-Prix driver before roaring off into the night.

  Barbara and Jean sat back up in their seats, utterly drained by the drama of it all.

  Inside, the atmosphere was electric, the gaiety infectious.

  ‘You’re engaged, Aileen O’Shaughnessy!’ Cassie shrieked, catching sight of Aileen’s ring.

  ‘Even the best of us have to go some time!’ smirked Aileen, thrilled that Cassie had noticed. Laura and Judy crowded around to have a look. They were so excited and so engrossed they never even noticed the drama at the door. Cassie and Irene hugged each other. Cassie’s face was wreathed in smiles. To think that Irene had actually flown home for the party! It was unbelievable and she thought she was going to disgrace herself by crying. Then Martin had arrived with a huge bouquet of flowers and she did disgrace herself. ‘Oh Martin, I’m so glad you came.’ She buried her face in her brother’s shoulder.

  ‘I’m really sorry about everything, Cassie. I just can’t tell you how sorry I am!’ Martin was nearly in tears himself.

  ‘It doesn’t matter! It doesn’t matter. You’re here now and that’s all I care about,’ Cassie beamed.

  Everybody was talking nineteen to the dozen, when David caught sight of a vaguely familiar woman edging her way through the throng. He had seen her somewhere before. Where was it? It clicked. He had seen her at the back of the court on the last day of the hearing. Cassie had told him it was Kristi Killeen, the gossip columnist. He knew Cassie hadn’t invited her, so she could be here only to cause trouble.

  Before she knew it, Kristi Killeen had been taken gently but firmly by the arm and escorted out the door.

  ‘Family and friends only, I’m afraid,’ she heard this man say, with an accent that was too divine for words, as she was unceremoniously ejected from Finishing Touches. She didn’t even have time to find out if Barbara was there or not!

  Cassie, oblivious of everything else, basked in the glow of attention from her family and friends. She was so glad that Martin had come and made amends for the unpleasantness about the will. And Irene! Who would believe that she had taken the trouble to come all the way home for her party?

  David came and stood beside her and Aileen clapped her hands for quiet.

  ‘I think we should toast Cassie! And wish her great success!’ she declared gaily.

  A loud cheer went up as champagne glasses were held aloft. Cassie thought she was going to burst with happiness as she smiled at all the people who meant so much to her.

  ‘For she’s a jolly good fellow . . . !’ sang David in a deep melodious voice.

  ‘For she’s a jolly good fellow . . . ’ everyone else took up the chorus.

  ‘For she’s a jolly good fe . . . ell . . . ow, and so say all of us!’

  The roof of Finishing Touches was almost lifted by the cheers.

  Outside, Barbara and Jean stared at each other as they heard the singing inside and Cassie being toasted.

  ‘I don’t really want to go for a drink now, do you?’ Jean muttered.

  ‘No!’ said Barbara glumly. ‘Let’s go home!’

  ‘I wonder where Barbara is,’ Laura whispered to Aileen. ‘She’s missing all the fun.’

  ‘Who cares?’ bubbled Aileen. ‘She’s an idiot.’

  ‘Who’s an idiot?’ grinned Cassie, catching the tail-end of the conversation.

  ‘No-one that you know,’ Aileen laughed. ‘Are you having a good time?’

  Cassie caught David’s warm gaze and smiled happily at him. ‘The best ever. I’ll never forget tonight as long as I live!’

  THE END