‘I . . . I can’t come out, Missy. I’m sorry. I’m really upset about Lainey.’
‘Don’t be retarded. You can’t go home now! You’re lit up like a lamp, Pippa. Your eyes are like two beacons in your face.’
Missy linked her arm and literally frog-marched her toward a bistro as Jules’ name popped up on her phone. ‘Hi Jules,’ Pippa said as Missy whooped and shouted in the background. ‘Any news on Lainey?’
‘Well yes, as it happens. I was just at the hospital.’
‘OK,’ said Pippa. Before she could say another word, Missy snatched the phone.
‘Hi Jules, sweetie. We’ve had the most amazing day and we’re about to celebrate. So don’t wreck our buzz by talking about hospitals and all of that.’
Pippa stood motionlessly with a dropped jaw as Missy continued a very cheery, one-sided conversation. She wanted to click her heels and be home in Huntersbrook with her family. She needed to be near Lainey and know what was happening.
Pippa had never felt so trapped. The worst part was that it was all her own doing. She’d isolated herself into a horrible bubble of drink and drugs and had let Lainey down in her hours of need.
Missy nudged her in the door of the bistro while concluding her very loud and screechy conversation with Jules.
‘Tell them we want a table for two,’ she mouthed to Pippa.
Numbly, she did as Missy asked and before long they were seated in the window. Pippa knew she couldn’t eat a bite, so when Missy pointed to the Prosecco on the wine list and did a thumbs-up sign, she ordered it.
She sent Jules a quick text to say she was sorry Missy was behaving like a lunatic and that she was as drunk as a skunk and she’d call first thing in the morning.
There was a cold silence from Jules.
The bubbly arrived and Pippa downed a full glass. It numbed her momentarily, which was a welcome relief.
‘Let’s have a Caesar salad each,’ Missy said beckoning to the waiter and ordering it.
‘That was such a buzz, wasn’t it?’ she asked. Pippa nodded. ‘I’m going to pursue Jodi Ludlum. Could you imagine the envy of my guests if she turned up?’
‘Yeah it’d be amazing,’ Pippa said noncommittally.
Pippa excused herself and made for the ladies. Pulling the piece of paper from her pocket, she was astonished to see Jodi’s handwriting.
I’d genuinely love to see your family home. I’m actively looking for somewhere to host an event. Could you give me a call tomorrow? Thanks, Jodi.
Pippa stared in shock. She read the note over and over in disbelief. She actually had Jodi Ludlum’s mobile number! This was insane. She tucked the note back into her pocket. Gazing in the mirror, she scrutinised her face. She looked better than she had earlier. In fact, she felt awesome compared to earlier. She couldn’t wait to tell Lainey and the others about Jodi. Trying to calm down before she faced Missy, Pippa knew she’d have to keep quiet about the note. If Missy got wind of it, she’d hound Jodi and ruin any chance Pippa had of getting to know the star.
She briefly considered calling Skye or Joey to fill them in on the news, but she couldn’t risk Missy hearing. Her gut instincts had been right. Just as she was about to return to the restaurant, the ladies room door flew open and Missy popped her head around.
‘Hurry up, great news! I’ve just had a return text from Danny. He’s on the way to meet us with his friend, Charles.’
‘Who?’ Pippa asked.
Missy rolled her eyes and pointed to her nose as another lady came out of a cubicle.
‘Oh right, that Danny,’ Pippa said, copping on and following Missy out to the restaurant. Just as the waiter served their salads and topped up their glasses, Danny arrived. Pippa stared at the table, suddenly horribly aware that her last words to him had been ‘Fuck you, Danny’. She had no idea how he was going to behave with her now.
Missy stood and held her arms out. ‘Darling! Fancy meeting you here. Sit!’ She beckoned to the waiter to bring another glass. When he did, she asked for a fresh bottle of bubbly too.
‘So Pippa’s gonna sort you this time, right, Pip?’
Pippa felt her cheeks flush.
‘Ah no, that’s not going to work,’ Pippa said.
‘What?’ Missy shot her a deathly stare. ‘It’s your shout, Pippa. Friendship requires give and take. Don’t be the one to take, take, take all the time,’ she warned.
‘Of course,’ Pippa said with an uneasy smile. ‘I’ve no cash, so I’ll nip across to the hole in the wall.’
‘Well Danny doesn’t take credit cards,’ Missy said guffawing. ‘So off to the drink-link with you,’ she said. When Pippa realised Missy meant right now, this second, she fumbled her bag onto her shoulder and walked out in a daze.
Danny followed her.
Just as she was about to key in her pin number at the machine, he stopped her.
‘Hey, I’m not taking your money. I’ll give Missy what I have left. Then I’m done with this game. I literally have enough to keep her smiling and then I’m stepping away from this dodgy crap for good.’
‘Are you sure?’ she asked. ‘I don’t want to do you out of your money.’
‘Pippa, please. You’re my girlfriend. I’m hardly about to fleece you now, am I?’
She looked him in the eye for the first time. ‘Am I still your girlfriend?’
He smiled at her. ‘It’ll take more than one expletive to get rid of me,’ he said, leaning in to kiss her lightly. ‘I know it was the coke talking, not you. Are you OK?’
Pippa nodded, feeling if she opened her mouth to speak, she’d start wailing.
‘I won’t quiz you about stuff now,’ Danny said quietly. ‘Let’s just deal with dragon lady then try to get away from her.’
Feeling wobbly, Pippa made her way back to the restaurant. Danny put his arm around her to steady her. When she looked up at him, his smile made her heart flip.
Missy was ecstatic when Danny handed her the small bundle.
‘Nice one, Pippa,’ she said as she immediately rushed to the ladies. Pippa exhaled. She knew the stress she felt was showing on her face.
‘I always thought of myself as a decent bloke,’ Danny said pulling his fingers through his hair. ‘In the cold light of day, I’m a drug dealer. There’s no dressing it up. I can have as many degrees as I like, but at the end of the day, would any judge look upon me favourably and say that I’m a better calibre of dealer than any other? I doubt it.’
Pippa nodded. She wanted desperately to believe Danny, but she couldn’t help feeling doubtful. Missy returned looking incredibly animated.
‘That’s special gear,’ she said. ‘Here, Pippa, knock yourself out.’ She handed the bundle over.
‘I’m good for the moment,’ she said guardedly. ‘Let’s get out of here and have a quick drink somewhere, yeah?’
Missy skipped out the door as the waiter waved the bill in Pippa’s face.
As the payment went through, Pippa followed the others outside. Missy was dancing to the music in her own head, flinging her hair around like a rocker.
‘Wow, I feel great,’ she said giggling. ‘I need to dance. Let’s go to Fire and Rain.’
Pippa groaned, she couldn’t think of anything worse. Danny looked at his watch.
‘I’m not great on school nights, Missy,’ he warned. ‘I’ll come for an hour, tops.’
‘OK, Danny-boy. Your loss. Pippa and I will be making the most of the night.’
‘Does she know about Lainey?’ Danny whispered. Pippa nodded. ‘Christ she’s selfish,’ he said shaking his head.
‘I need to keep her sweet until after this party. After that, believe me I’ve no desire to spend time with her again.’
They’d only arrived and ordered drinks when Missy looked at Pippa sheepishly.
‘Could I have a teeny bit more Charlie?’ she begged.
‘Sure,’ Pippa said, relieved to get the stuff out of her handbag.
‘Will you come with me?’
&
nbsp; ‘Eh, right. But I’m not going to partake this evening. I’ve too much on tomorrow and I’ll be zombified. I’ve got to get to Lainey first thing.’
‘Now you’re just being silly,’ Missy said. ‘You’ll be grand tomorrow and if you’re not, just take a small sniff and you’ll be right as rain. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!’
Pippa glanced over at Danny, who seemed to be a million miles away. Reluctantly, she followed Missy.
‘I’ve got to pee,’ Pippa said. ‘You get set up and I’ll knock on your cubicle door in a minute, yeah?’
The club was quiet seeing as it was midweek, but Pippa couldn’t be certain there was nobody else in the other toilets. Missy rushed in, delighted with the whole thing.
Pippa went to the cubicle furthest away and shut the door. As far as she was concerned, this was the end of the coke line for her. She waited a suitable amount of time before flushing and exiting. Missy peeped her head out the door and beckoned to her.
‘You go on,’ Pippa said. ‘It’s well dodgy in here tonight because it’s so quiet. We don’t need anyone asking why we’re stuffed into one cubicle when most of them are free,’ she whispered.
‘Ooh good point,’ Missy said. ‘I’ll go wash my hands.’
Once alone in the cubicle, Pippa swept the powder into her hand and shook it into the toilet bowl. The sound of the music was suddenly louder as the door opened and a couple of girls came in. Throwing the five-euro note into the sanitary disposal unit, Pippa wanted to ensure there was no evidence on her person. Remembering to flush, she joined Missy at the sinks.
‘Good?’ Missy asked. Pippa nearly gasped when she saw the other girl’s eyes. Her pupils were like saucers and jet black.
‘Great,’ Pippa said injecting as much enthusiasm into her voice as possible. ‘Let’s get back inside.’
‘Ooh, I sense a little love affair with you and Danny boy!’
‘Ah we’re just friends,’ Pippa said.
‘Like hell. I don’t look at my friends the way you look at him. And he’s like a love-sick teenager with those puppy dog stares in your direction too. It’s cute. I approve. Besides, he’s a handy guy to have on side. Nice one, Pips.’
Pippa wanted to say so many things to Missy, but none of them were going to please the other girl, so she simply followed in silence.
Pippa knew there was a God when twenty minutes later a group of Missy’s set appeared.
‘Pips, would you mind if we share a bit of your stash?’ Missy asked with bug-eyed excitement.
‘Not in the slightest,’ Pippa said. ‘You keep it all. I owe you. This way we’re quits, yeah?’
‘Are you sure?’ Missy said looking as if she’d just been told the winning lotto numbers.
‘Totally sure. Knock yourself out, Missy.’
Knowing Missy wasn’t going to miss her one jot, Pippa whispered to Danny that she was slipping off home. Looking relieved, he grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair and followed.
‘You don’t have to leave just because I am,’ she said.
‘I know. I want to. I told you earlier, I don’t stay out late on school nights. Besides, I was only there to see you.’
Her stomach flipped as he pulled her into his arms. She didn’t want to fall in love with Danny. He was a bad boy. He’d told her tonight he was going to change and she desperately wanted to believe him. But Pippa was torn. If any of her family found out what he was really like, they’d be horrified.
Joey
JOEY COULDN’T HELP NOTICING HOW QUIET SKYE was being. But he had so much on his mind with organising Missy’s party, worrying about Lainey and trying to keep up with the constant emails from Clive that he hadn’t been able to focus on her.
‘I’m going to drop over to see Lainey for a few moments and go from the hospital into work,’ he said.
‘So much for your week off,’ Skye said dryly.
‘I know. I’m sorry. Honestly I am, but I couldn’t say no to Clive. I doubt I’ll be there all day. I reckon it’ll only be a few hours. I’ll be home here by five at the outside. Why don’t we go to the village for some pub grub and a couple of drinks tonight?’
‘No thanks,’ Skye said. ‘I’d rather be here. I’m going to visit Lainey this afternoon. The weather is so awful and according to the forecasters, this rain is down for the next few days. We’ve too much to do for Missy’s party as well.’
‘OK,’ he said feeling oddly awkward. ‘How about I bring a takeaway then?’
‘Sure,’ she said despondently. ‘Might be nice to invite Matt and Jacob with baby Ely, too.’
‘Good plan,’ he said. ‘I’ll say it to my folks as well. We’ll light the fire and have a cosy evening. Love it,’ he said clapping and rubbing his hands together. ‘See you later on.’
Joey couldn’t put his finger on it, but Skye was being quite odd. He was putting it down to shock over Lainey’s surgery. It really was a horrible situation. He hoped with all his heart that his sister would get good news from the doctors.
As he pulled up outside the hospital, his mobile rang.
Clive was up to ninety and said he needed him at the office, pronto.
‘My sister is in hospital and I’m outside there now. I need to run in and give her a quick hug and I’ll be there.’
‘OK, fair enough Joey. Oh and I need you to come with me tonight. These guys are looking for a night on the tiles. I’ve booked that Michelin star place in the city centre and we’ll take them to the members only bar afterwards. A few scoops are the order of the day, my man!’
‘Sounds like a plan!’ Joey said enthusiastically. ‘See you shortly, Clive.’
Feeling truly hassled Joey climbed out of his car and dashed into the hospital. By the time he located Lainey’s ward he was in a sweat.
To his dismay, her bed was empty.
‘Excuse me,’ he said flagging down a passing nurse. ‘I’m looking for my sister, Lainey. She should be here.’
‘She’s down having an ultrasound scan. She just left. It’ll only take around half an hour to forty minutes. There’s a chair beside her bed. You can wait there.’
‘I’m already late for a meeting up in Dublin,’ he explained. ‘Would you possibly be able to give her a message that her brother Joey was here?’
‘Fair enough, Joey. I’ll let her know.’
Joey vowed to return the following day, knowing he had no choice but to leave. He could envisage Clive pacing up and down as he waited for him to get there. He couldn’t risk his boss feeling he wasn’t reliable, not in these key early stages of his partnership.
Once he was on the main motorway he called Skye. The phone at Huntersbrook rang out. Thumping the steering wheel in frustration, he berated himself for not setting up the answering machine. Yet another niggly job he’d thought he’d get to this week, but it had slipped under the radar.
Dialling Skye’s mobile, he shook his head as it went directly to voicemail.
The mailbox on the mobile phone you are calling is full. Please try again later.
Clive’s second call distracted him.
‘Hey Clive, I’m on the way. I’ll be with you in fifteen minutes, tops.’
‘Great stuff, thanks Joey. The group are here. Head straight to boardroom five when you get here, yeah?’
‘Sure. See you shortly.’
Joey felt bad for bailing on Lainey, but he couldn’t keep the meeting waiting. Forgetting all about everything but his clients he zoomed toward Dublin.
Sadie
THE SIGHT OF THE HOSPITAL MADE SADIE WEAK at the knees. She’d only taken one course of antibiotics in her entire life and medical people terrified the life out of her. Up until now she’d managed to avoid these places since that time . . .
Taking a deep breath she forced her feet forward and presented at the reception desk. Holding her head high she asked for Lainey’s ward and made her way to the lift.
She’d often heard that smell was the one sense that evoked a thousand memories. By the time
she reached Lainey’s floor, it was as if she were stepping back in time. Sounds and scenes shot through her mind like a movie reel in slow motion. Only for the fact her beloved Lainey was lying in tatters in a hospital bed, she’d have bolted and run for the hills.
Gingerly she found the right door and pushed her way inside.
‘Hello there, pet.’
‘Sadie!’ Lainey said. Her voice sounded different. Deeper and bereft of joy. The poor girl’s face said it all. She looked positively beaten.
‘Don’t suppose there’s much point asking you how you’re feeling?’
‘Not really,’ Lainey forced a smile. ‘I’ve been having scans and tests all day. I feel like exhibit A at this point. You’re so good to come, Sadie. I know you hate hospitals and doctors.’
‘Um.’ She gazed around at the high ceilings remembering the last time she’d done the same in a similar building. Blinking slowly, she focused on the present. Remembering the envelope in her bag, she fished it out and handed it to Lainey.
‘What have you brought?’
‘It’s from your mum. She wanted you to have a little smiley face to gaze at.’ Sadie clasped her petite hands under her chin as she watched Lainey. As she slid the photo from the envelope, tears began to cascade from her eyes.
‘Your mum took it last night and Skye printed it off. A team effort,’ she said in delight. The photo was of Ely as he burst out laughing.
‘Aw he’s such a little darling,’ Lainey said. ‘I love him so much it hurts.’
Sadie patted her hand. Comfortable silence descended as Sadie did what she’d always done best and waited until Lainey wanted to talk.
‘It’s an odd one, isn’t it?’
‘What’s that, dear?’
‘The relationship between Mum and me . . .’
‘It is really, dear.’
‘You know where I’m coming from, Sadie, don’t you?’
Sadie didn’t want to come between Holly and Lainey, but she was in no doubt of how she felt about both women.
‘Your family are the only family I’ve ever known. Well since I was sixteen at least. Once my brother left for America in the nineteen forties I would’ve had nobody if your Grandma hadn’t offered me a job.’
The Heart of Winter Page 22
