The Heart of Winter

by Emma Hannigan

  ‘Morning!’ called out a voice from the entrance. A man was standing there holding the biggest balloon Joey had ever seen. It was a three and zero in glittering silver and it dwarfed the grinning man who was holding it.

  ‘Morning, come in,’ Joey called as he walked over.

  ‘Hope you don’t mind me coming this morning instead of this evening?’ the balloon man said. ‘But I was sure I’d get lost. The girl who ordered the stuff made out the house was on the furthest peninsula of the country. She had me convinced if I took the next right turn, I’d be in New Zealand!’

  ‘Ah we’re not that remote,’ Joey said.

  ‘I know that now,’ he said grinning. ‘This is an amazing set-up, by the way. I thought I’d been to all the fancy venues in the area.’

  ‘We’re new!’ Joey said, grabbing a bunch of brochures from a table. ‘So if you’d be able to put some of these in your shop, we’d really appreciate it?’

  ‘I’ll certainly help spread the word,’ he said. ‘Have you just bought the place?’ he asked looking around with interest.

  ‘No it’s been in our family for three generations,’ Joey said. ‘But opening it up to the public is new for us.’

  ‘I’m in business fifteen years. I’m the Bob from Bob’s balloons,’ he said pointing to the van emblazoned with his logo. ‘You’d be surprised how many people ask about suitable places for parties. I’d be happy to give you a mention.’

  Joey offered to help Bob unload the van before showing him the main house. He called out for help and Skye, Holly and Pippa came over. They took the many bunches of balloons and distributed them around the marquee.

  ‘She certainly spared no expense with these,’ Holly commented. ‘Mind you she did mention quite a few times that she wanted it all to look OTT.’

  ‘Should we hide these behind a screen or something until Jodi’s been?’ Pippa wondered.

  ‘What kind of screen had you in mind?’ Joey asked. ‘One the size of Canada? Have you seen how many balloons Bob has?’

  All they could do was giggle as the room was taken over with a sea of bobbing pink. Bob set up the roof net and filled it with Joey’s help.

  ‘They won’t all be saggy by tonight will they?’ Holly asked.

  ‘No, I put special gel stuff in each one before I add the helium,’ said Bob.

  The pièce de résistance or more notably, ‘the final straw’ as Paddy put it, was the archway. Once constructed it would span to the full height of the roof from the floor and back down again.

  ‘Why would you want that?’ Holly asked. ‘It’s such a waste of money.’

  ‘And it’s hideous,’ Pippa laughed.

  ‘Hey, I’m not complaining,’ Bob said cheerfully.

  ‘Missy isn’t exactly known for holding back with anything,’ said Pippa dropping her voice so only Skye and Holly could hear her. She didn’t want to openly dis Missy in front of Bob. ‘Her dress for tonight cost two and a half thousand euro.’

  ‘That’s obscene!’ Skye said. ‘How could you justify that?’

  ‘It’s a drop in the ocean for Mr Hassett,’ Pippa whispered.

  ‘Even if I had that sort of cash, I wouldn’t buy a dress for that price,’ Holly said. Her expression changed from a scowl to a smile as she looked toward the door.

  ‘Hello Danny,’ she said walking over to welcome him. Pippa jerked around to stare as he greeted Holly and waved shyly across at her.

  Joey watched his sister and judging by her face, he didn’t think this guy stood a chance of staying in the picture for long.

  Pippa

  PIPPA’S HEART SANK WHEN SHE TURNED AND SAW Danny standing there. Actually, it flipped and sank. It flipped when she saw him, even though she wished it wouldn’t, then it sank as she realised he was forcing her hand. She didn’t want to talk things over right now, but it looked like she had no choice now. She walked over to him with one eyebrow raised.

  ‘I tried calling your mobile and couldn’t get you, so I thought I’d drive down. I hope you don’t mind?’

  ‘I said I’d be in touch,’ Pippa said pointedly.

  Danny blushed and looked uncomfortable. ‘I know,’ he mumbled.

  ‘Come on,’ Pippa said. ‘I’ll make you a coffee in the house and we can talk.’

  There were silent as they strode across the yard to the house, but once inside and beyond the radar of her family, Pippa couldn’t help showing her annoyance.

  ‘You shouldn’t have appeared here,’ she said as she let him into the kitchen.

  ‘Pippa, I’m sorry if I’ve done the wrong thing by coming here.’

  ‘You have,’ she said. ‘I said I’d let you know the score. I don’t appreciate your impatience.’

  Danny stared at her. ‘I don’t want to lose you,’ he said simply.

  Pippa hesitated. She was so confused. Now that he was standing in front of her, all she wanted to do was rush into his arms and stay there forever. But the warning voice in her head was too strong. She’d had so many awful relationships in the past and she wasn’t about to add another to the pile.

  ‘Please give me a chance,’ he said, reading her mind. ‘I know I haven’t exactly given the best first impression. But you make me want to straighten out my life. For the first time, I’ve woken up and realised what a stupidly dangerous game I’ve been playing. I could’ve ended up behind bars. I’ve been an arrogant idiot.’ He dropped his arms heavily by his sides and exhaled loudly.

  ‘Now that I say it all out loud, it actually sounds farcical. Why on earth should you consider a future with me? You’re not from the same tainted mess of a life as I am. I shouldn’t have come. I’m sorry for bothering you.’

  ‘Wait,’ she said quietly. ‘I’m certainly not perfect, Danny. So don’t think I’m princess Fiona and you’re Shrek. I’ve made a total mess of my life, several times over in fact.’

  She looked at him, weighing up the pros and cons, trying to decide what was best, for both of them.

  ‘All right, cards on the table time. I don’t want to like you Danny, but I do. You’re a bad boy. But I’m not a teenager any longer. I need to get my life together. I was doing quite well until I started hanging around with Missy.’ She shook her head. ‘The truth of the matter is that I’ve been a bit of a disaster and I’ve made stupid mistakes. I’m not a hotshot business woman with everything worked out. I’m a girl who has behaved like a spoilt child most of the time, but I’m lucky enough to have a family that loves me and continuously forgives me. But they don’t need me causing any more hassle . . .’

  ‘I understand,’ he said.

  ‘Wait,’ Pippa said, holding up her hand. ‘I need to just get this said. In my good moments, Danny, I can see a future with you. You’re brilliant in so many ways and I love hanging with you. We have lots in common and I think Dublin with you could be fantastic. But – and it’s a really big but – right now you’re known all over town as a drug dealer. You’re part of a set that are messed up and horribly manipulative. I was stupid enough to allow Missy to take charge of me and it ended up with me being too wasted to be with my own sister when she needed me most. Lainey is so good I know she’ll forgive me that, but I’ll never forgive myself. I’ve been utterly blind, Danny, and you’ve been part of that blindness. Right now, I’m thankful for my health and for my job and for my family and I’m not going to get mixed up in anything again that threatens those things. I know I’m a bit old to be saying it, but I have to grow up, Danny. There’s things I want to do and achieve and it won’t happen if I’m snorting powder off the back of a toilet. I want change. I need change now. And if I have to drop you as part of that change, well, it’ll break my heart, but I’ll do it.’

  Pippa stopped and took a deep breath. She realised she was shaking. She wasn’t used to honesty, and she certainly wasn’t used to laying her heart on the line for someone she barely knew and wasn’t sure about. Nothing about this was normal, but at the same time, every word she spoke felt right. It felt true.
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br />   Danny stared at her. His silence was unnerving. She was waiting for him to tell her she wasn’t worth it and that he was out of there.

  ‘Do you know something, Pippa Craig,’ he said slowly. ‘You are amazing.’

  Pippa stared back, wide-eyed. That was the last thing she’d expected him to say.

  ‘I love this Pippa even more,’ he said with a smile. ‘Gutsy, direct and flat out honest. No bullshit. You are exactly what I need because I want changes in my life too. Since meeting you, I’ve begun to see myself through other people’s eyes, and I hate what I see. I know it sounds corny, but I want to be worthy of you. I want to be the perfect man for you and I know damn well that doesn’t include drugs – either taking or dealing. It’s over, Pippa.’

  ‘Really?’ she said, hardly able to breathe. ‘You’re not messing me around?’

  He looked her directly in the eye. ‘No, Pippa. That is the honest truth. The package we gave Missy was my last. I haven’t bought any more and I’ve told my man that I won’t be. I’m out, simple as that. You have my word, Pippa, that I’m going to change. My job pays more than enough to keep me afloat and there are a couple of promotions on the horizon that I could apply for. That’s the right way to go. I stupidly thought I’d found a quick way to make it to the top by selling drugs.’

  Danny reached over and stroked her face. ‘I think we’ve had a fairly eventful start, but how about we try and turn over a new leaf together? There are no secrets between us now. That’s a good thing, right?’

  ‘I don’t know if I’m able to take anything on board right now,’ Pippa admitted. ‘Lainey still doesn’t know what she’s facing and . . .’

  ‘No pressure,’ he said. ‘We’ll take it slowly and be patient with each other.’

  ‘I can’t afford to live the party girl lifestyle all the time.’

  ‘I’ve had enough of that to last me quite a few years. So don’t feel you’ll be keeping me away from anything,’ he pointed out. ‘Maybe we can spend our weekends down here, helping out. Make money from other people’s partying, in a whole new and legitimate way.’

  Pippa smiled at him, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. She stepped forward and hugged him. As she rested her head against his chest, she closed her eyes and tried to steady her racing pulse. She’d never felt this way with any other guy.

  Nobody had ever made her feel the way Danny did.

  They kissed, and it was perfect.

  Jodi

  JODI HAD BEEN UP SINCE DAWN. THE SCRIPT SHE was learning was compelling. She’d known since the first read-through that this movie would be the next blockbuster.

  She had less than two months to learn the remainder of her lines before she began shooting. Normally, she’d be fretting about how she’d keep her six-year-old son, Saul, at school until the summer holidays. But her fiancé was a teacher at his school and would mind him. Once school finished for the summer, they’d follow her to LA. Saul was thrilled about being Harry’s tour-guide.

  Jodi had never been happier. Her marriage to Darius Drew actor and heartthrob extraordinaire, had ended amicably two years ago. He was still an amazing father to Saul and they would always be friends. Their marriage had been very public, very contrived and very convenient. But both had reached a stage where they needed to go separate ways.

  Jodi first met Harry Matthews when he was teaching Saul in junior infants. She’d been drawn to his incredible ability to make his pupils happy. But as the school year had progressed, she’d eventually responded to the sparking interest that he’d shown in her. Back then, she’d assumed he was only interested in Jodi Ludlum the movie star. As the months rolled by, she realised he was actually interested in the real Jodi. The one who pitched up at school dressed in sheepskin boots and trackie bottoms. The one who wore no make-up and pulled her hair into a knot using an abandoned piece of twine. The one who was more interested in collecting conkers with her son than reading glossy magazines . . . it was a very new feeling.

  Jodi treasured her new life in Ireland. She’d grown up in Dublin, the daughter of an addict on an estate that even the police wouldn’t drive through. She’d worked tirelessly to better herself and had hit the jackpot as an actress. Adored the world over, she had carefully kept her deprived background and her arranged marriage to Darius under wraps.

  One of the only people who knew the whole truth was Harry.

  ‘None of that matters,’ he’d said when she told him about her colourful and painful past. ‘All I care about is the person you are today. The fact you’ve overcome so much and fought so hard to get where you are makes me love you even more.’

  ‘You love me?’ she’d said in astonishment.

  ‘The entire world loves you, Jodi,’ he grinned. ‘But I love the real you.’

  She’d learned from a young age to be on her guard. She knew that most of the people she met only wanted to use her for their own gain. Harry was different. He had no agenda. All he wanted was to be with her and Saul.

  When he proposed last month after they’d been dating for a year and a half, he’d been awkwardly shy all of a sudden. The pretty diamond ring looked like a speck in comparison to the one Darius had given her eight years before.

  ‘I know it’s not much of a rock. You’re used to bigger and better. But I’m hoping you’ll find it in your heart to realise that there’s more sentiment packed into this proposal than cash.’

  She’d instantly begun to cry.

  ‘Will you marry me, Jodi?’

  The joyful tears and the emphatic nodding as she allowed him to slip the ring on her finger said it all. Realising she hadn’t verbalised an answer, she kissed him and whispered yes, over and over again.

  They both decided not to tell the press about the engagement. Jodi didn’t want it to be splashed across every newspaper and magazine from here to kingdom come.

  ‘It’s our news and nobody else’s,’ she said emphatically.

  ‘That’s cool by me,’ Harry said. ‘I don’t think your male fans are going to like me for taking you off the market and the ladies will think I’m a poor second to the delectable Darius.’

  ‘Sod the lot of them,’ Jodi said feistily. ‘We’ll keep it to ourselves for the moment. So we can savour this special time.’

  Jodi was careful not to wear the ring during press calls and they’d decided to wait until nearer the wedding before telling Saul. Neither of them wanted their relationship to become a circus. Her village home would certainly be surrounded by paparazzi if she made the announcement.

  Jodi knew Saul would be thrilled. Harry stayed for ‘sleepovers’, as Saul called them. And he loved when Harry played Star Wars Lego with him.

  ‘We don’t have to do a big wedding unless you’d particularly like it,’ Jodi said.

  ‘I couldn’t think of anything worse,’ Harry said. ‘It’d turn into one of those crazy affairs with flashing cameras and crowds lining the streets.’

  After the shopping trip the couple had chatted about Pippa and her home.

  ‘I know of Huntersbrook,’ Harry said. ‘The Wicklow hunt used to start from there. It’s meant to be magnificent. It’d be really private too.’

  ‘I warmed to Pippa instantly too. She seems like a really cool girl, doesn’t she?’

  ‘It’s definitely worth a look,’ Harry agreed. ‘It’s only around the corner too. Couldn’t be handier!’

  Saul was going to a birthday party today, so it gave Jodi and Harry the perfect opportunity to sneak over and have a quick look at the venue. While she wanted to wear a pretty wedding dress and do a lot of traditional things, Jodi was certain she didn’t want a massive celebrity blow-out. They needed a low-key, laidback venue that would allow them to do it their way.

  Not wanting to create a bad impression, she changed out of her jeans and put on some of the lovely clothes she’d purchased the day she met Pippa. Putting on a light covering of make-up and brushing her hair, Jodi made a cup of herbal tea as she waited for Harry to arrive. She rummage
d around for the car keys, not sure of where she’d thrown them. Harry was constantly teasing her about how disorganised she was.

  ‘This place is like a pit,’ he’d laughed. ‘I thought someone like you would have a perfect house with everything perfectly organised.’

  ‘I lived out of a suitcase in hotel rooms for years,’ she reasoned. ‘I can’t boil an egg and I hang my clothes on the floor or a bedroom chair at best. Underneath all the Hollywood glamour I’m still a messy pup!’

  Jodi wanted Saul to have as normal a childhood as possible. She’d seen the effects on her colleagues’ children when they’d grown up with private tutors on film sets and no normal routine. She’d always longed to take him back to her birth-place and Wicklow, with its green rolling hills and pretty stone-clad villages, had appealed most. It was a quick drive from Dublin city and the airport, yet far enough away to afford her anonymity.

  With Saul safely delivered to his friend’s birthday party, she waited for Harry to arrive. In typical teacher fashion he pitched up exactly on the hour. She opened the door.

  ‘I love the way you’re so precise.’

  ‘Someone needs to be in this relationship,’ he grinned.

  ‘Ready to rock’n’roll?’ she asked as she kissed him.

  ‘You look nice,’ he said, ‘is that dress new?’

  ‘It’s a skirt,’ she said with a grin. ‘You crack me up! Darius would know at ten paces what label I was wearing, let alone calling it the wrong thing!’