A Love Like This

by Maria Duffy

  ‘Donna?’

  ‘Stop!’

  Bob managed to pull over into the left lane and turn down a side street, where he stopped. He jumped out and ran around to open the passenger door and helped Donna out of the car.

  ‘What is it?’ he asked, as she struggled to catch her breath. ‘Jesus, Donna. Should I call an ambulance?’

  She shook her head as her breathing began to even out. She leaned against the car and began to cry.

  ‘Donna, love, what’s wrong? You’re really worrying me now.’

  ‘I … I’m sorry, Bob. I’m okay now. It’s just the thought of … Don’t mind me. I’m just being silly.’

  ‘The thought of what?’ Bob looked worried and Donna felt like such an eejit.

  She bowed her head. ‘The funeral. I’ve been dreading it. That’s why I got so anxious about everything this morning. I got to thinking about the fire and remembering the funeral after. It was the worst time of my life.’

  ‘God, Donna. I should have thought. I’m so sorry.’ He pulled her in to him and massaged the back of her neck. It felt good. She wished she was back home in the safety of her little flat watching telly as he massaged her. Anywhere but where they were going.

  ‘Now listen,’ he continued. ‘We’re still early so I’m going to drop you back home. No arguments.’

  She pulled away. ‘No way, Bob. Your mam needs me there. I told you I’m just being silly.’

  ‘You’re being anything but silly.’ He opened the passenger door for her to get back in. ‘There’s absolutely no need for you to be there, especially if it’s going to dredge up painful memories. Dad and I will be there with her and we can pop over tomorrow if you’re up to it to see how she is.’

  ‘No, Bob. Come on or we’ll be late.’

  ‘But I can just drop you back—’

  ‘Bob! I love you for caring so much but I’m going to the funeral and that’s that. Your mam has been there for me through so much and now I’m going to let her lean on me.’

  ‘Well, if you’re sure?’ Bob looked uncertain.

  ‘I’m positive,’ she said, stepping back into the car. ‘Now let’s get going.’

  She sat back in the seat and closed her eyes. Maybe it was time she allowed herself to remember. Memories were painful but they could also be healing and she’d blocked out the past for too long.

  She was sitting in the funeral car with some distant relative that she’d only just met and Jan. There was nobody else. The sheer scale of the emptiness she felt overwhelmed her and she wished at that moment that she’d perished in the fire too. She looked out the window as the car drove slowly down the street. Past ordinary people going about their ordinary lives. Oblivious to the pain she was in. How was she ever going to survive?

  ‘Here we go.’ Bob’s lilting voice burst into her thoughts and she saw that they were already at Jan’s house. She had survived. It had been difficult – it still was at times – but she’d gotten through it. And now, in contrast, her life was full of people who loved her and she felt very lucky. And suddenly she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that by helping Jan through this difficult time, she’d find healing for herself in the process.

  Chapter 36

  ‘Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own, Mum?’

  ‘I’ll be fine, William. I’m just going to watch the news and go to bed. I have a lot of meetings tomorrow so I want to be awake and alert.’

  ‘If you’re sure?’ He hadn’t left her alone in the house since the funeral a few weeks before and he felt reluctant.

  ‘Stop fussing. I know you mean well but I’ll be glad of a bit of time to myself.’

  He felt relieved as he headed up to his bedroom. He plonked down on the bed and stretched his hands behind his head. Silvia was still in the shower so he reckoned he wouldn’t have to start getting ready for at least an hour.

  Things had been really strange in the house without his dad. It was as though they were all walking on glass. Will was afraid to say anything that might upset his mother, she was putting on a brave face and pretending she was fine and Silvia was unsure what to do half the time. He’d made sure that his mother had company in the house at all times. He’d hated the thought of her feeling lonely. He couldn’t begin to imagine the pain of being with someone for so long and then suddenly not having them there any more. It was bittersweet that he and his mother were closer now than they’d ever been and it was mainly due to his father’s passing.

  The funeral had been desperately sad and it had become clear to Will that his father had been very well liked. Friends and neighbours had turned up in their hordes to pay their respects and, although Will hated the formalities of a funeral, he knew his dad would have been chuffed to have such a send-off.

  The other positive thing that had come out of the day was he now had a cousin. It was his only one. A cousin and an aunt. He’d always known of their existence but never thought he’d meet them. Of course the circumstances hadn’t been ideal but he’d hit it off with his cousin straight away and they’d kept in touch.

  His name was Bob and Will was fascinated by him. He’d stood out in the crowd because of how he was dressed and his hair looked as though he’d just woken up and shoved a hairband in it. But he’d been charming and gentlemanlike and Will had immediately liked him. His mum, Jan, was lovely too and Will had felt a pang of sadness that these people were only coming into his life now.

  ‘Aren’t you ready yet?’ said Silvia, wafting into the room in her robe. ‘We should be leaving soon.’

  ‘You are joking, right? It will take me all of thirty seconds to throw on my jeans and shirt. You’ll be drying that hair of yours and putting on make-up for the next hour at least.’

  She tutted and disappeared back out the door with her make-up bag. She always said she hated the light in the bedroom and much preferred the natural light in the bathroom to apply her make-up.

  Tonight they were going to meet Bob and his girlfriend. Will hadn’t met her at the funeral because she hadn’t been well but he was looking forward to the four of them getting together. They had a lot of years to catch up on.

  He sat up on the bed and looked at the blue jeans and black shirt he’d left out to wear. Then he thought of Bob and how exotic he’d looked. He’d said he was a fashion journalist. No pressure there, then! He knew Silvia would look spectacular – she always did – so he’d better make an effort himself. He got up to root through his wardrobe and see if he could come up with anything a little more fashionable. He was a little startled to realise he was whistling. For the first time in weeks, he was feeling upbeat. His heart felt light and he had a fluttering of excitement in his stomach. He had a feeling that tonight was going to be a good night.

  * * *

  ‘Achooo!’ Donna blew her nose for about the hundredth time that day.

  ‘I think we should cancel,’ said Bob, looking at her with concern. ‘We can do it another time.’

  Donna shook her head. ‘There’s no way we’re cancelling. They’ll think I’m some sort of hypochondriac, cancelling because of a runny nose.’

  ‘I could always take a picture of you and send it to them.’ Bob grabbed his iPhone from the locker beside the bed. ‘The colour of your nose alone would convince them that you are indeed sick!’

  ‘Don’t you dare,’ said Donna, making a swipe for his phone. ‘But seriously, how can I not go tonight when I dodged the funeral too?’

  ‘You didn’t dodge it, Donna. It wasn’t as though you just decided not to bother.’

  ‘But I should have made a better effort.’ When they’d picked up Jan to take her to the funeral, Bob had quietly filled her in on how Donna was feeling. Jan had hugged her and insisted they drive her home. ‘You’ll be no good to me while you’re dealing with your own grief,’ she’d said. ‘Get yourself home and come over tonight and we can have a chat.’

  ‘You made a huge effort, love, so you’ve got to stop beating yourself up about it. Now am I going to ring t
o cancel or what?’

  Donna shook her head. ‘Definitely not. Just give me ten minutes and this face will be transformed.’

  ‘Hmmm. Go on then. You can try but I have my doubts.’

  Donna couldn’t help laughing at Bob’s cheekiness. It was hard to be grumpy when he was around. She really wasn’t in form for going out tonight but she was going to have to grin and bear it. She couldn’t let Bob down again. He seemed keen to get to know his new-found cousin and he wanted Donna by his side. He’d met his cousin’s fiancée at the funeral and apparently she was, in his words, spectacular. Donna knew she had a lot of work to do if she was to compete with that!

  She locked the door of the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Spectacular she was not! Unless it was spectacularly ugly. Her eyes were red and swollen and she had burst blood vessels all around her nose from the constant blowing. Her skin was dry, her lips chapped and she had a zit the size of a melon on her chin. ‘Not a pretty sight,’ she said, examining the zit with her fingers to see if it was squeezable.

  But despite everything, she managed to emerge from the bathroom twenty minutes later looking close to normal. She’d made up her eyes heavily to detract from the redness and she’d even managed to cover up the broken veins with Lexie’s magic green stuff. Donna had often seen Lexie use it under her foundation and she’d assumed that it was just one of those things that manufacturers dream up to make money. But seeing the results today, Donna made a mental note to go straight out and buy a tube of it tomorrow.

  ‘Well, look at you,’ said Bob, whistling. ‘You scrub up well.’

  ‘It’s the best I could do under the circumstances.’

  ‘Donna, you look fabulous.’

  ‘I’m in my ten-year-old dressing gown, Bob.’

  ‘Jesus, why can women not take compliments? I mean your face. Your face looks gorgeous. Now hurry up and get dressed. I have a taxi booked for eight and it’s already a quarter to.’

  After rooting through her wardrobe, Donna eventually settled on a pair of ankle-length white jeans and a sleeveless jade-green blouse. The evenings were getting brighter and there was a sniff of spring in the air so it was time to move away from the thick black tights and furry boots. She ran a brush through her long, wavy hair before standing into a pair of not-too-high heels and was ready to go.

  Donna hadn’t been involved in picking the venue but she was more than happy with it. Milano was an authentic Italian pizzeria with food to die for. She’d been there a number of times and adored everything about it from their garlic dough balls to the tiramisu. Her mouth began to water as the taxi drove down the quays towards the restaurant. She was actually beginning to look forward to it.

  When they stepped inside, the clink of glasses and the buzz of conversation immediately lifted her spirits. The waiter checked the reservation and informed them that the other party was already seated. He led the way towards the back of the restaurant and indicated a table where a couple were deep in conversation. They both looked up and smiled and Bob’s cousin stood up to greet them.

  Donna froze. She couldn’t move or speak. She felt as though she was in some sort of dream. In some parallel universe she’d just entered a coffee shop in Christchurch.

  ‘I’ll have a coffee and a slice of walnut cake,’ he said to the waitress, who was hovering impatiently. ‘Donna?’

  ‘Just tea for me, please.’ She couldn’t eat a thing. Her stomach was in knots and she was still trying to figure out what had just happened. After she’d literally fallen into William’s arms, there’d been an awkward moment. And then everything had just clicked into place. As though they were old friends, he’d asked her if she fancied grabbing a coffee and she’d agreed. Just like that. It was unlike her to be so reckless but it had just felt right.

  And now here he was. William. Her William. Standing right in front of her. In a restaurant in Dublin. Everything began to swim in front of her eyes and her legs buckled beneath her. As she began to fall, she was aware of a pair of strong arms catching her and placing her gently on a chair. She knew instinctively they were William’s arms. What were the chances? Most would say it was a coincidence. But she knew better. The hand of fate had dealt her some heavy blows throughout her life. It had been unkind in so many ways. But today it had pushed her into the arms of the man of her dreams. For the second time. And this time she wasn’t going to let go.

  Chapter 37

  ‘Donna? Donna? Are you okay?’

  ‘Give her some water. She looks very flushed.’

  ‘I knew we shouldn’t have come out. She’s burning up.’

  ‘Should we get her to a hospital?’

  ‘Wait, she’s opening her eyes. Donna, are you okay?’

  Donna slowly began to focus on the faces in front of her and it took her a moment to realise what had happened. She opened her eyes fully and took the glass of water from Bob’s hand. After she took a few sips, she could finally speak. The first thing that came out of her mouth was: ‘William!’

  Bob looked from one to the other. ‘Do you two know each other?’

  ‘You could say that,’ said Will, his eyes fixed on Donna. ‘This is unbelievable.’

  Donna took another sip and was beginning to feel human again. ‘I can’t believe it’s really you. And you’re okay.’

  ‘Can someone please fill me in?’ said Bob, sitting on the chair beside Donna. ‘I’m confused.’

  Donna looked at Will. Drank in his face. She wished they were alone. There was so much she wanted to say. So much she wanted to know.

  Will was first to speak. ‘Donna and I have met before. Just briefly in New Zealand.’

  Bob clapped his hands together. ‘No way! What are the chances of that? It’s gas how the Irish always find each other no matter where they are in the world.’

  Donna was still quiet and Will looked concerned. ‘Donna, you don’t look well. Can we get you anything?’

  ‘No, no, I’m fine. It’s just this damn cold. I can’t seem to shift it and when I came in here to the heat, I just felt a bit dizzy.’ It was a lie. It was purely the sight of William that had sent her into a spin, but she wasn’t going to be admitting that.

  ‘Well, why don’t we order some food and then you can tell us about how you two met.’ Silvia stretched out her hand to Donna. ‘I’m Silvia, by the way. Nice to meet you.’

  ‘Donna. And you too.’ They shook hands and Donna was jolted back to reality. He had a girlfriend. And not just a girlfriend – a fiancée. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

  They ordered their food and Bob demanded to know the whole story. Where did they meet? When? Were they just friends? Did they not keep in touch? Donna knew Bob well enough to know that the ‘friends’ question was a loaded one and he’d just thrown it in there casually because he didn’t want to ask them straight out if they’d been more than friends. Donna was happy to let Will take the lead in telling the story.

  ‘It was in Christchurch,’ he began. ‘The day before the earthquake.’

  He left that comment hanging and Bob nodded knowingly. ‘So you didn’t get a chance to properly get together then?’

  ‘It wasn’t like that.’ Will shot Donna a glance and she nodded. They didn’t even need words. ‘We met in the tourist office and got talking when we realised we were both from Ireland.’

  Donna continued. ‘We were both travelling alone so we agreed to do a tour of the city together the next day.’

  ‘And it never happened because of the earthquake,’ said Silvia, taking Will’s hand and squeezing it. ‘I can’t even imagine how awful that must have been.’

  ‘No, it wasn’t awful at all. We barely even knew each other.’

  ‘I think Silvia was talking about the earthquake, Donna,’ said Bob, raising an eyebrow. ‘And were you two together when the earthquake happened? I thought you said you were alone.’

  Donna shook her head. ‘I was alone. I was on my way to meet William, eh, Will, when it struck.’

  ‘I
waited for you,’ said Will, his brown eyes boring into hers. ‘I didn’t know whether you’d decided not to come or if you were just late.’

  ‘I’d overslept. Of all the days. I’m so sorry. I was almost there when it happened.’

  ‘Well, no harm done, eh?’ said Bob, refilling everyone’s glasses with water from the jug on the table. ‘You’re both here now and what a story you have to tell.’

  Donna ignored Bob. ‘I continued on to the square but it was so chaotic, I couldn’t find you. I looked all around but I was a bit dazed from a bang on the head.’

  ‘Oh God. You were hurt?’ Will looked genuinely concerned.

  ‘Just a few bumps and cuts. Nothing too serious. How about you?’

  ‘Same here. Nothing much.’

  ‘Nothing much?’ said Silvia, looking at Will as though he was mad. ‘How can you say it was nothing much when you’ve been scarred for life?’

  Donna sat forward in her chair. ‘Scarred? What happened, Will?’

  He looked embarrassed and Donna noticed the sharp look he gave Silvia. He obviously hadn’t planned on offering the information himself.

  ‘Is it your hand?’ Bob joined the conversation again. ‘I noticed it at the funeral but didn’t like to ask.’

  Will sighed and nodded. He laid his hand out on the table for them to see briefly and then pulled it back out of sight.

  Donna took a sharp breath. ‘Your poor hand. What happened?’

  ‘A large boulder from a building fell on it. Unfortunately they were unable to save one of the fingers but it could have been a whole lot worse. It’s not a big deal.’

  ‘He’s so modest,’ said Silvia, looking at him admiringly. ‘And it is a big deal. The boulder didn’t just fall on him. It happened while he was saving a child from being crushed to death.’

  ‘Don’t be so dramatic, Sil.’

  ‘But it’s true. Like you, Donna, he was wandering in a bit of a daze when he heard a woman screaming her head off. He ran to her and saw that her four-year-old son was trapped under a massive boulder. It was crushing his chest and he was gasping for breath.’