Heart and Soul

by Maeve Binchy

  Lavender didn't assume that the audience had unlimited wealth: she was practical and helpful. Everyone tasted the cod when it was cooked and said it was excellent. Next week she was going to do low-fat desserts, she said.

  Aidan was watching Nora's face to know what she thought of it. Nora said that it was all brilliant and imagine anyone wanting to buy all that fat, greasy takeaway when you could get this! Aidan seemed very relieved that she was enthusiastic and they went off happily to find a fishmonger.

  Lavender had advised them to buy several pieces at a time and freeze the extra ones.

  But Nora and Aidan didn't have a proper freezer, so that wouldn't work for them.

  “Never mind. It's good for us to walk to the shops each time,” Nora said as they left the heart clinic.

  Clara overheard her and smiled to herself. This Nora was certainly keeping her part of the bargain.

  Nora's great friend Brenda Brennan of Quentins restaurant visited that evening to know how Aidan was.

  “What's happening to your gorgeous eating place tonight without you there to supervise?” Nora asked. Nobody could imagine Quentins without Brenda there, calm and in control.

  “I'm learning to delegate, Nora,” she said. “I have a leggy blonde from Latvia, impeccable English, great style. She's in there now and may well have taken the place over when I get back.”

  “That's what I'm afraid of up at the school,” Aidan said. “They have this bright young fellow in teaching Latin. Why would they want me back?” He looked worried.

  “Because you know more Latin than that boy will learn in a lifetime.” Nora was loyal.

  “I should be getting back there, though. I'm feeling so well…”

  “The headmaster said you were to take your time,” Nora reminded him.

  “Yes, but the headmaster is my son-in-law,” Aidan said ruefully.

  “Oh, Aidan, that has nothing to do with it.” Brenda Brennan broke in. “I am certain of this much: I've known Tony O'Brien well over the years and if he says it he means it.”

  “It's just that I feel such a waster.” Aidan was still worried about it all.

  “You, Aidan? A waster? The very notion of it is ludicrous; enjoy your couple of weeks. You'll be wishing you had got more value out of your time off when you're back in harness.”

  “But if I'm well enough to enjoy myself, then aren't I well enough to go to work?”

  “Aidan—take Nora out on the train to the seaside. It's lovely in Dun Laoghaire with the waves all crashing round. Winter is by far the best time to go. Or go on to Sandycove or Dalkey go to one of those nice pubs that serve food …” Brenda could think of a hundred things to do. She provided the get-up-and-go that Nora lacked. Soon she had them making a list of twenty things they must do while Aidan still had his freedom.

  “He's looking very well—the color has come back to his cheeks,” Brenda said as Nora went with her to the door.

  “The gray won't be long coming back to his face once he gets back to that school,” Nora said.

  “Well, then …?”

  “What do you think? He has this ludicrous macho feeling he must do it. Earn a living, get a pension. I can't stand in his way”

  “I would,” Brenda Brennan said. “I'd throw myself in front of him and beg him not to go back there. That's what I would do if it were Patrick.”

  “We are different, Brenda. You met when you were young. We were middle-aged. We respect each other so much, we neither of us wants to change the other.”

  “I hope you know what you're doing.” Brenda didn't sound as if it were at all likely.

  “Signora?”

  Nora Dunne looked up, surprised. They all called her Signora, of course: it was a term of affection now. This time it was the school headmaster come to visit her after her Italian class.

  “Oh, Tony, I didn't see you there. We had a grand turnout even for a cold February night.”

  “Aidan getting on all right?”

  “He's fine really, Tony. His girls have been very good. Brigid is with him tonight, and you know your Grania is coming tomorrow when I have to go and see my mother, so he's not left alone. He's in very good form.”

  “I'd go to see him, only …” Tony O'Brien paused.

  “I know, I know exactly. He'd think he had to hurry up and get back to work.”

  “I don't want him to come back to all that rough-and-tumble, signora. I'll try and sort out some kind of pension, allowance, whatever …”

  “Ah, Tony, you know Aidan.” She sighed.

  “Which is why I was hoping you might help,” he began.

  “He's not a child in nappies, he's a grown man; everyone wants me to treat him as if his mind has gone rather than as someone who has enlarged ventricles in his heart. His brain is still functioning and he is determined to go back to work.”

  “And you're going to let him?”

  “I'm not going to add even more to his stress by having dissension at home,” Nora said crossly.

  “I could work things out,” Tony tried again.

  “You know Aidan, he would smell pity and sense charity even when it didn't exist.” To Nora Dunne it was simple. Her husband had to go back to his job.

  When Tony O'Brien went home that night, Grania seemed very excited about something.

  He wondered had she seen some exotic Easter holiday that they could book. He hoped not. There was a lot to do in Mountainview over the vacation.

  She had the table set and a bunch of flowers. God—it wasn't an anniversary or anything? No, no, of course not. He was good about that sort of thing. He looked at her blankly.

  “Sit down, Tony,” she said.

  He sat obediently.

  “I have very good news,” she continued. “We're pregnant. It's official, Tony, we're having a baby!”

  And to his total surprise, Tony began to cry. Huge sobs and heaving shoulders. The works.

  “Aren't you happy about it?” Grania was anxious and wrapped her arms around him.

  “Happy? I'm unhinged with happiness,” he sobbed.

  Brigid had met a man, she told her father. Well, it was too soon to talk about seriously. But for the first time she had met someone that she wouldn't mind spending the rest of her life with.

  Aidan was delighted.

  She had met him at a press reception some months back and they got talking. They had both been working. She had been doing a presentation of their winter sports holidays and Kato had been in charge of the buffet supper. When everyone else had gone they stayed in the empty room and talked and talked. He was setting up a shop selling African objects. She had been out with him every week since then. They liked the same kind of movies and theater and everything. It was nearly time to bring him home to meet her dad and Nora.

  “And what does your mother think of him?” Aidan knew that the girls saw Nell from time to time.

  “Oh, Mother hasn't met him,” Brigid said very firmly.

  “Really? Why is that?”

  “Kato's Moroccan, Dad,” Brigid said, as if it should have been obvious to everyone from the word go. “Imagine introducing Mam to anyone from Africa.”

  When Nora came in from her Italian class she was told the story.

  “Where in Morocco is he from?” Nora asked with interest.

  “Marrakech,” Brigid said, surprised.

  Nora clasped her hands with pleasure. “How wonderful. We'll go to see you there!”

  “But Kato's going to live here. He has a shop, I told you.”

  “I know, but you'll have to go and buy things there, and maybe your dad and I could go and you could show us round the Djemaa el-Fna—it's this huge square in the middle of Marrakech where they have all kinds of things, a great market, snake charmers, musicians…. It would be lovely to go with someone who knew it.”

  Brigid was all smiles at the thought of this journey.

  “And do you have a picture of Kato?” Nora asked.

  “Of course I do.” She took out a packet
of photos showing her with the arm of a tall, handsome Moroccan around her shoulders.

  “Isn't he handsome,” Nora said. Not a word about him being for-eign and how there would be many differences to get used to. Just that he was handsome and that it would be great to go and see his country.

  Aidan looked at Nora with affection. He was so lucky to have her. He must face those big bullies up in Mountainview School and get a proper life and pension for her. It was the very least that she deserved.

  It was the demonstration in Johnny's room. Nora and Aidan were sitting with the instruction sheet, following along while Johnny went through the various movements. A man in a wheelchair joined in cheerfully for all the arm and neck exercises. He looked on enviously as Aidan did four minutes on the treadmill.

  “I'd love to be able to do that,” he said. “But I get out of breath after a few seconds, so it isn't worth it.” His name was Bobby Walsh, he said; he had owned a big business once, but after his heart attack he retired.

  “Did you hate retiring?”

  “I did at the beginning, but there are so many things I never had time to do before. It's hard on my wife, I think, having me under her feet all the time.”

  “Is she with you today?”

  “No, Rosemary has a hundred things to do, people to meet…”

  Aidan felt lucky and loved because Nora had come with him. She was questioning Johnny about what kind of weights Aidan should lift. Johnny said everyone should have a couple of large tins of peas around the place.

  “Did you have a son to take over the business?” Aidan wondered.

  “No—he was never interested in it. Never at all. He's a teacher up at Mountainview—a tough place, but he's able for it; he says that a few of the older brigade find it hard going.”

  “That's me for one,” Aidan said. “I teach Latin there—that is, when I can get into the classroom.”

  “Oh, you're Aidan Dunne!” Bobby smiled with recognition. “Carl often mentioned you. He said you make the kids love Latin— which is no mean achievement.”

  “What's your son's name?”

  “Carl Walsh.”

  “Of course I know him—very nice young lad. Teaches English, doesn't he?”

  “That's right.”

  “Well, I'll see him when I get back there, in a few weeks’ time.”

  “You're going back?” Bobby seemed surprised.

  “Have to,” said Aidan Dunne.

  Clara was pleased with the way Nora Dunne had given her support. So it might only be for six weeks, but it was certainly wholehearted. Nora Dunne was interested in everything. It was a great way to be, Clara decided.

  She would take out her portable atlas and look at a map of Poland to find where Ania lived. She would take it out again so that Fiona could show her the little island in Greece where she had spent a summer. Nora would talk to the other patients and debate the merits of Jack Russells, who barked their heads off, with Judy Murphy. She would find Something New Every Day for Lar. She would discuss diets seriously with Barbara: Nora Dunne, who was built like a lithe greyhound, would puzzle over why celery soup was meant to be so good for you while a potato with a nice lump of butter on it was the devil incarnate. She would never be without entertainment and stimulus in her life and it was a gift far greater than money.

  “Do you mind not telling your dad about the baby?” Tony asked

  Grania.

  ”What?”

  “I mean just at the moment.”

  “But why? I was going to go over and tell them this evening.”

  “I thought we could wait until Sunday lunch. They're coming here.”

  “But Brigid is bringing Kato. She won't want us stealing all her thunder.”

  “I'd say she and Kato won't mind a bit of the spotlight going off them at all.”

  “I was looking forward to telling them!”

  “This way is better. We might tie it in with asking them to babysit and maybe it would provide a way out of teaching for your father.”

  “I wouldn't hold my breath,” Grania said. “He's like you—he lives for that bloody school.”

  Nora and Aidan took a bus to the lunch party. They were looking forward to it; wasn't it great that Brigid had finally found a young man she liked? They had often thought she was lonely in her tiny city apartment. Grania would serve food without added salt and would make sure it was low fat. She would provide fresh fruit as an alternative to her great apple pie. It would be a happy afternoon.

  Before they got there, Brigid was already starting to fuss.

  “You mustn't mind if they say the wrong thing,” she said to Kato.

  “The only wrong thing would be to say that I cannot see you,” he said.

  “No, they won't say that,” Brigid said.

  “Then we have no problems,” he said.

  Kato stood in the hallway, a tall, handsome boy with a great warm smile.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Dunne!” he said. “How good to meet you at last.”

  “And you too, Kato!” Nora kissed him on the cheek and Aidan shook his hand. Brigid stood beaming in the background. The introductions were over. The lunch could begin.

  During the meal everyone except Aidan and Kato had a glass of wine. Kato poured more fizzy water for Aidan and said that they would be the only two with clear heads next day. No one noticed that Grania hadn't touched hers. Tony tinkled his fork against a glass and said that Grania had something she wanted to tell them. Brigid hoped it wouldn't be some further promotion at the bank for Grania; she didn't want to overpower Kato with all their successes at this first family meeting. Aidan hoped that Tony and Grania were going to move to another school in another town where it would be easier for them. Nora thought it might be a plan for a trip abroad to celebrate Aidan's birthday. She hoped not. He was still a little too shaky.

  Then Grania told them the news. There was such an outburst of excitement and delight in the little town house that it was amazing the roof did not fly off. They were crying and hugging each other.

  The best words were said by Kato as he wiped his eyes. “I really know I am a member of this marvelous family now that you let me be here for the sharing of this news.”

  And Grania smiled at Tony. He had been right about that, as about everything. It was the bit about Dad giving up teaching where he was going to run into some grief. Grania wished that it was over. They were going to lose anyway, best get it over with quick.

  She didn't have to wait long. In the midst of all the excitement, all the wondering when they first knew and when it was confirmed and what date the baby would be born and would they want to know the sex in advance, Nora asked, “Will you be giving up your job in the bank, Grania, to look after the baby?”

  “Only for maternity leave. Then I'm going back,” Grania said cheerfully.

  “So what will you do?” Brigid asked.

  “Oh, I'm going to leave the baby every morning at your travel agency. You can file it under B!” Grania laughed.

  “Yeah, sure, we'd love that. But what are you going to do?”

  “Well, we were thinking of asking someone to come in to help. You know, an artist or a writer—they could have quiet, peaceful surroundings all day, just give a bottle and change a nappy. Shouldn't be hard to find …”

  “But wouldn't they be a bit unreliable, bohemian?” Aidan said, looking concerned.

  “Doesn't have to be a poet or a painter. It could be a teacher, say, someone who had a few private lessons to give,” said Tony.

  Aidan listened carefully.

  “No, Tony,” he said.

  “Hear me out. You'd be doing us a double favor, getting us out of two holes, in fact. We could go off to work with a clear mind if we thought you and signora were to be here.” Tony spoke right from the heart.

  “I wouldn't have to tidy up especially for you,” Grania chipped in.

  “There are lads in that school who need one-to-one tuition,” Tony said.

  “I'll do it in the s
chool. I'll stay as late as you like.”

  “It won't work, Aidan. They're quiet kids, they're nervous of these gangs. They can't stay late. They go with the crowd for safety. It would really suit me to have a safe place to send them.”

  “Good try, Tony, but no.”

  “Dad, who would I feel safer with than you and Nora? It's a win-win setup. You get the money, you get to teach children who need it, our baby gets terrific people.”

  “As I said, thanks, but no,” Aidan said.

  “Signora, what do you think?” Tony asked.

  “It's Aidan's call,” she said simply.

  Tony looked at a loss. “I don't want to upset a family do by pressing something further. But, Kato, do you have any wisdom to give to this?”

  Kato looked from one face to another. “Well, of course, the father of a family must do what he thinks is right, and from respect, none of us would want to change his opinion,” he said.

  Aidan gave him a look that said he could marry his daughter Brigid tomorrow morning if he wanted to.

  “I suppose you wanted me to say yes to Tony,” Aidan said when he and Nora got home.

  “I want you to do what you want to do,” Nora said calmly.

  “But you think it's a good idea?”

  “I think we owe those young people something. They would be happy if we helped them out. They have been good to us over the years. Tony gave me the job as an Italian teacher, he put you in charge of evening classes. Grania always welcomed me, she and Brigid have been great; many other girls would have resented me stepping in there. I'd love to be able to help them.”

  “No, Nora, don't make me feel guilty about it. It's just a ploy It's just a scheme to find alternative work for me.”

  “Oh, yes,” Nora said. “They knew in advance you were going to get a heart attack, so they arranged to be pregnant at an appropriate time!”

  “No, I don't mean that. They used the circumstances, that's all.”

  “Oh, Aidan, stop thinking the world is a big conspiracy. You're not paranoid. Anyway, I said I'm with you. Whatever you want to do, we do.”