The Gift of Friends

by Emma Hannigan

  ‘You have a white sofa, and in the kitchen,’ Maia said, going over to pet the arm of it. ‘This would be destroyed within the hour if it were in my house.’

  ‘Tea? Coffee? Glass of something like juice or sparkling water?’ Danielle asked.

  ‘I’d love a coffee,’ said Maia and she perched on one of the white bar stools. It had a chrome stand that brought out the sparkly silver in the marble worktops that seemed to go on for ever. The cupboards were also white, with chrome handles. The place should, by rights, look like an operating theatre, but there were splashes of deep pinks and turquoises in the picture frames, the matching kettle and toaster, the enormous American fridge and some cleverly placed flowers and pots and decorative boxes.

  ‘Who did your décor, Danielle? It’s magnificent and although it’s girly, it’s not so much that your husband would prefer to eat his dinner in the shed.’

  Danielle laughed as she gave Maia her cup of coffee. The matching cup and saucer had large peony roses emblazoned on them with silver trimming at the edges. The milk jug and sugar bowl matched and the napkin she was offered to drape over Maia’s lap picked up the colour. Everything was totally gorgeous to the extent that Maia felt as if she were messing the place just by being there.

  ‘She did it all herself,’ Rachel said, looking half proud and half annoyed. ‘You would never be able to tell that it’s far from all this she was raised.’

  Danielle bit her lip and looked at her mother, and Maia could see there was a huge tension running between them. What had they been talking about before she arrived, she wondered. There was a definite atmosphere, and it wasn’t one of a cosy mother–daughter chat.

  ‘I was raised very far from it myself,’ Maia said, taking a sip of the good, strong coffee.

  ‘Is that so?’ said Rachel, cocking her head to one side. ‘You’re such a peacock, you look like you come from somewhere exotic.’

  ‘Mam!’ Danielle said, looking horrified.

  Maia held up her hand. ‘Don’t worry, Danielle,’ she said. ‘I admire a woman who speaks her mind and looks out for her kids. Well, Rachel, if you must know, I was born and reared in Westwood. I had a mother who pushed me into modelling, which I hated, but then it was through that I met my lovely man, Freddie, and it’s thanks to him I live like a queen now in a place like this.’

  Rachel considered this, then nodded her head. ‘I come from Westwood as well,’ she said. ‘Which road you from?’

  ‘The Avenue,’ Maia said. ‘You?’

  ‘The Mill,’ said Rachel. ‘It’s on the other side. Across the park. I’m still there.’

  ‘So that’s where you were raised?’ Maia said to Danielle.

  ‘Yeah. That’s who I am,’ Danielle said, looking sad. ‘All of this is lovely, but it’s really weird as well.’

  Maia could feel herself warming to the girl. She was obviously being pulled between two different worlds, and Maia could relate to that. And she was so young. It was hard to trust your own instincts at that age. That was the one thing Maia loved about getting older, you got way more bolshie into the bargain. Danielle could do with a bit of edge to her.

  ‘That’s gas we’re from around the same area and ended up here,’ Maia said.

  ‘Both of you on the coattails of men,’ Rachel said, her eyebrow raised.

  ‘Whatever it takes,’ Maia murmured.

  ‘This one has great notions now,’ Rachel said, nodding at Danielle, ‘but she can’t cop on to the fact that all this bling is blinding her to what she should be doing.’

  ‘And what’s that?’ Maia asked.

  ‘I put blood, sweat and tears into her education,’ Rachel said proudly, ‘and it paid off. She only went and got a place in Trinity, to study law. I was made up for her. Nothing like it ever seen in my family. And what’s she doing? Sitting here, on her pampered arse, buying stuff and wasting time.’

  So that’s what they were talking about, Maia thought. She could see both sides of this immediately, and she understood why there was so much tension in the room.

  ‘Have you given up on it?’ she asked Danielle.

  ‘No!’ Danielle said, her eyes wide. ‘Of course not. I slogged for it and I’ve dreamed of going to college since I was little. It’s just . . . things happened and I didn’t expect them and . . . you know . . .’

  ‘Are you allowed to tell her?’ Rachel demanded, ‘or has that mother-in-law of yours got you to sign a confidentiality agreement? In blood, knowing her.’

  ‘I don’t want Danielle to talk about anything she doesn’t want to,’ Maia said, feeling uncomfortable. ‘We only just met and . . .’

  ‘I’m pregnant,’ Danielle whispered. ‘No one’s supposed to know.’

  ‘Oh,’ Maia said. ‘Well . . . that’s wonderful news. You and Justin must be so happy.’

  ‘We are,’ Danielle said, casting a fearful glance at her mother.

  ‘Happy,’ her mother spat. ‘Happy that your life’s over, is it? That you’ll be elbow-deep in nappies instead of law books? I can’t do this, Danielle. I’m going home.’

  ‘Hang on,’ Maia said, reaching out towards her. ‘Can I just tell you one thing?’

  Rachel sat back down heavily with a sigh. ‘Go on then.’

  ‘My husband, Freddie, once he started making money, my family started making comments, you know, about me having notions about myself and getting above myself, all that kind of thing. When he started making big money and bought us the house here, my family couldn’t handle it at all. They did visit a few times, but it was a disaster. My mam couldn’t bear to be in the house. It was way outside her comfort zone, and she couldn’t handle it. I tried, but it just created this big rift between us, like the Grand Canyon suddenly opened up between there and here.’ She looked Rachel dead in the eye. ‘I haven’t seen or spoken to my mam in seventeen years,’ she said, pausing to let that sink in. ‘She saw my twins about six times in their first year, and not since. Her sense that I was living a lie meant she could never, ever be happy for me, and that ended our whole relationship. Things are more fragile than you think, Rachel, believe me.’

  Rachel stared at her for a few moments, then bent her head. It took a few moments for Danielle and Maia to realise she was crying quietly.

  ‘Oh Mam,’ Danielle said, rushing around to hug her. ‘It’s okay.’

  ‘I know,’ Rachel said, patting her hand. ‘This is so hard for me, Danielle, after all your work and getting that place, I just felt so proud of you.’

  ‘I’m going to go back,’ Danielle said. ‘I’ve just taken a year out. But I’ll be finishing that degree, I promise you. Justin is one hundred per cent behind me and he’s going to help me make it happen. I still want it, Mam, I just have to be patient.’

  Her mother nodded, and Maia’s heart broke for her. She wasn’t being a cow, she was genuinely upset for her daughter and all she felt she’d lost.

  ‘Rachel,’ she said gently, ‘once you marry into money, you’re made up, everything’s possible. Danielle won’t be a struggling single mother trying to afford childcare while studying. She’ll have the backing of a very wealthy family. She’ll easily be able to pick up her studies and see them through.’

  Rachel nodded wearily. ‘Do you know what, Maia? You’re right. I thought you were a dense airhead walking through that door . . .’

  ‘Jesus, don’t hold back, Rachel,’ Maia said, ‘tell me how you really feel.’

  Rachel and Danielle both shook with laughter.

  ‘But,’ Rachel said, ‘you’ve your head screwed on right, and I do hear what you’re saying. I’m glad Danielle has you nearby. You’ll be a good influence.’

  Maia laughed. ‘Well that’s the first time in my whole life anyone’s ever called me that!’

  Danielle looked so relieved, Maia couldn’t help smiling.

  ‘Come on, you,’ she said. ‘Where’s your hostessing? You must have some cake around here. Let’s freshen up these coffees, break out the cake and have a proper chat.�
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  Danielle started opening cupboards and getting out plates.

  ‘So, Danielle, what’s this mother-in-law like? Your mother mentioned something about signing stuff in blood?’

  Danielle sliced an apple tart and filled the three plates and handed them out.

  ‘Don’t get me started,’ she said.

  ‘Ooh, my favourite conversation opener!’ Maia said. ‘Tell all.’

  Danielle shook her head. ‘She dresses like royalty, but she has no basic manners. Too much money and it’s gone to her head. She treats me like I’m after her son for his money and nothing else. I’d say she thinks I got myself knocked up on purpose to trap him. She ordered us to keep it quiet, and I keep wondering if she’s hoping we’ll break up before anyone knows.’

  ‘She sounds like a right piece of work,’ Maia said. ‘Makes Freddie’s awful mother look like a pussy-cat.’

  ‘Don’t take it from her,’ Rachel said. ‘You’re as good as anyone. And if you change your mind about Justin, you just come straight home. I’ll help with the baby while you go back to college.’

  Maia could see Danielle’s shoulders stiffen. It was going to take more than one honest conversation to clear the air fully between those two.

  ‘Actually,’ Danielle said, looking at the mother, ‘she’s insisted you and me go to some big party at their house.’

  ‘Me?’ Rachel said. ‘No way, forget it, Danielle. I can’t mix with that type. I wouldn’t have the clothes, for starters. I don’t want to be going all the way out to Meath for her to laugh and sneer at me. No thanks.’

  ‘Just think about it,’ Danielle pleaded. ‘I can’t get out of it because Justin wants us to go, and it would be great to have someone to talk to. Don’t say no yet. Just think about it.’

  ‘You can borrow clothes from me,’ Maia said.

  Rachel looked at her, then threw back her head and laughed. ‘Eh, we don’t quite match up, Maia, love, in case you haven’t noticed. If I put on that get-up, I’d be pure mutton dressed as lamb.’

  ‘I’ve a walk-in wardrobe full of stuff,’ Maia said. ‘There’ll be something in there you like, guaranteed. Don’t let the clothes thing put you off is all I’m saying. You can go through everything I have and pick whatever you want. Take the eye out of the grand Mrs Johnston.’

  ‘Thanks so much,’ Danielle said. ‘I was dreading having to pick something.’

  ‘Sure, we can go shopping in Vayhill,’ Maia said. ‘I’ll get you decked out good and proper.’

  ‘What about you?’ Rachel said. ‘You said you have twins.’

  Maia nodded. ‘Zach and Zara, they’re eighteen. Just finished school. Zach is heading to America to start college in the New Year, and Zara is travelling and then taking up a place in Queen’s next year.’

  ‘Impressive,’ Rachel said.

  Maia shrugged. ‘Just sounds lonely to me.’

  Rachel smiled. ‘It’s a tough time, when they fly the nest,’ she said.

  ‘Better change the subject before I start blubbing everywhere,’ Maia said, and she meant it. She was so emotional these days, she was crying at the drop of a hat.

  ‘What about the famous Freddie then?’ Rachel asked. ‘What does he do to keep you in such luxury?’

  Maia felt her face redden. What does Freddie do, she thought, good question. She felt like she no longer knew.

  ‘He’s in jewellery,’ she said. ‘Has a shop down in Vayhill. Actually,’ she said, looking at the clock on the wall, ‘I’d better be getting back because he’ll expect dinner when he gets in.’ She got up and brushed crumbs off her skirt. ‘Your house is magnificent,’ she said to Danielle, ‘and I hope you’ll be very happy here.’

  Danielle smiled gratefully. ‘Thanks so much for coming over. And the gift. I’m really glad you got to meet my mam.’

  ‘Me too,’ Maia said. ‘It’s been an interesting afternoon.’

  ‘I better go, too, before my car turns into a pumpkin,’ Rachel said. ‘This is all a bit fairytale for me. I still can’t get my head around it.’

  ‘I’m still just me,’ Danielle said, and it hurt Maia to hear it because she remembered saying those exact same words herself. Not that it had made any difference.

  She said goodbye and headed back across the road to her own house. Freddie was rarely home before 9 p.m. these days, and he never wanted dinner at that hour. He’d just raid the presses for crisps and beer and eat junk on the sofa staring at the telly. She’d just said that to get out of there before Rachel could think up any more questions to fire at her.

  All the same, it had been a very interesting afternoon. She’d had an insight into the Johnston family and it was fascinating. Who knew that the glamorous woman who graced the society pages in her glossy magazines was such a cow? And Danielle pregnant, now that she hadn’t seen coming. She’d have to invite her and Justin to her party and get a good look at the two of them and how they were together. Danielle definitely didn’t strike her as the man-trapping type, and God knows he’d have his pick of far more savvy and groomed women, so on the whole, she reckoned it probably was love. She just hoped Rachel could come to see that and forgive Danielle for not going along the path she’d laid out for her. Poor Danielle, she thought, everyone had an opinion on what she should be doing, and she was trying to find a way to suit them all. Maia knew from bitter experience that you could never please everyone. It just might take Danielle a while to figure that out.

  Chapter 13

  NANCY COULDN’T SIT DOWN, COULDN’T STAND still, couldn’t even think straight. She felt like she was in a dream, the kind where moving feels like pushing through water and if you scream, nothing comes out. She hated those dreams.

  She looked at the clock for the millionth time. Fifteen more minutes. She felt sick, but she tried to breathe deeply and calm herself. She focused on preparing a pot of coffee on the stove and then showering the jam and cream sponge cake she’d baked with icing sugar. The aromas from the baking filled the kitchen and made it feel warm and homely. She really hoped she had made the right decision.

  After she’d received the letter from the adoption agency, she’d been able to think of nothing else for a week. She felt she should reply in a timely fashion, so she set herself a deadline to reply. One week to the day after receiving the letter, she took her courage in her hands and wrote a reply, confirming that she would meet with David, or Steve as she had to keep correcting herself. She had received a phone call the very next day from a nice woman called Angela who had set up the meeting. She was going to come to the first one, just to help break the ice.

  ‘You might feel very emotional, Nancy,’ she had said.

  No shit, lady, Nancy had wanted to say, but managed to hold her tongue.

  So now it was the day, and almost the time, and Nancy was a bag of nerves. She had no idea what to expect. And she almost felt a little afraid of who she would be after this meeting. She’d be a mother, someone’s mother. Would she still feel like herself?

  ‘Silly old woman,’ she scolded herself. ‘Just focus on him and stop being selfish.’ Nelly looked at her enquiringly. ‘Don’t mind me, Nelly,’ she said, ‘just talking to myself as usual.’

  The doorbell rang and Nelly barked and Nancy had to steady herself on the back of a chair.

  ‘Alright Nelly, my love,’ she said, ‘it’s time.’

  When she opened the front door, all she could see was a large woman in a black skirt suit.

  ‘Hello, I’m Angela,’ she said, sticking out her hand.

  ‘Hi Angela,’ Nancy said, shaking her hand. ‘Come on in.’

  Angela stepped inside, and there he was, standing on the doorstep, smiling at her.

  ‘Steve?’ she said uncertainly.

  ‘Yes,’ he said, and he looked as shaken with emotion as she felt. ‘My God, I can’t believe I’m finally meeting my mother. May I hug you?’

  Nancy was so taken aback, she stood there like a fish, her mouth opening and closing and no sounds coming out.
She managed to nod, and this tall man engulfed her in a warm embrace. Nothing about him was familiar – not his body shape, his smell, his facial features – she’d never have picked him out as a Smyth. She realised now she had expected him to look like her father, but he wasn’t a bit like him. Mercifully, he didn’t look anything like PJ either. That would have been incredibly difficult.

  ‘Thanks so much for letting me meet you,’ he said.

  ‘I . . . of course,’ she stammered. ‘I didn’t want to let you down.’

  ‘I brought you this,’ he said, picking up a wine bag from where he’d left it on the doorstep. ‘Hope you like red.’

  ‘I love it, thank you,’ Nancy said. She wasn’t going to get into her teetotalism just yet.

  ‘I think we’ll all step inside now,’ Angela said. ‘Let’s sit down and get acquainted.’

  Steve looked around as Nancy led them through to the kitchen.

  ‘This is a lovely home. Do you live with your family?’ he asked tentatively.

  ‘No, I live alone,’ Nancy said. ‘My husband died twenty-two years ago, so it’s just me and Nelly now.’

  ‘I love dogs,’ Steve said, bending down to pat Nelly’s head. ‘Best companions in the world.’

  They sat down at the table, and Nancy saw that her hands were shaking as she cut the cake and poured coffees.

  ‘So, this is our first meeting,’ Angela said, beaming at them. ‘And hopefully there will be more, but I just want to emphasise that there’s no obligation on either of you to meet up again, okay? This is just exploration, toe in the water stuff for now, okay? Are we clear?’

  Nancy felt deeply irritated by Angela’s schoolteacher tone, but Steve didn’t seem to mind. He was looking all around, interested in everything.

  ‘I love this kitchen. I’ve always wanted a table like this, that’s good solid wood, last a lifetime. And it’s so cosy. Must be well insulated, well built, I’d say. It’s a great spot to live, so close to everything but when you’re here, it’s so quiet, like being in the country. Although I’d say the mortgages on these places are huge, are they?’ he said, talking a mile a minute.