Never Say Never (Lakeview Contemporary Romance Book 3)

by Melissa Hill

  “Well, look … have a really good night, and we’ll meet up soon – for dinner or something, OK?” Kate said absently.

  “Sure.” Leah was so hurt she could hardly speak. She couldn’t believe that it had happened again with Kate. She knew having children changed your life, but did it change it to the point where you no longer cared about your friends?

  “Obviously,” Andrew said, when he rang that afternoon to wish her a happy birthday and Leah told him what Kate had said. “It isn’t the first time Kate’s cried off like that, is it?”

  “No.” Kate had also missed a recent outing in the city, giving some other life or death situation with Dylan as an excuse. “I just don’t understand it. I’m trying to see things from Kate’s point of view but, to be honest, I’m finding it difficult.” She bit her lip. “You’d think, what with being stuck on her own all day every day with the child that she’d love the opportunity to let her hair down.”

  “I’m so sorry that we can’t go either, Leah. But being so close to time, Amanda is as crabby as anything and –”

  “Oh, don’t be silly, I wouldn’t expect you to,” she answered.

  “I suppose children do change things alright,” Andrew went on, referring to Kate.

  “I know,” said Leah. “It’s just that, out of all people, Kate was the last one I would have pegged for a fussy old mammy. It just isn’t like her. Remember the days when we used to get thrown out of pubs for dancing on tables?” despite her heavy heart, she giggled, “or getting caught by the guards for tipping cows.”

  “Tipping cows? What the …? ”

  Leah giggled. “Oh, never mind.”

  “No, tell me.”

  “Well, it’s something you do in the dead of night – usually on the way home from the pub. You go into a field of sleeping cattle, simply give them a little nudge and … hey presto! Easy as you like, they topple over onto the ground.”

  “And isn’t that a little unfair to the misfortunate cows?”

  “I know – but when you’ve a few drinks in you, it’s the most hilarious thing ever.” Leah shook her head. “But we’re from the country, remember?”

  “Ah yes, culchies – they really are a breed in themselves,” Andrew teased.

  Leah raised a smile, remembering her and Kate’s young, free and single days. It hurt deeply that Kate was unwilling to make the effort, not just for her birthday, but for her sake. Still Kate had responsibilities now and she couldn’t just take off and …

  Suddenly it hit Leah that she was the only one of the old gang left that was alone, truly alone. Kate had her family, Amanda and Andrew were about to have their first baby, Olivia had Ellie and now she had Matt, and if things went well – which she hoped they would – they were as good as a family too. The realisation stung, and all of a sudden, Leah wanted Josh badly. She wanted the security of not having to depend on tearing her friends away from their families to entertain her, to keep her from going crazy, to keep her from feeling lonely.

  Yet, being lonely wasn’t a good enough reason to go back, was it? Despite Olivia’s insistence that it was always possible to forgive and forget, and despite Leah’s admission at Kate’s that she might be able to forgive Josh, deep down she really didn’t think she’d have it in her. She would always be watching, wondering, worrying …

  But, Leah thought, as she said goodbye to yet another happily attached friend, maybe that was better than being alone.

  50

  Later that evening she was discussing something with Alan, when, outside the store, Leah caught sight of something that had to be an apparition. The features were the same, the hair was the same but a little longer, but this girl was way too stylish and way too confident to be the same.

  “Oh wow, Robin!” she cried, racing outside. “It’s really is you, isn’t it?”

  Robin smiled nervously. “Hi, I was going to phone, but I didn’t have the number and I wasn’t sure …” She trailed off, as Leah reached forward and engulfed her in a huge hug.

  “I can’t believe you’re actually here!” Tears sprang to Leah’s eyes. She had known Robin was coming home of course, but at the same time, it didn’t seem real. After all these years, after all this time … she couldn’t comprehend how great it was to see her again.

  “I know, it’s strange for me too. The city’s changed quite a bit since I was last here.” Robin raised an eyebrow. “What’s with that big flagpole on O’Connell Street?”

  Leah laughed. “Now, now. The Spire is a very important Dublin landmark – a symbol of growth and optimism.” She rolled her eyes. “Not quite the Chrysler building, is it?”

  “No, not quite,” Robin grinned.

  “When did you get in? Where are you staying? Are you here for long and …oh, for goodness’ sake, listen to me rabbiting on. Come inside, I have to stay and work late this evening unfortunately, otherwise we could go for a drink. Don’t worry,” she added, when Robin looked slightly wary, “there’s nothing dangerous in there. The chocolates are all behind glass or boxed up. Everything else is safely locked away out back.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean –”

  “Don’t be silly. It’s fine. Actually, I’m in discussion at the moment with my suppliers about introducing some nut-free and diabetic chocolate. It’s amazing, years ago you were the only sufferer I knew – these days I’m getting non-stop enquiries.”

  Robin smiled. “We’re a pain in the butt, aren’t we?”

  “Not at all.” Leah led the way through the shop, anxious to show off her little empire to this new, stylish and mature Robin. As it was teatime there was a bit of a lull in custom, so they could at least have a bit of an uninterrupted chat.

  “I’m impressed,” Robin said, checking out Leah’s elaborate displays. “These look good enough to make me want to take a chance.”

  “Ah, I wouldn’t recommend it,” Leah grimaced, before adding wickedly, “Then again, if you really want to die happy …”

  The two girls laughed.

  Leah proudly introduced her old friend to Alan, and then continued with their discussions about the following day. Not long afterwards, Alan went home and they were on their own.

  “So where are you staying?”

  Robin smiled, as if a little embarrassed. “They put me up in the Westin. It’s fabulous, Leah – way too good for me. Irish hotels have come a long way since I left, I can tell you.”

  “Well, you’re hot property now – a famous author and all that.”

  “I’m not a famous author. To be honest, I’m not even an author. I just got lucky and happened to be in the right place at the right time, that’s all.”

  “That’s hardly true. You were always good at stringing words together, Robin. In college, you were always the one with the interesting theories and subject matter. Professor Hughes was mad about you.”

  “Perhaps.” Robin wasn’t convinced, and then Leah realised that her friend hadn’t changed that much after all – she was still the same reticent and insecure Robin she’d always been. This was strangely comforting.

  “So, what about you?” Robin asked. “Are you and Josh still – ”

  Leah’s face clouded. “Yes, but I don’t want thoughts of that idiot to bring me down. Things are bad enough as it – hey,” she broke off, remembering. “I was cheesed off earlier, because Kate cried off from my birthday dinner and – ”

  “That’s right, you’re thirty today, aren’t you? Don’t worry, I hadn’t forgotten. It’s just with this jet-lag I’m not sure what day I have. Happy Birthday.”

  “But you’ll come out tomorrow night, won’t you?” Leah asked, pleased that they’d have something to celebrate after all. Best of all, it would be a great way of easing Olivia and Robin back into their friendship again.

  Robin paused slightly before answering. “I suppose so.” But she looked a little worried. “Who else is … ?”

  “Don’t worry, it won’t be a big deal – I don’t have that many friends, unfortunately
. No, it’ll just be you, me, Olivia and Matt. Ben’s not with you, is he?”

  “No, but are you sure –?”

  “The problem is, I’ve booked Thai, which I know will be a problem for you, so –”

  “Oh, don’t worry about that, honestly. It’s your birthday – you should go where you want.”

  “You don’t seriously think it matters to me where we eat, do you? Robin, I haven’t seen you in years. And with all this success with your book, this is as much a celebration for you as it is for me.” She reached under the counter-top for the telephone directory. “Now, I’ll just make some enquiries and see what we can get.”

  “Are you sure? I feel awful about this, Leah – it’s your night and now you have to go and rearrange things for me.”

  “I said don’t be silly,” Leah said, tucking the handset under her chin as she dialled. “You’d do the same for me, wouldn’t you?”

  After a few failed attempts, she finally located a suitable restaurant, a nice place near the seafront in Dun Laoghaire, which would be a bit of a trek for Robin, but handier for Matt and Olivia.

  “So what are your plans for the weekend?” Leah asked. “I’m taking the day off tomorrow, so if you want to do some shopping or anything …”

  “Well, Mum’s coming up to visit at some stage and I’m doing – I think it’s called TV3 –” she looked at Leah for confirmation, “on morning Monday at eight.” She groaned. “But tomorrow, I only have a couple of newspaper interviews before lunch, and after that I’m free.”

  “Great! Let me know what time and I’ll pop in to town and meet you at the hotel.” She hugged Robin once more, thrilled to see her again. “The Westin, eh?” she laughed. “Haven’t you come a long way.”

  51

  “Robin’s back?” said Olivia. So, she’d finally come home after all this time.

  “Yes, and she’s coming out for my birthday dinner tomorrow night,”Leah announced on the other end of the telephone line,” Then she paused. “Do you mind? The invite had come out of my mouth before I had a chance to really think about it – and I know it might be a little awkward after all this time but – ”

  “No, don’t be silly, it’ll be great to see her,” Olivia tried her best to sound enthusiastic. .

  “Brilliant,” Leah said sounding relieved. “It will give us all a chance to catch up and have a good chat. Oh and by the way, I had to change the restaurant, but this one will be nearer for you.” She gave Olivia directions. “She looks amazing, Olivia.”

  “I’m sure she does.” Olivia didn’t want to think about how amazing Robin looked. She was still trying to come to terms with the fact that after seven years of little or no contact, she would see her old friend again in less than twenty-four hours.

  Just then Olivia was sorely tempted to make some pathetic excuse and pull out. But she couldn’t do that now, could she? Not when Kate had already let Leah down and she’d been so upset about that. No, it wouldn’t be fair. She’d just have to bite the bullet and go with it. And Matt was really looking forward to it – he’d been eager to meet her friends properly for some time.

  Still, what on earth would he make of Robin?

  ON HER RETURN to the hotel, Robin sat in the taxi deep in thought. She stared out the window, hardly seeing the places and landmarks of this city that had once been so familiar to her.

  Should she do it? she wondered. Should she do it while she was here – while she had the chance?

  But what if she bumped into Olivia? Although that was highly unlikely. Robin doubted very much that Olivia would do twenty-four hour vigils at the place, but still …

  But there was also the possibility that someone else could notice her and then mention it to Olivia, so should she –

  Oh, for goodness’ sake, Robin, admonished herself, after seven years in Manhattan you’d think you’d know better. This is Dublin, not some tiny little village.

  Of course no one would recognise her, and even if she was seen, it was very unlikely it would get back to Olivia. She didn’t live there any more now, did she?

  Feeling a sudden burst of nervous energy, Robin sat forward.

  It was now or never and she had to do it. She would never forgive herself otherwise.

  “I’m sorry, I’ve changed my mind. Can you take me to Shankill instead, please?”

  The taxi-driver looked at her as though she was mad. “Love, it’s late-night shopping and we’re on the outskirts of town – it’ll take us a good hour to get all the way back out there.”

  “I know and I’m sorry,” Robin replied, “but I really need to go back.”

  “Your money, pet.” He shrugged and went to do a U-turn.

  “Thank you.” Robin said nothing more for the rest of the journey, as she tried to convince herself she was doing the right thing. Then, about thirty-five minutes later, they reached the turn-off for Shankill.

  The taxi-driver tapped his steering wheel to the beat of the music on the radio, not having any idea that he was echoing the quick tempo of Robin’s heart.

  “So whereabouts will I drop you, love?” he asked when they entered the village.

  Robin’s heart fluttered as though it was struggling to keep beating. “Shanganagh, please,” she replied, her voice heavy with emotion, “Shanganagh Cemetery.”

  52

  “Hello Robin.” Olivia’s voice was calm and neutral as she approached the restaurant table. She reached across to give her old friend a hug. “It’s good to see you again.”

  “Good to see you too.” Robin half-stood up from her chair and returned the brief embrace. Olivia’s greeting was warm but, still, Robin wasn’t sure what to think or how to behave. Her friend had aged, as had the rest of them, but as always Olivia possessed an air of calm serenity which somehow never seemed to falter.

  Not even now.

  “Matt, you know Leah of course, and this is another friend, Robin,” Olivia said by way of introduction. “We were all in college together, and Robin’s just back from New York. Remember, I told you about the children’s book she wrote?”

  “Hi, Leah, Happy Birthday.” Matt waved a greeting. “Pleased to meet you, Robin, and congratulations on your book.” He sat down across from Leah, leaving Olivia sitting directly across from Robin. “New York’s a great city, have you lived there long?”

  “Seven years,” Robin told him.

  “And do you get home much? Although I don’t know why you’d want to,” he added amiably. “Dublin’s great, but the Big Apple is in a different league I think.”

  “Well, this is actually my first time home since I left,” she replied, trying not to make eye contact with Olivia.

  “Oh.” Matt couldn’t hide his surprise. “Oh, well, living in a great place like that, I suppose I can’t blame you.”

  “Doesn’t she look fantastic, Olivia?” Leah, was saying, already well tipsy on the wine she was drinking. She’d had a few drinks before they went out, and had already knocked back two champagne cocktails before the others arrived. Robin suspected her friend was out to get well and truly blotto tonight.

  “She certainly does,” Olivia answered. “I love your dress, Robin, and you’ve really kept your figure too. Typical. Now, if I wore something like that I’d look like Ten Tonne Tessie.” She laughed gaily, but to Robin there was something a little forced about it.

  “Thanks, you look great too.”

  “Robin, I think you and I both know that dieting was never my forte. I still have the old ice-cream weakness,” she added conspiratorially.

  “Don’t be silly, you look great,” Matt said, looking up from his menu.

  “Love must definitely be blind then,” Olivia laughed and rolled her eyes.

  “Women,” Matt said, exasperated. “Remind me again why I agreed to come along tonight.”

  All of a sudden Robin wished she hadn’t come. Olivia was being way too nice to her and behaving as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Well, maybe she didn’t. She was a bit taken aback a
t how easy and comfortable she and Matt seemed to be with one another. She supposed she was so used to seeing Olivia with Peter that it seemed sort of strange. Then again, why shouldn’t Olivia move on with someone else?

  Thinking of her last-minute visit to the graveyard yesterday, Robin shivered, ashamed. After all Olivia had been through, she deserved to be happy.

  “So, things are going well in New York?” Olivia asked her. “Great news about your book, although I must admit it was a bit of a surprise. I didn’t know you were writing.”

  Robin was almost embarrassed discussing this with her. It felt as though she’d let her down somehow. “It’s all a little bit out of the blue for me too,” she said. “I have a niece, well, she’s not exactly my niece, she’s Ben’s niece but she’s asthmatic and –”

  “Ben’ssh her cutie boyfriend,” Leah interjected, her voice slightly slurred.

  Olivia looked at Leah. “Slow down a bit there, you – we haven’t even started eating yet,” she admonished teasingly.

  “It’s my birthday and I’ll get pisshed if I want to,” Leah laughed back, her tone giddy.

  Matt topped up his wineglass. “Leah, if you can’t have a few to celebrate reaching the big 3-0, sure when can you?”

  “Cheers, Matt!” Leah clinked glasses with him, pleased she had a drinking partner in crime. She waylaid a waiter passing their table. “Can we get three more Bellinis here, please?”

  “I’m almost sorry I’m driving,” Olivia said, grinning at Robin. “We’re obviously in for a good night.”

  Robin smiled back uncomfortably. Another cocktail sounded good, because at that moment, she wasn’t sure how to continue this one-to-one conversation with Olivia. She wished Leah would get involved a bit more, but her friend was too busy knocking back cocktails and chattering with Matt.

  “So, you’ve put down roots in New York now, as such?” Olivia asked her.

  “I suppose so. I like it there, and we have some good friends, although it’s not quite the same as …” Robin paused, embarrassed. Why had she said that? She was the one who had gone off to America and lost all contact. As far as they were concerned she couldn’t care less. Why would Olivia of all people believe her when she admitted she missed her old friends?