by D. R. Bailey
She stood up, along with Eve and Imogen. Omer watched them start towards the door without moving.
The wiry thug suddenly made a lunge towards Bernadette, he took hold of her arm. “Like the boss said, get out and don’t come back or…”
This was a mistake. Without warning, Eve had grabbed his arm, twisted it and swept his legs from under him. She slammed him down onto the floor, put her foot on his neck and twisted his forearm. He was completely unable to move.
“Get your fucking hands off her, you fucking pig,” she said in ice cold tones.
“Oww, fuck. Get off me, get her off me!” shouted the wiry one.
The bald-headed thug started forward, but Omer held up his hand to stop him.
“Shut the fuck up, or I’ll fucking break it,” Eve told him not moving at all.
“Would you, erm… would you mind letting up my associate?” said Omer mildly, “I apologise for his bad manners.”
Eve looked at Bernadette who nodded for her to release him. She did so and the wiry man stood up glaring at her and rubbing his forearm.
“Thanks for your time.” Bernadette nodded, and the three of them walked casually out of the office.
Behind them, they could hear Omer berating the other man in Turkish.
Once out of the office, they hurried to the car. Bernadette gunned the motor and rapidly drove away.
“Oh my fucking God,” said Imogen, “Eve you’re amazing!”
“Just a trick or two I learned over the years,” said Eve modestly.
“I am very grateful you did that, it showed him we were not to be messed with!”
“You have to teach me some of those moves.”
“Why don’t I teach you all some at the weekend when we come over?” Eve suggested.
“Marvellous idea, yes, let’s, D’Arcy would love it.”
“Great plan but what about our friend back there, what do you think?” Bernadette asked them.
“He knows more than he’s letting on and he’s hiding something,” said Imogen.
“I agree,” said Eve.
“Have we got enough for Olivia to start an investigation?” Bernadette wondered.
“We could run this by her,” said Imogen, “Or what about getting Micky to do a bit of surveillance?”
“I don’t want to put him at risk, those people don’t look like they fuck around.”
“You are probably right.”
“What now?” Eve asked Bernadette.
“Well, we’ve got some time to kill, so why don’t you two come and help me chose a ring!” Imogen put in.
“Oooh… yes… let’s.” Eve was excited.
“Calm down children,” Bernadette laughed.
✽✽✽
Bernadette drove them to Jervis shopping mall. It was a sprawling mall with a brick-faced exterior and interior of large white columns holding up a large circular central atrium. The floors were paved with large white tiles. She picked the mall because it had Fields, the jewellers, where she had obtained the engagement ring for Eve.
The three of them went excitedly up to the store and as they entered, Bernadette noticed the assistant was the same one who had served them last time. She was blonde with slightly longer hair still in a bob, with a white shirt and black suit. She looked them up and down, sizing them up and her manner informed them she recognised them too.
“Ah,” she said, “How can I help?”
“An engagement ring, we want an engagement ring,” said Imogen.
“Really?” The woman raised an eyebrow. “And who might this one be for?”
“This one?” Eve looked questioningly at Bernadette.
“We bought your ring here,” Bernadette admitted.
“Oh! How lovely!” Eve exclaimed.
“It’s for me,” said Imogen, “Well, for my girlfriend.”
“I see,” said the assistant plainly not seeing at all.
“This is my fiancée, Eve,” said Bernadette feeling she was owed an explanation, “I bought her engagement ring here.”
“Yes, it’s sooo beautiful,” said Eve beaming and showing the assistant.
“I remember, and yes it’s a beautiful ring.” The assistant smiled.
“We’re getting married, but Imogen here is also going to propose and getting a ring, you see,” Bernadette continued.
“Ah well, right then, over here are the engagement rings,” said the assistant showing them an array of rings through the glass.
“Oh Christ, there’s so many,” said Imogen helplessly.
“What colour is her hair?” the assistant asked. She had asked Bernadette last time, as apparently, this had helped her to recommend the right ring for Eve.
“It’s blonde.”
“What about these?” said the assistant bringing out a tray of white gold.
“Hmm, yes, very nice but even so.”
Imogen looked over the rings once more and then something caught her eye in the display.
“What about those?” she asked pointing at another tray.
“Ah, these are platinum,” said the assistant bringing them out with a smile, “They are much dearer naturally.”
“Oh, I don’t care about that,” said Imogen picking up a diamond solitaire.
“Oh, that’s very beautiful,” said Bernadette.
Indeed, it was. The ring consisted of a six clawed one carat diamond set in platinum. It was beautifully and classically crafted.
“It’s lovely,” Eve agreed.
“How much?” Imogen enquired.
“Six thousand nine hundred and fifty Euro,” said the assistant without batting an eye.
Eve gave a low appreciative whistle at this.
“Are you sure you want to spend so much? You don’t have to just because it’s D’Arcy, she won’t expect it from you,” said Bernadette quietly.
“I like it, and D’Arcy will love it,” said Imogen, “And I love her.”
“D’Arcy? Did you say, D’Arcy?” asked the assistant looking at them strangely.
“Yes, why?” Imogen replied.
“I thought I recognised you, you’re… you’re going out with D’Arcy Brown, oh my God, I’m such a fan!” The whole demeanour of the assistant changed in that moment.
“What? How did you?” Imogen said non-plussed.
“Oh, I read it in a magazine not long ago, I should have known at once.”
“Right, yes, a magazine, of course,” Imogen sighed.
“She’s been a client of this very store,” the assistant continued, “So beautiful, you are so lucky.”
“Yes, yes I am.”
The other two stared in amazement at this conversation.
“Anyway, sorry, anyway, look, I’m sure we can do something, just a moment,” said the assistant and disappeared into the back of the store.
“What the fuck is going on?” whispered Imogen.
“You are going to marry someone famous, that’s what is going on,” Bernadette laughed.
“Fuck! Is this how it’s going to be?”
“I am afraid so, and also now you are going to have to bring forward the proposal because the cat is out of the bag!”
“Oh, shit, oh fuck, yes, but can’t I just ask her to be quiet?”
“Forget it, she’s probably going to tell everyone she knows.”
“Fuck!”
“Look do it at lunch, it’s the perfect time,” said Eve.
“But I wanted to set the scene and all that, and you were coming for the weekend,” Imogen complained pursing her lips.
“We can still come, darling,” said Bernadette.
“Oh fine, lunchtime it is,” said Imogen in resigned tones.
“She will love it, and be so happy, so focus on that.”
The assistant returned with a big smile on her face.
“Now, I’ve had a chat with my area manager and well, we can offer you a considerable discount for this
ring. If you take it, we can let you have it for one thousand euros less than the list price!”
“Wow, really?” Imogen exclaimed, “OK, then I’ll take it.”
She reached into her purse for her credit card.
“Can I ask you something?” said Bernadette to the assistant, “How many people have you told, about this, so far?”
The assistant flushed a little at the question. “Only my area manager, I swear,” she replied.
“Hmm, can you do us a big favour, please, when we’ve gone just call him back and ask him to keep this quiet at least until maybe say three pm, and if you could do the same, we’d really be grateful. You know, because we want it to be a surprise. After that, well, you can tell anyone you like.”
“Oh! Oh! Yes, sure of course I will, for sure, I promise you that, I will.” The assistant realised she was being let in on a very big secret and suddenly no doubt felt extremely important.
“She is proposing at lunchtime today, you see,” said Eve.
“Oh goodness, wow, good luck, yes.”
“Thank you.” Imogen smiled, and handed over her credit card.
The assistant took it and the ring. She returned it in a beautiful box which she assured Imogen was the very best box they had in the shop for rings.
Imogen was suitably grateful, put the box away in her bag, along with her card and receipt. They said goodbye to the very grateful and excited shop assistant.
“Well, fuck,” said Imogen as they returned to the car, “If I can get a discount like that just for dropping D’Arcy’s name…”
“Oh God, here we go,” Bernadette laughed.
“What? What? If you’ve got an advantage, then I say use it.”
“Well, let’s hope she keeps her mouth shut until after lunch at least.”
“Oh, she will, I’m sure she will,” Imogen said happily.
✽✽✽
They were due to meet D’Arcy at Chapter One in Parnell Square. The restaurant was accessed via external stairs to a basement. It had a stone arched foyer and apparently, Imogen was recognised at once. They were ushered to D’Arcy’s usual secluded spot which was a cubby hole with an Elmwood table surrounded by plush upholstered benches. The lighting was subdued and added to the mood of the dark green walls and dark floor tiles.
D’Arcy was sitting with a glass of wine when they walked in. She was very beautiful, all of them would acknowledge. Her hair was coloured blonde, and she had beguiling green eyes, and perfect lips. Imogen had waxed lyrical about her lips in the past. She was very slim and wearing a pink woollen top which hung seductively off one shoulder, coupled with a very short gym style skirt and sparkly flip flops. As always, she had beautifully manicured nails and on this day, she was wearing pink nail polish.
When she saw them, she let out a squeal of delight and quickly eased out of her seat to give them a hug in turn. There was air kissing but no lips kissing as this had resulted in some difficult discussions between her and Imogen in the past. This was ironic since Imogen always kissed both Bernadette and Eve lightly on the lips.
“Oh God, it’s so nice to see you, darlings,” she gushed as they all took their seats.
“Lovely to see you too, D’Arcy,” said Bernadette.
She had had in the past a bit of a love-hate relationship with D’Arcy, as D’Arcy had done many things to wind both her and Eve up. However, now she had represented D’Arcy in court, and D’Arcy was destined to become a permanent part of Imogen’s life, Bernadette found she loved her foibles after all.
“You are looking gorgeous as usual,” Eve put in.
“Oh, thank you, Eve,” D’Arcy said happily. She flicked a quick glance at Imogen to check if Imogen was OK with her accepting the compliment, but Imogen just smiled at her benignly. Bernadette looked on with approval hoping that Imogen was indeed curbing her jealousy.
“Let’s eat, I’m famished,” D’Arcy announced.
Bernadette reflected she always was hungry, and yet D’Arcy never seemed to put on any weight at all. She did, of course, have her own gym and followed a strict regime but even so, it was galling to the mere mortals who did have to watch what they ate.
D’Arcy had gone ahead and ordered for all of them, which Bernadette was more than happy about since it made things easier. The restaurant was expensive, and it took any agonising about spending D’Arcy’s money out of the equation. The first course was brought in consisting of Irish Sweetcorn Soup with smoked haddock and accompanied by small bread rolls.
“So, tell me how it went today?” said D’Arcy buttering a roll.
“Well, Eve was magnificent…” Imogen began and related what had passed at the transport depot. In the meantime, Bernadette and Eve concentrated on the delicious soup. They listened to Imogen’s animated recounting with some amusement.
“Oh, Eve, I could kiss you…” said D’Arcy spontaneously when the story was finished, and then glanced again at Imogen, “But I won’t though… of course.”
“D’Arcy,” said Imogen at this second reference to the disastrous kiss of yore, “You can kiss Eve and Bernadette on the lips… but no tongues, OK!”
They all laughed, and it eased the tension.
“Ooh, that’s lovely, thank you, darling,” said D’Arcy in delight, giving her girlfriend a kiss.
“I’m trying to change, I told you,” Imogen said softly.
“Don’t change… too much,” D’Arcy whispered, though they all heard it, “I still want you to, you know.”
“I won’t, don’t worry about that,” Imogen whispered back.
Bernadette and Eve exchanged glances, they wondered when Imogen was planning to pop the question. Bernadette took another sip of her mineral water, since she was driving. Imogen got chauffeured into work and back again now she was pretty much living at D’Arcy’s house full time.
“Has everyone finished?” said D’Arcy brightly, spying the waiter hovering at the entrance to their cubbyhole.
The main was brought of Braised Short Rib of Beef, with accoutrements. Bernadette was delighted at this, beef being a favourite of hers. General chit chat and banter ensued with some talk about the impending trip to London. Compliments were made on the food to D’Arcy’s delight, they knew she enjoyed treating them.
“I’m taking Eve to Harrods, and shopping in Knightsbridge,” D’Arcy announced at once.
“I told you!” said Imogen.
“Also, don’t worry about the hotel, I will arrange it all. I know a wonderful little bijou place, an exclusive boutique hotel. I will sort out the flights as well.”
“That’s lovely, although we are supposed to charging the client for expenses,” Bernadette mused.
“I am sure we can work something out with Andrew,” Imogen said sensibly.
“Yes, of course, and thank you D’Arcy for being so generous.”
“Don’t, you are practically family to me, at least the only real family I’ve got,” D’Arcy replied and then became quite tearful and had to be comforted by Imogen.
D’Arcy was a handful, Bernadette mused. She tended to take over in her inimitable style and she also was prone to huge emotional swings. In some ways, Bernadette could understand why Imogen had become a little dominant towards her, and reflected if she was with D’Arcy, she’d probably be tempted to give her a good spanking too. In fact, she had felt like it on more than one occasion once she had made D’Arcy’s acquaintance. Bernadette thanked her lucky stars for finding Eve.
The mains passed off without further incident, and a light dessert of Hot Chocolate Mousse was brought along with coffee. They all refused a cheese board on account of being full, even D’Arcy said she could not eat anything else, to Bernadette’s surprise.
Both Bernadette and Eve were looking expectantly at Imogen. It was now or never in their minds. Imogen caught the look and the conversation had suddenly died. D’Arcy who was ladling the last of her mousse into her mouth, suddenly realised and looked up.
“What?” she said sensing something afoot, “What?”
“Darling,” said Imogen, “I want you to come here, just come out and stand here with me for a moment.”
“What? But why?” D’Arcy said puzzled.
“No, listen, darling, just, please… do this for me, D’Arcy, please.” Imogen took her hand and pulled her gently out into the space just in front of the table.
“Well, I don’t know what you are doing but—”
“Shhh, darling, just… shhh,” said Imogen placing a finger on D’Arcy’s lips.
“OK… I—”
“Hush, my pet… please.”
D’Arcy saw something in Imogen’s eyes which for once made her zip it, and this was also coupled with the fact Imogen had used one of her private little endearments.
Imogen took D’Arcy’s hands in hers and looked into her eyes, much in the way she had seen Bernadette do when she had proposed to Eve.
“D’Arcy. You know I love you. I mean, I love you so much, my darling, and I know how I’ve been such a bitch, and I want to be a better person and…”
“You said all this, yesterday…” D’Arcy said softly, “You don’t need to…”
“D’Arcy, please, you’re not making this… any easier.” There were tears in Imogen’s eyes now, and her voice was becoming choked with emotion.
“OK, OK. I’m shutting up now,” D’Arcy said gently realising something quite significant was occurring though she was still not sure what.
“Oh you!” Imogen laughed through her tears. “This is more than I said to you yesterday, much bigger than that, so much more. I love you, D’Arcy. I love you so much, I can’t imagine living without you, ever… you are everything to me, my whole… everything…. and… and I just…. I just… I just want to be… with you for always… and I don’t know… I really don’t know… if you feel the same, but I’m… I’m going to do this anyway.”
D’Arcy’s eyes were round as saucers, as she listened to this halting tear-filled speech. Imogen fumbled in her bag and in the next moment she was down on one knee.
“D’Arcy,” she said, “D’Arcy, please will you… will you please… marry me…” At which point she opened up the box containing the ring.
