My head spins, she’s got everything planned for me, how on earth does she have a plan? “What?” I gasp, so amazed that she already has everything mapped out.
She gets up out of her chair and walks over and sits beside me on the sofa. “Nat, as soon as you told me that if you ever got out of this life, you’d be a hairdresser, I researched the hell out of it and got all the information that I needed. I thought this day may come and I’m over the bloody moon it’s happened now. For a while I thought you may never come to the decision. I’ll call both Margaret and the college in the morning and go about getting you enrolled as soon as possible.”
“Do you ever sleep?” I’m actually not sure what to say at this point, she’s completely amazed me. I thought she may be upset that I was leaving altogether instead of doing what Stef did, but no she’s so happy for me.
She rolls her eyes at me. “The college I’ve been looking into is the best there is, it’s going to be two courses, you’ll have to do them one after another but it’s only twenty-five weeks in total to have them completed. I need to look into when the courses start and whether they run consecutively.”
I nod. “Okay, Pen I’m so excited, this is what I’ve always wanted.”
She leans over and grasps my hand, giving it a tight squeeze. “I’m excited for you and also for myself, Margaret is awaiting my call as I said I’ve told her about you. She is my current hairdresser but she’s getting on a bit now, she’s said that you can work Saturdays in her salon to learn the ins and outs of what happens inside of a salon.”
I swallow harshly. “You told her about me?”
Pen shakes her head. “Not like that Nat, I would never tell anyone anything about you. All that I’ve told Margaret is that you’re my niece who’s been living with me for the last few months.”
“Thank you,” There are no words that I could say that would make her understand just how grateful I truly am.
“You’re welcome. I’ll call them both first thing in the morning and we can go from there. Now you will have one last event to attend but it won’t be for another couple of weeks.” She can’t keep the smile off of her face. I honestly don’t think she’s been this happy around me before.
“Okay, what event and who’s my date? I’m not sleeping with anyone!” I say firmly, I wouldn’t do that to Richie, hell Richie and I haven’t had sex yet, I got tested because I wanted us to have a fresh start, and I got my period three days ago. “Why are you so happy? You’ve lost two of your girls within a couple of months.”
She looks at me as though I’m silly. “Nat, you said it, my girls. You and Stef are more than just my employees and your happiness comes first and foremost. So, having you both go out and do something meaningful with your lives, that is all that matters to me.”
“You’re a soppy cow under that bitch face, aren’t you?” I laugh at her horrified expression. “How about I order us a takeaway and we can watch Pitch Perfect 3?”
“Sounds bloody perfect after the past few days I’ve had.” She flops back against the sofa, still looking gorgeous. If I was going through what she’s been going through I’d look like a slob. Bright red eyes from crying and be bloated like a whale from all the crap I’d have eaten.
“What’s Richie like?” Pen asks as she tucks into her chow mein.
I look at her in confusion. “Didn’t you meet him when he joined Midnight Lovers as a client?”
She smiles. “No, Charles interviews most of them, I do the odd few, but Charles is a great asset to my team. He used to be a part of MI5 but was injured on the job, he always asks how you are by the way. I’ve told him about Richie and he likes him, but he’s also told me that he’ll kill him if he hurts you.” Her laughter is like a cackle.
I haven’t seen Charles since the day he found me outside of Subway. I have his card but never thought about it since, I hate that he’s been asking about me and I haven’t once mentioned him.
“Richie’s been treating me like a queen. I went to meet him fully expecting to listen to what he had to say and walk away, never having to face him again. Every time I see him Pen, my heart skips, my pulse races. I’m happy whenever I’m around him.” I sound like a teenager, but this is my first relationship and I’m excited.
“That’s great Nat, you deserve to be happy, but I’m sure there’s a but in your voice.” She points her fork at me. “What is it? Are you not sure if you’ve made the right decision?”
I take a bite of my chicken ball not sure how to answer this properly without sounding like a bitch. I swallow and answer her honestly. “No, I made the right decision, that’s not what it is. I still don’t trust him Pen, it’s not fair to him that I’m unsure, he’s doing everything he can to try and prove that he’s trustworthy and yet I can’t help it.”
“Nat, you have every right to be cautious. He’s yet to prove to you that he should be trusted. Him treating you like you deserve is all good and well, but you’re still reeling from the rejection from your first meeting. He’ll understand that, it’s going to take a while for him to gain your trust. It won’t happen overnight.” She goes back to eating her chow mein and hits the button on the remote to start the film.
We sit in silence as we eat, she’s transfixed by the movie. I’m not really focused on the film as my head's spinning at what she said. She is right of course, I think there’s a part of me that expects to wake up one morning and he’ll be gone, and I’ll never see him again. It’s more down to me and my insecurities than him. It’s something that I’m going to have to work on, something that’s going to take time but I’m willing to work on it.
“You never did say who would be my date for the event in a few weeks?” I ask once the film is over.
She smirks. “That’s because you won’t have one. You’ve been requested to attend the wedding reception of Tim and Gary.”
I squeal with excitement, I’m so happy for them. “That’s going to be one event that I’m actually looking forward to. I love Tim and Gary.” They’re so much fun to be around, they always have me laughing and it’s about time they showed the world their relationship and anyone who doesn’t approve can fuck right off.
“What is it about those men? That’s both you and Stefanie that have a soft spot for them?” she asks with a frown.
“Pen they’re really sweet guys, if you had met them you’d be the same. I’ve never met two men so utterly sweet and so in love.” It’s the type of love that you only wish you had. Their relationship is something that others would aspire to.
She doesn’t seem to believe me, but she doesn’t comment on it either. Glancing down at her Cartier watch she sighs, and rises from the sofa. “I’m going to go home, it’s almost one in the morning, and apologise—” She shudders at the word. “—to Grant and sort that out. He owes me an apology as much as I owe him one. I should have informed him as soon as I knew about my ex. I’ll call you in the morning when I have more news about what’s going on with the college and with Margaret.” She stands up tall, and I sense that she’s worried about going home but with Pen, she’s never going to show it. “Thank you for dinner and the company Natalie.”
I get up and walk over to her, she instantly holds out her arms and I walk into them. “It’s my pleasure. We should have this as a monthly thing.” That’s something I’d love but I understand how busy Pen is, so I doubt it will work out. “Thank you, I’ll speak to you tomorrow.” I squeeze her and then pull out of her arms.
“Doing this once a month sounds like a great idea, it’s something I’m going to make time for.” I smile at her words. “Now I best be going, I’ll call you in the morning.” She kisses my cheek and I follow her to the door, she’s already opened it and ready to leave. “Be good and remember what I said, it’ll take a while to rebuild that trust.”
I wave goodbye to her as she walks down the stairs and I wait until she’s in her car before I close the door, I don’t bother cleaning up instead I head straight to my bedroom. I change into my
pyjamas and climb into bed. I send Richie a text saying goodnight and close my eyes, it’s not long before I fall asleep with the phone beside me.
Chapter 15
One Week Later
“Ready to go?” Richie calls out from the hall, he’s getting impatient. I told him twenty minutes ago that I’d be ready in five and he’s still waiting for me.
“Almost, have you seen my handbag?” I shout as I fasten the clip on my bracelet. I pick my shoes up off of the floor and walk out of my bedroom. “Richie?” I call out again as I hop on one foot trying to put my shoe on.
“Yeah love, I’ve got it. It was in the kitchen; can we go now?” He comes to stand in front of me, his green eyes twinkling as he stares at me.
I put my other shoe on. “Yes, I’m ready. Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” he’s been secretive all day, all he’s said is that we’re going somewhere. That is it, wherever we’re going he’s in a hurry to leave.
He smirks as he hands me my bag. “No, you’re just going to have to wait and see. Trust me love, you’re going to love where we’re going.” He takes my hand, and I smile at him, this is what normal couples do; hold hands and go on dates.
He leads me out of the house and down the steps towards his car, I’m looking forward to whatever it is we’re going to do. We’ve spent most evenings together, we have dinner and watch telly. We’ve yet to have a proper date.
“Are you looking forward to starting college?” He holds my hand as he drives, his thumb caressing my skin. “You’ve not said much about it since Penelope told you that it’ll be commencing soon.”
I’m excited for the next chapter of my life. Pen, true to her word called both the college and Margaret the very next morning. She called me right after getting off the phone to the two of them, she was just as giddy as she was the previous evening about me leaving and becoming a hairdresser. The college didn’t have a course starting for three months so Pen booked me in for that course, I’ll be doing a thirteen-week course first, then the receptionist told her there would be a four-week break before the following twelve-week course begins. Pen being Pen, didn’t care and booked me in for that one too.
I met Margaret last week, she’s really nice and has offered me an apprenticeship with her, I’ll be working there every Saturday. She’s the most sought-after hairdresser in London; even though she charges a bomb, she’s booked out four months in advance. So, I’ll be a college student and in employment in just over two months’ time.
“I guess I don’t want to get my hopes up about it. I’m excited and I’m looking forward to it, but what if I hate it?” I confess quietly, what if my dream isn’t what I thought it would be? What if I find it boring and don’t want to do it?
“If you don’t like it, you don’t like it. Nat, you’re eighteen, no one expects you to have your life sorted at this stage. We all have trial and errors; do you think I wanted to be a builder?” He laughs. “God it was the last thing I had thought I’d be doing. But when you’ve been locked up, you take what you can get.”
“So, what did you want to do? You left Ireland to come here, what was it that you had hoped for?” I ask and I’m glad that we’re taking things slow, doing what we should have from the beginning. We’re getting closer and that’s what I was hoping for, for us to have a proper relationship.
“I didn’t really have that much of a plan. I wanted Colm to have the best life he could, he wanted to go to a good college and become a lawyer. Look how well that turned out.” Again, so much anger when he talks about Colm.
“Don’t you have good colleges in Ireland?”
He frowns. “We do, but Colm was in with the wrong crowd, Mam and Dad were afraid that he was doing drugs. They weren’t certain, none of us were but I learned that he was when we moved here.”
“What’re your parents like?” He hasn’t said much about them other than he loves them.
“My mam Andrea, she’s your typical Irish mammy. A stay at home mam who runs the house with an iron fist. She wouldn’t shout or get angry, she’d be disappointed in you. That was worse than anything, I’d rather her shout. My dad Malachy, he’s a farmer, he’s lived and breathed farming since he was born, my grandad was a farmer, as was his grandad. That farm has been in our family for hundreds of years.” He looks sad for a second but that quickly fades before he smiles again. “He’s upset that none of us are interested in taking over the farm. He’s always said that he always wanted a son to take over the family business.”
“So, what’s going to happen with the farm now?”
“I think my cousin will take over it. My dad wants it to stay in the family. I thought with Colm being home he’d help out but he’s a useless arse and not lifted a finger.” His jaw tenses as it does every time he talks about Colm.
“Don’t you think that it’s time to move on?” I ask without really thinking.
“Move on?” He questions sounding confused.
“Look Richie, I understand that you’ve done a lot for Colm, you went to prison to save him from doing the time, but you have to let it go. It’s only going to eat at you. Every time you talk about your brother, there’s so much hatred in your voice. It’s not healthy.”
“I’m trying to let it go but when word gets back to me about all the shit he’s doing now, I want to kill the fucker, he hasn’t learned. His stupidity led me to prison. I served time and he doesn’t even give a fuck.” Regret, that’s all that I hear, he regrets serving the time for his brother. Good, he should regret it, his brother should have had to face the consequences of his actions. Richie taking the blame meant that Colm didn’t learn, well he did, he learnt that if he fucked up, he didn’t have to face what he did, his family would sort it out.
He glances at me and that back to the road. “You don’t agree with what I did?”
I sigh. “No I don’t, I think that you’ve set the precedent with Colm. By you taking the blame you’ve showed him that he doesn’t have to face the consequences of his actions.”
“He’s my brother what was I meant to do?” He’s pleading with me to understand why he did it, but he doesn’t need to.
“I get that, I’m just telling you that I don’t agree with your actions, but I don’t judge you just as you don’t agree with me being a prostitute or an escort, but you aren’t judging me on them.” I get it, I understand why he did it and I understand his need for me to understand why he did it, just as it was mine when I told him about my past and that me feeling dirty and used is partly why I became a prossie, but also because I was living on the street and I needed money.
He gives me a funny look before smiling. “You’re one of a kind Nat. I’m one hell of a lucky guy, you could have easily walked away and never looked back, but you didn’t. Instead you gave me a second chance, one that I’m not going to take for granted. I’m going to spend the rest of our lives making it up to you.”
Those words have my heart skipping a beat, and warmth spreads inside me. It’s what I love to hear, what I’ve wanted for a long time to have someone to have a future with me. Want a future with me. I smirk. “Yeah? Who said that I was going to spend the rest of my life with you?”
His face loses all humour. “Natalie, you’re not getting rid of me. I’ve spent months without you and those months were worse than the time I spent in prison.”
“Richie,” I say in admonishment. “Don’t say shit like that. You and Jess were happy, you can’t deny that.” It’s disrespectful to Jess, him saying that and I don’t like it. Honesty is all I ask. There’s no need for lies or to give me false compliments, I don’t need them.
“You’re right, I was happy with Jess, but I still missed you. If Jess hadn’t have gotten back with Hunter I’m honestly not sure if we would have still been together. Meeting you again threw a spanner in the works, I thought, no I tried to love Jess, I told her that I did and maybe I would have, we’ll never be certain and losing her hurt, but not as much as not having you.” His voice is strong and co
nfident.
“Richie…” I have no idea what to say; what can I say?
“Trust me, Natalie, you mean everything to me. Was I happy with Jess, yeah. But I still thought about you every day. The thing about me and Jess is we both had other people in our hearts and minds. People who had captured us and who we couldn’t let go of.” He reaches for my hand and brings it to his mouth and presses a gentle kiss on it. “You’re it for me Nat, I knew that from the very first night that I met you.”
I smile, I guess sometimes words are enough. I don’t say anything because what he said was perfect.
“You okay love?” he asks after a few minutes of silence.
“Yeah, I’m okay, how much longer until we get there?” I’m getting antsy, we’ve been driving for over half an hour and I’m still none the wiser to where we are going.
“Still a bit longer,” he says with a smirk and it pisses me off. “It’ll be worth it, I promise.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine,” I lean forward and turn up the stereo.
He turns it back down and I glare at him. “We’re learning things about each other,” he says in way of explanation.
I narrow my eyes, but then smirk when I think of a great way to get to know him. “Okay, you have to answer these truthfully and without thinking, just say whatever comes to mind.”
His jaw tenses, he’s not looking forward to this and I fully expect him to say no. “Okay, go ahead.”
This is going to be fun. “Pizza or burger?”
He doesn’t even hesitate. “Burgers.”
I nod, I like a good burger too. Especially one that’s juicy. “Morning or night?”
“Night.” He turns and winks at me. “I get to spend the night with you.”
“Such a charmer. Okay, Ireland or England?” I have no idea why I asked this, it’s not like he’s going to say England, he’s always told me he loves Ireland.
The Scars Of Life (The Working Girls Book 4) Page 13
