Are You Ready? (24 page)

‘Sorry about that, too,' Ben mumbled.

Laura looked great: she had a good tan, her brown eyes sparkled, and her long dark brown curly hair fell over her face. She smiled back. ‘Don't worry about it,' she said, looking at Nikki. ‘I'll let you get back to your date. I hope your dad is OK.' And with that she was gone.

Ben turned to Nikki, who had begun chatting to the bouncer, telling him she knew the owner and persuading him to let them go upstairs to the VIP section. The bouncer was charmed by her, and led them straight there. It was good to skip the queues at
the regular bar, and be served drinks at their table. And it was fun, too, to chat about anything and everything with Nikki, who looked amazing tonight, and was so laid-back and full of fun. But it still took Ben a few more drinks before he could forget about Laura and what might have been.

On Monday Molly was busy making sandwiches when Ali asked her to meet up for lunch. It was a quiet enough day so Molly agreed. As the girls sat down inside another local café for a lasagne, Ali told Molly how herself and Robin had to make the final decision on the band for the wedding.

‘You were there, Molly, what do you think?'

Molly thought back to ten days earlier, when she had gone with Robin and Ali to see the three potential wedding bands. The first had been called The Breakfast Club, and had been an eighties band. They'd played all the hits that were famous when the girls were young, and they had certainly got the crowd going – Molly hadn't wanted to leave the dance floor – but she didn't know if they would alienate the older crowd at the wedding. The next group, called The Golden Oldies, were awful, and Robin had made the girls leave before the fourth song. They had played corny numbers, and when ‘Come On Eileen' had been followed by ‘Sweet Caroline', Molly had known that they would be way
too cheesy for Ali's wedding. The last band had been called Set List, and even though Molly had been slightly drunk by the time they arrived at someone's thirtieth birthday in a private room upstairs in Kielys, she could see the band were very good. They tried to play a mixture of older classic tunes and some new ones from U2 and the like. The band were also very cool-looking and had been really nice to talk to after the gig, when Ali and Robin had asked questions about their availability and cost.

‘I do think Set List might be the best, Ali.'

‘Oh, great, I'm so glad, because I agree with you, and think we should book them. But I was also hoping you would say that, because Will, the lead singer in the band, rang me today to ask if we still wanted them for the wedding. They are getting booked up and needed to know. He also asked me for your number. You made a big impression on him the other night.'

Molly blushed; she didn't know what to say. The singer had definitely been cute, and obviously talented, but she and Luke had only broken up a few weeks ago. How could she even think about dating?

‘I think it's way too soon, Ali. I'm sorry. Please don't give him my number.' Ali said nothing, and instead started chatting about her upcoming hen party.

As Molly walked back to work after lunch she couldn't stop thinking about the singer, Will, and the thought of dating again. Even though she wouldn't admit it to anyone else, there was a small part of her that got lonely and kept wanting to ring Luke. Sometimes she
longed to forget about the arguments and promise to be the girlfriend he wanted. But she would always see sense in time, and turn her phone off. Even if she didn't want him back, though, how could she date so soon? Luke had been her life for years, had been the person she woke up beside every day, and now the thought of kissing or even holding hands with someone else made her feel uneasy. The last few weeks had been hard, and she swung between missing Luke and feeling she was better off without him, and needed to find a guy who would appreciate her work and understand her passion for it. Living at home was also a rollercoaster: she loved having her mum there to constantly chat to and cook with, but other days it drove her mad when her mum kept asking her if she would be home for dinner and what she would like to eat. Her mum couldn't understand that some days Molly wanted to be able to meet a friend at the last minute after work, or was in the mood for Eddie Rocket's and not beef stew. Often, too, Molly had eaten enough at work, and just didn't feel like a big home-cooked meal. If I hear my mum complain one more time that she bought an extra chicken breast for me that will now go to waste, I'll eat one raw just to please her! Molly thought to herself. As she walked into Heavenly she could see things had picked up. She quickly tied up her dark hair, put on her work apron and headed for the hot kitchen.

The following afternoon Molly had a huge order to deliver to Sterling Bank. They had a client conference, and so herself and her cousin Eve had to deliver not
only all the usual orders, but a selection of sandwiches, quiches and tarts to the large conference room. As they walked into the bank, Molly told her cousin about the singer of the band, and him asking for her number.

‘Wow, sounds exciting, go for it!'

‘Eve, I think it might be too soon,' Molly said, not sure that Eve would understand.

‘Molly, I know you must miss Luke, and much as I always got on well with him, I have to say I think he treated you badly. This rock star might not be the guy for you, but don't close yourself off from meeting guys just because Luke was too foolish to see you were the perfect girl. You have to get used to going out and meeting new people. Just think about this Will guy, and if nothing else it could be fun to go and see him play. We could be his groupies!'

Molly laughed as she entered the conference room and left the picnic baskets full of freshly cooked food on the large mahogany table. Next they began to hand out sandwiches to their usual customers. As they approached Scott Williams's desk, he put down the phone and smiled at Molly.

‘How is my favourite cook?'

Molly smiled back politely, and handed him his usual boring sandwich. She had been embarrassed around him ever since he had dropped her home that day.

‘I'm fine, Scott, thanks. Your office is certainly busy today.'

‘Oh yeah, we've had all these big clients with us
all week, and it's been one long round of meetings, but this weekend we are having our annual summer barbecue, and inviting not only them but all our best clients and suppliers. You should come,' Scott said. He handed her an invite.

Molly read that the bank were having a large barbecue with music and games at the Royal Dublin Society club that Saturday.

‘You are one of our best suppliers, you know! And maybe you would like to come, too,' he said to Eve, who had suddenly appeared beside Molly.

Eve read the invite.

‘We would love to. I'm always up for a barbecue. It will be fun.'

Molly could have kicked her cousin, there was no way she wanted to go a barbecue with Scott Williams, but it was too late. Scott was already telling Eve the best time to come.

‘Not too early as it's all kids and face-painting then, but not too late as we'll all be too drunk to enjoy your company!'

Eve laughed, told Scott they would see him in a few days, and walked out of the office with Molly.

‘Before you say anything, Molly,' she said, ‘the barbecue will be fun, and he is a good client of ours, so we are going. We've no other plans for Saturday night, and I don't want you staying in moping over Luke and baking cookies! I'm sure with the lure of free barbecue food André will want to come as well.'

Molly liked Eve's boyfriend, André, and knew that at least if he was there Eve wouldn't spend
the whole barbecue trying to set her up with new guys.

‘Fine, but we'll just pop in for an hour, and then go. I don't want to spend my Saturday night talking about sandwiches with clients.'

On Saturday afternoon Molly was in her bedroom trying to decide what to wear. A barbecue was a tough challenge. She didn't want to be too casual as there were going to be a lot of potential clients there, but she didn't want Scott to think she was dressing up for him, either. I need something in-between a deb's dress and a bikini, she laughed to herself. Eventually she decided on a pair of white cut-off trousers and a blue Roxy string top, along with white wedge shoes and a pair of very fashionable oversized sunglasses propped on top of her long, thick dark hair. As she put on a beaded bracelet she had picked up in Mexico years ago she heard Eve beeping her car horn outside. Molly felt a bit nervous heading off like this: she was used to just hanging out with Luke and her own friends, and was not the best person at meeting new people. But it was too late now, so she shouted goodbye to her mum, and headed out to the car. Eve was driving and André was turning up his favourite CD,
Moon Safari
by Air. It was the only French band Eve would let him listen
to, so it got played a lot! Molly squeezed into the back of Eve's black Mini.

‘You look great, Molly,' said André. ‘No wonder you have rock stars falling for you.'

Molly gave Eve a dirty look. Why had she told André about Will?

‘He is not a rock star, and no one is falling for me, but thanks anyway, André.'

They were in the RDS within minutes.

‘Wow!' exclaimed Eve as they handed the security man their invite, and started to realize that this ‘barbecue' was about more than just burgers. Not only was there a professional kitchen set-up with tables of buffet-style food, and plenty of kids running around with their faces painted and balloon animals trailing behind them, there was also a small funfair, and Molly could see the head of the Sterling Bank on a bumper car. There was a lively band belting out Van Morrison's ‘Brown Eyed Girl', while the beer tent seemed to have hundreds of men in boardshorts and sunglasses crowded around it.

Molly, Eve and André made their way to the queue for the burgers.

‘Wow, the bank must be doing well to be able to throw this kind of party,' Eve exclaimed, as she filled her plate high with chips, salad and chicken kebabs. Molly was impressed, too: the food was simple enough, but perfect for the throngs of kids and families, and the funfair and music were totally unexpected. André found them a table right in front of the band, and as
they half-swayed, half-ate their food to some U2 hits, Scott Williams appeared out of nowhere wearing beige chinos, and a crisp white shirt.

‘Molly, it's great to see you.' He smiled as he introduced himself to André.

Molly tried to swallow back her burger, which she'd rammed into her mouth. Eventually she was able to smile back, and thank Scott for his generous invite.

‘No problem, sure if a bank can afford to throw a party like this, then the more the merrier! I think you would have cooked a better burger, but it is your day off, I suppose.'

‘Oh, she would, Scott. She really is the best cook in the world. Molly, you should cook Scott something special, rather than making him a sandwich, someday,' Eve added.

Molly glared at Eve. Scott Williams was nice, but he was just a client. What was Eve playing at? But Scott didn't comment on Eve's proposed dinner date, and instead told André that they were starting a game of tag-rugby soon if he was interested. The word rugby was like sweet music to André's ears, and before the girls could say anything he and Scott had walked off to the back fields to get kitted out.

Once Scott left, Molly was able to relax again, and herself and Eve made their way over to the funfair. Molly hadn't been on a big wheel for years, but Eve persuaded her and before long they were high over Ballsbridge, overlooking the whole of Dublin. The sight was beautiful, but Molly's thoughts turned to Luke, and she wondered where in the big city he
was, and what he was doing. Eve chatted away about her summer plans and her proposed trip to André's family in the South of France. Molly half-listened but couldn't stop herself thinking of Luke, or rather the lack of Luke, and wondering what would happen that summer. She knew Eve was right, and she had to move on from Luke and open herself up to new people, and in particular new guys, but it was hard. Hard to have the confidence to get out there and meet new men. Molly knew from her single girlfriends that there might be guys out there, but not many of them were good. It was going to be tough.

‘Molly, are you listening?' Eve said, breaking into her train of thought. ‘I was just saying that Scott seems like a very generous and sweet guy, to invite us all here.'

‘Yeah, it is a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but I'm sure he invited plenty of other people, not just us – his sandwich makers,' Molly said.

Eve said nothing, and instead steered Molly towards the bumper cars. They spent thirty minutes banging into each other and the many teenagers who seemed hell-bent on trying to crash into as many people as possible. Molly was dizzy with all the spinning, so decided to take a break, and headed for the candy floss stand. As she ate the light and fluffy sugar candy, she saw André and Scott trying to shoot little plastic ducks. She joined them.

‘Oh, Molly, maybe you can help Scott here. I can't bring myself to hurt these little ducks!'

André thrust the plastic gun into Molly's hand.
Molly was reluctant at first, but before long was having a great time as she and Scott worked together to try and get as many ducks assassinated as possible, in order to win prizes. Eventually she was laughing so much she could no longer play, and handed her gun to some little children. The man behind the stand asked Scott what prizes he wanted.

‘You did all the work, Molly, you pick.' Molly chose a large teddy bear and a Hello Kitty plastic watch.

‘It is great to see all the long hours I work earning the bank money go into buying such superb things for everyone.' Scott laughed and picked up the teddy bear.

Molly wrapped the watch, around her wrist. Scott smiled as they walked back side by side to join Eve and André, who were dancing to the band.