Finishing Touches (12 page)

‘You’ll need something a bit stronger than punch to cope with Saint Elsie,’ Aileen smirked, leading Cassie to a corner of the room. ‘I fecked a few bottles of stout and a
few fags from the wake. My contribution to the party.’

‘You did not!’ Cassie was half-shocked, half-amused.

‘Sure, there was loads of stuff there, and nobody was taking any notice of me, so I slipped a few into the pockets of my trenchcoat. I mean, I did say the Rosary and things while I was
there,’ she added plaintively.

‘Of course you did,’ said Laura soothingly. ‘Hurry on and open the bottles!’

It was a wonderful party. They sang and danced and devoured the lovely salad buffet that was spread out for them in the big dining-room, passing around plates of crispy cocktail sausages and
melt-in-the-mouth sausage rolls. Kate Rooney certainly knew how to give a party, the girls agreed between mouthfuls of food. Cassie filled a paper plate with goodies and brought it out to Mr Spock,
who was patiently guarding her bike. He wagged his tail so hard with delight that it was a wonder it didn’t fall off. When someone put on Roy Orbison singing ‘Pretty Woman’ and
Donie Kiely asked Cassie to dance, she felt as if she had died and gone to heaven. Tall, dark and handsome Donie Kiely, who could have had his pick of any of the girls of Port Mahon, was dancing
with her and asking for the next dance. All the worries about climbing back in the window later on, and guilt about deceiving her parents, slipped away and she danced a slow set in Donie’s
arms and wished the night would never end.

At around one-fifteen, Kate’s parents arrived back from Dublin and everybody prepared to leave. Donie had already asked Cassie if he could walk her home and she said she had her bike and
her dog and asked if that mattered. He laughed his good-humoured laugh and said it was no problem whatsoever. She really liked him, she decided, as they walked along the sea road, with Donie
wheeling the bike for her and Mr Spock trotting demurely alongside, full to the gills with all the food he had eaten and ready for a nice cosy snooze in his kennel. It had got much colder and
wilder and gusts of wind swirled around them. The sea was white-capped and foamy but Cassie didn’t care; she was as happy as a lark.

Donie was studying English and history at UCD, he told her, and was planning to teach when he had his degree and H Dip. He lived in digs near the university during the week but came back home to
Port Mahon at the weekends to help his father, who was a market-gardener like Jack. They had so much in common, really, she thought happily, wishing that the walk home would never end. He was so
easy to talk to and when he smiled at her with those gorgeous brown eyes it was magic. He had the most beautiful manners too, walking on the outside of the footpath, wheeling the bike for her.
Andy, her previous boyfriend, had never been so considerate. It gave her a nice glow. A thought struck her. He was so mannerly he would probably want her key to open the front door for her. How
would she explain about it being locked. How on earth could she climb in the window in front of him. Hell! What a dilemma!

Her bubble of happiness burst with a bang. They were almost at the entrance to the farm. Spock, anxious to get to sleep, galloped on ahead.

‘Is this it?’ Donie smiled.

‘This is it,’ Cassie murmured, coming to a halt. ‘Donie . . . mmm . . . I won’t ask you in for coffee.’ She continued hastily, ‘It’s a bit late and . .
. um . . . well, my mother’s a little bit old-fashioned.’ Oh this was awful, she could feel her cheeks burning in the dark. She had never felt so flustered in her life.

Donie smiled down at her. ‘She sounds just like mine,’ he reassured her. ‘Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you to the door, anyway.’

‘No, no, honestly, this is fine, it’s just a minute up the drive.’ She was practically babbling now.

‘Are you sure? It’s a bit dark.’

‘It’s not at all, I’m well used to it.’ They smiled at each other.

‘Can I see you again?’

Cassie couldn’t believe he was saying the words she had been longing to hear all evening. ‘I’d like that,’ she answered shyly.

‘Tomorrow night?’

Cassie laughed. ‘My Aunt Elsie is coming tomorrow so I’d say I’ll be expected to entertain her. Sunday?’ she asked hopefully.

‘Will I come and collect you?’

‘Could I meet you in town instead? It would suit me better, with my aunt and all,’ she added lamely. It would be too hard to think up explanations if Donie came calling to the door.
‘How about Kentucky Fried Chicken on Main Street? We could have coffee?’

‘That would be great,’ Donie agreed enthusiastically. ‘We could go to the pictures if you like. I usually go back to Dublin on Sunday night but I could leave it until Monday
morning this time.’ Mentally, Cassie heaved a sigh of relief. All she had to do now was climb in through John’s window and she was made up.

Bending his head, Donie kissed her lightly on the lips. ‘Good night, Cassie. Thanks for a lovely evening. I’ll see you on Sunday at seven.’

‘I’ll be looking forward to it.’ She smiled up at him, her heart dancing with happiness. It was nice to have a boyfriend again like her friends. Although Laura and Aileen were
great about including her in everything, sometimes she felt a bit of a gooseberry. They would be delighted for her; they knew she had fancied Donie for ages. She watched Donie striding back the way
they had come. He turned and waved and she waved back and watched until he was enveloped by the night.

She sped across the lawn up to the house and over to John’s window. She left her brother’s bike where Donie had leant it against the gate-post. It would be fine there until the
morning.

Cassie looked and looked again and her heart sank. Someone had closed the window. It must have been rattling because of the wind and Jack had probably come in and closed it. Damn! Gently she
tapped against the window-pane. ‘John! John! Let me in!’ she said as loudly as she dared. Thank heavens Jack and Nora slept at the other side of the house. She knocked again, louder
this time. Not a budge out of John. What in God’s name was she going to do? It was getting really stormy and it wouldn’t be long until it rained. She hoped Donie got home before it
started. She knocked again, feeling quite desperate, and froze as she saw the light go on in the adjoining bedroom.

Oh good night, this is it, she thought forlornly as Barbara’s face appeared at the bedroom window. She caught sight of Cassie and her mouth dropped. The sisters stared at each other and
Cassie waited for Barbara to rush into Nora’s and Jack’s room. Instead, the younger girl opened the side window. ‘If Mam found out about this, you’d be killed,’
Barbara lectured tartly as Cassie began to haul herself in. It was more awkward than she had anticipated and Barbara had to grab her under the arms and pull. Finally she was in and Barbara closed
the window. Cassie waited for her younger sister to say, ‘I’m telling in the morning,’ but Barbara said gruffly, ‘I won’t tell, if that’s what you’re
afraid of.’

Cassie couldn’t believe her ears. ‘Thanks, Barbara,’ she muttered uncomfortably. ‘And . . . umm . . . I’m sorry I slapped your face and pulled your hair. I lost my
temper.’ She added magnanimously, ‘If you want to wear any of my clothes, you can,’ remembering the remark Barbara had passed about how Aileen was a better sister than she
was.

‘Oh!’ Barbara was taken aback by the generosity of the peace-offering, but, being Barbara, she didn’t waste a minute capitalizing on it. ‘That jumper you’re wearing
is nice. It’s new, isn’t it? Could I wear it to the disco on Sunday night?’

Typical, thought Cassie to herself. But tonight she didn’t care, Barbara could have whatever she wanted. ‘You can have it, but just be careful of it. It cost me a fortune.’

‘I will. Good night, Cassie.’

‘Good night, Barbara,’ Cassie echoed, slipping out of her clothes and removing Big Teddy from the bed. Sliding down between the smooth sheets, she pulled the patchwork quilt up
around her and yawned in the darkness. It had been an extraordinary day. So much had happened, she thought sleepily. Who would have thought it would all have turned out so well.

Aunt Elsie arrived on the twelve-thirty train on Saturday and Jack collected her. Her first comment as she walked through the door of the sitting-room where Nora and the family
were waiting to greet her was that the picture of the Sacred Heart was crooked, and would Jack kindly straighten it, as it was a sign of disrespect to the Almighty. She had started as she meant to
go on!

The following morning, the Sunday of the planned date, Aunt Elsie awoke feeling extremely poorly. Her tummy was at her and she declared she would stay in bed for the day and drink only hot milk
with pepper. Aunt Elsie was such a demanding patient. ‘Cassie, would you get me my Rosary beads; they’ve fallen off the bed.’ Then, ‘Would you get me a cold flannel and hold
it to my forehead. I think I’m getting a migraine.’ And later, when the migraine had passed but a cold seemed to be developing, ‘Would you make me a hot drink with cloves and
lemons and bring me a spoonful of honey. My throat is ticklish.’ By five-thirty, Cassie was like a cat on hot coals. She hadn’t even had a chance to wash her hair, which had gone all
flat after the wind on the night of the party. They
couldn’t
expect her to stay in tonight. Hadn’t she stayed in all last night to play cards with Aunt Elsie? Well, tonight she
was going out with Donie, come what may! Fortunately, exhaustion overcame Aunt Elsie and Cassie was delighted when rumbling snores were heard from Irene’s bedroom, which Aunt Elsie had taken
over for the duration of her visit. Irene was sleeping on a camp-bed in her sisters’ bedroom, much to her dismay. She missed all her cuddly toys and posters.

With her hair washed and her make-up on, Cassie began to feel much better and her spirits lightened as she prepared to depart. ‘Just meeting the girls,’ she said airily, poking her
head around the sitting-room door where Nora and Jack were endeavouring to relax for a while. She wasn’t exactly telling fibs, Cassie reassured herself; she undoubtedly would bump into Laura
and Aileen at some stage in the evening.

‘Don’t be too late,’ Nora warned.

‘I won’t, Mam. See you later.’

‘Enjoy yourself,’ her father smiled.

‘I will, Pops,’ Cassie promised. He was the best in the world, she thought fondly as she headed for the front door.

‘Cassie!’ A faint voice came from the direction of Irene’s bedroom. Drat! thought Cassie. Please God, don’t let her be awake. Let her sleep for another five minutes.

‘Cassie!’ The autocratic voice definitely sounded stronger. Cassie was rooted to the spot. Why do you do things like this to
me
? she argued silently with the Almighty. She
couldn’t waste any more time. If she didn’t go now, she’d be late. Donie might think she had stood him up!

She was just about to slip out the front door when Aunt Elsie appeared at the bedroom door. With her long silver hair braided and her high-necked red flannelette night-gown falling in folds to
her bony feet, she looked like someone from another century

‘Did you not hear me calling you?’ she demanded. ‘I’m feeling much better. I’d like some tea and toast and a soft-boiled egg before you go off out gallivanting.
It’s a fine thing to think that you make the effort to come and see your relations and they couldn’t be bothered to stay in and spend an hour or two with you.’

Cassie almost burst with frustration. She didn’t want to draw attention to herself by saying to Nora that she was in a hurry. Nora would only say, ‘The girls will wait for you;
you’re often much later going out.’ Cassie didn’t want her mother becoming suspicious. She couldn’t say she was meeting a fellow as Nora would want to know where she had met
him, and she’d be getting into deep waters and big fibs after her unlawful attendance at the party. Maybe now that she and Barbara were sort of reconciled, her younger sister might oblige in
preparing Aunt Elsie’s tea. ‘I’ll ask Barbara to do it,’ Cassie said placatingly. ‘I’m in a bit of a hurry.’

‘That’s lovely,’ Elsie snapped. ‘In too much of a hurry to get a bite to eat for a poor sick woman! Barbara will burn the toast; she always does. It will take only five
minutes of your precious time and after that I won’t impose on you again.’ The tone was mega-martyr, as Elsie shuffled back into her room.

By the time Cassie had prepared her aunt’s tea, she was frantic. She was dead late. She had planned to make a calm, cool, collected entrance into the restaurant, having taken her time
getting there. Now there was nothing for it but to borrow John’s bike. The chain on her own was broken and it was being repaired. So much for dignity – she’d have to go on her
first date on a bike! Not a bit sophisticated, but what could she do? But then she discovered that John was out on his bike! All that lay in the shed was Jack’s old crock and Nora’s
High Nellie.

Taking her life in her hands, Cassie mounted her mother’s antique and wobbled precariously down the drive with Spock barking encouragement. The saddle was so high that her feet barely
reached the pedals and she knew one false move could do her a lot of damage. Grimly concentrating on avoiding the potholes, she headed in the direction of Port Mahon. Less than three-quarters of a
mile along the road, High Nellie got a puncture and with a malevolent hiss the tyre went flat, the bike wobbled and Cassie landed in the ditch.

Almost in tears she picked herself up, dusted herself down as best she could and started to walk the rest of the way.

Donie was waiting patiently, despite the fact that she was over an hour late. ‘I knew you weren’t the kind of girl to stand a fellow up,’ he said calmly, as she, hot and
flustered, tried to explain. They were too late to go to the pictures so they had coffee and cream cakes. Donie mended the puncture and they went walking along the beach in the moonlight before he
took her home.

After that they started to date regularly and once Aunt Elsie had left and equilibrium was restored in the Jordan household, she took Donie home and introduced him to her parents. They liked him
immensely. For her seventeenth birthday he took her to dinner in The Windmill in Skerries, a gorgeous, intimate restaurant, where he presented her with a gold chain, the first real piece of
jewellery she had ever owned. Cassie was sure that she could never in her life be so happy again.