Red Letter Day (3 page)

'And Kevin was there perfecting his breast stroke?'

Celine rolled her eyes. 'He's a really nice guy, Marina.'

'He's not exactly hard on the eye either.'

'No,' Celine agreed, a twinkle in her eye.

'So, he chatted you up in the Jacuzzi.'

'No, in the snack bar. We got into the habit of having a coffee after the session. One morning the bar was shut and I invited him back here.'

Marina's eyes widened. 'You little hussy! I didn't know you had it in you!'

'Me neither,' Celine admitted. 'I hadn't intended it to turn into a full-blown affair but, well, Kevin can be very persuasive.'

'I bet he can.'

'It was nice to feel attractive and sexy again.'

Marina leaned forward. 'So is he good?'

'Marina!' Celine cried but she was smiling. 'He's great.'

'So what happens now? I don't suppose he's going to leave Eileen?'

'Of course not, I wouldn't want him to. No, it's over. I feel quite ashamed of myself.'

'Oh, for God's sake, you are only human,' Marina said matter-of-factly.

'It's not just about Kevin, it's my life. I've been so pathetic these past few years. I haven't
done
anything. I didn't even set out to have an affair. It just' — she shrugged — 'happened.'

Marina nodded. 'I've had relationships like that too. I must say, though, I am relieved!' I was beginning to think you were heading for a nunnery. You've been on your own for so long — it's not natural.'

Celine chuckled. 'But now you know different.'

'Yes, thank goodness, you're normal after all.'

'I wouldn't go that far.' Celine gave her a lopsided smile. 'I have to hand it to Eileen, she gave quite a performance. No screaming or shouting — she even apologised for interrupting our meal — and then went on to tell Daddy that I was screwing her husband.'

Marina cringed. 'Ouch.'

'Yeah, I felt like a teenager caught behind the bike shed.'

'So what happened then?'

'Brenda stormed out and Daddy and I drove home in silence. Honestly, I would have preferred it if he'd shouted at me.'

'Hurt silence is much more effective,' Marina agreed, 'but he'll get over it. Give him time to cool off. Moving is a bit drastic though, don't you think?'

'Ah, but you haven't heard the full story. You see, I've also been fired.'

Marina raised her eyebrows. 'Because of the affair?'

Celine nodded. 'Turns out my ex-boss is a distant cousin of Eileen's.'

'God, that woman has more tentacles than an octopus. So what now?'

'I've got myself a new job!'

'Crikey, you don't hang about, do you?'

'Can't afford to, but no, this was sheer luck. I was going through the situations vacant page in the
Times
on Thursday and found it.'

'Not another pharmacy, I hope.'

'Nope. It's a second-hand fashion boutique in Hopefield and as of this morning I'm going to be the manager.'

Marina's eyes widened. 'Not Close Second?'

'Do you know it?'

'Well of course I know it! It's only the best second-hand shop in Dublin. My God, I get most of my clothes there these days!'

'Well, that's great. Now I actually know one of my customers.'

'It's
the
place to go for the perfect little designer number at half the price. You would be amazed at the ladies who shop there.'

'Looks like I'm going to meet them.'

'I hope there will be special discounts for your friends,' Marina purred.

Celine hugged her. 'I'll do my best.'

Marina raised her glass. 'This is great, Celine, congratulations. It's about time you got back into the rag trade. Next thing you'll be telling me you're designing again.'

Celine's smile faded. 'Definitely not.'

Marina tactfully changed the subject. 'But why do you have to move house? You could easily commute.'

'The job comes with a flat over the shop and I think it might be a good idea for me to disappear for a while.'

'Your dad will miss you.'

Celine shook her head, her eyes dark with sadness. 'I think he'll be relieved.'

'Rubbish, you know he's mad about you.'

'And the feeling is mutual, which is why I have to go.' Celine stood up abruptly and brushed her hands on her faded jeans. 'Now are you going to help me pack?'

Marina looked down in alarm at her cream linen trousers. 'Absolutely not!'

Celine laughed. 'Then get out.'

'Charming.' Marina drained her glass and leaned over to kiss Celine's cheek. 'When do you start?'

'Monday, but I'm going to move into the flat tomorrow.'

'Well, the best of luck, darling. I'll drop by during the week and you can sell me something.'

'Ooh yes, that will impress Rose.'

Marina tapped the side of her nose. 'Leave it to me. Before I've left she'll think you're the saleswoman of the year!'

After Marina left, Celine went back to her packing with a lighter heart. It would be exciting to work with clothes again, especially some of the newer designs. When she'd gone for her interview this morning she'd noticed that Rose had a fair representation of Irish designers — one of whom Celine had gone to college with. It would be strange to be selling Emily Park's creations. She had her own shop on Baggot Street now and dressed some of Ireland's most famous women. Celine didn't follow fashion any more but everyone knew about Emily's meteoric rise to fame. She was a media darling and everyone's favourite success story. Celine was happy for her and not remotely jealous. She'd realised when Dermot died that all her creativity had died with him and was resigned to living an uneventful life. She smiled slightly as she cleaned out the fridge. Her life could hardly be called uneventful now that she was the scarlet woman of Killmont! But she would be happy to leave that behind, leave Kevin Gilligan behind and go back to being a shopkeeper. Although working in a clothes shop would be a lot more fun than the local pharmacy and the clientele would be more interesting too. Celine looked forward to blending into the background and watching Dublin's finest up close and personal. It would be a wonderful distraction from her own dreary life and being on the far side of Dublin from Killmont made it all the more attractive.

Kay Flynn was on her knees picking up pieces of crayon when Marina arrived.

'Mum, what on earth are you doing down there? Where's Josh?'

There was a crash and the sound of breaking glass. Kay closed her eyes briefly. 'At a guess I'd say he's in the kitchen.'

Marina hurried past. 'Josh, darling, are you all right?'

Kay stood up and followed her, groaning inwardly when her worst fears were confirmed. Her beautiful Dublin crystal vase was in pieces on the floor.

Marina sat her son on the kitchen table and began examining him from head to foot. 'Are you hurt, my darling?'

Josh took one look at the frown on his grandmother's face and burst into tears. 'It was an accident, Mummy.'

'Of course it was, Joshie. Mummy and Granny know that, don't we, Granny?'

Kay got back down on her knees and began to pick up shards of glass. 'Of course we do,' she muttered obediently.

'I think some chocolate buttons will help dry those tears.' Marina smiled lovingly at her son and produced a bag from her pocket.

Josh wiped his face on his sleeve and grabbed the bag.

'What do you say, Josh?'

'Thank you,' he said through a mouthful of chocolate.

Happy that all the glass was off the floor, Kay dumped the daffodils in the bin and mopped up the water.

'He's so brave.' Marina sat down next to him and watched her mother at work. 'Did he eat his dinner, Mum?'

Kay thought of the food that Josh had hurled around the kitchen but decided it was easier to lie. 'He certainly did.' Josh looked up in surprise and she put her finger to her lips.

'You are such a good boy, Joshie, and I think you are Granny's pet.'

Pet Rottweiler, Kay thought, reaching for the kettle. 'Tea, Marina?'

Marina shook her head. 'I don't suppose you have any Evian water?'

Kay nodded towards the tap. 'There's plenty in there.'

'Oh, Mum!' Marina gave a tolerant laugh. 'Well, maybe a cup of weak tea then.'

'How's work?' Kay asked as she fetched two mugs.

'Not great but I'm modelling in the Penney's fashion show tomorrow night.'

Kay tensed. 'Tomorrow's my book club night.'

'Oh, that's okay, Katie is going to baby-sit.'

'Don't like Katie,' Josh piped up.

'Of course you do, darling. Katie's a lovely girl.'

Josh's bottom lip trembled. 'Don't like her.'

Kay rolled her eyes as her daughter gathered him into her arms.

'Don't cry, darling! You don't have to stay with Katie if you don't want to. But if you do, Mummy will bring you back a special present.'

Josh stopped crying. 'What?'

Marina hugged him. 'It will be a surprise. Okay?'

'Okay,' Josh said reluctantly, scrambled down off her lap and went into the other room to watch television.

Kay carried the tea to the table and sat down. 'Penney's fashion show, eh? I didn't think you'd be bothered modelling for them.' While Kay was only too happy to shop in the store, her daughter wouldn't be seen dead wearing chain-store clothes.

'Don't have a lot of choice these days, Mum,' Marina admitted. 'The offers aren't exactly rolling in.'

Kay frowned. 'But you're only thirty-five.'

'Thirty-four,' Marina corrected. After all, it was still two months to her birthday. 'But I'm surrounded by tall, skinny twenty-year-olds.'

'You're tall and skinny—'

'But not twenty. And I'm too young to model for the middle-aged fashion.' She sighed. 'Lord, I never thought I'd look forward to getting older!'

Though Marina was laughing about her situation, Kay could tell her daughter was worried. 'I wish I could afford to help out,' she fretted.

'Don't be silly, Mum, you're poorer than I am.'

Kay's smile was sad. It was true. Donald had never bothered with life assurance or savings, convinced he had plenty of time to make his fortune. Dropping dead at the tender age of fifty-eight had not figured in his plans. His estate agency had been sold to pay off all his bills and Kay had been lucky in the end to hold on to her house. 'Would you not take Josh out of that nursery, darling? I'm sure a childminder would be much cheaper.' She decided not to mention the music lessons, art lessons and now — God help us — the drama class.

Marina was staring at her as if she'd lost her mind. 'Of course not, Mum! That's the best nursery in Dublin and I wouldn't feel happy putting Joshie anywhere else.'

'But he's only four and think of the money you'd save.'

Marina shook her head. 'No, and anyway, since when was I ever able to save? A chip off the old block, that's me.'

Kay winced. It was true, Marina was exactly like her father, which was why she worried so much. Josh was always dressed in the best of clothes and Marina was forever buying him gifts.

'Don't worry, Mum,' Marina continued. 'I'm going to find myself a rich husband.'

'Oh, well get me one too.' Kay patted her hair. 'There's life in the old dog yet!'

Marina laughed. 'How about a father and son? We could double-date.'

Kay chuckled as she sipped her tea. 'Just ask to see their bankbooks first. Knowing our luck we'd end up paying for dinner!'

An hour later, Kay stood at the hall door and waved goodbye as Marina sped away. When she returned to the kitchen she groaned as she looked around. The place always looked like a bomb had hit it after a visit from Josh. She sighed as she thought of her errant grandson. What he needed was an occasional clip round the ear but, of course, Marina wouldn't hear of it. She didn't even see the need of it — Kay couldn't believe how blind her daughter was to Josh's naughtiness. He could do no wrong in her eyes. A pity Donald wasn't here, Kay thought as she fetched the Hoover. For all his faults, her husband had been good with kids and even though he'd adored his only daughter, he'd never spoilt her. And Kay could have forgiven him if he had. From the moment she'd been born, Marina had been as perfect as an angel with her golden curls, blue eyes and creamy skin. Kay didn't know where those amazing looks had come from. She and Donald had looked at each other in awe, wondering how they'd been blessed with such a beautiful child. As Marina got older, it became clear that she had the confidence to match her looks and a taste for the good things in life that led her into the world of modelling. At twenty she was earning more than her father ever had and her life was full of parties and functions. She holidayed three times a year in the best resorts and was seen on the arm of any number of actors and pop stars. Kay and Donald were proud and slightly amazed that they had produced such a successful daughter.

When Marina introduced her fiancé to her parents she was twenty-seven. Kay had thought it was time that her daughter settled down but had disliked Ray Prendergast from the moment she set eyes on him. But Marina was blinded by his model good looks and fell for all the smooth talking that had made her mother so suspicious. It was a stormy marriage from day one, but when Marina discovered she was pregnant, she was more determined than ever to make the marriage work. Through her pregnancy and the first few months of Josh's life, she tolerated Ray's drinking, womanising and allergy to work. As fast as she made money, he spent it, but after he'd lost another modelling job because of unreliability, Marina gave him his marching orders and instead of wasting time feeling sorry for herself, had thrown herself into rearing her beloved son.

Kay had been proud of her and was riddled with guilt that as he got older, her grandson irritated her beyond belief. She'd looked after him a lot when he was a baby but since he'd learned to walk and talk, Kay found herself making excuses whenever Marina asked for help. Thankfully, her daughter didn't seem to notice. Kay wondered if it was a maternal defence mechanism that made her daughter oblivious of her son's effect on others.

Kay knew she wasn't the only one who found Josh a handful. Celine had an edge in her voice when she was around the little boy and had turned white the day Josh had knocked Dermot's picture off the desk. Kay cringed at the memory. She'd visited Celine's home a number of times over the years but had never been in Dermot's study. The three women had been chatting over a coffee in the kitchen and hadn't noticed Josh slipping from the room. The crash from Dermot's study had Celine on her feet and heading for the door, Marina and Kay on her heels. Kay would never forget the sight of Celine on her hands and knees, picking up the pieces of the glass frame. As usual, Marina was more concerned with Josh, but Kay realised that her grandson had not only broken a treasured possession but had intruded on a shrine. She hustled her daughter and grandson out of the room to let Celine have a moment's privacy.