The Heartbreak Cafe (10 page)

‘
Well then stop yapping about it and tell me how you’re getting
on? Is it brilliant? How was Kuala Lumpur? Where are you headed
next? And how’s Tony?’

The
questions came thick and fast as Nina realised how much she truly
missed her mum and how she wished she could be here beside her.
She’d like nothing better than to be able to discuss all this with
her, discuss the pregnancy and what she should do about it. But
there was no way she would ruin her mother’s trip of a lifetime by
revealing any of it.

‘
He’s great, everything’s great, but more to the point, how are
you? Has Steve been in touch, or have you guys already kissed and
made up?’

Nina
smiled sadly. There wasn’t a hope in hell of that
happening.

‘
No, Mum, it’s really finished. But I’m fine about it so try
not to worry.’

‘
Seriously? Honey tell me the truth, and don’t think you have
to spare my feelings just ‘cos I’m here. You know I’d come home in
a second if you needed me and –’

‘
Mum, don’t be silly,’ Nina interjected, forcing a laugh that
she hoped sounded genuine. ‘I’m a big girl now and I’m
fine.’

‘
But what about work? It must be tough having to face one
another every day.’

She
didn’t have the courage to confess to her mother that she’d left
both the job and Galway, or reveal her current living
circumstances, as Cathy would know immediately that her daughter
wouldn’t have gone within a hair’s breath of Lakeview unless she
was forced to. And she didn’t want to tell her mother she was
staying with Patrick unless it was absolutely necessary; Cathy
would almost certainly be on the next flight back. ‘No, it’s fine,
I’ve already organized something else,’ she said evasively. Please
don’t ask for details, she prayed silently.

‘
Really? That’s great – at least I think it is, although I
suppose that means that things really are over with you two
then.’

‘
Yes, but listen, stop wasting your call credit on me; tell me
all about what you two have been up to.’

‘
Well…’ And as Nina listened to her mother recount tales of
jungle treks and Asian scenery, she was relieved that Cathy seemed
content with her explanation and hadn’t tried to press her about
her circumstances.

Maybe it
was silly not to tell her – not least about being in Lakeview but
about …everything, but Nina truly believed that she was doing the
right thing. She owed that much at least to Cathy, who had
sacrificed everything for her growing up. Anyway she’d know about
it in good time she mused, as mother and daughter said their
goodbyes; everyone would know about it in good time. As it was, her
pregnancy was still her little secret and no one (other than the
doctor of course) knew about it.

Her
stomach twisted at the thought of her ex. Despite being madly in
love, she never really knew him at all, did she? She’d been so sure
they would get married one day, live happily ever after and have a
lovely little family. And although becoming pregnant was an
accident, Nina hadn’t been too upset about it initially; she
figured it would just speed up the natural course of things
somewhat. However, she couldn’t have known, could never have
anticipated that their relationship was based entirely on lies.
Should she have known? No, she thought, shaking her head; it wasn’t
her fault that she’d trusted him, and wasn’t her character flaw,
but his.

She
banished Steve from her brain then; she didn’t want to think about
him, or his lies.

She lay
back down on the bed and absently patted her stomach. She really
was a million miles away from the state of maternal bliss most
soon-to-be-mums tended to experience, she thought sadly. Still,
despite its parents’ mistakes, this was a brand new life and she
would never dream of having an abortion. Even in the aftermath of
their break-up, she’d never considered such a thing for even one
second. No, there were definitely other options available; all Nina
had to do was find one that suited everyone best. That’s why she
was here, in Lakeview after all, to help clear her head, gather her
thoughts and figure out her life.

Reluctantly, she pushed herself up off the bed. Gosh she was
tired! She could easily go back to sleep for a couple more hours
without a problem, but of course Patrick had again knocked on her
door at seven a.m. Frustrating, considering he then proceeded to
hog the only bathroom, leaving her to twiddle her thumbs while she
waited for it to be free.

Finally,
she heard the bathroom door open and her father make his way
downstairs. She was just about to head for the door, when suddenly
she broke into a cold sweat, followed by an immediate wave of
nausea. Propelling herself out of the room, she barely made it to
the bathroom in time before emptying her stomach of last night’s
dinner.

Nina held
on to the side of the bowl as another wave came and she gagged
pitifully, tears forming at the corner of her eyes from the strain.
Then suddenly, her face flushed, not just from the strain, but
embarrassment. In her rush, she hadn’t closed the bathroom door,
and now Patrick was standing in the doorway observing
her.

‘
Um, I was just going to ask if you wanted an egg this morning.
There are only two left.’

Nina
gritted her teeth, as the mere mention of food was enough to send
her off again.

‘
No, you carry on and have them yourself,’ she said, knowing
that he usually had two fried eggs himself, and she didn’t want to
leave him short.

‘
Grand. Um, bit of a stomach ache?’ he asked awkwardly, and
despite herself Nina smiled. He’d just witnessed something akin to
The Exorcist and all he could say was ‘bit of a stomach
ache?’

‘
Apparently,’ she said, standing up and wiping her mouth.
Stomach ache, no – morning sickness, yes, she thought to herself.
Such a thing however, would hardly dawn on Patrick, so she didn’t
have to worry. ‘I must have eaten something funny last
night.’

‘
Right,’ Patrick said, still standing there, looking at her.
Nina couldn’t believe it. Why couldn’t he just go away, or at least
offer to help in some way?

‘
Is there any chance you could maybe get me a glass of water?’
she urged and Patrick duly headed downstairs. Moments later he
returned with the water and she noticed that at least he’d had the
courtesy to put ice in it.

Handing
her the glass, Patrick looked awkwardly around the bathroom.
‘Anything else?’ he asked stiltedly.

Nina
shook her head, and happy to be released from his duties, Patrick
complied.

She
washed her hands, cursing herself for leaving the door open. Her
father wasn’t stupid and if this happened again he was liable to
get suspicious, so she’d have to make sure to do it more quietly or
get of the house in the morning. Both ideas troubled her; she hated
having to sneak around, wished she had her own space and didn’t
have to worry about someone suspecting something.

But for
the moment, she had little other choice.

Having
composed herself, Nina once again refused Patrick’s offer of
breakfast and went outside for some fresh air. She was still a
little peaky so the short walk down town should help
somewhat.

But some
twenty minutes later, she felt more stirrings, this time not of
nausea but of hunger, and once again she headed for Ella’s
café.

The cosy
little room was so much more welcoming than Patrick’s, plus it had
the added bonus of providing her with some normal
conversation.

When she
walked in this morning, Trish was already at the counter, pouring
over a section of newspaper. Her friend had the same fashionably
messy ponytail in place and appeared to be deep in
thought.

‘
Hiya Trish,’ Nina said, pleased to see her. She took a seat on
a stool close by.

‘
Oh hey Nina,’ Looking up from the paper, Trish smiled and
removed the pen she’d been chewing on from her mouth.

‘
Am I interrupting something?’

‘
Oh no, just flicking through the gossip pages. I know its
complete rubbish, but I can’t help myself.’

Nina
smiled. It was funny the way people always had to defend their
interest in celeb gossip, especially when it was often the first
section they went to.

‘
Anything interesting?’

Trish
looked up. ‘Well now that you ask…’ she purred mischievously. She
pushed forward the page, upon which was emblazoned a half-page
photograph of a decidedly frazzled-looking Ruth Seymour. ‘Look at
this awful picture of our old friend arriving at Dublin airport in
the early hours of this morning.’

‘
No…’ Despite herself, Nina was captivated. Trish was right; it
was a dreadful picture. Ruth was pushing through photographers, her
sunglasses dangled halfway off her head and strands of her blonde
hair were caught in her mouth. The by and large beautifully groomed
actress looked almost haggard, and the shot was so close-up, dark
circles around her eyes were clearly visible.

‘
So much for our leading lady,’ Trish groaned as if
disappointed. ‘Bag lady is a more accurate description, if you ask
me.’

Coffee
pot in hand, Ella leaned over the counter for a better look. ‘Ah
Trish, be fair,’ she said. ‘The girl just got off an overnight
flight. I’m sure you wouldn’t look so hot.’ Smiling at Nina, she
reached beneath the counter and put a fresh cup of coffee in front
of her, joined soon after by a slice of toasted, thickly buttered
soda bread – exactly what Nina needed to settle her
stomach.

‘
I don’t think that it’s that simple,’ Trish grimaced, pointing
to the accompanying story which suggested that Ruth had spent much
of the Aer Lingus flight green – not through patriotism, but from
her drunken romp the night before. Accounts from people who were
supposedly ‘in the know’ in Hollywood outlined the fact that a very
intoxicated Ruth and Troy Valentine had practically had sex in
public at the Beverly Hills Hotel, before taking their liaison to
Chateau Marmont, where the noise they made kept up other hotel
patrons for the better part of the night. A second picture
accompanied the story; a grainy shot of a couple in the throes of
passion in what looked to be a hotel lobby. ‘Apparently our Ruth is
quite the screamer.’

Ella
tsked, ‘Stop that Trish, it’s probably all rubbish anyway. Besides,
keep your voice down, some of her relations are sitting over
there.’

Trish
giggled guiltily. ‘Anyway, she’s supposedly been holed up at the
Four Seasons since this morning, afraid to show her face, I’d say.
She’s doing the Late show tonight and then she and the family are
heading back here tomorrow. You still on for the party tomorrow
night?’ she asked Nina.

‘
Oh yes, looking forward to it.’

‘
Good, it’ll be fun to have a girl’s night out again. Unless of
course your fella’s around, if which case he’s welcome to come
too.’

‘
Oh, I’m not seeing anyone at the moment,’ Nina replied
uncomfortably.

‘
Really? Sorry, aren’t you still with that guy, what was his
name? Steve, wasn’t it?’

Nina had
forgotten that Trish had met Steve briefly that time she’d met up
with her in Galway.

‘
No, that ended a while back.’

‘
Oh. OK.’ Luckily Trish wasn’t too interested in the specifics.
‘Great, well that means it’s just you and me then.’

‘
No one on the scene for you either then?’

Trish’s
eyes twinkled. ‘Well, actually there is, but he won’t be around
tomorrow night. He has something else on.’

‘
That’s great Trish. I can’t wait to meet him.’

‘
I’m sure you will, if you’re around long enough. How long are
you going to be here for anyway?’

‘
Not sure yet, just for a while, we’ll see.’

‘
Is your dad OK? You’re not here because he’s sick or
anything?’

‘
No, he’s fine, completely healthy,’ she said. Despite his
heart-attack breakfasts, Nina thought wryly.

Trish was
silent; she obviously wanted some kind of explanation, so Nina gave
her one. ‘It’s just because … well with living so far away and all,
it’s important to spend time with your parents, isn’t
it?’

Trish
nodded and while Nina wasn’t sure how good a cover story it was, it
would have to do. Thankfully at that moment her friend was
distracted by two women entering the café. One was carrying a young
baby and the other was holding two small boys by the hand. Noticing
their entry, Trish turned back to the newspaper.

‘
Friends of yours?’ Nina asked, noticing her sudden change of
mood. The women had taken a table at the further end of the room,
one that had enough space around it to accommodate them and all
their paraphernalia. Each had a baby changing bag, and oversized
handbag as well as some kind of sack containing lots of toys.
Another was carrying a type of chair contraption that she was now
trying to attach to a baby seat. It seemed an awful lot of gear to
be carrying just to go out for coffee. Hmm, Nina thought, figuring
all that stuff was likely expensive too; she had a lot to
learn.