The People Next Door (26 page)

‘Jesus.’ Dan was horrified. ‘You never told anyone?’

‘No. I was afraid, and embarrassed. I’d left the group, gone off by myself. We were in a museum. I figured it was my own fault.’ She turned back to the fire. ‘So anyway, I can’t seem to bring myself to … go there again.’

‘To … ?’

‘Sleep with someone, have sex – whatever you want to call it.’ She chewed her lip. ‘I suppose I’m afraid – I don’t know. It’s all mixed up with what he did.’

Dan said, ‘Listen, that’s OK. You don’t have to—’

‘But I do want to.’ She turned back to him and watched his mouth. ‘That’s why I’m telling you … I really want to, with you.’ She gave him a shaky smile. ‘That’s if you still want … I mean, after what I’ve just told you, I wouldn’t blame—’

‘Ssh.’ He stroked her hair. So silky. ‘Of course I do. I’d be mad not to. But only when you’re sure you’re ready. You’ll be safe with me, you know that.’

She squeezed his hand. ‘I know.’

Sometimes, usually in the middle of the night, when the arguments were circling in his head, Dan
told himself this thing between them was doomed. Clara deserved someone better, especially after what she’d been through. She deserved a man who could devote himself to her wholeheartedly, not someone still tied to a failed marriage.

He’d finish it next time he saw her – he was being selfish, he wasn’t being fair to her. But then he’d think of her with someone else, imagine some other man undoing the damage that had been done to her, and his noble intentions would shrivel.

Douglas announced, on their second last evening, that the tradition was to go for drinks after the last class. ‘I’ll buy the first round,’ he promised, ‘as long as you’re not all on double brandies – and on condition that you lot keep my glass filled for the rest of the night.’

‘Do you want to go?’ Dan asked Clara in the car on the way home. Her hand rested loosely on his thigh, just above his knee. Underneath it, through the denim of his jeans, his skin flamed.

‘Why not? It might be a laugh.’ After a second, she added, ‘And it doesn’t really matter if the cookery people suspect we’re a little more than friends, does it?’

‘No, I suppose not.’ They’d probably never meet any of them again – and he liked the idea of other people seeing them together, treating them as a couple. ‘Let’s make it clear we’re a little more than friends.’

Clara laughed. ‘Give them something to talk about.’ She squeezed his thigh gently.

He’d mentioned to Kieran, casually, that the girl next door was doing the cookery classes too.

‘The little blonde one?’

‘Yeah. I give her a lift home sometimes, when it’s raining.’

He’d have liked to tell Kieran. He liked the idea of saying it out loud. ‘Clara and I are …’ What were they, though? Seeing each other? He always thought that expression was a bit silly. In a relationship? Going out? Dating? Together?

Together – that was good. ‘Clara and I are together.’ He said it out loud in his bedroom with nobody to hear him. He watched her hanging clothes on the line in next door’s garden – a lemon top, a pair of green tights, two navy towels, a blue and yellow cardigan. He saw her bending to ruffle the dog’s hair on her way back to the house, swinging the empty laundry basket. He waved, but she didn’t look up.

He wished he knew how it was all going to work out.

Yvonne knocked on Pawel’s door. His last patient had left a few minutes before.

‘Come in.’

He was standing at the table in the corner, a green file open in front of him.

‘Sorry to disturb you.’

‘Not at all.’ He screwed the cap onto his fountain pen. ‘What is it?’

They were fine again, back to how they’d been before the dinner. Receptionist and dentist, nothing more. He probably never even thought about it now. She wondered sometimes if he’d met anyone else, or if their experience had scared him off the website. Hopefully not.

‘I just wanted to let you know that I’ve recently become engaged. I’ll be getting married next summer.’

‘Ah.’ He looked surprised, as she’d known he would. How could she be getting engaged when she’d been out meeting men from the internet so recently?

‘It’s someone I’ve known for a long time.’ She felt he deserved an explanation. ‘We’ve been friends for years.’

‘I see.’ He put out his hand. ‘I should congratulate you. I hope you’ll be very happy.’

‘Thank you.’ His hand was cool, his grip loose. The last time they’d shaken hands they’d been saying goodnight outside the restaurant, just before she’d scuttled home, mortified.

‘And …’ She paused. ‘Pawel, I’m afraid I’ll have to give up this job.’

‘Ah,’ he said. ‘I see.’

‘I’ll be moving to Dublin after the wedding. My, er, fiancé’ – how strange that still sounded – ‘works there.’

They were going to find a place to rent in Dublin, stay there until Greg took early retirement in about ten years. Then they planned to move back to Belford, to number seven Miller’s Avenue.

And Yvonne had assumed that Clara would continue to live in the red-brick house, until the subject had come up between them a few nights before.

‘Mmm, we’ll see, summer’s a long way off. Anyway, no big deal if I’m not here, you can always rent out the house, make a bit of money on it.’

Yvonne had stared at her. ‘If you’re not here? Are you going somewhere?’

Clara shrugged. ‘Well, not right away. I mean, not that I know of right now. I’m just saying, summer’s ages away, anything could happen.’ Then she smiled. ‘Who knows? I could fall madly in love and be whisked off.’

Yvonne studied her. This was the perfect opportunity, wasn’t it, to ask, ‘So, have you anyone in mind?’ But she knew from experience that Clara
would laugh it off, so she held her tongue. When Greg phoned the following day, Yvonne told him what Clara had said.

He didn’t sound surprised. ‘She’s being practical – she’s bound to meet someone sooner or later. It wouldn’t be a problem, would it, letting the house?’

‘Well, I suppose not, but—’

Handing over her house to people she didn’t know? Giving the keys to strangers, watching them bring their things in, letting them use her dishes, sleep in her beds …

She said nothing. What could she say?

She told Dolores she was getting married. Amazingly, Dolores didn’t seem all that pleased. ‘Well! You’re a dark horse. When did this happen?’

‘He asked me a few weeks ago and I had to think about it for a while.’

‘Were you not sure or something?’ Dolores stared at her.

‘Well, it’s a big decision.’ It was almost as if Dolores was annoyed with her. ‘I thought you’d be happy I was getting married. You were always asking me if I’d met anyone nice.’

‘I know. I am happy for you – congratulations.’ Dolores didn’t look happy. Her rhubarb and custard yoghurt sat untouched in its white plastic tub. ‘So when’s the big day?’ Very strange.

The other evening, for a laugh, Yvonne had logged on to the internet dating site. Her membership had lapsed so now, as a basic member, she still
had access to her inbox but couldn’t exchange contact details with anyone who sent her a message.

There were twelve, all from unfamiliar names. As she was deleting them, unread, one by one, she heard the faint sound of a violin outside. Wasn’t he cold, out in this weather? She crossed to the window and peered out, but the shadow at the bottom of Dan’s garden could have been anything or anyone. She leaned against the window for a minute, listening.

She hoped he was well wrapped up. At least his head would be warm, in that hat.

‘She’s been a bit weaker in the last while, and her sight’s failing – the specialist said that would probably happen. We’ll have to see about getting her stronger glasses. She’s very down all the time too.’

‘Poor thing.’ Yvonne unplugged the kettle. ‘I wonder if it would have been better not to tell her – I mean, do you think that psychologically it makes someone give up if they know they’re dying?’

Kathryn thought. ‘Well, I think I’d rather know, if it was me. But maybe it would be better if I didn’t. We’re very lucky to have found Marzena, she’s so patient with Grainne. And she probably doesn’t understand half of what Grainne says to her, which is no harm.’

‘Mmm.’ Yvonne poured water into their cups. ‘I don’t know how you can drink that stuff.’

Kathryn smiled. ‘Well, for some strange reason, I’ve totally lost my taste for coffee.’

‘Have you? The only time that happened to me was—’ Yvonne stopped abruptly.

Kathryn watched her face, still smiling.

Yvonne’s mouth dropped open. ‘Oh my God – you’re pregnant.’

Kathryn’s beam widened. ‘I’m due in May.’

Yvonne flew around the table and hugged her. ‘Oh, that’s fantastic – that’s just great. I’m so pleased for you.’

‘Thanks.’ Kathryn stirred her peppermint tea. ‘That was my tummy bug, remember?’

Yvonne stared at her. ‘What? The time you went to see Gerry Lynch?’

‘Yes.’

‘But that was weeks ago – you met me right after you came out of his surgery and said nothing, you rat.’

Kathryn laughed. ‘I know, sorry – it was too early. I was scared.’

‘Of course you were.’ Yvonne paused. ‘So you’re over the three months?’

‘Almost fourteen weeks. I didn’t even tell Justin till last week.’

‘He must be over the moon.’

‘Delighted.’’

‘And how did Grainne take the news?’

Kathryn hesitated. ‘We haven’t told her yet. We thought we’d wait another while.’ She lifted her cup. ‘Now, enough about me – tell me how everyone took your news.’

‘Well, my parents are delighted – they’ve always liked Greg.’

And Peggy?’

‘Would you believe she phoned, about a week after I’d told Jim. Very civilised and polite, wished me all the best.
Jim was probably standing behind her holding a gun to her head.’

‘Oh dear.’ Kathryn smiled. ‘Shame herself and Grainne never met. They’d probably have got on like a house on fire.’

The door opened and Clara appeared. She wore her pale pink dressing gown and her hair was wrapped in a blue towel. ‘Hi, Kathryn. What’s so funny, you two?’

‘Oh, nothing.’ Yvonne got up and plugged in the kettle. ‘Just a bit of nonsense. Want coffee?’

‘No, thanks.’ Clara opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water. ‘How’re you keeping, Kathryn?’

‘I’m fine.’ She watched Clara’s face. ‘Actually, I’m pregnant.’ She’d never get tired of saying it.

‘Wow, that’s great – congratulations.’ Clara twisted off the lid. ‘Must be catching – so’s Dan’s wife.’

They stared at her.

Kathryn said, ‘Is she?’

Yvonne said, at the same time, ‘How d’you know that?’

‘He told me. She’s due sometime in January, I think.’ After a second, she added, And it’s Dan’s.’

‘What?’ Yvonne’s jaw dropped further. ‘Dan told you all this?’

Clara smiled. ‘Well, I certainly didn’t make it up.’

And due in January … when did she leave him?’

Kathryn thought. Around April, wasn’t it, or May?’

‘So she must have got pregnant right before that.’

‘Yeah, probably.’ Clara turned towards the door. ‘Well, I’d better go and finish getting ready. See you, Kathryn.’

They listened to her light footsteps on the stairs.

Yvonne looked at Kathryn. ‘What about that?’

‘I know – can you believe it? What a mess. Wonder what’ll happen now.’

They were silent for a minute. Then Kathryn said, ‘Where’s Clara off to anyway?’

‘She’s going to the last cookery class tonight. They’re making pancakes and having a bit of a party, then going out for a drink. She got off work an hour early so she could come home and get ready.’

Kathryn smiled. ‘Sounds to me like there’s someone she wants to impress.’

‘Actually, I was wondering that myself. I was going to ask Dan to fill me in since he goes to the classes too, but maybe I should leave him alone – sounds like he has his hands full.’

‘Mmm – he’s got more to worry about than Clara’s latest romance.’

And the possibility never crossed their minds, not even for an instant, that Dan might have anything to do with it.

Clara stroked on eyeliner with a steady hand. She wore new underwear, a pale green bra and matching girl boxers, both edged with cream lace.

She sprayed perfume on her wrists, between her breasts, behind her ears. She began to dress – a rusty
orange top he’d admired on her before, her favourite grey hipster jeans. As she did up the buttons on the fly, she thought about opening them again later. Maybe he’d open them. Her heart thumped steadily in her chest. Her stomach flipped every time she summoned his face into her head.

She imagined them in bed together. In Dan’s bed, next door, tonight. The thought made her dizzy with longing and fear.

It was going to happen. ‘Whenever you feel ready, let me know,’ he’d said, and tonight she was ready. Oh, she was afraid – she was more than afraid, she was terrified. But Dan would look after her. She trusted him completely.

You’ll be safe with me.

She’d wait till they were on the way home from the pub, when they were both relaxed and happy. She’d tell him it was time, she was ready. He’d bring her home and take her upstairs and—

She shivered, hugging herself. She checked her handbag – clean knickers, perfume, money, lipstick, toothbrush, and the packet of condoms she’d thrown casually into her shopping basket earlier in the week, like normal people did.

She left the room, closed the door and walked downstairs, full of anxious hope.

Kathryn gave Grainne a bath once a week. She filled it with water and shook in a handful of the mineral salts her mother-in-law liked. She undressed Grainne, helped her over the edge and held onto her while Grainne lowered herself slowly into the lightly scented, steaming (but not too hot) water.

She washed Grainne’s hair – just one shampoo. She was careful not to let any of the lather trickle into Grainne’s eyes. She poured shower gel onto a soft sponge and massaged it onto Grainne’s body in gentle circles.