When Sorry Is Not Enough (8 page)

‘Victor. And it’s not rubbish. He has spent hours getting me to see my true value and how I am being taken a loan of.’

Rita, who had been listening behind the kitchen door and missing some of the important bits of the conversation, quietly opened the door and slunk into the far end of the saloon.

‘And who the hell is Victor and where did you meet him?’ Sally demanded as she grabbed Josie by the arm and birled her around so they were facing each other.

This action caused Josie to become aware that she was upsetting Sally so she backed away a little before croaking, ‘Victor Castello is the son of an Italian nobleman who has studied economics at university.’ This statement to Sally seemed to boost Josie’s confidence and she then added with a sneer, ‘And he, thankfully, was the one who answered my lonely hearts advert. And he has become my advocate and mentor. Oh yes, on my time off we nip into the Caledonian Hotel on Princes Street and sip cocktails. That’s when he counsels and advises me.’

The plaintive uttering of ‘Oh, my gawd’ that rang around the bar did not come from Sally but from Rita who had decided to rush over and close the outside doors. Sally’s reaction was to sink down on a chair before she began trying to tear her hair out.

‘So you see, Sally,’ Josie continued, unaware of Sally’s consternation, ‘I’m not like you waiting patiently for a few crumbs that might fall off the table. I know I am my own woman now and I’m grabbing all the chances life puts my way.’

Sally took her fingers out of her hair and started to shake her head before uttering, ‘Are you saying this Victor, who has just come into your life, is now your advocate and mentor?’ Josie nodded with an air of alluring disdain.

‘But, Josie,’ Sally went on contemptuously, ‘when I last saw you, a few days ago, you couldn’t even spell advocate or mentor … never mind know the meaning of such words.’

Josie bristled. ‘Funny you should try to bring me down like that. That’s exactly what Victor says you have done to me all of my life. But he’s now educating me to think for myself and to think big. So, Sally, get used to it because he will be coming in here from tonight to be my assistant manager.’

‘Oh. Naw. Naw. Naw,’ exclaimed Rita. ‘Somebody get the Leith polis quick … there’s gonnae be a murder.’

‘You’re wrong there, Rita. No a murder. Because she’s no worth doing time for. All that is going to happen is …’ Sally now moved over to the outside door which she forcibly flung open wide. With a cock of her head she then hollered, ‘Right, Josie. You’re out there on your arse. And I hope your advocate and mentor will be able to tell you what to do about that.’

‘You can’t do this to me!’ Josie protested.

Advancing towards Josie, Sally grabbed her by the shoulder and pushed her out into the street. ‘That right?’ Sally asked as Josie fell on to the pavement. ‘Well it seems I just have.’

The door had just banged shut when Rita asked, ‘Do you think you’ve done the right thing? Josie is so very good at running this bar for you.’

Sally’s head furiously bobbed up and down. ‘Maybe so,’ she agreed, ‘but I’m not having some money-grabbing gigolo turning her head. The one way for her to see sense is to have her go out and find a job that’ll keep her and Victor in the manner they seem to have become accustomed to … cocktails in the Caledonian Hotel at my expense.’

‘But, Sally, who’s going to run the Four Marys? Just remember that right now you’re so busy with your family problems and guest house that you have very little time left for the licence business these days – and – ’ Rita hesitated. She was apprehensive then she decided to throw caution to the wind and forcibly uttered, ‘Your two bars are where all the money that you need to keep everyone afloat is made.’

Josie had been standing on the pavement outside the Four Marys wondering what she should do when she discovered she had not lifted up her handbag. She had just decided to go back in and not only demand her handbag be returned to her but also her job when the door opened and her bag landed at her feet.

‘That’s it,’ she screamed at the banging door. ‘I was willing to give you the chance to say sorry but, Sally, you will have to come crawling now. I’m away to Victor and he and I will decide on what to do next.’

There are times in life when everything appears to go belly up and the more you try to keep them from getting worse the more they do. Sally had just decided that she would have to run the Four Marys herself until she could find a suitable, honest replacement for Josie when Margo, her first born and the most difficult child to deal with, slunk in. Without asking why Sally was serving behind the bar, Margo immediately announced that she was in a predicament and only Sally could get her out of it. In fact she had gone on to say that it was Sally’s duty as her mother to do just that.

‘And, Margo, just what is it I will be doing or being responsible for?’ Sally enquired when the lunch time buzz began to abate.

‘As you know, Mum, I am in my mid-thirties and I am childless.’

‘Surely that is a problem for you and your husband. Have you spoken to Johnny about it?’

‘Of course we have spoken about it. And before you ask, yes I have taken my temperature and sent for Johnny the minute it was at the right degree. And do you know that boss of his just laughed when I phoned last week and asked for Johnny to be sent home straight away. And as my Johnny ran across the showroom floor the chief mechanic not only opened the factory gate so he could dash through it …’ Margo was now weeping sorely but she continued on bravely, ‘… he also handed him a bottle of Mackeson’s Stout and said that everybody knew that there was a bonny baby in every bottle.’ Margo stopped to dry her eyes and catch her breath before her verbal tirade continued. ‘Honestly,’ she went on, ‘as if life wasn’t hard enough. And half of the times I summoned Johnny he came home so stressed and nervous he couldn’t even raise … well he couldn’t. And when he did manage to do what he required to do, I then had to endure the embarrassment of lying in bed with my legs in the air. And see the day when I forgot the window cleaners were due, my blood pressure leapt through the roof when his ladders banged against my bedroom window.’

The images of all that Margo had been relating to Sally were now floating before her eyes. Try as she might she could not repress her giggles.
Sally
, she thought to herself,
this is no laughing matter. It is obviously so distressing to Margo not to mention onerous for poor Johnny who spends all of his life trying to please dominating Margo.

‘Margo, my dear,’ she managed at last to splutter, ‘I accept all that you say but how can I help? Surely it’s a fertility expert you should consult.’

‘And haven’t I done just that? And his solution is for you to get involved.’

The laughter had now died in Sally’s throat. ‘Oh no, Margo,’ she stuttered, ‘I know some mothers have children for their bairns nowadays but I’m just about to say hello to the other side of fifty and I’m no longer … Surely you don’t think I’m fertile and could carry a child for you? No. No. No way …’

‘Mum, don’t be ridiculous. I know you’re over the hill. It’s not your body I need, it’s your wallet.’

‘My wallet! But how could that help?’

‘You know, Mum, you should try and broaden your horizons.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Just that you think the whole world, no universe, is within this pub.’

‘No I don’t. Have I not moved out to Portobello?’

‘Portobello! That’s the posh refugee camp for everyone who wants to emigrate from Leith.’

‘Oh,’ was all Sally commented as she began to wipe over the bar.

‘Anyway, what I’m saying is I don’t suppose you’ve heard of these exclusive clinics in Switzerland. These are places where people like Johnny and I are treated.’

Sally’s mouth gaped.

‘You see at the correct time of my monthly cycle Johnny and I would go to the clinic and stay for a whole week. It is situated up in the hills far, far away from pollution, noise and there is nothing but peace and a feeling of well-being and contentment to affect and surround you.’

Sally noted that Margo was now sitting quietly with her hands outstretched on her lap and it was as if she was already in residence at the clinic. Not really wishing to break into Margo’s spell but realising she had to get on, Sally whispered, ‘And how do they help you to get … well you know?’

Inhaling deeply Margo slowly began to respond. ‘My Johnny and I would be housed in luxurious accommodation, fed on food fit for the gods before being counselled, given hypnotherapy and taught deep relaxation techniques. All this positive intervention would then enable us to approach our sexual union from different emotional and more positive planes.’

Sally was dumfounded. Had Margo, she wondered, lost the plot? Nonetheless she managed to stammer, ‘Margo, believe me, I accept you are desperate and you must try any way you can to become pregnant but really again I ask what has it to do with me?’

‘Oh, Mum, don’t you realise that if ever I am to become a mother I will have to go down the Switzerland route. It’s the only chance left.’

‘So if you’ve made up your mind to do that – then just get on with it.’

‘I would but it costs a lot of money that I don’t have but you do. So as I know you are desperate to become a granny, it’s only right that you fund our treatment.’

A long silence followed that was only broken by the ticking of the clock.

Eventually Sally, who had been recalling the thrill that she’d felt when her three children were born and laid in her arms, asked, ‘How much does the Swiss treatment cost?’

‘There is a problem. It may be that we would have to have more than one session there for it to be successful.’ Margo halted before quietly pleading, ‘Mum, please understand I would just have to know that the additional funds for at least two extra treatments would be available.’

‘Margo, my head doesn’t button up the back so out with it – how much are you looking for?’

‘Well to finance three stays at the exclusive clinic it would only be … let’s say … four or five …’

‘Hundred!’ shrieked Sally.

‘Eh … Eh … No.’ Margo lowered her voice to a whisper before blurting, ‘Thousand,’ and then hurriedly adding, ‘but that would be it. I promise you … I wouldn’t come back for more.’

‘You sure as hell couldn’t because if I give you that then there is no more.’

Margo visibly relaxed. ‘Oh, Mum, are you saying you’ll agree to us leaving for Switzerland next week?’

Sally hesitated. She was wondering if she was being foolhardy. But then was it not every woman’s right to have the joy of being a mother? Thinking back to all the happiness she had known through her children she conceded that money, although important if you were hungry, was only money – and parents had a duty to smooth their children’s paths when necessary. Eventually she slowly nodded. ‘But, Margo,’ she cautioned, ‘five thousand is a lot of money so it will have to come out of what I would be leaving you when I depart this life.’

Margo began to cry. ‘Thank you, Mum,’ she sobbed. ‘I knew you wouldn’t let me down and if there is ever anything I can do for you … just ask.’

‘Well,’ simpered Sally, ‘there is something.’ Alarm sprung into Margo’s eyes but Sally continued, ‘Tomorrow night, could you come down here and run the bar?’

‘Why?’

‘Because it is something I would like you to do and you said I only had to ask.’

‘I know I said that, Mum. But where is Josie and if she’s not available tomorrow how about yourself?’

‘Josie, my dear deluded sister, will be up at the Caledonian Hotel sipping Manhattans whilst she tells the new love in her life that I have just sacked her.’

‘Sacked her!’ exclaimed Margo. ‘But you need her … so was that not a bit stupid?’

‘No. You see she met this man through a lonely hearts column and he started to fill her head with nonsense. Even was going to have himself coming in here and running my bar.’

Margo began to chuckle. ‘You’re joking?’

‘No I’m not. And I’ve been invited to Bobby’s for a meal tomorrow night and I have to go because …’ Sally screwed up her face and grimaced, ‘… I have to eat humble pie and beg Lois to get a problem of Flora and Shonag’s sorted out.’

‘Oh,’ said Margo, who had now become quite animated with curiosity. ‘Do tell. The mind boggles. I mean why would two old biddies like them require a solicitor?’

‘Because your Uncle William and your father have got themselves further into the mire.’

‘Yes, I know about Dad. I tried biting his ear for the Swiss treatment before I came to you.’

Sally’s facial expression changed and she struggled not to let Margo see how much she had been hurt. Yes, yet again Margo was telling her that she preferred her father, undependable Harry, to herself. Sally knew she should withdraw the financial support she had just promised Margo but she knew she wouldn’t do that. After all, Margo was her first born and no matter what the callous little bitch dished up, Sally was incapable of cutting her out of her life. Sally allowed an involuntary chuckle to escape her as she thought,
Then there is poor Johnny, Margo’s husband. So if she needed an excuse for allowing Margo to trample all over her again then it was him. After all, the poor soul must be exhausted rushing for home every time the thermometer told Margo her egg was on the boil and a week getting pampered and hypnotised before having to perform would probably be just what he needed.

‘Here, take these spare keys with you as that will save me dropping them off at your house later on,’ Sally said, picking up the keys and handing them to Margo. ‘And there is no use saying you can’t oblige me because if you can’t then I can’t come up with the money you are asking for.’

Josie wasn’t quite sure what to do when she found herself thrown out of the Four Marys. She was experiencing feelings of doubt. Unconsciously she thought back to the discussions she and Victor had had about their future together. He had been unsure as to whether the Four Marys was a big enough organisation to give them the rewards they were both seeking. He had suggested that before they did anything he would come and work in the Four Marys to see if there was any way that his business expertise could see a way to extend or even change the business. Thinking how clever and confident Victor was made Josie smile. He had then gone on to say that his restaurant in the heart of the New Town just off Queensferry Street could be left in the capable hands of his Uncle Fredo whom he had personally trained. After all, if Uncle couldn’t manage, Victor could always jump in and save the day. Victor had also said that if he couldn’t work a miracle with the Four Marys then they would just accept that and cut their losses. The two of them would then go up town, where Josie really belonged, and run the William Street restaurant. Josie bristled. She just couldn’t believe her luck. Here she was at the age of forty-five about to become the wife of the owner of the famous bar and restaurant Alfredo’s. Sighing with satisfaction, Josie nearly tripped over the pavement when she began to chase the bus that would take her to Edinburgh’s West End.