All Because of You (Lakeview #2) (30 page)

“Sometime next year – after the next election anyway.”

Tara smiled. “Of
course
.”

Dave picked up his newly poured pint. “Well, I better head away now and let the two of you get back to your night out. It was nice seeing you, Tara – and you too, Liz.”

“Good seeing you too.”

When Dave was out of sight, Liz raised an amused eyebrow. “He’s right,” she said, eyes widening, “I think you did miss
the boat where he’s concerned. He’s
very
cute.”

“Not my type,” Tara said, “but unfortunately it took him a very long time to get the message. Even up to a couple of years ago he was still trying it on, and as a result Glenn can’t stand him.”

“I can imagine.”

Tara grinned. “I suppose I could view it as some form of weird victory that I’m about the only girl in the town he ha
sn’t ‘conquered’ over the years. I think he even fancied his chances with Emma at one stage,” she added, recalling her sister’s recent disparaging remarks about Dave. “Anyway he’s engaged now, so the women of Lakeview are finally safe – or sorry, depending on who you ask,” she added wryly.

Soon after, they decamped to the Steakhouse where for close to two hours they enjoyed a thoroughly satisfying girly chat over steaks the size of Texas.

“This was a brilliant idea, Tara,” Liz said, taking another sip from her wineglass. “I didn’t realise how much I missed this kind of thing. I suppose I took it all for granted before I had Toby. Not that I’d change things for the world,” she added quickly, “but sometimes it’s nice to just be me again, not just somebody’s mum.”

“I know. You and Eric should try and do it more often too. I know it’s hard, what with him working all hours and that, but you two spending time together as a couple is important too.”

Liz’s looked wistful. “You know, I can barely remember what it was like before we had Toby. How easy it was just to go out to dinner or the pub on the spur of the moment. Now, it’s such a military operation that you think it’s hardly worth it.”

“It’s always worth it.”

“You’re right. Eric and I should do more things like this. But he’s been so wrapped up in work, and I’ve been so wrapped up in the dogs and Toby, that we can’t raise the energy at weekends. Not to mention raise any baby-sitters – other than yourself of course,” she added with a smile. “Maeve is no help and …” Letting the rest of her sentence trail off, Liz suddenly set down her wineglass. “Do you know something?” she said, and Tara could hear her voice slur a little from the effects of the wine, which she had of course been drinking on her own. 

“What?”

“I’ve been acting like such an idiot lately whinging about Eric and thinking that he would cheat on me. If I really thought about it properly, instead of just jumping to conclusions, then I’d realise that he would
never
do something like that to me. For goodness sake, it’s not all that long since we had Toby.”

Tara wished with all her heart that her friend were right. 

“I have to stop feeling sorry for myself like this,” Liz went on, after taking another sip from her wineglass. “I have to stop worrying about things, and try and be more confident about things – like you. I think I might just talk to Eric about it when we get home and – ”

“Liz, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea – not tonight anyway. Why not wait until both of you are sober, and you have your wits about you?” Tara was mindful of the fact that Eric could very well come right out and admit that he had been having an affair. And that would be a complete disaster. 

“I suppose, but I really want to clear the air, and find out what’s
really
bothering him, instead of making up all these stupid scenarios in my head.”

“Seriously, I would wait until tomorrow, at least,” Tara persisted. “For when you’re fully sober.”

“Maybe you’re right. But Tara, I have to get it out of my head. It’s been driving me mad lately. I’m so miserable, and emotional and …” Tears sprang to her eyes. “I thought this move would be a good thing for us. I thought that getting out of Dublin and having a quiet life down the country would be brilliant. But it’s not. And I don’t know whether the problem lies with me, or with Eric or with both of us.”

“Well, I’m sure you two will get to the bottom of it but there’s definitely no point in trying to solve anything tonight. And speaking of getting to the bottom, lo
ok at all the wine you’ve drunk,” Tara said jokingly.

“You’re right – who knows what kin
d of rubbish I’d start spouting,” Liz replied, picking up the bottle and looking surprised at the amount of wine she’d taken.

“Here, have some of this,” Tara said, pouring a glass of water for her. “We’ve still got a few hours of this night left, and I don’t want yo
u wimping out on me before time.”

“Thanks, Tara, you’re a pal,” Liz grinned and took a huge gulp of the water. “But if anything, I’m glad I got that off my chest. Now that I did I can’t believe how pathetic it sounds. Eric having an affair – imagine!” Liz gave an amused roll of her eyes and tucked into the remainder of her dessert.

After dinner, the girls moved on to Clancy’s Hotel for one more drink before returning home.

Liz felt on top of the world. It was as though a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders when she’d finally realised how stupid and paranoid she was being.

But Tara was right. There was no point in talking to Eric about it, especially not tonight and maybe not at all. Instead, she’d just try and get back to her normal self and try not to read something into his every move or utterance.

What had made her distrust him so much in the first place? A few nights out and a text? Big deal – that could happen to anyone. No, she’d talk to Eric about maybe downscaling their plans for the renovations, which would hopefully allow him to work less, and stay home more. 

And she might bite the bullet and go to some group or club in order to meet some more people from the community – or network, as Tara might say. And if she ended up getting some more business from the locals, then the kennels might bring in the extra cash they needed. 

Fully determined to put her worries behind her and her marriage back on track, Liz followed Tara into
the hotel bar.. It had already been a highly enjoyable night, and she was delighted Tara had made her agree to it. 

“A white wine spritzer and a Coke, please,” Tara told the barman.

While they were waiting for their drinks to be served, Liz looked up and spied a familiar face sitting alone at the opposite end of the bar.

“There’s Luke,” she cried excitedly to Tara. “And look, he must be here on his own.  Let’s go over and say hello.”

“Ah no, Liz, let’s leave it.”

“Why?” Liz gave her a strange look. It wasn’t like Tara to be unsociable. 

“It’s … well, maybe he wants to be on his own.” Tara paid the barman and picked up their drinks.

“I doubt it. He’s only new in town, so he probably doesn’t know anyone. I’m going over to say hi, anyway. He’s my next-door neighbour, and I don’t want to be rude.”

“Oh, all right then.” Tara picked up her drink and grudgingly followed her over.

As the girls approached, Luke looked up and spotted them.

“Well, hello there,” he said, his rugged, friendly face lighting up at the sight of them.

“Mind if we join you?” Liz asked and, strangely, she sensed Tara stiffen alongside her. What was the matter with her? It wasn’t as though Luke was a stranger – in fact she probab
ly knew him better than Liz did.

“I’d be delighted,” he said, nodding a greeting at Tara who did the same back. “Pull up a stool.”

“So how come you’re back in Lakeview?” Liz asked, settling herself alongside him. He was a lovely guy and, seeing as he would be her next-door neighbour, she was determined to help him settle in. “I thought you wouldn’t be starting the move until after Christmas.”

“Well, our last stint on the rig went better than we thought, and we hit our quota, so I thought I might as well make a start. There was no point in paying the mortgage on the cottage and rent on my old flat.”

“I wish you’d have told me. I could have turned the heat on, or opened the windows, or at least bought in some groceries – something to take the bare feel out of the place.”

As Tara had so far said nothing but a brief hello, Liz attempted to try and draw her into the conversation. “Although, I hear Tara gave you a bite to eat last time – you two got to know each other, didn’t you?” 

“We did,” Luke replied, smiling at Tara. “She makes great a fry-up. And she’s pretty handy when it comes to pest control too.”

“Pest control?” Liz was lost. 

“I thought I’d better bring  the subject up first, just in case you decided to out me in public,” he said, eyeing Tara who smiled mischievously.

“Pity, I was thinking of saving it for ammunition,” Tara replied. “Just in case you decided to sue me and Bruno for pooping in your
lovely
garden.”

“I told you – it took me ages to get it just like that.”

“What?” Liz looked at Tara. What were they talking about? “What did Bruno do?”

“She might be good with mice, but she’s not so good with dogs,” Luke told Liz. “Or am I allowed to say that?” he added, winking at Tara.

“I mightn’t be so good at handling big strong animals, but at least I don’t start screaming like a baby at the sight of one the size of my thumb.”

“I didn’t scream, I shouted – once.”

Tara grinned. “No, you screamed – a big girlie, Ned-Flanders-type scream.”

“I did not – ”

“Um, sorry to interrupt but could one of you please tell me what the hell you’re talking about?” Liz asked, wide-eyed. “And who is Ned Flanders?”

“Liz doesn’t watch
The Simpsons
,” Tara informed Luke. 

“You don’t watch
The Simpsons
?” he repeated in mock horror. “What planet are you on?”

“Well, I d
on’t have time to watch TV,” Liz said, getting frustrated. “Anyway, what’s all this got to do with pooping in gardens and screaming like a girl?”

Tara and Luke’s eyes met.

“You tell her,” Tara challenged. “I swore I wouldn’t say a thing.”

“Pity you didn’t keep your word, then,” Luke countered, before turning to Liz. “I suppose I’d better come clean. I’m afraid of – no, strike that – I don’t particularly like mice.”

“Nope, he’s terrified of them,” Tara interjected, laughing.

Luke silenced her with a look. “I don’t
like
mice, but unfortunately they like me, or at least, they like the inside of my house.”

“Ah,” Liz said, understanding. They had that problem in their house too – especially around this time of the year. But she used one of those electronic plug-in things, the ones with the high-pitched sound that scared the mice out of the house. She wouldn’t dream of using one of those horrible mousetraps or anything inhumane like that.

“So, anyway, the last weekend I was here, I was going about my business and cleaning out the cupboards, when two of the little feckers leap out at me.  Naturally, I got a bit of a fright – ”

“And ran screaming from the house like a girl,” Tara finished, trying not to laugh.

Luke feigned a glare. “Excuse me, I thought
I
was telling the story.”

“Sorry.” Tara winked at Liz, while trying to stifle a chuckle.

“And your friend here, suspecting that I might have been in a bit of bother, came running to my rescue.”

“What can I say? For a big strong man, he’s a bit of a wimp really.”

Luke and Tara were now smiling at one another like there was nobody else in the room, and just then, Liz understood why Tara had been initially so hesitant to join him. The sparks were flying in all directions between these two.

She studied her friend who was still in mid-banter with Luke. Tara was radiant. Her eyes were sparkling with amusement, and her face glowed as she and Luke continued to try and better one another. 

Wow, these two were perfect for one another, and if Tara couldn’t see that, she was a fool. As Liz had long since tired of telling her, her friend had spent way too long in the comfort zone, afraid of not being in control, terrified of letting herself get hurt. And while this had worked out well so far for her and Glenn, it was surely inevitable that Tara would need something more, someone who could complete her life in a way that Glenn never could.

Now, looking at the two of them together, it was perfectly clear that the
y only had eyes for one another and if Liz decided to slip away without saying anything, they’d hardly notice. She knew Luke was single; he’d told her a while back that his last relationship had finished some time ago, so there was no barrier on his side. Tara, on the other hand … well, if she was going to pursue this – and in Liz’s opinion she really should – Tara would have to start thinking about herself and what she really wanted. Although if Glenn were to get wind of the obvious attraction between these two, given what Tara had said about that guy Dave earlier, Liz didn’t even want to think about how he’d react.