City Lives (20 page)

Why was it that everyone he had ever loved or cared for had left him? he pondered, swallowing hard to try and ease the lump in his throat. His father, whom he’d loved. A gentle, caring
man. Charles, who had been a father to him as well as a lover. Both dead. And Caroline, whose gentleness had drawn him to her the first time he’d met her. Even though he’d treated her
appallingly, she’d forgiven him and become his friend. And now she was leaving him too. Betraying him, in a way, with all this talk of separation and divorce and moving on. She’d move
on and feel contempt for him because he hadn’t had the courage to do what he wanted to. And all because of that
witch
up in the heart unit.

Richard sat in his car and put his head in his hands and cried his heart out.

Caroline dived into the sparkling heated waters of the swimming-pool and swam its length energetically. She’d put in a hard day at work and she needed to unwind, so
she’d left her office and taken the lift up to City Girl’s roof-top pool, intent on having a good invigorating swim.

Staff could use the pool if there were less than ten clients in it at any given time, but senior management like Caroline could use it at will. It was a perk of the job. Tonight it was busy but
not overly crowded.

She swam in rhythmic, even strokes, enjoying the feel of the water on her tense neck muscles. She and Devlin had had a very satisfactory meeting about Galway, and then Andrew had joined them and
the fur had started to fly.

All accountants were the same, she reflected, as she cut through the water on her second lap. No imagination! Quantity at the cost of quality! Andrew couldn’t understand the type of refuge
she and Devlin envisaged for the new residential centre. Reiki healing, soma therapy, kinesiology, were all foreign concepts to him. Why couldn’t they stick with the tried and tested
acupuncture and reflexology therapies that they’d used so successfully to date, he’d wanted to know. If things went wrong with these strange therapies, would they be sued?

She knew he had his job to do, but nevertheless she was surprised at how suspicious he’d been.

‘Are you sure it’s not quackery?’ he demanded. ‘How can you prove these things work?’

‘How can you prove they don’t?’ she’d shot back.

‘Oh come on now, Caroline, I know you’re into all this New Age stuff, but really we’re talking about a business here,’ Andrew retorted superciliously.

‘Listen, Andrew, why don’t you take a trip out to the RDS the next time the Mind, Body, Spirit exhibition is on and see how jam-packed it is.
And
see potential clients for
City Girl Residential,’ Caroline retorted.

‘But they’re all weirdos,’ the accountant declared.

‘Andrew, Caroline is right. We’ve got to move with the times. We don’t want to miss the boat on this. We’re being innovative here, so less of the weirdo stuff
please,’ Devlin said coolly.

‘I see she’s got you brainwashed too.’ He scowled.

‘That’s enough, Andrew. These are the going rates for the type of therapies discussed. I’d like you to work out a salary and employment package and see how that fits in with
our budget.’

‘What does Luke feel about this?’ Andrew persisted.

Caroline held her breath. Although he didn’t realize it, Andrew had just crossed a boundary line and pushed too far.

‘This is
my
project, Andrew. Luke respects my judgement and backs me all the way. I suggest you do the same. I’d like those estimates
today
please,’ Devlin
ordered, letting him know, in no uncertain terms, who was boss.

‘Fine!’ he said tightly, glowered at Caroline and marched from the office.

He had it in for her now, Caroline knew. She’d had a feeling before this that he resented her considerable input into management decisions, and her friendship with Devlin. It was all ego
stuff, his ego stuff, and she wasn’t getting into it, she thought determinedly as she finished another lap. She decided to do a visualization – that always helped considerably when she
felt drained of energy because of a confrontation or power struggle. She imagined herself attached to the accountant by seven thin electrical cords, one for each chakra. Slowly, in her mind’s
eye, one by one, she unplugged each cord from him and watched him drift away from her. She sent him a blessing, asked for one for herself and immediately felt a sense of detachment from the
situation.

It worked well with Andrew because she wasn’t too pushed about him one way or the other, she reflected wryly, but it didn’t always work when she used it to try and detach from
Richard and his mother. Still, she kept trying, and that was the main thing, she assured herself as she eased up and turned on her back and began a leisurely backstroke.

Richard had thawed a bit in the last few days. But he was miserable and Caroline knew that deep down he was still very angry.

Each evening after work he went to the hospital and it was often after ten when he got home. He would slump in front of the TV for an hour or two, sometimes making desultory conversation,
sometimes not, depending on his humour.

She refrained from asking him about his mother. It was only a flashpoint between them. Nor had she told him about her decision to look at a property in the coming months. He had enough on his
plate, she figured. There was a time and a place for everything.

He hadn’t been too impressed when she’d told him this morning that she was going out with Olivia for dinner. She could read it in his eyes, as plain as could be.

How can you possibly go out and enjoy yourself and leave me in the lurch when I’m suffering? You should be suffering too!

Caroline sighed. She was determined to enjoy her night out and not to feel guilty about it. But in spite of her best efforts, every so often guilt niggled, even though she knew it was completely
irrational and misplaced.

She climbed out of the pool, stepped into the poolside shower and let the jets cascade over her. Ten minutes in the sauna, ten minutes in the steam room and she felt like a new woman. She washed
her hair, dried herself off, slipped into a towelling robe and strolled out of the pool area and up to the salon. One of the girls had promised to do her make-up for her.

Olivia had phoned earlier in the day to tell her not to bother driving out of town to collect her at seven. Her child-minder had offered to come early, so Olivia would meet her from work in City
Girl.

Caroline had used the time for her swim and sauna and was feeling very relaxed by the time Olivia hurried in at six thirty.

‘God! The traffic is atrocious! Caroline, you look stunning! I’m not going out with you,’ she exclaimed in admiration at Caroline’s simple, superbly cut, black
long-sleeved dress.

‘Don’t be daft! You look fantastic yourself. I love that trouser suit on you.’

Olivia wore a tailored burgundy pure wool trouser suit. A rich black devoré scarf thrown casually around her neck gave the outfit an elegant finishing touch.

‘I don’t know what I’d do without swop shops,’ Olivia admitted. ‘I’d never own a “label” otherwise. My horoscope said my fortunes were changing.
Do you think that means I’m going to meet a man tonight?’

‘Who knows?’ Caroline said lightly. ‘Maybe we both might. I wonder what mine said?’

‘I’d say it said something about buying property. Did you get the brochure I sent you? It’s for new apartments in Malahide. I know you’re not going to buy there, but it
will give you an idea of what’s on the market and the prices that they’re going for. Your horoscope probably said something like “Saturn leaves Capricorn, Mercury is no longer
retrograde and you are on the move.” Imagine still reading horoscopes at our age. There’s no hope for us.’ Olivia giggled.

She had the most infectious giggle that Caroline had ever heard and she started to laugh herself. Her spirits lifted. It was going to be a good night and they were going to enjoy themselves.

‘Let’s hit the road,’ she suggested, very relieved not to be going home to Richard and his moods.

They spent hours over their meal, gossiping, reviewing their current situations and flirting with the Adonis who was waiting on them.

‘He’s gorgeous!’ drooled Olivia. ‘Drop-dead
gorgeous
. I wonder is he married?’

‘I don’t know. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t,’ Caroline replied, admiring his neat ass and slim waist.

‘I don’t know about you, Caroline, but I really could do with a man sooner rather than later. I’m fierce lonely,’ Olivia confided.

‘At least you’ve got the children. I don’t have that comfort,’ Caroline sighed.

‘I know,’ Olivia said tipsily – she was on her fourth glass of red wine – ‘why don’t I just say the next time he comes to the table, “excuse me, Marco,
but Caroline is in dire need of the juice of your loins. She needs bambinos.”’

Caroline spluttered into her Aqua Libra. ‘Livy don’t you dare! You’re outrageous!’ she managed between snorts of laughter.

‘I’d love to see his face though. He’s a bit
too
aware of himself. Still, if I had buns like that I’d be aware of myself too.’ Olivia took another slug.
‘Look at us. Two beauties and not a man between us – well, you can’t really call Richard a man if you know what I mean. He’s a man, but not a man.’ She giggled again.
‘Sorry, Caroline, this wine’s gone to my head. I think I’m a bit pissed. It’s just that I haven’t been out in ages.’

‘Enjoy it,’ Caroline urged. ‘I wish I could have a glass with you. But going back on the sauce is the last thing I need.’

‘You need a man and so do I. A real man with all his faculties in order and no baggage and no addictions. Now that you’re finally coming out of purdah and getting the divorce
there’s no excuse. We really should go out more often. So let’s try and start going out on the hunt at least once a week.’

‘Where will we meet them? I’m not into the pub scene,’ Caroline was dubious. ‘And let’s face it, Olivia, both of us come with baggage. In fact, I have excess
baggage!’

‘Don’t worry about that,’ Olivia dismissed that notion out of hand. ‘They’ll be so glad to have us, they’ll
carry
our baggage!’ she
chortled.

Caroline burst out laughing.

‘Now we want some nice rugged, lean, fit types,’ the irrepressible Olivia continued. ‘No more wimps in our beds! Down with wimps, I say. Wimp off, you wimp! We’re all
wimped out. Now where do we find real men, you ask? We could join a hill-walking club or go orienteering, or canoeing or even parachuting,’ Olivia announced enthusiastically. ‘Just
think of the mega hunks we’d meet. Broad shoulders, hairy chests, hard muscular thighs. Wouldn’t it be wonderful?’

‘You
are
pissed, Olivia. This is the same Olivia who’s afraid of flying! And the Olivia who took up badminton, played one game and never went back because it was “too
energetic”,’ derided Caroline.

‘I’ve changed. I’m into sports now. I do ten minutes on the treadmill and ten minutes on the rowing-machine. I could hill-walk or canoe no problem,’ Olivia said
expansively. ‘Maybe we’ll forget parachuting. A tad OTT,’ she punned.

‘We’ll have this conversation when you’re not under the influence.’ Caroline grinned.

‘Spoilsport,’ Olivia chided, waving at the divine Marco.

He waved back and winked.

‘Did you see that?’ Olivia beamed. ‘He fancies me. We could have a threesome. You can have the juice of his loins. I’ll have his buns.’

‘We’re going home. It’s half eleven. You told me the child-minder has to be home by twelve mid-week,’ Caroline reminded her.

‘All right, Cinderella, if you insist,’ Olivia drained the last of her wine. ‘I really enjoyed myself,’ she declared.

‘Me too. It was fun. We’ll do it again soon,’ Caroline said warmly. Olivia was right. They should go out more often. She so enjoyed this sort of socializing. It was much more
relaxing than Richard’s society bashes.

They strolled back towards Stephen’s Green, laughing and chatting animatedly. Caroline had given Harry, City Girl’s car-park attendant, her spare keys and he’d parked the car
for her opposite the Shelbourne when City Girl had closed. He’d left a message for her on her mobile to tell her its location.

They had just passed the Shelbourne when a stocky, sallow-faced man greeted Caroline.

‘How are you, Caroline? What are you doing out on the town without Richard?’

‘Oh . . . Oh hi, Tony,’ she said politely. She didn’t really like Tony Macken, a legal crony of Richard’s. ‘Olivia, this is Tony Macken, Tony, Olivia
O’Neill.’

‘Nice to meet you.’ He held out his hand to Olivia and held hers longer than was necessary, staring into her eyes.

‘Why don’t I bring you two girls into the Horseshoe Bar for a drink? It’s early yet. It’s the least I could do for Richard,’ he invited suavely.

‘Thanks, but Olivia has a babysitter and she has to be back. And I had a long day. I’m tired,’ Caroline explained.

‘Phone and say you’ll be late, you silly girl,’ he suggested chummily to Olivia. ‘And what’s this tired bit, Caroline? Don’t you work in that beauty place
that costs an arm and a leg? Sure that’s a doddle. If you were battling judges all day you’d be tired. So stop making excuses. You beautiful girls can’t go home at this hour of
the night. It’s preposterous. I insist you have at least one drink. And I won’t take no for an answer.’ He took Olivia by the arm.

Olivia froze. ‘Excuse me,’ she said politely. ‘Let go of my arm. And could I just say to you, you patronizing git, Caroline and I are not girls! We’re women. And were I
to stay manless for the rest of my life, you’d still be the last type of condescending ignoramus I’d want to go for a drink with.’ She turned on her heel and marched across the
road to Caroline’s car.

‘A bit pissed is she?’ Tony asked, gobsmacked.

‘You’re lucky she is,’ Caroline retorted furiously. ‘Because you got away lightly. But I’m not pissed, Tony. And you know something? She’s absolutely right!
You’re rude, patronizing, and an ignoramus to boot. Goodnight, Tony.’

‘What’s up with you? PMT?’ Tony called nastily after her as she walked across the road to join Olivia.