City Woman (61 page)

For the four days she was in the Sheraton, Devlin did absolutely nothing but eat, drink, sleep, sunbathe and swim. Worn out by months of hard work and hassle, she really
hadn’t realized how completely exhausted she was. Caroline, recognizing this, had postponed all shopping and sightseeing trips. Time enough for that when she moved over to the apartment. In a
way, Devlin was quite relieved not to have to rush around. Lying on her lounger, swimming in the magnificent pool when she wanted to cool down, she was quite happy to let her mind wander. It was
peaceful and reviving. The joy of not having a phone to answer, or people knocking on her door wanting her to make decisions, or even worrying about what to cook for her dinner was indescribable.
The most taxing problems she had here were what to eat and in which restaurant in the luxurious hotel: Chinese, Arabic, Indian. Every afternoon after work, Caroline joined her and they lazed by the
pool, yakking nineteen to the dozen, before changing for dinner. Caroline took her to the souk and Devlin loved every minute of it, but at her friend’s insistence she was always in bed before
midnight. She was sleeping like a log and feeling all the better for it. If only Luke were with her, Devlin thought, it would be perfect.

She missed him desperately, longing to share her little piece of heaven with him. They telephoned each other every day, and though Devlin knew her phone bill was going to be enormous, she
didn’t care. It was worth it to talk to him and tell him what a wonderful, restful time she was having. He was delighted for her and kept urging her to stay even longer than the ten days she
had planned. At night, after her day’s activities, she used to sit down at her desk with the balcony doors open, and write pages and pages of letters to Luke, telling him how much she was
enjoying herself and how much she missed him.

On the last morning of her stay at the hotel, she dived into the Gulf waters and swam out to the diving platform just below the line of bobbing pink buoys that held the shark-net in place.
Taking her camera out of its waterproof case, she snapped away, photos to remind her of every bit of her idyllic stay in the beautiful hotel. Later on, it was with regret that she packed her case.
Her eye lingered on the desk by the balcony, where she had found a beautiful basket of fruit when she arrived and where there was also a basket of orchids that Luke had ordered for her.

She would miss the friendly smile of Yusef, who came to pull down her bedcovers at night and lay a selection of gold-wrapped handmade chocolates on her pillow before spreading the pristine white
prayer-sheet on the floor beside her bed.

This room had been a haven to her and she had made the most of every minute here. Some day she would return with Luke, she promised herself, as she closed the door behind her and walked down the
carpeted corridor with Caroline, on her way to her new abode.

‘It’s not the Sheraton but it’s home,’ Caroline declared a while later, leading Devlin into the apartment where she had lived since she came to the Emirate.

‘It’s lovely,’ Devlin exclaimed, going from room to room, delighted at last to see for herself what she had tried to imagine from the descriptions in her friend’s
letters.

‘I’ve really enjoyed living here. I’m going to miss it like anything when I leave,’ Caroline said wistfully.

‘Just think of the fun you’ll have, buying a new place and decorating it,’ Devlin said comfortingly.

‘I know. I’m looking forward to that. It’s just this was my retreat from the world: here’s where I made a new life for myself. It will always be special for
me.’

‘Of course it will,’ Devlin agreed. ‘And for me as well. The few days I’ve spent here have been superb. I’m taking so many photos so that I’ll always have
mementos of it. There’s something healing about this place, isn’t there?’

Caroline nodded. ‘I found that. And you look so much better, Devlin, even after only four days.’

‘I feel so much better,’ Devlin declared exuberantly as she stood on the balcony and took deep breaths of the aromatic scents of spices and coffees that wafted by on the breeze.
‘I know that I’ve a whole lot of hassle waiting for me when I get home. I know Galway’s City Girl has got to be looked at in the context of the recession. But I’ll cope with
it. Right now, I feel I could cope with anything.’

‘I read in an Irish paper that several big employers in Galway laid people off over the last few months,’ Caroline remarked as she put the kettle on for a pot of coffee. ‘Is
that going to make a big difference to you?’

‘Well, I’m afraid it will,’ Devlin sighed. ‘They’ve laid off hundreds of people and we would have targeted a good number of their female workforce as customers.
Luke warned me about overspending there and I didn’t take too much notice. Still we’ll sort something out – and at least Belfast is doing great so I won’t get depressed
about things. Certainly not here in Abu Dhabi. What’s on the agenda for today?’

‘Well, I thought we’d go to my beach club for a change and then I’ve planned a
Coronation Street
show for this evening so that you can meet some of my friends. More
important, we can eat the Taytos you brought over. Tayto crisps are to die for, as the dreaded Lucinda Marshall would say.’

‘Don’t mention that she-devil’s name,’ Devlin groaned.

‘Sorry,’ Caroline said. ‘I forgot.’

‘Actually, so have I,’ Devlin remarked. ‘It’s all like a bad dream now and a lot of good came out of it. Mum and I are great pals and very close. And I finally realized
how much Luke loves me and I know now that I love him very much.’

‘I’m so glad for you, Devlin! You deserve someone like Luke. He’s a good man and you’ll always be happy with him.’

‘I know that! I wish he was here to share my holiday – even though I’m having a ball, I’m looking forward to stopping off in London to spend a few days with
him.’

‘Crikey, she’s only here four days,’ Caroline teased, ‘and she’s looking forward to going home already, I must be failing dismally as a hostess.’

‘Well, I’ve never been to a
Coronation Street
party before,’ Devlin giggled. ‘Maybe it will change my mind.’

In fact the party was great fun. Devlin met Féile, Caroline’s friend and neighbour from across the hall, and before the evening was out, Féile had promised to take her to the
Eastern Jewellers to buy some gold and – or so Caroline slagged her – to watch an expert in haggling. The Tayto crisps went down a treat, as did the huge curry Caroline had prepared.
There was wine, beer and spirits, and Caroline quite happily spent the night sipping pineapple juice. Lively discussions arose about the developments in
Coronation Street
, as they were all
up to date with the serial, thanks to their families who regularly sent videos of the programme out to them. Watching Caroline so at ease with all her Abu Dhabi friends, confident, and with a poise
she had never had before, Devlin was very happy. Coming to Abu Dhabi was the most positive step her friend had ever taken and it was a decision that had paid dividends.

Caroline had introduced her to Mike, the man she had written about in her letters, and it was clear that they were good pals. He was a friendly, unassuming chap who teased Caroline unmercifully
about her cooking. Devlin reflected how nice it was to see her friend enjoying male company, while also being aware that she was her own woman now. Having a man in her life was not the be-all and
end-all. Caroline had confided in Devlin that for the time being she was only interested in men as friends. She was certainly in no rush to get into an intimate relationship after her disastrous
marriage to Richard.

Laughing and chatting with Caroline’s friends while Arabic music played in the background and couples danced in the sitting-room, Devlin felt light-hearted and carefree. It was ages since
she had been at a party, and the crack was mighty.

The rest of her holiday passed in a whirl of sightseeing, shopping and other parties, until the day before she was due to go home. This Caroline had decreed a
‘blitz-on-suntan’ day. Lying on a comfortable lounger, Devlin sipped her Pimms and felt the sun warm on her body. She gazed out over the Arabian Gulf, relaxing after having spent the
previous hour windsurfing. She felt that lovely torpor that comes with complete ease and it was hard to believe that she had been there for two weeks. She had needed very little persuasion from
Caroline to extend her holiday to a fortnight. Caroline had been so good to her, going out of her way to make sure she enjoyed herself. They had gone to Dubai and spent a fortune; they had had a
weekend in the desert – an experience Devlin would never forget. Watching the setting sun turn the golden dunes to dusky pink and feeling the immense stillness all around, Devlin had felt a
lovely serenity envelop her.

She had an abundance of new clothes – mostly silks that she’d had made up as jackets by the superb tailors that were so plentiful in the city. And Féile, true to her word, had
taken her shopping to the Eastern Jewellers, where she had bought herself a gold filigree chain and matching earrings and bracelet. She had bought Luke a gold signet ring and had his initials
carved on it. She had jewellery and silks for her mother and shirts and cigars for her father. Her gift for Maggie was an exquisite little gold dhow on a chain.

But she’d really gone mad buying things for the children and Caroline had warned her that she’d have excess luggage. ‘Who cares?’ Devlin had laughed, enjoying the
spending spree of her life.

‘Have another Pimms?’ Caroline invited.

‘Oh, all right.’ Devlin gave in without a struggle. She had really acquired a taste for the refreshing drink and was going to treat herself to a bottle in the duty-free.

‘Imagine, the two of us will be home this time next month,’ Caroline mused.

‘Imagine, you’ll be in Tibet this day week!’ Devlin laughed. ‘You’ve changed so much, Caroline: going to the Himalayas on your holidays!’

‘I know. I feel so much happier and much freer than I’ve ever been before. Instead of life being a big ordeal it’s become a great adventure. You know, Devlin . . .’
Caroline leaned up on her elbow and stared across at her from the adjoining lounger. ‘I know City Girl is very important to you, and rightly so, but don’t let it become the whole of
your life. Don’t miss out on what Luke can give you and what you can give to him. Of the relationships the three of us have had, I can see yours being the most successful. Neither Richard nor
Terry ever gave me or Maggie the support that you get from Luke. Don’t take it for granted.’

Devlin stared at the dark-haired girl with the big brown eyes, now staring earnestly at her. Whenever Caroline had given her advice in the past, it had always been the best. Caroline had the
knack of getting to the core of the matter. Devlin knew, as she lay there under an Eastern sun, watching the waters of the Gulf shimmer in the sunlight, that she was getting the best advice she had
ever been offered. She had had a lot of time to reflect during this holiday, and she knew that what Caroline was saying was absolutely true.

‘You know something, Caroline?’ Devlin smiled happily. ‘You’re right!’

The image that was reflected in the big wall mirror in a ladies’ room in Heathrow was far different from what Devlin had seen in the mirror in the Abu Dhabi Sheraton a
fortnight before. She smiled, trying to picture Luke’s expression when he saw her: tanned and glowing with health, in such contrast to the pale, scrawny woman who had left Dublin for the
holiday of a lifetime.

She felt refreshed and invigorated and back to her old vivacious self, and she vowed that she would never again let herself go so long without a proper holiday. She had spoken to Liz on the
phone just five minutes before, and Liz had assured her that the building was still standing and, although she knew it would come as a dreadful shock to Devlin, City Girl had operated extremely
smoothly in her absence and would continue to do so for the few days she was spending in London.

Devlin was not too disturbed to find that she was not indispensable. If what she had in mind went according to plan, City Girl would have to get used to her not being always at the helm.

She traced the outline of her lips with an ice-pink lipstick that really accentuated her tan. So did the mint-green Lacoste T-shirt she was wearing with a pair of white Bermudas. It was amazing
how the tan made such a difference to her appearance, giving her a wholesome, healthy air. Eyes sparkling with anticipation, she brushed her lashes with a wand of mascara and sprayed some White
Linen on her wrists and at the base of her throat. In a few minutes she’d see Luke, and she was dying to feel his arms around her and his lips on hers.

She opened her bag, took out the little box and saw the gold of the ring glinting in the sunlight. A smile touched her lips as she reflected on the deed she was about to perform. The more she
thought about it, the more right it seemed. Nevertheless her heart skipped a beat in anticipation.

Twenty minutes later she had collected her bulging cases and passed through customs. Then she saw Luke, smiling broadly at her, his arms held out in welcome.

Devlin flung herself at him, kissing and hugging him, telling him how much she had missed him.

‘What a reception!’ He smiled down at her, holding her tightly to him. ‘I must make you go on holidays more often.’

Devlin kissed him again and then opened her bag and took out the little box containing his ring. ‘I bought this for you, Luke, with all my love.’ She opened the box and handed it to
him. Raising her clear blue-green eyes to his, she took a deep breath and said calmly, ‘Luke, will you marry me?’

Epilogue

‘Devlin, love, here’s a cup of tea.’ She opened her eyes to find her father smiling down at her.

‘And it’s a beautiful day.’ Lydia popped her head around the bedroom door. ‘I told you the Child of Prague statue in the garden always works. Don’t stay too long in
bed; the girls will be here soon. I have my appointment with the hairdressers at nine, so I’d better go and organize myself. I’ve a million and one things to do.’