The People Next Door (32 page)

‘Yvonne, it’s Kathryn.’

‘Everything OK?’

‘Well, as OK as it can be right now. Grainne’s got a lot weaker in the past couple of days. Justin sat up with her last night – he didn’t like to leave her.’

‘Oh dear. He can’t do that, not when he’s got to go to work.’

‘He’s not working today – I insisted he call in sick. He’s asleep now.’

‘You’ll have to get more help.’

‘We’re going to. Dr Lynch is contacting the Cancer Society and arranging for nurses to come.’

‘So you’re keeping her at home.’

‘It’s what he wants.’

‘I know. So what can I do?’

‘Well, I was wondering if you could pick up some shopping for me?’

‘Of course I will – I’ll call round after I finish here and you can give me a list.’

‘Thanks, that’d be great.’

‘Clara? It’s me.’

‘Hey, you, what’s up?’

‘Nothing much. Just wondering if you and lover boy would like to come to Matty’s tonight.’

‘Ah, I don’t think so – not just yet.’

‘How long are you going to keep him hidden?’

‘I’m not keeping him hidden. We’re just not ready to tell our families yet, that’s all. You know the situation, I’ve told you. It’s all a bit awkward.’

‘Right. He’s still playing happy families with his wife and child, and you’re sneaking around, afraid to be seen with him in public. I could think of better words than “awkward”.’

‘Siofra, don’t be a bitch. It’s his son, what do you expect him to do? It’s definitely over between him and his … wife.’

‘OK, if you say so. It’s just we never see you any more.’

‘Never see me? We had coffee two days ago. We had lunch last week.’

‘Ah, you know what I mean. You never come to Matty’s. Everyone’s asking for you.’

Are they? That’s nice.’

‘Barry keeps pestering me, wanting to know if you’re seeing someone.’

‘Tell him it’s none of his bloody business. No, tell him I am seeing someone, and it’s going very well. Look, I’ll ring you during the week, OK?’

‘Right.’

‘Hi, love, it’s me.’

‘Greg, hi. I was just thinking about you.’

‘Were you? Listen, I’m really sorry, but I can’t get down this weekend – I’ve had to schedule extra rehearsals for
Sweeney Todd
on Saturday and Sunday because two of the cast were out with flu till yesterday.’

‘Oh, that’s too bad. You’ll miss Jim’s birthday dinner tomorrow night.’

‘I know, and believe me, Yvonne, I’d much rather be there than here, but they sorely need the rehearsals. We’re opening next Friday and they’re far from ready.’

‘Well, not to worry – I’m sure you’ll lick them into shape. Oh, by the way, Kathryn rang a while ago. Grainne isn’t at all well. It sounds like this might be it.’

‘That’s a bit sudden, isn’t it?’

‘Well, apparently Dr Lynch told them it could happen quite quickly. I know it sounds horrible, but it might be a relief to everyone. I’m sure they’re both worn out, and Kathryn can do without the stress.’

‘Mmm … well, let me know if anything happens.’

‘I will. Take care.’

‘Dan, it’s me.’

‘What’s wrong? Is it Colm?’

‘No, nothing’s wrong, everything’s fine. I just wondered if we could change tomorrow’s arrangement.’

‘Change? How change?’

‘Well, I wondered if I could go to Belford, rather than you coming here.’

‘What? Bring Colm to this house?’

‘Well, yes. I thought it might save you a trip, that’s all.’

‘Well, I suppose. Is it not too cold to have him out?

‘I’ll wrap him up, don’t worry.’

‘Right. What time were you thinking of coming?’

‘Well, around noon, if that would suit you?’

‘Fine, see you then.’

‘Nuala? It’s Yvonne, from the clinic. You met me the day you came in.’

‘Oh, yes dear, I remember you.’

‘I was just wondering how Dolores is.’

‘Well, that’s very nice of you, dear. She’s not too bad, really, picking herself up now a bit. I’d say it was a rest she needed more than anything. She was in hospital, you know, for a couple of weeks.’

‘Yes, I heard that.’

‘Dolores wasn’t too keen on it, really, but I’m sure it did her good.’

‘Yes, I’m sure it did. Is she thinking about coming back to work at all?’

‘Oh, no, dear, oh, no, there’s no talk of that. She never talks about that at all. I’m not sure that she’d be able, really.’

‘I see.’

‘To be honest, dear, she doesn’t talk much about
anything … but she’s still on those pills that the doctor gave her – they’re bound to have an effect, aren’t they?’

‘Oh, I’m sure they are. They probably make her feel a bit tired. But they must be doing her good.’

‘Oh yes, they have to be helping her, haven’t they?’

‘Well, tell her I rang, won’t you? And give her my best.’

‘Thank you, dear. She’ll be delighted. It’ll give her a real lift to know you’re thinking about her.’

‘Hi. It’s me.’

‘Hi – what’s up?’

‘Nothing much – but the trip to Charleton is off tomorrow, I’m afraid.’

‘What? I got the day off specially.’

‘I know, I’m really sorry. Ali rang just now and asked if she could bring Colm over here instead. I couldn’t come up with an excuse fast enough.’

‘Oh … OK. Obviously Colm comes first.’

‘You’re upset.’

‘Well, of course I’m upset. I was looking forward to a day out with you. But he’s your son – naturally he comes first. We’ll do it another time.’

‘I was thinking—’

‘I have to go – there’s a customer. Talk to you later.’

‘Hang on a sec … Clara? … Hello?’

‘Ann? It’s me.’

‘Justin – what is it?’

‘It’s Mother. Dr Lynch said you should come.’

‘Oh God.’

‘She’s coming here?’ Kieran’s spoon of porridge halted, halfway to his mouth. ‘What time?’

‘She said around noon.’ Dan dipped toast into the soft yellow of his boiled egg. ‘I just thought’ – carelessly, as if it didn’t matter – ‘you might like to see Colm.’

He’d lit the fire in the sitting room as soon as he was up, and after breakfast he was going to clean the bathroom and run the Hoover around the place. Silly, really, Ali wouldn’t even notice – but it would give him something to do while he was waiting. No point in going to work this morning, no point at all, when he knew he wouldn’t be able to put his mind to it.

Clara was mad with him. Her phone had been switched off all yesterday evening. He’d call the department store this afternoon when, hopefully, she’d have calmed down.

He knew it wasn’t fair to expect her to put up with this weird situation. Maybe it was time now to bring it all out into the open. Maybe if everyone knew about them it would be easier. She could go with him
sometimes when he visited Colm, instead of him dropping her in Charleton, which was what they’d been planning to do today, and meeting up with her afterwards.

If she went with him, she’d see that Ali wasn’t a threat. Ali was happy with Brendan now, and Dan had Clara.

They’d have tongues wagging for a while, no doubt about that, but wouldn’t it blow over? Wouldn’t some new bit of gossip come along to take the spotlight off them?

They were planning a weekend away soon, in a small country-house hotel on the coast that a friend of Clara’s had stayed in last year. Clara would tell her mother that she was going away with friends. All a bit ridiculous, wasn’t it, this cloak-and-dagger stuff?

Yes, they should go public. It was time. He’d tell Ali about Clara today.

He took a bite of his eggy toast. ‘So, if you’re around

At the weekends Kieran pottered about, reading or tidying the garden, sometimes going into town for an hour or two and coming home with whatever odds and ends had taken his fancy: a book, a bottle of red lemonade, a bag of strawberry bonbons, a furry mouse for Picasso.

He still went to the bottom of the garden to play his violin, even on the coldest days. ‘I don’t feel the cold when I’m playing,’ he told Dan. ‘Sounds daft, but I don’t.’

Dan’s parents thoroughly approved of Kieran. ‘You were very lucky,’ his mother said. ‘Imagine who you might have ended up with.’

‘You could have got someone on drugs,’ his father said. ‘Or a gambler.’

‘Or someone who drank,’ said his mother.

‘You need to get that washing machine fixed,’ his father said.

‘Is that a new kettle?’ asked his mother.

‘How did the toilet seat get cracked?’ asked his father.

A drug addict, or a cracked toilet seat. Yes, Dan had been lucky.

‘They’ll be here for lunch so,’ Kieran said now. ‘There’s some of that carrot and apple soup in the fridge – and you could do scones to go with it.’

‘Fair enough.’ Wouldn’t take Dan ten minutes – he was well used to making scones now. Nothing to it.

Ali arrived at ten past twelve. Dan was upstairs when he heard the rattle of the letterbox – Kieran had broken the brass bell in the past week and they hadn’t got round to replacing it. And, of course, Ali wasn’t going to use her key.

‘Hi.’ Her nose was pink with the cold. She wore a blue woolly hat that made her look younger.

Dan took Colm’s carrier from her. ‘Hi, come in.’ It was strange, seeing her standing in the house again. He couldn’t decide how it made him feel. ‘I have a fire going in the sitting room – it should be warmed up by now.’

Silly to feel he had to treat her like a visitor, when
she’d picked out the blue and cream rug in front of the fireplace, when she’d chosen the curtains and the grey couch.

He saw her looking at the bicycle as she passed it in the hall, but she didn’t comment.

Kieran was introduced. He shook hands with Ali, then crouched to peer intently at Colm. ‘Hello there. Pleased to make your acquaintance.’

Colm gazed back at him, unblinking.

Ali pulled off her gloves and started to shrug out of her coat, giving Dan a quick smile when their eyes met. Was she nervous? Was she finding this as awkward as he was?

Kieran looked up from the carrier. ‘I can’t decide which of you he’s like.’

‘Dan,’ Ali said immediately. ‘He’s the image of him, more and more each day.’

Dan was surprised. ‘Is he?’ It was the first time she’d mentioned a similarity between Dan and his son. So far, she’d pointed out Dan’s father’s nose, her mother’s chin, her own eyes.

‘Oh, yes – everyone comments on it.’

He wondered if ‘everyone’ included Brendan.

‘You want a drink?’ he asked her, and when she looked for tea, Kieran went out to make it, saying he needed to check on the lunch.

Ali sank into the couch as the door closed behind him. ‘He’s nice.’

‘He is.’

She rubbed her hands together. ‘It’s lovely and warm in here. What am I getting for lunch?’

Dan crossed to Colm’s carrier and began to unbuckle him. ‘Just some soup.’ He looked at her over his shoulder. ‘And I made scones.’

Ali smiled. ‘I still can’t get used to the idea of you cooking.’

‘I’ll have you know I’m pretty good.’ He’d wait. He wouldn’t mention Clara yet. After lunch, when they were more relaxed, he’d tell her. He lifted Colm out of his carrier and brought him over to the couch and sat beside her.

‘Tuck the blanket under him – his feet get cold.’

He smiled. ‘Like his dad’s.’

She nodded, then leaned forward to look into the fire.

Dan turned his attention to his son. ‘Well, young man, what do you think of your other home?’

Colm sucked his thumb.

‘That good, eh? Thought you’d like it. Wait till you see upstairs.’

‘Dan.’ Ali spoke softly, still looking at the fire.

‘Yeah?’

She was silent. He stroked Colm’s arm, still marvelling at its impossible softness. He should have put some music on. The room was much too quiet.

When the silence stretched, he glanced up. Her face was half hidden from him, firelight flickering on the part he could see. A shiny trail on her cheek.

She was crying.

‘What is it? Did I say something wrong?’

She shook her head, fished a tissue out of her pocket and dabbed her face. ‘I’m sorry—’ But the
words only brought more tears. She was crying in earnest now, shaking her head, still trying to speak. ‘I didn’t want to do it this way.’

‘Do what? What are you doing?’ Dan was mystified, and increasingly anxious. It must be something big to upset her like this. ‘Al, tell me.’

She blew her nose and threw the tissue towards the fire. It landed on the mat. ‘I didn’t mean to blurt this out the minute I arrived. I was going to wait until—’ She stopped and bit her lip, and turned at last to face him properly.

The sight of her tears had always melted him. He couldn’t bear to see her so vulnerable.

‘Look, whatever it is, you have to tell me.’ Dan looked quickly from her to the baby, an awful thought dawning. ‘Is there something wrong with Colm? Is something—’

‘No, no, nothing’s wrong with him, he’s fine

She took a deep breath, her eyes searching his face. Her lashes were spiky. ‘But there is something wrong with me.’ Fresh tears rolled down her face and she ignored them. She put a hand towards him, then pulled it back.

‘What?’ A ribbon of fear curled inside him. Was she sick? Had she heard some bad news?

‘Dan …’ her voice was thick, ‘Oh God, I’ve made a horrible mistake.’ She spoke quickly, looking straight at him, her hands dashing away the tears. ‘Dan, I love you, it’s you I love, and I want to come back. Please, please, give me another chance. Let me come back and we can start again.’

As Dan stared at her, stunned, the sitting room door opened and Kieran walked in, carrying a tray.

And immediately afterwards, before another word was spoken, Colm began to wail loudly.