Three Women Read online

  ‘I’ll have one of those too, please.’

  Jack and his girlfriend, Pixie, came into the sitting room with bottles of chilled Corona in their hands.

  ‘What are we eating?’ Jack asked.

  ‘Wait and see!’ teased Nina, who was used to her son constantly enquiring about what he was going to be fed. At six foot three he always seemed to be ravenous.

  ‘Any sign of Erin and that lovely boyfriend of hers yet?’ asked her mother.

  ‘No, Mum, they must have got delayed,’ she said, going to check on the meal.

  Erin arrived in a flurry of long legs encased in fine black leggings and knee-high boots, wearing a grey-and-orange striped top – or dress or whatever they called it – that picked up the colour of her long, glossy hair.

  ‘Mum, sorry I’m a bit late, but I was hoping that Luke could make it too.’

  ‘Where is he?’ Tom asked.

  ‘Stuck in London; he couldn’t get back as all this evening’s flights were grounded because of fog at Heathrow. I’m sorry.’

  ‘All the more food for us!’ crowed Jack.

  ‘I’d prefer he was here,’ Erin said, taking a swipe at her younger brother.

  They all sat around the huge oak table in the kitchen as Nina and Tom served the meal. May insisted on sitting beside her granddaughter.

  ‘I want to find out when she and this Luke fellow are getting engaged and married,’ she said loudly. Ever since she had gone slightly deaf, May spoke that bit louder, unaware that everyone could overhear her conversations now.

  ‘Granny, we are just going out – he’s just my boyfriend,’ Erin protested, embarrassed and saying a silent prayer of thanks that Luke was not sitting beside her.

  ‘Have you seen a ring yet?’

  Nina and Lizzie couldn’t help themselves and were in stitches laughing as poor Erin tried to handle her grandmother.

  ‘Your grandfather took me to Weir’s. He spent about four months of his salary on buying me this.’ She showed the gold ring with its two diamonds and central sapphire to Erin. ‘But it was worth every penny because I still wear it … never take it off me, and I might have forgotten some things but I will never forget Harry and this ring.’

  ‘It’s a lovely engagement ring, Granny, but Luke and I are not at that stage yet,’ Erin stumbled on.

  Uncle Bill and Charley regaled them with details of a trip they had just taken to Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia.

  ‘We wanted to mark Charley’s sixtieth birthday,’ said Bill, ‘and it was a trip we both wanted to do. We have friends in Hong Kong and Sydney, so it was great. Exhausting going long-haul, but we both loved it!’

  ‘Pixie and I are hoping to go to Oz when I finish my exams in the summer,’ announced Jack.

  Nina caught Tom’s eye. This was the first time they had heard any mention of this from their son.

  ‘Are you going on holiday?’ asked Myles as he passed around the asparagus dish.

  ‘No, we hope to go for a year and do that whole down-under thing!’ laughed blonde-haired Pixie, squeezing Jack’s hand. ‘We’ve both got lots of friends out there, so it should be good fun!’

  ‘Half the country is out there,’ laughed Charley, ‘judging by the number of young Irish people we met on our travels. They were everywhere … and they all seemed to be getting plenty of work and enjoying it.’

  Nina got Jack to help her clear away the plates. He seemed besotted with this pretty Pixie of a girl, with her short, white-blonde hair and pretty face, and was obviously planning to spend the next year of his life on the other side of the world with her.

  The butter icing was perfect, thought Nina, as she put ten candles on the top of the birthday cake. Lighting them, she signalled to Tom to dim the lights on their side of the room as she carried the cake over to where Erin was sitting and everyone sang

  ‘Happy birthday to you,

  Happy birthday to you,

  Happy birthday, dear Erin …’

  Their daughter’s face was so happy as she blew out the candles and thanked everyone for coming. She is such a beautiful girl, thought Nina – beautiful not only on the outside, but also on the inside where it matters most.

  They finished up about midnight. Jack and Pixie had already gone and got the DART to town to Pixie’s place. Erin had decided to stay the night, while Myles offered to drive everyone else home.

  ‘Mum, it was such a lovely night,’ Erin said, hugging her. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘And thank you, Erin, for being such a good daughter,’ Nina said, kissing her goodnight.

  Lying in bed beside Tom, Nina couldn’t sleep.

  ‘You did hear what Jack said about going to Australia with Pixie?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes, I did,’ said Tom patiently, ‘like everyone else at the table.’

  ‘Did you know anything about this? Had he said anything to you?’

  ‘Nina, nearly every young person in Ireland is talking about emigrating or going to Australia or America or Canada … That’s the way it is because there are no jobs here for them. You know that from all our friends. Why would you think it would be any different for Jack than all the other guys in his class?’

  ‘I don’t want him to go,’ she said defiantly.

  ‘Well we can’t stand in his way or stop him,’ Tom sighed, turning to face her. ‘Jack’ll go away, but he will come back, just wait and see …’

  ‘What if he doesn’t?’

  ‘He will.’

  ‘I couldn’t bear it.’ Nina was so upset. ‘I couldn’t bear to lose him.’

  ‘Nina, we don’t own them. Jack is twenty-three years old and Erin is twenty-six … They have to make lives of their own. Erin is very keen on this Luke fellow – who’s to say he won’t end up working in London and then so might she?’

  ‘Tom Harris, don’t you dare upset me any more!’ she pleaded as she slipped into the reassuring curve of her husband’s arms.

  Chapter Four

  ERIN COULDN’T BELIEVE it – luke was taking her to the fanciest restaurant in Dublin. ‘I told you that I’d make it up to you for missing your birthday dinner with your folks the other night,’ he laughed, ‘and I’m the kind of guy who keeps his promises.’

  It had been a nightmare getting ready to go out, as Nikki had hogged the bathroom for nearly half an hour and Erin and Claire had been forced to beg the guys next door if they could use their bathroom. Next time they rented somewhere they were getting at least two bathrooms! As the doormen let them inside Gilbert’s, the French restaurant, and she saw the style of the place, Erin thanked heaven she had decided to put on her new jade-coloured Karen Millen dress. Most of the fashionable couples were a good bit older than them and obviously wealthier too.

  ‘Are you sure you can afford this?’ she whispered to Luke. The Michelin-starred restaurant had a reputation for being super-expensive.

  ‘Don’t worry – I got a great bonus last week!’ he grinned. The waiter led them to a table near the window and was so attentive that Erin had to try to keep a serious face. The menu was incredible and it took ages for them both to decide exactly what they would like to eat, with the waiter taking great care to explain everything they wanted to know about the dishes that were on offer. Erin went for a mixture of seafood that included lobster, crab, Dublin Bay prawns and salmon, served with some kind of oyster foam; it was absolutely delicious. Luke ordered a really good wine and the waiter kept their glasses constantly topped up as they chatted away. One course followed after another: pork belly, seared tuna, champagne and elderflower mousse, and a berry tart. Neither of them could believe it as seamlessly they were presented with each gourmet dish.

  ‘This place is amazing,’ she said. ‘Thank you for bringing me here.’

  ‘Erin, I always want to do things to please you and make you happy,’ he said softly, taking her hand. ‘You know that.’

  She nodded. Over the past few weeks their relationship had been getting more serious … they both knew it. Luke was becomi
ng more and more a part of her life and she was structuring what she wanted to do around him, as his work schedule was kind of crazy. He was commuting back and forward to London a lot and it looked like this was going to become a regular feature.

  ‘I’m back there Wednesday,’ he said, sipping an Irish coffee.

  ‘But I got tickets for us to go and see the Frames in Vicar Street.’

  ‘I won’t be here – maybe you can bring one of the girls or sell them on the internet?’ he suggested.

  ‘I’ll bring Lilly from work. She’s a massive fan and was saying the other day that all the tickets were sold out and she couldn’t get one.’

  ‘There you go – no harm done!’

  Erin tried to hide her disappointment. She had to accept that if she had a boyfriend with a high-flying career who could afford to take her to Gilbert’s for dinner, then she couldn’t expect him to be around all the time.

  ‘Hey, let’s get a last drink and then head to Club 55!’ he suggested. ‘I think Ronan and a few of the guys from the office are going there later.’

  ‘Why don’t we just head for your place or my place instead?’ she suggested.

  ‘I’ve had a hectic week, Erin – I just feel like blowing off a bit of steam. Besides, I want to show off my sexy girlfriend in her pretty dress on the dance floor.’

  Erin laughed. He was such a bloody charmer …

  The night club was packed and they had to push through the crowds. Erin would have been happy to stay at a romantic table at the rear of the club near the door, but Luke took her hand and guided her towards the area where his friends Ronan and Conall and Ritchie were sitting with their girlfriends. Michelle, Ronan’s girlfriend, was nice and immediately said hello to Erin, but Conall was going out with an absolute wagon who was some kind of celebrity model who was on the new Dunne’s Stores ad and thought she was Kate Moss!

  They ordered some more wine and chatted for a while, then they danced, though there was barely room to stand and the floor was so sticky Erin’s shoes felt glued to it.

  ‘Let’s get out of here!’ Luke said eventually, so they hopped in a taxi to Grand Canal Square, where he shared an apartment with Dan, a guy he’d gone to college with. Tonight they had the place to themselves, and Erin was glad that they could finally be together without lots of people around. She loved his apartment, which was really streamlined and kind of masculine, with expensive designer couches and leather chairs and a massive glass dining table. Luke had the bigger bedroom and, as they stood looking out at the iconic Daniel Libeskind-designed theatre building with its giant red rods lighting up the night sky, Erin relaxed into his arms, feeling the broad width of his palm running down her back.

  The next morning they had toasted bagels, fruit juice and coffee in bed as they read the Sunday papers.

  ‘My folks have asked me to Sunday lunch later. Do you want to come?’

  Erin had met the Gallaghers twice. His parents were hard going, but she supposed she had better make some effort to get to know them better.

  ‘Sure – that will be nice. But I have to go home and change before we go there.’

  Chapter Five

  ERIN WAS SO engrossed in the re-design of the front page of a brochure for a new hotel that was due to open in three weeks’ time that she hadn’t realized it was almost seven o’clock until she noticed Declan packing up his Apple Mac and grabbing his jacket to head home.

  Work was scarce at the moment and she really appreciated Monika and Declan keeping her on and giving her projects like this to work on. The marketing budget for the Mount Clement’s launch was cut to the bone, but that didn’t mean the client didn’t deserve their best effort. They were doing decent-quality printing and Erin wanted a glossy brochure that would reflect the high-spec build. There were also menus, guest advice leaflets, maps, wedding package sets to be done. She had spent two days down around the hotel with her camera and had got some great ideas in terms of the important design elements which she would use to create an instantly recognizable logo for the Mount Clement, the gorgeous old summer house in Kerry which was now about to become a five-star destination. She and Luke had stayed there and both really enjoyed it, Luke disappearing off to play a bit of golf while she worked and had discussions with David Mountjoy, the owner, about the exact image he hoped to create. It was a magical place, and David and his wife Heather deserved to see their hotel do well.

  She checked her phone. There was a message from her flatmate Nikki: ‘See you two Musketeers at home soon.’

  Erin had been thinking about heading to Dundrum to do a bit of late-night shopping, but she’d give that a miss and head home to the apartment instead. Girlie nights with her two flatmates on a Wednesday, with pizza or pasta and a bottle of wine, were far more important. The rest of the week the three of them always seemed to be rushing around and often didn’t get to talk to each other for days on end. Her friends were important and she knew that, no matter how busy she was in work, she had to make time for them.

  Funny – Nikki had been acting strangely for the past few weeks and both Erin and Claire were worried about her. She was barely eating and had got even thinner than usual. Claire said she could hear Nikki throwing up sometimes. Maybe she had anorexia? Whatever it was, it was definitely getting worse. Eating disorders were a nightmare to deal with, but if Nikki needed help, they would both do everything they could for her.

  On her way home Erin grabbed a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, a big bag of tortilla chips and three fudge brownies for dessert. Nikki normally loved them – if she didn’t take the brownies, then there was definitely something seriously wrong with her.

  Claire was in the kitchen already cooking when she got in.

  ‘Smells good,’ she said, grabbing a few slices of ham.

  ‘Hey – that’s for with our meal! I’m doing risotto with prosciutto and asparagus tips,’ Claire explained, moving the chopping board out of the way of temptation. As she dumped the wine in the fridge to chill, Erin thought just how lucky she was, sharing with someone who was almost a professional chef.

  ‘Where’s Nikki?’

  ‘She’s in the shower.’

  ‘Do you think we should say something to her tonight?’

  ‘Erin, it’s the perfect chance. We have to try to find out what the hell is going on with her.’

  Erin sighed. She hated confrontation. She and Nikki and Claire had been friends for years, since they were all kids. She’d hung out with Claire since they were five years old. They’d started school together and grown up together and shared so many things. Nikki had become the third Musketeer when they had gone to St Louise’s Secondary School and ended up sitting in the row of desks beside each other at the back of the class. The lunatic Irish teacher would give them constant detentions and bad marks for always talking and messing.

  ‘You three!’ she would say angrily. ‘How can you still be talking?’

  ‘Cos we’re best friends,’ they’d retort.

  Best friends always talked and messed and hung out together. They were now in their mid-twenties and still hung out together and shared the second-floor apartment on Sandymount Road. Best friends helped each other out and stood by each other and supported each other. Claire was right – they had to get this sorted.

  Erin pulled on leggings and a grey knitted sweater and went into the living room. Nikki came in a few minutes later, her hair still damp.

  ‘I got us two DVDs on my way home.’ Erin glanced at Nikki, seeing just how washed-out and exhausted she looked as she curled up with a few cushions on the couch. Maybe Claire was right, there really was something up with her.

  ‘Food’s ready!’

  Claire had excelled herself with the creamy risotto. ‘I’m entering you into Master Chef Ireland next year,’ said Erin, as she sprinkled some more parmesan on to her plate. ‘You are such a brilliant cook.’

  ‘Erin, it’s just a hobby,’ Claire smiled, ‘and that’s the way it is staying. I think it relaxes me after a
hard day doing massages and exercises on my patients.’

  Nikki was quiet and they were only halfway through the meal when she got up from the table and ran to the bathroom.

  ‘I told you,’ whispered Claire, concerned.

  Nikki returned and sat down, but said nothing, pushing the remnants of her meal away. Erin cleared the plates and made coffee, bringing in the fudge brownies for them all. Nikki left hers untouched on her plate.

  Erin couldn’t hide her worry. What the hell was going on with her? They had to say something.

  ‘Are you okay, Nikki?’

  ‘What do you mean?’ she asked defensively.

  ‘You’re not eating your brownie.’

  ‘It’s only a brownie. Anyway, I’m full.’

  ‘Is that really true?’ asked Claire. ‘I heard you this morning and last night.’

  ‘Are you spying on me, is that it?’ Nikki shouted angrily.

  ‘No, we’re not,’ replied Erin. ‘We’re both just worried about you.’

  ‘Nikki, what’s going on?’ demanded Claire.

  They were waiting for a tirade of anger and abuse, but instead were greeted with utter abject misery as Nikki began to cry.

  ‘I’m pregnant …’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I’m fecking pregnant! I’m twelve weeks gone.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Of course I’m bloody sure! I did the stupid test thing three times to check. It’s positive!’

  Erin didn’t know what to say.

  ‘You’re going to have a baby, Nikki! That’s great news,’ Claire said, trying to sound positive about it.

  ‘When is the baby due?’ Erin asked, attempting to hide her own shock.

  ‘September. I still can’t believe it! It’s so fecking unfair,’ gulped Nikki, her breath coming in shuddery, shaky gasps. ‘I think it’s going to be around mid-September.’

  ‘Haven’t you booked in with a doctor or hospital yet?’