Divided Loyalties (22 page)

‘Brett too.’ Jenna sighed. Her husband was a surveyor in the same company. ‘What I was ringing to say was that we’re going to take Kareem’s boat. He’s offered
it to Brett for the month that he’s in South Africa, so if you and Chloe wanted to come with us we’d be free to come and go when we please and we wouldn’t be trying to break any
speed records. The last time I was out with that jerk I nearly threw up. I was nauseous for a day afterwards.’

‘That would be great, Jenna. Thanks for thinking of us. We could go and brown-nose but at least we wouldn’t be stuck waiting for his nibs to decide when it’s time to come
home.’

‘Right. I’ll prepare a couple of dishes; will you bring your delicious dip?’

‘Sure.’

‘I’m so glad you’re coming,’ Jenna said fervently.

‘I’m so glad
you’re
coming. It won’t be such an ordeal. It’s terrible, isn’t it? Here we are, two grown women, and we can’t put our foot down
and refuse to go. We need our heads examined,’ Shauna exclaimed.

‘They’ll just owe us big time after this one. See you at the boat.’

‘’Night, Jenna.’ Shauna smiled and hung up.

‘Who was it?’ Greg topped up her wine.

‘Jenna. Kareem has loaned them his boat so they’re taking that and she’s offered us a lift. You can go with Pierre, Chloe and I can go with Jenna,’ Shauna informed
him.

‘That’s a bit rude,’ Greg protested. ‘Pierre invited you. It would look bad you going off with Jenna and Brett.’

‘They won’t be going at a hundred miles an hour,’ Shauna retorted.

‘Look, I need all the help I can get here. Be reasonable, Shauna.’ He glowered at her.

‘No,
you
be reasonable, Greg. It’s always all about you. Pierre’s a speed merchant. He’s dangerous. I don’t want Chloe in his boat,’ Shauna said
angrily. ‘How dare you tell me to be reasonable. You sit there and calmly tell me you’re thinking of moving to Dubai. You never even discussed it with me. You’ve been promising me
for the last three years that we could try for a baby and you keep putting it off, and I’m sick of it, Greg. You’re being a real bastard about it. Why are you so against having another
child? Why?’

‘For God’s sake, keep your voice down,’ he growled. ‘You don’t want everybody in the building to know our business.’

‘I don’t give a hoot who knows our business,’ she snapped, but she lowered her voice. ‘Why don’t you want another child? I want to know.’

‘I just don’t want one now,’ he said sulkily. ‘We’re starting to have a life again, Shauna. You’ve enjoyed the past few years. Admit it. We’ve a great
life here. We’re doing things we’d never do if we were at home. If you have a baby, we’re going to be tied.’

‘Yes, I’ve had a good time, I agree, but I want a family. Look how happy Dan and Carrie are with their family,’ she said hotly. ‘Why can’t we be like
that?’

‘I don’t mean to be rude, Shauna, but look at their lifestyle.’ Greg looked at her as if she was mad. ‘Dan works in his market garden morning noon and night,
Carrie’s a housewife. Boring, boring, boring.’

‘But I always assumed that you’d want a family once we started having children. I—’

‘Well that’s what you get for assuming, Shauna,’ he said coldly. ‘You know what they say? Don’t ever assume because it makes an ass out of you and me. Get it? Ass u
me!’

‘That’s a horrible thing to say, Greg Cassidy. Chloe needs company. She never sees you,’ Shauna said in disgust.

‘I’m providing for her, aren’t I?’ Greg said hotly. ‘She’s going to inherit a very healthy property portfolio. She’s going to be a very wealthy woman
when we bite the dust.’

‘Yes, she’ll be wealthy, but she’ll have no family to turn to, she’ll be on her own.’ Shauna couldn’t hide her bitterness.

‘Oh don’t be so dramatic, Shauna,’ he said derisively. ‘She’ll have all her cousins.’

‘It’s not the same,’ she protested. ‘I want her to have a sister or brother. I’ll be thirty-six soon, Greg. I’m not getting younger. It might not be as easy
to get pregnant after coming off the Pill. It could take a year, which means I’ll be thirty-seven getting pregnant and nearly thirty-eight when I have the baby. I don’t want to start
another packet of the Pill. It’s been three years since you said we could try for a baby and I’m just sick of it.’ She burst into tears.

‘Oh, for God’s sake. I’m going for a walk on the Corniche. You’re doing my head in, Shauna.’ Greg jumped to his feet and headed for the front door, leaving her
sobbing on the balcony.

After a little while, her crying eased and a measure of calm returned. It didn’t help that she had PMT, she supposed, as she poured herself another glass of wine. How could she have got it
so wrong with Greg? She’d always assumed they’d have children; he’d never said anything to the contrary during their early years together. Had she been a fool to make the
assumption? Had their free and easy lifestyle turned him away from the idea of having a family? What an irony.

All she’d ever wanted was to have a family of her own, a happy family, just like Carrie and Dan. She wanted Greg to be a father who loved and cherished his children, not like her own rigid
father. She’d married Greg because she’d thought he was everything Noel was not – outgoing, fun to be with, liberal, good-humoured – but behind it all he was controlling her
as much as Noel had. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She wanted another child and he was stopping her from having one.

She could always just stop taking the Pill and pretend she’d had an accident, she supposed, but what joy would there be in conceiving like that? Greg’s resentment of the baby would
be too damaging. She wouldn’t have a child under those conditions. It would be very wrong.

Wearily she closed the doors and switched out the balcony lights. She didn’t finish her wine. She didn’t want to be travelling on a speedboat under the glare of the sun suffering
from a hangover. It was just as well Filomena was on her night off; it would have been awkward having a row like that knowing that she was in her room, listening to their raised voices.

She left a light on in the lounge for when Greg came back and went into the bedroom and undressed. She could almost taste the bitterness she felt as she poked her Pill out of the foil, and took
it with a sip of water. More unhappy than she remembered being in a long time, she slid into bed, grateful at least that it was big and wide and she didn’t have to have any contact with her
husband.

Greg walked along the Corniche listening to the sea lap gently against the rocks. He felt totally harassed and pressurized. He didn’t want another child. What was so
wrong with that? Why couldn’t Shauna be happy with what they had? They had a lifestyle that was the envy of their Irish friends. And if he got the job in Dubai it was going to get better. He
was building up a strong property base at home. They were in their prime. They were affluent. It was enough for him. Why couldn’t it be enough for her? He glanced across the street and
admired the shiny, glass-fronted building that housed an international bank. Good piece of architecture, he noted. When the sun shone on it, it gleamed copper and gold. He slowed his footsteps and
decided to head for the Sheraton, solid and imposing in the distance. He’d have a beer to cool himself down. He wouldn’t mind going on the piss but he needed to have his wits about him
tomorrow. If he could impress Pierre Laportaire enough he’d be well on his way. Dubai was where it was all happening. Exciting as Abu Dhabi was, Dubai had the edge, internationally. Another
rung on the ladder of his already very successful career. If only his wife would come to her damn senses. He just didn’t need this right now.

As he sat nursing his pint in one of the cool, air-conditioned bars, mulling over his problem with Shauna, a thought struck him. The tension seeped out of his body; there was a course of action
he could follow which would result in a win-win situation for them. He should have thought of it years ago and saved himself a lot of grief, he chided himself. He finished his pint and walked
through the huge marbled foyer and headed for home.

The light was on in the lounge but it was empty and he guessed that Shauna was in bed. He switched it off and took his shoes off and padded into the bedroom. ‘Are you awake, Shauna? I want
to talk to you,’ he said softly. He could see her curled up on the edge of her own side of the bed. ‘Come on. Let’s talk.’ He went round and sat beside her. ‘Listen,
how about if you come off the Pill when you go home for the summer and we start trying when I come home in August?’ he said softly.

Shauna sat up in bed, her hair tousled, her face tear-streaked. ‘Do you mean it this time, Greg? You’re not just trying to pacify me?’ she asked quietly.

‘Yes, darling, I mean it. You’re right, I’ve been a selfish bastard putting you off all this time. I forgot it’s different for women. That old biological clock ticking.
So how about it? August we go for it?’

‘Why wait until August?’ she whispered.

‘A few more months won’t make much difference. I’ll be relaxed at home and you’ll have been off the Pill for two months. OK?’ he studied her anxiously.

‘Promise.’ Her blue eyes glittered in the moonlight.

‘I promise, Shauna,’ he said earnestly, holding his arms open to her.

‘Oh, Greg, thank you, thank you,’ Shauna whispered, resting her head on his shoulder, reproaching herself for comparing her husband to her father. They were chalk and cheese. She
really had lost it for a while earlier and overreacted. At last it was finally sorted between them and she felt as if a huge burden had lifted from her.

‘Morning, Mr Mac. Sorry about calling in so early. Can I have a quick word?’ Dan stood on Noel’s doorstep, squinting in the early morning sun.

‘Of course.’ Noel’s heart sank. He knew exactly why Dan was here. ‘Come in,’ he invited, tightening the belt of his dressing gown. He’d been in bed when the
doorbell rang.

‘I won’t stay long,’ Dan said calmly, stepping into the hall and closing over the door. ‘You know, Carrie was very upset when she came home last night. I believe she told
you we were going on holiday.’

‘Well, she did mention it,’ Noel blustered agitatedly. ‘I don’t know why she was upset. I just said it would be lonely with everyone gone for Easter.’ He could feel
his heart beginning to race. Dan looked very stern indeed.

‘Now, Mr Mac, you know that Carrie is very good to you. She deserves to go off on this holiday without any worries or concerns. I don’t want you moaning to her about being on your
own. She’s going to cook your dinners for you and put them in your freezer so you won’t starve. Although I would suggest you try going out once in a while for lunch for a bit of variety
while we’re gone. Malone’s does a very good lunch.’ Dan stood arms folded, his gaze unwavering, and Noel felt like a naughty little boy. His temper began to rise.

‘She doesn’t have to do any cooking. I’ll not be dependent on—’

‘Now Mr Mac, don’t take that tone with me, we’re not going to fall out about this. I’m just telling you the way it is,’ Dan said quietly. ‘You’re going
to send Carrie off on her holiday with an easy mind. Sadie is going to call in on you every couple of days, so you won’t be on your own. I don’t like having to have words with you, Mr
Mac, but Carrie is my wife and I have to look out for her and I don’t like to see her upset. I’m sure you understand. We’ll keep this little conversation just between the two of
us. There’s no need for her to know about it, OK?’

Noel nodded, unable to speak.

‘Good, we understand each other.’ Dan smiled. ‘I’ll be off so. And come back soon for your meals with us. The children miss you,’ he added kindly as he opened the
door and walked out.

Noel watched him go down the drive and felt myriad emotions. Fury at being spoken to like a child, and being very firmly put in his place, but also a grudging admiration for Dan’s
manliness. He hadn’t been rude or abusive as Greg would have been. Dan had been respectful. Respectful but very, very firm.

Noel cleared his throat. He felt like crying. He, whose word had once been law in his household, had no power any more. People were telling him what to do and ordering him around. His son had
turned his back on him, one daughter was thousands of miles away and the other was upset with him. How he missed his dear wife. Anna had been a soft-hearted woman who had looked up to him. If she
were alive none of this would be happening. Tears slid down his cheeks. He’d go to the grave and bring some spring flowers and talk to her as he tidied the plot. That always eased his pain
and helped him feel close to her.

He’d want to get dressed. It hadn’t helped that he’d been in his dressing gown and unshaved. It had put him on a less dignified footing. What an uncivilized hour of the morning
to visit anyone, he thought crossly, glancing at his watch and seeing that it was only seven forty-five. He shivered. There was a sharp nip out today. A cup of tea might warm him up.

Twiskers rubbed her little black and white nose against his leg and he lifted her up and buried his face in her fur. ‘Oh, Twiskers, what’s to become of me? Everyone’s vexed
with me except yourself. How could Carrie possibly expect me to contact that son of mine after the terrible things he said to me? Has she no understanding at all of how grievously he hurt me? Why
doesn’t she tell him to ring
me
and apologize? No-one understands how lonely a life it is.’ Twiskers purred comfortingly. ‘What would I do without you?’ he
murmured. He walked into the kitchen and opened a can of tuna for her, her favourite treat. She rubbed herself against his leg ecstatically and he managed a small smile. At least someone
appreciated him, he thought forlornly as he bent down and patted her soft, furry head.