Divided Loyalties (33 page)

‘You always
were
the bossy big sister,’ Bobby said affectionately as yells and laughter signalled the return of Dan and the children.

‘Let’s have a lazy day and go to the beach club for lunch and a swim,’ Shauna suggested.

‘Sounds perfect to me,’ Carrie agreed. ‘I’ve just finished Michael Palin and I’m going to start—’

‘You’re
not
reading. I haven’t seen you for three years,’ Bobby protested.

‘Tough! I’m on my holliers!’ Carrie retorted.

‘That’s all I’ve got from her since she arrived,’ Shauna said fondly, smiling happily at her dearly loved siblings.

Noel studied the letter he had written to Bobby for the umpteenth time. It had taken a long time to draft but he felt he’d got it right. He’d crossed out and rewritten every second
word until he was happy, and then he’d come to the end when he’d had to put in the closing line. He couldn’t quite bring himself to write your ‘loving’ father. A
little too hypocritical and not quite accurate, he’d thought uncomfortably. Love wasn’t a word he associated with his feelings for his son, but ‘affectionate’ was a good
word, he thought with satisfaction.

He would post the letter first thing. He had Bobby’s address. He’d had to forward him post when he’d first moved to London and as far as he knew he hadn’t changed flats.
Carrie would have told him if he had.

Anna would be well pleased, he thought with satisfaction as he tidied away his writing materials and made his hot chocolate before going to bed. He had made a move towards reconciliation, the
Christian thing to do, as Mrs O’Neill had advised. The next step was up to Bobby.

It was their last night in Abu Dhabi and they all strolled through the souk absorbing the smells and sounds and colours that were a feast for the senses. Bobby was stocking up
on spices, having already treated himself to a richly woven rug in crimson and gold. Davey had bought an Action Man that crawled on his belly and Chloe and Olivia were torn between various items of
bling and Barbies. Hannah was happy with her Winnie-the-Pooh and Carrie had treated herself to another couple of lengths of beautiful silks. Shauna was subdued, feeling lonely already at the
thought of their leaving.

An hour later they sat on the balcony eating chawirma and salads, watching the dhows sailing up and down the silver Gulf as the moon hung low in the pitch black sky and stars glimmered
enchantingly. Jenna and Brett had called in to say goodbye and there was laughter and relaxed chat between the adults as the children began to get drowsy and Filomena discreetly and efficiently
undertook the bedtime duties.

Carrie slipped Hannah’s pyjama top over her head and smiled as the toddler’s curly head lolled against her shoulder. Poor Hannah was out for the count. She’d be back in her
routine next week and late night bedtimes would be but a dream.

It was a relaxing evening. Shauna had turned down invites to a barbecue in the beach club in favour of a family night and Carrie was glad. She’d enjoyed her last browse through the souk
with the children and Bobby but she knew that Shauna was feeling down despite her bright facade in front of Jenna and Brett. She was torn herself, hating to leave her brother and sister but looking
forward to seeing her father and getting home.

‘You’ll be home too for the summer,’ she comforted Shauna as they filled the dishwasher before going to bed.

‘I know. It was just so lovely having you and Bobby here. You’re a great sister, Carrie, and I love the kids and Dan. I really miss home sometimes. It’s getting harder to come
back after each summer.’

‘Would you not be bored if you came home? This is a very exotic, jazzy life.’

‘When I go home I’m perfectly happy having elbows-on-the-table lunches with you and Sadie, and Chloe is always very settled with her cousins.’ Shauna turned the dial to the
cycle and switched on the dishwasher. ‘Greg would hate it,’ she added wryly.

‘Tough choice,’ Carrie murmured, not envying her sister one bit.

‘And Della thinks my life is a bed of roses.’ Shauna shook her head.

‘Let’s not even waste our breath talking about her. Let’s have a nightcap with the lads.’

‘OK. And thanks for listening.’

‘A regular agony aunt, that’s me. Stop getting maudlin, for heaven’s sake,’ Carrie urged, waving a bottle of gin. ‘Bring the lemon and the Pringles. Might as well
add another couple of pounds and go up a full stone while I’m at it.’

Shauna laughed and did as she was told.

‘Dad, we’re just leaving Shauna’s now. The flight’s at midnight and we’ll be flying from Schiphol at eight in the morning. We’ll be home
around half ten, all going well.’ Carrie’s voice sounded as though it was coming from next door.

‘I’ll have the kettle on and the place aired,’ Noel promised, longing to see them all.

‘The time went fast, didn’t it? I can’t believe we’re coming home.’ Carrie smiled at the excitement in his voice.

‘I’m looking forward to seeing you. And you know what, Carrie? You might be pleased to know that I wrote a letter to your brother, hoping that he might let bygones be bygones. I
tried to phone a couple of times earlier in the week but there was no answer.’ Noel couldn’t disguise the note of self-satisfaction in his voice.

‘You wrote a letter to
Bobby
?’ Carrie couldn’t hide her surprise.

‘It’s been too long.’ Noel sighed. ‘Your mother wouldn’t be happy the way things are.’

‘No, Dad, Mam wouldn’t be at all happy. She’d be delighted you wrote asking him to let bygones be bygones.’ Carrie stared questioningly at Bobby, who was sitting at the
kitchen counter drinking coffee. He looked shocked and made a face. She beckoned him over sternly.

‘Dad, the reason you didn’t catch Bobby in London is because he flew out here to give us a surprise. I’ll put him on to you.’ She handed the phone to a reluctant Bobby.
‘Go
on.
He’s written a letter of reconciliation to you,’ she hissed. ‘That was hard for him. Do your bit.’

Bobby cleared his throat. ‘Hello, Dad.’

There was silence at the other end of the phone and then he heard Noel’s well-remembered voice.

‘Hello, son,’ his father said gruffly. ‘Are you having a good holiday?’

‘Er . . . great. It was terrific to see the girls and the kids . . . um . . . it’s been a while,’ he managed.

‘Too long. Maybe you might get home in the summer. It would be . . . it would be good to see you.’

‘That would be nice, Dad,’ Bobby said quietly.

‘Yes, well, there’s a letter in the post for you. Maybe we can put the past behind us and start afresh,’ his father said hesitantly.

‘Of course we can.’ Bobby’s heart softened. Holding a grudge was not in his nature. ‘I’ll see you in the summer. And Dad . . .’

‘Yes, son?’

‘Thanks for the letter. I’ll be looking forward to reading it when I get home.’

‘Well I’m not the best at writing letters,’ Noel admitted with a dry chuckle. ‘I just muddled along with it. Enjoy the rest of your holiday now. I’ll just say a
quick hello to Shauna.’

‘’Bye, Dad.’ Bobby swallowed hard as he handed the phone over to his sister. Who would have believed that his father would make the first move towards forgiveness? A pang of
shame made his heart constrict. If it had been left to him, it might never have happened. Maybe Carrie
was
right; maybe he was more like his father than he cared to admit. It wasn’t
something he wanted to dwell on too long.

‘What a wonderful way to end the best holiday I’ve ever had,’ Carrie whispered as she hugged him tight.

‘Stop. I don’t want to bawl,’ he grimaced.

‘OK, but I’m glad,’ she murmured.

‘Me too. I’m looking forward to visiting in the summer now.’

‘It’s going to be the best summer ever,’ Shauna declared. She was glad that Bobby was here for another few days. Saying goodbye to Carrie was the pits.

‘At least the kids will sleep on the plane,’ she said to Carrie an hour later as they tumbled out of the SUV, excited at the thought of going home and wondering what film would be
shown on the flight. Hannah was falling asleep in Dan’s arms.

‘Thanks for a great holiday. Don’t come in,’ Carrie urged. ‘It’s much better not to prolong the goodbyes. We’ll see you in the summer and it won’t be
long coming.’

‘OK.’ Shauna couldn’t hide her tears.

‘Stop, please, Shauna.’ Carrie tried to swallow the lump in her throat.

‘Shauna, get your ass out of here.’ Dan laid Hannah in her buggy and turned to his sister-in-law and enveloped her in a bear hug before giving her a whoosh up into the front seat.
‘And a nice ass it is too.’ He winked and she laughed. Greg waved and started the engine and before Dan had pushed their trolley through Departures they were roaring off in the darkness
along the highway that crossed the desert.

Noel flipped the last of the rashers into the dish holding the sausages, covered it and slid it into the oven. He filled the sizzling pan with sliced mushrooms and seasoned
them with pepper and salt and threw in an extra knob of butter. While he was waiting for them to cook, he buttered slices of brown and white bread and laid them in two bread baskets.

A warm breeze blew in the kitchen window and Davey’s fish swam happily in their tank. Noel had cut the grass front and back and on the island in the kitchen stood a big steak and vegetable
casserole that Mrs O’Neill had thoughtfully cooked for Carrie.

‘The last thing that poor girl will want to do is cook dinner later on so she can pop this in the microwave,’ his friend assured him as she handed him the dish of aromatic food.
‘And make sure to have milk and bread for them until she has time to do a shop,’ she advised. It was good advice. He wouldn’t have thought of it, he reflected, giving the
mushrooms a stir.

He opened a can of beans and tipped them into a saucepan. Davey and Dan loved beans with a fry so they’d go down a treat. He was peckish too, he realized, as the smell of frying mushrooms
made his mouth water.

He heard the crunch of tyres on gravel and his heart leapt as he hurried out to the hall and peered out the window beside the front door. A big maroon people carrier taxi had pulled up outside
and he could see Davey jumping out. Noel flung open the front door, a beam creasing his lined face.

‘Grandpa!’ Davey raced over to him and embraced him tightly. Noel ruffled his tawny head, unable to speak, as Olivia and Hannah galloped over to him squealing with delight.

‘Hello, hello,’ he said gruffly and then Carrie was beside him hugging him, tears in her eyes, and Noel felt more loved than he’d ever felt in his life.

‘Hello, Mr Mac.’ Dan gripped him by the hand and inhaled appreciatively. ‘Is that rashers and sausages I smell?’

‘It certainly is,’ Noel said proudly. ‘I’ve cooked us all a big fry-up. I thought you’d be hungry.’

‘Deadly, Grandpa, we’re
starving
!’ Davey exclaimed. ‘How are my fish?’

‘Alive and kicking – or should I say swimming,’ he joked, delighted that they were home at last.

‘That smells great, Dad. I’m dying for a cup of tea,’ Carrie exclaimed, as Hannah made straight for her toys.

‘Well, sit down there now and I’ll dish up and you can tell me all the news.’ Noel opened the oven and lifted out a big dish of sausages, rashers and fried tomatoes. ‘You
might put them on the plates, Carrie, and I’ll serve the beans and make the tea.’

‘Right,’ she agreed, thinking that he looked a bit pale, and watery around the eyes.

‘Grandpa, this is the best breakfast ever,’ Olivia declared ten minutes later as they settled down round the big pine table and Dan poured tea into their mugs.

‘That’s good.’ Noel smiled at her. ‘It’s the best breakfast ever for the best family in the world. Now tell me
all
the news.’

As Carrie sat listening to her children regaling their grandfather with every detail of their holiday she gave a little prayer of thanks. For the first time in years their family was on an even
keel again and it was a huge relief. Her father and brother’s estrangement had been an underlying worry to her and even the fact that Noel had cooked them a welcome-home breakfast was a
surprising change in behaviour. Maybe their short absence had made him appreciate them. It certainly seemed that way.

Shauna had said that it was going to be the best summer ever and perhaps she was right. Old wounds would be healed and fresh starts would be made. What more could they all ask for?

‘Look, Chloe, it’s our plane. The green one with the big shamrock on the tail. We’ll be home soon. Isn’t it exciting?’ With mounting excitement
Shauna pointed out the big Aer Lingus jet taxiing to a halt at the jetway on the tarmac in front of them.

There was nothing like seeing an Aer Lingus plane in a foreign airport to lift a weary traveller’s heart, she thought happily. Stepping on board was the first real feeling of being home.
No matter how many times she flew, alone or with Greg, she always felt that same frisson of excitement when she saw the familiar green logo on her journey back to Ireland.