It's All About Him (9 page)

'Were you still working as a barman?'

He shook his head. 'No, there was way too much temptation in the bars. I got a job as a bus driver. I took tourists back and forth between the hotels and the airport and when I wasn't working I'd go back to the flat. It was almost fifty miles inland and by the time I'd get there I'd only have time for a few hours' sleep before going back to work; there was little opportunity for me to get up to anything.'

'That was a clever move,' Dee admitted.

He nodded. 'It worked for me. Don't get me wrong, I had a few slips along the way, but I came out the other side. I've turned my life around, Dee. I saved every penny and when my boss decided he'd had enough of the sun, I bought him out.'

Dee frowned. 'When was that?'

'Just a few months ago.'

'So you're making Spain your permanent home.'

He shrugged. 'I'm not sure yet. I'm thinking of starting up a branch here.'

Dee's eyes widened. 'I see.'

'I'll be around for a few months anyway.' He looked at her and then reached into his pocket for a business card. 'I'd love to meet Sam, I'd like to get to know him, but I can understand that you might need time to think about it.'

'Neil, I really don't think—'

He stood up. 'Please, Dee, don't say anything now, just think about it. You can phone me anytime, anytime at all.'

Dee followed him out into the hall and opened the front door. For the first time she noticed the gleaming BMW convertible outside the door.

Neil followed her gaze and shrugged. 'Business is good.'

She turned the business card over and over between her fingers. 'Don't expect anything, Neil. I'm going to have to give this a lot of thought.'

'I understand that, Dee. You say when, the ball's in your court.' He touched her arm lightly, and smiled. 'Thank you for listening. I can't tell you how much it means.'

Dee watched him walk down the path and climb behind the wheel of the expensive car and then went back inside. In the kitchen she opened the envelope and stared at the cheque. Five thousand euros! That was almost three times what he had taken from her and even with interest it was way too much. She'd have to return it. The last person she wanted to be beholden to was Neil Callen.

'You bloody won't return it!' Lisa had retorted later when they were sitting at the kitchen table with two mugs of tea.

Dee had abandoned her cooking plans and just dumped the prepared vegetables in a large pot for soup. She had wandered around the house after Neil had left, running through their conversation and staring at the cheque in her hands. Finally, confused and distracted, she'd called Lisa. Ger was off playing golf for the day and Lisa was at a loose end so she'd agreed to come straight over.

'I can't believe it,' Lisa said, 'after all this time. How does he look?'

'Fantastic. He's filled out in all the right places and looks much more of a man.'

Lisa's eyes narrowed. 'I hope you're not going to fall for him all over again.'

'Don't be mad, after what he put me through?'

'Yes, well, don't you forget it. I don't know about you, but I can never forgive him.'

Lisa had been the one to pick up the pieces when Dee had arrived home from Greece, distraught and inconsolable. She had been the one to support Dee through her pregnancy and act as a buffer when Aunt Pauline had called her niece a slut and a tart.

'She's Sam's only relative,' Dee had reasoned when Lisa had asked why she had anything to do with the old witch. 'And she can't help the way she is; she's a product of her upbringing.'

'Your mum wasn't like that,' Lisa had pointed out. Her memories of Catherine Hewson were of a quiet, gentle woman who lived for her daughter.

'No,' Dee had agreed, 'but Pauline was the eldest and always much more controlling than Mum.'

'She's a bully,' Lisa had retorted, 'who walks all over everyone, especially poor Jack. How did he ever marry her?'

It amused Dee that Lisa could be so tough on Pauline and Neil and yet see nothing wrong with Ger and how he treated her. That was the problem with being in love with someone; you exaggerated the good points and tried to ignore the bad ones. Not that Dee for one moment thought that Lisa was in love, more likely she was in love with the idea of being in love. Lisa loved being in a relationship, she loved being part of a couple and she got very depressed when she was single. Whether that was because she missed a man's company or just craved to have children with someone – anyone – Dee wasn't sure.

'So are you going to let him meet Sam?'

Lisa's voice pulled her back to the present and reminded her of the conundrum she faced. 'I don't know.' It was nearly three weeks ago now since she had received that awful bill and wondered how she was going to manage. Now there was a cheque for five thousand euros burning a hole in her pocket.

'I really don't think it's a good idea,' Lisa continued. 'I mean, anyone can say that they own a huge company in another country, who's to say it's actually true?'

'I can. He gave me his business card and I went on to the Internet and found Continental Coaches, based in Benidorm.'

'He could have forged the business card,' Lisa pointed out. 'And even if it's true, it's still no guarantee that he's kicked the gambling for good.'

'No,' Dee agreed, 'but he's definitely different. He couldn't have been more understanding, not in the least bit pushy. He says the ball's in my court now and he'll wait for my call.'

Lisa laughed. 'How very big of him! Dee, have you forgotten this guy stole from you? You could pick the phone up right now and call the cops.'

'Aren't you forgetting about this?' Dee waved the cheque under her nose.

'If a bank robber brings back the loot they don't say, "Thanks very much, off you go".'

'It's not the same, Lisa, and I would never go to the police.'

'More fool you.'

'He's still Sam's dad.'

'Is he? Is he really? Conor's been more of a dad to Sam these last couple of years.'

'I know.' Dee sighed. 'I always thought that if he showed up I would slam the door in his face, honestly I did, but if Neil has really changed how can I stop Sam getting to know him? If he found out about it later in life he'd never forgive me.' She groaned. 'This is so bloody hard, Lisa, so bloody hard.'

Lisa took her hand and squeezed it. 'Don't rush into anything, Dee.'

'I'm not going to,' Dee assured her.

'Good girl. You need to think long and hard about this and then,' she shrugged, 'if you still want Sam to meet the asshole, I'll support you one hundred per cent.'

Dee laughed. 'Thanks.'

'Are you going to tell Conor?'

Dee frowned. 'I suppose so. God, I can't think straight. It's so hard to process all of this with a hangover.'

Lisa rooted in her bag and produced some paracetemol. 'Take two of these and we'll open a bottle of wine.'

'Don't have any.' Dee gulped down the tablets and took a drink of water straight from the tap.

Lisa looked at her watch. 'When are you expecting Conor and Sam back?'

'Not for a couple of hours.'

'Then let's go down to Better Books and have one of your marvellous lunches. What's on the menu?'

Dee grinned. 'Curry.'

'Oh, yes, that's exactly what we need!'

'Hello, you two!'

'Hi, Zoe, how's it going?'

'It's been crazy all morning and I think it's about to get worse; Sunday lunch is always busy.'

'At least you finish at four,' Dee consoled her.

'And I'm off tomorrow.' Zoe grinned. 'I can't wait. So are you two having lunch? I'll get the menus—'

'No need, we'll have two curries,' Dee told her.

Zoe looked from one white face to the other and grinned. 'Oh, of course, you were out last night. How did it go?'

Lisa rolled her eyes. 'When we remember, we'll tell you.'

'That sounds like my kind of night!'

'Hello, ladies.' Ronan had come through from the shop and stopped when he saw them. 'Come to eat your own food, Dee?'

She nodded and instantly regretted it as her head throbbed. 'Don't really feel up to cooking today.
She
' – Dee nodded at Lisa – 'dragged me out on the town last night.'

'
She
also dragged you home again,' Lisa pointed out.

Ronan laughed. 'I take it that means you enjoyed yourselves.'

'Yeah, it was a good night.' Though, Dee realized, after the morning she'd had, her night out was now a dim and distant memory.

'Well, you'll be glad to know your son won't be back for a while yet, Julia's taken him off out for the afternoon.'

Dee's eyes widened. 'I thought he was out with Conor?'

Ronan shook his head. 'Conor has a sick cow, so rather than have Sam knocking around the farm on his own, he dropped him off at our place.'

'He should have brought him home,' Dee said tightly. 'I'm sorry about that, Ronan, I'll go and fetch him right now.'

'What?' Ronan stared at her. 'Why would you do that? He and Julia are having a grand time.'

'Still, it's an imposition.'

'Ah for God's sake, girl, sure you're practically family. Now relax and enjoy your meal and don't worry so much.'

Dee gazed after him, wondering what she should do. Julia had no comprehension of Sam's allergies and was likely to feed him all sorts of rubbish.

'He'll be fine,' Lisa said, recognizing the look on Dee's face. 'He won't eat anything that will sicken him. He's a smart kid, Dee, and he's growing up.'

Dee nodded and was surprised to feel tears pricking at her eyes. Sam wouldn't need her for much longer, he'd be starting school in September – six months! – and then he really would be independent.

'Practically family, eh?' Lisa's eyes twinkled.

'What?' Dee looked up absently.

'Ronan; he said you were practically family. That doesn't really tie in with what you were saying last night.'

Dee was lost for a moment and then she had a flashback to the scene in the restaurant and how she'd poured her heart out in the loo afterwards. 'Oh, God.'

Lisa made a face. 'Ah, sorry, I thought you'd remember.'

'I do now. Lord, I made such an eejit of myself,' she groaned. 'Lauren and Sheila must think I'm a right gobshite.'

Zoe arrived with two plates of steaming chicken curry and two glasses of milk.

'I've given you extra-large portions,' she told them.

'We didn't order milk,' Lisa said.

'No, I know, but it's perfect with the curry and will settle your stomach. Trust me, I'm an expert, I know what I'm talking about.'

'She's right,' Dee said when Lisa looked sceptical, 'you'll feel almost human after this.'

'No, I'll need a nap after this,' Zoe corrected. 'Then I just might feel human.'

'No time for naps,' Dee muttered, 'I need to get Sam before Julia poisons him.' As she tucked into her curry her mobile phone beeped, indicating she'd received a text message. Pulling it out of her pocket she read the message and smiled.

'What?' Lisa asked.

' "Sam with Mum but don't worry, told her I'd feed him, see you later, x, Conor." ' Dee laughed. 'He knows me so well.'

'He does,' Lisa agreed, 'and that's why you should tell him you love him.'

'Oh, please, don't start that again.' Dee put down her fork and sank back in her chair.

'I'm sorry, but I just think it's so silly. He loves you, how can you doubt it? It's written all over his face every time he looks at you. And look at how great he is with Sam.'

'Then why doesn't he say something?'

'Maybe he's afraid it will scare you off. You are so independent, Dee, so capable, so self-sufficient.'

'Me!' Dee spluttered on her milk.

Lisa nodded and paused to eat some food. 'God, this is gorgeous.'

'Thanks.'

'But yes, you and Sam are such a tight, complete little family and you don't seem to need anyone else.'

'That's not true. I mean, who's minding Sam right now, sorry, is supposed to be minding Sam right now?'

'I bet he had to persuade you to let him,' Lisa said with a knowing grin.

Dee scowled at her. 'You'll understand when you have kids of your own and it's even harder to let go if you're a single parent.'

'Hey, I'm not having a go at you.'

'Good, because I'm really not up to it.' Dee bent her head over her food, annoyed with her friend. She knew Lisa meant well but did she have to go on so much? What gave her the right to pass judgement on her love life when she was making such a mess of her own? And yes, maybe she and Sam were close, but that was hardly surprising.

Dee felt her most important job in life was to be there for her son and he was, in essence, her world. Conor was wonderful and Sam adored him but she was terrified that one day he was going to turn around and tell her it was over. Though they had been almost inseparable for more than two years, Conor made no noises about making their relationship more permanent. Sometimes Dee thought she should break up with him just so that she would have control over the hurt that it would cause both her and her son but she could never quite work up the nerve.

Lisa scraped up the last bit of curry off her plate. 'That was good. I'm beginning to feel very slightly better. I wonder how Lauren and Sheila are doing.'

'I hope Lauren is suffering; it was her idea to order those tequila shots at the end of the night.'

Lisa shuddered. 'I wish I'd been as sensible as Sheila and refused them. Do you know, for every drink she had, she had a glass of water?'

'She's very sensible,' Dee agreed. 'She was probably out for her constitutional at seven this morning.'

Zoe came to clear the dishes away and they ordered tea for Dee and coffee for Lisa. 'Industrial strength,' Lisa told the girl. 'So, what are you going to do about Neil?' she asked when they were alone again.

Dee said nothing for a moment as she thought back on her reaction when she'd found Neil on her doorstep that morning. She had been shocked, angry and, at the same time, thrilled to be finally able to discuss her son with his father. And maybe it was because he looked so much like Sam but she found it hard to maintain her anger especially in light of his supposed redemption. 'Talk to him again, I suppose,' she said finally.