Second Time Around (42 page)

‘It’s not too much, is it?’ Suzie frowned. What if the others turned up in jeans?

‘No. It’s perfect. What about me? Will I do? I don’t want to let you down in front of your mates.’

Suzie rolled her eyes. ‘You’d look terrific in a sack, but I do like that colour on you.’ It was a simple sundress in burnt orange and complemented Jess’s tanned arms and
legs. ‘It’s good of you to dress up for me.’

‘It’s not just for you,’ Jess admitted, shyly.

Suzie raised her eyebrows, noting the excited flush in her daughter’s cheeks. ‘Oh?’

‘I’m going to dinner with Cal later. He’s downstairs. He’s going to drop us to Doug’s and pick me up when I’m done.’

‘You and Cal?’ Suzie exclaimed, astonished at this turn of events.

Jess gave a bashful nod. ‘I know. Crazy, right?’

Suzie threw her arms round her and gave her daughter a tight hug. ‘It’s wonderful. I always knew that he was fond of you, but you never seemed interested in him.’

Jess blinked. ‘It was actually the other way round! I always fancied him but he treated me like a little sister.’

‘Well, you’re together now and that’s all that matters.’ Suzie sniffed back her tears and, grabbing a tissue, dabbed her eyes so that her makeup wouldn’t be
ruined.

‘Hey, don’t get too excited,’ Jess cautioned. ‘This is only our second date. It might not work out.’

‘You don’t believe that for a moment.’

Jess smiled broadly, her eyes shining happily ‘No, you’re right. I don’t.’

‘I’m so happy for you.’ Suzie took her arm. ‘Now, let’s go. I can’t wait to show you off.’

Doug threw open the door and beamed at them. ‘Welcome. You both look gorgeous. Thanks for coming, Jess. I know the others will be thrilled to see you again.’

‘Thanks for inviting me. After all Mum’s told me, I’m looking forward to meeting them, too.’

Jess turned to wave at Cal before stepping inside.

‘We only have her for a short time. She’s got a date.’ Suzie hugged Douglas. ‘Are we the first to arrive?’

‘Yes. Come in and I’ll get you both a drink.’

They followed him through to the kitchen and he produced a bottle of champagne.

‘You
are
pushing the boat out,’ Suzie teased. ‘What are we celebrating?’

Doug poured it and handed them their glasses before raising his own. ‘Life?’

‘A few short months ago we thought we’d lost you.’ Jess looked at her. ‘So I’ll definitely drink to that.’

‘Aw, thanks, love.’ Suzie clinked her glass against theirs. ‘But don’t let me have more than two glasses. Remember what happened the last time I drank
champagne.’

Jess’s eyes widened and she turned to Doug. ‘Can you add some water to that, please?’

Suzie laughed but nodded when Doug held the jug up. ‘Yes, please.’

‘I hope you won’t be bored, Jess,’ Doug said, ‘but at least you can have a laugh looking at our old photos.’

‘Are they that bad?’ Jess grinned at him.

‘No idea, but Gina tells me she has tons. You can have a good laugh at your mother’s fashion disasters.’

Suzie pulled a face. ‘Don’t remind me. Is Noreen coming?’

‘No. I asked Gina if she could track her down but, for some reason, she didn’t seem too interested in finding her.’

Suzie laughed and explained to her daughter. ‘She was CML’s receptionist and a right pain.’

‘She was good at her job,’ Doug protested, ‘just a little old-school.’ The doorbell rang and he put down his glass. ‘This might be Amanda.’ He shot Suzie a
worried look.

She clenched her glass but forced herself to smile. ‘Well, you had better let her in, then.’

‘Are you and Mandy fighting?’ Jess murmured, when he’d left them.

‘No. I haven’t talked to her in a while but I remembered some things that made me realise why I didn’t see her that often.’

‘What?’

‘Oh, nothing specific. It just made a mockery of her friendliness since I woke up.’

‘I won’t argue with you there.’ Jess squeezed her hand in a gesture of solidarity and Suzie gave her a grateful smile.

‘Look who’s here!’ Doug walked back into the room followed by Jack and Gina.

‘Suzie? Oh, my God, it’s so great to see you. You look fabulous, love the hair!’

Suzie found herself caught up in a warm hug. ‘Hello, Gina.’ She smiled at the bright-eyed, bubbly woman. ‘You haven’t changed a bit.’

‘Rubbish!’ Gina patted her tummy. ‘But I do have three children to show for it.’

She was slightly heavier, Suzie noticed, but it suited her. She turned to Jack, who bent to kiss her cheek. ‘And look at you.’ She grinned at his goatee. ‘Very George
Clooney.’

‘You see?’ Jack said to his wife. ‘It
is
sexy.’

‘It’s bumfluff,’ Gina said, dismissively.

Suzie laughed. ‘Ha! This is just like old times.’ She looked around for her daughter, who had stepped back and was watching them with an amused smile. Suzie beckoned her over and
slid an arm around her waist. ‘Remember my baby?’

Gina’s eyes widened. ‘Jess?’

‘Yes. Hi.’

Gina kissed Jess’s cheek. ‘I can’t believe it. You’re all grown up and so beautiful. Jack, isn’t she lovely?’

‘She certainly is.’ He smiled and shook Jess’s hand. ‘I think our eldest would love to meet you.’

‘He’s only twenty,’ Gina laughed, ‘but he’s already gone through I don’t know how many girlfriends.’

‘She’s taken,’ Suzie confided, grinning broadly.

‘Mum,’ Jess hissed, blushing.

‘Am I wrong?’ Suzie looked her in the eye and her smile broadened when Jess shook her head, looking like an embarrassed, lovesick teenager.

‘We have so much catching up to do,’ Gina said, accepting a glass from Doug and smiling affectionately at her ex-boss. ‘I want to hear all about you both and what you’ve
been up to. It’s so good to see you again, Doug. How’s the health?’

‘Fine. Creaking along.’

‘You were flitting from country to country and then, bam, you disappeared off the radar. What happened?’ Jack asked, his expression suddenly serious.

Doug was telling them about his new name and his writing when the doorbell rang again. ‘I’ll get it,’ Suzie said and went into the hall. She grinned maliciously, imagining
Mandy’s face when she was greeted by her sister. She flung it open and blinked at the man on the doorstep. ‘Hello?’

‘Suzie!’

She frowned. Did she know this handsome man? Then he gave her a lop-sided grin and she gasped, putting a hand to her mouth. ‘Malcolm?’ He nodded and she threw her arms around him.
‘Oh, Malcolm. I’m sorry, I didn’t recognise you. You look so different.’

‘I’ve lost about three stone since we last met,’ he told her.

‘Well, it suits you. How’s the family?’ she asked, drawing him inside. Thank goodness he hadn’t brought Caroline. Malcolm’s wife had always managed to pour cold
water on any party.

‘All grown up now and Caroline and I are divorced.’

Suzie grimaced. ‘Should I commiserate?’

Mal smiled. ‘No, not at all. We’re both happier.’

‘In that case I’m glad. Where are you working these days?’

‘I have my own accountancy firm in the city centre and I live over the shop.’

‘Good for you,’ she said, delighted that his life had obviously worked out so well.

‘It’s so good to see you again, Suzie. How’s Limerick?’

‘Oh, I left there eleven years ago when my husband was killed in an accident.’

‘Oh, I’m so sorry.’

She nodded but didn’t go into further details. This was a day for celebrating. ‘I live in Kilbarrack now and I’m always in and out of the city. I’m surprised we
haven’t bumped into each other over the years.’

‘We’re here now so let’s make the most of it.’

‘You’re right.’ She hugged him again. ‘Come on. Everyone’s in the kitchen and there’s someone I want you to meet.’

Suzie introduced Malcolm to Jess and left them chatting with Jack while Doug and Gina sat at the breakfast bar catching up. She was content to let the conversation flow around her, glad she
hadn’t been looking back on her time in CML through rose-tinted glasses. They were good people and she hoped that this time they would stay in touch. Her eyes strayed to Malcolm. She’d
seen Gina’s expression when he walked in. She was just as gobsmacked with the transformation. He must be in his mid-fifties, Suzie guessed, but he looked younger than she did. She wondered
how much of that was down to losing weight and how much was due to being free of Caroline.

‘Where are Amanda and the damn caterers?’ Doug looked at his watch.

‘Caterers?’ Gina winked at Suzie. ‘Sure we can send out for pizza.’

‘It’s all organised, or it’s supposed to be,’ he grumbled.

Suzie knew his irritation was less about the food and more about his annoyance with her sister’s meddling in their relationship but that was her battle and one for another day.
Suzie’s eyes were drawn to Malcolm again and she smiled when she caught his eye. He didn’t look away, but returned the smile.

‘What was that song you were always singing when you were pregnant?’ Jack called over to her. ‘You nearly drove us all mad.’

‘ “Bad Medicine”,’ Gina interjected with a groan.

‘Bon Jovi.’ Suzie grinned. ‘I adored him.’

‘I hope you haven’t inherited your mother’s taste in music,’ Jack said to Jess.

She laughed. ‘Some, but not Bon Jovi.’

‘You can’t talk, Jack,’ Suzie retorted. ‘You were big into Madonna.’

‘I think that was more about her sexy costumes than her songs.’ Gina laughed.

Jack smirked at his wife. ‘Someone who had a Jason Donovan poster over her bed is in no position to sneer.’

Suzie raised an eyebrow. ‘How did you know what was over her bed?’

‘I looked up at it a lot.’ Jack winked at her and his wife swatted his backside.

Doug laughed. ‘You two haven’t changed a bit. How have you managed to raise three normal children?’

‘Who said anything about normal?’ Gina quipped, making everyone laugh.

‘The party’s in full swing I see.’

Suzie spun round to see Mandy standing in the doorway. Fuck. She’d been hoping her sister had decided not to come.

‘It would be going a lot better if the caterers had shown up,’ Doug retorted.

‘They’re here now. You were supposed to call them thirty minutes before you wanted the food served.’

Doug opened his mouth to reply but Suzie put a hand on his arm. ‘We’ve been so busy catching up we never noticed. Let’s move into the other room and leave them to sort out
dinner.’

Doug glared at Mandy but allowed himself to be led away.

‘Aren’t you going to introduce me?’ Mandy called after him and Suzie could see the rage in her eyes.

Suzie answered as Doug fumed beside her. ‘Everyone, this is Mandy, my sister, and Doug’s secretary.’

‘Assistant,’ Mandy corrected her.

‘Assistant,’ Suzie repeated, rolling her eyes dramatically.

Everyone laughed and said hello as they passed her to go into the lounge. Mandy frowned when she saw Jess. ‘What are you doing here?’

Looking like a rabbit caught in headlights, Jess turned to Suzie but Doug answered.

‘Jess is an honorary member of CML and the daughter of one of my best employees.’ Doug put a protective arm round Suzie.

‘What?’ Mandy looked totally confused.

Realising that Doug was in a dangerous mood, Suzie answered for him. She noticed that, while they were all drinking champagne and beer, he was holding a glass of Jameson. ‘Sorry, Mandy,
we’ve been having a bit of fun at your expense. I had no idea until the day in the restaurant that Douglas Thornton was also Doug Hamilton, proprietor of CML, the company I worked for before
I got married.’

‘You’ve been stringing me along?’ Mandy looked directly at Doug. ‘You pretended not to know each other.’

‘We all pretend from time to time, don’t we, Amanda? I pretended I didn’t know Suzie. You pretended to be a good sister . . .’

‘Doug.’ Suzie gave him a warning glance.

‘No,’ Mandy said. ‘I want to know what he meant by that.’

Doug looked at Suzie and nodded. ‘I have guests to entertain. Come on, Jess, Suzie.’

‘You go on. I’ll be there in a minute.’ When he was gone Suzie turned back to her stony-faced sister. ‘He’s on the whiskey – don’t mind him.’

‘But I want to know—’

‘Later, Mandy. Tonight isn’t about you. It’s a reunion of very old friends.’

Mandy eyeballed her. ‘And Jess.’

‘And Jess. Now, can you please get a move on with dinner?’ she said, and swept from the room, taking enormous pleasure from the furious look on her sister’s face.

Suzie tried to get back into party mood, but Mandy’s silent, brooding presence and steady consumption of wine was hard to ignore. She looked around and caught
Malcolm’s eye.

‘Okay?’ he mouthed, looking concerned.

She nodded and gave him a grateful smile, covering her glass with her hand as Jack went to refill it. Someone needed to keep a level head and, although Doug had returned to his earlier good
form, he was still knocking back the whiskey.

The conversation turned to the evening that Suzie went into labour and Jess laughed until she cried as Gina told the story in her own dramatic fashion. Malcolm was the hero of the hour, she
finished off, and he took a humble bow.

‘My hero,’ Suzie laughed.

‘And where was John?’ Mandy’s voice rang out, silencing them.

Suzie felt the tension in the room and was determined to dispel it. Mandy had caused her enough trouble already and, if she didn’t put a sock in it, Doug would strangle
her.

‘I hadn’t met John.’ She gave her daughter a reassuring smile. ‘He’s not Jess’s dad.’

‘What? Why am I only hearing this now? Do Sharon and Noel know?’

‘They do now. It was a secret because that was the way John wanted it, and I respected his wishes. It would still be a secret if Jess hadn’t stumbled on some baby
pictures.’

‘And thought I was her father.’ Doug chuckled.

‘You were like a dad to her,’ Suzie insisted, taking the opportunity to turn the focus away from her sister. ‘You adored him, Jess. He would read to you and you would sit in
the window, watching for his car every evening. Pamela, Doug’s wife, was the one who rescued you from that dog.’