The Heartbreak Cafe (3 page)

She
wondered idly if Emer’s husband Dave would be taking her out for
dinner tonight. Probably not; finding a babysitter would
undoubtedly be difficult, and anyway, Jess suspected the still-new
parents might find it a wrench to leave their precious baby
daughter with anyone. Still, she wondered now if she should forgo
her quiet night in tonight and at least offer to look after Amy
just in case the two of them would like some time on their own. She
could be down there by seven, barring heavy traffic, and still
allowing enough time to pop back home to her own place to pick up
an overnight bag.

Yes,
that’s what she’d do, Jess thought, checking the time on her mobile
phone before dialling her friend’s home number. It was just after
five-thirty; Emer was sure to be home but she hoped the ringing
wouldn’t interrupt poor Amy’s nap or something. For this reason,
she was nearly always wary of phoning Emer’s house or mobile
without warning as she could only imagine how frustrating it must
be for new mums trying to get a young baby settled.

‘
You’d swear you had experience with this kind of thing,’ Brian
often teased her, making fun of her concerns, when they both knew
that Jess hadn’t the foggiest idea about babies or what was
involved in raising them.

‘
It doesn’t take a genius to work out that noise wakes people –
tiny or otherwise,’ she’d retorted tartly.

Now, as
she waited for Emer to answer the phone, she seriously hoped that
this wasn’t a bad time and that her friend wouldn’t be cursing her
from a height when she picked up.

‘
Hello?’ Emer said somewhat tiredly and Jess winced.

‘
Oops, sorry – I hope I haven’t woken her up?’

‘
What? Oh hi Jess, how are you? No, you haven’t woken Amy up,
she’s here beside me.’

‘
Oh great, I’m nearly always holding my breath about phoning at
the wrong time, just in case. So how is she? And how are you?
Looking forward to tomorrow?’

‘
Tomorrow….’

Jess
smiled. ‘Come on – stop trying to fool me by pretending it’s no big
deal. Every birthday is a big deal Emer, especially when this time
you’ll be getting a card that says Mummy on it.’

‘
I know, that will be weird.’

‘
Well, I don’t want to keep you as I’m sure you’re up to your
eyes, but I just wondered if you and Dave wanted a night out on
your own tonight, or tomorrow night even? I’d be happy to watch
Amy. Brian’s away this weekend so I could come down and stay
over?’

‘
Oh …’

Jess
raised an eyebrow, wondering why her friend sounded so taken aback
by this. Or wait no, was it more like … uncomfortable? Thinking
about it now maybe it was stupid of her to offer and perhaps Emer
wouldn’t in a million years dream of leaving her baby daughter with
someone of limited experience, and no real idea about what was
involved? But Jess was certain it would be a piece of cake; Amy was
a little darling and thanks to Brian’s extended family, she wasn’t
completely clueless when it came to changing nappies and suchlike.
But whatever her reasons, Emer definitely didn’t sound enthusiastic
at the prospect.

‘
Thanks for the offer Jess, that’s really nice of you but it’s
fine. We don’t really fancy going out.’

‘
Are you sure? No need to worry; I’m positive I could handle
her and -’

‘
It’s nothing like that, honestly, it’s just that … well we’d
really rather just have a quiet night in – no fuss you
know?’

‘
OK … well as long as you’re sure. And don’t ever be afraid to
ask either; you know I’d only be too delighted to give you guys a
break.’

‘
I know that, thanks Jess.’

‘
So will you be around tomorrow? I was going to pop down with
your birthday present.’

‘
Oh you really shouldn’t have. But yes, we’ll be at home all
day, although around lunchtime would probably be best.’

‘
No problem. Hopefully the nice weather will hold. It’s great
at the moment, isn’t it? Must be brilliant for you and Amy to be
able to spend time out in the garden.’

‘
We’re really enjoying it, yes.’

Unlike
her and Brian’s postage stamp in Booterstown, Emer and Dave’s house
had the benefit of a huge back garden with plenty of space for Amy
when she got to running-around age. One of the major benefits of
moving to the countryside, Jess supposed.

‘
Well, hopefully we’ll get a chance to grab a few rays
tomorrow. I’ll bring a bottle of bubbly, and maybe I can wrangle
you into having a sneaky glass over lunch – just for your
birthday.’ As far as she knew Emer was still off alcohol, her
friend having decided well before her pregnancy that it was no
longer appropriate for her to be behaving like the town wino. A
casualty of their profession, Jess knew, (although some people
might call it a perk) but she knew where her friend was coming
from. Working for a drinks company inevitably led to lots and lots
of alcohol-related and themed social events and gatherings over the
years, and while Emer had since got off that particular
merry-go-round, Jess was still very much in full, ahem …
flow.

Emer
laughed. ‘We’ll see how it goes.’

‘
Great. Well, enjoy your quiet night in, and I’ll see you
tomorrow. Give Amy a kiss for me, won’t you?’

‘
Will do Jess. See you then.’

The
following day Jess got in her Mercedes SLK and reached Lakeview
around lunchtime, having phoned Emer on the way to ask if she
needed her to bring anything.

‘
Thanks a mill, but no,’ her friend replied, sounding a bit
groggy and Jess deduced that the baby must have been keeping her up
the previous night.

Well,
hopefully her new handbag would give her a boost, she thought,
looking forward to seeing her friend’s face when she opened the
specially-wrapped gift box. Emer was always admiring Jess’s own
faithful Jimmy Choo and now that the Kellerman’s were a one-income
household, she suspected that Emer didn’t have a whole lot of money
to spend on herself. Another reason Jess felt she deserved
something a little bit special.

‘
Oh dear, bad night with Amy?’ she said sympathetically to Emer
upon arrival, catching sight of her friend’s grey and rather
haggard appearance as they went through to the kitchen. Actually,
she looked pretty much like she used to after one of their many
nights out on the town.

‘
No no, she was fine,’ Emer said, waving away Jess’s concern.
‘Dave had to go out for the afternoon but he says to say
hi.’

‘
Oh sorry I missed him. Well, anyway  before I forget, happy
birthday!’

‘
What’s this?’ Emer looked mystified by the large Brown Thomas
gift box Jess handed to her. ‘Don’t say that’s for me.’

‘
Of course it’s for you,’ Jess said grinning.

‘
Jess, I –’

‘
Oh go on and just open the bloody thing. And don’t say
anything else till you do.’

‘
Well…’ Emer untied the soft black ribbon and slowly lifted
back the folds of tissue paper. And when she finally revealed the
magnificent leather bag, she froze, and her face flushed in
appreciation … or discomfort, Jess couldn’t be sure.

‘
Do you like it?’ she asked, worried now that she’d chosen the
wrong option. Maybe this was too OTT and the Fendi would have been
much more Emer’s style? ‘Perhaps the colour is a bit tricky but –
’

‘
It’s amazing. Wow Jess, I don’t know what to say …’

‘
You don’t need to say anything. I know it’s a bit unexpected
but I really wanted to get you something nice this time, something
special I suppose after everything you’ve been through this
year.’

‘
I just can’t believe it. I’m gob-smacked, never in a million
years did I expect something like … or that you would…’

‘
Well, of course you didn’t expect it; it wouldn’t be a
surprise then, would it?’ Jess smiled, pleased that her gift seemed
to be having the desired effect, although she really hoped it
hadn’t made Emer uncomfortable or anything – or worse, made her
worry that she had to return the favour. ‘Look, this is just a once
off, something to celebrate you becoming a mum, and your birthday
of course, but also just for being a great friend for all these
years, you know?’

Emer was
shaking her head. ‘I just can’t believe it. And Prada! Jess this
really must have cost you a fortune.’

‘
It’s nothing really. I got a surprise bonus last month so it’s
really no big deal.’ That wasn’t strictly true but if it made Emer
feel better then…

‘
No big deal? Wow, looks like I got out of the game too soon.
That promotion obviously has you rolling in it.’ And did Jess
imagine it, or was there a slight tinge of … resentment in her
tone? No surely not, Emer was the one who’d decided to bow out of
the workplace in order to move to Lakeview and concentrate on
family life, and she knew better than anyone how hard Jess
worked.

‘
Well not quite, but unlike you, I suppose I don’t really have
anyone else to spend it on but oh, speaking of which…’ Jess reached
again into the bag and took out the small teddy bear. ‘This is for
Amy.’

‘
Thank you – again. I’m sure she’ll love it.’ But although her
friend sounded normal enough, Jess still thought she noticed
something on the edge of her tone.

Oh she
was probably just imagining it, she thought shaking off the
feeling. Maybe Emer was just wrong-footed by her extravagance with
the handbag and still a little taken aback to respond as
enthusiastically as Jess had hoped?

‘
Where is Amy anyway?’ she asked.

‘
Out on the decking in her bouncer – and still asleep, I hope.
Will a sandwich be OK for you for lunch? I didn’t have to time to
prepare much –’

‘
A sandwich is perfect and don’t go to any fuss, anything at
all will be fine. Actually, do you want me to sort out something
while you go and check on her?’ Jess didn’t want Emer to feel as
though she needed to wait on her hand and foot, especially when
she’d obviously had such a hard night.

‘
No, it’s fine, I’ve got some made up. Orange juice OK
too?’

‘
Perfect.’ Somehow for reasons Jess still couldn’t identify,
the vibe didn’t seem right for champagne.

‘
You know you could have told me to get lost today if you
wanted to,’ she said to Emer when they were seated outside at the
patio table, Amy sleeping peacefully alongside them.

‘
Get lost?’

‘
Well, if you weren’t up to having visitors.’ Jess couldn’t
think of any other reason why the atmosphere between her and Emer
seemed so strained. It couldn’t be about the bag could it? Had she
got that really wrong and made her friend uncomfortable rather than
delighted?

‘
Not at all, it’s fine,’ her friend said, but her tone
definitely didn’t make Jess feel any happier.

‘
Right. Well cheers then,’ she said, holding her glass of
orange juice aloft. ‘Happy Birthday.’

‘
Thanks Jess, and thanks so much again for the beautiful
handbag. I’m floored by it.’

‘
As I said, you deserve it.’ Jess smiled. ‘I don’t know what
the hell you’ll wear it with but –’

Just then
Emer’s doorbell rang, and her friend jumped up to answer it. ‘I
wonder who that is?’ she said frowning. ‘I’m not expecting anyone
…’

A few
seconds later, she returned with a woman Jess didn’t recognise, but
who was carrying a baby that looked a little bit older than
Amy.

‘
Jess this is Grainne, one of the neighbours.’

Jess
stood up to greet her. ‘Really nice to meet you. And who’s this
gorgeous little fellow?’ she cooed, smiling at the little boy the
woman held in her arms.

‘
This is Ross. And great to meet you too,’ Grainne said before
turning again to Emer. ‘Listen I’m sorry to interrupt, but amid
last night’s craziness, I think Ross might have left his toy here.
It’s a little black and white thing that looks like it might have
been a dog at one stage, except for the two chewed off
paws?’

‘
Oh right. I don’t think I’ve seen it,’ Emer replied, but there
was no mistaking the deep red flush that appeared on her face and
travelled all the way down her neck.

Jess was
perplexed. What on earth was up with Emer today? Anyone would think
that she was embarrassed at having her here. What was going on? And
what did Grainne mean by last night’s craziness?

‘
Not to worry. Maybe one of the other kids picked it up. I can
only blame myself for not being um…observant enough to keep an eye
on it. And the O’Connors weren’t much better. I blame Emer for
force-feeding us all that booze, or should I say force-drinking,’
she added winking at Jess. ‘Great barbeque though,’ she added to
Emer, who didn’t seem to know where to look. ‘I met Jill Carney
earlier and she’s as bad as I am – none of us are able for late
nights anymore. Oh, and happy birthday again.’

Now it
was Jess turn to feel wrong-footed. Late nights? Didn’t Emer tell
her when she offered to baby-sit last night that she and Dave were
having a quiet night in? But instead it seemed they’d hosted a big
birthday barbeque. Not that it was any of Jess’s business what they
did or didn’t do, but why lie about it?