Divided Loyalties (32 page)

Hanging up like that had been the coward’s way out, he thought, staring into the flickering fire. If it was Mrs O’Neill, she would have just plunged in and got on with it. His
neighbour was a stalwart woman, he acknowledged. Carrie had only been away less than two weeks and he was just about coping. Mrs O’Neill had fended for herself for the past few years, apart
from a couple of visits from children who lived on the other side of the world. She was someone to look up to, he admitted as he took a deep breath and went back out to the phone. He redialled
nervously and waited for an answer but the phone rang and rang and eventually he hung up. He didn’t know whether he was relieved or sorry that Bobby hadn’t been there. With a deep sigh
he pulled on his coat. He’d promised Davey that he would feed his fish. Mrs O’Neill had kindly performed the deed while he’d been incapacitated, but he was feeling better and he
needed to get out and about again. He’d been racking his brains as to how he could thank his neighbour for her kindness and he’d decided to plant up two hanging baskets for her to hang
on either side of her front door. She’d be delighted with that, he knew. She wasn’t much of a gardener but she loved flowers. He’d go to the garden centre and get some bedding
plants. Noel felt quite cheerful as he locked his front door after him. If he’d lifted the phone once to try to contact his son he could do it again. If his wife was looking down on him
she’d be pleased. The thought gave him comfort and he decided he’d stop at the grave on his way home and have a chat with his dear Anna.

‘What does this woman look like?’ Carrie asked as passengers began to emerge into the arrivals hall and crowd along the glass barrier to get their visas.

‘Blondish, from what I remember. Tall and skinny. She’ll know me when she sees me.’ Shauna strained to see if she could recognize a face in the throng.

‘You should have made a sign.’ Carrie could see other greeters holding up signs with names written on them.

‘No need for that; there’s the person I’m looking for.’ Shauna pointed towards another wave of arrivals.

‘I don’t see any tall, skinny blond wom—’ Carrie’s jaw dropped in recognition. ‘Oh my God! Bobby! It’s Bobby!’ she exclaimed, turning to Shauna,
who was grinning from ear to ear.

‘Surprise surprise!’

Bobby was waving dramatically, his face wreathed in smiles as Shauna stood on her tippy toes and handed over his visa.

‘How are my darlings?’ he called through the glass.

‘Hurry on and get your skinny ass out here,’ Shauna ordered, trying not to cry as she saw tears slide down her sister’s cheeks. ‘Stop it,’ she gulped, ‘or
you’ll have me at it.’

‘When did you plan this?’ Carrie rooted in her bag for a tissue. She was overwhelmed.

‘Ages ago. I thought it would be nice to be together and I know that he won’t go home for a visit. It’s such a shame. He hasn’t seen Chloe since she was a
toddler.’

‘He hasn’t seen Hannah at all.’ Carrie sniffled. ‘He’s an awful brat.’

‘It’s a terrible way to be, estranged from your father. I never thought he’d stay away from home so long,’ Shauna murmured as she watched her brother join the queue for
passport and immigration control.

‘Both of them are as stubborn as each other.’ Carrie sighed.

‘Here he is, come on.’ Shauna grabbed her by the arm and they moved towards the exit. Moments later Bobby’s long, thin arms were wrapped round them as he hugged the daylights
out of them.

‘The two of you look fantastic. Aw, girls, it’s
great
to see you. Where are the kids?’

‘We’re meeting them for dinner in a Mexican restaurant.’ Shauna squeezed him tight, thrilled at how well her surprise had worked.

‘I can’t believe it.’ Carrie shook her head as they walked out of the airport. ‘How did you keep it to yourself?’

‘With great difficulty.’ Shauna laughed as she led the way to the car. ‘I’d say something and have to stop in the middle of it. My nerves were shot.’

There were squeals of delight when they walked into the restaurant three-quarters of an hour later. ‘Bobby, Bobby!’ Davey and Olivia shot out of their seats and Dan did a double take
as he saw the laughing trio walk towards their table.

‘Hello, stranger.’ He stood up and held out his hand to his brother-in-law.

‘How are you, Bobby?’ Greg stood up and shook hands before calling to the waiter. ‘A beer?’

‘You bet,’ Bobby said gratefully, untangling himself from his niece and nephew.

‘A pitcher of margaritas for you ladies?’ Greg, ever the urbane host, asked.

‘Lovely.’ Carrie took Hannah out of her high chair. ‘Meet your Uncle Bobby, Hannah.’ She smiled at her daughter.

‘Well hellooo, beautiful!’ Bobby stared at his little redheaded niece. Hannah hid her face in her mother’s neck. ‘Don’t be shy with me,’ he urged.

‘What can you expect?’ Carrie said a little tartly.

‘You can give out to me later, Carrie, I’m thirsty and I’m starving and I know I’ve a lecture coming.’ Bobby grimaced.

‘Sorry.’ She had the grace to apologize.

‘Yeah, stop doing the older sister bit,’ Shauna teased, lightening the atmosphere.

‘OK OK.’ Carrie held up her hands.

‘And how is my Chloe?’ Bobby kissed the top of his niece’s curls.

‘Hello.’ She dimpled shyly.

‘Hello yourself,’ he said easily, sitting beside her.

‘Sit by me,’ Olivia pouted.

‘No, me,’ Chloe insisted.

‘Me.’ Hannah joined in.

‘He’s here five minutes and he’s causing a row.’ Shauna smiled at her younger brother as she handed him the menu. ‘Choose and let’s tuck in.’

It was an uproarious and joyful meal. The children, sensing their parents’ infectious good humour, were giddy and excited and Shauna was delighted, and hugely relieved that her row with
Greg was over. She was in terrific form. Greg had told her to leave the car in the restaurant car park. They’d get a taxi home. By her third margarita she was flying.

‘Exotic city,’ Bobby said admiringly a couple of hours later as they drove past Davey’s favourite roundabout, the one with the massive coffee pot with the three cups
illuminated against the inky black sky.

‘We’ve loads to show you,’ Davey assured him. ‘Wait until you see the dhows.’

‘No, wait until you see the souk. They have
everything
. Gold as well,
’
Olivia informed him.

‘Gold! Wow!’

‘I have a gold charm bracelet,’ Chloe piped up.

‘Stop boasting, Chloe. You’re always boasting,’ Olivia said irritably.

‘I’m not boasting,’ Chloe retorted. ‘I
have
got a charm bracelet and a gold bangle
and
a gold chain. ’Cos my dad’s rich.’

‘So is mine,’ snapped her cousin.

‘Stop fighting, you girls,’ Davey ordered. ‘It’s great that you’re here, Bobby, you just get fed up of girls sometimes.’

‘Indeed,’ Bobby drawled. ‘Tell me about it.’

Shauna giggled. She was well on.

Two hours later, when the children were in bed and Filomena had gone to her room, Bobby rummaged in his rucksack and produced a bottle of Baileys and one of Tia Maria.

‘Oooh, Baileys! Lovely,’ sighed Carrie, sprawled barefoot on the sofa.

‘I was petrified those police that got on the plane at Dhahran were going to discover it,’ Bobby remarked, referring to the religious police who boarded the flight when it touched
down in the Saudi airport. ‘It’s a bit nerve-racking, isn’t it? Don’t think Saudi would be my scene.’

‘
This
is my scene,’ grinned Shauna as she waved some liqueur glasses around. ‘Get some ice, Greg, and let’s party.’

‘Oh, I bought some crisps as well,’ Bobby remembered.

‘Proper crisps! Oh, I’ve died and gone to heaven.’ Shauna sighed, as happy as a lark, thrilled to have her siblings together so far from home. It was the best night of
Carrie’s stay, they agreed as they wended their woozy ways to bed several hours later.

‘I’m dying,’ Shauna muttered when she woke to see Greg emerging from the en suite, showered and shaved for work.

‘I did try to tell you not to mix your drinks,’ he said unsympathetically as he tightened the knot in his tie. ‘I’ll be home late, I’ve got that business dinner in
the Hilton.’

‘Don’t talk about dinner.’ Shauna groaned as a devil danced a hornpipe in her head. She closed her eyes and never heard him leave for work.

Carrie looked the worse for wear as she staggered along to the kitchen a couple of hours later. Dan had taken the children for a walk by the sea and Bobby was snoring his head off on the sofa.
It was Filomena’s day off.

‘Wake up, you.’ Shauna poked her brother in the rump and stood over him with a cup of steaming coffee.

‘Aaaagh! Oh, my head.’ He struggled to sit up, his hair a straw yellow mop on his head.

‘You look a sight.’ Carrie grinned.

‘Did you look in the mirror yourself this morning?’ he retorted grumpily. ‘Hell! I’m renouncing drink,’ he moaned as he sipped his coffee. ‘Where’s
everyone?’

‘Dan, who can hold his liquor, thank God, has taken the kids for a walk to allow us time to sober up and make ourselves presentable.’ Carrie yawned and winced as the movement caused
her needles of pain.

‘Do something about that sun, turn it down or something.’ Bobby squinted at Shauna.

‘Deal with it,’ she muttered, handing him her sunglasses.

An hour later, feeling slightly revived after showering and dressing, they sat on the balcony eating croissants dripping with butter and jam.

‘Have some fruit and yoghurt,’ Shauna urged, proffering a dish of fresh fruit that she’d sliced and diced.

‘Fresh strawberries and mangoes for brekkie. I could learn to adapt to this lifestyle.’ Bobby helped himself to a generous portion and spooned some yoghurt over it.

‘Do you think I should get those spices for Della?’ Carrie buttered another croissant and tried not to think of the calorie content.

‘Don’t even think about it,’ Shauna advised.

‘OK,’ Carrie agreed, not needing much persuasion.

‘Did you ever think we’d end up all together eating brekkie in a posh apartment in the Persian Gulf?’ Bobby sat back in his chair contentedly. ‘You’ve done well for
yourself, Shauna.’

‘I suppose I have,’ she agreed. ‘Even though it’s taken you long enough to come out here.’

‘Ah don’t give out to me,’ he wheedled.

‘Why not? You deserve giving out to.’ She eyed him caustically.

‘OK! Get it over with. So I’m a black sheep for not visiting, or coming home.’ He looked at Carrie, waiting for her to chip in.

She shrugged. ‘If you don’t want to come home that’s up to you, but just because you’re not speaking to Dad doesn’t mean you can’t come and visit
us.’

‘Aw, come on now, Carrie, be reasonable. How could I do that? Come home to Whiteshells Bay and not visit the old buzzard? Even
I’m
not that callous,’ he retorted.

‘So we all have to suffer,’ Carrie said dryly.

‘Look, Carrie, you’re his favourite and always have been, you don’t
quite
know what it’s like,’ Bobby said tightly.

‘True,’ murmured Shauna.

‘Don’t give me that,’ Carrie snorted. ‘I’ve had my ups and downs with him too.’

‘Not as bad as we have, in all fairness.’ Shauna was firmly on Bobby’s side.

‘Well, all I’m saying is that he’s getting old and he’s not as bad as he was, and maybe you should try and make some sort of peace with him so that you won’t have
regrets when he does . . . die,’ Carrie said exasperatedly.

‘I won’t have any regrets,’ Bobby said sulkily.

‘You know, in your own way you’re as stubborn and intransigent as he is. You were pretty hard on him too,’ she pointed out.

‘Oh, let’s not fight,’ Shauna said wearily. ‘We haven’t all been together for three years. Let’s enjoy ourselves.’

‘Let’s, by all means,’ Carrie agreed. ‘But there’s no point in brushing things under the carpet, they’ve got to be faced sometime or another, and, Bobby, I
don’t care what you say now, but I do think you’ll have regrets if you don’t make some sort of effort at reconciliation.’

‘And I suppose if I do kiss and make up he’s going to have me and my partner over to stay,’ Bobby said sarcastically.

‘You’ve got a partner!’ they exclaimed in unison.

Bobby grinned. ‘Yes, you smug marrieds! I’m spoken for.’

‘What’s he like?’

‘What’s his name?’

‘He’s divine,’ Bobby raved. ‘His name is Anton, he’s tall, dark and handsome, and slightly Colin Firth-ish. He’s a web designer, and I just adore him.’
He pulled his wallet from his shorts pocket and drew out a photo of his beloved.

‘Hmmm, dishy,’ Shauna approved as she studied the dark-haired young man with the smiling eyes.

‘He’s nice. I’m glad for you, Bobby.’ Carrie leaned over and kissed him. ‘How long have you been together?’

‘Actually only very recently as a couple,’ Bobby confessed, ‘although we’ve known each other for yonks. We didn’t actually click until just before I came out here.
It’s very, very early days but I’m really happy,’ he confided.

‘Are you living together?’

‘Not yet. He’s subletting in Notting Hill from a guy who’s in New York for a year, but he’s only got four months to go and then we’re going to set up home together.
I’m dying for you to meet him.’

‘Why don’t you both come and stay with me in Malahide for a few days in July when I’m home?’ Shauna suggested.

‘Wouldn’t Greg mind?’ her brother queried.

‘Not at all, but he won’t be home until August anyway.’

‘You’re on,’ Bobby agreed eagerly.

‘Will you visit Dad?’ Carrie licked a smear of jam off her finger.

‘Well, if I do, I won’t bring Anton. That might be just
toooo
fraught.’

‘You can say that again,’ chortled Shauna. ‘Could you imagine poor old Dad if you pranced in with Anton and introduced him as your partner?’

‘I know. Some things are never going to happen and that’s one of them, no matter how much I’d like it. You two don’t know what it’s like,’ he accused.

‘No, we don’t,’ Carrie agreed. ‘And you’re dead right, some things will never change, but at least you can introduce him to us, so be thankful for small mercies and
stop feeling sorry for yourself and try to let go of the past.’