The Birthday Girls Read online

  * * *

  Mel woke early and when she came downstairs was surprised to find Lexi sitting huddled on the terrace.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, her voice full of concern. She was feeling rather guilty about the way she’d behaved last night.

  “Angel’s gone.”

  “Gone? Gone where?”

  “Back to LA,” Lexi said, her voice sombre.

  “Oh no!” Mel cried, plonking down on the chair beside Lexi and covering her eyes. “When did she leave?”

  “In the early hours of the morning. I can’t believe I didn’t hear her.”

  “I didn’t hear a thing. Are you sure she’s not just walking on the beach?”

  “No, she left me this note.” She handed it to Mel.

  Mel’s hands shook as she read it. “How awful! I’m so sorry, Lexi. I shouldn’t have exploded the way I did. I shouldn’t have said that we’d been discussing her drinking amongst ourselves. It’s all my fault.”

  “It’s nobody’s fault really. You were upset, and understandably so, that she’d been flirting with Jack especially after what you revealed about her and Simon. I do wish you’d shared that with me before. It explains why you didn’t trust her and were angry about her behaviour towards Jack.”

  “Yeah, but I probably overreacted. Jack was as much to blame as Angel – like Simon before him. I was just very upset about it.”

  “And what’s happening now with Jack?”

  “I’ve no idea.” Mel sighed. “And what about Angel? I hope she’s okay.”

  “I can’t contact her until she gets to LA which will be sometime this afternoon I expect.”

  “Can I get you a coffee?”

  “No, thanks. I think I’ll go for a swim first and then we’ll have breakfast together.”

  “Okay. I don’t feel like swimming this morning. Think I’ll grab a coffee and then go for a walk on the beach and try and clear my head.”

  * * *

  They were sitting having breakfast when Brenda appeared. She was looking anxious. “I looked in on Angel and her room is empty,” she told them, a worried frown creasing her face.

  “I’m afraid she’s gone back to LA,” Lexi said sadly.

  “Oh dear! I was hoping we could clear things up this morning.”

  “Not to be, I’m afraid.” She handed Brenda the note from Angel.

  “Poor Angel,” she said when she’d read it. “I do hope she’s okay.”

  “Well, I’ll try calling her later once she gets home.”

  Mel said nothing but sat there looking downcast. She felt responsible for the whole problem. She excused herself shortly afterwards and went up to her bedroom to call Jack, hoping to salvage something from this mess. Her call went to voicemail and she left a message asking him to call her. Shortly afterwards she received a text from him.

  Mel, I’m really sorry if I misled you at any stage. I’m very, very fond of you but love is not on my agenda till I complete my travels (which may be never). I have really enjoyed our time together and will always remember the good times we shared. However, it’s over now and I am leaving Florida today to complete my 50 states. I wish only the best for you. You will always be very special to me. Jack xx

  Mel sat staring at the message reading and re-reading it. Finally it sank in. Jack was gone. She’d been a fool to think it could have been anything more than a fling. He’d warned her that he wasn’t ready to settle down. It had been so wonderful between them that she’d hoped he would change his mind but she’d been living in fantasyland. She still loved him and would never forget him. She was heartbroken but accepted that it had been too good to be true and she realised that it was time to get back to real life. She knew what she had to do. She started to pack.

  * * *

  Lexi and Brenda looked up in surprise as Mel came out on to the terrace dressed in her New York clothes.

  “Mel, what’s up?”

  “I have to go, Lexi. I’ve made a mess of everything. Angel’s gone and now Jack has left Florida too.” Her voice wobbled as she spoke. “Looks like I’m good at getting rid of people.”

  “Ah Mel, are you sure you have to go? You know we’d love you to stay. It’s better to be with friends at a time like this.”

  “No, I’d have to go tomorrow anyway. Right now I need to get back working so I can immerse myself for a few days but you and Brenda will still come to New York next Wednesday, won’t you?”

  “Of course, if you still want us.”

  “Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Brenda asked anxiously.

  “I’ll be fine, I’m a big girl,” Mel smiled at her. “And I have your visit to look forward to next week. Better go now. My taxi is due any minute.”

  “Don’t be silly, Mel. I’ll drive you to the airport,” said Lexi.

  “No, I’ve already called a taxi. I’d prefer to say goodbye here. I hate goodbyes at airports.”

  “Mel, honey, I really hate you going like this,” Lexi said, putting her arms around her.

  “You take care,” Brenda instructed, hugging her tightly.

  “See you in the Big Apple,” Mel replied, tears in her eyes. And then she was gone.

  Lexi and Brenda sat glumly together after she’d gone.

  “And then there were two,” Lexi remarked, but neither of them smiled. It was a sad end to what had promised to be a wonderful week.

  “Well, there’s not a lot we can do about the situation,” Lexi grimaced as she finished her breakfast. “I’m going to help Maria clear up and then we can indulge in some retail therapy. It is Black Friday after all and I did promise to take you to experience it. There will be lots of bargains out there and hopefully it will take our minds off things for a while.”

  “Good idea. I think we need to keep busy,” Brenda agreed. “Let me help you clear away.”

  “No, no. Maria and I can manage. Here, have a look through the paper. There are discount coupons there for many of the stores.” She handed Brenda the Tampa Bay Times which was the size of ten Sunday Times back home.

  “My God,” Brenda exclaimed buckling under the unexpected weight of the newspaper. “What on earth is in here?”

  “About twenty pages of news and five hundred brochures and leaflets of advertisements and coupons,” Lexi said, laughing.

  Sitting down, Brenda sifted through the bundle. Lexi hadn’t been joking! An hour later she was still reading when Lexi came out with two coffees.

  “Well, did you find anything you like?” she asked, sitting down.

  “Oh my, just about everything. It’s fabulous. I would like to go to JC Penney for some stuff for the girls.”

  “Okay, we’ll head there first but it may be just too busy. I’ve been thinking that we might go down to Ellenton and stay the night on Anna Maria Island. It’d beautiful there and you can shop this afternoon and again tomorrow if you wish.”

  “I’d love that. It might lift our spirits to get away.”

  “That’s what I was thinking too.”

  As they prepared to leave the telephone rang. It was Kenny.

  “Hi, Lexi. Great night last night. I’ve been trying to call Angel but her cellphone is off. Could I have a word with her?”

  “I’m afraid she left for LA early this morning?”

  “She what?” He sounded distressed. “But she agreed to come to lunch on my yacht today.”

  “I’m sorry, Kenny, but she had to leave.” She made a face at Brenda as if to ask ‘what can I say?’.

  “I am very upset to hear that. She’s quite a gal. I’ll try her again later. Thanks, Lexi.”

  * * *

  The stewardess woke Angel to tell her that they were about to make their descent into Los Angeles airport. She groggily came to, wondering what she was doing there, and then it all came back to her. She popped a Prozac into her mouth as they came in to land. She felt absolutely dreadful and couldn’t wait to get home and into bed, after a whisky or two of course.

  She hadn’t called Will to
tell him she was home and guessed he would be still be sleeping as it wasn’t yet noon. She would surprise him and sneak in beside him in the bed where doubtless he would be as horny for her as she was for him. After all, it had been a whole week since they’d had sex and she had missed it.

  * * *

  Angel paid the taxi driver and let herself into the house then stopped dead, appalled at the scene before her. The place was a dreadful mess. There were empty beer and wine bottles side by side with overflowing ashtrays on every surface. Half-eaten pizzas littered the coffee table and various items of clothing were strewn on the floor. She went into the kitchen to find Consuela, her housekeeper, to demand the reason for this mess but she was nowhere to be found. How strange!

  Getting more angry by the minute she climbed the stairs to confront Will. She opened the door to her bedroom and gasped in shock at the sight that greeted her. Will’s naked buttocks were in the air, moving rhythmically up and down, a pair of slim tanned legs wrapped around his waist.

  Angel screamed.

  Will leapt up, his obvious erection deflating before her eyes as the young girl beneath him tried to cover herself with the sheet.

  “I can explain, Angel,” he muttered, grabbing a towel to cover his nakedness.

  Just then a very pretty teenage girl sauntered out of Angel’s bathroom. “My God, that must have been some orgasm,” she sniggered before she caught sight of Angel. “Holy Cow!” she cried, rushing back into the bathroom.

  “Just what do you think you’re doing in my bed?” Angel yelled, barely able to believe what she was witnessing.

  “Well, it’s a long story . . .” Will began, but Angel stopped him.

  “Save it!” she snarled. “If you’re not out of here, all of you, in three minutes, I’m calling the sheriff and you can explain to him what you’re doing having sex with two underage girls.”

  “Please, Angel, I’m so sorry . . .” Will stammered.

  “Get out . . . now!” She grabbed his keys off the dressing table. “Leave the car and don’t dare show your face around here again.” She looked at her watch and picked up the phone. “Your three minutes start . . . now!”

  It gave her some satisfaction to see how quickly the three of them managed to vacate her house. They were gone in under two and a half minutes, all of them partially dressed. She locked the door after them and sank down on the sofa. She then called Consuela.

  “Consuela, where are you? Why aren’t you here?”

  “Ah, Miss Angel. You back? Mr Will say you not be back till tomorrow. He tell me you say for me go stay with my daughter this week and to come back tomorrow morning.”

  “No, Consuela, I didn’t say any such thing. I need you to come in immediately. The place is in a terrible state,” Angel said, suddenly drained.

  She poured herself a large whisky and knocked it back. Then went up to the guest bedroom where she stripped off and took a long shower in the en-suite bathroom there. She couldn’t face her own bedroom again until Consuela had cleaned and disinfected it and dumped the bedclothes. God knows how many sluts Will had entertained in there while she’d been gone.

  Putting on her bathrobe she came downstairs and poured another very large whisky then sat rocking back and forth in the rocking chair.

  “Oh, Miss Angel, what happen here?” her housekeeper asked when she came in and saw the mess.

  “Don’t ask, Consuela,” Angel replied tiredly. “Can you just clean it up as quickly as possible, please?”

  “Sure thing, Miss Angel. Mr Will do this?”

  “Who else?”

  “You feel okay?” Consuela looked with concern at her mistress.

  “I’m okay and please don’t let Mr Will back in here for any reason. He’s finished, kaput!” She made a slashing gesture to her throat.

  Consuela understood. “I make you something to eat, Miss Angel?”

  “No, thanks, Consuela. I’m going to bed in the guest room now. If anybody calls, I’m unavailable. Understood?”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Consuela nodded and set about cleaning up the mess.

  Upstairs Angel washed down a sleeping pill with the whisky. Feeling very sorry for herself, she slipped between the fresh sheets and curled up in the foetal position. She had no friends left and now no boyfriend either. As she drifted off to sleep she wished with all her heart that her father were still alive. He would have taken care of her and let no one hurt her. He was the only one who had ever truly loved her. She missed him so much. How could she ever go on?

  Chapter 19

  Lexi and Brenda arrived at the Countryside Mall and circled around and around looking for a parking space. Eventually, after fifteen minutes they were lucky enough to find someone pulling out and Lexi speedily pulled into his place.

  “My God, this is crazy,” Brenda exclaimed as she looked at the thousands of cars in the huge parking lot.

  “Welcome to Black Friday,” Lexi grinned.

  They walked into the mall which was crowded with people of all ages battling their way through the throng. There was a skating rink in the centre with cute kids whizzing around attempting turns and jumps as their proud mamas looked on.

  Walking down the mall Brenda was bumped and jostled by numerous people carrying huge bags and boxes. There was a line of about twenty people queuing outside the Disney shop, waiting to be admitted as the shop was overcrowded. It was incredible.

  They made their way into JC Penney and gasped when they saw the length of the lines at the cashier desks. They looked at each other in horror.

  “I’m feeling quite claustrophobic,” Brenda admitted.

  “Me too, let’s get out of here. We’ll come back on Monday when there will still be things reduced. Nothing is worth this.”

  Relieved, they exited the mall and as they pulled out two cars almost collided in an effort to get into Lexi’s vacated parking space.

  “And I thought Dublin was bad!” Brenda laughed.

  “We do everything bigger and better in the US of A!” Lexi said with an American twang. “Ellenton will be much less frantic as the shops are more boutique-like but it will still be busy. But I know you’ll find great stuff for the girls there.”

  They headed south and Brenda was fascinated as they crossed over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to see a cruise ship about to sail under it on its way into Tampa.

  “Wow!”

  “Impressive, isn’t it?” Lexi asked as they reached the top of the bridge.

  “I’ll say. You sure do everythin’ bigger and better in the US of A,” Brenda agreed with her, attempting an American twang.

  “Your accent is atrocious,” Lexi exclaimed laughing as they made their descent down the four-mile bridge.

  * * *

  Brenda loved Ellenton. It was all so compact, in the same style as Kildare Village but much, much larger of course. They got a plan of the centre and Brenda marked off the shops she wanted to hit first. Armed with a list of her kids’ sizes and their favourite designer brands, she went into battle. Two hours later the two women, laden down with bags from the Levi store, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, struggled back to deposit them in the car.

  “Lordy me, I just can’t believe how cheap everything is here. It’s unbelievable,” Brenda exclaimed.

  “I did warn you. How about some lunch?”

  They made their way to the Food Court where Brenda discovered that the shopping had made her ravenous. When they’d finished eating Brenda pored over her plan again.

  “I hope you don’t mind, honey, but I’m tired so I’m going to let you off on your own now. You’ll be quicker without me. I’ll just sit and rest here for a while and then I want to have a look in the kitchen shop. I’ll give you the key so you can put your purchases in the car and we’ll meet back here at say . . .” she looked at her watch, “four thirty. Is that okay?”

  “Are you sure, Lexi? Would you rather go now?”

  “Not at all. You go off and enjoy yourself. See you at four thirty.” />
  Brenda went crazy over the next two hours and arrived back to meet Lexi, laden down with bags again.

  “I hope you got something for yourself and not just for the kids,” Lexi asked her.

  “No, I didn’t,” Brenda admitted. “I’m a bit worried about my baggage allowance.”

  “Don’t worry about it. You came with an empty case and you’re allowed two bags in business class so you needn’t worry. We’ll drop in here tomorrow before we leave for home. You have to think of yourself too, honey. Now I suggest we head to Anna Maria Island and find somewhere to stay for the night.”

  They left Ellenton and drove the short distance to the island which Brenda saw was picture-postcard pretty.

  Lexi tried to call Angel after they had checked in to a lovely little hotel that was right on the beach. Consuela answered and said that Angel was sleeping and had left orders that she did not want to be disturbed.

  “Poor dear. I do hope she’s okay,” Brenda said, biting her lip.

  “A good sleep will work wonders. I’ll try her again later.”

  * * *

  Lexi tried again later that evening but the response from Consuela was the same. “She very tired, Miss Lexi. Maybe you call tomorrow.”

  “I will, Consuela. When she wakes could you please tell her I called and that Brenda and I are thinking of her and we love her.”

  “Sure will, Miss Lexi.”

  There was nothing else they could do.

  They went for a swim in the sea and then walked along the beach to a small restaurant where they enjoyed some delicious fish. Afterwards Lexi declared that she was dog-tired and headed for bed.