The Birthday Girls Page 15

  Brenda was more worried than ever at how easily Lexi became tired though she supposed all the drama surrounding Angel and Mel had taken its toll.

  * * *

  Mel couldn’t sleep on the flight home but was glad to be back at last in her familiar apartment where she could quietly relive every minute of the days and nights she’d spent with Jack. She was heartbroken but she wouldn’t trade a single moment of that time for all the tea in China. For that brief time she’d come alive and she would always be grateful to him for that. She knew she would never see him again so there was nothing for it but to throw herself straight back into her work.

  She felt guilty about the scene with Angel and how she’d spoiled the party by leaving but after Jack’s text she’d needed to get away and be on her own. Lexi and Brenda would be coming to New York the following week and she vowed she would make it up to them then. She called Lexi to say she’d arrived home safely and that she was looking forward to their visit.

  She also called Angel to apologise but had got the same response as Lexi had got from Consuela. She left a message saying she was sorry.

  * * *

  The following day the two girls made their way back to the Ellenton Outlet where Lexi insisted that Brenda buy something for herself. Under Lexi’s eagle eye she succumbed and bought a pair of tan leather boots and a beautiful camel cashmere coat that would be very welcome when she returned to the freezing Irish winter. Filled with the euphoria that comes from getting a great bargain Brenda settled back to enjoy the rest of the day.

  They were stopping off in St Petersburg on the way home to visit the Dalí Museum. Lexi was so excited about it that Brenda hoped she wouldn’t disappoint her by not liking it. She wasn’t an art-gallery type of girl and hadn’t been to one since her schooldays but she needn’t have worried. This was nothing like the fuddy-duddy museum she’d expected. For starters, it was an amazing building right on the waterfront which had been built specially to house the collection. But it was the paintings by Dalí which enchanted her and had her enthralled.

  “He was a genius, you know,” Lexi explained as they wandered around the bright airy rooms. Being an artist herself she was able to explain things better than any guide. Brenda was fascinated. She loved the quirkiness and the way Dalí had looked at things. She now understood what the word surreal meant. His work was magical and the hours flew by as she soaked it all in. They broke for a snack mid-afternoon in the terrific Spanish tapas restaurant on the ground floor. It was delicious. Replenished, they continued with their tour.

  Too soon it was time to leave. They drove back in silence, both of them uplifted, their minds still immersed in the Dalí paintings and they stopped off at the Bon Appetit in Dunedin to catch the sunset. It was a fitting end to a lovely day.

  The only fly in the ointment was Angel who was still refusing to take their calls. Consuela was no longer picking up and it was going straight to voicemail. Both Lexi and Brenda left a message but Angel didn’t call back. They figured she was still annoyed with them. Well, sooner or later she’d have to speak with them.

  * * *

  Angel had slept almost around the clock. She awoke feeling groggy, not knowing where she was. Slowly it dawned on her that she was in her own guest room and the memories came flooding back. She remembered the terrible scene with Mel, flying home and then finding Will having sex with that bimbo. Burrowing deep under the covers she considered taking more sleeping pills but she hadn’t eaten since Thursday evening and she knew she needed to eat something. She was also desperately thirsty.

  Crawling out of bed she flung on a bathrobe and went downstairs. Relieved to see the living room was back to normal she searched in her bag for a Prozac and made her way to the kitchen.

  “Miss Angel, buenos días. You feel better?”

  Angel murmured what she hoped sounded like ‘good morning’ back. Her mouth was dry and she felt her tongue was swollen. She also had a dreadful headache. She popped the Prozac in her mouth and drank a glass of water.

  “Any coffee there?” she asked, hoisting herself up on a stool.

  “Sure thing.”

  Sipping the coffee Consuela poured for her she began to feel a little better.

  “Now I make you nice breakfast. Some eggs maybe?”

  “No, no, just some toast is all I need.”

  Her housekeeper tut-tutted and muttered something under her breath that Angel did not understand. Consuela, who was small and very round, was constantly berating her for not eating.

  Placing the toast in front of Angel she informed her, “That nice Miss Lexi, she call many times and also Miss Mel and Miss . . .” she consulted a notepad, “Miss Bren – da. They nice ladies.”

  Angel groaned. “Did they leave any message?”

  “They say they love you and Miss Mel, she say she sorry.”

  Angel buried her head in her hands. She couldn’t possibly talk to them any time soon. She was far too fragile.

  “And Mr Will he call many times but I tell him he finished, like you said.” She drew her hand across her throat as she’d seen Angel do.

  “Thank you, Consuela. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  Consuela beamed with pleasure. “And bedroom all clean for you, like you ask.”

  “You’re a pet,” Angel said as she went into the living room and poured herself a whisky. To hell with them all, she thought as she downed it, they don’t understand how difficult my life is. She was still smarting from Mel’s accusations. Pouring another drink she took it and the bottle into the den and turned on the TV. She watched some mindless programmes as she drank steadily and when later Consuela came in with some food she ate it just to please her.

  Consuela normally had weekends off when she babysat her grandchildren and Angel insisted that she leave on Saturday afternoon, as she always did. Consuela was reluctant to do so and offered to stay as she was worried about her mistress but Angel wouldn’t hear of it.

  The day passed in a haze as Angel heard the phone ring and go to voicemail but she didn’t answer it or listen to the messages. Eventually she passed out on the sofa and when she woke, it was dark. She took two more sleeping pills and headed up the stairs to her own bed and collapsed into it.

  * * *

  Meanwhile, Lexi was determined to make sure that Brenda would enjoy the remainder of her holiday. On Sunday morning they went to church and afterwards went to the Wagon Wheel which was a big flea market about twenty minutes away. Brenda loved it and the fun atmosphere there. She found a fake Michael Kors bag in the exact tan as her new boots which she snapped up along with some cheap T-shirts. She would have bought more if it was not for the problem of fitting all she’d bought in the two bags she was allowed flying home. She saw some fake Pandoro bracelets, filled with charms, that looked so realistic she bought one each for her three girls and her two sisters.

  As in Ellenton, Lexi got tired very quickly and they made their way to the outdoor bar where there was a live group playing. She insisted that Brenda head off on her own and meet her back there when she’d finished. When Brenda came back they sat listening to the group who were really good.

  When they got home they went for a swim and then Marvin and Troy came over for a barbeque.

  Lexi and Brenda sat back sipping margaritas while the two guys busied themselves over the grill.

  “That’s the great thing about barbeques,” Lexi whispered to her. “Men think they’re the only ones who can do it so we leave them to it.”

  Brenda had now given herself up to enjoying Troy’s company. He understood that there was a line that couldn’t be crossed and although there was still great chemistry between them she knew that they would do nothing about it.

  They had another great evening and somehow the absence of Angel and Mel receded. Neither girl mentioned anything about the fiasco on Thanksgiving night to either of the men.

  Brenda saw the wonderful relationship between Lexi and Marvin and envied them. They were almost on
the same wavelength and often finished each other’s sentences. They had so much in common, much more than she had with Bob right now and Brenda realised that that really was the secret of a great relationship.

  When Troy heard that they were going to Busch Gardens, the well-known amusement park, the following day he asked if he might come along too.

  “I’ve never been, would you believe?”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Marvin exclaimed, shocked. “It’s our biggest tourist attraction. You absolutely have to go. Why don’t we all go together tomorrow?” he suggested. “It’s years since I’ve been there.”

  “You’re on,” Lexi replied laughing. “Busch Gardens it is!”

  * * *

  Sunday was pretty much a re-run of the day before for Angel and when Consuela arrived for work on Monday morning Angel was still sleeping. Consuela thought about contacting Miss Lexi to tell her how worried she was about her mistress but she was too afraid of Angel’s anger if she did that. So she did nothing. She figured Miss Angel was just upset about Mr Will and would come around soon. She certainly hoped so.

  * * *

  They left early the following morning for the visit to Busch Gardens. Marvin had bought the tickets online. As a Florida resident he had got them at a discount. Brenda offered to pay for her and Lexi’s tickets but he wouldn’t hear of it.

  She had heard how wonderful Disney World in Orlando was but when she saw how beautiful Busch Gardens was she found it hard to believe that there could be something even better. Luckily it was a Monday and not the holiday season so there were no queues. They tried most of the rides but Brenda drew a line at the crazily high Kumba and Montu rides. She’d been pretty terrified on the SheiKra ride even though she’d kept her eyes closed and Troy had held her, but these other two were just too scary for her.

  Lexi had opted out but had sat laughing as Brenda screamed with the thrill of it all. Marvin and Troy insisted on riding all the rides but the girls were convinced it was just bravado as they both looked quite green coming off the Kumba. The water rides were more enjoyable and less frightening although they were all soaked after them but they dried up quickly in the warm sun.

  They broke for lunch at the Zambia smokehouse where Brenda tasted baby back ribs for the first time. She wondered how they managed to get such flavour and tenderness in the meat. She savoured it, closing her eyes, knowing that it would probably be many years before she’d have them again.

  After lunch they headed for the animal park and as they passed through Serengeti Park Brenda was amazed to hear that Troy had actually seen the migration of the Serengeti in Tanzania a couple of years before.

  He then spoke of his time in Africa and she marvelled at what an exciting life he’d had. She was beginning to see how important it was to travel and visit other countries and see other cultures. She’d missed out on that but she was happy to know her children were now getting that chance.

  Chapter 20

  Tomorrow would be Brenda’s last day in Florida and she had loved it so much that she would be sorry to leave. Although excited about going to New York it also signalled the end of a magical time. The thought of going back to Ireland to face the problems in her marriage was depressing but she tried to put it out of her mind and make the most of the rest of the holiday.

  She called Bob as soon as they got back from Busch Gardens as it was after midnight in Ireland and he should be in. She had told him, the last time they’d spoken, that he could call her anytime but he hadn’t bothered to contact her. She wondered if he was still sulking. She had yet to break the news to him that she would be visiting New York on the way home and she was apprehensive about it.

  She was relieved to find him in. He sounded strange and ill at ease. He took the news of New York calmly which astonished her.

  Then she heard a voice in the background.

  “Do you have people in?” she asked him, surprised he had not mentioned it.

  “No, no. It’s just the television,” he replied. “I’ll go and turn it off.”

  Brenda was perplexed, wondering what he could possibly be watching at this hour. It was after midnight in Ireland and Bob started work at six thirty every morning. She waited for a full two minutes before he returned.

  “Sorry about that,” he said and for the first time she realised that he’d been drinking.

  “Bob, is everything okay? You’re not having a poker game, are you?”

  “Of course not,” he replied angrily. “And so what if I was?”

  Brenda sighed. She knew from experience that there was no point in continuing this conversation when he’d been drinking.

  “Look, I’ll call you from New York and let you know what time I’ll be in on the Tuesday.”

  “Okay,” he said gruffly, hanging up.

  She let out another huge sigh as she replaced the receiver. She didn’t know what was going on with him but she suspected now that he was far more resentful of her trip to Florida than he’d let on. She went downstairs with a heavy heart, her previous high spirits evaporated. Maria had prepared a light supper for them and they were having a drink before it.

  “What would you like, Brenda?” Marvin who was acting barman asked her.

  “A large vodka and orange juice would do the trick.”

  Troy and Lexi raised their eyebrows in surprise.

  “Is everything alright?” Lexi asked, concerned.

  “Yeah, fine,” Brenda replied without much enthusiasm.

  Lexi didn’t pursue it.

  Brenda drank the vodka in double-quick time and Marvin refilled her glass. By the time they sat down to the seafood salad she was quite tiddly.

  “Are you okay?” Troy murmured while rubbing his hand on her back gently.

  She nodded and closed her eyes wishing that they could stay like this forever.

  “If you want to talk, I’m here,” he said softly and the kindness in his eyes brought a lump to her throat.

  “I’m fine, honestly,” she told him, smiling brightly.

  “Well, remember what I said.”

  * * *

  The following day was her last in this beautiful place and Troy took them out on the boat again. This time there was no Angel jigging around trying to attract his attention and it was a simply magical day. She went up front with him and he let her take the wheel and like the last time he wrapped his arms around her. This time he kept them there and the closeness of his body excited her. When he kissed the nape of her neck she thought she would melt with pleasure. She could feel his hardness against her and the temptation to turn and feel his kisses on her mouth was overwhelming but somehow she resisted.

  “You’re very beautiful,” he said, pressing his face into her hair. “I wish with all my heart that you were my wife.”

  At the mention of the word ‘wife’ she came down to earth with a bang. She was a wife, Bob’s wife, and no matter how he was behaving, this was wrong. Swiftly she let go of the wheel and slipped out from under Troy’s arms.

  “I’m sorry, I can’t do this,” she said with a sad smile. Deep down she wished it could be otherwise but that wasn’t possible.

  “I understand,” he replied softly as she left to go and join Lexi and Marvin at the stern.

  Despite all this she had an achingly lovely day. They sat and watched another magnificent sunset and when Troy took her hand she didn’t pull it away. Tomorrow she would be gone. Why not have this last small pleasure?

  They had dinner at the Beachcomber but Brenda could hardly eat. With a heavy heart she said goodbye to Troy for the last time.

  “Thank you for everything. You have no idea how much I appreciate having met you.”

  “And you have no idea what you have done to my heart,” he whispered softly. Then he kissed her gently on the lips and left.

  Feeling very lonely, Brenda went up to pack. It took her ages to take off all the labels and price tags from the stuff she’d bought but eventually she was done. She’d had to buy a lightweight
bag in Ross as her case couldn’t hold all she’d bought. It was lucky she was travelling home business class and was allowed two bags or she would have had to leave some stuff behind.

  She was sad to be leaving Florida. She’d had the time of her life there and had found herself again. She felt attractive and worthwhile and much of that was due to Troy. She would miss him.

  * * *

  Mel was buzzing around making sure that all was in place for the girls’ visit. She had gone shopping and her fridge and larder were more full than they’d ever been before. Strangely, since she’d come back from Florida she found herself hungry all the time. She guessed that the week there eating all that lovely food had reawakened her appetite. She was now eating decent meals and even taking a lunch break for food – as opposed to Botox sessions and manicures.

  The other thing that she couldn’t understand was that her work was not absorbing her in the way it used to. She was doing her work as required of course, but it wasn’t her whole life any more. The CEO was more than surprised when she told him that she was taking the next three days off because her friends were coming to town.

  “That’s most unlike you,” he remarked. “As far as I’m aware you haven’t taken time off in two years and now two weeks in a row. And you look different,” he observed, cocking his head to one side as he surveyed her. “Is it possible that something happened in Florida that has changed you?”

  Mel blushed which convinced him he’d hit the nail on the head. He surmised it must be a man.

  “Well, my dear, I’m happy that you have seen sense and are making time for yourself,” he beamed at her. “And take as long as you need. We’ll manage here.” He winked at her as she got up to leave, making her blush even more.

  * * *

  Meanwhile one day was running into another for Angel and she was drunk most of the time and knocked out on sleeping pills at night. Sometimes she couldn’t tell whether it was day or night.