The Birthday Girls Page 3

  It was just such a shock to them all. Brenda was only seventeen, with her whole life ahead of her.

  “We’ll get married as soon as we can,” she whispered.

  “But what about college?”

  “Oh, even if I win a scholarship my parents could never afford to keep me in college,” she’d stated simply. “I’m lucky I got to stay on for my Leaving. Mam wanted me to quit after my Junior Cert and help out with the kids but Dad insisted I go on.”

  “Brenda’s mother is a silly cow,” Mel had said afterwards to Lexi. “And now here goes Brenda, just like her mother, married at seventeen!”

  “And shackled with a baby shortly after her eighteenth birthday,” Angel remarked, wrinkling her pretty little nose in distaste.

  Lexi tried to persuade her to consider adoption but Brenda wouldn’t hear of it. Mel was furious with her. She suggested to Brenda that she might have an abortion. Brenda was horrified. She loved Bob, she insisted, and wanted to be his wife and have his baby. There was nothing any of them could say to change her mind. But they couldn’t help thinking – what a waste of a life!

  * * *

  Brenda and Bob were married six weeks later. The wedding reception was bizarre with Brenda’s brothers and sisters running around the place like crazy and her mother drunk as a skunk. It was held in the local GAA club and her three friends were uneasy, hoping that she wasn’t making a huge mistake. Bob was a hunk and a right charmer but unimaginative and way below Brenda’s level of intelligence. Despite that, she appeared to be blissfully happy. Mel could never understand that husband-wife correlation or why some marriages worked and others didn’t.

  When, four months later, they visited her in Holles Street Maternity Hospital and saw how thrilled she was with her little daughter, they felt a bit better about it, but neither Angel nor Mel thought it would last. Lexi was much more optimistic.

  Although Mel didn’t get the university scholarship that her parents had hoped for, she did get good enough results to study law at UCD. College was a whole other ballgame and she loved it, free of her parents at last. She found law fascinating and to her delight her parents had no idea what she was talking about. They were slowly but surely losing their control over her.

  Angel was studying drama at Trinity and Lexi had enrolled in the College of Art and the three of them met up regularly in the Buttery in Trinity. Angel and Lexi were sharing an apartment – a tiny flat really – and Mel would have given her right arm to have moved in with them, but her parents wouldn’t hear of it. She visited their place often and was never happier than when she was hanging out with the girls there.

  They all felt sorry for Brenda who was busy having babies while they were living the carefree student life. However, she seemed happy with her lot and they could see she was absolutely crazy about Bob and he about her.

  Lexi constantly pointed out that Brenda was a wonderful mother and, in fairness to her, Mel had to agree. Her kids were very bright and were doing brilliantly at school.

  “Thank God they’ve inherited her brains and not Bob’s,” Mel commented uncharitably to Lexi the last time they’d met, when she’d heard that all Brenda’s kids had gone to university.

  “Yes, but you have to admire how she has worked her butt off to give them the opportunities she never had,” Lexi responded.

  “I don’t doubt it but I still think Brenda was mad to have sacrificed her own life for her husband and kids. As I’m so fond of saying, we have only one life and it’s up to us to make the most of it,” Mel replied smugly.

  She’d been taken aback when Lexi had retorted sharply, “And what are you doing with your life except working your way to the grave?”

  Mel had been speechless. Lexi, whom she still adored, had never spoken harshly to her before. She rarely spoke harshly to anyone. It rocked Mel back on her heels and that was when she had begun to take stock of her life.

  Lexi was right. Work was her life. It was what she was good at. Business she could handle, with aplomb, but relationships and real life – that was another matter! Maybe at the end of the day Brenda was the most successful one of all.

  Chapter 4

  Lexi was delighted with the way her plans were going. It had been too long since they’d spent any length of time all together and she hated to think of their friendship disintegrating in the hustle and bustle of modern life. She was especially pleased that Brenda could make it. She looked forward to hearing all about her children. Lexi was godmother to her eldest daughter, Alex, and she’d been touched when Brenda had named her Alexandra, after her. She was determined to show Brenda a great time and give her the holiday of her life.

  Lexi was worried about Mel and was hoping to have a heart-to-heart with her while she was visiting. She felt guilty that she had not made the effort to go to New York more often to visit her but on previous trips Mel had always been so busy that Lexi felt it only added to Mel’s stress to have a houseguest.

  She could never forget that awful time at school when Mel had been suicidal. It was all her parents’ fault, of course, driving her relentlessly to succeed. Lexi had hoped that when Mel moved to New York she would finally be free of them but that hadn’t happened. No matter what she achieved, it was never enough and meanwhile Mel was letting real life pass her by.

  Lexi hoped to convince her that, for her own sake, she needed to change her lifestyle and that life was too short to be spending it trying to satisfy her parents. How awful to think that otherwise intelligent people could mess up their child’s head and life!

  Mel had said she could only stay until Wednesday but Lexi hoped that, as Angel said, once they were all together and having a wonderful time, she’d change her mind and reschedule.

  Lexi was also worried about Angel and the ridiculous hang-up she had about turning forty. Of course she lived in LA, which more or less said it all. Nobody could live there and still be in touch with reality. The fact that she became famous and a household name when she was in her twenties and was the star in a hit sitcom hadn’t helped. In fairness to her she still kept in touch with the three of them, even through all the madness of being a big Hollywood star.

  Angel showed a brave face to the world but Lexi knew that beneath it all she was a little-girl-lost and deeply insecure. She’d been through a lot – failed relationships, divorces, betrayals, yet she always appeared to bounce back, smiling and optimistic, certain that the next man would be the one.

  Angel had never lost the joie-de-vivre that captivated everyone who met her but even she couldn’t keep age at bay forever. Nobody could – so why try? Lexi knew it was easy for her to say – an artist doesn’t have any pressure to stay looking young – but still she wished that Angel could be happy in her own skin, and body. She planned to try and make her see sense, if she could.

  She had explained to Marvin, her friend – she felt awkward using the term ‘boyfriend’ at her age – that he would not be able to stay over during the time the girls were in situ. He usually stayed over two or three nights a week but he understood that she’d rather not do that while her friends were there. He had never met them but Lexi had talked about them a lot and he was looking forward to meeting them.

  Lexi was hoping to finish up her current painting before the girls arrived so that she would be free for the week. She wanted this to be the best birthday they’d ever had. God knows, it could be the last for any of them.

  * * *

  Brenda was looking forward to Skyping her daughter, Alex, to tell her about the forthcoming trip. With all five kids living away from home, Skype was her lifeline to them. The week after Alex graduated from UCD with a nursing and midwifery degree she was on a plane to Africa, to Sudan, to work with Goal. It was something she’d always wanted to do.

  Her first few weeks there had been very difficult as she tried to come to terms with the devastation the drought and famine had wrought but she soon settled in and just got on with it, doing what she could to help. Due to the shortage of medical staff s
he often worked eighteen-hour days. Brenda was extremely proud of her.

  “Hi, darling, how are you?” she said, noticing how tanned Alex was since the last time they’d spoken.

  “Great, Mum. I’ve been out working in the field, travelling to various towns, for the past two weeks and it’s been wonderful. The people are so pleased to see us and I feel we are really making a difference to their lives.”

  “You look tired, sweetheart.”

  “I am but it’s been worth it. I can rest up tomorrow and then I’m back in the hospital on Sunday again so it’s not too bad.” She smiled reassuringly at her mother.

  “Make sure you take care of yourself. The last thing you want is to get sick.”

  “Don’t worry, Mum,” Alex smiled, “I’m as strong as an ox. How are you? Any news?”

  “Well, yes, I have some brilliant news. Lexi has invited me to Florida to celebrate our fortieth birthday in November and I’ve decided to go. Lexi is flying me out as a birthday present. I’m so excited.” Brenda knew she was grinning like a Cheshire cat.

  Alex gave a whoop of joy. “That’s fantastic! Good old Aunt Lexi!”

  “Hey, enough of the ‘old’ if you please,” Brenda admonished her, waggling her finger at her eldest child and grinning.

  Alex giggled. “But did you say fortieth? It’s only your thirty-ninth, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, but Angel refuses to be forty, so as it’s our last birthday – all four of us together – Lexi thinks we should celebrate in style.”

  Alex pealed with laughter. “Angel is a howl, isn’t she? But she’s great fun,” she added, grinning. “Oh Mum, it’s wonderful that you’re going to Florida. You deserve a holiday and you always have so much fun when you all get together. I’m thrilled for you.”

  “Thank you, darling. It’s as if we’re all schoolgirls again whenever we meet up. I’m as excited about this trip as you were when you went on the school trip to Paris that time. Do you remember?”

  “How could I forget? I couldn’t sleep for nights beforehand.”

  “Yeah, well, my trip is over a month away and I’m having a problem sleeping already. I’m so looking forward to it.”

  “What did Dad say about it?”

  “Well, you know him. As long as it doesn’t cost money he’s okay with it.”

  Brenda tried to keep her voice upbeat but she guessed Alex wasn’t fooled. She knew her father too well.

  Diplomatic as always, Alex changed the subject.

  “How is Megan? Have you talked to her lately?”

  Brenda rolled her eyes to heaven. “I spoke to her last Friday and she and Sheena were still in India and planning to travel on to Nepal next week.” Brenda’s second daughter, Megan, had also graduated that summer – with a first-class degree in journalism from DCU – and was off travelling the world with her best friend shortly after. “But you know that pair,” she went on. “They could change their plans at any time depending on who they meet up with.”

  Alex giggled at the truth of this. Although they were like chalk and cheese she and Megan were very close. There was, after all, only a year between them.

  “She said she’d Skype me tomorrow if she can get access to the internet,” Alex said. “I do hope she does.”

  “You can be sure she’ll manage it, by hook or by crook. You know Megan,” Brenda laughed. “Nothing stands in her way.”

  They said goodbye, both thinking of Megan with a smile on their faces. Like Angel, who was her godmother, she had that effect on people. Brenda promised to Skype Alex from Florida to let her know how things were going.

  * * *

  Lexi surveyed the house with satisfaction. Everything was ready at last for her guests. Marvin had been a great help. He’d decorated the garden and it looked magical with fairy-lights in the trees and lanterns around the pool. She expected they’d spend quite a lot of time out there as the weather was perfect and not too hot. The house was spic and span and the bedrooms were all ready.

  Marvin took her out for a meal in their favourite restaurant the night before Brenda was due in and they made gentle love afterwards. As she lay in his arms he rubbed her back in the way she loved and she realised with a shock that she would miss this over the next couple of weeks.

  As if he could read her mind, he said, “I’m going to miss you, you know. I’ve kind of got used to these nights together.”

  “Mmmmm . . . .” she replied, loving the way his hand was moving up and down her spine. “Me too.”

  It was true. They were very comfortable together. He often finished her sentences for her and generally knew what she was thinking before she even said it. He was also a wonderful companion.

  “Do you think we could maybe move our relationship up a notch when the girls are gone?” he asked.

  This knocked her for six. Lexi was very happy with the status quo and she’d thought Marvin was too.

  “Don’t you think we have the perfect relationship just as it is?” she asked him, not sure how to react.

  “You know I love you and I was thinking that maybe we could make it more permanent – perhaps start a family.” He looked at her, his head cocked to one side.

  “Start a family?” She looked at him in shock. “I’m almost thirty-nine, Marvin. Don’t you think I’m a bit old to be having a baby?”

  “Nonsense! I’ve read about celebrities having babies well into their forties these days.”

  She was flustered. This was the last thing she had expected. Marvin noticed her hesitation and didn’t press her for an answer.

  “Let’s talk about it when you get back from New York,” he suggested.

  Lexi was relieved.

  She lay awake for hours afterwards thinking about what he’d said. She’d felt their relationship was perfect as it was. She liked to think of herself as a free spirit and yet she would hate it if Marvin was not in her life. They played bridge together, went for long walks on the beach, their sex life was very satisfactory and he understood her need to paint. She loved him but was she in love with him? Certainly not in the way she’d been in love with Gianni who would always be the love of her life. She didn’t think there was room in her heart for another love like that. Maybe one only got to enjoy that privilege once in a lifetime. Yet maybe one can love again but differently, she thought. As for having a baby, she knew that was out of the question. She could not risk getting pregnant for fear that she would lose the baby as she had lost Alessandro. How could she go through that devastating pain again? She tossed and turned and finally drifted off to sleep having decided to put Marvin’s proposal out of her mind until the girls were gone and she was back from New York. She had enough on her plate at the moment without worrying about her relationship with Marvin.

  Chapter 5

  Brenda had to pinch herself to make sure she was not dreaming as she saw the buildings of Manhattan loom into sight through the aircraft window. The whole trip had felt surreal from the moment she’d boarded the flight in Dublin. She felt it was not her making the journey – it was someone else. The fact that she hardly recognised herself in the mirror was probably a factor. Her mousy brown hair, which used to hang limply on her shoulders, was no more and in its place were honey-blonde highlights and a brand new cropped style.

  She’d lost over a stone in the past five weeks and was now wearing the Earl jeans that Lexi had given her three years ago. To her mortification she hadn’t been able to get into them then and they had hung in her wardrobe, unworn, for the past three years. She couldn’t believe it the day before when they had slipped on smoothly without even having to lie on the bed to zip them up!

  Thanks to Brenda’s sister Jean, who owned a hair and beauty salon, she no longer had bushy eyebrows and was now sporting long gel nails which were so gorgeous that she couldn’t resist admiring them every ten minutes. Was it any wonder she felt like someone else?

  JFK airport was so enormous that she was afraid she would lose her way. She collected her case and then made her w
ay from Terminal 4 to Terminal 7 where she checked in for the flight to Tampa. Pleased with herself she went into a café and ordered a hotdog which was delicious. When in Rome, she told herself. She resisted the urge to buy any Big Apple souvenirs as she would be spending a few days in the city before she left for home.

  * * *

  The flight down to Tampa was over before she knew it and as the monorail took her to the arrivals hall at Tampa Airport she was impatient to see her best friend again. She spotted Lexi immediately, standing tall amongst the crowd, looking gorgeous and more attractive than any of the other women there. She was wearing a vividly patterned halter-neck top and a matching sarong-type skirt which showed off her smooth olive skin to perfection. She also had a flower in her hair and was wearing jewelled sandals on her tanned feet. She was waving wildly, three balloons floating above her head.

  “Welcome, welcome!” Lexi cried, wrapping her in a bear hug and then they were both crying and laughing at the same time.

  As she hugged her, Brenda was taken aback to feel how thin Lexi had become. She’d mentioned in one of her letters that she had lost weight but Brenda didn’t expect it to be quite so much. Lexi had always been a big girl but now she was model-thin.

  “I’m so happy to see you and you look terrific!” Lexi exclaimed, standing back to have a good look at her dear friend. “You’ve lost weight and what have you done to your hair? I love it. How was your flight?”

  Lexi’s hair was still long and curly but Brenda noticed that the red-gold now had some silver strands through it. Lexi never worried too much about her appearance or bothered with make-up but she didn’t need to. Her face was tanned and glowing and she still had the same sweet smile and kind face that Brenda loved. She also had an innate sense of style and could throw on any old thing and with a tweak here or there, or an accessory or two, manage to make it look amazing. Brenda, who envied this talent of hers, figured it was because she was so artistic.