Are You Ready? Read online

  ‘Well, I’m now the proud aunt and godmother to baby Fiona!’

  ‘You will be a great aunt, very funky.’

  And as they chatted away Sarah realized for the first time how nice he was. She had always just seen him as a client of the gallery’s, and treated him as that, but now she saw that he was interesting and relaxed, and with his good taste in art and kind eyes was actually becoming more and more attractive to her. Almost an hour had passed when Sarah realized it was time to close up the gallery.

  ‘I’m sorry, but we need to close. Was there anything else I could help you with, Hugh?’

  Hugh Hyland cleared his throat, suddenly looking rather awkward.

  ‘I know I’m a client of the gallery, Sarah, but do you know why I’ve been calling in quite so often?’ He looked at her. ‘It’s because I’d love to ask you out, just for a drink or something. I’ve tried to ask you before, but other men, and babies being born, kept getting in the way!’

  Sarah didn’t know what to say. She’d never been asked out at work before, and it was a little daunting that an important client was the one doing it. But then she remembered that her mum was out tonight for salsa lessons with Mr Macken, and that she didn’t want another night in fretting about not having a boyfriend or a baby like her sister, so she grabbed the keys, locked the gallery and headed for the pub, with a very happy Hugh Hyland beside her.

  The drinks went well. Sarah was careful not to drink too much, and give Hugh the wrong impression, the way she had with Ross. She was not easy or casual or whatever that American wannabe had thought she was. She and Hugh talked about art and exhibitions, and Sarah was fascinated by how much he knew. She told him about her failed attempts at becoming a full-time artist, and how the gallery had become her saviour. Hugh now worked in Dublin, and loved the social life in the big city, but he did crave to one day move back to Galway, and be closer to his family and friends there. As the night wore on, Sarah got to know him more, and liked what she heard, and was almost sad when the barman started flicking the lights off and pulling the shutters down.

  As Sarah walked into her house that evening, her mum started demonstrating the different steps and moves involved in salsa, and as she dragged Sarah up for a spin around the kitchen table she could see a glint in Sarah’s eye that hadn’t been there for quite some time.

  45

  The next afternoon when Sarah arrived back at work after lunch, there was a package on the step, with her name on it. She opened the large, yet very light box. Inside was a blank stretched canvas, with a note.

  Sarah, I had a great time last night. Whether we go for drinks again or not, I hope one day I’ll see your work on a wall in the gallery. I know with your spirit you could be a great artist. Take care, Hugh

  His business card was attached. Sarah didn’t even have to think twice about grabbing the phone and ringing him. Men like this don’t come along often, she thought, and I’m not going to be the fool who lets him get away. And within minutes they had a cinema date booked for that evening. Sarah looked at the canvas. Maybe sometimes you just needed a blank canvas to start something new, something exciting!

  46

  Molly was happily making her mum’s version of gingerbread men, called ‘honeymen’. Her mum used to make them for Molly and her brother when she was younger, and since they didn’t like ginger she’d used honey instead. And as Molly had some spare time, she’d thought before the lunch rush began she would make some new treats for the customers to try out. She made some big ones to sell and a few mini-men as samplers for the counter. Heavenly was doing well, and each day Molly worked here it felt more and more like home. The smell of baking, coffee brewing and apple pies all made her feel calm, safe and so happy. There was always a great buzz about the place, it was full of people chatting, laughing and enjoying their food. The atmosphere was so different from Molly’s last job where everything was serious and competitive; and it seemed like years ago that she wore a suit to work. Nowadays jeans, a T-shirt and her apron were all she needed, with her suits being banished to the back of her wardrobe, hopefully never to appear again. It was amazing how much your life can change in such a short time, she thought, giving her little honeymen marzipan buttons and eyes.

  After another busy day at the café, Molly was meeting Ali in Merrion Square after work. Ali had said in her text message that she had ‘something very important’ to tell her. I wonder what it is? Molly thought, as she found a free park bench. She began reading a magazine while she waited. Ali arrived in a flurry from work.

  ‘Sorry I’m late, I’ve been so busy since I got back from my holidays, it is like I never had a break I’m so stressed. Anyway, it is great to see you.’

  As they hugged, Ali pulled out her wallet and handed a cheque to Molly.

  ‘What is this?’ Molly asked in surprise.

  ‘It is for the engagement party, of course. You were a huge hit, Robin is still talking about those profiteroles! Thank you so much.’

  ‘Ali, are you mad? I can’t accept this. I did it for you as a friend, and I was delighted that you trusted me, but I don’t want your money.’

  ‘Too late, Molly, we are paying you, you are our first “wedding expense”!’

  So Molly took the cheque, and was secretly delighted, and knew straightaway she would take Luke out for dinner tonight to celebrate. Somewhere nice, as he was always treating her to the finest restaurants in Dublin.

  ‘But Molly, that isn’t the big news I had. Well, I wanted to ask you something else, in relation to cooking. Will you cater our wedding?’

  Molly was speechless. A wedding was a huge deal, a massive event, it would blow the niblets and finger food engagement-party job out of the water. But would it be too much for her to handle? she wondered.

  ‘And before you say you won’t be able to: I know you can. We would love you to do it, you are so talented and I would trust you completely. I would rather give you the business than some other random old caterer. Molly – I know you can do it.’

  Molly didn’t know what to say. A job like this could really get her going on the catering scene and would also be extra money for her, a lot of extra money. And she was sure she could get her cousin and aunt to help her.

  ‘OK,’ she said impulsively. ‘I’ll do it. Thanks so much, and I promise the food will be to die for!’

  The girls spent the next few hours chatting about the wedding, food ideas and the all-important wedding cake!

  47

  Ali was busy at work, but so happy that Molly had agreed to cater her wedding, or as Robin kept correcting her, ‘their wedding’! Molly was a great cook, and Ali trusted she would know what was best for the day, and she liked to help a friend out. It was weird to be back at work, and back to real life after the excitement of being on holiday on a different continent, and then the engagement. Now she was back to hundreds of files, emails and meetings.

  It had been a bit of an anti-climax arriving at work the first morning. The receptionist and the girls in accounts had seemed very excited, and asked her a million questions, and had kept trying the ring on. But Mary, her boss, had congratulated her, had a quick look at the ring, and then, after a few awkward questions about how it had happened, turned back to her computer and begun working as usual. She must be jealous, Ali had thought, but even so, her reaction had put a dampener on the whole thing. Although that didn’t stop Ali checking wedding websites and forums every time Mary turned her back or left the office. It was amazing how obsessed some people became with themselves and their own wedding. There were people on those forums that had minute-by-minute countdowns to their weddings, even though they were years away! Ali and Robin did not want a long engagement. They had waited long enough, and just wanted to walk up that aisle and say I do. As exciting as a wedding is, it was being married that was the important thing for them, so they were going to do it as soon as they could.

  48

  Sarah and Tom were discussing what godparents should buy a newbor
n baby, over a cup of coffee. Sarah wanted to do something different, like buying a star in her name or adopting an animal on her behalf, while Tom preferred something more practical, like a year’s supply of nappies. ‘Because that’s all she seems to want and need,’ he joked. They were both very proud godparents, and were for ever taking out their camera phones to show everyone the latest picture of baby Fiona. Sarah was convinced Fiona was going to be tall like herself, and kept checking the baby’s hair to see if she would be blonde, too!

  Mel said having a baby was a real shock to the system and she hadn’t slept one wink yet, and that, as everyone kept reminding her, she wasn’t going to sleep properly until the baby was eighteen! Sarah loved calling in and holding Fiona, there was nothing like the smell of a newborn baby. Her mum had practically moved in and spent every minute advising Mel what to do and not do, in-between ringing her friends to give them every possible update on Fiona. They were all very excited and couldn’t wait to be grandparents themselves, she informed Sarah.

  It was so cute to see Tom so excited also. He was madly in love with his new niece, had helped his brother John erect the baby crib, and didn’t bat an eyelid when Mel had to breastfeed in front of everyone. It was lovely to see men so excited about babies, and Sarah just wished her dad had still been alive to help them all celebrate.

  While she was discussing baby gifts with Tom, Sarah received a phone call from Hugh. In just over a week, they had seen each other three times. He was very interesting, and more grown-up than any of her previous dates: a real man, who rang when he said he would, and was not at all scared of making plans a few weeks down the line.

  ‘Sarah, I’m running into a meeting, but wanted to see whether you were free on Saturday afternoon. My local rugby club from home, Galwegians, are coming to play in Dublin this weekend against Blackrock. Anyway, my two brothers are coming up to see the match, and they would love to meet you, and it would be great if you came. What do you say?’

  Sarah wasn’t so sure, meeting someone’s family was way down the line in dating – it wasn’t supposed to happen so soon – but then Hugh was so nice, and she didn’t want to disappoint him, so she agreed. As she hung up the phone, Tom looked at her with his big blue eyes.

  ‘So you have got another boyfriend? That was quick!’

  Sarah knew he was referring to his friend Ross.

  ‘Tom, I really don’t want to talk to you about this and get into a he-said, she-said thing, but Ross was not who I thought he was, and he was hardly my boyfriend. So, yes, I’m entitled to date someone else, someone who is just perfect.’ After that Tom shut up and just stirred his cappuccino.

  Later that night Sarah was meeting Ali to go and see the latest Leonardo DiCaprio film. Sarah filled Ali in on Hugh Hyland and the impending rugby match date.

  ‘Rugby matches are a nightmare for girls,’ she said. ‘You need to wrap up warm to go to the match, so you go along in your hat, gloves, and plenty of warm sensible clothes, but then when you go for drinks after, you don’t want to be standing there all night in your fleece and sensible flat shoes. And you can’t go to the match in stilettos and a string top just to look good later, as you then look like you’ve tried too hard – and freeze to death. It’s a nightmare!’

  ‘You will be fine. Sure, guys don’t notice anything – you could run into the bathroom and come out in your deb’s dress and they wouldn’t notice you’d changed!’ Ali laughed.

  ‘You are probably right, Ali. It is just that I’m nervous about seeing his two brothers. Meeting family for the first time is always hard, everyone is scrutinizing you, and you don’t know what to expect.’

  Ali paid for their popcorn and drinks and they started walking up the cinema escalators still continuing the conversation. Ali said: ‘You think that rugby match will be hard? The first time I met Robin’s parents it was a real nightmare. We were all going to Cork for the night for his granny’s eightieth birthday. So first of all I had to sit facing his parents for three hours, and that is a long time face-to-face with your boyfriend’s parents who you have just met. And then when we got to the hotel I didn’t know what to expect, as his dad had booked three hotel rooms. One was obviously for the parents, but then there was me, Robin and his brother and sister, and as this was my first time meeting them, I didn’t know if they would let me stay with Robin or if I would have to share with his sister. So you should have seen my bag: one side had all my Victoria’s Secret best lingerie, while the other had my Penney’s granny-style fleece pyjamas and dressing gown! It was so funny, but such a relief when his dad handed me and Robin the keys to our own room.’

  Sarah was relieved to hear that really everyone was nervous about meeting their partner’s family, and decided to relax and enjoy the movie, and not worry about what to wear until Saturday came.

  49

  Luke was walking into his apartment when he froze: all over the kitchen table were wedding magazines, and little bride and groom ornament cake-tops. There were also candles everywhere and wine open. Oh my God, was Molly going to propose? Had she lost her mind? He didn’t even hear Molly approach from behind to give him a big hug and kiss. She stopped when she realized he was stiff with shock – literally frozen.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked.

  ‘Molly, what are you doing? What’s with all the wedding stuff?’ Molly looked at the magazines and wedding-cake toppings and started laughing.

  ‘Luke, did you think I was trying to give you engagement hints? As if I would be that obvious! No, I just want to start getting ideas for Ali’s wedding, so I bought some magazines today, and I got a bit carried away when I saw some lovely Mr and Mrs cake toppings. Relax, they are for them, not us!’ But Luke didn’t laugh.

  ‘It’s obvious you are thinking about it, why else would you leave this stuff here for me to trip over? Well, if you think we are going to get married when every night our house is full of your work projects, and all we talk about is other people’s parties and what you will make for them to eat, then you can forget it. I don’t bring my work home and I don’t see why you have to, either.’

  And with that Luke walked back out of the door. What was wrong with him? Molly worried. She looked down and saw one of the little marzipan bride and grooms had fallen off the table and smashed in half, totally broken.

  50

  On Saturday morning Ben booked a restaurant for that night with Laura. He hadn’t seen her for a few weeks, and was eager to make a good impression. He didn’t quite know her taste yet, but thought Baan Thai in Ballsbridge would be a safe bet. Thai was his favourite and that restaurant was always busy and had a great atmosphere. It would be perfect. He was looking forward to meeting her later, and was trying to iron a shirt when he saw his mum out in the garden pruning bushes and planting new flowers.

  Maura O’Connor was having a dinner party that night and was trying to get the garden looking just right. She still had the shopping to do, but would run out to Donnybrook Fair for fish and a nice dessert for later. Joe was taking Honey for a walk while he went to get the newspaper, in the hope of tiring the over-energetic dog out. Maura did not want a night of dog-barking and whingeing to ruin her dinner party. Maura dragged the lawnmower out of the garage and dumped it in the middle of the lawn. The grass was in desperate need of a cut, and she wanted it looking well tonight. Her gardener was away, but since Ben was home she would get him to do it. As Ben made himself a BLT and watched Soccer AM his mum came into the kitchen.

  ‘Ben, I need that lawn cut this afternoon, before our guests arrive later.’

  ‘What? Mum, I can’t. I’m running late for meeting the lads, we are all going to watch the Blackrock versus Galwegians rugby match at two p.m.’

  ‘Well then, you can race home from the rugby club and do it after the match, it needs to be done.’

  ‘I can’t, I’m meeting Laura for dinner right after. Sorry, Mum. I’ll do it next time, I promise.’

  And with that Ben headed out the door, but as he did Maur
a shouted after him. ‘Ben, you will have that grass cut by tonight or I’ll let Mango out of his cage to fly away, I really will.’

  But Ben did not hear his mum, and jumped in his car and headed for the rugby club. Maura followed him out shortly, herself, to buy food for the dinner party, all the while complaining to herself that Ben was so lazy – and how would any girl ever marry him?

  Joe O’Connor came home from his walk, and after making sure himself and the dog had plenty of water to help them cool down, he put the kettle on for a cup of tea. Then he saw the lawnmower out on the lawn. Maura must want the grass mowed. As he couldn’t see Ben anywhere he decided he would give it a go himself; he hadn’t cut the grass in a while, but he knew how important it was to Maura that the place looked good for their guests. He was an avid gardener himself, and it was a passion they both shared, but cutting the grass held no passion for him! Even so, he changed into a T-shirt and his old gardening shorts, and started up the engine.

  Within ten minutes the mower started feeling heavier and a shooting pain ran up and down Joe’s right arm, but it wasn’t until his chest felt like it was about to burst, and he couldn’t breathe that he thought something more serious than being unfit might be wrong. But by that stage he was lying on the lawn, and as he fell unconscious all he could worry about was that Maura wouldn’t be able to cope with seeing him like this, and he prayed that Ben might find him first. And then everything went dark.

  Ben had just congratulated the Blackrock captain over their mighty win over the Galway team when his mobile rang. It was home. He ignored it at first as he thought it would be his mum asking him to come back and mow the lawn. But when it rang for the fifth time he answered and heard not his mum or dad’s voice but their neighbour Breda.