5 Peppermint Grove (14 page)

“It’s Dublin on a Friday night – lots of people will be dressed in work clothes. I could do with the company.”

“Okay. Great!” Gillian said and then felt terrible. How was she going to look standing in a trendy bar next to Julia?

“I’ll get things cleared up here and we can pop off in ten minutes.” Julia smiled.

When she emerged from her office Gillian was waiting patiently at the door, with the keys in her hand to lock up.

Julia threw her bag over her shoulder and held the door open for Gillian.

“Right, first stop BT’s,” she said, looking at her watch. “I’ll just catch my friend Tony before she clocks off. She touches up my make-up at the end of the day if I decide to stay in town for a drink.”

So much for being casual because it was Friday night, thought Gillian. She plodded along a couple of steps behind Julia. She had nothing better waiting for her at home than her cat. Her mother always went out on Friday nights to play bingo.

“This way,” Julia said, opening the large swing doors of the department store.

Gillian followed. She had been in Brown Thomas a few times but couldn’t honestly say that she had ever bought anything there except an eye liner. She remembered feeling terribly guilty afterwards as it had cost a day’s salary.

Julia walked up to the Clinique counter and gave the perfectly primed girl at the counter a warm hug. She turned to Gillian.

“This is Gillian – Gillian meet Tony, my lifesaver!”

Tony held out her hand and at the same time scanned Gillian’s face, observing the poorly applied layer of make-up with no colour at all on her eyes or cheeks after her day in the office.

“Lovely to meet you, Gillian – would you like me to touch up your make-up as well?”

Gillian nodded. She had never had her make-up applied professionally.

Tony set to work on Gillian, first fixing her eyebrow line which was scraggy. Then she put some warm brown tones on her eyelids.

Julia sat browsing through the catalogue of new colours while all the time chatting to Tony about where she was going to holiday that year. Julia always gave Tony a special rate when she came to book her holidays – so special that it ensured a make-up artist on tap for the duration of the year.

“I think you should try Egypt – there’s nothing like a bit of sun in winter,” she chirped on.

Gillian listened attentively, scared to move in case Tony’s hand slipped. But of course Tony was a skilled professional and, when she lifted the mirror to eventually show Gillian how she looked, the young girl nearly fell off the stool.

“Is that me?” she exclaimed in amazement.

“It sure is and you have beautiful eyes – don’t hide them under that fringe – try keeping your hair back from your face.”

‘Beautiful’ was a word that Gillian would never use when describing herself but she did feel good.

“Tony will look after you if you ever want to be fixed up – just pop in as you pass by!” Julia said.

Tony nodded her head. “Any time, Gillian – just pop in!”

The two girls left BT’s with shining faces. It was a mild January evening – almost ten degrees. Julia couldn’t help but wonder what the temperature must be in
Perth and what it must be like for Ruth. She missed her friend so much. She would treat herself to a cocktail and get to know Gillian better. She needed more girlfriends – life was definitely changing.

As they walked to Dakota on South William Street, they passed a little boutique and stopped to try on some tops – the shop was about to close but Julia was interested in a shirt that was priced 150 euro so the shop assistant was happy to leave the doors open a bit longer.

Gillian fingered through a stack of tops that were perfect for the party season. She winced as she looked at the price-tags. She bought most of her clothes in Penneys.

“That red top is gorgeous – I bet it would look great on you, Gillian,” Julia said with a nod.

“Oh, do you think so?” Gillian trusted Julia’s taste in clothes – she never came to work looking less than stunning. “Maybe I’ll try it on?”

“Go ahead,” the shop assistant said enthusiastically.

When Gillian came out of the changing room she was like a new person.

“Gorgeous!” Julia said. “You have to get it.”

Gillian looked at the tag. It was seventy-two euros – a fortune! But she was too swept up in the moment to argue. She reached into her purse, pulled out the money that she had put aside to pay her mother for housekeeping and put it on the counter.

When the two left the store Gillian walked with a spring in her step. She watched how Julia held herself and tried to keep up.

The Dakota bar was packed for so early in the evening and people were smoking at the tables outside. When they got to the long bar Julia asked Gillian what she would like to drink.

“Oh, a bottle of Bulmers, please.”

Julia clicked the roof of her mouth with her tongue. “It’s Friday, Gill, you have to have something more special – what about a Cosmo?”

Gillian just nodded. She was in shock that somebody had called her Gill. She liked it – it sounded cool. Could she actually be looking the way she did and feeling this confident?

Two men walked into the bar wearing tight leather jackets and trendy haircuts. They were tall and handsome and would never normally notice Gillian. But they stopped at the part of the bar where the two girls sat on high stools. One started to chat to Julia but she was having none of it. Gillian copied Julia’s snooty expression and sipped on her cocktail glass in the same way as her boss.

“That looks good,” the shorter of the two men said to Gillian. “Can I get you another?”

Gillian looked over her shoulder. Was that gorgeous guy really talking to her?

“We are having a quiet drink, thanks, guys!” Julia interrupted.

Gillian turned her head in the direction of the counter but could see the two guys staring intently at them in the reflection in the mirror behind the bar. She felt her heart pound and was gutted when they walked away.

“Honestly!” Julia exclaimed. “What must we do just to have a bit of peace at the end of the day?”

Gillian had often wondered what it felt like to be one of those women who pushed men away like that. Now that she saw Julia in action she understood a little more. She liked the feeling of power. How wonderful to be as confident and in control of your life, she thought. She listened as Julia rambled on about her plans for the business and the trip that she was taking to visit her friend in Perth in February. All the time a terrible mixture of admiration and jealousy rumbled in Gillian’s stomach. She had liked being called Gill earlier. She would do everything in her power to learn from Julia and improve herself. This job was turning into a wonderful opportunity.

“Do you fancy another here or would you rather go on somewhere else?”

Julia asked.

“Oh, I don’t mind!” Gillian’s purse was beginning to feel the strain – first from the top that she had bought and secondly from the round of drinks that she had bought. She couldn’t remember the last time that she’d had a cocktail.

“It’s my round – we’ll have one for the road?”

Gillian was feeling a little light-headed but would enjoy one more drink. She nodded graciously.

No sooner had the waiter put the glasses down on the bar than Julia flinched as another handsome man came over to her. Gillian’s eyes widened as the gorgeous man put his palm on Julia’s upper arm.

“I didn’t know this was one of your haunts!” he exclaimed.

How did she know so many men and attract so many others, Gillian wondered. This one was particularly delicious.

“I seldom come in here – but I felt like a change,” Julia said, deadpan.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your lovely friend?” he asked.

“Gillian – this is my sister’s brother-in-law – Dylan.”

He held out his hand and shook Gillian’s.

“Pleased to meet you,” she beamed. She looked him up and down and was too much in awe to say anything more.

“Can I get you a drink, ladies?”

“No, thanks, we’ve just got ours,” said Julia.

“I’m going for a bite to eat in the Trocedero with a couple of the lads that I used to work with – would you ladies like to join us?”

“No – this is our last drink and then we’re going home, thanks,” Julia replied curtly.

Dylan leaned forward and whispered in Gillian’s ear, loud enough for Julia to hear.

“She’s mad about me really – but my brother got the nice sister in the Perrin family!” He then winked at Julia. “Are you coming to the yacht club tomorrow night?”

Julia shook her head. “There’s a holiday-information day on Sunday so I’ll be having an early night.”

“Ah, why don’t you come and bring the lovely Gillian with you?”

Gillian looked from Julia to Dylan and back – she would so much like to go to the yacht club – she had never been – never even dreamed before of entering such a place.

Julia tilted her head. “Would you like to go to the yacht club tomorrow night, Gillian?”

Gillian didn’t know what was the best answer to give – if she said yes Dylan would be pleased – if she said no she felt that Julia would be pleased.

“Whatever you think, Julia.”

“Don’t let her bully you, Gillian – what do you want to do?” said Dylan.

Julia sighed. “Gillian has a mind of her own – if she wants to we’ll go to the yacht club tomorrow but I won’t be staying late.”

Dylan shrugged. “Okay, ladies – I see you want a bit of peace and quiet – I’ll see you tomorrow evening then.”

He had only left when Julia apologised. “He’s always such a pain, Gillian – he is so naughty to put you in that awkward position but he seems to thrive on embarrassing people and putting them into difficult situations.”

“I thought he seemed quite nice and polite.”

“Just because he’s kind of smart-looking he thinks he can get away with saying anything that he wants.”

Gillian breathed out loudly. “He’s really gorgeous, Julia – is his brother as handsome?”

“Who – Craig? Em, I guess so – he’s sort of handsome. Much steadier and more solid than Dylan. I think Dylan likes to think that he’s a ladies’ man.”

“Oh, and is he?”

Julia shrugged again. “I don’t see him with many girls actually. He had a girl for about a year when I met him first. He only seems to date girls for a short time, though,  over the last couple of years. Why, do you like him?”

“Oh, I’m sure he’s way out of my league!”

“Nonsense! If you like him I can fix you guys up together. Leave it with me and I’ll wave my magic wand tomorrow night. That is, if you want to go out to Malahide to the yacht club?”

“I’d love to.”

“Right then,” Julia said, lifting her glass and tapping it off the side of Gillian’s. “Cheers – here’s to matchmaking!”

Chapter Seventeen

Steve was there personally to meet and greet Ruth on arrival at
Perth International Airport. Her visa and passport were checked and she was rushed out into the balmy warmth of the Australian evening and into in his spacious Toyota Landcruiser.

Everything seemed so alien yet in an odd way familiar, like
America had felt on her first arrival there with Julia for her twenty-first birthday.

“You drive on the same side of the road as we do!” she noticed.

“Yeah, you’re gonna find it easy to fit in with most things.”

“And the Irish are familiar with Australian wines . . .”

He laughed out loud. He was wearing cream-coloured shorts revealing tanned legs.

“That’s so funny. I think you could tell me a thing or two about our wines. But I’m going to make sure that you see the best of
Australia while you are here – that’s why I’ve organised a welcome lunch for you at Sandalford Winery for Monday if that’s okay.”

“That’s very kind of you.” Ruth felt that there was something different about Steve now that he was on his home ground. He was certainly more casual and familiar in his manner.

“I hope you’ll like your new home.”

“I’m sure that I will,” Ruth replied, wide-eyed and enthusiastic as the rows of eucalyptus tress flitted by along the
Great Eastern Highway.

“That’s the
Swan River,” Steve pointed as they came to wooden bridge and an idyllic setting. “You’ll see black swans along the river most days.”

“It’s lovely!”

A little further on Steve said, “We’re having a barbie tonight and my wife thought you would like to join us – that okay or are you tired?”

“Oh, that’s so kind of you!”

“We live in Mount Lawley which isn’t too far from Subiaco. We can drop off your bags and then we can go straight there.”

“That’s perfect – you’re very kind.”

Subiaco was a small suburb nestled quite close to the towering skyscrapers of the CBD – the Central Business District. The roads were laid out in neat straight rows with an eclectic mix of homes built in Edwardian style called Federation houses and bungalows.

“This is your new home,” Steve said, pulling up at a beautiful bungalow painted a bright sunny yellow. Pink flowers lined the driveway and a lattice fence surrounded the garden.

“It’s really beautiful! All of the houses are so nice.”

“Subiaco’s a good suburb for younger people – there’s always something happening and you are near the CBD.”

Steve took her cases out of the back and they went into the house.

Ruth didn’t want to take too much of Steve’s time so she had a very quick shower and changed into a clean dress that she had packed on the top layer of her suitcase. She was amazed at how fresh she felt after the nineteen-hour trek but the business-class seats had made a remarkable difference to how she felt on arrival.

Steve’s house was full of the sounds and smells of family. His wife Michelle rushed out to greet Ruth and already at the barbeque were neighbours and a large gang of children jumping in and out of the swimming pool. It struck Ruth for an instant that if her parents had stayed in
Perth this would be the lifestyle that she would have grown up with. But she pushed those thoughts aside. She was here now and this was where she was meant to be.