Are You Ready? (20 page)

‘Yes, a fight we have had over and over again. We have been arguing for ages. I don't really know what happened, Ali. He just couldn't understand my new work commitments, and we fought about them more and more. I didn't think it would end like this, but Luke is gone.'

‘Maybe he'll change his mind,' Ali said, trying to be supportive.

‘I don't think so. He collected all his clothes from the apartment the other day, and we are meeting up at the weekend to discuss larger items like the furniture we bought over the years. I hate it, Ali, but what can I do?'

Ali didn't know what to say, Molly and Luke had seemed such a perfect couple. She had never imagined them breaking up. She spent the remainder of their lunch trying to console her friend. When she got back into her office and saw all the wedding magazines and booklets on her desk, she just pushed them aside. She wasn't in the mood to think about her own wedding and happiness today, when one of her best friends was suddenly single, and so heart-broken. God, Ali thought, I totally forgot Molly was doing the catering for the wedding. How painful it will be for her to see a loving couple and hear everyone talking about happily
ever afters! I hope she will still be able to cope, though, because the date is so close now, that if she can't do it I'll have to cook the food myself. Ali almost laughed, picturing herself trying to make her own wedding cake the night before she had to walk up the aisle!

The next day Ali's parents were coming up to Dublin to help her make a final decision about her wedding dress. She just could not decide between two options. One was from a small boutique run by a Frenchwoman, in Sandymount. It was detailed, lacy and very slimming. The shop-owner had picked out some beautiful ivory shoes and beaded jewellery to go with it, and she really did have a good eye; everything she had chosen was perfect. Ali loved that dress, it was very elegant and the whole outfit was ideal, but she still couldn't stop thinking about the first dress she had tried on, the two-piece from The Wedding Boutique. It was cream, and had a fitted bodice that laced up at the back, and a beautiful full-bodied skirt. The dress was very simple, but it was the fit and cut that Ali had fallen in love with. It was like something you might see in an American bridal magazine. She had already found some jewellery in Brown Thomas that would go with it perfectly. How hard it was to choose the right dress!

Ali's parents wanted to talk to Robin and Ali about some final booking details for the marquee, so it was decided to combine this with a final trip to the bridal shops. Ali had agreed to meet her mum and dad after work in the shop in Sandymount. Ali had been held up in work, so she started to get anxious at the bus stop, waiting for a bus to arrive. Finally one did, but as usual the queue was held up by people searching for change. How could people wait for a bus for half an hour, and then be taken aback by having to pay? Ali thought. Why couldn't they be ready, instead of waiting until they were at the head of the queue before taking off their backpack, searching for their wallet, and slowly counting out their change in pennies? It was ridiculous. Ali sighed with exasperation as she finally got a seat, and rang her mum to warn her she would be late.

Ali arrived a little hot and bothered, but as soon as she entered the bridal boutique was calmed by its atmosphere and by its owner, Madeline. The shop was small, yet filled with beautiful paintings, photos and bridal accessories. It was all cream, and smelled of perfumed candles. The Frenchwoman took one look at Ali and offered her a chair, to ‘catch your breath', before continuing to make tea and coffee for Ali's parents. After a drink of water, Ali slipped into the lace wedding dress and fixed her hair. Then she stepped out of the changing room.

She saw a teardrop roll down her father's cheek. ‘Oh Ali, your mother told me you looked gorgeous in all the dresses you tried on,' he said proudly. ‘But Ali,
pet, you look like an angel, an absolute angel. You are beautiful.'

Tears welled into Ali's eyes as she pictured the day her dad would walk her up the aisle. They all admired the dress, yet Ali still couldn't decide. It was a bit awkward telling Madeline that once again they need to ‘think about it' as they left the little boutique.

‘I don't know what to do, Mum, I love it, but I love the next dress, too.'

‘Ali, they are all gorgeous on you. Let's just try this second one on, and get some dinner, and then we can decide.'

At The Wedding Boutique there was no coffee, tea or water, but Ali didn't mind. She made sure her parents were comfortable, before letting the sales assistant help her into the two-piece dress. The skirt had three layers, so she needed help. After slipping into some slingback heels and letting the assistant place a veil on her hair, she stepped out of the dressing room and walked over to her parents. This time they were both speechless. They gasped.

‘That's it, Ali. That's the one,' her dad said at last, holding her mum's hand.

Ali looked in the mirror. ‘But it's way more expensive, Dad, it's—'

Ali's dad cut in. ‘I don't care how much it costs. That's the one, Ali, the one for you. You look like a princess.'

And before she knew it they had paid for the dress, with the assistant promising the alterations would be
finished in three weeks' time. Ali bought some ivory low-heeled shoes and a beautiful ivory beaded veil; it was all perfect. And as Ali and her parents headed for dinner in a local Italian to celebrate ‘the dress', Ali forgot all about the stress of work, and of buses and wedding arrangements – and just pictured herself walking up the aisle in that dream dress.

Ben was swamped with work. His desk was full of balance sheets, tax invoices, calculators and coffee cups. He had never realized his dad worked so hard. So much for the idea that if you ran your own company you were your own boss and could do whatever you wanted. Ben had been lucky to grab a bagel at lunchtime. The week had flown by, and even though he had tried to explain to clients that his dad was off work, and they had sympathized with him, somehow they had also still expected their work to be done on time and up to scratch. It had taken Ben a day or two to get back into the swing of things in the accountancy world but it was like riding a bike, once you knew how to balance an account you never forgot!

His father was coming out of hospital tomorrow. Maura was nervous about how he would cope at home, but the doctors had reassured her that if he had any problems she could bring him straight back in. They weren't going to take any chances with his heart.
Ben was glad that Joe was coming out on a Saturday, because if it had been mid-week he wouldn't have been able to be there, work was so busy. He was determined to finish his work tonight by 6 p.m. and head straight for the pub. He hadn't seen any of his friends in weeks and needed to relax and have a few pints.

At six thirty Ben turned off his computer, locked the offices, and headed straight for The Bailey. The lads were already there and Ben just couldn't wait for a night of banter and pints. He pushed his way through the usual throng of after-work Friday drinkers, and found his friends. They were all delighted to see him, and happy to hear his dad was on the road to recovery, even if it would take him a while to get back to his old self. After telling them all about the hospital, the family business and being swamped at work the conversation returned to the usual male subjects: football and rugby. Ben was glad. It was nice to be able to relax and talk about something different.

By his third pint Ben had completely forgotten all the stress of the week and was laughing at his friend Philip's attempt to chat up some girls at the bar. But Philip did succeed in bringing two of the girls over to where Ben and the lads were sitting. Ben made room for them, and before long was chatting to the girls, who both worked on a well-known magazine and kept the boys entertained with funny celebrity gossip. The girls managed to persuade the bar manager that they would mention the pub in the next issue of the magazine in return for some free rounds of drinks, so
before long Ben was not only having a great time but getting pretty drunk.

It is great to have a normal Friday night, he thought, as he put his arm around Nikki, who was blonde and very chatty. They walked on to Krystle nightclub. Nikki seemed to know everyone in Dublin, and managed to blag her way in to the nightclub for free, dragging Ben in with her. The night was only beginning in Krystle: the music was blaring and the club just filling up. As Ben's other friends filed in they all made their way to the smoking garden, while Ben and Nikki danced to Kanye West. After some shots and free champagne Ben was flying, and felt himself drawn more to Nikki. She obviously felt the same way, and before long they were grabbing their coats and hailing a taxi. As Nikki sat beside him in the taxi and leaned in to kiss him, Ben made a drunken but mental note to thank Philip for his bar bravery earlier. If it hadn't been for him, Ben wouldn't be on his way back to a gorgeous blonde's flat. Life is good, Ben thought, as he paid the taxi man and headed into Nikki's apartment, holding her by the hand.

Life is a nightmare, Ben thought, as he searched for his mobile phone. It had been ringing for ages now, but it had taken about ten rings to wake Ben from his drunken slumber. As he fumbled amid jeans, socks and underwear for his Nokia, he thought his head would explode. He hadn't been this hungover for a long time. Finally he found the phone and answered.

‘Where are you, Ben? Do you know what time it is? Your father's blood pressure will be sky-high.'

Ben looked at his watch, it was twelve o'clock. Crap, he thought, his mum was right, they were supposed to be in the hospital by 11 a.m. to collect Joe.

‘Where are you, anyway?' Maura O'Connor almost shouted down the phone.

Ben looked around at Nikki who was unconscious on the bed. Ben didn't have a clue where he was, maybe Donnybrook, but he could be anywhere. The night before seemed like a dream.

‘Mum, I know I said I would drive, but could I meet you at the hospital? I'll be there as soon as I can.'

Maura agreed, and once she was gone Ben stood up to find the bathroom: he needed a shower before collecting his dad. Nikki awoke as Ben tripped over her boots.

‘Hi,' she croaked. ‘Big night, hey? Are you OK?'

Ben sat down on the bed. ‘Sorry to sound like a prick, Nikki, but I've to be somewhere ASAP, so if you wouldn't mind I need to shower and then leave.'

Ben waited for her to be annoyed, but she smiled at him.

‘No problem, Ben. I'm off to Spain later this afternoon with the girls for a week of sun and fun, so no bother. Do you want me to order you a taxi?'

Ben nodded as he headed for the bathroom, he felt kind of weird. He hadn't had a proper one-night stand in ages, and usually felt a bit guilty after, but Nikki didn't seem to care. Somehow that made Ben feel like he was the one being used. He tried to think it through in the shower, but the cold water forced him to realize just how bad his hangover was, and as he got dressed again and tried to make himself look presentable Nikki called out that his taxi had arrived. He walked to the door, and Nikki handed him a piece of paper with her number on it.

‘In case you ever have an urge to dance your heart out to Kanye West again, Ben. I had a great time last night, see you!' And with that she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and closed the apartment door.

Ben was half in shock, not sure what to make of the situation. Maybe all magazine girls were like this, blagging drinks and free entry to nightclubs, followed
by one-night stands; or maybe she did like him. Ben really didn't have time to think about it as he rang his mum to tell her he was on the way. Today was going to be a big day, and Ben needed to be there for his dad.

As Joe walked into the kitchen his eyes swelled with tears.

‘I didn't think I would ever see that crazy parrot again,' he said with a smile, as Ben helped him into a chair. Maura set about making them all coffee.

Mango starting squawking away, delighted with all the attention Joe was giving him. The dog was going berserk too – tail wagging, jumping up and down all over Joe. Ben's head was pumping, his hangover seeming to get worse. Maura started to unpack the groceries they had picked up on the way home from the hospital.

‘Maura, I'll never take any of your meals for granted again, that hospital food was like cardboard. I've been dreaming of your homemade lasagne and shepherds pie!'

‘I thought you might like me to make them.' Maura smiled as she turned the oven on and decided they all needed a big lunch to celebrate Joe's return home.

Ben helped Joe unpack his bags, and change into some new clothes.

‘Everything smells of hospital, Ben, it's horrible. Can you put my dirty things straight into the wash, please? I don't want to be reminded of that odour again.'

Ben looked at his dad, realizing how hard it must
have been for him to be stuck in that hospital thinking he was going to die. He gave his dad a hug.

‘I'm so glad you are home, Dad.'

Joe hugged him back, then slipped on an old jumper and trousers. The clothes hung off him: in the few short weeks he had been ill he had lost a huge amount of weight. Ben was shocked at how old and sick he suddenly looked.

‘Ben, I'm very tired. I think I might go for a nap before lunch is ready. Wake me when that lasagne is cooked, I can't wait.' Joe smiled as Ben helped him into the bed, but Ben knew it must be hard to have to be helped to do the simplest things.

If he can barely get himself dressed or into bed, how will he ever go back to work? Ben worried. He closed his parents' bedroom door, and decided to lie down himself. As his hangover seemed to clear Ben's mind began to fill with worries about his dad's health, his ability to return to work, and the future of his company.

Molly picked up her box of cookbooks and headed for the front door. Luke stood in the kitchen, and didn't offer to help her with the last box. She stared at him.