Scarlet Feather (21 page)

‘Sorry about that,’ Cathy apologised.

‘No, I’m amazed. If your poor mother could see you here with these people…’

‘Mrs Mitchell, it’s very, very good of you to take me to lunch here and to offer me this expensive hairdo, and I am touched and grateful, but can I ask you as a personal favour not to refer to my mother as my
poor
mother. She is far from poor, she is happy and content and has children and a husband who love her.’

‘Yes, of course… I only meant…’

Cathy waited.

After a long time Hannah Mitchell said,  I only meant she doesn’t have your confidence.’

‘Oh, confidence isn’t everything, Mrs Mitchell.’

It seems to get people quite far, though.’ The mouth was narrow.

Cathy saw Geraldine being ushered to a nearby table with Peter Murphy, the managing director of the hotel where she did the public relations. Their eyes met, and Cathy gave a barely obvious shake of her head. Geraldine got the message and didn’t acknowledge her. To be greeted by a third customer at Quentin’s would put Cathy in an intolerable position. She had already shown her mother-in-law too much of this confidence thing. It was time to listen to the wisdom of having a regular facial and not let the muscles get saggy. Cathy listened, and wondered to herself as she had so often before how this empty, sad, envious woman and her pleasure-loving husband had given birth to Neil. Neil, who was at this moment fighting another no-hoper’s case, Neil who would be mildly interested that she had met his mother for lunch but who would never understand in a million years how outrageous it was to be patronised like this. Cathy almost wished they could have gone back to the days of straightforward hostility. It was far easier to cope with.

Peter Murphy and Geraldine O’Connor saw them leave.

‘God, isn’t that a tiresome poor woman?’ he said.

‘She’s pretty difficult as a mother-in-law, let me tell you,’ Geraldine said.

‘And how on earth would you know?’ he asked.

‘That’s Cathy Scarlet, my niece, walking out the door with her. She has the bad luck to be in that role.’

‘Yes, I
did
know that. She married the young lawyer, right?’

‘
And
has set up a very good catering company I keep telling you about, which you keep telling me is of no interest to you.’

‘No indeed, it is not of any interest only in so far as it’s competition. She can’t hate her mother-in-law so much if she’s having lunch with her.’

‘She does, believe me.’

‘And why didn’t you say hallo to them?’

‘Cathy frowned at me not to,’ Geraldine explained.

‘I’ll never understand women,’ said Peter Murphy, who had nonetheless made considerable efforts to do so by having affairs with many of them. Including Geraldine, some years back. But that was all over now. Today they were just very good friends.

I wish I hadn’t agreed to go back to the old place,’ Martin Maguire said to James Byrne as the two men strolled through Stephen’s Green and fed ducks with the bread given to them by Brenda Brennan as they left Quentin’s

‘No, believe me it’s a good idea. You’ll remember it like this now, the way they have it all shiny, and different,’ James reassured him. They watched in silence as a mother duck rounded up her ducklings for the new source of food.

‘Look at that.’ Martin Maguire was amazed. ‘Look at the way they love their parents and trust them. It’s not like that with humans.’

‘Don’t punish yourself. Please, Martin, there’s no point.’

‘There’s not much point in anything. Are you sure you didn’t tell them?’

I told you I didn’t.’

‘They must have wondered why I was so eager to sell so quickly. They must have asked.’

‘It’s your story, your life, Martin. Of course I didn’t tell them,’ said James. ‘Anyway, those two were so anxious to get their business up and running, they never asked. Believe me.’

‘I can’t go,’ Martin Maguire said. ‘It’s as simple as that. Will you tell them, James?’

‘Of course.’ James Byrne nodded gravely.

‘Imagine, she’s their daughter-in-law and she’s only got a real ordinary accent.’ Molly Riordan was astounded.

I could have told you that she wasn’t married to that tall eejit Tom with the face like some kind of teenage idol,’ said Larry, sounding aggrieved.

I thought he was cute,’ she said.

‘Well I tell you, he’s not going for a lady barrister. No, his line is a bit of stuff, believe me.’

‘How on earth do you know?’ Molly asked.

I heard,’ he nodded sagely.

Molly shrugged. ‘Well, all our friends thought he was a doll. Why did you take such a dislike to him?’

The husband couldn’t remember. Just one of those instant things, he thought.

Brenda Brennan was having a cup of coffee in the kitchen when lunch was over at Quentin’s.

‘Patrick, we should try and put a bit of work in Cathy and Tom’s way, it’s very hard at the start.’

‘What do you suggest?’ he asked.

‘You know the way people often ask us to do funerals… and we can’t get away so end up sending them over a dressed salmon.’

‘You’re right, next one we’ll recommend them. Get them to give us a card.’

‘They already have,’ said Brenda.

Tom and Cathy had coffee and shortbread ready at four.

‘What were you doing at Quentin’s anyway?’ Tom asked.

‘Penance for all the many sins I committed in my life,’ she said.

‘What did you eat?’

I can’t remember. I was with Hannah.’

‘Is there blood all over the place?’

‘No, she just wanted to cut my hair,’ said Cathy.

Tom found this increasingly puzzling. ‘But she didn’t?’ he said eventually.

‘She did.’ Cathy tapped her handbag. ‘She gave me a voucher for it, so I’ll be in Marcella’s domain one of these days. Tom, do I need my hair cut?’

I don’t know. Do
you
want to?’

‘No, not particularly.’

‘Then don’t.’ It was simple. Simple for men. Simple for anyone who hadn’t taken Hannah Mitchell’s money.

At that moment they heard James Byrne and Martin Maguire arriving.

‘Remember, we must not sound as if we are too grateful or he’ll take it back,’ Cathy fussed.

‘It’s all signed and sealed, Cath, it’s only a social call,’ Tom whispered, and they opened the door. James Byrne was alone.

‘I’m very sorry. He decided not to come after all, so I came along to give you his apologies.’

They were very disappointed. ‘Whatever made him change his mind?’ Cathy asked, and as soon as she spoke she knew that James Byrne would not tell her.

I just said I’d tell you that he was sorry.’ He looked sad himself.

‘Well, maybe it was too soon for him; he might come another time,’ Cathy said.

‘He might indeed. He’ll be glad to know that he didn’t cause any fuss.’

James Byrne left.

‘We’ll never know,’ Cathy said.

‘Nobody’ll ever know our secrets from him either,’ Tom said.

‘We don’t
have
any secrets,’ she laughed. ‘Though actually I do. I’m going to give this hairdressing voucher to June.’ She waved it gleefully.

‘How much is it for?’ asked Tom and when she showed him he pretended to reel around the premises. ‘Do people really spend that much money on hair?’ he asked.

‘Apparently.’ Cathy laughed.

‘Marian was on again about the wedding entertainment,’ Cathy said to her mother.

‘They get terrible notions over there,’ Lizzie said.

‘No, it’s dead easy. Nothing we can’t provide:
Ave Maria
and
Panis Angelicas
.’ Cathy was casual.

‘It’s amazing you even know the names of the hymns, it’s so long since you darkened a church.’

‘Stop it, Ma, I tell everyone how tolerant you are…’

‘How tolerant I
have
to be,’ sighed Lizzie.

‘They want a pageboy and a flower girl, Mam. That’s a bit of a poser.’

‘Well they can’t have them,’ Cathy’s mother said. ‘Marian’s going to have to be told, it’s not all posh Chicago notions here, we don’t have anyone that age in the family.’

‘We have Maud and Simon,’ Cathy said thoughtfully.

‘Oh, no, that wouldn’t do at all,’ Cathy’s mother said immediately.

‘Why not?’ Cathy asked.  If they’re still here, and it looks as if they will be, then wouldn’t it be nice for them? Marian would love them.’

‘Cathy, stop filling their heads with such nonsense, you know
she
wouldn’t stand for it, not for a moment.’

‘Well
she
has nothing to do with it, Mam. Let’s discuss it with Maud and Simon. They loved Riverdance,’ Cathy said.

‘Everyone loved Riverdance, but they won’t learn something like that and anyway, I told you. She wouldn’t hear of it.’

‘Mam,
she
is not important. Let’s ask the kids.’

‘They’re not here,’ Lizzie said.

‘Of course they’re here, Mam, they’re always here, listening, spying, stealing food. That’s what they do all day, isn’t it?’

‘That’s not fair, Cathy, you sound as if you hate them, they’re only children who didn’t have a proper home.’

‘No, I don’t hate them. I’ve got to like them a bit more recently. But they still steal food. It’s because they’re not sure they’ll get any more.
And
they listen at doors. Don’t you, Maud?’

I was just passing by,’ said poor Maud, and Simon raised his eyes to heaven.

‘Tom, it’s June. Can I ask you something?’

‘Anything, as long as it’s not asking to cry off the next job.’

‘No… It’s just… is Cathy sound in the head? She’s given me
the
most amazing token…’

‘Take it, use it, splash out with it.’

‘But won’t she be sorry?’

‘No, it was from Neil’s mother. She doesn’t like the lady, so go get the hair done, Junie baby.’

I was thinking of very bright purple streaks, highlights, you know, but they have to be well done otherwise they look a mess.’

‘Go for them June,’ said Tom, and he hung up.

There was just so much time you could spend talking about hairdos.

I’m not being a pageboy at
anyone’s
wedding,’ said Simon.

‘I’d like to have been a flower girl. I don’t think anyone else would have let us be part of anything,’ Maud said.

‘Lots of people at school are learning Irish dancing, of course,’ Simon said. ‘It would be a way to learn it free.’

‘How do you mean, free?’ Maud wondered.

‘Well, Father and Mother aren’t there to pay for anything any more,’ Simon said sadly.

‘But Muttie hasn’t any money to pay for lessons,’ Maud protested.

‘How do you know that?’

‘Well, he has holes in his shoes, he hasn’t a car or a chequebook or anything,’ Maud said.

‘So we won’t get dancing lessons then.’

‘Would you like them, Simon?’

I wouldn’t mind,’ he said.

‘We’ll just wait and see. Let’s wait for them to start talking about it again.’

‘It’s a pity they knew we took food,’ Maud said.

‘We don’t from Muttie and his wife Lizzie now, only from Neil and Cathy, and that’s because we weren’t sure,’ Simon agreed.

‘I know, and Cathy
did
say she likes us more now.’ Maud was always hopeful.

‘Only a
bit
more, that’s all she said.’ Simon was more watchful.

‘And what on earth is this,’ Muttie said when they came in and saw a huge lump of pastry in the centre of the kitchen table.

‘It’s Beef Wellington,’ Simon explained.

‘Is it now, and where did it come from?’ Muttie asked.

‘I think Cathy nicked it for us from people who paid her in her waitressing business,’ Simon was helpful.

‘Stand up, Simon, and leave the room,’ Muttie said.

‘What did I say, Muttie? You asked, I told you.’

‘That’s not the truth. My Cathy never nicked anything in her life, in fact the only people that ever nicked
anything
in this house are you two, nephew and niece of the famous Mrs Mitchell that Lizzie spent her life cleaning up after. Those are the only thieves we ever had here.’

‘Please Muttie, it was only four sausages and a couple of packs of cornflakes just in case,’ Simon said.

‘In case what?’

In case there would be no more,’ said Simon, ashen-faced, as Maud sat with the tears trickling down her cheeks.

‘I had lunch with Cathy today,’ Hannah said to Jock.

‘That was nice, dear.’

‘It was actually, much nicer than I thought.’

‘Good, good.’

‘She knew absolutely everyone at Quentin’s. Isn’t it amazing, when you think of poor Lizzie.’

‘But that was a different age, dear.’

‘So it would appear,’ she said.

‘And what did she say about Neil’s plans?’

‘Plans? What plans?’

‘No, no nothing dear, something else. You know my mind’s always miles away.’

‘Indeed it is,’ Hannah said sadly.

‘A quick yes or no: do you want the dancing lessons? Do you want to be part of this deal for Marian’s wedding? Answer now,’ Cathy said.

‘It’s a bit complicated,’ Simon said.

‘No it’s not, it’s very simple… It costs this number of pounds to get you taught three numbers to dance, it costs about twice that to pay real dancers to do it. But we thought you should make the choice.’

‘Why?’

‘Because you’re family,’ Cathy said simply.

‘We’re not really.’

‘How often must I tell you, you live here in the house where Marian was born, you are the nephew and niece of my husband. Just a yes or no, and we’ll go ahead and book the real people.’

‘Will we be coming to the wedding anyway, you know, as guests,’ Maud asked.

‘Doubt it,’ Cathy said.

‘But you said we were family,’ Simon wailed.

‘Not all that close, come to think of it.’

‘Why are you being so horrible, Cathy?’ Simon asked.

‘Because
you
are both horrible. You told my dad I nicked that Beef Wellington, which I did
not
. I made it specially for him to thank him for looking after you, because you make Neil’s life a misery and he can’t get on with his work and because you have no manners and I wish your mother and father would come and take you straight back to The Beeches. Now is that a good answer?’