Unforgettable Embrace (29 page)

"Thanks, mom," she said as she placed the candle carefully on the mantle piece. Her next present was from Holly and the children. It was a framed family portrait of the three of them all smiling and looking very happy and healthy. Rachel couldn't help smiling back at the photo. "Thanks Holly and squidges," she said, as she hung the picture in pride of place on the wall. She gasped when she opened the present from Liz and Jenna. It was a twenty four piece sterling silver cutlery set.

"This must have cost them a fortune," she exclaimed.

"It's top quality stuff," Batt agreed.

Her brother had given her a card with money.

"Sorry, sis," Joe had said, "you know me, I never have a clue what to get you women, despite living and growing up with three sisters and a mother. I thought I'd play it safe and just give you the cash instead. "

She popped Joe's card on the mantlepiece next to the candle.

"I'm so lucky to have such thoughtful friends and family," she sighed, "such lovely presents." "I think you might have missed one," Batt said.

"Have I?" she checked the box again.

There was a little package, right at the bottom of the box,
which Rachel had almost overlooked, until Batt had prompted her.

"I wonder what this could be," she smiled
at him, carefully unwrapping it.

She opened the box, and there inside lay a beautiful charm bracelet, with four intricately designed charms hanging from it. Rachel studied the card that accompanied the bracelet. There was a mini teapot in silver, tipped with fourteen carat gold, a four leaved clover, a little key and a fairy holding a moonstone which apparently changed depending on the wearer's mood.

"Batt, it's so beautiful," she said, smiling radiantly at him. "Thank you so much, darling."

"My pleasure," Batt said, "you're very welcome. The teapot represents all the cups of tea we drink together, the four leaved clover is for luck, the key represents your new house and I chose the fairy cos I thought it was cute, plus I can check it to see what mood you're in at any given time."

"Batt, you are so cute and so thoughtful." She gave him a hug and a big kiss on the cheek. "I think I'm going to have lots of happy times here in my new little house by the sea."

Chapter 39

“
Don't ever have children! Don't do it to yourself!” Holly greeted her sister's telephone call. “Good morning to you, too, mother,” Rachel said, holding her mobile phone away from her ear, as the racket in the background threatened to deafen her.

Mia and Simon sounded like they were waging their own personal war in the background. “Simon, stop teasing your sister!” Holly yelled at her son, “you've got three seconds to calm down or you're going straight to your bedroom for the rest of the day!”

Simon's screams turned to crying, then the door s
lammed and there was silence.

“
Is everything ok?” Rachel asked tentatively.

“
Fine, now he's stormed off to his bedroom in a sulk, we might get some peace around here,” Holly replied.

“
I'm worn out from the two of them. Simon decided to wake the whole house at six o' clock this morning and Mia's getting a cold so she's cranky anyway. Simon's in one of those moods where he thinks it's funny to keep t
easing her and winding her up. I've already sent him to his room twice today, and the icing on the cake, as if my day couldn't get any worse, the television has broken down and Mia is whinging for Barney.”

“
No television?” Rachel exclaimed, beginning to realise the gravity of the situation.

“
I haven't had a minute's peace all day,” Holly sounded completely worn out. “Whatsmore, it's Simon's mid-term break from school, so I've got another week of the two of them fighting and wrecking my head.”

“
Can't Will fix the television?” Rachel asked.

“
He would fix it, but he's working abroad for the next two weeks and I can't really expect him to come all the way home to fix the TV.”

“
I suppose not,” Rachel agreed.

“
Anyway, enough about me and my hell of a life, how are you settling in to your life in Belmullet?” Holly asked, changing the subject.

“
It's going very well, actually,” Rachel said, “it's a bit hectic at the moment trying to sort out the shop and unpack the house simultaneously, but I'm getting there, slowly but surely.”

“
When's the grand opening?”

“
I'm thinking the end of next week,” Rachel said, “I've had a load of flyers made up that I've distributed in all the local shops and there's been an ad running on the local radio station for the past few weeks, so hopefully people will be interested to see the new florist in town.”

“
I'm sure they will be delighted,” Holly said, encouragingly.

“
I had a call last week from a lady who was wondering if I could organise the flowers for her daughter’s wedding at the end of the year, can you believe it?” Rachel said.

“
Wow,” Holly was impressed, “I think you're going to be a very busy lady.”

“
I've volunteered to do the flowers for Jen's wedding in April, so that'll be good practice.”

“
I completely forgot that Jen is getting married in April, not long to go, only about six weeks or so,” Holly said.

“
Tell me about it,” Rachel said, “there just aren't enough hours in the day at the moment. We're all up to our eyeballs in wedding preparations. It'll be a rush to be ready on time. Jen and Victor only booked the hotel reception last week.” “Oh, really, where did they decide to have it?” Holly asked.

“
They finally decided on the Inchydoney Lodge and Spa,” Rachel said.

“
Double wow!” Holly exclaimed. “It's absolutely outstanding there. That's where Will and I had our wedding reception, remember?”

“
How could I possibly forget? We had such an amazing time there. I recommended it to Liz, and she said that's one of the main reasons she and Vic booked it. It is a divine place,” Rachel said.

“
The staff were so helpful and attentive,” Holly continued, “they made everything so less stressful than it could have been. The food was delectable.”

“
I know,” Rachel said, “it's an oasis of peace and calm, and it's so convenient that it's located less than forty miles from Cork city.”

“
It's such an idyllic location,” her sister sighed at the happy memories of her wedding day, “the beaches, the views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and the spa is like a little piece of heaven. I wouldn't mind being there right now, I can tell you. I'd jump at the chance to escape from this mad house for a few days.”

“
It's not that bad, surely?” Rachel asked in concern.

“
I love them both very much,” Holly replied, “but it can be difficult when I'm alone so much. Sometimes I feel like a single parent with Will being away so much for work. Children are so demanding and all-consuming. I barely have a minute to use the bathroom without one of them calling me for something. It's been ages since Will and I had any time on our own, just the two of us. I can't remember when I last enjoyed a relaxing bath or read a magazine. I'm constantly on the go, legging it to Simon's school in the morning and afternoon, then he has swimming and rugby at the weekend or a birthday party. There's always something going on. Don't get me wrong, Rach, I love being a mother, it is the most rewarding and fulfilling thing I have ever done in my life, but I'd love even a few hours break now and then.”

“
I'm sorry, Holly,” Rachel said, “I feel guilty not being there for you anymore. Well, consider yourself invited to Jen's hen weekend, you can be my special guest, and besides, I'm sure Jen would love to have you there. I'll sort a babysitter for Simon and Mia.”

“
It does sound tempting,” Holly said reluctantly, “I'd feel so guilty leaving them.”

“
Don't be daft, they'll be fine,” her sister persuaded her, “they'll have each other for company and they'll probably think of it as an adventure anyway.”

“
Ok, then, count me in,” Holly said excitedly.

“
Excellent,” Rachel said, “I just have to confirm the final details with Liz and then I'll get back to you with all the information.”

“
I can't wait,” Holly said, clapping her hands.

Chapter 40

“
Look, we're just going to have to make a decision about where to have the hen party and stick to it,” Liz said.

“
Time is running out. Jen's getting married in early April, so we'll have to organise the hen party for at least a few weeks beforehand, so everyone can recover.”

“
I totally agree with you,” Rachel said, “I'm sure Jen doesn't want to turn up to the most important day of her life with a raging hangover and looking all bleary-eyed.”

“
Definitely not,” Liz said.

“
I have so many ideas,” Rachel continued, “but when I start thinking of finalising the details, my mind starts to boggle with all the potential combinations. I really want Jen to have a brilliant time. She truly deserves it.”

Liz had driven up from Cork to help Rachel with the opening of her new business and to finalise the hen party plans. So far, they were having some difficulty coming to a decision.

“
Ok, let's try narrowing it down,” Liz suggested, getting out a pen and paper.

“
I like the idea of going away for the weekend, maybe somewhere foreign.”

“
Me too,” Rachel said, “plus I'd like for us to have a day in a fancy spa. We've been promising each other for ages that we'd go to a spa together for a major pampering session but we never seem to get around to it, and I know Holly could do with some relaxation at the moment. She's very stressed out with the children.”

“
Right, so far we need flights, accommodation and a spa,” Liz said, checking her list, “how many of us are going?”

“
Jen said she only wants close family and friends. She said she does enough bullshitting at work every day, that she certainly doesn't want to be doing it at her hen party. She wants to be with people who she trusts completely and with whom she can totally let her hair down.”

“
I don't blame her,” Liz agreed, “there's nothing worse than some spoil sport sitting around watching you having some innocent fun and making a bit of a fool of yourself and then they go and tell everybody the next day how you said this and did that.”

“
People like that are jus
t spoil sports,” Rachel said. “They seriously need to get a life. I remember I went out with a few colleagues from work last year and this woman at work, who seriously got on my nerves, spent the night taking photos of everybody on her camera phone. I went a bit wild that night, I have to admit, one too many vodka and cokes went to my head. I much prefer wine to spirits but I was so thirsty from all the dancing that I just kept knocking back the vodkas.

Well, needless to say, it wasn't long until I was quite legless. Bettina, of course, captured most of my antics on her mobile phone and even took a video of me looking absolutely hideous.” “What did you do?” Liz asked, intrigued. “I cornered her in the bathroom and warned her that if she showed videos or photos of me to one more person that I'd have her hauled into Human Resources for a written warning before she knew which way was up.”

“
Good for you,” Liz said.

“
Anyway, back to the task at hand, Jen's hen party,” Rachel said.

“
I'll make us a cup of tea while you get out your laptop and start searching the internet for airline prices and hotels,” Liz said.

An hour later and the girls had their plan sorted and finalised. They were going to fly to New Quay in England, hire a car and stay in the little country village of Padstow. They'd found a secluded bed and breakfast which also had holiday cottages on site, so they would have their privacy and could make as much noise as they liked, without having to worry about disturbing the other guests. All meals were served in the main house, but the girls were glad to have the space of their own cottage.

They had managed to book Jamie Oliver's restaurant for dinner reservations in Cornwall. When the reservations lady realised that they were a hen party she gave them a special table by the window, which apparently overlooked the ocean. They had a booking for lunch at Rick Stein's renowned restaurant in Padstow, which Liz was very excited about. Rachel couldn't wait to taste scones with Cornish clotted cream and jam. The thought of them made her mouth water. There were plenty of pubs in the area and a taxi service was available too if the designated driver felt like having a drink.

Their biggest find was the luxury four star Treglos Hotel in Padstow which had a stunning spa. The hotel was situated overlooking Constantine Bay, which is home to one of the most renowned beaches in Cornwall. The girls found the hotel and spa on Tripadvisor, after trawling through lots of other spa reviews, where it came highly recommended. The girls spent a very pleasant hour drooling over the photos of the relaxing spa and all the treatments they offered. Liz was thrilled to see that the spa used Elemis products.

She squealed with delight when she started reading the online brochure.