Where Rainbows End (19 page)

Rosie has logged off

Kevin,

Hi son. I know I’m not one to write letters, but I’m not sure if you gave your mother and me the correct phone number of the staff barracks. Whenever I call it just keeps on ringing and ringing and that’s at all hours of the day and night. You either gave us the wrong number purposely, there’s something wrong with your phone, or everybody is working so hard they’re not there to answer my calls. I wouldn’t like the idea of having to share a phone with thirty staff members. Couldn’t you get one of those mobile phones?

Then maybe your family could get in touch with you every once in a while.

I hope you’re not doing anything daft down there. Rosie really stuck her neck out to get you that job in the kitchen. Don’t mess it up like all those other ones you had. This is a good opportunity for you now to get a good start in your life. Your old man is sixty now, I won’t be around forever for you to rely on, you know!

It’s a shame you couldn’t make it home for my retirement party. The company invited the entire family, they really treated us well for the night, treated me well for over thirty-five years in fact. Stephanie, Pierre, and Jean-Louis made it over from France. Rosie, Greg, and young Katie were there too. It was a good night. I’m not picking on you, son, just wished you had been there too that’s all. It was an emotional night all the same. If you had been there you would have seen your old man cry.

168

Cecelia Ahern

It’s funny how life goes. I spent forty years working for them, remember my first day like it was yesterday. I was just fresh out of school, all eager to please. Wanted to start making money so that I could propose to your mother and buy us a house. In my first week of work we held a party in the office for one of the old guys retiring. I didn’t give much notice to him. People were making speeches, giving him gifts, talking about old times. But all I cared about was the fact that they were making me stay late at work, unpaid, when all I wanted to do was get out of there to propose to your mother. The old guy had been there all his working life, he had tears in his eyes, was really upset about leaving, took him a lifetime to make the speech, thought he would never shut up so I could leave. I had the engagement ring in my pocket. Kept sticking my hand in my trousers to make sure the velvet box was still there. I couldn’t wait for that guy to finish talking.

Billy Rogers was his name.

He wanted to take me aside and explain a few things to me about the company before he left. Seeing as I was a new boy. I didn’t listen to a word he had to say. He talked and talked like he never had any intentions of leaving the damn office. I rushed him. The company wasn’t that important to me then.

He kept on coming back to visit us in the office every week. Would hang around our desks annoying all the new guys, some of the old guys too, giving advice and checking up on things that were no longer his business. We just wanted to do our jobs. He lived and breathed for that place. We all told him to find himself a hobby. Keep himself busy. Thought we were helping him. Only suggested it out of the goodness of our hearts, that and the fact he was really starting to get up his pals’ noses. He died a few weeks later. Had a heart attack on the golf course. He was taking our advice and having his first lesson.

I hadn’t thought about Billy Rogers for almost thirty years. Had completely forgotten about him, to be honest. But that night and since I haven’t been able to get the thought of Billy Rogers out of my head. Looking around with tears in my eyes, listening to speeches, accepting gifts, catching the new guys sneakily glimpse at their watches wondering when they could slip away love, rosie

169

to get home to their girlfriends or new wives or children or whomever . . . I couldn’t help but think about all the guys who came through those office doors. Thought about the guys who started off on the same day as me; Colin Quinn and Tom McGuire, guys who never made it to retirement like me. I suppose that’s what life’s about. People come and go.

So there are no more early mornings for me. I caught up on a whole load of sleep I never even thought I needed. The garden is spotless, everything in the house that was once broken is now fixed. I’ve played golf three times this week, visited Rosie twice, took Katie and Toby out for the day, and I still feel like hopping into my car, speeding down to the office, and teaching the rookies a thing or two about how to do business. But they won’t care; they want and need to learn it for themselves.

So I thought I would join the Dunne women in writing. It seems that’s all they do. Keeps the phone bills down, I suppose. Let me know how things are going for you, son.

Did you hear about our Rosie’s job?

Love, Dad

from:

Kevin

to:

Stephanie

subject:

Dad

How are things? I just got a letter from Dad today. Dad writing a letter is weird in itself but what he was writing was even more bizarre. Is he OK?

He was talking about some guy called Billy Rogers who died over thirty years ago. Make sure he’s not losing it. Anyway, it was good to hear from him but he sounded like another man altogether. Not necessarily a bad thing.

Sorry I wasn’t there for his retirement do. Should have made more of an effort to be there.

Tell Pierre and Jean-Louis I was asking for them. Tell Pierre I’ll beat his culinary skills hands down next time I see him! Here’s a little pair of runners (for Jean-Louis obviously) that I saw in the sports shop. He’ll be the trendiest little seven-month-old in France. Dad mentioned something about Rosie’s job? What has she done now?

170

Cecelia Ahern

from:

Stephanie

to:

Mum

subject:

Kevin and Dad

Something must be in the water over there in Ireland because I just received an e-mail from your son, my little brother Kevin—yes Kevin, the guy who never keeps in touch with family unless he needs to borrow money.

He was writing to tell me that Dad had written to him and he was worried!

Did you even know that dad could lick a stamp?

Anyway, Kevin must be having some sort of quarterly life crisis or he’s just going soft because he sent a present for Jean-Louis, the most adorable little booties! But don’t tell Kevin that he threw up on them. It was a nice gesture anyway. The buying of the boots, not the vomiting over them.

Kevin also mentioned that Dad was talking about Billy Rogers again. He told me about him too. Is he OK? I’m assuming he is just feeling very con-templative now that he has entered a new era in his life. Now at least he has
time
to think. The both of you have worked so hard all your lives. Now Kevin your baby is gone, Rosie and Katie are gone, I’m gone, and the house is finally all yours. I suppose I can understand how it’s difficult for Dad to get his head around it. You were both used to a house full of screaming kids and bickering teenagers. When we finally grew up, along came a crying baby and you were so good to help Rosie out. I know it was hard for you financially too.

Kevin mentioned something about Rosie’s job; I don’t want to call her until I’ve heard from you about it. Let me know.

from:

Mum

to:

Stephanie

subject:

Re: Kevin and Dad

You’re absolutely right. I think your father has a lot of thinking to do and enough time in the day to do it now. I love having him home! He’s not rushing off all the time or thinking about a problem at work that needs to be solved while I’m trying to have a conversation with him. It’s like he’s all here love, rosie

171

with me now—body and mind. I felt that way too when I left my job but I suppose it was slightly different for me. I already went part-time at work when Katie was born to help Rosie cope. It didn’t seem like such a drastic change for me when I eventually left the job completely. But your father is trying to find himself again.

Didn’t you hear about Rosie’s job?? I thought you would have been one of the first people she’d have told (apart from her darling Alex of course), but perhaps she wasn’t ready to discuss it yet. That girl has me so worried at times. Honestly she kept telling me all week that she was going to lose her job, finally she calls me to tell me that she had a meeting with her bosses and she tells me she got a promotion!

Oh Stephanie we were so thrilled for her!! It was only a few days ago!

I’m surprised she hasn’t told you the good news yet. Anyway I’ll let her tell you herself or else I’ll be in trouble for spoiling the surprise. I better go now; your father’s calling me. We’re about to go down to the garden center. If he plants any more flowers or trees in that garden, we’ll have to apply for planning permission they’re so high!

Take care love, and hugs and kisses to baby Jean-Louis from Grandma and Granddad!

from:

Stephanie

to:

Rosie

subject:

Job promotion!

I know you’re at work so I won’t ring you. Received a letter from Mum today, what’s this I hear about a job promotion??! E-mail me ASAP! So excited to know!

from:

Rosie

to:

Stephanie

subject:

Re: Job promotion!

Can’t believe Mum opened her big mouth!! YES!! The news is true!

from:

Stephanie

to:

Rosie

subject:

Re: Job promotion!

That’s all you’re going to tell me??! Aren’t you excited?! What’s the job?

Come on, give me info! I’ve taken time out from my busy schedule of breast-feeding, burping and . . . eh breast-feeding to find out the news!

This is fabulous! Congrats!

love, rosie

173

from:

Rosie

to:

Stephanie

subject:

Re: Job promotion!

Thanks Steph, sorry, thought Mum gave you all the info. Yes I am excited!

The job title is “Hotel Host” and before you get overexcited like our beloved parents did, it’s not the manager’s job! I will be the primary source of information for guests to ensure maximum client satisfaction! (Or so they tell me . . . ) It was the surprise of
all
surprises! I literally had to
drag
my body into the long conference room, where I had my first interview years ago, with my head hanging and my body slumped, feeling like jelly. My body language was all wrong, my palms were sweaty, my knees were knocking, and I just kept having visions of Randy Andy and me working together until we became old-age pensioners. I really had convinced myself that they were going to ask me to quietly and calmly return to my desk, gather my belongings, leave the premises, and never return. I don’t know why, but I just had one of those feelings.

Bill and Bob were so generous to me. They pumped me full of confidence as they went through what the job would entail. They said that they were delighted with my
performance
within the hotel over the past few years (and I really hope they weren’t referring to the time when I lay across the piano and sang Barbra Streisand songs after all the residents had gone to bed. Well you can’t blame a girl for trying to live out a fantasy when she can, but the opportunity just seemed to present
itself
. . . ). There they were telling me I had an abundance of charm and confidence when deep down I was just waiting for the moment they would break into a smile, look at me as though I was a fool for believing them before telling me the promotion was all a joke. One big funny ha ha practical joke. I kept looking around for the hidden camera.

But there wasn’t one, unless you count the security camera in the corner of the room and then the joke really is on me. So it seems that I will be moving to a new hotel that’s going to be built (hence all the secret meetings with men and women in dark suits, leather briefcases, gelled hair, and no smiles masquerading through the hotel lobby, there was some sort of bizarre Matrix-y thing going on). But if they
are
serious, then my job is to be solely 174

Cecelia Ahern

responsible for the running of all aspects of the resort and I’ll have to liaise with the head office and provide weekly reports. I’ve never had to “liaise”

before. It sounds sexy and dangerous. Any job that tells me that I have to

“liaise” with the big boys in the head office is a winner to me. I can picture myself all dolled up in a cocktail dress at a work “do” standing in a circle with the other “suits” speaking in hushed tones about graphs and pie charts and financial reports. If people ask us what we’re doing, I can say dismis-sively, “Oh don’t mind us, we’re just liaising . . .”

Apparently I have a flair for organizing and have good communication skills. Anyone who has seen me rushing to get all my Christmas shopping done in the last hour on Christmas Eve knows that I
ain’t
a good organizer.

And I hardly count loud cursing, swearing, and lots of physical abuse while trying to grab the last item of
absolutely everything
off the bare shelves of stores from other panicking Christmas Eve shoppers, good communication.

Although, we all have our different ways of seeing things.

from:

Alex

to:

Rosie

subject:

Congratulations!!

I am so proud of you! If I was there, I would twirl you around and give you a great big sloppy kiss! You see Rosie, things
can
happen for you, all you need is a lot more faith and self-belief and to stop being so negative all the time!

So where is the new hotel? Are they opening a second Two Lakes Hotel in Dublin? When they say “resort,” what exactly do they mean?

Tell me all.

from:

Rosie

to:

Alex

subject:

Job promotion

Well I’m not quite sure of the location of the hotel just yet but I have a sneaky suspicion it’s along the coast. Can you believe that I will finally get to love, rosie

175

work in a hotel by the sea? It will take longer to commute to, but it’s worth it to be able to leave the city behind for a few hours every day. I should be out there within the next few months. When they say resort they are referring to the new eighteen-hole golf course they are building. There will be a gym and pool and more leisure facilities, unlike here which is in the heart of the city and has nothing but bedrooms, a tiny gym, and restaurants. I’m a bit hazy on all the details because they haven’t fully informed me of everything yet, they just asked me if I was interested in this new job and of course I couldn’t turn it down!