ABBY
‘Sally.’ I find her in the large staff room on the second floor. A few technical staff lounge on the couches, but for most part, it’s empty. I’m relieved. We don’t need an audience.
She has the grace to look at the floor. Her red short- sleeved blouse is tucked roughly into high waisted trousers, which are half a size too small for her. I examine her properly, for what seems like the first time. Normally, I avoid being anywhere near her. On the odd occasion we crossed paths, I saw an enemy objectified, not a real-life breathing human, one who might need a little help. Sally’s thrown together, dishevelled and forever rushing.
It is the first time I’ve laid eyes on her since last week’s incident. The pictures of Sean trying to kiss me were removed as soon as Callum promisedThe Irish Sunan exclusive interview with the two of us in his apartment next month. It was a near-miss, and there was me thinking it would be Callum publicly humiliating me all over the papers. I’d come very close to letting us both down, thanks to Sally here.
Candice begged me not to reward bad behaviour. But Sally must be hurting somewhere inside. Why else was she was so desperate to hurt me?
‘I have something for you.’ I hand her the itinerary for New York.
Her naturally protruding mandible drops in shock. She smooths her black hair behind her ears nervously, wondering if this is some sort of joke. She skims the paperwork and steps back in disbelief.
‘You can’t be serious.’ She thrusts the itinerary back into my hands.
‘I’m deadly serious. I have a wedding that weekend that means more to me than anything else. Aoife can’t go. I want you to go instead.’ I nod with unwavering certainty, forcing it back into her hands, closing her fingers tightly around it. ‘It’s yours. Enjoy it. Be happy.’ I turn to go but she catches me by the wrist lightly. She throws her arms around me, water pooling in her black eyes.
Had anyone ever shown this woman any kindness at all?
There’s clearly a reason why she behaves so aggressively. ‘Can I buy you lunch next week? To say thanks?’
‘Thank you.’ I flash her a genuine smile. There’s no reason we have to be rivals.
I finish up at Ireland Today and head to the Jervis Centre for my hair appointment with Emma. I haven’t seen her since that weekend at Carton House, and I’m in desperate need of root colour again.
Callum’s coming to Carrick this weekend to meet the out-laws, and I want to look fresh for it. It’s my parents’ thirtieth wedding anniversary. I generally try to ignore the fact that I’m turning thirty in five months. You do the maths. The party is at The Landmark, the very same hotel where my wedding reception was supposed to take place. I haven’t stepped foot in the place in years. This presents an opportunity to separate the past from the present, make new memories, happy ones, which centre around my family and my fabulous new boyfriend.
‘Are you still shagging Callum Connolly?’ Emma is not backwards at coming forwards, pulling me into a crushing bear hug before placing a black plastic cloak around my cream chiffon shirt.
The salon’s full as usual, but between the noise of the hairdryers and the women, nobody even glances in our direction.
‘Actually, we’ve moved on since then.’ I’m unable to resist playing with my inquisitive friend.
‘What happened? Tell me everything. You know I need details.’
‘We’ve moved on from just the shagging, although there is still plenty of that too, thankfully.’ I wink knowingly at her.
‘So it’s serious?’ Her emerald eyes light with excitement as she runs her fingers through my hair.
‘He said the L-word,’ I confirm, without elaborating that I said it first.
‘Feckin’ hell, Abby, has he got any friends?’
I can’t help but laugh. Refreshingly, Emma doesn’t pretend to be anything other than man mad.
‘Actually, he has. What about Eddie Harrington?’ The two of them are a match made in heaven, I wonder which of them would spend the longest in front of a mirror preparing for a night out.
‘Hell yes. Have you seen that man’s cheekbones? He has the whole pretty-boy thing going on, with a rugged twist. Set me up, please.’
From what I’ve heard about him, they’d actually be perfect for one another.
‘I’ll mention it to Callum tonight.’
‘Do you seriously think he might be interested in me?’ A rare glimpse of insecurity from my stunning friend strikes a chord that probably every woman can relate to. Emma is absolutely beautiful. When we go out, she has to beat men off with a stick. Yet here she is, wondering if Eddie would be interested in her.
‘He’d be lucky to have you.’ I grab the hand that holds the hairbrush and squeeze it to stress my sincerity.
‘Thank you, Abby,’ she squeals in excitement.
