Despite the Angels - By Madeline A Stringer Page 0,137
cheese, then people might buy something. If you’d start selling something they actually want. Which part of ‘we don’t want any, thanks’ do you not get? Those gadgets you were selling last year were meant to be like hot cakes.”
“Oh for God’s sake Lucy, will you lay off! I know what I’m doing, but if you keep going on at me it doesn’t help.” He took a deep patient breath. “Those great gadgets, as you call them, were too like the competition. And anyway, they didn’t have a great mark-up on them. I’ve new ones now, far better, more expensive. When I get this order from Blake’s, I’ll be banking ten grand for us. No more grotty camping holidays, we’re off to the Caribbean!”
“What was wrong with our holiday? I thought you enjoyed France?” Lucy’s mind ran back through her memories of their last and most exciting holiday, trying to remember Martin’s moods. But all she could dredge up was the image of Martin lying on their folding sun chair with a book over his face.
“France is okay,” said Martin, “but it won’t be a patch on what Dad will arrange.” This last comment was directed at Aisling, who had just come in. He grabbed her hands and whirled her around.
“Dad!” squealed Aisling. “What are you going to arrange?”
“A really posh holiday. Where would you like? Jamaica?”
“The Maldives. Before they sink. The ice caps are melting and we’ll all be flooded, but the Maldives are flattest, they’ll disappear first. Unless we all stop being selfish and burning fossil fuels and using sprays,” Aisling paused in her recitation, “We did it in school.”
“Well,” said Martin, “we’d better arrange the CFC free holiday then. Life on the beach, palm trees, surf, cocktails at dusk. Nothing’s too good for my girls. Go and look out your togs!”
“No, Aisling,” said Lucy, as Aisling, eyes shining with expectation, was heading out the door with plans of rooting through the cupboards for her flippers. “No, Dad doesn’t mean now, love. It’s just a daydream. We can’t afford the Maldives yet. Maybe France.”
“Oh Mum, don’t be a spoilsport. Why won’t you let Dad bring us to the Maldives? You’d love it too!”
“Of course I’d love it. I just wouldn’t love paying the bills for it when we got home. Your Dad hasn’t the money for it just now, he’s just encouraging himself by telling us all fairy stories.”
“Stop throwing cold water, Lucy,” said Martin “you always undermine my efforts. What’s wrong with looking ahead to the good times?”
“Nothing. Not if there really are good times ahead. And it’s OK to fantasise too, but you get the two mixed up and the result is a lie.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Martin walked out of the room. Lucy blinked hard and got out the plates. Aisling stood uncertainly, leaning against the table.
“Your Mum needs some love now. Give her a hug or something” Lekna was sitting at the table beside Aisling. “It’ll help you too. You support her and she’ll have more strength to keep going. You need your Mum well. Go on.”
“Mum, I really liked France. Specially the campsites with swimming pools. I’m not that keen on swimming in the sea really. Can we go to that site with the diving board again this year?”
“Good girl, that’s the way.”
Lucy wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, came over and swept Aisling into a hug, burying her face in her daughter’s hair. After a while she looked up, quietly took a deep breath and smiled at Aisling.
“I’ll do my best. I don’t know if we can go for long this year, but we’ll manage something. Now, how about setting the table and telling Robbie to wash his hands. It would do him good to sit still for a few minutes, even if he isn’t hungry.”
Lucy looked at her two children as they sat, increasingly quietly as the excitement of the party wore off, eating the little portions of food she put in front of them. Her heart filled with pride when she watched them, Aisling being so grown up and aware of the world, at not quite eight,
“She’s an old soul, Lucy. Lots of experience. That’s why she’s here, for you. She almost always hears Lekna, too.”
and Robbie, trying desperately to keep up with his adored older sister. He was an exuberant child, inclined to rush into things, to see the best in everything. She was glad she had held him back a year, so he was only in