on more work. ‘Could you do monthly accounts for us? Just a breakdown of what we spend the money on. That way, we’ll get a handle on where it all goes.’
The thought of discovering how much they earned and what they spent it on made Cara feel panicky. But how could she refuse?
‘Ed says you do it for the four of you,’ Johnny said. ‘He says you’re great.’
‘I’m not great.’ But she and Ed operated so close to the bone that rigid financial planning was vital. Conversely, Jessie and Johnny had no budgeting system.
‘If the bank rings me,’ Jessie had said. ‘I know I’ve got to rein it in for a while.’
Jesus.
‘Is that bad?’ Jessie had added. ‘It’s just that I’m looking at figures all the time at work so I haven’t got the energy for it at home.’
‘And I’m useless,’ Johnny had said.
Cara seriously doubted that.
‘It’s true,’ Jessie said. ‘All he’s good for is talking. Buttering people up. Giving them guff.’
‘Making deals,’ Cara had tried to protest.
‘Making people like me,’ Johnny said. ‘That’s the sum total of what I do. Please, Cara.’
She had guilted herself into agreeing to a trial period of four months. But, as she said later to Ed, ‘It feels far too personal. It’s like watching them having sex.’
Ed snorted with laughter. ‘Then just stop doing it, honey.’
‘But they’re so good to us. I’d been hoping for a chance to do something. Just … not this.’
Immediately Cara had seen that Johnny and Jessie spent more than they earned. Maybe they didn’t even realize – but, thanks to their five credit cards and generous overdraft, all the plates kept spinning. When she’d completed the first month’s figures, she’d advised that a cap on their outgoings was necessary. They nodded in solemn agreement – then completely disregarded what she’d said.
On the second month, she’d made another attempt, which they ignored just as they’d ignored the first.
On the third month, Jessie had jumped in: ‘No need, Cara, we get it. Thing is, we had a few one-offs, which is why we looked overspent. But they’re done now so the overspending will sort itself out.’
‘Okay.’ Cara was breathless with hope. ‘So you’d like me to stop doing this?’
‘Oh, God, no! The info could be very useful, if ever we need to see where the money is going. If you’re okay to keep doing it, we’d like you to.’
Clearly Jessie thought that appearing to take responsibility was the same thing as actually doing so.
After wrestling with worry, Cara reminded herself that Jessie owned a successful business. The board she was accountable to consisted of just her and Johnny. Any time she liked, she could increase her own or Johnny’s salary.
Or – Cara was hazy on this sort of thing – take money from the company’s ‘reserves’? Or get a personal loan based on the assets of the business? Either way, this was her chance to repay their generosity.
SIX
Cara’s dinner had been downright Winning at Life: no bread, no potatoes, no dessert.
Afterwards the five youngest kids began clamouring for ‘Auntie Nell’ to play football with them. ‘Sure!’ Nell said. ‘Let me change into shorts.’
‘And the rest of us will sit on the patio,’ Jessie declared. ‘Drink loads and pretend to watch them.’
But Cara was afraid of wine – not just the calories but how it weakened her resolve. However, not drinking simply wasn’t an option – not around Jessie. ‘It’s nearly dark,’ she said, but everyone was already making their way, with unseemly haste, to the patio.
‘It’s not,’ Jessie said.
‘Am I allowed a drink-drink?’ Saoirse had tagged along.
‘You’re only seventeen,’ Johnny said.
‘You’re not my father.’
‘Jessie!’ Johnny tried to hide behind his wife. ‘Saoirse’s Luke Skywalker-ing me again!’
Cara watched the three of them fall about laughing. It would be a different story if Ferdia were here. When he said stuff like that to Johnny he meant it.
‘We know she drinks anyway,’ Johnny said to Jessie. ‘It’s better if it’s out in the open. Grab those chairs. Cara, what are you having?’
‘Fizzy water.’
Jessie gasped.
Cara couldn’t help laughing at Jessie’s shock. ‘I might as well have ordered stagnant rainwater served in a dirty bucket.’
‘You’ll have gin,’ Jessie said. ‘A large one. Medicinal. You’re obviously not thinking straight.’
Nell, now wearing shorts, was back. Like the Pied Piper, she’d accumulated several more children, in addition to the Casey bunch. The game was on and all the kids – some of them young teenage boys – were giving it socks. Nell was a vision, racing and tackling, her