best friend, her soulmate almost. She’d loved Keeva too – both of Rory’s sisters had been her bridesmaids because she had no sisters of her own – but Izzy was the special one.
Even now, remembering the confrontation with Izzy, as she took in Jessie’s swollen stomach, was like a knife in the guts. ‘You’re pregnant?’ she’d whispered. ‘It’s Johnny’s?’ She’d cried her eyes out. ‘Rory is gone. You’ve taken everything and we have nothing.’ That terrible day had ended with Izzy yelling, ‘You never really loved Rory.’
Which was nuts. She’d been mad about tender-hearted Rory.
Okay, Johnny had managed to give the impression that if she was interested, then so was he … It was quite a skill, promising something without ever actually committing. And, yes, it had given her a flutter. Was that so bad? Throughout school and university she’d been a freckly swot – no one had fancied her! And Johnny had been so sexy, so in demand … To have two men, both after her, had been exciting …
Maybe the only reason that Johnny was interested was because his best friend had her. But still. The important thing was she hadn’t encouraged it. It was Rory who’d persuaded Johnny to come and work for Parnell International Grocers, insisting he’d be a great asset.
If she were to live her life again, she’d still choose Rory all those years ago. He’d been much more her type – he’d been reliable. While Johnny had always seemed just … well … ever so slightly slippery …
But Rory had died, which had hardly been a reliable thing to do. And, despite everything, she’d ended up with maybe-ever-so-slightly-slippery Johnny, so who knew anything?
THIRTEEN
‘The legs are walked off us,’ Bridey complained. ‘There should be a law against making children exercise too much.’
Silently Nell agreed. It had been a lovely day: the lake had sparkled, the packed lunch from the hotel had included mini bottles of wine, but the temperature had dropped, she’d spent the last hour carrying Dilly on her shoulders and she was tired.
‘We’re nearly back at the cars,’ Johnny said.
‘If we were working in a movie, we’d have been allowed a break hours ago,’ Bridey persisted.
‘Oh, shut up!’ TJ burst out. ‘You’re only twelve but you talk like an old woman!’
‘They’d have had twins of each of you to do half the walk,’ Nell said.
‘They would!’ Tom was very charmed by this.
‘You’d be sitting in your trailer now and your twin would be doing this last bit.’
‘There’s the car park!’
‘Finally.’
A squabble – yet another – broke out over who got to sit beside Nell in Johnny’s people-carrier. Refereeing their on-going bickering was hard work.
Johnny’s people-carrier swung into the hotel car park and countless Caseys tumbled out.
‘Let’s wait for Vinnie and Tom.’
Seconds later, Ed’s car arrived. Car doors opened and slammed shut.
‘Uncle Liam,’ Bridey said, ‘let’s FaceTime Violet and Lenore! We can pretend they’re here.’
‘Okay.’ Liam cut his eyes at Nell.
This was her cue to leg it.
She’d wanted a relationship with his daughters, but he’d quashed that hope. ‘It’s too hard for them. They’re upset enough by the divorce …’
She’d met the girls in person just once, on a speedy visit to Atlanta last October, for Liam to tell them he was getting married again.
‘They should at least clap eyes on me,’ Nell had said.
‘It won’t be pleasant …’
It wasn’t. Ten-year-old Violet had reacted with fury and seven-year-old Lenore was confused and tearful. Nell sensed they all just needed to get to know each other but Liam was having none of it.
‘Nell? Where’re you going?’ Bridey sounded confused. ‘You’re their stepmum!’
‘It’s okay,’ Liam said. ‘Nell doesn’t need to be here.’
‘But –’
Unexpectedly, Cara spoke up. ‘There’s so many of us, we’d only get in the way.’ She took Nell’s arm. ‘See you guys in a while.’
Nell let herself be pulled towards the lobby. ‘Thanks.’
‘No bother.’ Cara gave a quick smile and relief stole through Nell.
‘Liam tries to protect them,’ Nell explained. ‘His girls, I mean. It’s hard for them that he got married again. He thinks it’s better if they don’t see me.’
‘Okay.’
‘He’s got to do what’s best for them. But I’m being selfish. I feel bad because I’m not going to have kids. I really love them, but the planet, you know?’
‘Well, fair play to you.’
As they waited for the lift, Cara said, ‘Fancy restaurant tonight. Time to break out the Gucci.’
‘What? Oh! You’re joking! Jesus, my heart!’
‘Sorry!’ Cara said, and they laughed.
‘You will get used to this,’ Cara said. ‘In time. It took