5 Peppermint Grove (30 page)

It was becoming a more familiar occurrence and only last week the Garda divers had found the body of a woman who had hurled herself off the cliff at Balscaden. Horatio felt a chill at a thought of the poor souls who felt so lonely and helpless that they thought the only option was to end it all. How must it feel to be in that state of depression and despair? He was fortunate to have
never felt that way in his eighty-plus years. Even after his beloved wife died he always felt that there was something to live for – his children and now his grandchildren who were the greatest achievements of his life. Sure, he could have travelled more and perhaps been more ambitious in his career but he was happy and as he grew older he realised that a content life was more than most could ever hope for.

It was too mild for February. The birds were not in their nests yet but the crocuses and daffodils had all sprouted early. He had seen a cherry tree yesterday with blossoms bursting out. There was so much to love about this journey on earth, he concluded, and went back inside the house to drink his tea.

Julia had at last come in from the garden and was about to have a shower when her mobile phone rang. It was her mother.

“Julia – how are you?”

Julia thought she sounded grave and hoarse.

“Hi, Mum – great, thanks – I hadn’t expected to hear from you – how is everything at home?”

Carol sobbed into the speaker. “Julia, something terrible has happened.”

Julia’s brain jumped into overdrive. “It’s Granddad, isn’t it? Oh my God, is he all right?”

“Yes, your grandfather is fine. But there has been a terrible tragedy and it’s Craig.”

Carol could hardly speak – the weight of what she had to say was choking her. “He didn’t come home from work last night and then they found his car parked at the east pier this morning. His mobile phone was left on and sitting on the dash. They found his body a short while ago – he’d jumped off the cliff.”

Julia was speechless. She couldn’t take this information in. She wished that Michael was still here – that Ruth was home.

“Are they sure?”

“Yes, very sure. I have Odette here with me – she’s sedated and Granddad is looking after her. Dylan has the kids – they don’t know yet.”

Julia couldn’t digest everything that her mother was saying. She had to get home and quickly.

“I’ll get a flight home today. Oh my God, poor Odette! I wonder what made him do such a thing – oh, good god, this is a nightmare.”

“The body won’t be released from post mortem for a few days so there will be plenty of time for the funeral – just take it easy down there.”

“But what about the rest of you? I have to be there!” Julia sobbed.

“We are all able to manage, Julia – we’ll see you when you arrive. There is nothing anybody can do for now.”

“Can I speak to Odette?”

“She’s not in a condition to speak with anyone – she’s distraught. Apparently she had put off speaking to him about the tension that had built up and she sat up all last night waiting for him to come home so that they could have the talk that they needed. I’ll get her to ring you if and when she needs to. Take care of yourself, love.”

Julia put the phone down and sobbed loudly into the palms of her hands – she didn’t think that she was coherent enough to book a flight for herself at the moment. She called Ruth.

When Ruth heard what had happened she jumped onto a train and came home.

Julia was sitting in the same position as she had been since hearing the news from her mother. Her tearstained face was red and blotchy and all Ruth could do was rush over and hold her dear friend in her arms.

Ruth felt in her pocket and took out a tissue to wipe the tears and dribbles away from Julia’s hair.

“You need a cup of tea and a lie-down, Julia. I’ll book a flight after you drink it.”

Julia nodded and went over to the couch and lay down. It was the most horrendous news to hear while so far away. If she had been at home could she have done anything? She hadn’t been very close to her brother-in-law but she always took him as part and parcel of her family. He was the father of her beloved niece and nephew. How could he do this to them and to her sister? She cried out with anger at him for leaving his family this way.

Ruth handed her a mug of strong tea with sugar added. It tasted strange and uninviting but she drank it nevertheless.

“What happened exactly?” Ruth asked.

“I don’t know any more than I told you. Mum just said that he didn’t come home from work –” She sobbed before starting again. “And then they found his car at the pier in Howth and the coast guard picked up his body a while ago.”

Ruth was shaking now. Suddenly Australia didn’t feel like a couple of flights from home – it felt very far away. This was an example of just how far. She would get down to seeing what flights were available straight away because the only place Julia wanted to be right now was back in Dublin with her family.

The Malaysian Airways flight was leaving in four hours. Julia insisted that she wanted to go for it and she didn’t care how much it cost. It was the quickest option. She would have two stops but a short transfer in Kuala Lumpur. Ruth was in shock herself and feeling very bad that she selfishly didn’t want her friend to leave so soon. The drive to the airport was quiet and Ruth had a lump in her throat – holding back so many things that she wanted to say. How could she help her friend while she was in so much pain? She had never felt so helpless in her life.

At the airport Ruth made sure that Julia’s luggage was checked in properly and waited with her until it was time to board.

Julia hugged Ruth tighter than she had ever held her before.

“I really wish you weren’t living here – I wish I’d never told you about this job but, you know, it’s probably the best thing I have ever done for anyone. If I hadn’t meddled in matchmaking all those years ago my beautiful sister wouldn’t be going through so much pain right now. I feel like it’s all my fault.”

Ruth had to calm her friend down to see sense.

“Julia – Odette and Craig would have probably met with or without you – they both drank in Gibneys and it was inevitable. You must not blame yourself in any way. Odette loved him.”

“But she was miserably unhappy for the last couple of years and now it’s clear he was too. It really is my fault.”

Ruth looked her hard in the eyes.

“Julia – don’t let me ever hear you say anything like that ever again – you always try to help people – if it doesn’t work out it is not your fault.” She paused. “Besides, Odette has her beautiful children and she did have good times with Craig. You have to get a perspective on this – we don’t know the full story yet.”

Julia nodded. That was true – it could have been an accident. But people didn’t go out on their own and ditch their car the way that Craig had without a motive.

“Call me as soon as you get home,” Ruth said. “I’d love to say I’ll be back in a couple of weeks but that’s not going to happen.”

Julia shook her head. “I know that and I wouldn’t expect you to either. You have been sweetness itself looking after me and Michael and I was having such a lovely time – apart from the disaster with Brian – nice guy but so not for me. You know, one thing I’ve learned from seeing Richie again – there is someone for everyone and maybe I should not create obstacles any longer. I might even consider a relationship with an Irishman!”

This made Ruth laugh and broke the tension.

Even Julia was smiling now. “Yes, can you imagine – Julia Perrin and an Irishman? It might happen yet!”

As she drove back alone along the
Great Eastern Highway she felt as if she was going to burst into tears but that was not going to help her friend or herself. She had to be strong and focus on her life in Australia – no matter how hard the next few days would be.

Angela was torn as she heard her daughter crying down the phone, the pause between her replies emphasising the terrible distance between them. She was a strong woman in her own way – there had been pivotal times in her life where she had made her decisions and stuck to them. This was one of those times. She didn’t need her husband’s permission to travel to Australia – she had taken the trip before without him and she would do it again!

“I’m coming out to see you, Ruth. I’ll be with you before this month is out if I can.”

“Mum that’s very kind of you but really there is no need – I’ll be fine.”

“I know what that place is like better than anyone and how lonely and isolated you must be feeling – I’m going to the travel agent’s tomorrow.”

“I’m not lonely or isolated – honestly, Mum, I’m having a good time – it’s just that this sad news has shaken me a little.”

“I know that, Ruth – that’s why you need me to come and visit. Everything may have been fine but you will be feeling sad after that shock and that’s why I need to be with you.”

Ruth let her mother rant on because she really did want to see someone from home and soon.

Chapter Forty

Julia held Odette by the crook of her arm as they walked down the aisle behind her husband’s coffin. Her sister was a composed widow and determined not to shed a tear. Julia wondered how she was strong enough to hold it all together but the frightened faces of little Jamie and Charlotte showed that Odette had more to think of than her own grief.

Horatio was taking it badly and for the first time ever needed a walking stick to help him make the short journey from the car to the church. The tragic death of someone with such small children had a terrible effect on the congregation and the fact that he had taken his own life brought dreadful bitterness and regret.

Dylan was at the forefront of the church ceremony. His speech was touching and wonderfully supportive. Without dwelling on the terrible end of his brother’s life, he focused on his great achievements and the wonderful legacy that he had left behind in his children. There wasn’t a dry eye left in the congregation afterwards.

Julia went to commend him on it as they got into the cars outside the church, but he didn’t seem to take much notice of her – it was clear his concerns were focused largely on Odette and his aunts and uncles who were visibly disturbed by the whole scenario. Dylan was totally on his own now – no parents or siblings.

Julia regretted desperately how offhand and rude she had been to him over the years – her prejudice and pride had prevented her from giving him a chance. Odette had said that he was thinking of moving to London and Julia wished and hoped that he wouldn’t go, because she didn’t feel like superwoman at the moment and she knew that Odette would need all the support she could get. 

The cortège drove to Fingal cemetery and Julia was reminded of the last time that she had been there. In a strange way she felt her father with her now, helping and supporting her spiritually in the way that he done since his own death.

And the big question that hung in the air and on everyone’s lips was one that no one was willing to ask – why? Why would Craig do such a thing?

The funeral lunch was held at the yacht club and Dylan had organised every detail to perfection. He must have been in a terrible state of shock but Julia had to admire the way that he held everything together. His care and thoughtfulness towards Odette and her small children made Julia almost desire him. It wasn’t the first time that she had felt this way. When she had been in Australia and heard that he took Gillian out for drinks with his family it had touched a chord with her that didn’t make sense. But now, as he swept around the room seeing to every detail of the lunch and ordering drinks for everyone, she felt a shiver as she again thought of her father. That was who he was behaving like and the realisation made her think of Dylan even more fondly.

Julia looked over at her mother who was sipping a cup of tea in the corner of the room next to Horatio. Carol was very worried for her daughter and, for the first time since her husband’s death, Julia could see traces of the old Carol return. She wasn’t so self-assured nor had she turned on the computer since the terrible news.

It was an awful way to return to Dublin and Julia hadn’t had a chance to review what was happening to her business. Remarkably, Gillian appeared to be handling everything well and her team were managing without her. But a time like this makes people reconsider their priorities and what really matters in life. While Julia was in Australia she had time to consider what mattered and now with Craig’s death she really had to ask herself what life was all about – what did she want to leave as her legacy?

Julia stood up to go over to her mother but just then a stocky man who was about the same age as her mother walked through the door and made a beeline for Carol who stood up as she saw him. The man went over and hugged Carol tightly and she put her head on his shoulder and cried.

Julia had never seen him before but guessed that this was the man Horatio had spoken about while she was in Australia. Carol took the man’s hand and led him out to the balcony. Julia was desperate to follow them but Horatio noticed what was going on and gave her a firm nod which her told to stay where she was.

Julia was torn and walked over to Odette but found her flanked by friends and neighbours. She felt so alone and decided to leave the room to compose her thoughts and take stock of the situation. Everything was changing around her and she wasn’t sure where she fitted in with anyone in her life any more or if she indeed fitted anywhere.