Dee grinned. 'Oh right, Moneybags!'
'Okay,' he admitted, 'it wouldn't have been easy, but we could have worked something out.'
'Thanks, but it's all in the past now.' She tugged him on. 'Seven TV are paying me nine thousand, six hundred euros for twelve shows.'
'Good God!'
'I know!' She grinned. 'And Lisa and I have agreed a rent increase.'
'Oh, when was this, on Wednesday when you stood me up?'
'I didn't stand you up,' she corrected, digging him in the ribs, 'I had already agreed to make her dinner. Anyway, we had a really long talk about the crèche. Lisa has some great ideas. She wants to expand and take on more staff and provide a more rounded service.'
'Good on her.'
'I'll continue to do the food for her but I won't be helping out with the kids as much.'
'You'll miss that,' he observed.
'I know, but I'm really looking forward to the TV spot. I'll just spend Wednesdays in the studio so I get the buzz but it doesn't take over my life.' Her face lit up as she spoke and she stopped when she saw the look of amusement in his eyes.
'What?'
He hugged her close to him. 'Nothing. It's just that I've never seen you so fired up about anything before.'
She nodded slowly. 'Yeah, I am, and it feels good. I'll just have to be careful that Sam doesn't lose out.'
He sighed. 'Sam is fine, don't worry about him so much.'
'Can you blame me after what happened on Friday?' she protested. 'Anyway, your mother doesn't agree.'
'What do you mean?'
'She as much as said that he'd never have got ill if I had been looking after him instead of gadding about.' She waved a hand around wildly.
'That's ridiculous, and you should know better than to listen to her; I never do.'
Dee's lips twitched. 'Still, she's right; he's young and he does need me.'
'And he's got you,' he said impatiently. 'You're talking about spending one day a week in the city, not moving to another country.'
'I suppose you're right,' she admitted.
'I am.' They walked on in silence for a moment. 'So have you heard any more from Neil?'
She shook her head.
'But if he comes up with this "reference" you're going to let him see Sam.'
'Yes – yes, I am.' She looked at him. 'It's the right thing to do.' Conor nodded but he didn't look at her and in profile she could see his face was grim. 'You don't approve.'
'It's not for me to approve or disapprove.' He held up his hands. 'It's your decision; Sam's your son.'
Something about this answer disappointed Dee. 'Yes he is.'
'I just don't want Sam to get hurt.' He turned to look at her. 'I don't want you to get hurt either.'
She smiled and, ducking her head under his arm, nestled close to him. 'It's all going to be fine.'
When they got back to Ronan's house a couple of hours later, it was to find Sam sitting up at the kitchen table playing Snap with Julia.
Dee sat down next to her son and planted a kiss on his tousled curls while Conor went to raid the biscuit tin. 'Hey, you, have you had a good time?'
'Great.'
'What did you go and see?'
'
Happy Feet
.'
Dee pretended to look annoyed. 'Aah, I wanted to go and see that!'
'Don't worry, Mummy,' he assured her quickly, 'we can go again.'
'Can we now?'
'Yes.' He nodded confidently. 'And Conor can come too.'
'Thanks, champ.' Conor sat down the other side of him and tossed him a piece of shortbread.
'Mum?' Sam looked immediately to his mother for permission and she nodded.
She watched as the two of them discussed the movie, completely comfortable in each other's company and wondered if Neil would ever take Sam to the cinema, if he would ever have a relationship with his son.
'Penny for them,' Ronan said softly.
Dee looked up to find the older man standing over her. She felt the colour flood her cheeks. 'They're worthless,' she assured him with a light laugh.
Vi, laden down with paints and brushes, banged on the back door with her elbow.
'Dee? Hurry up, for God's sake, I'm going to drop something.'
Dee ran to open the door and stood back as Vi pushed past her and unloaded the tools of her trade on to the kitchen table.
'Be a love and get the easel and canvas out of the car, would you, Dee?' she said moving towards the kettle. 'Lord, I'm parched.'
'Oh, Vi, do we have to do this today?' Dee groaned, 'I'm so busy.'
'You're always busy. Don't worry, you won't even know I'm here. Besides,' the older woman reminded her, 'you promised.'
'Okay, okay.' Dee obediently went to fetch the rest of the artist's stuff while Vi made strong coffee, a smug smile on her face. 'How do you lug this stuff around with you all the time?' Dee said, coming back panting.
'I don't, I get people like you to do it! Tell me, how's young Sam? I heard he was sick.'
'He passed out on Friday, scared the hell out of me,' Dee told her. 'We had to call an ambulance but, of course, he was fine once we reached the hospital and they couldn't find anything wrong.'
'And he's okay now?'
'Full of beans.' Dee glanced at the clock. 'I'm afraid I can't sit and chat, I've lots to do.'
'So I've heard.' Vi settled herself at the kitchen table. 'Would I be right in thinking your money worries are no more?'
Dee leaned against the worktop and smiled. 'What have you heard?'
'That you're about to become a TV star.'
Dee laughed. 'That's a slight exaggeration. I can't believe the word is out already, I only told Conor and Ronan on Sunday.'
'And Julia,' Vi reminded her, 'and you were in the café at the time.'
'Ah, yes, I take your point.'
'The difference in you today compared to last week is amazing. You were really worried, weren't you?'
'Yes,' Dee admitted. 'To be honest, I thought I was going to have to sell the house.'
'Would that be so bad?'
'Of course! It would have meant throwing Lisa out and Sam losing the only home he's ever known.'
Vi shrugged. 'It would be a blow but Lisa would find new premises and as for Sam, he would adjust to living on the moon once you were with him.'
'I suppose.'
'What is it about this house?' Vi asked, curiously. 'Why has it got such a hold on you?'
Dee turned away. 'It doesn't, don't be silly.'
'It must be worth a few bob, what with its location and that huge garden. You could sell it and buy another place much better suited to your needs and probably still have cash left over.'
'But I don't have to any more,' Dee pointed out. 'Not only do I have this TV job but I've increased Lisa's rent.'
'Is it because it's the family home and your only link with the past?' Vi continued as if she hadn't spoken.
Dee concentrated her attention on her 'to do' list. 'It's just a house,' she laughed.
'Funny, that's what I was going to say. Any connections with the past are in here,' she pointed at her head, 'and in here', she moved her hand to her heart. 'You can't lose them, Dee, you carry them with you wherever you go.'
Dee turned when she heard the wobble in Vi's voice and was surprised to see the sadness on the woman's face. 'That sounds like the voice of experience,' she said softly.
Vi laughed and, pulling out a hanky, blew her nose noisily. 'I've experienced most things. That happens when you're as old as I am.'
'You're not old. You're younger than Ronan and Julia, aren't you?'
Vi immediately got to her feet and started to sort through her paints. 'No idea. Now, my dear, I hope you have plenty of cooking to do because I need at least two hours of your time.'
'That's fine,' Dee said, allowing her to change the subject, 'just don't expect me to smile all the time.'
'God forbid.'
It was going to be a busy week, Lisa realized, but an exciting one. She couldn't believe that after only advertising for a childminder on Friday, the emails had been flooding in and the phone hadn't stopped ringing. Now she had two candidates coming, one at twelve-thirty and one at one-thirty; she just hoped that they met with her long list of requirements. She could have arranged to meet them after work but it was important, she felt, to see the candidates with the children so Dee had agreed to step in to cover for her. It would also give her friend an opportunity to observe the candidates and Lisa was glad of that. She'd never carried out an interview before never mind hired someone and she would welcome Dee's input.
She had been on a high since her conversation with Dee although Ger's reaction had put a damper on things.
'You want your head examined. Offering to pay more rent and forking out for more wages; you'll be broke.'
'Extra staff means more children and more children mean more money. Also I won't have to put in such long hours.'
'You're kidding yourself,' he'd said with a snort, 'when you're the boss you always work long hours and more staff means more headaches, everyone knows that.'
Lisa had been disappointed at his reaction and a little unnerved; maybe he was right and she was taking on too much. But then Conor had dropped in yesterday and he was full of praise for her ideas and very encouraging about the future of Happy Days. It had given her a great boost. If anyone knew how hard it was to run your own business, it was Conor. Lisa was always impressed at the way he met the many problems associated with farming head-on and just got on with it.
'How do you keep going when it gets really hard?' she'd asked him.
He'd thought about it for a moment and then shrugged. 'I suppose it's because I love what I do.'
And that had been the best thing he could have said because although Lisa had many doubts about her own abilities, she knew she loved her job, adored working with children, and couldn't think of anything she would rather do.
She had been thrilled that when she told Martha of her plans, she, too, had been excited, especially about the plan to have a completely separate baby room.
'I'm so glad about that, Lisa,' she'd confided. 'I've always thought the babies needed more space and with the other children walking in dirt from the garden, it's hard to keep the little ones clean.'
'Do you want to stay with the babies?' Lisa had asked.
'Oh, yes.' Martha had nodded enthusiastically. 'The older children are great and I love them, but I just adore watching babies develop over the first year.'
Lisa had smiled, thankful that she had at least one employee who loved her job. 'I feel the most important thing is to find the right people,' she'd said finally. 'We have to have a good team so that we back each other up and give each other time-out when we need it. I think anyone I hire will initially be on a trial basis because no matter how good their qualifications are, if we don't get on or they're not fitting in, it won't work.'
Martha had been in full agreement and was even more delighted to learn she was getting a salary increase and would have more time off.
Lisa hadn't bothered to tell Ger any more of her ideas. She didn't need his negativity ruining everything. She couldn't be sure but she had a feeling that he was jealous, although why that should be, given his high-powered job in the council, she had no idea. For the first time she could remember, she'd turned him down when he suggested they go out on Saturday night. She'd spent the day reading the numerous applications that had come in by email and had been really fired up by the experience. When Ger had called with his last-minute, casual invitation she'd realized that she'd prefer to stay in, have a hot bath and work a bit more on her plans. She hadn't said that, of course; she wouldn't deliberately hurt his feelings. Instead, she told him she was feeling a bit under the weather as her period had started and that had produced the desired effect. Ger wasn't the kind of guy who fetched hot water bottles and rubbed your back.
Lisa had quite enjoyed her night alone, she realized now as she cleaned down the table in preparation for snack time. It was amazing the effect this whole business was having on her. She had been in super-efficient mode all morning and she couldn't stop smiling. Several parents had even commented on it.
'Has he popped the question?' one father guessed, winking at her and nearly ruining her mood.
'Why do people always think that if you're happy it must be down to a man?' she'd complained to Martha but it hadn't bothered her for long; nothing had. She did a quick check on the children who were busy working on Mother's Day cards and then went over to Martha. 'I'm just going out to get the snack.' Martha looked up from where she was building foam blocks with the babies.
'Okay, but will you hurry? I need to change Olivia's nappy.'
Lisa wrinkled her nose. 'Yes, you do, don't you?'
Vi was painting away and Dee was cooking ratatouille when Lisa breezed in. 'Hiya ,Vi, how's the masterpiece coming?'
'You tell me,' Vi said, sitting back to allow Lisa a closer look.
'Oh, nice.' Lisa looked at the painting and then at Dee. 'Although I'm not sure her nose is quite that big.'
Dee's head whipped around. 'What?'
'Very funny,' Vi said, swatting Lisa away. 'You're next.'
Lisa snorted. 'You must be really desperate if you want to paint me.'
'Why do you say that?'
Lisa turned away from Vi's watchful eyes and went to the fridge to fetch the yoghurt and fruit. 'Well, let's say I'm not exactly Halle Berry.'
'No, you're the wrong colour,' Dee agreed.
'Funny.'
Vi frowned. 'Who's Halle Berry?'
Lisa rolled her eyes. 'Crikey, Vi, don't you ever go to the cinema?'
'I think
Breakfast at Tiffany
'
s
was the last film I saw,' Vi said thoughtfully, 'or was it
Lawrence of Arabia
?'
'You're kidding,' Dee laughed. 'That must be nearly forty years ago.'
'That would be about right. It was when I was dating.'
Lisa giggled.
Vi shook her head in exasperation. 'I was young once too, you know. We used to go the cinema – the pictures, we called it – because it was the only place to go if you wanted a bit of comfort and privacy,' she winked, 'if you know what I mean.'