‘No, but you’ll tell me what you want me to know.’
‘I can’t, Kenny, it’s too complicated. Everyone thinks I’ve slept with Laddy. That’s just for starters.’
‘Why do they think that?’ He was calm.
‘Because I said that I did, in order to cover up for him and my brother who were moving stolen goods.’
‘And why did you say that, Star?’
‘It seemed the easiest thing to do, and Laddy was very pleased with me.’
‘I bet he was,’ Kenny said.
‘And he was very nice to me for a while afterwards, but then he kept bringing in lots of girlfriends, parading them past me. And it’s very hard, you see, very upsetting.’
‘Because you like him?’
‘I don’t like him at all, that’s the point. I really don’t like him, specially now. Now that he’s sleeping with his stepmother.’
‘What?’
‘Well, Biddy who lives with Laddy’s father, she’s about thirty. Yes, that’s what she must be today, I didn’t think. Laddy’s twenty-two, and his father is about fifty. It’s so sick and awful. It shouldn’t have happened between them. It’s so wrong.’ She spoke fast now, just like the woman in the supermarket, in a great wail.
‘But you don’t know if any of this is true. Maybe it’s a mistake,’ Kenny said.
‘I do know it’s true.’
‘But he couldn’t be having all that party for her, together with his father, if he had . . . if they . . . you know.’
‘They did, believe me, they did.’
‘Listen, you say you don’t like him, so what does it matter? What does he matter? Put him out of your mind.’
‘I can’t, I really can’t. You see, all day and all night I don’t think of anything or anyone else. Nothing but Laddy. It’s driving me mad.’
‘You love him!’ Kenny was astonished.
‘I have no idea what love is any more, but all I can tell you is that I think about him night and day and wish that I had gone to bed with him in the big shed like I said I did. Then he might not find it so easy to ignore me and hurt me so much.’
‘Oh poor little Star,’ Kenny said. ‘You poor, lovely thing.’
And she laid her head on his shoulder while he patted her beautiful, shiny hair and her shaking shoulders under the blue and white dress as she sobbed her heart out to him.
Nobody forgot Biddy’s thirtieth birthday. That was the day that a friend of Shay Sullivan’s rang him and told him about a greyhound that could not lose. Real and serious money could be made. Anyone who had access to 5,000 euro or more would be home and dry. Shay had access. But it would mean getting it back from Laddy that same day. The day of the big birthday party next door. Not good timing, not an easy thing to do, especially since Shay had assured Laddy that he would never gamble again. And had it not been for the certainty of this greyhound, he never would have wanted to.
He thought it all through slowly and came to a decision. It wasn’t worth all the hassle of trying to lay his hands on the cash. What was it in the end except either more or less money? He had enough other things going well for him in life.
Molly wasn’t working double shifts in the supermarket any more, she was well and happy. Often she would sit with her legs up on a footstool, reading little bits about famous people out of the papers.
His eldest son Kevin was not only speaking to him again, but had come to work in the same hotel as Shay. Together they were planning to set up a health-food snack bar in the leisure centre. The boy was marrying that nice Gemma next year. All was good on that front.
Lilly was cured of her terrible eating problems and she now had a nice young man who was a journalist. He had even arranged for her to do some fashion shoots once she had put on a little more weight.
Michael hadn’t been in any kind of trouble for months now. He had a great job as a driver, which paid very well.
Little Star had this Kenny from the supermarket completely mad about her, according to Molly. She didn’t hang around the garden any more hoping to catch a glimpse of Laddy.
And suppose he did have a big win? What would it mean? That he would have 40,000 euro safe in Laddy Hale’s hands rather than 9,000 euro, which he already had. What would he buy? Nothing, really. The days were gone when he would put it all on another animal before sunset. Better leave his nest egg, don’t disturb things. It was safe where it was.
Well, he supposed it was safe. Shay remembered that Laddy was hardly a pillar of the law. But the boy would never have run off with Shay’s winnings. He wouldn’t do that, surely? Of course he had slept with Star, which made Shay a little uneasy. She was so young and trusting, but then, young girls nowadays? There was no telling them. And from all accounts Star had been willing, very willing.
But somehow the faintly uneasy feeling about Laddy persisted all afternoon, and even as Shay stood beside him, turning lamb chops, bacon and sausages on the barbecue, he felt sudden doubts about the boy.
‘There’s a sure thing at Harold’s Cross tonight,’ he said eventually.
Laddy smiled at him lazily. ‘Ah, you’re over all that sort of stuff Shay,’ he said.
‘It never quite goes away,’ Shay said.
‘So?’ Laddy asked.
‘So if I were to ask you for my money, would you have it?’ Shay asked.
‘Sorry?’ Laddy was puzzled.
‘You heard me, Laddy, if I wanted my money that you are minding for me, would you have it?’
‘Well, what do you think? Do you think I still have it, or do you think that I spent it or stole it or what?’ Laddy was angry now. Blustering, Shay thought.
‘No, of course not, I just wondered, like . . . Do you have it in the house?’
‘Do you want it for tonight? To throw it all on a dog, is that what you’re saying?’
‘No, I’m saying suppose I did want it, how soon could I have it?’
‘Monday morning,’ Laddy said coldly.
‘But not now?’
‘Monday morning.’ Laddy’s face was hard. ‘Do you want it then, or not?’
‘No, I told you, it’s only a matter of asking you about it. What’s the point of you keeping it in cash for me if I can’t get it whenever I want it?’
‘Like a couple of hours before the greyhounds come out of the trap at Harold’s Cross? Oh yeah?’ Laddy said scornfully.
‘You’ve got me wrong,’ Shay began.
‘Yes, I see I must have,’ Laddy said, and the sunshine seemed to go out of the day.
Laddy was talking to Molly. ‘Is Star going out with Kenny the Fish seriously?’
‘Don’t call him that, Laddy, he’s a nice boy.’
‘Not an answer, Molly.’
‘The answer is that Star doesn’t tell me her business. She didn’t tell me she was involved with you back then.’
‘Back when?’
‘Come on, Laddy, you know, back when you and she slept together in the shed.’
‘No matter what she said, we didn’t, as it happens. She’s too young. Still is.’
‘So why did she say it, then?’ Molly was confused.
‘Think, Molly,’ he said.
But that left her more confused than ever.
Nick was enjoying the party. ‘Tell me more about the big guy in the T-shirt serving the food, I’ve seen him somewhere.’
‘Everyone’s seen him somewhere,’ Lilly explained. ‘That’s Laddy Hale, he works in clubs and bars around the place.’
‘That’s it. I saw him last week, at this big charity thing I was telling you about. One of the VIPs was pissed as a fart and that guy got him out of the place so quick. Told the fellow there were bottles of single malt in a room at the back and then frogmarched him into a taxi. He was home before he realised it. They all thought your man there was great.’
‘He had a fling with my sister, Star, once,’ Lilly said. If Laddy was cool, she thought, then why not be part of it all?
‘Star? Never! She’s much
too young for him and sort of . . . you know.’
‘I know,’ Lilly shrugged, ‘but it happened.’
Gemma and Kevin told Laddy and his father that when they were married they would have a built-in barbecue in the garden just like the Hales’. It was a real feature and they hoped they would entertain a fair bit once they had their own house.
‘Why don’t you and Biddy get married?’ Gemma asked Owen Hale, in a way that she might not have done, had she not drunk three glasses of wine on a hot day.
‘Marry Biddy? Go on out of that, she’s years too young for me. Anyway I’d say Biddy will be moving on soon, to the next bit of her life,’ Laddy’s father said in his easygoing way.
Gemma was shocked. ‘But what about love, Mr Hale?’
‘Oh, love comes and goes, you’ll find that out later. Comes and goes.’
Gemma had to sit down and have two glasses of water to get over this. As an engaged person she did not want to believe that love came and went. She preferred to think it lasted for ever.
Michael got a call on his mobile phone and as a result he went home quickly and packed an overnight bag. Very quietly he joined Laddy at the barbecue.
‘Can I have the keys to your van? Now, Laddy, please,’ he said, his tone urgent.
‘Nope. Sorry,’ Laddy said.
‘You don’t understand, I’ve just had a call . . . I have to – I have to be out of here. Sharpish.’
‘Not in my van.’ Laddy was smiling at Lillian the hairdresser and Molly as he heaped their plates.
‘I need it, Laddy.’
‘There’s a bus service up on the main road,’ Laddy said.
‘Why? Why won’t you help me?’
‘One too many times, Michael, I’ve rescued you just that once too often. If I were you, I’d get off now quick. I see you’ve packed your bag.’ He turned away.
‘Laddy, you’re in this as much as I am . . .’ Michael was desperate.
‘I think you’ll find I’m not. Go now, Michael, if you’ve any sense.’
And Michael realised there would be no van, no hope, no rescuing this time.
‘Why did you do it in the past if you won’t do it now?’
‘If you hurried, you know, you’d be well away before they get here.’
Laddy went on serving the salad with two big plastic serving spoons.
When Kenny brought Star home, her face was still stained with crying. She was very apologetic.
‘I’ll just creep upstairs to bed, they’re all still next door,’ she said.
‘No, I think you should join the party, otherwise you’ll only lie there thinking about it,’ Kenny said.
‘No, I couldn’t go, I look so terrible.’
‘I’ll wash your face for you,’ he said.
‘Why are you so nice to me?’
‘Because I love you, Star, and I want you to be happy.’
‘Even though . . . ?’ she began.
‘Even though,’ he finished for her.
Just as Star slipped into the Hales’ garden, Biddy began to make a little speech. She wanted to thank everyone for being so kind to her and giving her such a great party. It was marking a big change in her life. She was heading off to see the world, she said. She had been very happy during her time in Chestnut Street and had made many new friends but now it was time for a middle-aged woman of thirty to move on. Owen and Laddy had arranged this as a going-away party, as well as a birthday, and she was very touched. She would be leaving tomorrow before anyone was up, but she would never forget the people who had turned up here today.
‘We’ll be gone by eight o’clock at the latest,’ she said.
Star held onto a chair. This woman must be taking Laddy with her, her own boyfriend’s son. She was standing there telling everyone that she and Laddy were leaving next day. Going off together, out of Star’s life for ever.
Star felt the ground first slide away from her and then rush up to meet her. There was a roaring noise in her ears and everything went black.
CHAPTER SEVEN
IT WAS LADDY WHO saw her fall and ran towards her. He carried her into her own house, away from the eyes of the neighbours. Molly made her a cup of sweet tea which brought the colour back to her cheeks.
‘Why are you going away?’ Star said, as soon as she could speak.
‘I’m not going away, it’s Biddy who’s going, she’s off to the Far East with two friends.’
‘And not you?’
‘Oh, I’m brave all right, but not brave enough to go to Cambodia with those three.’
‘But aren’t you upset she’s going? Isn’t your father upset?’
‘People go when they want to go, Star, that’s the way things are.’
What kind of men were these Hales who would let women walk in and out of their lives?
She turned away her head from him in disgust. ‘You know exactly why she’s going,’ she said.
‘Yes, she and her friends want to travel.’
‘No, it’s because you and she had an affair.’
‘Please, Star, please. You’re talking rubbish.’
‘No, I’m not, I know what I saw.’
He looked at her with anger. ‘You used to know a lot, Star, you knew when to keep quiet about things and when to say something helpful. You were a great little mate altogether. Now you’ve become very odd.’
‘That’s all you wanted me for, as a helpful little liar next door to cover up your tracks, Laddy Hale. Well, I’m not doing it any more.’
‘Star, don’t get upset,’ her mother begged.
‘Mam, go back to the party, please, I’m fine. Go back and sing “For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow” for Biddy and everyone like her. I want to talk to Laddy about something.’
‘No way, I haven’t a notion of talking to you about anything, Star Sullivan. You’re as sweet as pie, but all the time you’re ruining people’s lives for them, and dragging other people in to help you. Well, I’ve helped you for the last time, believe me.’
And he was gone.
Molly looked after him as the door banged behind him. ‘In the name of God, Star, what was all that about?’ she asked.
‘I don’t know,’ Star said. ‘I don’t know what he means.’
Biddy left the following morning, just as she said. From behind the curtain in her bedroom Star saw her waving cheerfully at Owen Hale and his son Laddy as she got into a taxi.
All that day there was an air of unease at the Sullivan house. Mainly the family were worried about Star. The bruise where she had hit her head in falling was purple and yellow. Her eyes were dead.
Lilly said that her Nick had told her that Laddy was quite a hero in some club, which she thought would please Star, but it went down like a lead balloon.
Nobody had seen Michael anywhere around since quite early on at the party. Star, who always seemed to know where he was, just shrugged her shoulders. Shay said he didn’t feel like going over to ask Owen and Laddy where the boy was. That he had had some words with Laddy the previous day that had been misunderstood. And Molly, who was usually so eager to help any neighbours, said that it mightn’t be a good idea to go and help the Hales to tidy up after the barbecue.
Star said nothing at all, just stared in front of her.
At about midday Kenny called by to deliver them the Sunday papers. He was horrified at the sight of Star’s face.
‘What happened yesterday?’ he cried.
‘It was my fault,’ Star began. ‘I shouldn’t have gone to the party, I should have left well alone. I insisted on going, and then there was a misunderstanding.’
‘He did this to you?’ Kenny was horrified.
‘No, no . . . of course not,’ she said, but her voice was shaky and weak.
Kenny thought she was protecting Laddy. The man she still loved in spite of everything.
‘He’s not getting away with this,’ Kenny shouted, and ran next door. Before anyone could stop him he had grabbed Laddy, who was cleaning the barbecue, and
started to pummel him.
It took Laddy about thirty seconds to recover from the shock, shake himself free, and land Kenny a blow that knocked him down. By this time people had arrived from everywhere. Owen Hale was out of his house, Shay was over the hedge, Molly and Star were calling out for them to stop.
Laddy wiped the blood from around his mouth and looked over at Star. ‘Well done, kid,’ he said. ‘There you go again, upsetting everyone’s lives with your big innocent eyes.’
‘I didn’t say anything, I didn’t . . .’
‘Of course you didn’t, Star,’ he said, got into his white van and drove away, leaving everyone else to cope with Kenny and to try to work out what had happened.
On Monday Star wasn’t well enough to go to work at the supermarket. When Molly came home, she reported that Kenny hadn’t been in either.
Shay was barely installed in the kitchen of his hotel when he got a message that someone wanted to see him at the front office.
It was Laddy, carrying a parcel.
‘Your money, Shay,’ Laddy said in a cold voice. ‘I think you’ll find it all there, safe and sound.’
‘Now listen here, Laddy, I never meant –’
‘Yes, you did.’
‘If I gave offence, I’m really very sorry.’
‘You gave offence, certainly.’
‘Will you accept my apology then?’
Laddy shrugged. ‘If it makes you feel better.’
‘And, Laddy, do you have any idea where Michael is? He hasn’t been home.’
‘No idea. Sorry.’
‘But you must know. He works with you.’
‘No, he doesn’t, Shay, he works for himself.’
‘But he lives with you.’
‘He has a bed in our shed, yes, when he wants to stay there.’
Poor Shay looked bewildered. There seemed to be no answers.
‘And, Laddy, again, I’m sorry, we’re all sorry about that business yesterday morning. The young fellow from the supermarket, he got the wrong end of the stick.’
‘Yes, he did,’ Laddy agreed.
There was a silence.
‘You’re very good to bring this money to me. I don’t suppose you’d like to go on holding it for me?’
‘No I wouldn’t, as it happens.’