Part 41 (1/2)

”Oooh good, I love a bit of gossip,” Holly said, rubbing her hands together with delight.

”Well, a friend of mine named Charlie who works as a barman in Laura's dad's hotel told me that her boyfriend tried to come on to some other woman who was a guest in the hotel and Laura caught him, so they split up.” He laughed evilly and had a twinkle in his eye. He was delighted to hear of her heartbreak.

Holly froze because that story sounded rather familiar. ”Eh...Daniel, what hotel does her father own?”

”Oh, the Galway Inn. It's a real kip of a place but it's in a nice area, across the road from the beach.”

”Oh.” Holly didn't know what to say and her eyes widened.

”I know,” Daniel laughed. ”It's brilliant, isn't it? I can tell you, if I ever met the woman who split them up I would buy her the most expensive bottle of champagne I could find.”

Holly smiled weakly, ”Would you now...” He better start saving his money then...Holly stared at Daniel's face curiously, interested to know why on earth Daniel had once been interested in Laura. Holly would have bet all her money against those two ever being together; she didn't seem his type, whatever his 'type' was. Daniel was so easygoing and friendly and Laura was...well, Laura was a b.i.t.c.h. Holly couldn't think of any other word to describe her.

”Em, Daniel?” Holly nervously tucked her hair behind her ears, preparing herself to question him on his choice of women.

He smiled at her, eyes still twinkling from the news of his ex-girlfriend and exbest friend's breakup. ”Yes, Holly.”

”Well, I was just wondering. Laura seems to sound like a bit of a...em...a...b.i.t.c.h, to be honest.” She bit her lip and studied his face to see if she had insulted him. His face was blank as he stared at the candlesticks in the center of the table and listened. ”Well,” she continued, feeling as though she had to tiptoe carefully around this subject, knowing how badly Laura had broken Daniel's heart. ”Well, my question is really, what ever did you see in her? How could you two ever have been in love? You're both so different, well, at least you sound like you're so different.” She backpedaled fast, remembering she wasn't supposed to have ever met Laura. Daniel was silent for a moment and Holly feared she had stepped into the wrong territory.

He dragged his eyes away from the flame dancing around on the candlestick to face Holly. His lips broke into a sad smile. ”Laura isn't really a b.i.t.c.h, Holly. Well, for leaving me for my best friend she is...but as a person, when we were together, she was never a b.i.t.c.h. Dramatic, yes. A b.i.t.c.h, no.” He smiled and turned his body around to face Holly properly. ”You see, I loved the drama of our relations.h.i.+p. I found it exciting; she enthralled me.” His face became animated as he explained their relations.h.i.+p and his speech quickened with the excitement of the memory of his lost love. ”I loved waking up in the morning and wondering what kind of mood she would be in that day, I loved our fights, I loved the pa.s.sion of them and I loved how we would make love after them.” His eyes danced. ”She would make a song and dance about most things, but I suppose that's what I found different and attractive about her. I used to always tell myself that as long as she kept making a song and dance about our own relations.h.i.+p, then I knew she cared. If she hadn't, then it wouldn't have been worth it really. I loved the drama,” he repeated, believing himself even more this time. ”Our temperaments contrasted, but we made a good team; you know what they say about opposites attracting...” He looked into the face of his new friend and saw her concern. ”She didn't treat me badly, Holly, she wasn't a b.i.t.c.h in that way...” He smiled more to himself. ”She was just...”

”Dramatic,” Holly finished for him, finally understanding. He nodded.

Holly watched his face as he got lost in another memory. She supposed it was possible for anybody to love anybody. That was the great thing about love; it came in all different shapes, sizes and temperaments.

”You miss her,” Holly said gently, putting her hand on his arm.

Daniel snapped out of his daydream and stared deeply into Holly's eyes. A s.h.i.+ver went down her spine and she felt the hairs on her arms stand up. He snorted loudly and twisted back around in his chair, ”Wrong again, Holly Kennedy.” He nodded his head and frowned, as though she had said the most bizarre thing ever. ”Completely and utterly wrong.” He picked up his knife and fork and began to eat his salmon starter. Holly gulped back some cool water and turned her attention to the plate that was being set before her.

After dinner and a few bottles of wine Helen stumbled over to Holly, who had escaped over to Sharon and Denise's side of the table. She gave her a big hug and tearily apologized for not keeping in touch.

”That's OK, Helen. Sharon, Denise and John have been very supportive friends, so I wasn't alone.”

”Oh, but I feel so awful,” Helen slurred.

”Don't,” Holly said, anxious to continue her enjoyable conversation with the girls.

But Helen insisted on talking about the good old times when Gerry was alive and when everything was rosy. She talked about all the times that she and Gerry had shared together, which were memories that Holly wasn't particularly interested in. Eventually Holly had enough of Helen's tearful whinging and realized that all her friends were up having fun on the dance floor.

”Helen, please stop,” Holly finally interrupted. ”I don't know why you feel you have to discuss this with me tonight when I am trying to enjoy myself, but you obviously feel guilty for not keeping in touch with me. To be honest, I think that if I hadn't come to this ball tonight I still wouldn't have heard from you for another ten months and more. And that's not the kind of friend I need in my life. So please stop crying on my shoulder and let me enjoy myself.”

Holly felt that she had phrased it reasonably, but Helen looked like she had been slapped in the face. A small dose of what Holly had felt for the past year. Daniel appeared out of nowhere, took Holly by the hand and led her to the dance floor to join all her friends. As soon as they reached the dance floor the song ended and Eric Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight' began. The dance floor began to empty out bar a few couples and Holly was left facing Daniel. She gulped. She hadn't planned on this. She had only ever danced with Gerry to this song.

Daniel placed his hand lightly on her waist and gently took her hand and they began to circle around. Holly was stiff. Dancing with another man felt wrong. A tingle went down her spine and she shuddered. Daniel must have thought she was cold and he pulled her closer to keep her warm. She was led around the floor in a trance until the song ended and she made the excuse of having to go to the toilet. She locked herself in the cubicle and leaned against the door taking deep breaths. She had been doing so well up until now. Even with everyone asking her about Gerry she had remained calm. But the dance had shaken her. Perhaps it was time to go home while the going was good. She was about to unlock the door when she heard a voice outside say her name. She froze and listened to the women chatting outside.

”Did you see Holly Kennedy dancing with that man tonight?” a voice asked. The unmistakable whine of Jennifer.

”I know!” another voice spoke with a tone of disgust. ”And her husband not yet cold in his grave!”

”Ah leave her alone,” another woman said lightheartedly, ”they could just be friends.”

Thank you, Holly thought.

”But I doubt it,” she continued and the women giggled.

”Did you see the way they were wrapped around each other? I don't dance with any of my friends like that,” Jennifer said.

”That's disgraceful,” another woman said. ”Imagine flaunting your new man in a place you used to come to with your husband in front of all his friends. It's disgusting.” The women tutted and a toilet flushed in the cubicle beside Holly. She stood frozen in her position, shocked by what she was hearing and embarra.s.sed they were saying it where others could hear.

The toilet door opened beside her and the women were silenced. ”Would you bickering old b.i.t.c.hes ever go and get yourselves lives?” Sharon's voice yelled. ”It is absolutely no business of yours what my best friend does or does not do! Jennifer, if your life was so b.l.o.o.d.y perfect then what are you doing sneaking around with Pauline's husband?”

Holly heard someone gasp. It was probably Pauline.

Holly covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

”Right, so keep your noses in your own business and p.i.s.s off the lot of you!” Sharon yelled.

When Holly felt she had heard everyone leave she unlocked the door and stepped outside. Sharon looked up at her from the sink in shock.

”Thanks, Sharon.”

”Oh Holly, I'm sorry you had to hear that,” she said, giving her friend a hug.

”It doesn't matter, I couldn't give a c.r.a.p what they think,” Holly said bravely. ”But I can't believe Jenny is having an affair with Pauline's husband!” Holly said, shocked.

Sharon shrugged, ”She's not, but it'll give them something to b.i.t.c.h about for the next few months.”

The girls giggled.

”I think I'll go home now, though,” Holly said, glancing at her watch and thinking about the final message from Gerry. Her heart sank.

”Good idea,” Sharon agreed. ”I didn't realize how s.h.i.+te this ball was when you're sober.”

Holly smiled.

”Anyway, you were great tonight, Holly. You came, you conquered, now go home and open Gerry's message. Ring me and let me know what it says.” She hugged her friend again.

”It's the last one,” Holly said sadly.

”I know, so enjoy it,” Sharon smiled. ”But memories last a lifetime, remember that.”

Holly made her way back to the table to say good-bye to everyone and Daniel stood up to leave with her. ”You're not leaving me here on my own,” he laughed. ”We can share a cab.”

Holly was slightly irritated when Daniel hopped out of the taxi and followed her to her house, as she was looking forward to opening the envelope from Gerry. It was a quarter to twelve, which gave her fifteen minutes. She hoped he would drink his tea and be gone by then. She even called another taxi to arrive at her house in half an hour, just to let him know he couldn't stay too long.

”Ah, so this is the famous envelope,” Daniel said, picking the tiny envelope up from the table.