The Heart of Winter Read online

  ‘To Huntersbrook,’ they all chimed, grinning widely at each other.

  Lainey smiled as she clinked cups with each of her family members. None of the gripes and cribs really mattered once they could all pull together when necessary. She glanced over at Pippa and Holly. Her mother had her arm around her sister and was kissing the side of her head affectionately as she smiled in delight. Lainey adored Pippa, but she couldn’t help noticing that her mother had never been that affectionate with her. As if to bridge that painful gap, she scooped Ely from his high chair and spun him around in the air, making him giggle loudly.

  ‘Wee,’ she said. ‘Huntersbrook is going to be a destination to be reckoned with, baby boy!’

  They all clapped as Ely joined in, bashing his chubby hands together, lapping up the good humour.

  Pippa

  PIPPA WAS RELIEVED TO GET OUT OF HER OFFICE for a bit. Her head was wrecked from all the pressure at the moment. She’d spent the weekend in Wicklow going through list after list of jobs that needed to be done at Huntersbrook. She’d come to work this morning for more of the same.

  A text from Joey’s girlfriend, Skye, asking her to meet for a quick coffee was a Godsend.

  ‘Hey,’ Skye said as she came up behind her in the café. ‘How are things?’

  ‘Skye!’ Pippa spun around to kiss her. ‘You’re looking summery!’ She looked Skye up and down and took in her powder blue cheese-cloth maxi dress. While she wouldn’t be caught dead in flat Jesus-style sandals, Pippa felt Skye could carry them off. ‘You’re the only adult I know who looks good with a daisy chain in her hair,’ Pippa said. ‘Tea?’

  ‘Please,’ Skye said. ‘Just a herbal one, please.’

  ‘And some sort of grease stroke fat to eat?’

  ‘Why not! I’ll have a Danish pastry. I’m famished.’

  ‘I’ll get it, you grab a table before they’re all gone,’ Pippa said. She ordered a large black coffee and the other things for Skye.

  ‘So how are tricks?’ she asked as she placed the tray on the sticky table. ‘Ugh! I can’t bear sitting in other people’s juice.’

  Skye laughed and tucked into her Danish.

  ‘I went onto your website to do a bit of updating for you,’ Skye said through a mouthful. ‘You haven’t added any new stock since I last worked on it. What’s the story with it?’

  ‘Ugh, I’ve so much going on at the moment. The website is so far down the list of priorities right now, if I’m honest. I’m struggling with work and this darn Huntersbrook stuff, without the added annoyance of the website.’

  ‘Oh,’ Skye’s voice dropped. ‘I thought you were keen on building your site and making your own business out of it. You were doing so well, Pippa. It seems a bit of a shame.’

  ‘Yeah, whatever,’ she waved her hand. ‘I’ll get to it at some point. Besides I’m loving the young, free and single girl about town thing. Summer in Dublin is always amazing. So much happening and too little time to fit it all in, you know?’

  ‘Are you feeling better about going out now?’

  ‘Totally, why?’

  ‘Well, you know . . . after being attacked. I know it shook you to the core.’

  ‘Oh that,’ Pippa sipped her coffee. ‘Nah, it was a freaky random thing. I’ve put it well behind me.’ Pippa took another drink of her coffee, even though it was like ingesting molten lava. She didn’t want to think or talk about the attack. She’d had a close shave and it still woke her at night.

  ‘Well if you’re sure you’re OK . . .’ Skye looked unconvinced.

  Pippa waited a few minutes before broaching the subject Joey had asked her about.

  ‘So Joey was telling me there are a few work type events on the horizon.’

  ‘Oh right.’ Skye didn’t seem bothered either way.

  ‘Yeah,’ Pippa pushed. ‘I know some of those can be real toffee-nosed things. Women dripping in diamonds with the latest labels on show, yadda, yadda.’

  ‘Ha!’ Skye said. ‘Well none of that crap concerns me. You know me well enough at this stage, Pippa. I’ve never been what one would call a slave to fashion. Those ladies who lunch are hardly on my radar. I never was and never will be interested in that kind of stuff.’

  ‘Yeah totally. But it might be . . . Uh how do I put it . . . expected of you . . .’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Skye said with a look of total puzzlement.

  ‘It’s just that I sell a lot of clobber to bosses’ wives from the big corporations. They’re a forceful bunch at times. I’d hate you to feel like a fish out of water, that’s all. If you want to borrow some bits, I have quite a wardrobe at this point. Or you could totally get stuff via my personal shopping website,’ Pippa said nonchalantly.

  ‘Are you serious?’ Skye laughed easily. ‘Thanks Pip, but for a start your stuff wouldn’t go over my ankles, let alone any other body part. You’re about a quarter of my size. And secondly, I have loads of dresses for those arsy events. Joey knows I have my own style and that I don’t kow-tow to peer-group nonsense. Especially those women who have nothing else to do but stare at their reflections morning, noon and night. I can just hear them now, spouting some crap that behind every good man is a good woman!’

  ‘Totally! You’re so right,’ Pippa said nodding fervently. ‘I’d better get back to work. No doubt Brianna has a nest of vacant mirror-gazers looking for me to sell them over-priced gear!’

  Skye giggled and linked her arm as they walked out. When a text message came through on both of their phones almost simultaneously, Pippa guessed it was from one of the Craigs.

  They both read it and sure enough it was Paddy, issuing an invitation for the coming weekend.

  ‘Yay!’ Skye said, ‘the thought of a lovely weekend at Huntersbrook with your lot will get me through the week. Nothing like a bit of Craig family time!’

  They kissed goodbye and Pippa stood for a moment and watched Skye meandering down Grafton Street before heading back to work herself. She certainly wasn’t of the same mind as Skye. In truth, Pippa was sick to the back teeth of ‘Project Huntersbrook’. When her family had come up with the idea of turning the place into an events venue for weddings and parties, she’d been on board instantly. She’d envisaged fabulously glam events with cool rich people walking the grounds in wax jackets during the afternoon, before throwing wild and lavish all-night parties. The reality was endless meetings and lists of mind-numbingly boring chores. Still, they had the green light from the council now, so maybe the fun would start soon.

  As she walked, she tapped out a text to Paddy: ‘sounds like a blast Dad, hope I can get there, but not sure yet.’

  She felt mildly guilty for lying, but not concerned enough to fess up and turn up.

  Skye had made her feel guilty when she mentioned the website just now. Pippa knew she’d let that slide lately. When she first came up with the idea of an online shopping site and Skye had set it up, she’d been stoked about it. But now, as she juggled the store job and the website, Pippa’s patience had all but run out. It was too much work for too little money. None of the labels she pushed on her site were forthcoming with freebies either. The profits were meagre and she knew unless she injected more time and energy into the whole thing, it was never going to set the world on fire. But was that where she wanted her time and energy to go?

  She had reached the department store where she worked. Bill, the doorman, winked at her and held open the door with a great show of chivalry that made Pippa giggle.

  ‘Bill, when are you going to leave that damn wife of yours and run away with me?’ she teased.

  He grinned widely. ‘Still a bold strap, I see,’ he said, wagging his finger at her.

  Bill was the about the only thing she still liked about this place. Before she began working here eighteen months ago, Pippa had adored the place. She would become giddy as she walked through the cosmetic halls, up onto the designer clothing floors and as for the shoes . . . After her first week as a bona fide employee she had gushed to Laine
y, ‘I feel like Aladdin walking into the cave of jewels every time I go to work.’

  Somehow that had all changed, and the last six months had really dragged. The buzz of the store was well and truly quashed. The fragrance hall gave her a sickly headache and the rails of clothes made her feel both envious and claustrophobic. The staff discount was negligible. She’d thought she’d have all the latest designer gear at high-street prices. But that was a farce. The samples at the make-up counters had all been stopped, too. The management treated the staff like slaves. It was all about clocking in and out, customer satisfaction and reaching targets. There was very little room for fun and zero scope for anything free.

  Of course, Lainey and Joey had no sympathy for her whatsoever. Joey loved to tell her that life wasn’t a party, it was all about hard work. What kind of a life philosophy was that? She was twenty-five, for crying out loud! She was single, with no dependants. Why shouldn’t she believe the whole world was waiting to entertain her? What was the problem with that? The way Pippa saw it, if she moseyed around being mediocre, exciting things weren’t going to land in her lap. But if she opened her eyes and broadened her horizons, who knew what could happen?

  She often wondered if she’d been born into the wrong family. Maybe her parents were given the wrong baby at the hospital? Lainey and Joey were so damned sensible and strait-laced. Lainey was all loved up with her husband, Matt, and their baby, Ely, which was super cool. They were happy. She was glad for them. Joey and Skye were vomit-inducingly in love. It was all fabulous and Pippa was honestly stoked for them, but she couldn’t bear the thought of existing like them. And suddenly it wasn’t just her family opting for a boring life – it felt like everyone was abandoning the ship of good fun. All her friends had become so bloody dreary all of a sudden. Her oldest mate, Lucy, used to be great fun, but since she’d spent every cent she owned on getting onto the property ladder, she was such a drag. Every suggestion was met with, ‘Sorry Pip, I can’t afford to do that any more. I’m a mortgage-holder now.’

  Sod that, thought Pippa crossly. Who gave a toss if she rented or owned her apartment? What did it matter? There were years ahead for all that sensible stuff, whereas being young and free wouldn’t last forever. What was it that Oscar Wilde said about youth being wasted on the young? She wasn’t about to do that. She’d looked fear in they eye the night she was attacked, and she was damned if she was going to live a little, narrow life – she was determined, more than ever, to grab every opportunity and live, live, live.

  The week dragged. It felt like a year since she’d seen Skye and a decade since she’d had a decent night out. With all the meetings at Huntersbrook last weekend Pippa felt enslaved in a life that was far too grown up and sensible for her longing-to-party mind. She put the finishing touches to the artwork for the new French shoe label her boss had taken on, then stretched out her back. She’d been bent over her desk without moving for the past couple of hours, and her shoulders felt locked into position. She was in charge of all in-store signage, along with most of the artwork for their printed advertising campaigns. It was a dream job, but slowly it was becoming a bit of a nightmare – thanks in no small part to a play-by-the-rules boss who was driving her crazy lately.

  It was now three o’clock on Friday afternoon. Pippa could see the lucky shoppers strolling happily by outside, as they enjoyed the low-lying lemony light of an October afternoon. Pippa loved autumn, it was such a pretty season with the changing light and the colours of the leaves. As she stared out, she decided there and then that it was far too nice to be stuck in work for a second longer. She logged off her computer, grabbed the finished artwork and strode into her boss’s office.

  ‘I’m feeling totally nauseous, Brianna,’ she said. ‘I’m going to shoot off home, if that’s OK with you? Time of the month and all that,’ Pippa said pulling a face.

  Brianna looked at her watch.

  ‘I see,’ she said frostily. ‘Don’t make a habit of this, Pippa. Might I remind you that you’ve missed two Mondays this month already. If I didn’t know you better, I’d swear you’re putting all your energy into partying rather than working of late.’

  ‘Ah seriously, Brianna,’ Pippa said making her best stricken-face. ‘I would never pull a sicky. I love my job. I’m living the dream! Why on earth would I jeopardise it?’

  Brianna’s face softened. ‘Sorry, Pippa. I’m jumping to conclusions. I apologise. You go and take it easy. See you bright and breezy Monday morning. I’ll need you refreshed and raring to go for the Paris trip next week. Missy from evening wear is coming too, as it happens.’

  ‘Really?’ Pippa said, raising an eyebrow. Everyone in the store knew that Melissa Hassett, AKA Missy, was only working there because her father owned most of the shares in the place. Dubbed by the other staff as Missy Hilton, this girl was someone Pippa had been meaning to get to know for the past month.

  ‘She seems to be doing very well in evening wear by all accounts,’ Pippa said.

  ‘Yes,’ said Brianna dryly. ‘If you count helping yourself to one of each style as lucrative.’

  ‘Can she, like . . . take what she wants?’ Pippa asked in astonishment.

  ‘God, no!’ Brianna scoffed. ‘She pays, but it’s all a bit of a joke in reality.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Well her credit card is “connected to Daddy’s”,’ Brianna said in a sneering voice. ‘So she’s in the happy position of playing a game of one for me, one for the rail. If only we all had a doting father with a bottomless pit of cash, then we’d . . . Eh . . . Right, so that’s that.’

  Pippa was furious when Brianna seemed to realise she was speaking out of turn and forced a smile. ‘Anything else, Pippa?’

  ‘Just this – I finished the Beau Chausseur artwork. Here.’

  Brianna took it and squinted closely at it. ‘Fantastic work, Pippa,’ she said smiling warmly. ‘I love it. It’s just right.’

  Pippa smiled. Work might be a drag right now, but it still felt good to get the recognition she deserved.

  ‘OK, so feel better and I’ll see you on Monday.’

  ‘Sorry?’ Pippa asked, forgetting she was supposed to be feeling ill. ‘Oh right, yeah. Thanks. I think I’ll just go home to the country and be with my folks and go for some lovely walks. Fresh air and some quiet family time. A hot water bottle and our golden retriever at my feet and I’ll be right as rain.’

  ‘OK Pippa, see you.’ Brianna’s eyes had already reverted to her work as Pippa pulled the door shut and waltzed onto the escalator. Sighing happily, she congratulated herself on the added touch of the retriever just now. Brianna would never know that Jess was a Jack Russell and Millie a mongrel. As far as Pippa was aware, Brianna thought she came from a Downton Abbey-type place. Pippa liked to think she presented herself as being arty yet rather refined.

  ‘Hiya!’

  Pippa looked around to find Suzie, one of the nail technicians, waving a perfectly shellacked hand from the step above her.

  ‘Hi Suzie,’ she said. ‘How’s it going?’

  ‘Good. I’m finished for the weekend, TG. Zach and Luke and some of the girls from home furnishings are going to the beer garden, you coming?’

  ‘Won’t it be freezing?’ she asked with a giggle.

  ‘Ah they have outdoor heaters. But you know me, even the sight of the sun is enough to bring on a session. At least it’s not snowing!’

  ‘Now that sounds like a plan,’ she said. ‘I need to be careful though, I’ve just escaped early by telling Briann-ta-saurus I’ve got period pains.’

  ‘Nice one,’ Suzie smiled. ‘See you there in five?’

  ‘Cool,’ said Pippa.

  By the time she grabbed her jacket from her locker in the staffroom and touched up her make-up, Pippa could almost taste the gin and tonic she was going to order.

  Careful to avoid walking below Brianna’s office in the wrong direction and possibly being scuppered, Pippa went the long way to the beer garden. Ten minutes later, she was
pouring the tonic into her gin as she positioned herself directly under an outdoor heater.

  ‘That heat is divine,’ she said pulling her shades down off the top of her head. ‘Amazing how a few shards of sunlight mixed with a gas heater and a gin and tonic can make me feel like I'm in a tropical country!’

  ‘Beats shuffling around listening to the piped muzak in the men’s department,’ said Zach. He managed to look positively Italian, even though he was from Glasnevin. ‘If one more uppity git looked down his nose at me today, I swear I would’ve swung my fist at him.’

  ‘Like hell you would,’ Pippa scoffed. ‘And risk bruising one of your precious paws? I can just imagine you having a fight, it’d be a cross between the doggy paddle and Riverdance!’

  Zach pretended to be offended as he tossed his head to the side.

  ‘I’ll have you know I was vicious in school,’ he said dramatically. ‘I had to be, growing up gay in an inner city all boys’ school. I’d swear there are more pleasant borstals than the place I went.’

  ‘Really?’ Pippa asked, giggling. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh, but I can’t imagine you as a playground hooligan.’

  ‘I wasn’t quite as refined as I am now,’ he said with a sniff. ‘I wasn’t able to express my true self. I had to play the hard man and do what the other lads were doing. They’d have savaged me otherwise.’

  As the beer garden gradually filled up with staff members, Pippa began to relax.

  ‘God I’m so glad I’m not down for late night opening this evening,’ she sighed. ‘On a Friday, it’d be rude to stay in work.’

  She had so much fun with her colleagues, but she was so sick of the actual working. The hours were so limiting too. She’d never intended having a boring nine to five job. As far as she was concerned, that was for losers.

  In her dreams, Pippa was rich and famous with a lavish lifestyle that involved shopping, partying and sleeping, in that order. She’d even settle for being a kept woman if the right guy came along. But so far it hadn’t happened that way. She’d honestly thought she was on to a good thing with her website. In the beginning she’d made really good money from it. But that had all evened off now and she’d kind of lost interest in it.