Page 115 of Such a Good Couple
Clara started typing.
Clara: Ollie, if you’re texting, you’re not unpacking.
‘So … unpacking?’ Annie retrieved her croissant. ‘You guys are fully doing the commune thing? Or is it a cult?’
‘It’s only a cult if Fionn starts shaking us down for money,’ Clara said. ‘And currently … it’s the total opposite. What with him payingmeand all.’
‘And is that weird?’
‘Surprisingly, no. Not after I started and realised how much bloody work is involved.’ She laughed. ‘Celebrities are like toddlers. Helpless and demanding.’ She grinned.
It was true that when Fionn had first proposed it, Clara’d had the same reaction she’d had every other time her friends had tried to give her money – a knee-jerk ‘no’ with a side of icky humiliation at being a charity case. But she could clearly see that Fionn and the girls’ need was much more important than her pride. She wanted to know that they were being cared for and she knew that she and Ollie and her boys were the right ones to do it. Family helps family and that’s what they all were.
‘I think,’ she looked at Annie, ‘with the way things are now,living all together and making a communal friend-family makes the most sense. He’s talking about not wanting to be famous anymore, though I think the Oscar nomination has scuppered that, at least for the foreseeable. But I think he’s very committed to overhauling his life and his career, cutting way back on work, only doing the important projects. And anyway in a few more years, when the kids are bigger, maybe even gone off to college, we’ll do a re-shuffle. Or maybe Fionn will …’ She hesitated; it felt weird to say. ‘Maybe Fionn will meet someone else before then and he’ll want to change the setup.’
‘Yeah, I guess that’s a real possibility.’
‘Obviously,’ Clara rushed to add, ‘I’d like that for him. When the time is right and the girls are settled. Me and Ollie are keeping our house. The current renters are keen to stay on. The mortgage is covered. It’s been an insane relief to not be feeling chased by repayments and bills every month. Anyway, that’sourweird plan. What’syourweird plan?’
Annie shot her a look and sighed. ‘I dunno. Screw this poor child up with my messy love life before it’s even born?’
‘Solid.’ Clara nodded firmly.
‘The kid’s dickingmeover too. The midwife at my appointment said she’s breech, so unless something happens over the next few weeks, I’ll be getting sliced and diced.’
‘Ah, the sunroof isn’t so bad. When you know it’s coming, that is.’ Clara tried to sound reassuring. ‘It’ll be grand.’
‘Clara! You are a terrible liar!’
‘I am,’ she agreed. ‘Sorry. All my births were like faithful remakes ofThe Texas Chain Saw Massacre.’
Annie barked a laugh, then added solemnly, ‘There’s just no easy way to get people out of people. Anyway, with a situation as bonkers as ours, the birth is the least of my problems. Thank God Conor and Rachel are getting on, at least. Rachel made a suggestion but it feels a bitThree Men and a Baby.’
‘Is her suggestion to get Tom Selleck to raise the child? Because I love that.’
‘It’s to semi-live-together for the beginning bit. She says Conor could stay in her studio, you know the little mews out the back of the house, and then he’s on hand and won’t feel like he’s missing stuff.’
Clara nodded. ‘Sounds very … your parents, actually!’
‘Yup,’ Annie agreed. ‘Obviously my mum is very pro.’
‘And Conor?’ Clara tried to imagine the scenario. It worked so well for Shiv and Liam because they were arty types who lived in west Cork. Could Conor cope with such an unorthodox arrangement?
‘He says he wants to do it.’ Annie sipped her coffee. ‘He’s really softened since … everything. He’s making an effort with Rachel. He even agreed not to be weird about her coming with us to the antenatal class. Obviously, everyoneelsein the class was pretty weird about it, lol.’ Annie grinned. ‘He’s also very pro me and Rachel not trying to move right now with all the stress that’d bring. Plus, we weren’t finding anywhere I could imagine us living. I just hope it’s going to be okay …’
‘It’s not. Believe me.’ Clara reached over and petted the bump. ‘You’re gonna screw this baby up no matter what. That’s not up for debate.’
‘Jesus, Clara!’
Clara ignored this. ‘Listen, I know what I’m talking about. I amyearsinto screwing my kids up. I will be your Wrecking Innocent Lives Sherpa! The kid will hate you at different times, they’ll say you’ve traumatised them, blah blah blah.’ She made a yakking motion with her hands, rolling her eyes. ‘Look, if Conor is up for this and Rachel is too then you need to stop worrying about what could go wrong and start gettingexcitedby what could go wrong!’
Annie laughed. ‘You’re such a comfort.’
‘Thank you.’ Clara smiled at her friend. ‘I love you.’
CHAPTER 31
The morning of Dodi and Essie’s birthday party was chilly but bright. Annie stood in front of her mirror draping black dress after black dress over her gargantuan belly, trying to gauge which one had sufficient material to clothe her.
