Happy Families
“This is your Captain speaking, welcome aboard Flight BA345 to Malaga. We are now cruising at 50,000 feet and the outside temperature is minus 40 degrees. Our estimated time of arrival is 12.08 . . .”
It seemed a lifetime since the passengers in seats 1A, B and C had last heard that announcement and how their lives had changed in the past year. For starters, Erin had no fears that her father would storm the plane and demand she return home. No, that fear was gone; mainly because she and Paddy were, again, not on speaking terms. He was furious that not only was she taking his six-month-old grandchild out of the country, but that she was also entering that den of vipers.
His parting shot that morning as she left for the airport had been, “Don’t coming running to me when this all goes tits up. You’ve made your bed, lady. Shame you’ve already lain in it.”
“Oh, piss off, Dad, and give it a rest. I’m only going for a couple of weeks and it’s only fair they should get to know the baby. Whether you like it or not he is as much a McClelland as he is a Coyle.”
The door slamming shook the whole house.
As usual her mother didn’t say a word, but as Erin knew, she ruled the roost and would calm her dad down before the plane had even left the tarmac.
“God, I can’t believe we’re on our way back,” said her companion nervously. “Are you sure you’re doing the right thing?”
“It’s a bit late now, we can hardly get off at the next stop,” Erin laughed. “Look, if it all goes belly up, we take the next flight home, it’s that simple.”
Carol wasn’t quite so confident about their reception in Spain, but once again she was there to cover Erin’s back and give her moral support. Whatever happened, she reasoned, it couldn’t top their last visit: murder, kidnapping and fleeing the country. Not exactly a Thomson’s week in the sun.
“Hey, listen, I’m not taking shit from either of them, especially the mother. She insists she wants to get to know her grandson, so she better play ball with me. This time I’m calling the shots.”
“I’m not so sure. Do you think Bobby will be okay? Remember, he’s back on his own turf and you don’t have the infamous Paddy Coyle standing right behind you.”
“No, but Paddy Coyle is only three hours away and Bobby knows that.”
“True, but you better not let the boyo find out that Daddy’s in the cream puff with you.”
“Don’t worry, my dad will be fine. A few days without seeing his precious grandson will soon have him begging for forgiveness. Anyway, Mum won’t let it go on, not after the last time.”
“What sort of reception can we expect? Do they know we’re arriving today?” Carol asked her.
“No, they know I’m coming sometime this week, but not exactly when. It sounds a bit batty, but I wanted to be in control from the start, so we’ll get the kids settled and have a bit of us-time before entering the lion’s den.”
“Don’t say things like that,” shivered Carol. “I can’t stop thinking about the last trip.”
“Me too, but remember, neither Bobby nor his mother had anything to do with what went on before.”
“I’m not so sure. I wouldn’t trust either of them as far as I could throw them.”
“That’s one of the reasons I’ve kept it low-key. They’ll only know we’re here when I choose to tell them. Stop worrying, we’ll have a nice couple of days, top up the tan, and then . . .”
Just at that precise moment, a stewardess approached the pair, carrying an ice bucket containing a bottle of champagne.
“Miss Coyle?”
“Yes,” answered Erin.
“Compliments of Mr Bobby Mack.”
The woman expertly opened the bottle, poured out two glasses and handed them to the surprised passengers.
“They don’t know when we’re arriving? Don’t know what flight we’re on?” Carol sneered.
“What can I say?” a dumbstruck Erin replied.
“And you think you’re in control? It’s you calling the shots? Oh, it looks like it. And what does the card say?” Carol grabbed the small note before her friend could.
“Can’t wait to see you. Meet you at three, everything taken care of. Love, Bobby.” Well, so much for the ‘us-time’,” Carol laughed. “Seriously, you need to be very careful, this guy has a lot of pull here. I just don’t trust him at all.”
Despite her friend’s warning, Erin was secretly delighted. There was no way she was going to fall for him the way she had before, but he was the father of her baby and of course she had ‘happily-ever-after dreams’, but she wouldn’t be taken in a second time – she had her son to consider.