CHAPTER 1

The sun had managed to break through the early morning cloud. The rays warmed Emily’s face as she looked out the bedroom window. She breathed in deeply, the smell of bacon and eggs filled the air and brought a hint of a smile to her face. Breakfast at Pat’s was something that could always bring a cheer Emily’s soul, reminding her that life could provide glimmers of hope, albeit only glimmers.

Emily tightened the belt around her jeans and leaving Samuel to enjoy his dreams, she made her way down the stairs and into the kitchen. The kitchen, like the rest of the house, had been described by the realtor as ‘bright and of modest proportions. ‘Bloody modest’ Emily had said when she was looking round it for the first time with Pat. The warm honeysuckle painted walls and the light beech floor made the room appear permanently light and bathed in sunshine, but as Emily stood unnoticed at the open the door, she knew it was Pat that added the real warmth. Cupboards and drawers lined two sides of the kitchen along with the sink, oven and washer / dryer. A microwave, toaster and kettle sat on the faux-granite tops and a small rectangular table with three wooden chairs stood against one wall.

Emily picked up the local newspaper from the table and sat in her usual chair. Seeing yesterdays date on the paper quickly brought back the memory of the previous night and the events that had brought her and Samuel to Pat’s house. Emily raised a hand to her bruised and slightly swollen left ear. Part of Emily hated to burden Pat with her worries and woes, but she loved Pat, always had, and she didn’t know what else to do. “I’m sorry Pat, to burden you like this.”

Pat turned and placed a full plate food in front of Emily, “Here you go sweetheart, don’t you worry, you and that wonderful young man of yours could never be burden.” Looking at the dark pink and light purple colourisation around Emily’s ear she added, “I’m not sure I could say same the about your older man though. Where is Joe?”

“He left after the argument, he’ll probably be gone for a day or two.”

“Is Sam still sleeping?” Pat asked.

“He hasn’t had much sleep, poor little poppet.”

“I’ve cooked him some food. I’ll leave it under the grill for when he wakes up. Matt leaves early in the morning so he won’t be needing any. Samuel can have as much as he wants.”

“Matthew’s a good man and a good husband. He loves you and works hard,” Emily said, her voice and thoughts starting to drift. “You’ve never asked why I don’t leave him,” she said.

Emily and Pat had known each other sine they became friends at St. Mary’s catholic school for girls back in Ireland. Pat was the subject of some bullying from the other girls. Pat was shorter and rounder than most of the girls in their grade, she was also quiet and a little shy – apparently sufficient reason for getting pushed around and having her hair pulled and hair grips broken. One morning at school Emily watched as a particularly nasty girl spat in Patricia’s face and pushed her hard against a wall, splitting the skin on the side of her face. They laughed. Emily stepped in and helped Pat to her feet, she then turned and planted a firm fist to the face of the bully. Shocked and hurt the bully ran to tell a teacher that she had been punched. It was at that moment Emily and Pat became friends. Emily got into trouble for punching the girl but as things turned out she was no real stranger to trouble.

Through the girl’s friendship, their parents became close friends. Eventually both families moved to BC, Canada where their labour skills kept them busy and the relaxed, friendly lifestyle suited them. Emily and Pat were thirteen at the time.

Over the years, Pat had been witness to Emily’s many relationships before Emily met and became intent on marrying Joe O’Connor. Although never a fan of Joe, Pat could see Emily was in love with him.

“You love him,” Pat replied.

“Aye, and I’m Catholic. Till death do us part. And he hasn’t killed me yet,” Emily said, managing only half a smile.

Emily browsed the pages of the newspaper. “I going to get a job,” she said.

Pat took a seat at the table. “Is Joe still looking for work?” Normally a question like that might precede an offer of employment or advice on where to look, but in relation to Joe it simply implied that some doubt existed as to whether he was actually still looking for work.

“He says he is, but the money’s getting low. We won’t be able to cover the bills much longer.” But in truth, Emily was determined she would no longer have to depend on her husband. She had given up her job as a Customer Complaints Officer when Samuel was born eight years ago. Her ability to tell people to ‘shut up and stop whining’ when deliveries hadn’t been made on time or where goods had been damaged or were faulty seemed attractive to her employer. She left with a good reference and a good send-off from her colleagues.

Emily was 5ft 8in tall with a slender and almost hour-glass figure. With long dark brown hair, naturally straight, and dark green eyes, she was without doubt attractive and at thirty-seven she could comfortably pass for ten years younger. Her smooth healthy looking skin defied the last several years of torment she had suffered. Emily carried herself with a confident, sassy attitude that served to increase her appeal, at least to certain types of men. Matt has once described her as a ‘bloke’s woman’ – Emily would have a pint when Pat would choose wine. Emily would dance to Elvis, the Bee Gees and Bowie, while Pat would relax with a book listening to Handel, Beethoven and Mahler. Emily would watch baseball and soccer while Pat preferred the Theatre and Opera.

Pat had retained her schoolgirl proportions, still on the short side at 5ft 3in and rounded wholesome figure. Pat had had only one serious relationship with a man she went on to marry at the age of twenty-two. Emily had married after Pat following a string of turbulent relationships. Although in many ways very different, Emily and Pat were closer than any sisters could have been. They had proved inseparable.

“We can lend you some if you need it,” Pat said.

“It’s not that bad, yet. But thank you anyway.” Emily was distracted by the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. She turned to see Samuel standing at the kitchen door, his blond hair ruffled and sticking up, his blue eyes not quite awake. He looked like he’d managed to get a good sleep.

“Auntie Pat, may I have some breakfast” Samuel asked, his politeness always managing to melt Pat’s heart.

“You most certainly can my young prince,” Pat replied, with a wide grin. “A full English for a growing boy, then you need to get those pyjamas off as your coming out with your Mom and I.’

Emily looked quizzically at Pat.

“We’ll pick up some papers and look for some local ads,” Pat revealed, placing another full plate at the table. “Come, sit down. Would you like buttered bread or toast young man?”

“Some toast please Auntie Pat. Could I have them cut into soldiers to dip in my egg?”

“You can. But not too much mess now, I’ve only just cleaned up after your Mother,” Pat joked, with a wink timed to stop the response about to escape from Emily’s open mouth.

Emily continued looking through the paper while Sam finished his brunch. It was when Sam bounded back up the stairs saying ‘Great no school today’ that she remembered she hadn’t told the school. Emily picked up the phone and called ‘Peacocks’. Not for the first time, Emily advised the school that Samuel would not be able to attend today but that she expected him to be there tomorrow. At eleven in the morning, the receptionist had worked out Samuel was unlikely to attend and was familiar enough with Emily and Samuel’s situation to know that it wasn’t Samuel that was the problem.

*  *  *  *

Taking Pat’s small Nissan car they drove out of Hemlock Crescent and its two lines of modest housing, into Hazel Street and onto Nelson Avenue, and headed to the Seven Oaks Mall. Abbotsford is located some twenty miles east of Vancouver and borders Washington State in the US. The area had grown considerably over the twenty or so years that Emily and Pat had lived in British Columbia. Pat had moved to Hemlock Crescent three years ago from Langley, where she had lived very close to Emily’s home. Although she hadn’t heard Emily refer to it as home in a long time, for years it Langley was where the ‘house’ is. Emily had felt a little put out by Pat’s apparent move away though for a change she never said anything. The reality was that Pat had moved some fifteen minutes further away by car and Pat had assumed, correctly as it happened, that it would help ease the growing tension that Joe at least felt toward Pat.

Emily stared out of the window as Pat concentrated on the driving. Emily loved the scenery, as did Pat, the trees, the forestry, the open parks and mountain views, the clean air, and for the most part the clean streets. It reminded them in many ways of Ireland but even more beautiful. Emily often found a place of solace in the parks following arguments with Joe or when her confident façade had simply been eroded to the point where it needed time to be rebuilt. It didn’t seem to matter what she did or how hard she tried, life just seemed to be one long trial, one test after another with little respite in between. She had never been one to back down from a challenge but she wondered how long she could continue getting back to her feet when everything seemed so pointless at times. Listening to Sam in the back seat, she felt sudden sense of guilt. He brought so much light to her otherwise dark world, ensuring he led the best possible life gave her strength and resolve to soldier on. She wiped the tear from her eye before it could escape down her cheek.

The car parked, Samuel jumped out with enthusiasm. Emily had often noted how these simple trips and the time spent with Patricia had such an illuminating effect on Samuel. She wasn’t sure if this was further evidence of Pat’s angelic-like powers or if Samuel’s life was so devoid of any special moments that this was simply as good as it gets.

The Seven Oaks Mall was rarely busy during the week days especially during school term. Pat, Emily and Samuel were able to browse the shops at their leisure making sure to take in stops to pick up Samuel’s favourite sweets and the occasional strawberry milkshake. From the newsagent, Pat picked up a number of the local papers while Emily scanned a section of the wall where local traders and companies had posted vacancies.

For Pat, shopping with Emily was always an experience not because Emily was able to surprise Pat with her choice of clothes or shoes, she couldn’t, but because Emily seemed to find that little bit of mischievous fun just about everywhere they went. Although Pat possessed neither the cheek nor the front to behave like Emily, Emily had a quality Pat admired – naughty but not too naughty. Pat loved her for it. On walking into one fashionable clothes shop Emily had commented quietly to Pat how disgusting the sales assistance’s top was. As they browsed the shop, Emily picked the same top from the rail and holding it up she asked Pat if she liked it. Pat couldn’t stop the smile appearing on her face as Emily shouted, ‘You’re right it’s disgusting!’  Pat would feel herself flush with embarrassment whereas Emily could stand there, brazen, while the jaw on the sales assistant dropped and her colleagues attempted to quash their own laughter.

Once when Pat had persuaded Emily to go with her to hear the Seattle Symphony play exerts from Handel and Mozart, they and a few others sat in their area had become increasingly annoyed with a rather large lady who felt it was ok to hum along to Handel’s ‘For unto us a child is born’. Emily looked over the edge of the circle-stall they were in and taking her shoe off remarked, ‘She may look like Pavarotti but she sure doesn’t sound like him’. A split second after Emily let her shoe fall from the edge, the humming stopped and muffled laughter began. Although sometimes reckless, Emily was not stupid – she made sure she got her shoe back before leaving that night.

Armed with several papers, sweets, and having detoured through a number of clothing shops and shoe boutiques, they headed back to the car. The sun had now given way to clouds although as yet, no rain was falling. They headed back to Pat’s house.

*  *  *  *

Pat started on dinner. Matt would be home soon and no doubt famished from having skipped lunch or simply forgotten about it. Samuel was playing on the lounge floor with a wooden toy train set that Pat would keep for him. Emily sat at the kitchen table and looked through the days papers for employment opportunities.

The pasta was steadily boiling away as Pat searched for some sauce from the cupboard next the washing machine – the source and tin cupboard.

“What about this?” Emily said, with a tinge of excitement in her voice. “Bear Insurance Services are expanding their range of insurance services creating a number of administrative vacancies at our Abbotsford office. Insurance knowledge not essential. Some clerical or administrative experience required. If you are hardworking and want to be part of a winning team send your resume now to Recruitment, Bear Insurance Services, Abbotsford. We could both apply.”

“I’m not looking for a job,” Pat replied.

“I know, but you could still apply. It’d be a real hoot working together and you can always use the extra money.”

“I don’t need the extra money, Emily”

“That’s okay you can give it to me. I’ll have it,” Emily declared, straight faced.

“Em, what if I get a job and you don’t? Then what?” Pat pointed out.

“Then you can tell them you don’t want it. Perhaps they’ll offer it to me. Anyhow, that won’t happen - I’m smarter than you,” Emily said, her head to one side and a tight-lipped smile across her face.

They laughed.

As Pat was serving up the Pasta the doorbell rang. Pat went to the door expecting to greet Matt home from work. Joe stood at the door. Reeking of smoke and alcohol but apparently not drunk, Joe said, “Hi Pat. Sorry to disturb you. Is Emily here?”

“Yeah, hold on, I’ll get her.”

Leaving Joe at the door, Pat returned to the kitchen.

“It’s Joe.”

Emily got up and went to the door. Emily knew not to offend Pat by inviting Joe into her house. Pat wouldn’t say anything of course but that didn’t mean she would be happy about it either. Pat finished serving the pasta.

“We’d better go,” Emily said, returning to the kitchen. She gave Pat a hug and a kiss to the cheek. “I’m sorry. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Emily and Samuel left.

Not for the first time Pat was left with too much food awaiting to be eaten and a lounge needing to be cleared of toys. What Pat didn’t know, is that this was going to be the last time.