Read Online Pieces of My Heart by Sinéad Moriarty - Free Book Online Page B

of her bra. She was absolutely legless and it wasn’t a pretty sight.
    Paul guided her to a chair. ‘Can I get you a drink or some coffee?’ he asked.
    Charlie stepped in, grabbed her by the hand and hoisted her back up. ‘She’s had enough drink. I just forked out for a bottle of wine that cost thirty-five euros. I didn’t think I was going to have to take out a bank loan to get laid. Come on, Lily, the bedroom’s this way.’
    I looked at Paul. ‘Should I stop them?’
    ‘He’s sixty-eight.’
    ‘But she’s a total stranger. What if she gives him a disease or robs him or something? I’ll have to give him protection. Get me some of your condoms.’
    And so it was that a forty-two-year-old mother of two found herself knocking on her father’s bedroom door at midnight.
    ‘I’m busy,’ he roared.
    ‘Charlie! Open the bloody door.’
    ‘What?’ A grumpy red face appeared.
    ‘Here.’
    ‘What’s this?’
    ‘It’s a condom.’
    ‘Lily might be a bit old to bear me children, Ava.’
    ‘It’s to protect you from other things,’ I whispered.
    ‘Like what?’
    ‘ Venereal disease ,’ I hissed, pushing the condom into his hand.
    ‘Have you only one?’ he asked.
    ‘Jesus, Charlie.’
    ‘I’ve taken some of that Viagra so I’m feeling good.’
    ‘For goodness’ sake,’ I muttered, as I stomped down the corridor to get my father some more condoms.
    I knocked on the door again. This time he opened it immediately.
    ‘Here you go,’ I said, handing him the box.
    ‘I’d put ear-plugs in if I was you.’ He grinned. ‘I think Lily might be a screamer.’

9
    Over coffee in the office Sally asked me how Ali was coping with her new single status.
    ‘She’s very subdued. I wish I knew what to say to make her feel better. I keep telling her she’s gorgeous and there are lots of fish in the sea.’
    ‘STOP! Don’t say another word. That’s the kind of stuff my mother is still saying to me and, believe me, it does not make me feel better. You mothers need to come up with some new material.’
    ‘Like what?’
    ‘I suppose telling her that copious amounts of alcohol help numb the pain is out of the question?’
    ‘It most certainly is.’
    ‘Honestly, there’s nothing you can say. Some other drama is bound to happen in school and everyone will forget about it, although Ali never will. I still cringe when I think of Rozzer Dickson asking me to his end-of-school dance and standing me up. I waited for two hours, looking out the window in my midnight-blue satin meringue dress, while my parents kept trying to make up excuses as to why Rozzer was late. The best was when Mum suggested that maybe he’d tripped up on the way over, got concussed and was suffering from amnesia. At which point Dad muttered that if Rozzer ever darkened our door he’d know all about amnesia. I didn’t leave the house for two weeks.’
    ‘Oh, Sally, that’s terrible.’
    ‘It’s probably the reason I’m still single. I wonder if you can sue someone for standing you up at seventeen thereby ruining your chances of getting married?’
    ‘Do you think it’ll take her ages to get over it?’
    ‘Who knows? She seemed really into him. It’s a hard knock.’
    ‘According to Sarah, David’s now in a “super-intense” relationship with Tracy. I don’t know if that’ll help Ali get over him faster or make it worse.’
    ‘Worse, believe me. How’s Sarah faring in her new romance?’
    ‘You know Sarah – her relationships are always completely over the top. Bobby is in our house all the time and they’re permanently wrapped around each other. I’m sure it’s not easy on Ali.’
    ‘What’s Bobby like?’
    ‘He seems nice enough. Paul’s not keen on him because he talks like Sarah – in that California-airhead way – and he dyes his hair, which Paul thinks is very gay.’
    ‘What I don’t understand about teenage boys dyeing their hair is that they do it so badly. It looks orange. Why don’t they get it done