Stand by Me by Sheila O'Flanagan Read Free Book Online

problem about getting a taxi tonight. She was wearing a lightweight pale pink sleeveless dress with a narrow silver belt, as well as high-heeled pink shoes that she’d bought only that day and which were already pinching her toes because they were a half-size too small. Evelyn had told her before Brendan arrived that the shoes were too high and the dress was too flimsy - and that the neckline was far too low - but Dominique had ignored her. She’d also ignored her mother’s complaint that the white jacket she was wearing with it was totally unsuitable for the weather and wouldn’t keep out the cold and that her chunky white earrings and necklace were tarty.
     
    ‘In fact, we’d better go now,’ said Brendan. He drained his cup in one large gulp. ‘Lovely to meet you, Mr and Mrs Brady.’
     
    ‘Aren’t you going to have a custard cream?’ Evelyn picked up the plate and offered them to him.
     
    ‘There’s food at the party,’ said Brendan. ‘We’re grand, thanks, Mrs Brady. Come on, Domino, time to go.’
     
    ‘Domino?’ Evelyn frowned.
     
    ‘My pet name for her,’ said Brendan easily, taking Dominique by the hand. ‘Thanks again.’
     
    He hustled Dominique out of the room and out of the house. They were on the pavement outside before she looked at him contritely.
     
    ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘They—’
     
    ‘Don’t you worry,’ he told her. ‘They’re concerned about you. Like all parents. It’s fine.’ He put his arm around her and drew her closer to him. Dominique released a sigh of relief. He was holding her tightly. Despite having met her parents. He must really and truly love her.
     
    And she really and truly loved him too.
     
     
    ‘Well, what did you think?’ asked Evelyn Brady as she cleared away the tea and the uneaten custard creams.
     
    ‘He’s harmless enough, I suppose,’ said Seamus. ‘He’s a builder.’
     
    Evelyn sniffed. ‘Not much money there,’ she said. ‘Very precarious kind of living.’
     
    ‘I think he cares for her, though.’
     
    ‘Cares for her? Not loves her?’
     
    ‘I don’t suppose he’d tell me that,’ said Seamus. ‘But they haven’t been going out together that long, so ...’
     
    ‘I think he’s trouble.’ Evelyn frowned.
     
    ‘Why?’
     
    ‘Twenty-eight, Seamus. He’s at a different place in his life to her.’
     
    ‘Maybe he’ll be a steadying sort of fellow,’ said Seamus.
     
    ‘And maybe he’ll just use her. He calls her Domino.’
     
    ‘That’s hardly a reason to dislike him.’
     
    Evelyn frowned again. ‘It shows a lack of respect. Though how she expects to get respect when she dresses like she’s done tonight, I’ll never know.’
     
    ‘Evelyn . . .’
     
    ‘ And she loves him too much.’ Evelyn picked up the tray and walked into the kitchen, Seamus following her. ‘She loves him too much and he doesn’t care enough, and that’s always a bad thing.’
     
     
    The party was in a community hall near the Nangor Road. The hall had been decorated with banners and balloons all wishing a Happy 21st to Peadar, who worked with Brendan on the office block site.
     
    ‘He’s a great man, is Peadar,’ Brendan said as they went up and wished him all the best. ‘The hardest worker of us all.’
     
    ‘Yeah, right.’ Peadar grinned. ‘I cover his lazy ass.’
     
    Brendan slapped Peadar on the back and both of them laughed while Dominique looked around her tentatively. She didn’t know anyone and was feeling suddenly insecure about being here with Brendan among his friends.
     
    ‘Come on, pet.’ He grabbed her by the hand. ‘Let’s get some drinks. We’re having a double celebration tonight.’
     
    ‘Oh?’ she asked.
     
    ‘Today I set up Delahaye Construction and I got my first job – a house extension on Donard Road.’ Donard Road wasn’t all that far from Dominique’s house, and she smiled at the idea of being able to see him when he was working.
     
    ‘That’s