Finishing Touches Read Free Page B

had been spoilt rotten. She had been Nora’s pet. But those days were gone and she had to depend on herself. Well, she had the condo, but that wasn’t home – not really. She wished
she were more like her sister Cassie, strong and independent. Imagine being thirty-six and not even married! And not worried about it either! Imagine setting up your own business, working fourteen
hours a day! If only Irene could be like her, she’d have no problems. Well, she wasn’t, and that was that. There was only one Cassie in the world.
    Should she go to the official opening of Finishing Touches ? Irene sighed, lighting up another cigarette and getting a split of champagne from the fridge. She supposed she
should. Cassie had always been kind to her and only Cassie knew her awful secret. She didn’t know what to do; she was far too upset over Dean to make a decision about going anywhere. To think
she had wasted four good years on him, when she could have been playing the field. But she’d been so sure he would marry her when he was free. Well, it wasn’t over until it was over;
she could still hope that he would pop the question. In the meantime, she could be on the look-out; after all, she was very attractive and men were always coming on to her. The Senator was forever
having to remind them that she was his lady. No more! If someone with prospects came along, Senator Dean Madigan could either marry her or go take a running jump. Defiantly, she rang up Dorothy and
told her to round up a few eligibles for the weekend. Irene Jordan was on the hunt again, Washington watch out! In the meantime, she would enquire about a seat on Concorde. Dean was so rich he
could hardly quibble about the price of a little old ticket – and if he did, tough. Irene had just about had enough. The Senator would soon find out that he couldn’t take her for
granted any longer! Cassie sure as hell wouldn’t put up with being treated like a doormat. From now on, neither would Irene!

The Friends
    Think where man’s glory most begins and ends,
    And say my glory was I had such friends.
    WB Yeats
    Aileen O’Shaughnessy wiped a bead of perspiration from her brow as she waited for the director to yell cut so that she could rush on set to powder the leading man’s
face before shooting resumed. Algiers was the hottest location of the many she had worked on since taking up her career in the film world. It was a move she had never regretted.
    Right now, though, she felt she wouldn’t be a bit sorry to get back to the studio in London. Filming was due to end in two days’ time, all going well and if the director didn’t
have a nervous breakdown – which was becoming more of a possibility every minute.
    Still, her tan was coming along very nicely, she observed with satisfaction. Barbara would be envious. She wondered if Babs would come to Cassie’s bash. Cassie had written to tell her that
she had invited Barbara and the rest of the family. Frankly, Aileen thought she was mad! Aileen didn’t believe in forgive and forget, well, not with someone like Barbara. If Judy, her sister,
had behaved to Aileen as Barbara had behaved to Cassie, she would never have anything to do with her again. In fact she’d be lucky to be alive! Aileen was a redhead and had a temper to match.
It came in handy on occasions! Cassie could do with having more of a temper; her trouble was she was far too soft.
    Aileen fanned herself in the intense heat. She was dying to get home for a few days. Not dying to see her
mother
, exactly. Angela O’Shaughnessy would whine and moan but Aileen had
learnt not to take any notice. No, Aileen was dying to see Cassie and Laura. She had a little surprise for them. Aileen grinned, imagining their reaction to her news.
    The three of them had been friends since their schooldays and had no secrets from one another. How enriched her life had been by such friendships. There was Barbara alienated from her sister by
pettiness and envy. She