The five young women had gathered in a small restaurant on the outskirts of Dublin. They had been friends for a few years now. They shared many laughs and tears together. They all had one thing in common. Their boyfriends or husband were famous. Helen raised her glass. ‘I would like to propose a toast.’ The others raised their glasses too. ‘Here’s to Yvonne who is putting up with Ronan for three years now.’ ‘Cheers.’ They all sipped from their champagne. ‘And a toast to Nicola, who just graduated from college. I still have no clue what she studied all those years but welcome to the real world.’ Everyone started laughing. ‘It’s my turn now.’ Yvonne raised her glass. ‘A toast to Georgina. A new job, a new house. What will be next?’ ‘Cheers.’ Georgina raised her glass. ‘A massive toast to Jaclyn. We missed you last year but it’s good to see you are back with the gang.’ ‘Cheers.’ Jaclyn raised her glass with a sly smile on her face. ‘I would like to toast to Helen. I hereby forbid you to go on holiday without us ever again.’ Everyone looked a little confused. ‘I demand another wedding here in Ireland.’ Several jaws dropped on the table. Helen started to blush and showed her wedding ring. ‘How did you know?’ ‘I heard Mark tell Kian on the phone a few days ago. You did a pretty good job keeping it a secret.’ Helen raised her glass. ‘To all of us.’ ‘To all of us.’ They said in unison. They admired the wedding ring and Helen told them about the small wedding Mark and she had on the Virgin Islands. ‘It was a surprise for me too. Suddenly he stood there with beautiful flowers. And he asked me to marry him. Several hours later I was a married woman.’ ‘So who will marry next?’ Yvonne said before she started to eat her pasta. ‘I think Nicky is about to ask me.’ Georgina said. ‘He’s been acting a little weird. He went shopping without me.’ Nicola studied Jaclyn’s face for a second. ‘When will you and Kian get married. You moved in together after five months. It’s been a while now.’ Jaclyn started laughing. ‘No wedding bells for me.’ ‘Kian better be quick.’ Said Yvonne. ‘I heard Shane dumped Kelsey and is very determined to find a new girl.’ Jaclyn narrowed her eyes. ‘He dumped Kelsey?’ Her voice sounded funny. Yvonne nodded. ‘Yep, she is a goner.’

She now knew who Kelsey was. She was the oldest sister of one of her babysitters. She had started to like Kelsey. They would never be friends but still Jaclyn felt sorry for her. Shane had obviously used her. ‘Why did he do that?’ Yvonne sighed. ‘According to Shane Gwen can’t handle two woman that try to mother over her.’ Jaclyn’s eyes grew big. ‘I mother over Gwendolyn?’ She shook her head. ‘Shane Filan needs to get his fact straight.’ Nic started cheering. ‘Teach the boy.’ Jaclyn started laughing. ‘Why do I get the feeling I’m missing out on something here?’ Nic shrugged. ‘It’s just that dear old Shane is a bit of a little kid. He had a toy, no offence here, and didn’t want it anymore. Now someone else found the toy and is playing with it. But Shane still thinks the toy is his.’ Jaclyn blinked a few times. ‘Nice to know you compare with a toy.’ She said with a smile on her face. Suddenly she turned serious. ‘Maybe the toy still likes the old owner.’ The table grew silent. ‘You mean you still like Shane?’ Asked Helen. ‘I don’t know. When I see him with Gwen my heart almost bursts. But when I see him act so cold towards Kian my head tells me he is a bastard.’ Jaclyn looked at them with despair in her eyes. ‘What am I going to do? I love Kian I do. But Shane and I have a child together. That’s something you can’t easily forget.’ No one answered. Finally Yvonne said: ‘A child is all you and Shane have together. You have Kian’s heart. Treasure it. Make him happy.’ Jaclyn knew Yvonne was right but her heart didn’t seem to think so. She wanted to make Kian happy and forget about Shane. But life didn’t always go the way you planned it.