Two Days in Biarritz (33 page)

“That would be fine,” she replied. Anxious not to sound too excited with the call and painfully aware of Damien’s dark brown eyes trying desperately not to look at her.

“Sorry for disturbing you,”
Gary said politely.

“Not at all.” Annabel switched off her phone. “I’m sorry about that, Damien.”

“Don’t mind me, Annabel,” he said lowering his head into the menu. “So what are you having?”

“The
Dublin Bay prawns look good for starters,” she paused for a second and tilted her head slightly. “Then the grouper maybe for my main course.”

“Good choice. One of my favourite fish grouper,” Damien agreed. “So have you been thinking about what’s going to be on the menu in our new business venture?”

Annabel smiled. The prospect of having a business grew more appealing with each day that passed.

“I have actually,” she smiled. “I was hoping you were still serious – that it wasn’t all a dream.”

“I’ve never been more serious.”

“Well my solicitor thinks it’s a great idea providing I don’t start before I get an agreement with Colin.”

“It will be six months at the earliest.”

The waiter returned with the wine, popping the cork in front of them. Damien tasted it and nodded in approval. Annabel’s glass was filled and then they ordered.

“Sounds too good to be true Damien.” Annabel said shyly. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Don’t thank me – you’re doing me the favour. I’m very keen to start a new business that will be run by someone else.”

“Well, it’s perfect timing for me.”

Damien raised his glass. “Here’s to a good working relationship.”

Annabel lifted her glass and clinked off his.

“To a good working relationship.”

They dined in relaxed enjoyment and neither wanted their time together to end. Every time Annabel saw Damien’s eyes on her she pinched herself and remembered Betty and Kate which brought her back to reality. She was in a vulnerable position at the moment and she mustn’t go reading too much into the evening. This was a working relationship they were forging together.

A whole new world was opening up for her. If she had been told a few months earlier that she would be rung by a stranger and going into business with Damien Carlton she wouldn’t have believed it. She was deliriously happy and confident with the changes that had taken place since she had turned forty.

At the end of the evening Damien asked for the bill.

“I’ve had a great time, Annabel.”

“Me too, Damien,” Annabel smiled. “We’ll have to do it again before we start our new business.”

Damien smiled. The prospect of spending more time with Annabel appealed to him greatly. He was feeling very old since losing his wife and nothing but empty nights loomed ahead – until tonight.

“I’m calling a taxi, can I give you a lift?” Damien asked.

“It’s okay, thanks Damien. I brought my jeep actually but I think I’m over the limit. I wouldn’t mind the walk up the hill, to be honest, to work that delicious dessert off.”

She had to behave appropriately in Betty’s memory and she didn’t want to be led into temptation.

“It’s a nice bright evening, I’d like a walk myself.” He saw the reservation in Annabel’s eyes and decided not to push the idea. It was too soon after Betty’s death for him as well to be taking romantic walks down Howth pier. Even this evening was pushing the limits of appropriate behaviour so soon after becoming a widower. At least he had the excuse of a business arrangement. He could tell himself that as he gazed longingly over at the woman who he had made love to so passionately so long ago.

He called for the bill.

“Could you get me a cab please?”

“Of course, Sir,” the waiter replied as he handed the bill to Damien.

Annabel waited downstairs with Damien until the taxi arrived.

“Thanks for a lovely evening,” she said – leaning forward to give him a kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you, Annabel. You’re great company.”

“Talk soon then?”

“Talk soon,” he said with a nod. He stepped into the black Mercedes and watched her walk along the pier as the car drove away. She was so beautiful. He felt young and full of life again being with her.

The taxi brought him to Greenfield Close. As it stopped in front of the drive Damien paused. He didn’t want to go in.

“This  okay for you mate?” the driver asked.

“Yes, thanks. How much do I owe you?”

He paid the driver his dues and walked slowly up the drive. This house was too big and carried too many memories. He missed Betty’s constant droning. He knew he couldn’t stay in it much longer. The Oaks in Howth were almost finished and there was a two-bedroom apartment left with breathtaking view. He turned the key in the door and made the decision there and then that he was moving. He’d be closer to Annabel living in Howth. There’s no fool like an old fool, he berated himself.
Why would she be interested in you?
He went into the lonely kitchen and put on the kettle to make a cup of tea. He wished he could turn back the clock, but even if he could, he had to ask himself would he! He knew the answer was no. He had done what was best for him and for Annabel and Kate twenty-years ago.

* * *

Kate woke with the most shattering pain shooting through her stomach. She looked at the clock beside the bed and saw that it was only three o’clock. She had a long day helping the boys move their belongings around the bedrooms. They decided that they didn’t want to sleep together anymore and even though Kate needed the spare room for the baby she didn’t want to tell them about it yet. The boys deserved some quality time with her all to themselves.

The pain wasn’t abating and after five minutes she tried to stand up. She couldn’t straighten her back and she felt like something was going to fall out between her legs. Suddenly a wet patch started to seep through her pyjamas and run down her right leg. The liquid was red and she recognised instantly what was happening to her. She
fell back into bed but the pain wasn’t letting up and cramping spasms were coming fast and furious. She needed help. She didn’t want to alarm the boys but she couldn’t do this alone.

“David, Ciaran,” she shouted.
She felt so helpless. Again, she called out, much louder this time, and knocked on the wooden headboard behind her. This time she heard a muffled response. “David, come here, darling!”

David strolled sleepily into the bedroom. “What time is it?” he asked – still disoriented.

“Late,” Kate answered breathlessly. “Could you please get Fabian for me? His number is in the little red book beside the phone in the kitchen. Tell him to come over at once.”

“What’s wrong with you?” David asked, alarmed.

“
Vite
, darling, I need you to get Fabian. I am not well – please,” she begged.

Shock and horror crept over the young lad’s face as he watched his mother toss and turn in the bed. After she pointed, speechless, to the door he turned on his heels and fled down the stairs.

The pain was excruciating now and Kate didn’t know how long she would last before passing out. She tried to compose herself as she heard David running back up the stairs.

“He’s coming,” the young boy said shakily. “What’s happening to you, Maman?”

“I’ll be fine.”

Kate’s face was now a greyish-white and she knew that David would be starting to panic. “Can you wake Ciaran up and both get – ahhh!” she screamed as another swift pain hit her.

“Get dressed, love, both of you!”

David walked out of the room backwards, shaken and bewildered.

She was losing blood constantly and she prayed that Fabian would waste no time.

Quite soon a loud banging came from the front door.

“Let him in boys,” Kate called. She could hear David open the front door and Fabian rush up the stairs.

“Kate,
chérie
!” He understood the situation in a glance. He sat on the edge of the bed and leaned in to wipe her forehead. “You have to go to the hospital. Let me call an ambulance. The boys can go to Joy – I have already called her.”

“I can’t move, Fabian. Don’t make me move.”

The front door opened and they heard someone running up the stairs. A tall skinny woman in a grey tracksuit burst into the room. 

“Kate, hold on!” said Joy. “I’ll call an ambulance. I’ll take the boys into my house.”

Joy went into the bedroom and dialled emergency. The twins were standing close to each other on the landing, peering into the room, frightened and scared by whatever was happening to their mother.

“Go with Joy, boys,” Kate panted. “I’ll be okay.”

The twins silently did as their mother asked. She didn’t want to go to a hospital but knew that Joy was doing the right thing. Fabian knelt down by her side and took her hand in his. He arched his eyebrows. “You okay?”

Kate nodded silently. The pain was numbing and she braced herself as another wave etched its way up her spine. Her head was becoming drowsy and weak.

“Hold on a little bit more,” Fabian said with a squeeze of her hand.

A few seconds later the paramedics were at the door of the cottage. Fabian felt a wave of relief as he saw their bright yellow jackets run up the stairs.

“What is her name?” A small woman with curly red-hair asked Fabian.

“Kate, Kate Cassaux.”

“Kate, can you move?” she asked gently.

Kate raised her head slowly. Then everything went black.

* * *

Shane couldn’t sleep. He tossed and turned in the hotel bed. Thankfully the Oaks would be ready soon and he’d have his own place to go home to after an overnight. He needed his own space. Sweat was dripping from his brow, as if he had worked out for several hours. He couldn’t understand why he felt the way he did. He wanted to be sick, he wanted to cry. The physical symptoms of some sort of delirium had a hold on him and he wanted to scream. Every now and again a picture of Kate flashed before him and made him feel even worse. He had to get her out of his head. He had to do something or he was going to go mad.

* * *

Annabel woke stretched her arms above her head. She had spent a glorious evening with Damien and she felt as if the best part of her life was ahead of her. She was in her own private dream world when
Taylor came running into the bedroom.

“Rebecca wet the bed again last night and Granny had to get up and change it.”

Annabel knew it was all too good to be true. There was a price to pay for her newfound freedom. She felt deflated. Nothing in life worth having comes easily she thought.

“Where’s Sam?”

“Gone to George’s house.”

“At this time?” Annabel shrieked,

“It’s eleven o’clock and you’ve to bring me to horse-riding.”

Annabel sat up in the bed. She hadn’t slept this late since before the children were born.“I’ll be ready in two minutes. Is Rebecca with Granny?”

“They’re downstairs having breakfast.”

Annabel jumped out of bed and stepped into the shower. The water was cool and soothing and washed away the thoughts of Colin that crept into her head every now and again. She felt responsible for Rebecca wetting the bed. Maybe she was too harsh on Colin. The kids were reacting very badly to the split. Her emotions were changing from minute to minute. She grabbed a fluffy white towel and dried herself off.

“Annabel, are you up?” Lily called.

“Yes, Mum, I’m just out of the shower.”

“I have to go to Cecilia’s – I’ll be back later.”

“Thanks, Mum,” Annabel called as her mother pulled the door behind her and set off for her friend’s house. “Rebecca, get ready for tap dancing.”

She hurriedly dried herself. Soon she would be free for a couple of hours and a brisk walk down the pier appealed to her greatly. She pulled on a pair of shorts and T-shirt and slipped her mules onto her feet. Then she ran down to the kitchen and unpeeled a banana. She wasn’t hungry after the wonderful meal that she had enjoyed the night before but felt she had to eat something.

“Are you ready girls?” she asked her daughters, who were beautifully, if a little haphazardly, turned out. They walked out of the house but her car was gone. She suddenly remembered that she had left her jeep outside Aqua the night before when her mother returned up the drive.

“I just realised, you had no car,” she said through the open window of her Polo. “Jump in.”

“You’re a star Mum,” Annabel sighed. “Thanks a million.”

“Are you alright now, Rebecca love?” Lily asked as they drove off.

Annabel frowned. She wondered if her mother was playing a game with her children’s emotions to try and get her to go back to Colin. Had she no pride for her daughter? Did she really think that having a wealthy husband was the be all and end all? She decided it was best not to indulge her mother and got out of the car without saying anything.