Two Days in Biarritz (38 page)

The boys were thriving in St Pauls school and D
avid was showing signs of becoming an excellent rugby player. Ciaran had already made a connection with the music teacher who was willing to give him extra guitar lessons and they had an abundance of new pals who lived in the vicinity of Greenfield Close.

The only negative was the loss of Fabian’s presence in her life. He assured her that he would visit her in
Ireland and take care of the new tenants in her house. But she knew she couldn’t find someone like him again. If only she had Annabel. Then everything would be perfect. She found it difficult to remember her sometimes. Maybe she could try to call her again.

The decorators were tidying up and getting ready to leave as the removal men started bringing in the crates and containers. Greenfield Close had a major facelift, courtesy of Kate’s love of flamboyant colours.

Kate wanted to tackle the kitchen next but decided to leave it until the baby was a little bit older. He or she would be wreaking havoc on walls and presses for the next couple of years. The back bedroom was already converted into a makeshift studio and she had plans to convert the attic in the next few weeks. That would be her bedroom and she would have lots of space. She would be able to see the mountains overlooking Dublin Bay when the skylights were put in – that was some compensation for the loss of her spectacular view in France. She went up to her bedroom for a quick lie down.

She could hear Damien’s voice downstairs as he ordered the removal men around the ground floor. She needed a man. Her father had been wonderful but she missed having a man to take care of her and all the jobs that men do in a relationship – like dealing with the removal men.

She sighed as she thought of Shane. She often thought of him. Everyday without fail she had her Shane moments. She didn’t see it as wasted time anymore. It was her treat to herself and she could rest assured that she had done the right thing, but if it was the right thing, why did she feel so bad?

She looked over at the bedside locker and the phone resting on it. It was the same locker as her mother had used in her last days. She missed her mum. She wished she had known her better. She wondered how well she knew anyone if the person closest to her had lived a secret life for so long. Now she was gone and she would never get a chance to talk to her about it. She didn’t want that to happen with herself and Annabel.

* * *

Annabel owed it to Sam to try and work
out an amicable arrangement with Colin. She had suggested that they met with their solicitors present but Colin had surprised her with his desire to work things out maturely. She hoped that he was serious. The docklands were a pleasant meeting place and the restaurant that Colin chose had fabulous views across the River Liffey. The super-slim waitress rushed over with a carafe of chilled water with some sprigs of mint sticking out of it.

“Would-ah you like-ah to order?” she asked. Her Italian accent was pronounced.

“I’m waiting for someone, thanks!” Annabel said, nodding approval as the girl filled her glass.

In the distance she spied Colin in a navy Hugo Boss suit. There was something more sharp and attractive in his swagger now than when he used to walk into the hall of their house after a day’s work.

“Hi,” he beamed as he pulled back the seat.

“Hi, this is a nice place,” Annabel said, aiming to be positive about this morning.

“I sometimes take clients here if Guillbaud’s is booked.” Colin started. “I hope we can move things forward today.”

Annabel felt as though she were a member of his staff about to get the sack if they didn’t agree with the boss’s proposal.

“What are you suggesting?” she took a sip of water from her glass to take away the dryness that was creeping around her mouth.

“I have a proposal that may suit everyone.”

His cheeky grin made Annabel wonder just how off the mark he could possibly be.

“Why don’t I move back home and sleep in the spare room?” Colin could see the look of defiance on Annabel’s face. “Let me finish before you say anything. I would not make any pretence that we are man and wife but the children would have the stability of both parents present in the day-to-day running of things.”

Annabel shook her head. “Colin do you think that I went into our situation lightly? I have been unhappy with myself and our lifestyle for years. If truth be told I can’t honestly say I have ever been happy.”

Colin rubbed his crinkling forehead. “Annabel, I don’t mean to belittle your status or anything but things have not been very comfortable for you. Simon has filled me in on your falling out with Melissa and the other wives that you used to socialise with.

Annabel couldn’t believe he could be so pompous and arrogant. She had hoped that the time on his own might have changed him.

“Then there is the matter of Sam, which is the real reason why I have come up with this suggestion. We owe it to our son to offer him stability.”

Annabel couldn’t disagree with Colin on this issue. Sam was in a state of anxiety and his moods were so fragile he was in serious danger of doing something stupid or dangerous or both. “I couldn’t agree with you more, but will it help Sam if we are snappy with each other and he continues to see you putting me down the way you always have?”

“I don’t put you down!” Colin jerked his head back in surprise.

Annabel tried to remain calm. “But you do, Colin – all the time. In fact I don’t think you even realise when you do it.”

“Well, you’ve been rather forthright yourself recently, Annabel.”

Annabel put her head into her hands, combing her fingers through her hair before facing Colin again.

“You see, this is what I’m talking about. You don’t treat me as an equal partner. I am and always have been the inferior, incapable half of this relationship to you – suitable only for breeding and rearing the children.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“What about the first time I go and do anything for myself – like the market stall? How did you react?”

Colin sat silently.

“So, you see what I mean!” Annabel’s eyebrows arched in anticipation of his next outburst.

“Well,” Colin mumbled. “I suppose you could keep the stall…”

Annabel thought about
Gary. There was no way that she could carry on a relationship with another man if her husband was back living under the same roof. Gary was such a support and so different to Colin – she relished all the loving that she had been sharing with a new man in her life.

“We need to get on with each other before we can think about living
together again. I’ve considered counselling and I think you should too.”

Colin frowned at her suggestion. The last person he needed to see was a shrink.

“Are you-ah ready to order?” the waitress said, appearing out of nowhere.

“
Dublin Bay Prawns, please.” Annabel said, looking up at the waitress.

“I’ll have the same,” Colin grunted, anxious for the girl to disappear.

“Any wine?”

“No, thank you,” Colin shook his head sharply.

He let out a deep breath as the waitress swaggered off. Life had been uncomfortable living in the hotel and the thought of moving all of his stuff to an apartment in Howth was less appealing. He needed to be at home where he belonged. If only he hadn’t let that dreadful girl Rosa into his house.

Annabel wished she was sitting next to Gary and not Colin. They ate their prawns silently.

“I’ve to go back to work now,” said Colin.

“Okay?”

“It’s a shame we haven’t moved forward.”

Annabel nodded.

“You will think about my offer, though?” he said, pulling his jacket on and straightening down the collar.

Annabel nodded again. It was the easiest response.

“I’ll pay for this on the way out,” he said.

As he disappeared through the glass-fronted building she heaved a sigh of relief. The pressure that she felt in his presence was unnatural in a couple who had been together for so many years. How different that lunch was from the pleasant meal that she had shared with Damien in Aqua. She wondered where Damien was now. It was time that she told him she wasn’t taking the coffee shop. There was no way that she had the strength to deal with a new venture with all the unc
ertainty in her life. Now was a good time to speak to him. She dialled Damien’s number.

“Hello?” he answered immediately.

“Damien, I got you at last, it’s Annabel.”

“Annabel, hi! I’ve been trying to get you for weeks.”

“I’m sorry, Damien. I really should have left you a message. I was unsure of my decision until now.”

She didn’t need to say any more. He could tell her decision from the tone in her voice.

“I don’t feel this is a good time for trying a new venture,” she went on. “I’m swamped with the kids and can barely manage the stall, let alone a fledgling business.”

“I understand, Annabel. There’s no need to explain. I have tried to call you but I was too cowardly to leave a message on your voicemail.”

Annabel couldn’t envisage Damien being cowardly about anything in his life – and why would he need courage to ring her anyway?

“I’ve been really busy with Kate’s move.”

“Kate’s what?” Annabel wasn’t sure that she had heard him correctly.

“Kate has moved back to Greenfield Close.”

“I don’t believe you!”

“Hopefully you’ll get in touch before you bump into each other because it’s going to happen –
Dublin’s too small.”

Annabel was stunned. What fantastic news! “I will definitely ring her. So she’s living with you?”

“No, eh,” Damien felt embarrassed telling Annabel as she was part of the reason behind his decision to move. “I’m moving out to the new apartments I’ve just finished in Howth.”

“You’ll be only down the road from me! Oh, Damien, we’ll be neighbours.”

If only you knew
, Damien thought silently. “Well thanks for letting me know, Annabel and I’m sure I’ll see you in Howth sometime.”

“Bye, Damien.”

That was an interesting twist. The time was well overdue for her and Kate to make amends. She beamed at the Italian waitress as she stood up. New things were happening all of the time. With feather-light steps she breezed along Custom House Quay until she came to Abbey Street and popped into Eason to buy a book. She would be on the DART and home within the hour.

* * *

Shane glanced at the notices on the corkboard in the operations room. There was seldom anything of interest on it apart from the odd party at Lillies Bordello. Nothing had enticed him to socialise since Kate left his life. Besides, Natasha was doing the circuit of all the trendy social venues in Dublin city and he didn’t want to bump into her. She still had a couple of girlfriends in Airjet that quizzed him whenever they were on his flights and dropped loaded bits of information to see his reaction. One of them in particular seemed obsessed. She had even come to his room on an overnight wearing little but a smile. He wasn’t interested in sex on a plate from Natasha’s friends or anyone at the moment. His only respite was on the racketball court.

“All right, Shane
?”

He turned around and Tim, the generously proportioned operations officer, beamed at him from over the top of his coffee cup.

“Hi, Tim. I was just looking to see if there was anything of interest…”

“Not unless you fancy a transfer to the States.”

Shane scanned the notice-board. “Where does it say that?”

“They’re looking for a couple of captains to go over and help with the training on the new routes across the
Atlantic.”

In the corner of the board on a small red card was notification of transfers to
Florida.

“When did that go up?”

“About a week ago,” Tim replied.

“Sounds interesting,” Shane started to think about the sun and possibilities of a whole new way of life. He could rent
out his apartment in Howth.

“When’s the last date for application? I can’t believe I’m only seeing this now.”

“There are a lot going for it.”

Shane knew that the senior guys would be jumping at this great opportunity to make a lot of extra cash. It was time to move on and forget about Kate. A few months in the sun would help.

* * *

The novel was enjoyable and Annabel was on page thirty-four by the time the Dart reached Bayside station. She looked out at the crisp blue sky for a moment as the train came to a standstill. Her eyes fell upon a couple on the platform wrapped caringly around each other. Suddenly she realised she recognised one
of them. She blinked hard.

She was not mistaken this time. The tall figure draped around a pretty redhead was definitely
Gary. This was surreal! Who was this girl? Could she be his sister? She didn’t even know if he had a sister. The girl, who couldn’t have been more than twenty-five puckered her lips as he leaned forward and kissed them tenderly. She definitely was not his sister.