Two Days in Biarritz (41 page)

“I missed you too. It was really hard when Betty died.”

Annabel got off her seat and moved closer to Kate. She leaned down and wrapped her arms gently around her friend’s neck. “Kate, please don’t let this ever happen again. I really want us to get back what we’ve lost. I’ve needed you so much over the last few months and I’m only realising now how hard it’s all been.”

Kate closed her eyes and rested her head on Annabel’s shoulder. “I won’t mention it again if you won’t. You can go into business with Damien with my blessing. I’ll help you organise the opening.”

“Kate, what am I doing?”

Annabel moved away from her friend and sat back on her seat. “Why do I let Colin bully me?”

“You’re the only one that can figure that out,” Kate said wisely. “But you need to start doing what you want. Life begins at forty!”

“They weren’t joking whoever said that, were they?”

“No.” Kate shook her head.

“What about Shane then, what are you going to do about him?”

Kate felt like she had just been given her own pill to swallow.

“Watch this space. When I get out of my hippopotamus figure, I’m going to take the world on.”

“You’ll be too exhausted for the first three months.”

“True, I forgot about that. Nature is kind the way you forget those details, otherwise the world would be full of only children I guess!”

Annabel laughed.

“Fancy another cup of tea?” Kate asked.

Annabel nodded. She was so happy to be sitting in Kate’s kitchen drinking tea. Suddenly everything seemed much better.

Chapter 23

Colin was bearable the first week he came back, he was tolerable the second week. Last week he was insufferable and this week Annabel was in danger of killing him in his sleep. Sam had started complaining about him and Lily wasn’t even as light in her step as she had been at the beginning of her daughter’s reconciliation.

But Annabel had seen Kate at least three times a week since then so she was much happier with herself and how she viewed the rest of the world. Damien was very sweet about the retail unit and he gave the lease to a young guy who was very keen to set up a coffee house franchise as soon as possible. Annabel regretted that her dash for freedom was now slipping away. As Colin became more difficult to live with, the loss of something that might have been, became even bigger.

She had talked it through with Kate and they decided that it was all down to fear. That lack of confidence that had eked its way through Annabel’s life. Even with Kate back in her life Annabel was scared to do something about it.

* * *

“I’ll drop around and let the removal guy in,” Kate insisted to her father at the other end of the phone.

“I told them to leave it until tomorrow,” Damien said. He didn’t want his daughter running around doing errands for him in her condition.

“Ring them back and I’ll be there at three. I have nothing to do today and I’m getting so out of balance I can’t seem to paint – anyway I’m too exhausted.”

“Well, if you’re sure…”

“I’m positive, Dad. I bet you’re dying to get into your apartment before the baby arrives.”

Damien hoped he hadn’t made it too obvious. “It’s not like that Kate.”

“I know, I’m only teasing Dad,” she said with a smile. “Ring back and tell them I’ll be there at three.”

“Thanks, Kate.”

“It’s the least I can do when I’m throwing you out of your home! See you later Dad.”

Kate hung up. Now she had to find the key to the apartment in Howth. She rummaged around the odds and ends drawer in the kitchen and caught a hold of the key ring with
The Oaks
emblazoned across it. She had time to get petrol and a few messages in Supervalu on the way.

As she drove through the security gates of the prestigious apartment complex she felt a tingle of energy rush up from her shoulders to the top of her head. It was a strange giddy sort of feeling and Kate couldn’t explain it. She had been to the apartment once, before it was painted, but she thought it was very smart and an excellent choice for her father. The hall was bright and airy and had views from all angles. She stepped into the streamlined lift to get to her father’s apartment on the second floor. It was smooth and quiet and she hardly noticed it stopping. As the doors opened nothing could have prepared her for who was standing on the other side.

He was in his full uniform with his hat balanced in the crook of his right arm. His heavy bag of flight and weather documentation was weighing down his left arm. His blue eyes fixed on Kate’s as the doors stopped. Kate had to hold on to the side of the lift. Momentarily the doors started to close but Shane put his foot inside to jam them.

Kate’s mouth opened slightly but no words would come out.

“Kate,” Shane said, shock etched all over his face. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight of her. He looked down at her bulging stomach and back up at her face. Then he said it again. “Kate!”

She swallowed hard and tried to pull herself together before stepping out onto the landing. Shane took a few steps back to give her room.

“Shane, what are you doing here?”

“I live her. I moved in at the weekend.”

“I had no idea.” Kate’s mouth felt suddenly very dry – she needed to sit down.

“My father is moving in here.”

There was an empty silence before he replied.

“I’m sorry I didn’t make it to your mum’s funeral Kate. I didn’t hear until afterwards and I didn’t know whether to write or what to say.”

“It’s okay,” Kate said gently shaking her head. “We all knew that she didn’t have long.”

His eyes wandered down to her stomach again and stayed on her bump.

“Maybe this explains something for you?”

“I, eh.” He was noticeably
embarrassed by the situation.

“I’m due in a few weeks.”

“But who…sorry that’s none of my business.” He shook his head and took another step backwards.

“It happened when I was away with Annabel in
Biarritz.”

Kate was full of surprises but nothing could have prepared Shane for this. The thought of betrayal shot through him – this was yet another example of Kate’s impulsiveness and yet she was never enticed into being impulsive when it came to their relationship.

“Did you know while we were seeing each other?”

“Towards the end.” Kate nodded.

“You should have told me.” He said.

“I couldn’t,” she said in utter embarrassment.

“Are you…are you with the father?”

“No,” said Kate, still not meeting his eyes. “I never told him. Couldn’t really. It was a one-night-stand.”

Shane felt a surge of relief followed by a certain feeling of repugnance. How much more shocking could she be?

“Are you staying for the birth?”

“I’ve moved back here permanently.”

Shane was surprised. “Where..?”

“I live in Greenfield Close now.” It was Kate’s turn to ask questions. “Where’s Natasha?”

“Still living in Dalkey. She has a new man in her life!”

“I’m sorry. I only found out a couple of weeks ago that you split up.”

Shane was horrified. Why hadn’t Kate rung him if she knew that he had split from Natasha? She obviously didn’t want to have anything more to do with him regardless of his situation.

“I have to get to work, Kate,” he said hesitantly. “It’s been great seeing you. Take care.”

He leaned forward and carefully brushed his lips off the side of her cheek.

He stepped into the shiny lift leaving Kate motionless on the other side. Nothing could have prepared her for this. She moved shakily over to the front door of her father’s apartment and tried to put the key into the lock. Her hand wasn’t steady enough to get it in first go and she could barely see the gap for the well of water that was building up in her eyes. She had let Shane go for good. There was no way back now. He was utterly disgusted that she was pregnant and she didn’t blame him. To top it all she couldn’t have looked worse. Not a screed of make-up and her tracksuit that is going straight into the bin after the baby is born. He, on the other hand, looked magnificent – but then he always did.

* * *

“And then what happened?” Annabel asked clutching her coffee cup as if her life depended upon it.

“That was it! He went off to work.”

“I can’t believe it Kate. You’re the one that’s the great believer in fate and if that’s not enough proof for you, I don’t know what is!”

“All it proves is he has good taste in accommodation.”

“Nonsense.” Annabel insisted. “It’s a sign. You’re always going on about signs,” she said – pointing to her tattooed ankle. “You two have to get back together.”

“He didn’t give off the impression that he wanted to see me. He kept looking down at my bump and then looking away again.”

“He was probably shocked and you can’t honestly blame him, can you?”

Kate shook her head. “I should have told him the truth.”

“Why don’t you call him?”

“I can’t. Honestly, Annabel. My hair was sticking to my head, I was wearing the tracksuit from hell and I hadn’t any make-up on. I bet he thinks he had a lucky escape.”

“Now you’re talking nonsense. You guys know each other well enough not to be bothered by appearances. I bet he thought you looked great.”

“You didn’t see the way he kept looking at my bump.”

“Kate, the poor guy was in shock. Can you imagine how he felt?”

Kate knew that Annabel was right. “What am I going to do?”

“Call him!”

Kate sat back on the kitchen chair and pondered. What would she say?

“I’m sorry, Kate, but I have to go. I’m collecting the girls.”

“How are things with you?” Kate asked. “I’ve been rambling on and on about myself all morning.”

“Oh, fine,” Annabel said in a tone that told Kate things were anything but.

“How long is Colin back now?”

“Three weeks, five days and about eight hours.”

Annabel’s expression said it all.

“I’m worried about you!” Kate said pulling her bottom lip over her top.

“I’m fine,” she sighed, getting to her feet. She turned around to hide the tears that were welling up in her eyes. Life at Summit Green had become unbearable. She felt as though she were being strangled. Colin had become even more possessive after finding out about
Gary and he wouldn’t even let her visit the market. She longed for the sense of freedom that she had achieved in the past few months. It had all gone terribly wrong.

“Annabel, you have to do something or you will go out of your mind.”

“Sometimes I think I’m out of it already.” Annabel twirled around. “Now, I have to pick the kids up. Talk later?”

“Yeah,” Kate nodded. She got up to see Annabel to the door.

Annabel’s car had disappeared from view before she returned to the kitchen. She looked over at the phone resting on the countertop. She longed to call Shane but she didn’t honestly know what to say. Things had changed dramatically now that he had split from Natasha. Maybe he had someone else? He could imagine the antennae on all the air stewardesses in Airjet honing in on him like bees. With the baby due in a couple of weeks, she didn’t feel in a position to do anything.

* * *

Annabel pulled up at Howth Road petrol station and started to fill her jeep. She was in a world of her own when a deep voice called her name. Heavy footsteps approached and she turned around, almost spilling the fuel over her feet.

“Damien, how are you?”

“Grand thanks, Annabel.” He felt awkward and embarrassed and couldn’t figure out why. “And you?”

“Oh, I’m fine,” she said, replacing the nozzle in the petrol pump.

“I was thinking of you only yesterday!”

“Really? I hope it was good thoughts.” Her joke served to relax the mood.

“Of course. That chap who was meant to take over the coffee shop couldn’t raise the cash. I was thinking it’s a pity our little venture never got off the ground.”

Annabel stared up at his big brown eyes. She felt so safe around him. She longed for him to hold her at this very moment.

“Are you okay?” he asked as Annabel continued to stare motionless.

“Fine, yes, Damien. It is a shame. I’ve been thinking about it myself. I miss doing something for myself.”

“Don’t you have the market anymore?”

Annabel shook her head. “I gave that up too.”

“Mum, I want to go to Ellen’s house,” Rebecca shouted from inside the jeep.

“Sorry about that,” she said, turning back to Damien. “Look I might reconsider. I’ll have a word with Colin tonight.”