by Hope Franke
Enough time had passed for Clover and Rupert to finish reviewing the menu. Gabriele straightened her shoulders, took a deep breath and walked to Clover’s table. “Hi. Are you ready to order?”
Thankfully, they knew what they wanted, meat pie for him and a bowl of clam chowder for her, and Gabriele didn’t have to spend any more time at the table than necessary. She delivered the order to the kitchen.
“Seems to me my brother’s not the only one with a Clover Swift fascination,” Ciara said. Gabriele jumped, embarrassed that she’d been caught staring. “Oh, well.” She couldn’t stop her curiosity. Her mind pictured Clover and Lennon together, the way they likely would’ve been if all this craziness hadn’t happened. “She’s pretty,” she said lamely.
“And she dated Callum Leatherby’s brother.”
Gabriele flashed Ciara a startled look. Did she know about Lennon? How could she?
“What?” Ciara said with a smirk.
“Why would you say that? I mean, why do you think I would I care about that?”
“No reason. Just that the Leatherby brothers were the first thing we talked about, if you remember. And I thought there was something going on between you and Callum Leatherby. He was certainly your shadow for a while there.”
Gabriele lowered her chin, feeling sheepish. “No, that was nothing. I haven’t seen him for weeks.”
The bell rang and Ciara’s eyebrow arched as she glanced toward the door. “Well, speak of the devil.”
GABRIELE GRIPPED the counter to steady herself. Callum Leatherby had come back to Emsworth. He was there, in the flesh, his dark eyes boring into her as he approached.
He wore his blue winter coat. His hair was a little longer than she remembered and his face freshly shaved.
She turned away, pretending to busy herself with items on the back wall. She straightened beer mugs and wine glasses, checked the drawer for… whatever. Her eyes pinched with tears, and her heart stammered out of control. She had to get ahold of her nerves. She didn’t want him to see her fall apart or worse, think that he had anything to do with it. All this time she’d hoped to catch of glimpse of him in his house next door, and now with him standing only metres away, she wished she was anywhere in the world but here.
“Gabriele?”
Gabriele took a breath, then turned with eyes wide and feigned a calmness she didn’t feel.
“Oh, hi. Can I get you something?”
Callum’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. She wasn’t sure what he expected from her? A big hug and a happy welcome home?
“A Coke.”
“Large or small?”
He slid onto a bar stool. “Large.”
Gabriele grabbed a clean mug from the shelves behind her and held it under the tap. She kept her eye on the glass, tilting it carefully to monitor the foam level. The Brits, at least in these parts, didn’t like a tall foam like the Germans did. She placed the full mug on a paper coaster and slid it over to Callum.
She didn’t stay to chat. The order for Clover’s table was up so she delivered it. She felt Callum’s eyes on her back, and she worked to keep her hands still. The last thing she needed to do was dump the tray of food on the floor.
She returned the tray to the kitchen and then helped Riley set up the stage for open mic night, which was scheduled to start in less than an hour.
Gabriele hoped that Callum would be gone by the time she returned to the bar, but he remained seated, his drink only half gone.
He waved her over, and she reluctantly went to him. He was a paying customer after all.
“I need to talk to you. Can you take a break?”
She was due for a break soon, but she didn’t know if she wanted to spend it with Callum. He was like a seam ripper. His mere presence was enough to pull her fragile emotional threads apart.
Gabriele’s curiosity was stronger than her sense of self-preservation apparently because she found herself nodding. She had to know what Callum had to say for himself.
She left him to speak quickly to Ciara, informing her that she was taking her fifteen-minute break now, then led Callum to one of the empty booths.
Gabriele sank into the soft seat and covered her mouth with her hand. She wished she could cover her entire face, hide her eyes and the conflicting emotions that flashed behind them. She loved Callum and hated him in equal portions. She didn’t want him to know about either struggle.
She placed her hands in her lap and stared boldly into his beautiful, mesmerizing dark eyes. “What do you want?”
He cracked a smile. “To see you.”
She placed her hand on the table, shifting her weight to stand. “Fine. You saw me.”
Callum reached for her wrist, his warm skin sending sparks up her arm and through her body. “Gabriele, please. Give me a moment.”
She pulled her hand back sharply and lowered herself into her seat. She narrowed her eyes. “What game are you playing, Callum?”
He sighed. “No game. I really came to see you. I have something to tell you.”
Gabriele folded her arms over her fluttering chest in an attempt to calm the raging war of emotions going on in her heart. She hated that Callum was here.
She loved that Callum was here.
“How are you, Gabriele? Really?”
She plastered on a phony smile. “I’m great.”
His smile faltered at her forced exuberance. “Good,” he said. “I’m glad.”
“What did you want to tell me, Callum? What was so important that you had to come all the way to Emsworth?”
Callum leaned back and watched her. She squirmed under his scrutiny.
“I have a confession.”
Gabriele gulped. Did this have to do with her declaration? The stupid little words she uttered to him in the hospital? Ich liebe dich. German for I love you.
“Okay?” Gabriele encouraged him to continue.
“The team wanted to recruit you. They were impressed with how you handled everything that happened to us. You kept your head, had good instincts, functioned under pressure even in the face of death. Hiring non-nationals isn’t something the secret service normally does, so it speaks volumes that they’re willing to waive protocol to have you.
“Gabriele, you saved my life, more than once. Plus, your language skills are an asset.” He paused, then added, “I vetoed the decision.”
Gabriele shook her head, stupefied.
“So, you’re here to recruit me?”
“That and… well, yes. I’m still not in favour of it, but I concede that it was wrong of me to make that decision for you.”
“You could’ve called and saved yourself a trip.”
Callum held her gaze. “I wanted to see you.”
Gabriele couldn’t breathe. She still loved him. No matter how tough she thought she was, his brown eyes melted her. She glanced away.
“I’m not interested.”
Truth was, she’d love to take the job. Any other job would bore her to tears. She knew that about herself now. But she couldn’t go to London to simply be Callum’s colleague.
Something flashed behind Callum’s eyes. Disappointment? Relief? He chugged back the rest of his Coke before saying, “I’ll pass that on.”
ARE WE FINISHED?” Gabriele asked. “My break is over.”
She hoped he’d nod and leave, but instead he said, “I’ll have a platter of fish and chips, please.”
Her eyes widened. He was ordering? He actually expected her to serve him? She had no choice. This was her job and he was a customer. She scowled. “Coming right up.”
She delivered Callum’s order to the kitchen and then waited on customers who’d filled the stools along the bar.
The first act began, a middle-aged woman with short spiky hair dyed a brilliant red. Gabriele forced her attention to stay on the woman.
“Man, you should see your face.” It was Riley’s voice. “Who got your knickers in a knot? Someone you want me to kick out?”
Riley looked
at her with serious grey eyes, and Gabriele softened her expression. “I’m fine. Just wondering, do you think I could play tonight?”
“Sure. The list isn’t full. When do you want to go on?”
“Next?”
The girl finished, and Riley jumped on the stage. “Wasn’t she great? Give it up for Thelma!” He encouraged the crowd to applaud enthusiastically. “And next we have, Gabriele Baumann!”
Gabriele smirked when she saw Callum’s eyebrows shoot up. She really hoped he liked the song she was about to sing.
She strapped on the house guitar and checked the tuning. Then she began.
He came from a seaside town,
Breakfast café with a worn-out lounge
Will he be remembered for things
I don’t know
I gave him everything I had
Ran to his side every chance I got
Will I find true love again?
I hope so.
Heaven knows it,
I didn’t see it ‘til it was too late
Can I survive this?
I hope so.
He’ll tell you anything you want,
Patch up your soul with his makeshift love
I swore I’d never see him again.
I did, though.
I don’t know where to go,
I’ve never been here before
I can’t make up my mind
I put on a smile
Heaven knows it,
I didn’t see it ‘til it was too late
Can I survive this?
I hope so.
And why should I love you?
I have no reasons as of right now
I guess it’s time to move on
The crowd applauded and she thanked them. Callum clapped slowly and she felt him watch her as she made her way to the kitchen. She returned to him with his meal in hand.
“Nice song,” he said as she lowered the plate to the table and pushed it in front of him. “Is it about Lennon or me?”
“Both. It starts off about Lennon. You kick in about halfway.”
Callum grinned crookedly. “I’m honored. I’ve never had a song written about me before.”
Fury flushed through Gabriele’s chest. This was all just a big joke to him! She swiveled and stormed away. In seconds, she felt his hand on her arm.
“Gabriele?”
Her eyes moved from his hand on her arm to his face, and she shot him a withering look. “What?”
He released his hold. “I know you’re mad, and I don’t blame you. But I need to tell you one more thing. I moved Mick’s body.”
GABRIELE’S MIND raced to compute the words that had come from Callum’s mouth. Anger flickered in her gut.
“You moved my husband’s body? Without telling me?”
“I’m sorry, Gabi. I should’ve told you. I know that now. At the time it was a case of what you don’t know won’t hurt you. I needed him to be here, buried beside my parents. I hope you understand.”
She sighed. Callum and his parents had more of a right to Lennon’s body than she did. “How did you manage it?” A bizarre image of Callum sneaking into the graveyard in Dresden, dressed in black with a shovel in his hand, crossed her mind. “It’s not like you’re allowed to do that without notifying the next of kin. Which is me, by the way.”
“The agency took care of those matters.”
Gabriele huffed and crossed her arms. “Any other secrets you need to get off your chest?”
Callum’s eyes flashed with sadness and he shook his head. “No. You know everything now. But I was wondering, would you like to go to the cemetery with me?”
Gabriele couldn’t say no to Callum’s request. She’d been with Lennon for over a year and his wife for a month. She should know where his actual body lay. She wanted to know.
Callum waited for her until her shift ended and they huddled against the cold in the moonless night. Like everything in Emsworth, the cemetery was in walking distance. It’d begun to snow and soon everything was covered in a blanket of white. The low lying clouds and windless evening deadened the sound. She heard her heart pulse in her ears.
They covered the distance in silence and Gabriele was thankful. She didn’t think she had anything left to say to Callum. He led her through an impressive wrought iron gate behind a short hedge planted along a brick berm. They tread reverently between rows of concrete headstones. Eventually, Callum stopped in front of a cluster of gravestones and bent down to brush the snow off three stones belonging to Joseph Leatherby, Marla Leatherby, and a new darker stone that read Mick Leatherby. Gabriele crouched low and ran a finger over his name.
Callum bent down beside her. Their hot breaths clashed in the cool air in a white ghostly embrace.
“I loved him,” he said quietly.
“I know you did,” she answered softly. “I did, too.”
Callum studied her. “I loved him. You were in love with him.”
She held his gaze. “There are many different kinds of love.”
His attention returned to the stone. “Thanks for coming.”
She stepped away. Her blood pulsed madly as she stared at him and she couldn’t stop from blurting, “Why didn’t you want me?”
Callum stood and faced her, his dark eyes locking with hers. “I do want you. I don’t want you to work for the MI5. It’s dangerous as you well know. I almost lost you and I couldn’t stand the thought of that ever happening again.”
Callum stepped closer until they were almost touching. She stood still as he ran his finger under her chin causing her to quiver. “I want you.” He leaned in, closing the distance between them. She held her breath. His lips brushed against hers.
Gabriele squeezed her eyes shut and whimpered. She knew these lips. She loved these lips. She was too weak to resist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, consuming him. She dreamed of this moment, longed for it. The last time they had kissed each other like this they were lying awkwardly in his dry bathtub. Something had changed for her since. She loved him now. Was in love with him. But he… he was playing with her again. He was a heartless player.
She gripped his shoulders and pushed him away with a forceful shove. “Get away from me!”
His dark eyes flickered with confusion. “Gabi?”
“I’m not your plaything. And you’re not mine. It’s not what I want. It’s not how I want it.”
She stomped through the snow towards the gate. She couldn’t get away from Callum fast enough.
“Gabriele!”
She felt his hand grip her arm, pulling her to a stop.
“I haven’t been playing fair. I know that.” He positioned himself in front of her, forcing her to look at him. “I might not know a load of German, but I do know what Ich liebe dich means. Gabi, I love you, too.”
Gabriele looked to the sky. Her heart was a pummeled mess. She’d spent so much effort this last month trying to get over Callum. She’d convinced herself that she was better off without him. The Leatherby brothers had wrecked her.
An empty plastic bag tumbled across the cemetery grounds in the cool wind. That was how Gabriele felt. Hollow. Aimless. Lost.
Her eyes burned with remorse and she wiped away a tear. “I don’t believe you.”
Callum swallowed hard, looking crushed. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
He wrapped her in his strong arms, pulling her tight to his chest. She bit her lip, remaining limp, and fought against an avalanche of tears just waiting to be unleashed. She wouldn’t cry in front him.
Her throat was tight and dry, but she managed to say, “I have to go.”
She forced herself to walk away.
He shouted out after her. “I’m leaving for London tomorrow at noon. Will you come with me?”
Gabriele hoped her refusal to look at him was answer enough.
CALLUM LOOKED out of the upper-story window of his house toward the cottage. From this vantage point, he could see the back door leading to th
e sea. The terrace was empty, but the lights inside were on. Gabriele was up and awake.
And ignoring his texts.
He hoped she’d respond, hoped that she’d change her mind and tell him she’d come to London with him, but she had been pretty adamant when she left him in the cemetery the previous night.
He scrolled through his messages to Gabriele. He’d started writing them a minute after she’d walked away.
Callum Jones
I know you don’t believe me, but it’s true. I love you.
I’m IN love with you.
Not because you were married to my brother.
It has nothing to do with him.
Except that he’s the reason we met. I’m heartbroken he had to die, but if I get you, then something good came of it.
I want you.
Not as a plaything.
Though playing is fun, too. You have to admit. Right?
Did I mention I WANT you.
Not just for now.
Forever.
No one else.
You’ve ruined me for anyone else.
Come work with me.
We can conquer evil together – bwahaha
Gabriele?
I LOVE YOU
That was last night
He began again this morning while eating breakfast.
Callum Jones
Guess what I’m drinking? Coffee with foamed milk. I love it because it reminds me of you. The cute little foamed milk mustache you get when you take that first sip. The way you run your fingers around your mouth to wipe it off. Makes me crazy.
I’m crazy about you.
CRAZY
He’d tried ringing, but she didn’t answer.
Callum Jones
Gabi, you’ve never seen my flat in London. I bet you’d like it. Nice view of the Thames.