by Caragh Bell
They stayed wrapped around each other for another couple of hours.
‘Lydia!’
Helen’s voice woke her from her dozing. ‘Do you two want lunch?’
‘Yeah, coming!’
Dominic stretched. ‘Did I fall asleep there? God, that was the most relaxed I’ve been in weeks.’
Lydia kissed his nose. ‘I could stay like this forever.’
‘I love you.’ His brown eyes were serious. ‘Soon we’ll be together all the time.’
She hugged herself in delight. With Dominic here, she felt complete.
‘Did Andrew and Harry have a good day?’ She got up and winced as she opened the curtains and the winter sun streamed into the room.
‘Yeah. They refused to eat the goose, though. Mum had to make them fish fingers.’
‘Quelle horreur!’ mocked Lydia, pulling on some fluffy socks. ‘Where was Marcus?’
‘We don’t have a chef on Christmas Day, Lyd.’ Dominic looked at her as if she were crazy. ‘He prepped everything for Mum on Christmas Eve.’
‘Oh, how the other half live!’ she sighed.
Dominic grabbed her wrist. ‘What you have here, with your family? That cannot be bought. It is worth a million chefs.’ His brown eyes were deadly serious.
She kissed his nose. ‘I know, I know. Plus, we have Colin. I bet he’ll have the kitchen spotless when we go down.’
Dominic released his grip. ‘I don’t know about that. Ollie said that he was pretty pissed last night.’
Lydia frowned. ‘I better go and find him. I mean, if he doesn’t do it, Mum will ask me.’
‘Take some Solpadeine with you. Force-feed him.’
‘Sure thing, doc.’
Chapter 24
The next day dawned cold and sunny.
‘We’ll take my Mini.’ Colin was firm. ‘Your car is a two-seater, Dom. Like, hello?’
Lydia clutched at her hair. ‘I don’t care if we go on Dad’s ride-on lawnmower – we need to leave or we’ll miss our flight!’
Helen kissed them all fondly. ‘Enjoy! No broken bones if possible!’
‘Bye, Mum, love you.’
‘Adios, Auntie Hel.’
‘See you soon, Helen.’
Minutes later Colin’s red Mini was hurtling up the road to Cork airport. Daft Punk blaring, Colin chattered incessantly. Lydia, crammed in the backseat with the luggage, checked her emails on her iPhone. Nothing interesting except January sales and promotions.
I hope there’s Wi-Fi in St Johann, she thought. I can’t live without Twitter and Facebook.
Colin slowed down as they neared the roundabout on the outskirts of Bandon. He turned right at breakneck speed and almost crashed into an old lady in a Nissan Micra.
‘Old people should not be on the road,’ he said, rolling his eyes. ‘I so had right of way.’
‘So says the lunatic,’ quipped Lydia.
Half an hour later they reached the airport. Lydia yearned to stretch her legs.
‘I normally park in this place nearby – you get a shuttle in to the terminal – is that okay?’ Colin indicated right on the airport roundabout.
‘Sounds good.’ Dominic turned down the iPod. ‘We’ll all chip in for the parking, Col.’
Colin shook his head so his curls bounced. ‘I wouldn’t hear of it. It’s not like I’m broke. Buy me a Glühwein in Austria.’
‘Is Val meeting us there?’ asked Lydia, as the Mini bolted around a sharp corner.
‘Yeah, he’s getting a taxi out from the city.’
‘Has he skied before?’ asked Dominic.
Colin shook his head. ‘No, he’s a beginner. I’ll give him some tips.’ He turned into the parking lot.
‘It’ll be nice to finally meet him,’ said Dom.
‘He’s excited about meeting you, too. I’ve told him so much about you.’
A man in a yellow suit waved the Mini to a halt.
‘Have you booked?’ he asked, holding a clipboard.
‘Colin McCarthy, seven nights.’
He drew a line through his name. ‘Follow me.’
Samantha and Craig were at the airport bar with Val when the contingent from West Cork arrived. The check-in desk had been quiet so it took no time to tag their bags and obtain their boarding passes.
Samantha jumped to her feet, decked out in a blue ski jacket and Moon boots.
‘Hi, all!’ Her cheeks were flushed with excitement. ‘I can’t believe we’re finally going.’
Craig got to his feet. ‘Drink?’
Dominic shook his head. ‘Lyd and I are going to go through to Departures. She wants to go shopping.’
Val held out his hand to Dominic. ‘Hi there, I’m Val.’
Dominic shook his hand warmly. ‘Great to finally meet you.’
Colin looked as pleased as Punch. ‘Isn’t this just fab?’ he beamed.
‘Why don’t we all go through?’ suggested Samantha. ‘There’s a bar inside, too.’
‘Where are Luca and Jess?’ asked Colin. ‘I presume they’re still coming?’
Craig drained his pint. ‘He took a taxi to her place to pick her up. They should be here any minute.’
As if on cue, Luca and Jessica arrived, laden down with bags.
‘How much luggage do you need for a week?’ asked Colin in awe. ‘I thought I was bad.’
Luca shrugged. ‘I have my own ski boots – Jess has her vanity case and shit like that. Plus all our clothes.’
‘We’re going for a week, not a year,’ said Samantha tartly. ‘You’d better check that lot in – we need to get going.’
Craig grinned. ‘Sam is officially in teacher mode.’
Lydia didn’t dare look at Luca. She hadn’t seen him since that night in her flat. Briskly she picked up her shoulder-bag and, grasping Dominic’s hand, led him off towards baggage control.
‘Flight SZ985 is now boarding through Gate 6.’
Lydia jumped to her feet. ‘That’s us!’
Eagerly she rushed to the front of the queue. Dominic followed and then Colin, with his hot-pink ski jacket over his arm.
‘Someone phone Luca and Jess – they’re still in the bar,’ said Samantha, taking out her boarding pass.
Craig took out his phone and dialled Luca’s number. ‘Hey, man. We’re boarding. Sure, sure. See you in a minute.’
‘Come on, let’s go.’ Dominic slung Lydia’s bag over his shoulder with his own.
‘Such chivalry,’ teased Lydia. She kissed him on the mouth.
Colin slapped both their backs. ‘So good to see you two together!’ he said loudly as Luca arrived with Jessica trailing behind.
Lydia blushed and nudged Colin. ‘Tone it down.’
Luca’s expression was unreadable. Wordlessly, he boarded the flight.
‘Would you like anything from the menu, sir?’
The air hostess smiled and waited for Luca’s response.
‘A beer.’
‘Sure. Anything else?’ She set to work, taking a can of Heineken and a plastic glass from the trolley.
‘No.’
He handed over his money and frowned. Luckily, Jessica was listening to her iPod which meant he didn’t have to talk to her. Looking up the aisle he could see Lydia’s hair trailing down her back.
If only it was just the two of them heading off to a private island somewhere. Going cold turkey had not worked. The minute he saw her he felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. He had to shake this stupid obsession. It was the classic case of wanting what he couldn’t have. That’s all it was.
He took a swig of his beer.
Hell, I bet if I had her once I’d get over it. Like all the others.
Watching her with Dominic made this a remote possibility. They were like newlyweds.
Dammit, why was he so goddamn perfect?
Shit, she’s getting up. She’s looking around.
He watched her adjust her top and flick her hair. She started to walk in his direction.
Luca cast his eyes
down as she made her way down the aisle. Glancing up, he noticed the swell of her breasts in her tight sweater. Her lips glistened with lip gloss. Her jeans looked like they were painted onto her body. Luca closed his eyes.
‘Hi, guys.’
Oh, why did she have to stop?
Reluctantly, he opened his eyes and smiled.
‘Hey, Lyd, you having a nice flight?’ he said, not meeting her eyes.
‘Yeah, it’s pretty good. Colin is hilarious. He’s insisting that we play poker for peanuts.’
Luca slowly focused in on her face.
She stared back at him, her lips slightly parted.
‘So, I’ll see you when we land?’ Her breathing had quickened.
‘Sure.’
After what seemed like an eternity, she walked on.
Luca settled back into his chair miserably. It took every ounce of self-control he had not to grab her and kiss her face off. Looking sideways, he looked at Jessica’s slender thigh resting against his own. All the men on the plane had stared at her open-mouthed as they passed. She really was stunning. Why couldn’t he be content with that?
Tunelessly she sang along with Madonna, her bracelets jangling as she flicked through OK magazine. He reached out and stroked her thigh. Pulling out her earphones, she stared at him in surprise.
‘Are you okay, hon?’ she asked earnestly.
Luca nodded. ‘Just felt like touching you.’
Giggling, she leaned over and kissed him full on the lips. He could feel her big breasts pressed against his arm. Reaching up, he cupped her jaw with his hand and deepened the kiss.
Lydia passed at that very moment, on her way back from the toilet. He smelled her perfume and his eyes opened involuntarily. Just in time to see her disapproving look.
Closing his eyes again, he focused on Jessica. She was his girl. She was the one he should concentrate on. It was time to call time on his feelings for Lydia.
The plane landed on time in Salzburg airport.
Lydia felt the change in temperature as soon as they disembarked. The terminal building was covered in a thick blanket of snow and snowploughs patrolled the runway constantly. She grasped Dominic’s hand for warmth.
‘Our transfer should be waiting outside,’ said Colin, switching on his phone. ‘I think we have to share a bus with some other group.’
Their baggage arrived promptly and in no time at all they were ensconced in a Renault minibus, looking out at the falling snow.
‘Guten Tag,’ said the driver with a smile. ‘Velcome to Austria. Our first stop is Kitzbühel and after St Johann. Danke.’
The engine roared to life. The other occupants of the bus, comprising of two couples, were from London. Colin struck up a conversation almost immediately.
‘So, Tanya, first time in Austria?’
The English girl warmed to him straight away and soon they were deep in conversation.
Lydia zoned out. She couldn’t wait to see the hotel. Colin had sourced a three-star hotel ten minutes from the piste in the centre of the village. He usually stayed in five-star accommodation but had conceded to ‘slum’ it this year. They had paid for half board so that took care of breakfast and dinner. She hoped the beds were comfortable – she remembered her aching muscles from last year.
The bus sped along at breakneck speed on the snowy road. She stole a glance in Luca’s direction. He was asleep on Jessica’s shoulder. From the look of them, they seemed pretty tight. She was glad for him; she really was. Now they could all relax and have a good time.
She must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew Dominic was nudging her awake.
‘We’re here, Lyd. Come on.’
She rubbed her eyes and peered out into the darkness. The hotel looked like a huge chalet. It was covered in six inches of snow and had a big sign with Willkommen outside the front door.
Colin took charge immediately.
‘Of all the three stars,’ he said, wrinkling his nose, ‘this is the best. Family-run apparently.’
Samantha giggled. ‘Just take a deep breath, Col.’
The reception was warm and friendly. Pictures dotted the wall of people skiing and snowboarding and of St Johann in the summer with lush green fields and glorious mountain views.
An elderly man greeted them at the reception. He had a wispy grey beard and twinkling blue eyes. His name tag read ‘Franz’.
‘Hi there,’ said Colin. ‘We have four rooms booked under Colin McCarthy.’
Franz scanned the book on the desk.
‘Ach, ja, I see. Willkommen!’
They all smiled politely.
Then Jessica burst out laughing and pointed at him. ‘He’s just so cute, look at him with his little waistcoat and all.’
Franz reddened and looked confused.
‘Did she drink a lot on the plane?’ hissed Craig.
Luca shrugged. ‘Just the way she is, man.’
Franz grabbed four heavy brass keys and gestured for them to follow him.
Please God let the room be nice, prayed Lydia.
He led them up a winding stairs and down a pokey corridor. Colin grasped Val’s hand in panic.
‘It’s so quaint!’ he whispered loudly.
Franz doled out the keys and each couple took a room. Colin and Val opted for the first one, Samantha and Craig took the second. Luca and Jessica took the third key which left the final room for Lydia and Dominic.
Franz opened the door and Lydia gasped. The room was adorable. Two neatly made beds were side by side and the decor was definitive alpine. Pretty lace bedcovers and an ancient mahogany dressing table completed the look.
‘This is so cute!’ she exclaimed, dropping her bag by the wardrobe.
Dominic closed the door after Franz left.
‘First thing we do is put those beds together,’ he said.
Lydia giggled. ‘I knew that was bothering you the minute we walked in.’
She looked out the little window onto the street below. It was like a fairy tale. The ground was covered in white and everyone was dressed in hats, ski jackets and boots. The snow fell softly on the windowsill.
‘I just love it here!’ She flopped onto the bed. ‘Snow is so romantic.’
Dominic opened his case and started unpacking his neatly folded clothes.
‘Will I unpack your stuff?’ he asked.
Lydia shook her head. She didn’t want him to see all the negligée she had packed as a surprise.
‘I’ll do it later. Come on – let’s see what the others are doing. Maybe we could go and have a drink in the bar before dinner.’
Dominic paused by the ensuite door with his washbag in his hand.
‘I might lie down for a while Lyd. I’m really tired. Go and find Colin. I’m sure that he’ll go with you.’
Lydia bit her lip in disappointment. She wanted to spend every minute with Dom. Still, he must be tired after all the work he’d done Christmas week plus travelling from Dublin. She decided to let it go.
‘Fine, I’ll find out the lay of the land. I’ll come back for you in an hour.’
He lay down on the bed and pulled out his Jo Nesbo book.
‘Have fun.’
Lydia closed the door and debated what to do. She could hear shrieks from Samantha and Craig’s room so she kept walking.
Colin opened the door of his room just as she was about to knock.
‘Babycakes!’
‘Do you want to go for a drink at the bar?’
Colin clapped his hands. ‘Thank God! Someone who is in the same frame of mind. Val is going to lie down for a while. I mean, really.’
He stepped out and closed the door.
‘It’s like living with an eighty-year-old man sometimes.’
Lydia linked arms. ‘I hear you. Dom is the same. He’s cuddled up with his book as we speak.’
Colin snorted. ‘Ridiculous. Lucky we have each other then.’
Lydia kissed his cheek. ‘My round first.
Chapter
25
By the time the others joined them, Lydia and Colin were in tearing spirits. The barman had taken a shine to Colin and had given them local schnapps to sample.
Colin knocked back a honey-flavoured shot.
‘Jesus, he’s super nice. I’m all set up for the night.’
Dominic wrapped his arms around Lydia’s waist and startled her.
‘Dom! You gave me a fright!’
He was freshly showered and decked out in black pants and a grey jumper. He smelled of Eternity.
‘Sorry,’ he said, kissing her neck. ‘Are you having fun?’
She nodded furiously. ‘This barman is a legend. He fancies Col so he keeps giving us free booze.’
‘Who fancies Colin?’ came a voice from behind. Val looked stern. ‘Are you two twisted already?’
Colin threw his eyes to heaven. ‘We’re fine, Grandad. Do you want a drink?’
‘A beer, please.’
Dominic ordered the same. The barman brightened at the sight of two more good-looking men. He immediately filled a bowl with peanuts and crisps.
Lydia sighed. ‘Boobs mean nothing here, boys.’
Luca and Jessica arrived wrapped around each other. With a jolt Lydia was transported back to the day she and Samantha saw them on the street. He looked amazing. His blond hair flopped around his eyes and his blue eyes were accentuated by a navy hoodie and jeans. He looked so effortlessly cool. His eyes met hers and she hastily looked away. God, she had been staring. It was all the schnapps’ fault.
‘The rooms are so dinky! I love it.’ Jessica’s teeth sparkled. Her hair was pinned up at the side leaving the rest to fall down her other shoulder in glorious curls. She was clad in a skin-tight black dress, black tights and snow boots. Around her neck was a diamond pendant that drew even more attention to her enormous breasts. Lydia giggled when she noticed all the men staring open-mouthed at her. Even the gay ones. She certainly was a sight to behold.
‘Do you think Sam and Craig will come down?’ Val munched on the crisps. ‘I’m starving.’
‘I’ll text her.’ Lydia typed a quick message. She got a reply instantly.
On the way
Luca ordered a beer and a white wine for Jessica. His arm brushed against Lydia deliberately as he handed over his money. She looked at him from under her lashes and he smiled.