5 Peppermint Grove

by Jackson, Michelle

  “I understand,” Julia said sympathetically. “But he seems to have changed and he’s even thinking of coming home for good.”

  Lydia sat up defensively. “But it’s a terrible time to settle back here – especially in his line.”

  “You know Michael – he has a way with him – if anyone can get a job in Dublin he can.”

  Lydia nodded. “I would like to see him when he does get home. I don’t want to upset Peter though. I might just drop Michael an acknowledgement of his email.”

  “I think he’d like that.”

  “But I really am not sure that it’s a good idea – for the first time since being with Michael I’ve found someone that I feel I could have a future with.”

  Julia would have to tell Michael about this development. She felt very sorry for her brother but she was also pleased that her friend was so happy. For now she would enjoy the tapas and Lydia’s company.

  Michael checked his emails several times daily and was thrilled to see the one from Lydia when he arrived back from lunch. His heart beat in his chest as he opened it.

  Hi Michael

  Good to hear from you – I spent a lovely evening with Julia yesterday. She was telling me about your plans and I hope things work out for you. It must be difficult being away from home for so long. I do hope you get your leave for Christmas – it really is the best time to be in Dublin.

  Work has been busy but I’m trying to get a balance – I’m keeping fit and have joined Boot Camp. I’m dating someone at the moment who is really cool – I think you’d like him.

  Give me a call when you get back to Dublin and hopefully we can coordinate a cup of coffee.

  All the best

  Lydia

  Michael read the e-mail over and over but found it difficult to find any true sentiment or feeling in it. She must be in a neutral place, he tried to convince himself. It would be too hurtful to think that she was in love with this guy. He checked his Skype to see if Julia was online but she was away. He looked at his watch – it was too early in the morning in Ireland and Julia would be furious with him if he called her on her mobile. He would wait an hour or two until she got into the office and try speak to her then.

  He opened a report that was awaiting his attention and started to type but his mind was constantly being pulled back to thinking about Lydia. He had to do something and he couldn’t wait for Julia’s reply. He wanted to answer Lydia’s email and he had to do it now.

  Dear Lydia

  I can’t tell you how much it would mean to see you. The thing is, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and I really don’t want to settle forever in Singapore. I want to come home and spend time with my family – I was only here a couple of months when my father died and I never got a chance to be with the family at a time when they really needed me. The thing is I have always been too selfish and putting myself first. I realise that now and I realise that I was this way with you. You who are the most wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, complete woman that I have ever known. I’ve never been happier than when we were together. I wish I could turn back the clock and be in that loving relationship with you once again. What happened was all my fault. I want to make it up to you – I want to be with you.

  Please, Lydia, let me know if there is any hope at all that you would consider coming back into my life and starting again. What we had was too special – we really can’t let our lives be wasted one moment longer. I look forward to that cup of coffee. I know that it is your birthday soon and I have something special for you.

  With all my heart

  Michael

  Then he pressed send.

  Chapter Nine

  Carol was so excited. She was finally going to meet Ellen and she was sure that they were going to get on famously. She was disappointed that Greta had decided not to join them in Cologne but she would meet Greta another time. She looked at her phone and smiled when she saw the text was from her.

  Have a great time. Look forward to hear all when you return. G

  Carol smiled. Every time she thought of Greta she seemed to send her a message or an email.

  “Are you ready, Mum?” Odette called up the stairs.

  “Just coming now!” Carol replied.

  She pulled the zip on her small case and checked her look in the mirror. Was she really going to Germany for an adventure on her own? Ellen would be on the road now, making her way to Cologne. They had figured that it would take longer for her to travel by train than it would take Carol to fly from Ireland.

  Carol went into the kitchen where Horatio was sitting.

  “Will you be okay now, Dad?”

  “Well, I just hope Julia doesn’t mind about the Brazilian lady coming to look after the house while you’re away.”

  “She knows all about Paola – in fact it was Julia’s idea.” Carol assured him.

  “Really? Well, you know what she’s like – you might come home to a dead body in the house – the poor Brazilian woman’s or mine!”

  Carol kissed her father on the forehead. “Just don’t do anything silly like falling in love with Paola. I believe she’s quite beautiful.”

  Horatio sat up in the chair. “Well, nobody told me that – I can’t be responsible for my actions in that case!”

  “Come on, Mum!” Odette urged. “You don’t want to miss your flight!”

  “I’m coming, I’m coming! Now be good, Daddy.”

  Carol felt like a small child going on a school trip as she looked out the window of Odette’s car. This was so out of character for the person that she used to be. She didn’t know Ellen very well but they had been playing bridge online for six months now and the two women had a lot in common. They were both widows, both had an elderly parent living with them and they liked reading the same books and watching the same movies – when they weren’t playing bridge of course.

  “Have you got all your details – and your passport?” Odette asked.

  Carol fumbled in her bag and produced a folder. “Yes, here it is. I’m staying in the Hilton in the Altstadt – that’s the old town!”

  Odette had to hide a giggle – she wished Julia was here to hear her mother. “Is it really?”

  “Yes – and we’ll be just beside the cathedral and main train station.”

  Odette pulled up at Departures.

  “Would you like me to come in with you?”

  “Not at all, sure you have the small ones to pick up from school.”

  “Alright then, I’ll be here to pick you up on Monday, okay?”

  “That’s lovely. I really appreciate the lift.”

  Odette leaned over and kissed her mother on the cheek.

  “Thanks again, love, and I’ll get something nice for the kids,” said Carol.

  She pulled her case behind her and walked into the check-in area. She felt butterflies in her stomach. A part of her grieved about her reluctance to travel in the past and she regretted time wasted that she could have spent travelling with her husband. But it was too late for that now and she had to make the most of her life.

  Lydia looked at the e-mail that Michael had sent a few days before. She didn’t know how to respond – it was so out of character for Michael to lay his heart on the line in this way. She had spent the most marvellous weekend with Peter in Monart spa retreat. They had lounged around in white fluffy robes. They had walked in the beautiful wooded grounds and she had gone horse-riding with him on Saturday afternoon – Peter was a proficient rider. He was wonderful and gentle and encouraging with her every step of the way. If it wasn’t for these emails she would be floating on air. It was cruel of Michael to come back into her life just now – when she had met a man that she felt she could spend the rest of her life with.

  But what troubled her more was the fact that she couldn’t stop thinking about Michael and, if Peter was so right for her, she shouldn’t be thinking of her old lover.

  She wished that Julia wasn’t his sister. She was the one friend that she would consult on
matters of the heart and she would always give a good counsel and advice on what to do – but Michael was her brother and she couldn’t be sure that Julia could remain unbiased. However, when he split with her last time Julia most definitely was there for her.

  Lydia had to reply to his email and she had to say what she really felt in her heart.

  She looked over the text again. She trusted Julia. She wanted to email her right away and see what advice she had. But maybe she should wait until the weekend was over and, if she felt the same, email her early next week – yes, that was the best thing to do.

  Carol took a seat at the front of the plane. She had only opened her magazine when a stocky man of medium build asked if the seat beside hers was taken.

  “No, I’m travelling on my own,” she said and then regretted giving the information. He did seem like a nice decent person, though, and his aftershave was tasteful.

  He took out a book and put it on the table top in front of him. It was entitled How to Play Better Bridge.

  Carol’s eyes were fixed on it and she had to pull them away as the man noticed her attention.

  The pilot announced ready for take-off and the cabin crew took their seats. As the Boeing 737 careered down the runway Carol noticed the nice man looking at her profile. She felt strangely attractive inside – it had been a long time since she had been noticed by a member of the opposite sex.

  “I’m always nervous as we lift off,” he said in a soft northern brogue.

  Carol giggled like a schoolgirl. “Oh yes, me too.” Then she nodded towards his book. “I see you play bridge!”

  “I do but I’ve a lot yet to learn. Do you play yourself?”

  “Oh, a little,” she smiled.

  “It’s a great pastime. I don’t know what I did with myself before I played.”

  Carol noticed the glint in the man’s eyes. She felt very lucky in her choice of seat.

  As the captain turned off the seat-belt sign, the air stewards quickly set about selling refreshments.

  “Would you like a cup of tea – or maybe something a little stronger?” the stranger asked. “I have to admit I like to have a brandy when I fly.”

  “Oh, that’s very kind of you – well, maybe I’ll have a brandy too then.”

  “With a mixer? Ginger ale?”

  “Oh yes, ginger ale would be lovely.”

  They clinked their plastic cups together and chatted non-stop over the UK and Holland. When the captain informed the passengers that they were now in German airspace Carol felt giddy but couldn’t blame it entirely on the two brandies she had consumed.

  “Are you staying in Cologne?”

  “Yes, actually – in the old town. I’ve never been to Germany before.”

  “Neither have I,” he said with a knowing smile.

  “Have we met somewhere before?” Carol’s tongue had loosened considerably since finishing the second brandy and there was something incredibly familiar about Gerry, with whom she was now on first-name terms.

  “I don’t want to tease you any more. We have met actually.”

  “Where?”

  “It was online!”

  Carol sat up, startled by the revelation. “You know who I am?”

  “Yes, and I know Ellen too – Carol, I’m Greta!”

  Carol was astounded. She felt slightly nervous. “You’re not a woman!”

  Gerry laughed. “No, I’m not a woman but Greta is a name I use – I find some of the women players only want to play with other women – they feel more relaxed with them – and I must say I enjoy the chat and sociable aspect of being a woman online. You and Ellen are always so friendly and nice to people when they start playing. I’m not as good a player as you and Ellen but you were both so encouraging I found my game improve after I started to play with you both.”

  Carol laughed. “I don’t know what to say!”

  Gerry smiled. “I know I’m taking a big risk by introducing myself this way but I didn’t know how else to tell you. I hope you don’t mind if I join you for the next couple of days?”

  Carol didn’t know how to respond.

  “In separate rooms, of course,” he said. “Ellen told me where you were both staying.”

  “Does she know that you are a man?”

  Gerry shook his head. “I knew that I would be meeting you both at the tournament in the UK so this was as good a time as any to come clean.”

  He seemed like a kind and gentle man.

  “So how much of what you’ve told me about Greta is true?”

  “I am a widower – not a widow. And I’m a retired schoolteacher. Pretty much everything else that you know about Greta is me!”

  Carol chuckled. “I am surprised but, you know, we can have a few cracking games of bridge in Germany – and I hope you like shopping?”

  Gerry nodded. “I do. I always seem more relaxed in ladies’ company. Thanks for taking it so well, Carol.”

  Carol was beaming inside. She hadn’t had this much adventure going anywhere – ever!

  Chapter Ten

  Julia was inundated with messages and calls as she co-ordinated the final details of the 2012 Perrin Travel brochure.

  The first thing she did was open her emails and there were twenty waiting for her.

  She opened the one from Lydia and was startled to see that she had forwarded an email from Michael to her. She was taken aback by the sentiment and the tack that her brother had taken. Why hadn’t he sent it to her first before sending it to Lydia? This was not the way to get back to a girl’s heart – for a start it was too needy and he was putting himself on a plate to be punished and rejected in any way that Lydia wished to do it. And she, Julia, would have no qualms about sending such a pleading puppy dog on his way after such an email. However, it did say something about the depth of feeling Lydia must still have for Michael that she didn’t send him an instant PFO!

  She read the email again and considered what to say. In the end she decided to ring Lydia – it was easier than writing it down.

  “Julia – am I glad to hear from you!”

  “Hi, Lydia – I just got your email – wow, that’s certainly spelling it out for you, isn’t it?”

  “I don’t know what to say to him – I’ve just come back from the best weekend ever with Peter.”

  “Oh, where did you go?”

  “We were in Monart.”

  “One of my favourite places on earth. Had you been before?”

  “No, but Peter had – he brought me horse-riding and we had the most romantic meal in our dressing gowns!”

  Julia laughed. “Sounds good but what are you going to do about your other admirer?”

  “I was wondering if Michael had said anything to you? He’s not playing mind games, do you think? Is he only interested in me now that he knows I’ve met someone really nice?”

  “Relax, Lydia – you know Michael – he’s true to his word and if he’s saying that he wants you back and loves you then you know that he really means it – he doesn’t come out with statements like that easily or often!”

  Lydia knew that what Julia was saying was true.

  “I’m just perturbed that he is doing this now – now that I am so happy with Peter.”

  “But if you are so happy with Peter maybe you shouldn’t mind being sent this . . . or do you still have feelings for Michael?”

  “Of course I do but I’ve had to put them behind me – I’m just so confused. I don’t know how to reply.”

  “Maybe see how you feel over the next few days. Call me if you need to talk about your reply. He’ll be coming home for Christmas now definitely – I’ll be picking him up on the twenty-third.”

  Lydia sighed. “Okay – I’ve a conference call coming through – I’ll ring you back.”

  Julia got back to work but all the time she was trying to figure out just what was going through her friend’s head. She had a gut feeling that Lydia was in love with Peter but still in love with Michael – torn between two lovers,
she thought to herself with a little giggle. That was something she would never have to be concerned about – she would always maintain control in her personal life.

  Julia dug her head into her paperwork for two hours and was pleased by a well-needed interruption from Ruth when she appeared at her desk unannounced.

  “Hi there,” Julia smiled. “Boy, am I glad to see you! I’ve been having the busiest week ever!”

  “I’m coming to take you to lunch – I can see that you need it.”

  “Thanks, Ruth – you’re right – I could do with a break.” Julia grabbed her coat and followed her friend out onto College Green.

  “Right, where to?”

  “What about Milano’s – fancy a pizza?”

  “Okay by me!” Julia walked along beside her friend and could see that she was bursting to tell her something. “So, any news?”

  Ruth’s eyes danced as she spoke. “Well, maybe – there is a slight chance that Ian is looking for leave from Aer Lingus for a couple of years – he is considering doing some contract work and there’s a chance they may let him go.”

  Julia didn’t like the direction this conversation was taking. It would completely defeat the purpose of Ruth’s relocation if Ian decided to follow her.

  “Go on . . .”

  “Well, Emirates are starting up a new route out of Dublin and are offering one-year contracts.”

  “So . . .”

  “If Ian was flying for them he’d only be ten hours from Perth and he could come and stay with me for one weekend a month!”

  Julia couldn’t believe her ears. She didn’t know which of them was more daft. “And what about his family? Surely he’d need to go home any chance he got to see his kids?”

  “Well, he would spend the other weekends every month with them.”

  Julia had to hold back – Ruth was losing all sense of what was right in the world.

  She really wanted to shake her friend. This latest notion would cause nothing but heartbreak and be a complete debacle.

  “Ruth, I thought your move to Perth was going to be a fresh start.”