Sitting down to have a black coffee with her new landlords, Paige made the best of her smattering of Italian and then spent her first day getting her bearings in the local area nearby.
She drifted off to sleep that night feeling more relaxed than she had felt for months, managing to push aside any nagging doubts about telling Sebastian they couldn’t be together. If this is what people mean by taking stock of their lives, she decided, I’ve done the right thing coming to Ischia.
The following days were a calming blur for Paige. She kept in contact with Clem, as promised, and her sister assured her the shop was running smoothly and the stories in the papers were diminishing in size and moving further back, away from the front pages.
‘Mind you,’ Clemmie said during a quick phone call. ‘Olly is driving me nuts with ideas for improvements for your website. It’s so boring listening to him going on and on about it.’
‘Tell him to do whatever he thinks best,’ Paige told her.
She didn’t hear from Sebastian, although she hadn’t really expected to, and it was fine, or so she kept telling herself. Her skin slowly darkened from long relaxing walks in the sun. For once Paige began to feel as though she was regaining some of the natural zest for life her family had always admired in her.
She got to know a few of the locals when they popped in to the shop for a chat. They, in turn, invited her to join them for a meal at their homes. Best of all she enjoyed beginning and ending each day with a swim in the cool sea at the nearby beach. She enjoyed letting her mind wander as she explored the nooks and crannies of the island, keeping up to date with her suppliers by email at the antiquated internet café in by the marina.
Paige visited the other villages, on one trip picking up a colourful painting of her favourite cove unexpectedly cheaply, so small it could fit into the palm of her hand. Then, one morning, towards the end of her trip, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror, and barely recognized the face looking back at her. She was surprised how refreshed she appeared, with no visible signs of stress on her face. She liked what she saw, for once and sighed contentedly. It was time to go home.
‘Ooh, I can’t believe you’re actually here, it feels like you’ve been away for longer than two weeks.’ Clemmie hugged her sister tightly, as soon as Paige stepped out into the Arrivals Hall. ‘You look amazing. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so gorgeous.’
‘Thanks, I feel really well,’ she said honestly, choked to note how much she had missed her sister. She raised her eyebrows and pointed at Clem’s bump. ‘Look at this.’ Paige said, touching the loose cotton top resting over her sister’s stomach.
‘I know, I’m suddenly beginning to look pregnant rather than just fat,’ she grimaced.
‘Rubbish,’ Paige laughed. ‘And I’ll bet that’s not what Olly says either, is it?’
Clem’s cheeks reddened. ‘No, he always tells me how sexy I look.’
‘That’s because he adores you.’ Paige linked arms with her sister and let her lead her to the car. ‘I can’t believe you’re nearly five months pregnant.’
On the way back to the cottage, she began to fill Paige in on all the local gossip. There was nothing new to tell her about the shop, as thanks to Olly keeping her up to date, Clem had repeated all his news through their intermittent emails. ‘Olly told me Sebastian is rarely at De Greys now.’
‘Where’s he now?’ She tried her best to sound as disinterested as possible. She knew her sister well enough to realise that if she did not react to her comment, Clem would instinctively know something had happened since she last saw her.
‘They say he spends a lot of time working from his office at home, and Olly reckons he’s in London quite a bit too. As soon as the old tenants moved out and freed up the floor space they immediately filled it with less luxurious franchises. The locals are thrilled because they can shop for things they used to only be able to get online. It’s a little weird though.’
‘It’s sad to think of De Greys changing so much,’ Paige mused. ‘The little family shops oozed much more character than the larger concessions.’
Clem nodded, changing down a gear to overtake the car in front. ‘I know what you mean, but I hate to admit, Sebastian was right you know, despite what we all thought.’
‘Olly tells me the takings are up in every department now, so I guess he knew what he was doing.’
Clem smiled at her. ‘I know we all resented him for forcing changes at De Greys, but with the new branding, décor, and general all-round facelift, it’s a fashionable place to be seen in once again. You can’t get a table for lunch at the restaurant there for love nor money,’ continued Clem. ‘Whereas before we all knew how much they were struggling to fill the place.’
Paige chewed her lower lip. ‘That is impressive.’
‘And your shop has been doing better than ever, so it’s turned out well for you, too.’
‘I suppose so.’
‘And it’s all down to his vision and determination,’ Clem added. ‘We have a lot to thank him for. I feel quite mean now having been so horrible about him when he first arrived on the scene.’
‘Well, don’t,’ Paige said. ‘He’ll also be making money out of this venture.’
‘I know, but you have to admit he wasn’t the evil sod we all assumed him to be.’
‘No, he isn’t.’
Olly was waiting for them back at the cottage with a pot of stew simmering on the cooker.
‘I thought I’d ease you back into the Jersey lifestyle slowly,’ he said, giving her a hug. ‘A nice stew should do the trick for tonight.’ He took a knife from the drawer and began sawing through two baguettes. ‘I bought these from the market earlier today. Smell delicious, don’t you think?’
Paige smiled instantly glad to be back at home again. She picked up the large glass of Merlot he was pointing to, grateful for his thoughtfulness. ‘Well it doesn’t look like you’ve caused too much damage here,’ she laughed, glancing around the tidy room.
‘None actually.’ Olly gave her a smug look to try and cover his nervous manner, which Paige hadn’t missed. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind us staying in your spare room? Only I can’t face the thought of moving away from Clem and back to my parents’ place next door. I’m kind of used to bunking up with an expanding woman.’
‘Cheeky bugger,’ Clem said, entering the kitchen and flicking on the kettle. She took a mug from the cupboard and spooned in coffee and sugar.
‘I don’t think I could sleep nearly as well without her.’
‘But you were only living ten yards away from my front door.’ Paige couldn’t help teasing. She wasn’t sure how the three of them were going to manage living in the small cottage on a permanent basis. ‘And you know you can come and go as you please.’
He stuck out his lower lip. ‘Stop torturing me. Can I stay, or what?’
Paige hung up her cotton jacket. ‘Go on then. I can see when I’m outnumbered, but I don’t know how we’ll all fit in here when the baby’s born.’
‘Me neither,’ Clem said, stroking her stomach.
Paige leant back against the worktop and drank some wine, relishing the cool sweetness of it. ‘OK, here’s the compromise. You keep most of your belongings at your parents’ house, Ol, as I just don’t have the space for any more clothes, books, and all the other bits of paraphernalia you seem to collect.’
He hugged her. ‘That’s why you’re my closest friend.’
‘Hey.’ Clem punched him playfully on the shoulder. ‘What about me?’
‘You’re the woman I love.’ He rubbed his shoulder better. ‘Shit, you pack one hell of a punch for a …’
‘For a what?’
Paige stepped between them. ‘Hey, let’s not have a fight, just when I’ve agreed for you to stay here together.’
Olly took Clem in his arms. ‘Sorry, babes.’
‘That’s better.’ Paige shook her head. ‘Right, tell me all the news I’ve missed since I’ve been
away. There must be something you haven’t told me.’
Paige took a couple of days to acclimatizing to being back in Jersey before returning to the shop. She tried to tell herself it didn’t matter that she would no longer be seeing Seb, but failed. It was good to open a paper and not see her own face looming back at her from the front page, and Olly’s ideas had given her something to focus on. She was extremely impressed with the ideas for the website she had come up with during her stay in Ischia.
At the end of her first day back in the shop, Paige said goodbye to her last client, and sat down behind the counter, slipping off first one of her heels, then the other. ‘I can’t believe how tired I am,’ she said, rubbing her aching feet with her hand. ‘But I’m beginning to feel like I’m getting somewhere with this business,’ she said over her shoulder as Clem counted the takings. ‘Is that a little presumptuous?’
‘Not at all,’ Clem replied. ‘You have a good name for yourself now. Don’t you notice how many “ladies who lunch” wear your shoes when they’re out and about, because I certainly have. Ol has, too.’
‘So, have I,’ said a voice from the doorway.
Paige caught her breath unable to stop from glancing at him. Trying to compose herself, she found it hard to believe that after all her good intentions, three simple words spoken so quietly could have such a profound effect on her.
‘I’ll get going then.’ Clem widened her eyes and grinned at Paige. She hurriedly grabbed the takings pushing them haphazardly into a cloth bag and quickly locked the till. ‘I’ll see you back at home?’
Paige nodded, and watched in silence as her sister smiled at Seb, mumbling a thank you as he held the door open for her, closing it once she had made her hasty retreat.
He turned and fixed his gaze on Paige. ‘So, you’re back then?’
Chapter Thirty-six
Paige stood. She couldn’t help noticing the unfamiliar dark circles under Sebastian’s eyes. He looked exhausted.
‘I am.’ She swallowed to moisten her dry mouth. ‘Hello, Sebastian. How are you?’ she asked trying to be friendly, and not wanting him to see the state she was in.
‘I’m fine.’ He did not elaborate, or attempt to add anything else to his comment, and stared down at her as she fiddled absentmindedly with a large silver and turquoise bangle on her wrist.
After a moment’s awkward silence between them, Paige cleared her throat. ‘I gather from my sister that you’re rarely at De Greys any more. I’ve also heard great reports regarding your improvements there.’ Why didn’t he speak, she wondered? She was running out of things to say and was worried that if she wasn’t careful she’d lose her resolve and end up flinging herself back into his arms.
He didn’t return her smile. ‘I’m only needed there occasionally now, but thanks for the compliment. The feedback has been mainly positive.’
‘If their takings are up as much as mine, I don’t see how they can possibly disapprove.’ She pushed her feet back into her shoes, adding several inches to her height, then, picking up her bag and keys, walked past him out of the door and waited for him to follow. Locking the door behind them, she selected her car key from the bunch in her hand. ‘You’ve done an excellent job, Sebastian,’ she said, unnerved by his silence. ‘I was wrong to doubt you.’
He raised his eyebrows imperceptibly. ‘Generous words, indeed.’
Paige smiled to soften her words. ‘Well, I can’t hold it against you forever. After all, if it wasn’t for you giving me notice, I wouldn’t be building up my own shop as I’m doing now.’
‘I always knew your designs were too superior not to become successful.’
‘Thank you,’ Paige stood still and studied him. His hair seemed longer than she had seen him wear it before, curling over the top of his pristine white collar. She wanted to push back a strand falling over his forehead, but stopped from touching him, just before their skin made contact. For once, he was not the immaculate Sebastian she was used to. She wished he didn’t still have the same gut-wrenching effect on her, despite constantly insisting to herself that she was getting over him.
He looked into her eyes, the intensity of his gaze making her heart beat a little faster. He lowered his head slightly. She went to move back from him. ‘Sebastian,’ she said, becoming aware that they were now in the cobbled street. ‘Nothing has changed since we last spoke in Sorrento.’
‘Come home with me. We need to talk things through properly.’
She wanted to resolve this with him and was tempted. ‘Well, I …’ Her phone rang and although she tried to ignore it for a bit, the fact that it kept ringing stopped her from concentrating on what she was trying to say. She sighed heavily and pulled her phone out of her bag. She saw Olly’s name on the screen and answered the call. ‘I’d better take this. Hi, Ol.’
‘Is everything OK?’ Sebastian asked quietly.
Paige shook her head. She listened to Olly for a minute. ‘I’ll be right there,’ she said ending the call. ‘Sorry, a bit of an emergency with Clem. I’m going to have to go.’
‘Is there anything I can to do help?’ he asked. Paige shook her head.
‘No, but thank you.’
They soon reached her car. She unlocked the door and he held it open for her, closing it as soon as she was seated. He bent down to the window. ‘Call me.’
Paige nodded and turned on the ignition.
She arrived home to find Olly leaning over Clem, soothing her and holding out a half-empty box of tissues as she lay draped across the settee. He looked up, his eyes wide with fright, and gave Paige a pleading look.
‘Whatever’s the matter?’ She dropped her bag and coat to hurry over next to her prone sister. She sat down next to her. ‘Clem, look at me. What’s the matter?’ Her sister rarely cried. Paige could not remember ever seeing her so inconsolable.
‘Olly,’ sniffed her sister, blowing her pink nose on another Kleenex. ‘You tell her. I can’t bear to,’ She grimaced, pointing at a messy pile of magazines.
Olly shook his head. ‘What?’
‘Never mind,’ Clem said, blowing her nose and sniffing. ‘Tell Paige what happened.’
‘What’s the matter? Are you hurt?’ She stared at him waiting for him to answer. ‘Olly, is she hurt? Is the baby OK? Tell me.’
He stood up, his legs shaky and walked over to stand in front of the fireplace. ‘Now Paige, promise you won’t panic,’ he said, holding his hand out in front of him.
She felt sick to her stomach. ‘I’m already doing that.’
He clenched his fists either side of his legs. ‘Clem’s had a little bleeding,’ he said, his voice quiet.
Clem howled in anguish.
Paige took her hand and squeezed it tightly. ‘I’m sure it’s OK,’ she soothed. ‘How badly?’ she asked Olly.
‘We’re not exactly sure,’ he said, looking so pale Paige was concerned he was about to pass out. ‘The doctor is on his way now.’ He seemed to find a little resolve and glanced down at Clem. ‘He said you were to remain as calm as possible, babes.’
‘How can I?’ Clem cried, pushing her tearful face into Paige’s chest. ‘I’m going to lose my baby.’
‘You don’t know that,’ Paige assured her, having no idea if she was right or not.
‘And it will be my own fault.’
Paige held her sister away and placing a finger under Clem’s damp chin raised it up. ‘Look at me,’ she said, forcing her voice to remain steady. ‘We don’t know anything until the doctor’s seen you, but whatever he says, you must remember that this isn’t your fault. Do you understand me?’
The Jersey Scene series box set Page 61