‘I thought you weren’t hungry.’
‘I wasn’t. But now I seem to have an appetite.’
‘And go to the yacht after?’
Ali shook her head. ‘I promised Gertie that I’d go around to her house for tea. She’s planning a wedding for her dogs and she wants me to help choose their outfits.’
‘A wedding? For her dogs? Is she insane?’
‘No! And that’s not very nice. But I suppose she has always has been a little... out of the ordinary, shall we say.’
‘What about afterwards? This evening?’
‘You really are keen.’ Ali frowned as a thought crossed her mind. ‘Or desperate? Why the hurry?’
He looked away and stared at the river. ‘I told you. I want you. I can’t believe how much.’
‘But the moment’s gone. So what’s the rush? I’m not going anywhere. Are you?’
He glanced back at her, smiled wanly, and returned his attention to the river.
Neither spoke for several seconds, and Ali listened to the sounds of nature; the gurgling river, the birdsong, the buzzing of bees, the soft whistle of the warm breeze.
‘Imagine opening the French doors of your bedroom and sitting on your balcony admiring this view,’ Aidan said. ‘And from your conservatory. And opening the bi-folding doors of your open plan kitchen diner and looking out on all this. Wouldn’t that be awesome?’
Ali sat upright. ‘No. Because it would spoil the scenery. And certainly not if there were several other houses surrounding it. Aidan? Are you still considering some sort of planning application? Because if you are, then we may have a problem.’
He laughed, but there was no humour in it. ‘I think we already have a problem. But no, I’m not considering it. It just suddenly struck me as I sat here looking at this view.’
She reached for the glass of white wine Aidan had taken from her and handed his red wine to him. ‘Let’s just sit and admire the view for a while.’
‘Fine,’ he said, turning to swat away another bee, or possibly the same one as earlier, that was hovering above a delicate porcelain bowl containing asparagus spears and softly boiled quail’s eggs. ‘I hate bees.’
Ali watched in disbelief as the bee banked in flight and flew directly at Aidan’s neck.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Gertie couldn’t stop laughing when Ali told her about Aidan and the bee.
‘It’s not funny,’ Ali said. ‘He didn’t tell me he was allergic to bees. He merely said he hated them.’
Gertie held a hand to her shaking chest. ‘I suppose you would hate them if a sting from one makes your neck swell up like a melon. I know I shouldn’t laugh, but I can’t help thinking it couldn’t have happened to a nicer man.’
‘I don’t know what you mean by that. It wasn’t just his neck, either. His tongue was swollen, too. And his eyes. I was panic-stricken. If Simon hadn’t come along when he did, I don’t know what I would’ve done. Called an ambulance, like he did, I suppose. Aidan should have had his EpiPen with him, but for some reason he’d left it on his yacht. I offered to go with him to the hospital but he called someone on the yacht to meet him there instead. I hope he’s OK. He said he’ll call me later.’
‘Why did Simon come along?’ Gertie managed to control herself and threw two small pieces of cake from a strawberry cupcake to her dogs, Bonnie and Bertie, who snaffled up the treats like mini, furry vacuum cleaners. ‘Was it by chance?’
Ali frowned. ‘Of course it was. You know he volunteers at the centre during the school holidays. He’d taken out a kayak and was checking out the waterways before we get our first big group of kids next week. I should’ve been working today, but because of Mum’s accident, Aidan told the staff that he had given me the weekend off. None of them minded. We all cover for each other if anyone wants to change their shifts. But I still felt guilty when Simon, and Grace who was in another kayak paddling behind him, saw Aidan and me on the riverbank.’
‘A fortunate turn of events then.’ She tossed two more tiny pieces to her dogs, this time from a lemon cupcake.
‘Definitely. Although … Simon and I had a big row on the phone, yesterday and I wasn’t sure he had forgiven me. I’m still not sure. He hardly said a word to me and wouldn’t even look in my direction.’
‘Was the row about Aidan?’ She threw another two tiny pieces of cake to Bonnie and Bertie, this time, from a raspberry one.
Ali nodded. ‘Yes. Why did you instantly think that?’
Gertie met her eyes. ‘It’s obvious. Simon’s jealous.’
‘Of Aidan?’
‘Obviously. Who else would he be jealous of?’
‘But Simon’s just a friend. One of my best friends. I don’t think he’s jealous. Although I must admit, I did wonder about it. He definitely doesn’t like Aidan. I’m really not sure why because he only met him on Friday night.’
Gertie’s eyes crinkled into deep small slits as she chuckled. ‘You take after your mother, do you know that, Ali-ba-ba? You’re both as daft as a brush when it comes to men and love.’
‘Why?’
Gertie shook her head and smiled down at her dogs. ‘Ah! I think we have a decision about the wedding cake. Raspberry. Definitely raspberry. Did you see the way they gobbled that up?’
‘They gobble everything up. Is that what you’ve been doing? Are all these different cakes, samples for their wedding cake?’
‘Yes. They’re made from special ingredients so they’re perfectly safe for dogs.’
‘Safe for dogs! Oh my God, Gertie! Why didn’t you tell me? I thought they were for us, for tea.’
‘Hmm. I wondered where the orange cupcake had gone. Don’t worry, my angel. I’m sure it won’t do you any harm. You’ll be as right as rain. Now, let’s have a look at clothing, shall we? I’ve seen a pretty little wedding dress for Bonnie and a fetching little tuxedo for Bertie. Bonnie must have a veil and Bertie, a top hat. I’ll be as proud as a peacock walking them down the aisle. Why are you pulling that face?’
‘Because I think I’m going to be sick. Dog cake, Gertie! Honestly. You really should’ve told me.’
‘Then I should probably tell you not to drink that milk you’ve just poured from the jug with the picture of the puppies on. It’s a special type of goats’ milk and it’s specifically made for dogs.’
Chapter Thirty-Five
‘Simon? Simon, wait.’ Ali spotted him as she closed the gate at the end of Gertie’s front path. He was striding down the road a few feet ahead of her, and he showed no sign of stopping, despite her calling his name. The low-heeled sandals – the ones she had borrowed from Jules – clattered against the pavement as she ran after him, and pressed on her blisters, which were still in the process of healing. Stopping to take off her shoes, she watched Simon disappear around the corner. ‘Simon! How dare you bloody well ignore me.’ If he were within range and in sight, she would throw the damn sandals at him. Holding the straps between her fingers and shouting his name yet again, she raced down the road, turned the corner and careered straight into him.
‘Was that you calling me?’ He steadied both of them with his hands and looked her in the eye.
‘No. It was the tooth fairy. Of course it was me, you twerp.’
He frowned. ‘If that’s your idea of a thank you for saving your new boyfriend’s life, you need to buy a book on etiquette.’
‘And you need to buy a book to tell you how to stop acting like a jerk. What’s got into you lately?’
‘I could ask the same of you, but I saw the empty condom packet on the picnic rug, so I think I know the answer.’
‘Simon!’ Had he really just said that?
‘I’m almost grateful to that bee.’
‘That’s a horrible thing to say. Two horrible things. He could have died from that bee sting, you know. And for your information, the condom packet may have been empty but it hadn’t served its purpose. The damn thing split. Don’t look so horrified. It split before, not during.’
> Simon’s frown morphed into a smile. ‘You mean you didn’t have sex?’
‘No, we didn’t. And then that damn bee stung him.’
‘You may thank that bee one day. It gave its life to save you from being another notch in that man’s bedpost.’
‘You moron. It did no such thing. If anything, it was an act of revenge. And what do you mean, “another notch”? It’s obvious you don’t like him, but I don’t think Aidan’s as bad as you want to believe.’
‘Oh really? He’s not as good as you want to believe. You do know that he wants to knock down the centre and cover the entire site with luxury flats and executive houses, don’t you? Right from the bridge by Josie’s diner all the way down to the mouth of the river. Putting aside the fact that it will make you and the rest of the staff at the centre, redundant, it will mean hundreds of overpriced, badly built houses springing up like boils on the scenery. And let’s not forget, these so-called homes will all be way out of the price range of any of the locals for miles around.’
‘Well, Mr Know it all, that’s where you’re wrong. Yes, Aidan and his father were looking at options. They are businessmen, after all. But having spent some time here, Aidan reconsidered, and he cancelled all the plans.’
‘So that explains why there’s going to be a pre-planning application meeting then, does it?’
Ali shook her head. ‘The lawyers screwed up. Aidan had given them strict instructions not to file the application. Someone in the office misunderstood and filed it by mistake.’
‘Is that what he’s saying?’
‘Yes. And I believe him.’
‘You would. You’re besotted with the guy.’
‘So what if I am? What’s it got to do with you? At least he doesn’t shout at me.’
‘Not yet.’
‘He’s besotted with me, too. He can’t keep his hands off me.’
Simon glowered at her. ‘I can’t blame him for that.’
‘Oh, don’t be so ridiculous, Simon. Anyone would think you’re jealous. Your problem is you don’t like change. All you’re worried about is losing one of your best friends. A shoulder to cry on when your latest love affair goes wrong. Someone to tell your problems to, no matter what time of day or night. I would miss that too. But it doesn’t have to be like that.’
‘You’re wrong. Those aren’t the things that worry me. What worries me is losing you, but not in the way you mean. And I am jealous. Jealous as hell.’ He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
Ali hesitated for a moment. ‘No you’re not. You can’t be. We’ve been friends for more than thirty years and you’ve never even asked me out.’
‘I was worried you’d say no. And I may not have asked you out, but I asked you to marry me, didn’t I? And that went down like a lead balloon.’ He kicked a loose stone with the toe of his shoe and it clattered along the road as they both stared at it in silence.
‘You … You weren’t serious,’ Ali finally managed.
‘I was. You just didn’t want to hear it.’
‘But … But you’ve never even kissed me. Never even tried. You’re just saying this to make me have second thoughts about Aidan, aren’t you? You don’t really want me. But you don’t want him to have me either. What is wrong with you?’
Simon glared at her. ‘What’s wrong with me? I’ll tell you what’s wrong with me. I’m in love with a woman who isn’t in love with me. I’m in love with a woman who thinks she loves someone else. I’m in love with a woman who drives me nuts, but who it seems I can’t live without. I’m in love with the wrong bloody woman. That’s what’s wrong with me. And no, I don’t want him to have you because I want you. I want you so badly sometimes, I get dizzy just thinking about it. You’re right, I don’t like change. I was scared if things changed between us I might lose you forever. But the way things are going, that will probably happen anyway. And as for never kissing you, well, at least that’s one thing I can change.’
She had no time to digest his words; he pulled her against his hard, athletic body, wrapped strong arms around her and kissed her with a passion she had never imagined he had.
It must have shocked him as much as it shocked her because before she had time to respond, he let her go, so unexpectedly that she had to grab the nearby lamppost to steady herself.
He walked away so fast that it turned into a jog and then he was running. Running away from her as if his life depended on it. And she couldn’t even whisper his name, let alone call after him.
Chapter Thirty-Six
The ringing in Ali’s ears as she leant against the lamppost suddenly stopped, and then began again. The third time it happened, she realised it was her phone.
She didn’t want to speak to anyone until she had regained her composure, but it could be her mum, or her dad. Or it could be Aidan, to let her know he was OK. Not that she cared about Aidan at this moment in time. She didn’t even care about her mum or dad for that matter. All she could think about, all she cared about was Simon and that amazing kiss.
Several beeps announced her phone had received some texts, and sighing inwardly, she took it from her bag and glanced at the screen. It was from Jules, and she sounded desperate if the, ‘where the hell are you? For Christ’s sake call me. ASAP!’ was anything to go by.
Worried about her friend, Ali immediately phoned Jules.
‘What’s happened, Jules? Are you OK?’
‘No, I’m bloody well not. Where are you? I’ve been calling you for ages. It’s a disaster. Everything’s a sodding disaster. I don’t know what to do. It’s over. It has to be. The whole thing’s a complete mess. Well, say something, will you? I need your advice. I’m going bloody mad here.’
‘Tell me what’s wrong. Where are you?’
‘I’m at the flat. I’ve just got back. Why didn’t he tell me before now? Why did he leave it so late? Why did he even ask me to marry him, if all the time he felt like that?’
Ali pushed herself away from the lamppost and started running towards Jules’ flat. ‘Bruce, you mean? What’s happened? What’s he said? I’m on my way. I’ll be there in just a minute. I’m only around the corner.’
‘Hurry up. I’ll explode if I don’t talk to someone soon.’
Ali reached the flat in record time and, using the spare key that Jules had given her, let herself in, taking the stairs two at a time and bursting into the living room, gasping for breath. Jules ran to her and collapsed into her arms, sobbing on Ali’s shoulder.
‘I can’t believe it. I want to hate him, but I can’t.’
Ali let her cry for a moment before gently easing her away and leading her to the sofa, shoving a pile of bridal magazines onto the floor so that she and Jules could sit.
‘Now tell me what has happened. What is this all about?’
Jules sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. ‘Purple. Bruce hates the colour purple.’
Ali stared at her friend, blinking as she tried to comprehend the meaning of those words.
‘Purple? That’s it? There’s nothing else? That’s why you’re so upset? Because your fiancé doesn’t like purple?’ Ali wanted to laugh, but from the incredulous look on Jules’ face, that clearly wouldn’t help matters.
‘You sound as if you don’t think it’s serious,’ Jules said, glowering at Ali. ‘He hates purple. Hates it.’
Ali squeezed Jules’ hands in hers. ‘Yes, but does that matter? It’s a colour. I thought he’d told you he’d had an affair or something. Or was gay, and not really into women at all. Although as I’ve known him all my life, I know that isn’t true.’
‘Does it matter? Of course it matters. And it’s worse than an affair. An affair I could live with. Purple, I can’t live without. Don’t you see? Don’t you get it? Look!’ She threw her arm in the air drawing Ali’s attention to the room. ‘Purple. Everywhere. The walls, the furniture, soft furnishings. My salon downstairs. Jesus, even my hair is purple. My fiancé even hates my hair. How can I spend my life wit
h a man who hates my favourite colour? It’s impossible.’
‘OK,’ Ali said, getting to her feet. ‘He clearly doesn’t hate your hair, and I don’t believe he hates the colour purple, either. He wouldn’t have been able to date you, come to the salon to see you, spend so many nights in this flat, if he really despised it that much. I’m going to open a bottle of wine, and we’re going to sit and discuss this sensibly.’ She went into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of white wine from the fridge and glasses from the cupboard and returned to find Jules staring at the purple cushion now sitting on her lap.
‘Perhaps you’re right,’ Jules said, looking up as Ali poured the wine and handed Jules a glass. ‘Perhaps this isn’t about purple at all. Perhaps he’s decided he doesn’t want to marry me. That he doesn’t love me enough.’
‘He loves you. That’s obvious. And I’m sure he wants to marry you. I think it’s probably the usual story.’
‘What story?’
‘Cold feet.’
‘My feet aren’t cold. He always complains how hot they are. Neither are his. Oh. You didn’t mean our actual feet.’
‘No.’ Ali smiled. ‘I didn’t.’
‘So what happens now? What am I supposed to do? When we got back home, I told him to get lost. I said I never wanted to see him again. I told him there was clearly something wrong with him if he didn’t like purple.’
‘That doesn’t matter. May I ask you a question without you biting my head off?’
Jules shrugged.
‘Marriage means compromise. Are you prepared to compromise? I mean, your salon is where you work and that should be any colour you want because Bruce doesn’t have to spend any time there, except perhaps a few minutes every so often. But once you’re married, you’ll be moving into the house you’re currently buying together. Unlike this flat, it won’t be just your choice of decoration. It’ll be a shared choice. That means less purple. As little as possible, in fact. I’m your best friend and you know I love you, but I have to be honest, purple isn’t my favourite colour either. That doesn’t mean I love you less. It simply means I don’t love purple. You wouldn’t end our friendship because I told you that. Would you?’
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