‘What face?’ I asked, frowning.
‘That, aww, poor sad bloke. What a drip.’
‘I am not!’
‘Yeah. You are.’
‘This is just my listening face!’
His expression suggested that he didn’t entirely believe me, but I gave him my best snooty look and he gave me a resigned one in return. Good to know some of my previous skills could still come in handy.
‘Carry on,’ I prompted him.
‘There’s not much else to say. One day I came home and she’d gone.’
‘That was it?’ I frowned. ‘You didn’t talk about it?’
Nate smiled but there wasn’t any humour in it. ‘Serena isn’t really a big one for discussing things. Basically, it’s her way or nothing.’
‘That can’t have been an easy foundation to build any relationship on, let alone a marriage.’
He sat back, relaxing into the sofa, Bryan still snoring on his lap. ‘I didn’t see it as a problem for a long time. I didn’t really see it at all, I don’t think. Others did, which caused friction, but you can’t tell a person in love stuff like that, can you? At least you couldn’t tell me. I didn’t want to hear it. As far as I was concerned, Serena was as close to perfect as I thought a woman could be, and frankly I was just amazed that she was interested in me.’
‘Seriously?’
‘What?’
‘Oh, come on. We’ve had this conversation already – you’re kind of hot.’
He looked away and I smiled. ‘I’m not sure about that. Gabe’s always been the one the women fell over themselves about.’
‘Or maybe you only saw those ones.’
He pulled a face. ‘Anyway. I was frantic when she didn’t come home. Stupidly, it never even occurred to me that she might have actually left me. I guess that sounds kind of arrogant, but it wasn’t like that. Like I said, I’m not great at explaining stuff sometimes unless it’s to do with my work. I’m shit hot at that.’ He grinned, lightening the moment.
‘I’m sure,’ I grinned back. ‘But I know what you mean. You get into a routine. It’s not happiness but it’s life. This is how it is. How it’s going to be and after a while you just accept that. Until you, or someone else, does something to change it.’
‘That’s it, that’s exactly how it was. I earn pretty good money and Serena definitely liked that aspect of our lives. When the TV and film stuff came in, that was a bit of kudos too as far as she was concerned. I consulted on a couple of big name disaster movies and we got to go to the premieres. Serena was in her element then. She’s made to be seen – it’s like she comes alive in situations like that. Frankly, although the work itself was interesting, I’d have happily skipped the premiere stuff.’
‘I’m guessing that wasn’t an option.’
‘I’m pretty sure she would have left me a lot sooner if I’d have done that.’ He gave that a moment’s thought. ‘Maybe that would have been better.’
‘You can’t rake over what you should have done or not done now. The past is the past and we can’t change it, no matter how much we might want to.’ God knew there was plenty I’d change if I could.
‘That’s true. What’s done is done. When I realised she was gone, it was the strangest feeling. Half of me wanted to beg her to come back and the other half, I don’t know… Does it sound bad if I say it felt like some sort of relief? Mixed in with the pain and upset and all that other stuff blokes aren’t supposed to admit to.’
‘If men admitted to more of that stuff, I’m sure there would be a lot less of them pretending everything was fine until it’s too late.’
Nate nodded. ‘You’ve probably got a point there.’
‘I definitely have a point there.’
He looked across and laughed. ‘See? This is what I mean. You know who you are. You’re honest about it. You don’t need constant validation. Not that I mind. It was pretty hard not to compliment Serena, to be honest. But you know what I mean.’
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d received a compliment from my ex so to be honest, as much as Nate was right, as much as I now lived to please myself, and made my own decisions, be they right or wrong, there weren’t many people who didn’t enjoy a genuine compliment from someone from time to time.
‘I do,’ I said, simply.
He looked down at the dog in his lap, and gently laid the pad of his thumb on the top of Bryan’s head, and began a series of slow, gentle strokes.
‘If everything that has happened has taught me anything, it’s that honesty is the most important thing. If we’d have been honest with each other about how unhappy we both were, we might have been able to fix things. Or at least realised that we couldn’t and avoided a hell of a lot of extra drama.’ He looked up from the dog, straight into my eyes. ‘Honesty is key, really, isn’t it?’
I nodded, the action feeling stiff and unnatural as I agreed with him, feeling like guilt was written all over my face as Nate sat there, telling me he valued my honesty when all the time I knew I was living a lie.
18
Eloise smiled and gave a little wave to a customer over by the door. As she turned to look at me, the mischievous expression on her face told me there was only one person it could be.
‘Stop it,’ I said, trying not to smile, which would only encourage her.
‘What?’ she shrugged.
‘You know what.’
Eloise maintained her innocence. ‘Probably ought to go and serve him though. Wouldn’t want him marking us down on TripAdvisor for lack of attention, would we?’
I tucked my pad back into my apron as I walked towards where Nate was waiting. Suddenly, Corinne rushed past me, heading towards the door and coming to a halt in front of Nate, her wide, youthful smile beaming out at full wattage. I stopped, still a few steps short of where Corinne now had her hand on Nate’s arm, laughing with him as though they were old friends. He was looking down at her, concentrating on her words, and possibly her newly plumped, pillowy lips, enhanced today with a bright, scarlet red. As she turned to lead him to a table, conveniently in her section of the restaurant she caught my eye, and gave a smaller smile, this one brimming with smug satisfaction.
I turned back to where Eloise was now at the till station.
‘Corinne’s a conceited madam if ever there was one,’ Eloise said, throwing a quick glance over her shoulder. ‘She’s always been thoroughly spoiled by her parents. She’s a nice looking girl but her attitude, and ego, both need some serious adjustment.’
I shrugged. ‘It doesn’t really matter who serves him. And if she’s fawning all over him we can probably be sure of that good rating on TripAdvisor after all.’ I gave her a nudge with my hip.
Eloise was less inclined to be persuaded. ‘From him, maybe, but you know we’re going to be left to pick up the slack on all her other tables now the Australian god has arrived.’
I looked over in as casual a manner as possible. Corinne was leaning forward, hanging on every word that Nate said. And from the looks of it, he was actually giving her quite a few to hang on to. He was clearly feeling more comfortable in himself and his surroundings these days. His body language was far more relaxed than it had been on previous visits to the restaurant and a lot more relaxed than when he’d first arrived in the village. Corinne said something, resting her hand on Nate’s arm as he laughed in response.
Turning away, I squished down the strange feeling in my stomach and resolutely denied that it might actually be jealousy. Which was ridiculous. Of course it wasn’t jealousy. Nate and I were friends. Nothing more. He’d already told me, perhaps unnecessarily bluntly, that he had no interest in beginning anything during his stay here and I’d been more than happy to agree. Of course, that was when I’d thought he was a total arse and wouldn’t have spent a moment longer with him than I absolutely had to. Without any direct consultation with my brain, other parts of me had apparently now decided that spending more time with Nate McKinley might actually not be the worst t
hing in the world. In fact, it might be really rather nice. All of which was stupid because I most definitely wasn’t the type to have a fling. I’m not sure I entirely knew how to have a fling. What constituted a fling anyway? Was there a set length of time where a fling ticked over into ‘short term relationship’ territory? And if so, what was it? Did it vary from continent to continent?
‘Well, you’re deep in thought.’ Ned’s voice startled me.
‘Oh! Sorry. Miles away.’
Ned nodded. ‘Everything all right?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘What’s all that about?’ he asked, subtly inclining his head to where Corinne was now delivering Nate’s drink to him. A task that should take all of two minutes but which she was managing to stretch far longer.
‘What do you mean?’ I asked. I certainly wasn’t a fan of Corinne’s true colours but I wasn’t a snitch either. Ned, however, wasn’t buying it and gave me a look that said as much.
‘It’s Gabe’s brother. You said to make sure he’s looked after well when he comes in.’ I gave him a casual smile, but Ned’s expression remained blank.
‘Corinne seems to be taking that instruction to include a hell of a lot more than what’s on the menu. Is something going on between them?’
‘Not that I know of.’ I glanced round and couldn’t help notice the difference in Nate’s body language between the last time he was here and now and had to refrain from adding ‘yet’ to my reply. ‘He’s a big boy, Ned. And it’s not like he’s fighting her off,’ I said, feeling the twist in my stomach again and stamping on it with the determination of a five-year-old faced with a plateful of sprouts.
‘That’s not the point. I promised Gabe I’d look out for his brother. He’s been through the wringer already. Corinne setting him in her sights is the last thing he needs.’
Across the room, Nate laughed and Corinne gave him a flirty look before heading over to where another customer was trying to get her attention.
‘Or perhaps it’s exactly what he needs,’ I said to Ned, giving a shrug and resting my hand on his shoulder for a moment. ‘You’re doing all you can but he’s a grown man. If he can be so easily seduced by youth and beauty, then who are we to stand in his way.’
Ned tilted his head a little, smiling. ‘If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that comment had a distinct whiff of envy about it.’
I made a shocked ‘O’ with my mouth and placed a hand on my chest. Ned’s grin widened and he gave my hand a friendly squeeze. The pager hooked on my apron vibrated.
‘Order up.’
‘Thanks, Sophia. I’m going to have a word with Corinne anyway. I’ve already noticed her missing several of her tables while she’s busy making cow eyes at Nate and it’s not the first time. I’m happy to have him here as much as he wants and they can do what they want out of here but she needs to rein it in a bit while she’s on shift.’
I didn’t know what to say to that, so instead I pointed at my pager. ‘Better go.’
‘Yep. Thanks.’
I headed off to the kitchen and picked up my order. Making my way over to the table, arms full of plates, I saw Ned and Corinne huddled in a space just behind the booking lectern where we stored customers’ coats, out of sight. Ned’s face was uncharacteristically serious while Corinne’s had the livid but sulky expression she’d likely been cultivating since her teenage years. Whatever Ned was saying, it definitely wasn’t going down well. I’d never seen Ned have to reprimand any of his staff in the time I worked there. Corinne had mistakenly interpreted this as thinking he would be a pushover but Ned, like most people, had limits. The restaurant was his and Carrie’s life. They’d built it from nothing, cultivating its stellar reputation and, with a young family to support now, keeping that reputation was more important than ever. The rest of us knew this, but Corinne apparently needed her memory refreshing.
The phone by the lectern began to ring, and I headed over to answer it. As I approached, Corinne’s gaze moved from where it had been petulantly staring over Ned’s shoulder and met mine. Her eyes burned with rage and she narrowed them slightly as she stared. I looked away and answered the phone. Clearly she felt that her dressing down from Ned had come at my behest and, having that added to my crime of Nate walking me home the other day, had only increased her dislike of me. I wasn’t a great one for conflict, having done my best to avoid it for most of my life, as and when possible, even if that meant making myself unhappy. I didn’t particularly relish an even more difficult relationship with Corinne as I loved working at Ned’s, but I also wasn’t about to be intimidated by a twenty-something with a crush. Life was too short. Glancing over at where Nate was now sat alone, looking out to sea, I realised that perhaps Corinne hadn’t been the only one with a bit of a crush. But I’d got over far bigger things than this in the past eighteen months, and this too would pass. Besides, if he preferred taut young bodies with pert boobs, full lips and thick extension-enhanced hair, that was up to him. It was hardly a revelation. My own ex-husband had certainly veered in the same direction on more than one occasion. And that was just the times I knew about. Sometimes there was just no accounting for taste.
The crowd was thinning a little as Eloise met me at the lectern.
‘Isn’t it time for your break?’ she asked, glancing at the clock above the door. ‘Ooh, and perfect timing.’
I frowned and followed her eyeline. Billy Myers was at the door. And before either of us could move, so was Corinne.
‘Bloody hell, it’s like she’s got some inbuilt tracking device for good looking men,’ Eloise said. ‘And men too old for her at that.’
I gave a shrug. ‘Age is just a number and all that.’
Eloise didn’t look like she agreed particularly, but her focus was on Billy and Corinne.
‘Hi! Welcome to Ned’s. I’m Corinne.’
‘Hi. I was actually looking for Sophia.’ Over Corinne’s head, he smiled. I raised a hand and gave a small, acknowledging wave.
‘Oh. Right. Well,’ she posed a little and looked up at him through her lashes. ‘We’re not really supposed to have visitors when we’re working.’
Eloise made to step forward but I stopped her. Billy’s entire being was relaxed, and confident. Just as it had been at the hotel. My friend looked round at me and I gave a small head shake.
‘That’s OK,’ he said, ‘I already cleared it with Carrie.’
‘I see.’ Corinne replied, tilting her chin up. ‘Well, I guess a posh accent gets you special privileges.’ She gave Billy a smile but being apparently immune to her charms, he’d now dropped in her estimation and there was no warmth in it. She stepped out of the way and threw me a cold glance. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’ With that she stalked back on her Bambi legs, inevitably towards Nate.
‘Got a real fan there,’ Billy grinned. He was dressed in dark jeans, chunky boots, and a cosy looking royal blue padded jacket. His hair was a little shorter than before and the tips of his ears were pink with the chill, as was his nose, contrasting with the green eyes that were currently sparkling with mischief.
‘Oh yes. She and I are like this,’ I nodded, crossing my fingers
He laughed. ‘Hi,’ he said after a pause.
‘Hello.’
‘Nice to see you again, love,’ Eloise said, giving him a quick hug. ‘Soph was just about to take her break anyway so you’ve timed it well. See you again soon, I hope.’
‘I hope so too,’ he replied, smiling at Eloise before sliding his gaze across to mine. My friend patted my arm quickly and then headed off towards one of her tables.
‘How are you?’
I nodded. ‘Fine, thank you. You?’
‘Yep. Pretty good. I’ve just finished for the day. Half day. Thought I’d try and get some Christmas shopping done and it seemed like it might be an opportunity to see you. I missed you when I dropped the wreaths off the other day.’
‘Yes. I’m sorry about that. I have another job and was at that.’
&nbs
p; He studied me for a moment.
‘Do you want—’
‘Billy! How lovely to see you again so soon.’ Carrie’s warm smile greeted us both as she gave him a one armed hug, the other being occupied in holding her son on her hip.
‘Hi, Carrie, and you. And who’s this fine fellow?’
‘This is Will.’
Billy grinned. ‘Now that’s a fine name if ever I heard one. Hi Will.’
The little boy studied Billy for a moment, giggled then snuggled his face into his mother’s shoulder.
‘I’ve already been warned that I might be getting Sophia into trouble by visiting but I understand she’s just about to take a break anyway.’
Carrie raised a brow. ‘I can imagine who warned you off but that’s OK. You missed her the other day and, whatever she likes to think, that particular waitress does not own the restaurant.’ Carrie glanced across the floor and then down at the ledger. ‘Actually, we’re pretty quiet today. Sophia only has a couple of hours left of her shift anyway and I think we’ve got this covered so why don’t you two go off somewhere.’
‘Oh! Carrie, I couldn’t. Really. I mean, no offence Billy, it’s just that—’
‘I insist. And, of course, you’ll get the full pay for the shift. Goodness knows you earn it. She’s one of our best, you know,’ Carrie said.
I felt a flush in my cheeks, both at the compliment and at the fact that the concern I had about short wages had apparently been so obvious.
‘I’d love that… but only if Sophia’s up to it. I have rather turned up out of the blue.’
I looked back across the restaurant. Carrie was right, it was quieter now. Even with Corinne spending most of her time at Nate’s table, the rest was easily doable by the staff without me.
‘It’s just that…’
Carrie had disappeared for a moment and had now returned with my coat and bag. A not very subtle hint.
‘Go,’ she grinned and I took the items off her, before leaning over to give her a kiss on the cheek and Will a light one on the top of his fair head.
Winter at Wishington Bay Page 15