Chapter 21
‘Where’ve you been?’ Jess planted her hands on her hips and tried to frown, but the grin on her face and the sparkle in her eyes stopped her from pulling it off. ‘You missed the first dance.’
‘Did I? I’m sorry, Jess. Something came up.’
‘Are you alright? You look like you’ve been crying.’
After saying goodbye to Gary, I’d nipped up to the bedroom and quickly re-applied my smudged make-up, but no amount of mascara or eyeliner could mask my red eyes. I smiled. ‘It’s an emotional day seeing my baby sister get married. I’ll admit to having a little weep.’
Jess gave me a hug. ‘Aw, you’re such a softie.’
Glancing around the bar, there was no sign of Daniel. It was past eight, which meant I’d abandoned him at a wedding full of strangers for about an hour and a half. That was pretty unforgivable. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he’d thrown a strop and caught a taxi home, but his bag was still in our room so he had to be here somewhere.
‘He’s fine,’ Jess said. ‘He was outside chatting to Izzy last time I saw him.’
Phew! He hadn’t been alone. ‘Is Megan still around?’
‘Her grandma picked her up about ten minutes ago. She was shattered, poor thing.’
‘How are you feeling?’
‘Also shattered, but I’m having an amazing time.’ She stroked her stomach. ‘Try as they might, I’m not letting these two put me to bed early.’
‘Don’t overdo it.’
‘Yes, mum!’
Inwardly, I flinched at the mention of the word “mum”. How could our Mother feel so much venom towards this beautiful woman in front of me with twins growing inside of her? It beggared belief.
A group of Jess’ friends arrived for the evening do so I said goodbye and headed off in search of Daniel. I was relieved to see Dad in the bar with Auntie Grace and a handful of other relatives. I hated to think of him in his room sobbing. Mind you, although he was laughing and joking with them, I could tell that he wasn’t really in the room. Mother had well and truly broken him.
Daniel wasn’t in the bar. He wasn’t on the terrace or the dance-floor. I made my way back up to the bedroom, but he wasn’t there either. I looked towards the bed. What I wouldn’t give to crawl under the duvet and pretend this evening had never happened. But I couldn’t abandon Daniel and I certainly couldn’t bail early on my sister’s wedding.
It was another hour before our paths crossed. His face fell when he saw me and I prepared myself for a lecture — rightly so — for abandoning him for so long. I didn’t expect him to say: ‘So are you and Gary back together, then?’
‘What? Of course not!’
‘I saw you together in the car park.’
I took his arm and steered him out onto the deserted terrace, away from earwigging relatives.
‘What did you see?’
‘Him speeding into the car park in his posh car and you all over him. Were you having such a crap time with me that you had to call your ex to rescue you?’
‘It wasn’t like that.’ To be fair to Daniel, I could see exactly why it would look like that, but I couldn’t even begin to explain what I’d witnessed and the complicated history with my Mother.
‘We said no lies,’ he challenged. ‘If it’s not over with Gary, you need to tell me. I can’t be number two again.’
I reached for his hand. ‘There’s nothing going on with Gary. He’s gay. He’s with someone else.’
‘But you’d have him back if he wasn’t gay, wouldn’t you?’
‘He is gay so that’s not even an option.’
Daniel let go of my hand and took a step back from me. Damn! I should have just said “no”. ‘But you’d have him back if he wasn’t. Go on. Admit it.’
‘I’ll admit no such thing. You’re being ridiculous.’
‘Ridiculous? I’m not the one who invited my new partner to their sister’s wedding, abandoned them for two or three hours, and spend part of that time in the arms of my ex.’
‘It wasn’t like that.’
‘How was it then?’
‘It’s complicated.’
‘That’s crap and you know it.’ He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at me. ‘You need to choose. It’s Gary or me.’
‘Don’t be stu—’
‘Stupid and ridiculous? I wonder why you bother with me.’
‘We’re getting divorced, Daniel. It’s over. Completely and utterly over.’
He fixed his dark eyes on me. ‘Are you sure about that?’ Without waiting for an answer, he stormed off.
I slumped into the nearest chair and sighed loudly. I couldn’t blame Daniel for his reaction. It was completely justified in the circumstances. It would probably be a good idea to chase after him, but I didn’t have the energy.
Shortly after eleven, the party was still in full swing but I couldn’t take any more dancing or socialising with a fake grin plastered across my face. I hadn’t seen Daniel again so assumed he’d gone home. I was therefore surprised to see his bag still in our room. Perhaps he’d booked a taxi and forgotten about his bag, figuring he could get it off me later. I got ready for bed and crawled under the duvet, willing sleep to come quickly to dull the pain of Mother’s revelations, Dad’s devastation, and the bust-up with Daniel. But, of course, sleep didn’t come.
I stiffened when I heard a key in the lock a couple of hours later. So Daniel hadn’t gone home after all. I pretended to be asleep as he clattered around the room, dropping things, banging into the furniture, and swearing.
After he’d visited the bathroom — also very noisily — he slipped into the bed beside me and lay on his back in silence for a while as I continued to feign sleep on my side, facing away from him. Then he rolled onto his side and clumsily draped a heavy arm over me and nuzzled close into my back. I could feel his erection prodding against me through my nightie and, despite the weariness in my body, I felt a zip of electricity. Why did he have such an overpowering effect on my body?
He wriggled closer and ground himself against my backside as his hand moved across my body and gently massaged my breast. ‘Are you awake?’ he whispered.
I remained silent, but my damned body gave me away. As he continued to massage my nipple, my body arched in response and a soft moan escaped.
‘I’m sorry,’ he whispered. ‘I know you’re not going to get back with Gary. I was jealous. I was scared of losing you.’
His hand drifted down across my stomach and down my thigh until he found the bottom of my nightie, then he travelled back up my thigh under it, slipping it between my legs. I wanted to be angry with him. I wanted to shout at him for throwing a strop because he didn’t understand the hell I’d been through that evening and how I’d needed Gary or I’d have fallen apart. But even stronger than that, I wanted him. I widened my legs and gasped as his fingers entered me, then turned my head to kiss him.
‘I love you, Elise,’ he muttered as his fingers caressed me.
‘I know.’ I still couldn’t bring myself to say it in return. ‘I’m sorry too. I’ve heard that make-up sex is meant to be the best.’
‘You’d better believe it.’
And, as always, it was incredible with Daniel. He pushed every button and then some. But something was missing, and I couldn’t work out what.
Chapter 22
The next week and a half passed. I saw Daniel roughly every other night. I felt as though something had changed between us, although he clearly hadn’t noticed. He was as attentive as ever, telling me he loved me, complimenting me, and being the most incredible lover. We tried new positions, new places, and even introduced a bit of role-playing. It was new and exciting, but I missed the conversation, deep connection and understanding I’d had with Gary. I knew it was partly my fault because I didn’t open up to Daniel. I kept my past hidden, and I di
dn’t share any hopes for the future, which I’d surely have done if he was Mr Right. Our relationship was definitely all about the here and now and, let’s face it, lots of sex. Was that enough?
I spent the rest of the time with Dad. Jess and Lee had cancelled their honeymoon abroad after finding out she was expecting twins, and had booked a week in North Wales instead. Dad was house-sitting for them while they were away so I went out for lots of day trips with him. I loved spending time in his company, but he seemed to have aged a decade since the wedding and it tore me apart that I couldn’t tell him that I knew why.
Jess and Lee were due back on the Tuesday night and had invited me round for tea on the Wednesday so they could tell me all about their trip and have a last evening with Dad before he flew back to Spain on the Thursday morning. Given that Wednesday was my evening to visit Sarah, I asked her if we could meet for lunch instead.
‘I had a small world moment at Bay Trade on Monday night,’ she said over lunch in The Chocolate Pot. ‘We had two new members and one of them turned out to be Daniel’s brother, Michael.’
‘Michael? The grumpiest photographer in the world? I bet that was fun for you.’
Sarah shook her head. ‘He seemed quite friendly, actually, but he said something really strange before he left. He said Daniel isn’t what he seems and you should be careful.’
I wiped my mouth and pushed my empty plate away. ‘Michael really said that?’
She screwed up her nose and nodded. ‘Sorry. What do you think he meant?’
‘Trouble,’ I said. ‘He hates Daniel, and every time I’ve been to the cottage, he’s made it pretty clear he’s not enamoured with me either. Not that I care because the feeling’s mutual. Idiot.’
‘Me or Michael?’
I smiled. ‘Michael of course.’
Sarah stirred her hot chocolate. ‘You’re normally so positive about people. What’s he done to upset you so much?’
I shrugged. ‘Nothing major. He had a go at us the first night we were at the cottage, but to be fair, I had just kicked a lamp over and smashed a glass. But he was really cold the next day and couldn’t get out the place fast enough when I saw him. Since then it’s been dirty looks and little jibes all the way, although he’s not been around much lately which is a relief. Plus, I know why he fell out with Daniel so I’m holding that against him too.’
Sarah leaned forwards on the table, eyes glistening with mischief. ‘Ooh, do tell.’
‘Okay, I concede, he is a bit of an idiot,’ she said when I’d finished the story. ‘He seemed nice enough when I met him on Monday. A bit shy and nervy, perhaps, but pleasant. I suppose it’s only when you get to know someone that you find out what they’re really all about.’
‘Story of my life,’ I said. ‘So I think you’ll find that it’s Michael who’s not what he seems, not the other way round.’
Sarah pushed her empty mug to the side. ‘Have you seen Gary since the restaurant?’
‘No.’ I bit my lip. I hadn’t told her about Mother either, and Gary’s heroics that day. ‘Lots of texts and emails, though. There’ve been quite a few viewings on the house, but no offers yet.’
Sarah looked at her watch. ‘Sorry Elise, but I’m going to have to relieve Cathy.’ She stood up and gave me a hug then put some money on the table. ‘I know you don’t like Michael and I understand why, but can you do as he says and be careful? Neither of us really knows Daniel. Who says he’s the one being honest and Michael’s in the wrong?’
I prickled and nearly snapped back that it was none of her business, but a voice in my head told me she was right. I’d been with Gary for sixteen years and he’d lied throughout that time. What was to say someone whom I’d only met three weeks ago was going to be a pillar of honesty. He had to be honest, though. Surely nobody would be cruel enough to make up the stuff he’d told me about Amber and the baby?
I smiled at Sarah. ‘Thanks. I’ll be careful. I promise.’
As I walked back towards Smuggler’s View to start on some teaching prep for next term, I replayed in my mind what Sarah had told me about Michael. By the time I reached the front door, I was fuming. How dare he? How dare he say something like that to someone he’d only just met? He must have known it would come back to me. And how dare he make me doubt my relationship with Daniel? Daniel had done nothing but show me kindness and respect… and a damn good time in bed! Michael had tried to split Daniel and Amber up and clearly he was trying again with me. Why would someone be so cruel?
It took a very strong cup of camomile tea to calm me down. It was just as well I wasn’t going to the cottage that night because, if Michael had been there, I might have given him a Cynthia-style piece of my mind too.
* From Gary
Estate agent just phoned. Two second viewings at the weekend and he says they both sound very keen
* To Gary
Thanks. Hopefully we’ll get an offer and can complete quickly so we can both move on. Keep me posted
On the Friday morning that week, I’d taken a break from planning and was running a duster round the lounge when the doorbell rang.
‘Can you get that?’ Kay shouted from upstairs. ‘I’ll be down in a minute.’
I opened the front door then nearly slammed it shut again. ‘Michael? What are you doing here?’
For a moment, he just stared at me open-mouthed. ‘Erm… have I got the right place? I’m looking for Kay Summers.’
I nodded. ‘It’s her house. How do you know Kay?’
‘I don’t. My dad’s going to give her some photography tutoring and I’m going with them to do some shooting myself. Is she your mum?’
‘No. She’s my friend’s auntie. Actually, I think you know my friend, Sarah, from Bay Trade. I believe you two had a nice little tête à tête on Monday night.’ I tried to give him a dirty look.
‘Yes. I told her to tell you to be careful and I’m happy to say it to your face too. My brother isn’t everything he initially seems.’
‘Meaning what exactly?’ I crossed my arms and leaned defiantly against the doorframe.
‘You’ll have to ask him.
‘I’m asking you.’
He shook his head. ‘I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m only trying to protect you.’
‘Rubbish,’ I snapped. ‘You’re trying to drive a wedge between Daniel and me just like you did with Amber and him.’
Michael shook his head again and rubbed his hand over his unshaved face. He looked like he was about to blurt something out then clearly thought the better of it. ‘That’s what he told you, is it?’
I nodded.
He sighed and, for a fleeing moment, I thought I detected vulnerability in the gruff package on the doorstep. ‘I guess we have nothing more to say to each other, then, do we?’ he said.
‘I guess not.’
‘Hi. Sorry about that. I couldn’t find my watch.’ Kay appeared in the doorway. ‘You must be Philip.’ She stretched out her hand to shake Michael’s.
He grinned. ‘Close, except I’m the younger and more ruggedly handsome version. I’m Michael. Philip’s my dad and he’s in the car. We couldn’t get parked. I hope you don’t mind me tagging along.’
‘The more the merrier. Thanks for doing this at such short notice.’
‘No problem at all. I think my dad’s quite excited at the thought of passing on his expertise again. He couldn’t wait to get started.’
I watched Michael in amazement. He seemed so friendly and at ease speaking to Kay; a complete contrast to the grumpy person I’d come to know and avoid. Had I misjudged him?
‘Now, Michael,’ Kay said, ‘I’ve got my camera and a packed lunch. Do I need anything else?’
‘I’d grab a waterproof just in case, but camera and food are the essentials. I’d better warn you, if you have any chocolate in there, you may find it goes walkies.
’
Kay laughed and punched him lightly. ‘You nick my chocolate, you’ll be wearing my coffee.’ Michael laughed and I reeled. I didn’t think he knew how to laugh. Who was this charming person? A smile and twinkling eyes completely transformed him.
‘I’ll probably be back late so you enjoy having the cottage to yourself,’ Kay said. ‘See you later.’
‘That’s the car.’ They set off in the direction of a grey 4x4 at the end of the street, then Michael paused and turned round. The smile had gone. He held my gaze for a moment, shrugged, then turned his back and walked towards the waiting vehicle. I watched him load Kay’s bags into the boot, open the front door so she could take a seat, then climb into the back. As the car pulled away, he turned round and looked at me through the back window. He looked sad.
The sound of my Blackberry ringing in the lounge brought me out of my trance. I closed the front door and dashed to answer it before it clicked into the answer service. ‘Jess, hi, how are you?’
‘Fat,’ she said. ‘I swear I’ve doubled in size since the wedding.’
I laughed. ‘You’re not fat. You’re five-and-a-half months pregnant with twins. You weren’t expecting to stay a size eight were you?’
‘No, but I wasn’t expecting to be a size eighteen either.’
‘Ooh, someone’s exaggerating.’
‘What are you doing this afternoon?’ she asked.
‘Nothing much. Kay’s just gone out for a photography lesson and I’ve spent most of yesterday and this morning planning, I’m going to take the afternoon off. I might go for a walk.’
‘Scrap the walk. You can spend the afternoon pram shopping with me.’
‘Why aren’t you at work? You’ve only just got back from your honeymoon.’
‘I know, but I had some lieu time due from before the wedding. My boss said I could take it this afternoon. We’re moving offices and I think he’s terrified that a pregnant woman hauling boxes of files around is a lawsuit waiting to happen. It’s the perfect opportunity to go pram shopping and I want your opinion.’
Getting over Gary (Whitsborough Bay Trilogy Book 2) Page 16