“What date is your birthday?” she said instead. “I’m an Aries, 24th March.”
Kate looked sick and Annabel wondered why. She didn’t know that this didn’t suit Kate’s plans at all. She wanted to be the interesting girl at the back of the class that nobody would talk to because they were afraid of her – but this mousy-looking girl seemed intent on changing that. Was this perky girl going to get the hint or not? To make matters worse they had something in common – Kate was an Aries too.
“Cabin crew, your seats for landing, please,” Shane’s voice called over the intercom.
An air stewardess scurried over to Annabel shortly before the tall ESB towers in Dublin Bay came into view.
“The captain would like to know if you’re able to meet him for coffee after we arrive in Dublin airport?” she said, with a bat of her long curly eyelashes and pursed-pink lips.
“Tell him I’d love to!” Annabel replied.
Chapter 5
The wrought-iron gate seemed heavier to open now than ever before. The gravel pathway crunched under her feet as she drew near the turquoise front door. God, I love this place, she thought. The mountains hung like a velvet drape behind her charming gîtes and she let out a sigh of relief now that she was finally home. The larks sang an accolade in the cypress trees on her return.
“Let me help you,” Fabian urged, taking the key out of her hand and putting it into the lock for her.
“Thanks,” Kate replied. “It was great to see you at the station.”
“Serendipity, ma cherie,” Fabian grinned. “And we are blessed with more than our fair share living in this beautiful place. Are you not exhausted from your trip to the ocean?”
“I grew up by the sea, don’t forget!”
“Mon dieu, but of course, so tell Fabian everything,” he said with a flick of his wrist to his fringe. “How was your friend?”
“I need a coffee and cigarette first,” Kate said with a shake of her head.
“But, Kate, you don’t smoke any more!”
“I’m taking it up again, Fabian,” Kate replied mysteriously. “I swear, you think you know someone and then . . .”
“Say no more until we are sitting down and you are able to tell everything.” Fabian developed a spring in his step as they entered the cosy interior with rich burgundy tones on the walls and shiny black tiles on the floor.
The tall Frenchman opened the weighty pine-door that led into the kitchen. Kate followed anxiously, in a rush to put the percolator on and accelerate the telling of her tale.
“So, is Annabel still as delicious as that photograph you showed me?” Fabian asked, again brushing back his long black fringe with his fingers and making his nose appear even more prominent than when it draped down over his face.
“Don’t pretend you fancy her, Fabian!” Kate said scornfully. “We don’t have any secrets and maybe it’s time you told the rest of our friends that you’re gay – most of them suspect it anyway.”
Fabian was taken aback at Kate’s matter-of-fact tone
“Cherie,” he said with a shake of his head. “I can still appreciate a good-looking woman, can’t I?”
Kate wiped her brow and her right eye with her hand. It was a habit she had carried with her through life since she was a small child. Her brother Philip had fired a stone at her from his slingshot, missing her right eye by millimetres but cutting the skin under her brow – she resorted to soothing it whenever she was stressed.
“Fabian, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. You are truly one of my dearest friends – if not the dearest at this very moment in time!”
“So what is it that has you in such a state? Tell Fabian!” He tapped the table with his fingernails as he sat down on one of the solid pinewood chairs.
“You know when you think you know someone, and then they go and do something that’s completely out of character?”
“It happens all the time,” Fabian said remorsefully, sucking in the cheeks on his already skinny face.
“Exactly, but not with someone you’ve known for most of your life!”
“Ah, but that is just it,” Fabian said with a sigh. “My own parents went off on a whim around the world and left me with my grandmother – I was only eleven.”
Kate stopped still for a moment in bemusement. “You never told me that! I always thought your mother was ill and that was why your grandmother brought you up!”
“Cherie, I am not one to dwell in self-pity,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders. “Please, Kate, continue.”
“Well, we both had a bit of a fling with these two surfing guys –”
“Would I have liked them?” Fabian asked mischievously.
“Definitely!” Kate continued. “I was straight up about my interest in Brett –”
“Nice name,” Fabian interrupted.
“Please, Fabian,” she said, finding it difficult not to smile. “It turns out, while Brett and I were dancing in the moonlight, Annabel and his pal were at it in his room.”
“And what is wrong with that?” Fabian smiled.
“Absolutely nothing – apart from the fact that she didn’t tell me! We ran into her guy the next day in Bayonne and she never said a thing until later that night – after a few drinks she blurts it out . . .” Kate had to compose herself before divulging any more. “And then . . .”
“Yes?”
“And then . . . then she said that she slept with my father years ago . . . and had the audacity to say that she loved him!”
Fabian still wasn’t fazed. “I slept with my friend’s father too when I was only seventeen!” Fabian informed her, not quite seeing Kate’s view on the situation.
This was information she really didn’t need to know. She reached up and scratched her head vigorously with both of her hands.
“Don’t you see my point?” she almost screamed as tears started to fill her eyes.
“Of course I do,” Fabian said in a more serious tone. “But it was a long time ago, and is it really worth losing a friend over one little, how you say – discrepancy?”
“That’s just it,” Kate sighed. “I’m not sure how long it went on for, or what exactly the relationship was about. And, I mean, did . . . did she seduce him . . . or did he seduce her?”
“You mean you just left Biarritz without talking it through?” Fabian was surprised.
Kate nodded.
“Maybe you need to talk to Annabel properly if this is upsetting you too much.” Fabian said, putting a consoling hand on his friend’s arm. “Now, where is that coffee you were about to make me?”
Kate gave him a weak smile as she stood up again and went over to her granite counter-top. Maybe she was overreacting but she couldn’t hide her true feelings. Her whole quality world had been rocked and she didn’t know how she was going to make it better again.
* * *
Shane waved at Annabel from the cockpit as she followed the air stewardess on the pedestrian walkway.
“The staff canteen is on the first-floor,” the pretty uniformed girl told Annabel.
The rest of the journey to the tiny dining room was silent.
“Tea or coffee?” the stewardess asked when they entered the canteen.
You must get so sick of saying that, thought Annabel.
“Coffee, please,” she replied.
The stewardess clip-clopped over to the Burca boiler and filled a white-foam cup with water and a spoon of Nescafe instant coffee. She rested it down on the table in front of Annabel.
“The Captain will be here soon,” she nodded, and slipped away as quickly as her high-heels could take her.
The Captain! Annabel thought. Even though she had witnessed Shane in his working capacity firsthand, she still found it difficult to think of him as a captain of a plane. The Star Ship Enterprise maybe, but not a real plane. No sooner had Annabel opened her magazine than Shane came through the swing-doors. He rushed over to Annabel and gave her a kiss on the cheek before sitting down beside
her.
“Sorry I’m dragging you to this place but I only have a little while – I’m off to Birmingham in half an hour.”
“The lifestyle of the jet-jockey!” Annabel teased.
“It’s not such a glamorous job any more – Airjet have seen to that!” Shane groaned. “But it pays the bills! Now, tell me, how’s Kate?”
“She’s looking great and her paintings are flying, excuse the pun, out of all the top galleries in Paris!”
“And what did you say about her marriage?”
“Stefan found himself a younger model, his PA to be precise, and he and Kate have an amicable divorce of sorts in process. He’s happy to give her the house and she’s happy to be on her own. She talked about you though!”
“I suppose you guys were reminiscing about the good old days on Dollymount Beach!”
Shane said with a grin.
“She still thinks very fondly of you and was disappointed when you lost touch after meeting in Toulouse.”
“That was entirely my fault,” Shane said, as he rubbed his forehead seriously. “Her number was on my old phone and I never changed it over. To be honest, I could have got it easily from her parents but . . .”
“Why didn’t you call her again?”
“Honestly? I was only recently married after I met her that time and I couldn’t stop thinking about her. The few times we spoke afterwards I’d be daydreaming about her for days, weeks!”
“Not a good preoccupation for a newlywed!” Annabel agreed. “If it’s any consolation she was in a right state too. She said she couldn’t paint for six months after meeting you.”
Shane threw his head back with surprise. “She said that?”
“What is it with you pair?” Annabel sighed. “You were always the couple most likely to get it together. What went wrong?”
“I think I pressurised her, Annabel.” Shane’s head lowered. “She was a free spirit, as we both know. I never minded her little flirtations or flings but when she went off to the States that time after college she never asked me to join her.”
“She said that you didn’t want to go away!” Annabel was puzzled by this revelation.
“We’d been together for a long time and she wanted to do her own thing.” Shane turned his head and looked out at the sky through the only window in the canteen. “It took me years to recover.”
“It must have been hard,” Annabel replied sympathetically.
“I’ll never forget hearing about her first marriage.” Shane turned his head back until he was looking straight at Annabel again. “I was so mad with her! Kate does first and then thinks later!”
“I know what you mean,” Annabel nodded. She reached into her purse and pulled out her mobile phone. “Look, why don’t I give you her number now? I know she would love to hear from you.”
“I will be down in Toulouse for a line-check next month,” he said pensively.
“Why don’t you give her a call?” Annabel urged gently.
Shane reached into the pocket of his blazer and pulled out his Nokia.
“What is it?” he grinned.
A few minutes later Shane was disappearing through the swing-doors. Annabel took a sip from the now cold cup of coffee. She hoped that he would ring Kate but only time would tell. She didn’t relish the thoughts of returning to Howth. She missed her kids but she couldn’t honestly say she was looking forward to seeing Colin.
The journey through Arrivals felt longer and lonelier than usual. A Toyota Avensis was at the top of the taxi rank and she sat heavily on the back seat as it drove through suburban Dublin. It had been a lovely surprise meeting Shane like that, but she felt sick every time she thought of Kate. She really needed to talk to her. Maybe it was best to give her some space and try to call in a few days.
The taxi rolled up the long driveway on the sunny side of Howth Hill until Annabel could clearly see her Edwardian mansion. The bay windows, complete with blossoming window boxes, were a favourite feature of hers. She longed for a bath in her luxurious en suite but knew that duty would call the minute she opened the hall door. Colin’s car was nowhere to be seen and, as it was a fine day for a round or two of golf, she didn’t need to be Miss Marple to figure out where he was. Her mum’s Polo was parked beside her Jeep in front of the large double garage.
“Thanks,” she said to the driver as he opened the back door of the car for her. “How much?”
“Twenty euro,” the driver said and nodded his head in appreciation as she handed him twenty-five euros and told him to keep the chnage.
The front door opened slowly. Her two youngest children ran out to greet her. Rebecca was still in her tutu from ballet class and Taylor was all dressed up for a birthday party.
A kindly-faced woman with silver and blonde streaks in her hair came through the door and waved to Annabel.
“Hi, Mum!” Annabel called, still embracing her little girls fondly.
Lily came down the steps and gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek.
“Did you have a nice time, love?” she asked.
“Great, thanks!” Annabel would never be able to tell her mother the truth.
“And how’s Kate after that terrible marriage break-up?” Lily asked solemnly.
“She’s doing grand,” Annabel assured her mother.
“You are so lucky to have such a fine life Annabel,” Lily said. “Colin’s a solid and reliable husband.”
“Yeah!” Annabel tried to sound convinced. She had a brief flashback to the hotel room in Biarritz and Nico’s rippling biceps. How was she going to cope now that she was back?
Chapter 6
The crisp mountain air blew gently in through the top window in Kate’s bedroom. She pushed her duvet over as the sunlight streamed in. She was glad she had left the shutters open for a change. It felt so good to wake in the comfort of her room. The roses on the walls and the bedcover were like old friends and far more reliable than the one she had left behind in Biarritz. She had to decide what she was going to do today. A call to her solicitor to check up on the divorce proceedings and maybe some lunch with Joy and Simon – that would set her up nicely for the moment. The more Kate tried to forget about Annabel, the more the image of her father and friend together flooded her head. There was no getting away from this, and sooner rather than later she was going to have to speak to them about it. She couldn’t contemplate painting at the moment.
After a leisurely shower she wrapped herself up in her cosy bathrobe and descended the stairs. She threw open the hall door on her way to the kitchen and found a fresh baguette on the doorstep. She smiled and thought of Fabian as she picked it up. He often left one for her before he went to work. She had a lot to be thankful for.
As she smothered the sliced baguette with homemade strawberry jam she felt a sense of calm and relaxation set in. Life was good in the Pyrénées and she had a lot of good friends. Her thoughts were interrupted by the phone ringing loudly. She took a quick bite from her bread before answering and mumbled a “Bonjour” to the person at the other end of the line.
“Mum,” she said, quickly gulping back the bread and catching her breath. “How are things? Yeah, I’d a great time with Annabel – so what’s new with you?”
“Well, I’ve had a bit of bad news in fact.”
Kate had never heard her mother sound so aged or anxious. “Mum, what’s wrong?”
Betty didn’t know how to tell her daughter. There was no easy way to do it so maybe it was best just to say it right out.
“I have a tumour, love.”
“You have what?”
“I have a tumour, love,” Betty said again.
“But where? How long?” Kate was perplexed and shaken. She stared at the floor in disbelief.
“I’m going for an operation next Tuesday, but I don’t want you to worry.”
“How can you say that, Mother?” It was so typical of her mum and Kate wanted to shake her for her selflessness. “I’m coming over straight away.”
> “Honestly, love, there’s no need. I’ll be grand.”
“Jesus Christ, Mum, let me be there. Where is the tumour?”
“It’s on my left breast. The doctor said it’s the best place because they have great success with curing it. Mrs Kelly down the road is completely recovered and she had the whole radiotherapy thing and all.”
“Is it . . . malignant?”
“They’re not sure, that’s why I’m going in so soon.”
Kate knew that they would have done a biopsy before insisting on an operation so soon. The speed that they were carrying out the process did not sound good.
“Look Mum, I’ll be there tomorrow. I might even take the boys out of school.”
“There’s no need to fuss, Kate, I’ll be grand.”
Kate wanted to scream at her mother. “I’m not fussing, Mum! I just want to be there!”
“If you’re sure it’s no trouble, it would be great to have someone look after your father.”
That bastard can look after himself, Kate thought. “I’ll call you later, Mum, when I get a flight organised.”
“Alright, love, but promise me you won’t fuss.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, talk later,” Kate said and she put the phone down.
Nothing could have prepared her for this. She’d seen it happen to so many other people but so far she had been fortunate not experience cancer firsthand with any of her own family members. This was her time and she had to be with her mum. An uneasiness descended on her as she thought about her father. How was she going to feel when confronted by him in Dublin? She would have to keep her new knowledge to herself. Her mum was the most important person in the equation now and she was the reason she was going to Dublin. It couldn’t have happened at a worse time. She had the new exhibition to work for and painting was the last thing she felt like doing.
* * *
Annabel glanced at her watch. Nearly time to pick her up! The extra pair of hands would give her some free time to research the Open University’s courses. Colin hadn’t been keen on the idea of an au pair in the beginning but she managed to convince him that all the stay-at-home-wives needed back-up with their driving duties.
Two Days in Biarritz Page 7