‘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 at the moment.’
‘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, but 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 the majority 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. So has Ol.’
‘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 up, and couldn’t help noticing the unfamiliar dark circles under Sebastian’s eyes. He looked exhausted.
‘I am.’ She swallowed in an attempt 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 a great 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?’
‘But after all the things I’ve said,’ she looked at Olly. ‘I was going to have a termination. I was going to get rid of our baby, Ol.’
He crossed the room in one movement and took her in his arms. ‘Angel, you mustn’t talk like that. You were only trying to figure out what to do, nothing more. And you kept the baby after all, didn’t you?’
‘But look what’s happened,’ she sobbed. ‘I’m losing my baby, I know it.’
Paige moved back to give Olly space on the sofa. ‘You don’t know that,’ she soothed. ‘How long ago did you phone the doctor?’
‘Fifteen minutes. He should be here soon.’
Paige checked her watch and hearing a car on the gravel, raced to open the front door. ‘She’s in here,’ she called, her voice choking with emotion.
Paige and Olly left the doctor to examine Clem, and within moments, he was out in the hall trying his best to reassure them. ‘She needs to keep her feet up and rest,’ he said pushing his round tortoiseshell glasses up his narrow nose. ‘Above all, she must try and remain calm. It won’t do her or the baby any good for her to carry on being upset in this way.’
‘We’ll make sure she does,’ said Paige. ‘And the baby, do you think it will be OK?’
‘I don’t think it’s as bad as she fears, but we can’t tell just yet. I’ll arrange a scan for her in a couple of days, by then we should be able to get a better prognosis.’
‘Is there anything we have to look out for,’ asked Paige, feeling Olly’s anguish as he listened to the doctor’s words.
‘The bleeding has stopped for the moment.’
‘If the bleeding starts again, call me immediately,’ the doctor said, ‘but above all, please try and remain as calm and supportive to Clementine as possible. She doesn’t need you two fretting. She’s doing enough of that for everyone.’
He passed Paige his card. ‘These are my emergency numbers. If there’s a problem, call me on one of these.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘Don’t worry, my dear, I’m sure everything will be fine. Try and get some rest. I’ll pop in again in the morning.’
‘Thank you,’ Paige said, showing him out.
She followed her sister upstairs, assuring her that if the doctor thought there was any immediate problem, he would have arranged for her to go straight to hospital.
Paige waited until Clem was cleaning her teeth and took Olly to one side. ‘Olly, promise you’ll wake me straight away if she gets in a state,’ she lowered her voice. ‘Or if anything else happens.’
Olly nodded. ‘Of course.’
‘It’ll be fine,’ she said, rubbing his hunched shoulders. ‘Don’t you get in a state too, she needs us to stay strong for her, remember?’
She stared at him, waiting for his reply. ‘Well?’
‘Yes, of course, but it’s bloody frightening.’
‘I know it is,’ she agreed, saddened to see him so anxious. ‘But if it’s this grim for us, you can only imagine what Clem’s going through right now.’
Olly shrugged. ‘Shit, I’m a selfish sod.’
‘No, you’re not. Now stop wallowing, and go and give her a cuddle.’
Clem caught them chatting. ‘Hey. What are you two nattering about? Did the doctor tell you something?’
Paige could hear the panic rising in C
lem’s voice, and crossed the room with what she hoped was a confident smile on her face. She gave her sister a hug. ‘Don’t be daft,’ she said, pulling back the duvet and waiting for her sister to get into bed. ‘Now settle down and get some rest. Everything will be fine, you’ll see.’ She covered her sister and walked to the door. ‘I don’t know about you two, but I’m exhausted. I’ll see you in the morning.’
Paige’s smile disappeared as soon as she left the spare room. Sitting down heavily on the edge of her double bed, she thought how loving someone could cause you so much heartache and pain. Then, picturing Olly and her sister comforting each other and so much in love, Paige knew she would give anything to go back to Sebastian. She felt very much alone.
Her feelings of serenity from her holiday had dissipated in the midst of this unexpected drama, and already felt a lifetime ago. Lying in her bedroom later that night, she pictured Sebastian’s tense face in the blackness. She could see him as clearly as if he were standing in front of her. She missed him and for a moment she envied her sister and Olly’s relationship. How could she be selfish enough to feel jealous of her younger sister being with the man she loved, and expecting his baby, especially with what was happening right now? Why did she torture herself like this? Paige heard her sister and Olly’s muted voices from the next room and sighed. The sound made her smile. Maybe everything was going to be fine after all.
Olly phoned Paige as soon as Clem’s ultrasound appointment had finished. ‘They found a heartbeat,’ he said, his voice tight. ‘Thank God, it was just a false alarm. Clem is so relieved we decided not to mention it to your parents for now. Imagine how dreadful it would have been to have worried them too.’
‘Doesn’t bear thinking about,’ Paige said, smiling at the thought and thanking him for letting her know everything was back on track.
‘I could sleep for a bloody week right now,’ Olly said.
‘You’re not the only one.’ Paige pictured her sister’s relief. She stifled a yawn just in time to spot two women entering the shop.
‘I’ve come to try on these,’ said one of them dangling a pair of Paige’s highest high heels from her fingers. ‘In a size seven.’
A Jersey Affair Page 26