Tom squirmed, momentarily reprieved by the arrival of a waitress. ‘What do you want?’ he asked.
‘Deux cafés,’ Maddy ordered.
‘It’s too late for coffee,’ Tom protested when the waitress had left.
‘It’s too late for a lot of things,’ Maddy retorted. ‘Can we get started on this? I don’t have all day.’
‘Neither do I,’ Tom said. ‘I’m only here until late tonight. I’m catching the Ryanair flight back at eleven.’
Maddy blinked. ‘What? You’re only here for a couple of hours? What on earth is so important it couldn’t wait? That golf tournament?’
‘No. That was the other day. Our club won, by the way. The photo you saw was from the dinner at the golf club.’
‘Oh. Hip, hip hooray, hang out the flags.’ Maddy stirred some sugar into the coffee the waitress had just served. ‘And that woman is?’
Tom coloured slightly. ‘Claire Murphy. Secretary of the Lahinch club.’
‘And your relationship with her is something you want to tell me about?’
Tom sighed and pushed away his cup. ‘I don’t know what to say. There’s no relationship to speak of. But okay, she’s attractive. We danced and flirted a bit. I don’t see that’s a crime considering—’ He stopped and took a deep breath. ‘Feck it, Maddy, this is not going the way I planned. I didn’t know Jacinta posted that picture. She didn’t tell me when she called the other day. All she said was that she’d found out.’
Maddy stared at him. ‘Found out? About what?’
‘The money.’ Tom stuck out his chin. ‘You won all that money and never told me. Two hundred thousand.’
Maddy’s stomach sank. ‘How did Jacinta find out?’
‘One of the other teachers told her. They’re in the same bridge group.’
Maddy sighed, admitting defeat. ‘Okay. I knew it had to come out one day.’
Tom’s gaze hardened. ‘Jesus, Maddy. Don’t sit there pretending it’s nothing. You lied and said you’d won two thousand on a scratch card. But you won so much more than that. A huge amount of money. How could you keep such a thing from me and cover it up with lies?’
‘It wasn’t that hard,’ Maddy mumbled. ‘What you didn’t know wouldn’t hurt you, I thought.’
‘Yeah, well, now I know.’
Maddy raised an eyebrow. ‘And?’
‘Shouldn’t that be our money to share? Why should you keep it all?’ Tom demanded.
‘Why shouldn’t I? It’s mine. I can do what I bloody well like with it. All these years I’ve never done anything remotely irresponsible or selfish. It’s always been about you or the kids. I feel I deserve a bit of fun before I die.’
Tom gave a snort. ‘Don’t be melodramatic. We’ve had lots of fun. What about that holiday in Majorca?’
‘Yeah, I remember. Our room was broken into and then the kids got a tummy bug. I had to look after them while you were ogling women on the beach. The only one with a tan was you.’
Tom looked a little sheepish. ‘I suppose that was a bad example.’
‘You bet it was.’ Maddy studied Tom more closely, noticing he wasn’t his usual jaunty self. He hadn’t checked his appearance in the window of the café once or smoothed his hair. Dressed in chinos and a polo shirt, he looked as if he had stepped straight from a golf game onto a plane, which was probably very close to the truth. Something suddenly dawned on her. ‘You need money for something?’ she asked. ‘Is that why you’re here on this flying visit?’
‘Well, uh…’ Tom fiddled with his teaspoon. Then he looked at her. ‘Okay, yes. I’ve been invited to represent our club at an amateur tournament in Florida in August. But it’s pretty expensive, what with flights and hotels and all that.’
‘I see.’ Maddy looked at him, not knowing how to reply.
So that’s why he was here. Typical. He didn’t deserve anything from her. Flirting with another woman in public was such a low thing to do, but wasn’t what she had done just as bad? Their marriage had been heading for the rocks with increasing speed even before the lottery win. His indifference to her, his selfishness, his obsession with golf had all contributed to the slow death of their marriage. But maybe it had been her fault too? ‘It takes two to tango,’ she mumbled.
‘What are you talking about?’
She leant on her elbows and looked at him. ‘I’m talking about us – our marriage. There doesn’t seem to be much left of it. What do you think?’
Tom sighed. ‘No. Don’t know what to say. But yeah, it’s feeling a little dead all right.’ He looked at Maddy with sad eyes. ‘I’m sorry. I haven’t made you happy, have I?’
‘You did. In the beginning. We had such good times then.’
He nodded and smiled. ‘Yeah, those were the days. But now…’ He paused. ‘I was thinking during the flight over how nice it would be if we were friends. Because I do like you, Maddy. And I care for you. A lot. So if we could part right now, with no hard feelings, and celebrate the good times and try not to get into bitter arguments and drawn-out fights that would only hurt the kids, wouldn’t that be—’ He stopped. ‘God, that wasn’t at all what I meant to say. I only came to ask if you could see your way around sharing some of the cash with me. Then all this came out instead.’
‘I’m glad you’ve said it.’ Maddy reached out and took his hand. ‘And yes, I agree. We should part in a friendly manner and stay friends. I like you, too, Tom. I’ll always care for you. We have so much history.’
He looked relieved and squeezed her hand. ‘That’s nice to hear.’
Maddy suddenly felt she couldn’t let him off the hook that easily. She realised how much she had to get off her chest. She let go of him. ‘Of course, I could start a whole string of complaints,’ she continued. ‘Starting with how you always made me feel you did something noble when we got married because I was pregnant. And how you never honoured your end of the deal we made about sharing housework and childcare, not to mention the valet service I was supposed to provide, even though we both worked full-time, and how golf became your religion and made you forget about me and all the things we planned to do when the kids left home.’ She drew breath. ‘But maybe that was my fault. I wasn’t fascinating enough, was I?’
Tom flinched at the sarcasm in her voice. ‘That wasn’t why—’
Maddy flicked her hand. ‘Oh, whatever. Let’s not go into that. I want to stay friends and keep in touch with you. Meet up at Christmas with the kids and do other stuff together. As friends. And…’ She paused. ‘I’d like to share some of the money with you. Go on that golf trip. Have fun, fall in love, whatever. Neither of us should waste the rest of our middle age trying to breathe life into the corpse that is our marriage. Life’s too short for that.’
Startled, he stared back at her. ‘Wow. You are some woman, Maddy.’ Then a happy smile spread all over his face, and he leant over and kissed her. ‘I can’t believe it. Thank you. You deserve all that money. How much are you willing to share?’
‘How about twenty thousand?’
His eyes lit up. ‘Are you sure? That’s very generous. I’ll accept without protest.’
All her anger gone, Maddy beamed at him, his selfishness not bothering her any more. ‘Isn’t this fun? I mean, yeah, divorce is a pretty sad affair. But isn’t being unhappy with someone even sadder?’
‘That’s true. But it seems a little weird to feel this happy, sitting here with you planning a divorce. How do you feel?’
‘Free,’ Maddy said without thinking.
‘What are you going to do now?’ Tom asked. ‘I mean with the rest of your life?’
Maddy shrugged. ‘Haven’t a clue.’ She lifted her cup in a toast. ‘To an amicable divorce. Go forth and fornicate or whatever. You have my blessing.’
Tom clinked his cup against Maddy’s. ‘Cheers, Maddy.’
She rose from the chair. ‘I have to go. My friends are expecting me.’
He shot up. ‘Oh, yes, me too. I’m going to wander around town for a
bit. Do some shopping, and then I have to get back to the airport.’
‘Give Jacintha my love,’ Maddy said with a wicked glint in her eyes. ‘Such a shame I won’t be seeing her much from now on.’
Tom laughed. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing her face when she learns we’re splitting up but staying friends. Now she’ll have nothing to bitch about.’ He held out his arms. ‘How about a hug?’
Maddy melted into Tom’s arms, feeling a pang of nostalgia. She had truly loved him once, and maybe part of her always would. She pressed her cheek against his and breathed in the smell of his aftershave for the last time. Then he let her go and they pulled back, looking into each other’s eyes.
‘It’ll be okay.’ Tom wiped away a tear from Maddy’s cheek with his finger. ‘Be happy, sweetheart.’
She nodded. ‘I will,’ she whispered. ‘And so will you.’
‘I’ll do my best. I’ll be in touch. Have a great holiday.’
As he walked away, she watched him disappear around the corner. A chapter in her life had closed forever.
* * *
Like a giant spaceship suspended in the air, the house hovered over the landscape. The brilliant white façade was nearly blinding against the blue sky.
‘Your house is the epitome of discreet,’ Leanne remarked as she pulled up in front of the tall iron gates. ‘Such a modest little place.’
Erik laughed and took his phone from his pocket. He tapped in a number and the gates slid open silently. ‘The architect is Finnish. I said “simple” and this is what I got.’ He glanced at Maddy in the back seat. ‘Are you feeling all right? You’ve been very quiet.’
‘I’m fine. Just a little sleepy.’ Maddy patted Bridget absentmindedly. Erik had been forced to take the front seat because of his long legs, but she didn’t mind. Sitting at the back gave her a break from Leanne’s chatter, and she had a chance to mull over what had happened at the café. It was weird to think the two men in her life were now history. First Ludo, then Tom. Just like that her life had changed overnight. It was difficult to imagine she was now technically single. Not divorced, but separated. And, in a way, she had lost a husband but gained a friend. ‘Sorry if I’ve been boring. Much to think about, you see.’
Erik smiled. ‘Of course.’
‘We’ll soon be in the pool,’ Leanne said. ‘And Dad has promised us a dinner party. Just a few guests and us.’ She smirked at Erik. ‘I bet you’re trying to set Maddy up with some French hunk.’
Erik laughed. ‘You’re too suspicious, darlin’.’
Leanne drove up the steep hill onto a plateau and then through a garden that took their breath away. Bougainvillea and oleander bushes in full bloom were set off against the green background of palms and olive trees planted in perfect symmetry to form a beautifully landscaped park. They came to a stop outside a massive iron-studded oak door that flew open as they approached. Two smiling young men in white jeans and T-shirts greeted them as they alighted from the car.
‘Pierre and Marcel,’ Erik said. ‘Meet my daughter, Leanne, and her friend, Mrs—’ He stopped, looking embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry. I can’t seem to remember your last name.’
Maddy laughed. ‘Probably because nobody told you. Just call me Maddy,’ she said to the young men and shook each of their hands. ‘My last name’s Quinn,’ she said to Erik as an afterthought. ‘But I might change it after, well, you know,’ she ended, not wanting to say the word ‘divorce’ out loud. Not yet, anyway.
‘We don’t know,’ Leanne said. ‘But I’m guessing something happened back there. No need to talk about it right now, though. Let’s just have fun.’
Maddy sighed. ‘That sounds good. I’m looking forward to seeing the house.’
Erik nodded. ‘Let’s get you settled in. The lads will take your bags, so come with me and I’ll show you around.’
Maddy let Bridget out, and she trotted beside them as if she knew this was her perfect environment. They entered a bright hall with a wooden floor and white walls hung with seascapes by well-known Scandinavian painters. The living room was furnished with a white seating arrangement, a big marble coffee table littered with magazines and books in front of the picture window overlooking the enormous blue pool that seemed to hover over stunning views of the mountains and the azure Mediterranean in the distance. A big carpet with an exquisite pattern of flowers and leaves lay on the floor.
‘Holy shit, Dad,’ Leanne whispered as she stood by the window. ‘I had no idea you lived like this.’ She turned to stare at him in awe. ‘How did you make all this money?’
He smiled and put his finger to his perfectly straight nose. ‘This,’ he said. ‘I was born with a sense of smell that has led me around the world and made me a lot of money.’
Leanne nodded. ‘I have it, too. That sense of smell. But it hasn’t made me rich. I just thought it was a bit weird.’
Erik’s eyes lit up. ‘You do? I remember thinking you might when you were a little girl, but I didn’t know if it would develop.’ He put his arm around Leanne. ‘You’re a chip off the old block, sweetheart.’
Leanne gave him a hug. ‘I’ll be proud of my nose forever now.’ She stepped back and looked at him with awe. ‘But how did you do it? How did you make a fortune with this weird sense of smell?’
‘It all started after I left Ireland to work for a cosmetics company in Grasse,’ Erik replied. ‘I had a science degree from UCD and was bored with my job in a pharmacy. And I always wanted to live in Provence. Then they discovered my sense of smell, which kick-started my new career. I was what you call a “nose” for many years with Fragonard and other companies in Grasse. We made a lot of very well-known perfumes over the years. Then I wanted to create my own fragrances. My ideas didn’t go down well with the big guys, so I thought I’d stick my neck out and go it alone.’ He spread out his arms to encompass the house, the pool and the view. ‘And this is what it brought me.’
‘What about Mam?’ Leanne asked. ‘Why didn’t she want to share this adventure with you?’
Erik looked glum. ‘She was afraid to leave everything and take a risk. I had no money, just my degree and ambition. But by that time, we’d already fallen out. She said she wanted to give you a safe environment. “You don’t bring a child into the chaos and uncertainty,” she said.’ He shrugged. ‘The rest you know. I tried to keep in touch, but—’
‘I know.’ Leanne put her arms around Erik’s waist and hugged him. ‘Not your fault.’ She stepped away. ‘But Mam had me for most of my life. Now it’s your turn. Not that I want to live in your pocket, I’ve had enough of an overbearing mother, but I want to be in your life.’
Erik kissed Leanne on top of her head. ‘There has always been a space for you in my heart and my life.’
She looked up at him. ‘What about your love life? Any women I should know about?’
Erik’s eyes met Maddy’s over Leanne’s head. ‘Not at the moment.’ He stepped away. ‘But now you should go and inspect the guest cottage. You’ll want to have swim before dinner, I think.’
Maddy turned away from Erik’s gaze. ‘A swim sounds like heaven.’
* * *
The guest cottage was decorated in the same Scandinavian style as the main house. Simple but comfortable wicker chairs and sofas with white cushions were scattered on the little patio overlooking the pool, and both of the large bedrooms had king-size beds. The bathrooms were stocked with Hovden products and light blue-and-white towels.
‘Fabulous,’ Leanne sighed and lay back on the bed in her room. Bridget jumped up on the bed and snuggled down beside her. Leanne waved at Maddy and Erik. ‘I’ll have a snooze here with Bridget for a little while. See you later, gang.’ She closed her eyes and appeared to have fallen asleep in an instant.
Erik gently closed the door. ‘She’s exhausted.’ He fixed Maddy with his green eyes. ‘What about you? Do you need to sleep?’
Maddy stepped away. ‘No. I’d love a swim.’
‘Of course. Me too. Did you bring
a swimsuit?’
‘Yes.’ Maddy opened the door to the adjoining bedroom. ‘I’ll see you at the pool in a minute.’
‘I’ll be outside the little pool house on the other side. I’ll get you a drink and a snack if you feel like something to eat.’
‘Great.’ Maddy slipped into her room and closed the door.
She stood there for a while, enjoying being alone. She understood Leanne’s sudden fatigue. It had been a long journey; first the emotional upheaval of the reunion with her dad and then ending up in a place that looked more like a film set than a home. This place was somehow too rich, too overwhelming, even for Maddy, with its cool elegance and comfort. It was like landing on a cloud in a kind of heaven, where everything was provided, even a handsome man who seemed attracted to her in a way she found oddly disturbing. Is this real? she wondered as she went to the window overlooking that incredible garden. Maybe this is a dream, and I’ll wake up in my bed in Dublin on a wet Monday morning, Tom beside me, asking if I’ve remembered to iron his shirts for some business trip.
She laughed at herself and went to find her bikini in the bag one of the staff had put on the bed. She could hear the cicadas’ loud chirping, the screeching of a jay and a plane preparing to land at Nice airport through the open window. Real sounds that told her she wasn’t dreaming. Maddy caught sight of herself in the tall mirror of the wardrobe. The red bikini she had bought in the Victoria’s Secret shop was truly flattering. With her slightly tousled hair and a band of freckles across her nose, she looked young and happy.
She grabbed a towel and ran out the door to the pool, where she could see chairs and a table with drinks and snacks set up under the striped awning. There was no sign of Erik, which was more of a relief than a disappointment. She needed a bit of a space, a moment to breathe and catch up with herself. She dived into the cool blue water, surfacing moments later and swam to the edge, where she rested for a while, looking at the breath-taking view. What a perfect place. But dangerously addictive. Maddy smiled and mentally shook herself. Why not enjoy all this luxury while it lasted? Go with the flow and take all it had to offer. Life was too short to be miserable. And definitively too short not to enjoy the admiration of a very attractive man…
The Road Trip_A feel-good romantic comedy that will make you laugh out loud! Page 19