Chapter 16
Later, Daisy greeted Gabriel with a kiss on his cheek. He took her hand, and not wishing to appear uptight she forgot about the staff and let him lead her away from the hotel. They walked down the drive and along the road, crossing a short while later to the headland with the beach below.
‘Fi phoned from her brother’s home to let me know she was OK. Did you get hold of Sebastian?’ she asked, intrigued to discover what had been said.
‘I did, eventually. He’s travelling back from the South of France and wasn’t impressed with what I had to tell him.’ They walked down several steps onto the fine golden sand. Daisy and Gabriel took off their shoes and left them behind a rock.
‘Will he be returning here soon?’ she asked, concerned at the thought of Fi being alone in the house with Aaron out there somewhere.
‘Sebastian said he was just outside of Dinard, so near to the ferry. He should be back soon and said he’d come straight here. Apparently he has a butler at the house who’ll keep an eye on Fi, so we shouldn’t worry too much.’ Gabriel looked down at her and gave her a reassuring smile. ‘I got the impression the butler might be getting on a bit, but that he’s more than capable of handling most situations.’
Daisy sighed with relief. ‘Good, because I can’t imagine her letting me back into the house. She really was disappointed in me, Gabe. It was horrible.’
‘If you think I should pop round there and check up on her, tell me and I will.’ He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. ‘Sebastian did reassure me though. I spoke to Fi a little earlier at the hotel and she’s tougher than you think, despite believing that slimy boyfriend of hers up until now.’
‘Do you mean you told her all about him and she believed you?’
He nodded. ‘She was a little embarrassed too, so be prepared for her being a tad uncomfortable around you for a bit.’
Daisy, feeling much better now that Sebastian was on his way back and that he and Gabriel weren’t too worried, relaxed slightly.
They rounded a corner and Gabriel pulled at her hand, making her run with him into the mouth of a cave.
‘Where are we?’ she giggled, surprised.
‘We’re alone and now I can tell you something.’
‘Go on,’ she said, barely able to contain herself. ‘What is so important that you couldn’t tell me earlier?’
He took out a folded piece of paper from his back pocket. ‘This is a certificate,’ he said, unfolding it and handing it to her.
She studied it, frowning in confusion when she read his and Bella’s names. She didn’t want to read it but he’d been so good to listen to her and to speak to Sebastian that she thought it was the least she could do for him.
‘But this looks like a… well, a marriage certificate. Why are you showing this to me?’ She scowled at him and handed the certificate back.
‘It’s divorce papers. Bella and I managed to get a divorce,’ he said, smiling widely at her. His handsome face seemed to be lit from inside somehow and it took Daisy a few seconds to register what he was telling her.
‘But I thought you told me that you had to be married for three years in Jersey before getting a divorce.’
‘That’s right,’ he grinned.
‘So what’s changed?’ She was getting a little annoyed by his cheerfulness. ‘They can’t have updated the law to suit us in the last few weeks.’
He shook his head. ‘No, but my lawyer reminded me that we weren’t married here, but in South Africa. So when I went back to the project, I stopped over in Durban with Bella, and we saw a lawyer who set the papers in motion, and now we’re officially divorced.’
‘Seriously?’ she asked, snatching back the certificate to have a better look at what it said. Gabriel and Bella were divorced. ‘You’re a single man?’
He laughed and pulled her into his arms. ‘Yes, I am. So, Daisy Woods, can you now agree to come out with me, so that we can rekindle the amazing relationship we shared in Vietnam?’
She couldn’t help smiling up at him. Daisy reached up and pulled his head down so that she could kiss him. ‘Abso-bloody-lutely,’ she said, kissing him again, astounded that he’d gone to such lengths to make her happy.
When they stopped to take a breath, Gabriel said, ‘I’ve missed you so much. It’s nearly driven me mad being so close to you but not being able to be with you.’
‘Me too,’ she admitted, stunned that her day had gone from one extreme to the other.
‘Bella’s coming to the hotel this evening to speak to you,’ he said, as they held each other.
‘Why?’ She didn’t have anything against Bella, but didn’t see why they should meet for a chat.
‘I asked her to, in case you didn’t believe what I was telling you now.’
She loved that he wanted to make sure she understood how things could now stand between them. ‘Fine, I’ll see her,’ she said.
They began walking back along the beach, hand in hand. She opened her mouth to tell him how happy she was when she spotted Aaron waiting for them by the rock where they’d left their shoes. She could see he had picked up hers.
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked, her happiness evaporating as he grinned at them. ‘Haven’t you caused enough trouble for one day?’
‘Who’s this?’ Aaron asked rudely, standing up to sneer at Gabriel.
Gabriel let go of Daisy’s hand and put an arm protectively around her shoulders. ‘I’m Gabriel, Daisy’s boyfriend.’
Any pretence at friendliness vanished from Aaron’s face. ‘How come I haven’t seen you around then?’
Gabriel frowned. ‘Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve been away. However, I’m back now and I’m not going anywhere, so if you’ve got an issue with that, or with Daisy, then speak to me. Daisy’s told me all about you and your… fascination with her. Things have changed now and you can move on.’
‘Don’t you come all high and mighty with me.’ Aaron hesitated. ‘I don’t suppose Daisy told you about our incident earlier today. She made a bit of a fool of herself over me at Fi’s home.’
Daisy went to argue, but Gabriel tightened his hold slightly. Comforted, she relaxed a little.
‘She told me what happened,’ Gabriel said. ‘But unsurprisingly her version is different to yours. I’m inclined to believe my girlfriend. So, if you don’t mind, we’ll take our shoes and get on.’
He took Daisy’s shoes from Aaron and passed them to her before leaning past him and picking up his own shoes.
‘I don’t expect to see you hanging around her again,’ Gabriel added, stopping to give Aaron a threatening glare.
Typical bully, thought Daisy as they walked off arm in arm. Can’t help trying to terrorise someone smaller than him, but when Gabriel comes along he stands there looking all pathetic. She resisted looking back at her ex and put her arm around Gabe’s waist.
‘Goodbye, Aaron,’ she said. ‘If I see you again I’ll report you to the police. Enough people have met you now to know what you look like, so it won’t be difficult to trace you here.’
‘She makes a good point,’ Gabriel said. ‘This is a small island where everyone knows everyone else and their business, so you’d be wise to consider that fact before coming back here again.’
They began walking. Daisy’s legs felt like lead and she was sure that it was only Gabriel helping her that enabled her to move.
‘I hope he does keep away,’ she said, once they’d walked about a hundred yards away from him. Then a frightening thought struck her. ‘What about Fi?’
‘I’m sure Sebastian will have a few things to say to him if he bothers her again,’ Gabe said, giving her a gentle squeeze. ‘If not, then we’ll have to think of something else.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, hating that she couldn’t manage to sort Aaron out by herself.
‘It’s fine. Sometimes we all need to ask for help, even though we don’t like to.’
She could tell he was referring to his project. ‘What are you going to do?’
‘I’m not sure,’ he said quietly. ‘But I’ll work it out somehow. Right now, I just want to be certain you’re OK and that he doesn’t bother you again.’
She glanced over her shoulder, relieved to see no sign of Aaron. Then focusing her attention back on Gabriel, Daisy had to resist suggesting he ask Lydia for a loan. She sensed that she was the last person Gabriel would accept money from though, so said nothing. His parents worked to keep their hotel going. She wished she could think of a way to help him.
Playing over what Gabriel had said to Aaron, Daisy asked, ‘Did you mean what you said back there?’ They began walking up the stairs to his grandmother’s garden. ‘About everyone in the island knowing everything about everyone’s business?’
He shook his head and laughed. ‘It is hard to keep a secret here sometimes,’ he said, pulling her to him in a soothing hug. ‘But no, there are approximately ninety-nine thousand people living here and we couldn’t all possibly know what everyone is doing. I should think it was probably like that in the earlier part of the twentieth century though. Then there were people who didn’t leave their parish. It was a much closer community and I doubt you could get away with much. They’d certainly notice a stranger.’
‘So how will we know if Aaron does come back?’
He kissed the top of her head. ‘You’re not the only one who knows what he looks like now, or how he behaves. You’re safe here, Daisy.’
The relief of having someone on her side, who she didn’t have to look out for, or protect against Aaron, was immense. ‘Thank you. I used to have trust in my abilities to control my privacy, but he somehow manages to get close to me whenever he wants and I can’t seem to find a way to stop him.’
‘You’re not on your own now though, Daisy,’ Gabe said. ‘It’s time for you to relax and enjoy being here on this lovely island. You’re one of us now, Daisy, and we look after our own.’
Daisy was trying to find a way to get Fi to speak to her. The atmosphere since their shift had begun was making them both miserable and she’d had enough. She opened her mouth to speak, but upon hearing footsteps she looked up to see a tall, dark man in a grey suit walking with an air of confidence into the hotel.
‘Hello, Sebastian,’ she said, thinking how immaculate he always appeared.
He stopped in front of the reception desk. He smiled at his sister and then looked at Daisy. ‘Good to see you again, Daisy. I wanted to pop in and thank you for helping Fi.’
Daisy didn’t look at Fi. She might have been proved right to accuse Aaron like she had, but she sensed that Fi was still a little crushed by the whole episode and knew better than most how it felt to have been humiliated by his web of lies.
‘Is Gabriel around?’ Sebastian asked. ‘I was hoping to speak to him personally and thank him for phoning me and letting me know what was going on.’
‘Do you have to do that now?’ Fi asked, blushing. ‘I’m sure he’s busy.’
‘He is,’ Daisy agreed. ‘He’ll be in a meeting for the next half an hour or so.’
Fi looked around the hallway and leant forward. Lowering her voice, she added, ‘He’s trying to raise funds to keep his project going, and I don’t think he’s having much luck.’
‘Project?’ Sebastian frowned. ‘Why don’t you tell me a little about it?’
Not sure how much Gabriel would want them to say, Daisy decided that he needed help and if Sebastian Fielding could possibly help then she was willing to take Gabriel’s irritation if she ended up inadvertently saying too much.
‘If you come around here quickly,’ Fi said, waving him to the other side of the reception desk, ‘I’ll show you Gabriel’s website. It’s fascinating. He’s done so much stuff. Have you seen any of this yet, Daisy?’ she asked, addressing Daisy for the first time that day.
‘No,’ Daisy said, relieved that Fi was being friendly once again. She wondered why she’d never thought to look up Gabriel’s website for herself. Seeing it now, Daisy couldn’t believe how impressive Gabriel’s work was. No wonder he was devoted to it. He’d really done a lot to help others, she noted. As well as his current programme there were volunteer researcher and conservation posts for students and others wishing to gain experience and internships. ‘This is much bigger than I’d expected,’ she whispered.
Fi clicked on the page showing Gabriel’s previous expeditions and projects. ‘Look, he’s pretty well-known.’
He was. Daisy couldn’t take it in. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected to see, but it was nothing of this scale. She could see Sebastian’s interest had been piqued and said, ‘He really is passionate about what he does, and it’s so worthwhile, too.’
Sebastian didn’t say anything. He rested his palms on the desk next to his sister and studied each page as Fi moved through them.
‘Click on the present and future projects,’ he said. ‘Let’s have a look at those.’
After reading through all the pages on Gabriel’s website, they had a brief chat and Sebastian handed Daisy a business card.
‘Please give this to Gabriel and ask him to give me a call. I’ve got a proposition for him.’
Daisy nodded and took the card, concentrating on not letting her excitement show. She barely dared to hope that Sebastian would offer Gabriel sponsorship for his project. ‘Thank you, I will.’
They watched him leave. Daisy read his card and put it on her desk so that she wouldn’t forget to pass it to Gabriel when he came through reception.
‘Thanks, Daisy,’ Fi said quietly.
Daisy knew this was the moment they needed to discuss what had happened between them. Part of her dreaded it, but she also wanted to clear the air between them and get back to how they’d been before Aaron’s arrival in Jersey.
‘I’m so sorry you had to get caught up in his snide mind games,’ she said. ‘I don’t even think he fancies me any more. I suspect it’s more that he’s so used to following me and tormenting me that he didn’t know how to stop.’
‘I’ve no idea what Seb said to him,’ Fi said, pulling a face. ‘But I know that the shock of him arriving home a day earlier than we’d expected and catching Aaron with his hand around my throat probably wasn’t the best way for them to meet.’
‘Oh Fi, that’s horrible,’ Daisy said, shocked to hear this news. ‘He was probably taking Gabriel’s put-down on the beach out on you. I’m so sorry.’
Fi absent-mindedly rubbed her throat, around which she’d loosely tied a scarf. ‘It’s fine now. He’s gone and I have a feeling he won’t be back in a hurry. The fact that he used to bother you and your mum only tells me that he picks on those he considers weaker than himself. Now he’s met Gabriel and Sebastian, I can’t imagine he’ll be bothering either of us again in too much of a hurry.’
Daisy didn’t care that they were on duty. She stepped closer to Fi and gave her a tight hug. ‘I’m so relieved we’re friends again; I hated it when we fell out.’
‘Thanks to the guys it wasn’t for long,’ Fi said. ‘I feel such an idiot for believing some moron over you. I think I was a bit jealous by the things he was saying about you.’ She sighed. ‘I’m never going to believe a bloke over a friend again.’
They sat back down at the counter. ‘Seb showed me the magazine that Aaron had in his rucksack after Sebastian had his driver take him to the airport and put him on a plane,’ Fi said.
‘Why? What was in the magazine?’ Daisy had seen a few copies of The Jersey Scene since her arrival but couldn’t understand how that might have got into Aaron’s hands.
Fi lowered her voice. ‘Apparently there was a write-up in one of the English newspapers about Jersey being the place to visit, great local seafood, loads of brilliant restaurants, that sort of thing. There was a picture of you in it. You were painting at Beauport and someone had taken your picture. They didn’t put your name but Aaron noticed you. He was boasting about contacting the journalist who did the write-up and how he persuaded him to give him the photographer’s email address. The guy probably had to listen to one of his convincing stories and eventually told him where you’d been painting. I suppose it was a process of elimination knowing you’d been a receptionist at a hotel before and tracking you down from that. After all, Beauport isn’t far from here and it was somewhere you could walk to paint.’
‘Sly bastard,’ Daisy said, stunned at his resourcefulness. ‘Mind you,’ she said. ‘If him coming here meant he’s now been deterred from following me ever again, then it was probably worth it.’
‘Too right,’ Fi said. ‘I still can’t believe I was taking in by all his crap.’
Daisy sympathised completely. ‘I’ve been where you are, so don’t feel guilty. Aaron is very plausible. He’s good looking and can be so kind and funny. It’s a shame he has this other, darker side.’ She gave Fi a nudge. ‘You’re lucky your brother and Gabriel warned him off; I’ve had a nightmare with him for the last few years.’
She thought back to the times he’d barged his way into their flat, watching her as she tried to remain calm in front of her mother.
‘He’s sick,’ Fi said. ‘By the sounds of it I’ve had a close call with him.’
‘You have,’ Daisy said, relieved. ‘I’m sure we’ve seen the back of him now.’ She willed it to be the case. She couldn’t bear the thought of having to keep watching over her shoulder any more.
‘He’s gone now,’ Fi said, a concerned look on her face. ‘But it must have been frightening having him turn up here and then lie like he did about you.’
‘It was as if I’d fallen back into a nightmare,’ she admitted, shivering at the thought of him.
‘It must have been,’ Fi agreed. ‘He really is good looking,’ she added thoughtfully.
‘Who is?’ Gabriel asked coming out of the hallway at the side of the reception area.
‘Not you,’ Daisy joked. ‘Well, you are of course, but we weren’t talking about you.’
‘Oh, thanks.’
‘Daisy, where’s that thing?’ Fi asked. She looked at Gabriel. ‘You’ve just missed my brother. He was looking for you.’
‘He was?’ Gabriel asked, looking disappointed. ‘That’s a shame.’
Daisy held up the business card. ‘He wanted me to give this to you and asked if you could call him. There’s something he wants to discuss with you.’
Gabriel looked intrigued. ‘OK, I’ll call him now.’
The girls waited impatiently for him to speak to Sebastian.
‘I saw your dad checked out earlier than expected,’ Fi said. ‘Did he say goodbye to you before he left?’
Daisy shook her head. ‘No, but that’s pretty typical of him. I don’t think he was very pleased with my lack of interest in playing the dutiful daughter. I’ve never really spent much time with him and I don’t really need to find a new parent at my age. Mum was the only parent I was ever close to and I’m happy with that.’
‘You’re lucky… I never knew my mum.’
Daisy opened her mouth to speak, but it took a few seconds for her to think what to say. ‘Oh, Fi, I never knew that. Can I ask why?’
‘She died just after I was born. My dad and then my uncle pretty much brought me up. With Seb’s help, of course.’
Daisy was stunned. She’d assumed that Fi’s life had always been fun and carefree. ‘That’s so sad.’
Fi gave her a vague smile. ‘I suppose it’s not as if I knew her to miss her, but I did envy my friends for their closeness with their mothers. You, for example – I know you said your mum was unwell but it must have been incredible to be everything to someone.’
Daisy thought back to the intensity of her relationship with her mother and smiled. ‘I miss my mum, but living with her could feel suffocating a lot of the time,’ she admitted.
‘I suppose so,’ Fi said. She thought for a moment. ‘I didn’t ever miss out on attention because I was always spoilt and loved by those around me. Even Harwood, Seb’s butler, has always looked out for me. It would have been nice to have experienced having a mother, though.’
‘Yes, I can imagine it would have been,’ Daisy agreed.
Gabriel came off the phone from speaking to Sebastian. ‘You’ll never guess what Sebastian’s offering to do,’ he said, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
Daisy couldn’t help laughing, relieved for the change in subject. ‘Going by the look on your face, I think I can take a pretty good guess.’
‘He’s going to sponsor the rest of the project,’ he said, shaking his head in amazement. ‘He said he’s always been interested in conservation, but up until now hasn’t made the time to actually get involved.’
‘I’m so thrilled for you,’ Daisy said, delighted to see him so happy.
‘Me too,’ Fi said. ‘I told you I had a wonderful brother.’
‘Thanks, girls,’ he said, giving Fi a kiss on the forehead and Daisy a kiss on the mouth. ‘Things can get underway again.’
Daisy was thrilled for him, but a little saddened that she would have to say goodbye to him once again.
He must have noticed her expression change because he added, ‘You’re coming with me, I hope.’
‘I can’t,’ she said. ‘I have to finish the season here at the Encore.’
He leant over the reception desk and cupped her chin in his hand. ‘I know, but the project won’t get underway again until the end of September, so you’ll be able to fly out with me. If you want to, that is.’
She squealed, forgetting where she was. ‘Of course I want to come with you.’
‘Good, then that’s settled.’
‘I’m so pleased for you both,’ Fi said quietly behind them.
Daisy and Gabriel let go of each other and turned to face her.
‘I’m sorry, Fi,’ Gabe said. ‘You’re welcome to come out and visit any time you like, you do know that, right?’
Her face lit up. ‘I’d love to.’
‘Sebastian said he’d come out and see what we’re doing and how it all works, so you could travel out with him. It’ll be fun to meet up again. I’ll be able to show you what I’ve been working towards.’
‘How long will we be out there?’ Daisy asked, unable to hide her rising excitement.
‘For most of the winter months,’ Gabe said. ‘We should be back here in the spring, so if you want to work another season here at the hotel, you’ll be back in time.’
Daisy couldn’t believe how well everything was turning out. ‘Perfect.’
Gabriel kissed her quickly, then frowned and stepped away after spotting someone over by the door. ‘Here, sir,’ he said to a grey-haired gentleman struggling with a large leather suitcase. ‘Let me help you with that.’
Daisy returned to her desk and moved her mouse to light up the computer screen, ready to check the guest into the hotel.
Gabriel followed him the few steps to the reception counter. ‘I’ll leave your case here for you and go and let the porter know you’ve arrived,’ he said, walking away.
‘Good afternoon,’ Daisy said. ‘Welcome to the Encore. Do you have a reservation?’
‘No,’ he said. ‘I, er, wish to book in.’
Daisy smiled at him. ‘One moment, sir.’ She quickly checked the availability. ‘We have a twin room at the rear of the hotel overlooking the valley, and a double at the front of the hotel overlooking the pool and gardens.’
‘I take the room at the back,’ he said.
She had just watched the old man follow the porter to the lift when Gabriel returned to the reception. He smiled at Fi who was busily typing a letter. ‘All right if I step outside with Daisy for a few minutes?’
‘Um, of course,’ she said, looking taken aback at the request.
Gabriel ignored Daisy’s quizzical look and waited for her to join him at the front door. They walked outside towards the rose garden.
‘What is it?’ Daisy asked. ‘Is everything OK?’
‘Yes, it’s fine,’ he said, checking they were alone. ‘Over here,’ he said, indicating the row of huge pine trees planted years ago along the wall near the road.
They reached the middle pine tree and Gabriel stopped and faced her.
‘What time do you finish your shift?’
Daisy checked her watch, wondering why he couldn’t have asked her that inside the hotel. ‘In twenty minutes.’
‘Right, I’ll phone Nan now and tell her that I’ll be bringing you and Mum to her house because I’ve got something I want to tell you all. I’ll then go and chat to Mum and tell her I’ll come and get her shortly and then when you’re finished meet me at the back of the hotel.’
‘Won’t they think it strange that I’m going to be there?’
He stared at her, his dark eyes intent. ‘No,’ he said, his tone insistent. ‘I’ll be telling them about Sebastian’s funding of the project and about us planning a future together.’
‘We are?’ she asked, stepping up to him and hugging him tightly around his waist before he had time to answer.
Gabriel held her close to him, laughing. ‘Yes. We’ve wasted enough time with all this messing around. I want to be with you and I’m fairly sure you feel the same. So, from now on we plan things that will allow us to spend time together.’ He kissed the top of her head. ‘They’ll need something to cheer them up when I tell them about my return to South Africa.’
She nodded and let go of him. ‘I’d better get back to reception before Fi thinks I’ve left already,’ she giggled.