Chapter 24 #2
It feels a bit weird being watched by the family, especially when Lucie comes over to take my hand and refuses to let go.
Even Rody comes over to listen. He trades glances with his wife as I sing all sorts of snippets as the kids bellow song titles at me and it becomes a game of how quickly Dan can switch his backing tracks to keep up.
‘Okay, kids,’ Rody says. ‘That’s enough. I gather Connie here hasn’t slept for two days. I think we should let her get back home so she’s in a fit state for tonight.’
How embarrassing.
Before I leave, Martha and Rody take me to one side.
‘You have a great voice, Connie. Would you consider a permanent residency here?’ asks Rody.
‘Residency?’ We’re hardly in Vegas.
‘I’m offering you a regular spot. The pay is not bad, better than one-off gigging, and it’ll mean you can still do your own thing as long as you show up to do one slot each night.
And if you need lodgings, we have plenty of room here above the bar.
We can throw that in for free seeing as you saved my baby girl’s life. ’
‘She has a husband, Rody. I’m sure she’d prefer to live with him,’ Martha says, chuckling.
Yes, who wouldn’t want to live with a man who looks effortlessly sexy every minute of every day, who is a red-hot lover between the sheets and saves children in his spare time? I have no words. Which is a shame because I really need to clear this misunderstanding up immediately.
‘See you tonight, Connie, and thanks again. Please tell your husband the drinks are on us tonight. We’re looking forward to thanking him in person.’
‘Well, he’s not exactly…’
They’ve gone. They’ve raced off to see what the banging in the kitchen is. I wander back towards the villa in a daze.
A job offer?
Accommodation included?
A singing career here on The Strip?
And a chance to see what could happen between Matteo and me?
With shaking hands, I video-call Liam and Ged en route to let them know the exciting news.
How shocked they will be to find out that while they’ve had to put up with me being super boring and penis repellent over the years, I’ve just had the wildest time of my life.
I’m filled with joy at seeing their faces on the screen.
‘Hey, you two. How’s it going?’ I’ll be polite and not launch straight in with my ginormous news – me, me, me.
I’m met with an almighty huffing and puffing as they exhale noisily in unison. It doesn’t take much to excite these two.
‘Tell us everything ! Do not pretend something didn’t happen. It is clearly written all over your face,’ Liam says, peering at me closely.
‘Whatever do you mean?’
‘You look glorious, glowing, effervescent, darling,’ declares Ged, his sharp eyes sparkling. ‘You’ve finally shagged someone. Hip hip, hooray!’
‘Well, it was more of a journey of self-discovery and emotional healing,’ I say, ignoring their cheers as I peer off into the middle distance. ‘I had to lose myself in the chaos in order to find my truth.’
I smile enigmatically, my mind drifting back to the recent, luxurious memories of my and Matteo’s union.
I’m a spiritual window. I’m an overflowing font of inner peace.
I’m so hashtag blessed. We all take a beat as I tell them about Matteo, the festival and the new job offer.
Liam’s eyes well up, and Ged swishes a hand over his face like he’s trying to stop a flood of tears, and they both jump up and down, hugging each other.
‘Do it. Have an adventure, Connie. You deserve it,’ says Ged once all my news sinks in.
‘I love him!’ squeals Liam in my face. He’s googled Matteo already. ‘He’s so handsome ! Those eyes! That moody look. I’m all aquiver just thinking about him.’
‘Yes,’ I agree, staring deliciously into space. I’ve been terribly distracted all week with that exact same issue. Matteo is too handsome. He’s distractingly handsome. I nod absent-mindedly.
‘Those thighs, Ged, can you see them? And those arms? That chest!’
‘That’s enough , Liam! Bye, darling. Good luck with tonight. Love you.’
I click off the call and float back to the villa. I let myself into the cottage, sink onto the unmade bed, my new favourite place in the whole world, and immediately fall into a deep sleep.
I wake late afternoon to the sound of voices around the pool.
The girls are up. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my entire life.
I pull on my robe and make a coffee to take outside.
The sun is high in the sky, and it is a beautiful day.
I take my notebook and scribble down some lyrics, humming tunes that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Disney movie.
I’m literally bursting with happiness as I watch musical notes fly from my pen on to the page.
A lustful urge shoots through me at the thought of what lies in store for me later.
As I slip my bikini on, I hear shrieks and splashes.
Tash and the girls are enjoying themselves by the sound of things.
Then I hear a male voice. I listen closely but can’t make out what is being said.
I hope they haven’t invited a load of randy nuns over.
I want to announce my romantic newsflash to the Dollz and hear them get all excited for me.
I hear the unmistakable screech that belongs to Tash followed by lots of splashing and shouting over whose turn it is to have a go on Enreeky next.
Jesus Christ, not in the pool! Aware of the irony that only hours ago I was defiling the Jacuzzi myself, I wonder why he has popped by.
‘Enreeky? Enreeky? What are these photos of Connie doing on your phone? When did she go cliff diving?’
‘And there’s one here of her and David bloody Guetta! How come we didn’t get invited to the VIP section and she did?’ I hear lots of tutting and complaining from the girls and smile smugly to myself.
‘And that’s her dancing with Matteo on the boat, isn’t it?’ Tash asks. ‘Ah, don’t they look lovely? What a cute couple.’
I’d kill to see that photo of me dancing with Matteo.
I’ll be able to send it to Ged and Liam.
I could casually ask Nacho to send me the photo.
I can’t help giggling. For the first time in my life, I feel high and exuberant.
Ged and Liam were right. I haven’t been living my life at all, I’ve only been drifting from day to day.
And now it’s like I have options. I don’t have to go home, back to that non-existence, if I don’t want to.
Before I can change my mind, I race up the path and pull the gate open to join them from my hidden dwelling.
I slip through to the pool area. Tash has her back to me, so she doesn’t know I’m standing behind her, but I see some of the girls have clocked me and are wondering where I have magically appeared from.
I grin widely back at them. I’m bursting to blurt out my news.
‘But why does Matteo have his arm around someone else in this photo?’ Tash asks. ‘Is that Alex? Christ, Liberty, you were bang on the money there, pet. Look at the date. It was only last week.’
I stop dead in my tracks.
‘And Enreeky, what’s this photo of you and him together trying wedding suits on in a shop? Whose wedding is it?’ There’s a pause while the splashing comes to an abrupt halt. ‘Enreeky! Are you getting married?’ Tash yells across to him.
I hear Nacho yell back, amid loud ‘boo’s from the girls. ‘No. It isn’t me getting married. It’s my half-brother, Matteo. This weekend. Before he goes to Los Angeles.’
My words become lodged in my throat.
‘Matteo is getting married?’ booms Big Sue. ‘To Alex?’
‘He’s leaving Benidorm to move to LA?’ gasps Liberty. ‘But what about Connie?’
‘We’ll kill him,’ roars Cherry at the same time.