Chapter 50
FIFTY
Ed was tooting a horn outside as Gracie charged around throwing last-minute things into her bag. This was the first time she had been away with a man for ages and she couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous.
‘Calm down, little sis.’ Noms threw her a bottle of water out of the fridge. ‘Enjoy it. A week away by the sea with shaggin’ aplenty on offer. What’s not to like?’
‘What’s shagging?’ Jack piped up.
Noms and Gracie cringed and ignored him. Ed knocked on the door impatiently.
She flung it open and grinned broadly. ‘I’m ready, sorry.’
‘Wow.’ Gracie was wide-eyed. ‘This is cool.’
The luxury apartment was right on the Fowey quayside with a magnificent sea view from every room and a large balcony. Seagulls shouted their approval of the sunny evening.
Gracie ran around checking over the apartment before, finally, jumping on the bed. ‘This is so comfy. You’re going to be in trouble, young man.’
Ed laughed. ‘Let’s hope so.’
Gracie made her way to the bathroom. ‘I need to get freshened up after that journey. Shall we go out for dinner then? I’m starving.’
‘Actually, I’ve arranged to meet a surfing mate of mine, to discuss tactics.’
‘Oh, you never said.’ Gracie hoped her disappointment didn’t show in her voice.
‘I won’t be long. You get yourself bathed and I’ll meet you in The Galleon, just over there. Say nine?’ He pointed to the pub from the balcony.
Soon after, Gracie lay back in the soothing bubbles. She was happy to be away but she was slightly perturbed that Ed hadn’t mentioned anything about meeting his mates on their break. It was hard not to feel disappointed. She’d imagined them arriving, settling in and then, perhaps, having a quick bit of fun before a candlelit dinner.
She made the most of the wonderful bathroom and poured herself a glass of wine from the bottle left as a welcome, taking it out to the balcony. The view – busy with yachts, rowers and water taxis – was magnificent. By the time nine o’clock came, she felt a bit squiffy. She put on her favourite summer dress and wedges and made her way to the pub.
Inside she looked around, but Ed was nowhere to be seen. She rang him. No answer. She ordered herself a glass of wine and texted him from a seat in the beer garden. A guy in his twenties smiled at her. ‘The signal is pretty shit down in these parts, you’re sometimes better off with smoke signals.’
Despite the beautiful sunset, by nine forty-five she could feel a slight anger rising. The signal may be bad but Ed knew where she was. Just as she was about to march back to the apartment, he appeared chatting to a guy with shoulder-length hair and two really pretty women, one blonde, one dark, who both looked in their mid-twenties.
He came over to Gracie and kissed her.
‘I’m so sorry, beautiful. I ended up drinking and had to leave the van in Newquay and it’s taken an age to get a taxi.’
‘You could have called.’ Keep it together , Gracie’s inner voice said. This is the first night of your holiday you don’t want to ruin it. ‘And why Newquay?’
‘Skye lives there. Skye, meet my friend Gracie.’
‘Hi.’ Gracie could have spat feathers.
‘And this is Glyn, a uni mate, and his girlfriend, Leah.’
‘Hi.’ Gracie smiled as sweetly as an angry woman could.
‘Another wine?’
‘Actually, no thanks. I’ll leave you all to it. I’m a bit tired after the journey.’ Gracie knew if she stayed it wouldn’t be a pretty ending and she didn’t want to embarrass herself.
‘Oh, OK. Suit yourself. I did try to call but the signal is shite down here.’ Ed turned back to his friends. Gracie marched to the next pub. More alcohol was required. She bought a bottle of wine to take back to the flat. It was an amazing summer evening, still warm in the darkness, with a gentle breeze. From the balcony, she could hear the pub crowd talking animatedly and laughing. At eleven o’clock she took herself to bed for fear of throwing the now-empty bottle of wine at them.
Feigning sleep, she could see from her mobile phone that it wasn’t until 2 a.m. that Ed slipped into the bed beside her. When she heard whispers from outside their room, she couldn’t keep her anger in any longer.
‘What the fuck are you playing at, Ed?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Don’t act the innocent. Is everyone staying over? Who’s that girl anyway?’
‘Who? Skye, you mean? She’s just a mate of Glyn’s. Don’t tell me you’re jealous. Don’t be ridiculous, Gracie.’
‘I can’t believe you’ve asked people to stay.’
‘Just Glyn and Leah; Skye had to get home and feed her dog. Glyn’s boat is here. I thought we could all have a little day trip tomorrow.’
‘Ed, I thought this was going to be our holiday.’
‘Take a chill pill, Gracie. We’ve got a whole week to have some fun and they are great people to hang out with.’
‘Why didn’t you mention this before?’ Gracie huffed.
‘I didn’t think. Glyn’s back at work on Monday, anyway. It’s just for the weekend.’
‘I’m more hurt that you were so damn late, and introduced me as your “friend”, to be honest. Why did you do that?’
‘Well, you are my friend.’
‘Well, that’s my bad, assuming I am your girlfriend then, isn’t it?’ She wriggled herself to the edge of the bed and pulled the duvet around her so that he couldn’t touch her. Not that he even noticed. Within seconds he was snoring as loudly as Gracie’s heart was beating in anger.
The seagull cries accentuated Gracie’s hangover as she marched to the cliff top as soon as she woke up. Her disappointment had not subsided. She found a place where she had some signal, then phoned Noms.
‘Come home, Grace, sod him. He’s acted like a twat.’
‘I know he has, but maybe I need to loosen up a bit? I mean, they are his friends.’
Noms tutted. ‘And some random girl in her twenties. I’d have gone mental, too.’
‘I think I should be the bigger person, take back brunch supplies and see what the day has in store. They were all drunk and it really is beautiful down here, you know. I’ve just had a cup of tea in the Fowey Hall Hotel. It has breathtaking views and the waiter told me that Toad Hall was based on the building.’
‘Sounds lush. But if he treats you any less than perfect from now on, he’ll have me to answer to.’
Gracie laughed. ‘A fate worse than death. At least the perfectly bodied Skye isn’t here now, she went home. She’s a mate of Glyn’s girlfriend, so I don’t know why on earth I got jealous. I can’t even blame it on my hormones anymore.’
As Gracie headed back towards the flat she was greeted with a ‘Hey’ from the outside area of the restaurant which was directly below their apartment, and saw that Ed was there with Glyn and Leah. ‘I thought it might be good to have brunch here, seeing as it’s so close to our place and I knew I wouldn’t miss you coming past.’
Glyn and Leah smiled widely. Gracie sat down and put her bags of supplies next to her and ordered a cup of tea. If she couldn’t beat them, she might as well join them.
Brunch was amazing. The restaurant made its own bread and the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs were to die for. Leah and Glyn made the effort to get to know her and Ed was his usual self. It wasn’t until they wandered round to the harbour that her heart sank, because there, in tiny denim shorts and a cropped top, was the Amazonian Skye.
Gracie picked up on Ed’s delight and tried to keep calm. ‘I didn’t know you were coming.’
Skye smiled. ‘How could a girl resist on a day like this?’
Gracie hadn’t realised quite how short her sea legs were until she started being sick over the side of the boat. The sea wasn’t even that rough, but the rocking motion was just enough to upset her equilibrium. Leah was an angel, bringing her tissues and water. Ed, a self-professed sick phobic, couldn’t get within two feet of her so stayed up the front of the boat with Glyn and the long one.
Glyn insisted that he take her back to shore. Gracie, getting greener by the minute, just nodded in agreement.
Ed helped her onto dry land. ‘Do you want me to come back to the apartment with you?’
‘No, you go back out there. I’m fine. Sorry to be such a lightweight.’
Gracie lay on top of the covers with the curtains blowing a delicious sea breeze over her. Her mind was suddenly full of doubt. Of course she had wanted Ed to come back with her and see if she was all right. Maybe he just wasn’t the person she had hoped he was. Maybe she had been swept away by the initial spark of attraction. Maybe it had been too early to get involved so soon after Lewis. Maybe a man at thirty-two wasn’t a grown up yet. Maybe this had all been a terrible mistake.
It was getting dark when she woke up and she couldn’t believe how long she had slept for. She felt much better. And she was relieved to see a note next to her on the pillow, telling her that ‘the crew’ were all in The Galleon and asking her to join them if she was feeling up to it.
Taking her time to get ready, she put on the dress she knew Ed liked her in and took special care with her make-up. Serene Skye may have legs up to her armpits and ten years on her, but Ed had invited her here, Ed wanted to be with her, nobody else. What had Professor Princeton said about self-esteem? She really had to think more of herself. Just because Lewis cheated on her, it didn’t mean that every man would.
It was 10 p.m. by the time she was ready. She could hear a band playing in The Galleon as she walked across the quayside. She smiled. She loved live music – it was going to be a great night. She walked into the heaving bar and looked around for Ed and the others. Leah was at the bar with Glyn.
‘Hey, Gracie, you look a bit better now, how you feeling?’
‘So much better for being on terra firma. Thanks for your help earlier.’
‘Drink?’
‘I’ll just have a Diet Coke, please, where’s Ed?’
‘Outside on the terrace. See you out there in a minute.’
Gracie wandered outside. There was barely any space to stand. At first she couldn’t see Ed anywhere. But then she spotted his large shoulders, very close to skinny Skye’s. They were flirting animatedly and, as he noticed her approach, she saw him freeze. He leapt up as she got near.
‘Gracie! How you feeling, darling? Can I get you a drink?’ He was slurring his words.
Skye looked discomfited. ‘We thought you’d conked out for the night.’
‘You mean you wish I had.’ Gracie couldn’t help letting her feelings show.
‘What?’ Skye looked confused.
‘Gracie, don’t be silly. What’s wrong?’ Ed put his arm around her.
‘I’m going to the toilet,’ Gracie huffed.
‘Gracie, what is it? We were just talking.’
‘You were flirting your arse off.’
Ed gave a sheepish smile. ‘Well, she’s a pretty girl.’
Whoosh! A red mist covered the pub.
‘I don’t bloody believe you, Ed Duke. First you have the audacity to invite friends to join our holiday without even telling me. You let me go back from the boat on my own and left me all day. And then I come here and you’re practically licking the face of somebody ten years younger, who undoubtedly can still have children.’
Ed held Gracie with both arms now.
‘Hey, stop it. You know how much I think of you.’
‘Do I? Do I really? I hardly know you, Ed. And my gut is telling me this isn’t the way I deserve to be treated.’
‘Don’t be irrational. It’s all cool.’
Skye appeared from outside. She was obviously drunk.
‘Chill out, sister, we’re just having fun.’
Gracie thought she was going to internally combust. Rather than cause a scene, she scurried down the alleyway from the pub and into the street. She marched to the Town Quay, sat on a bench and took a massive deep breath. It was windy now but somehow the extreme of the weather made her feel better. The high tide was sending waves sloshing noisily against the moored boats. She sat until she could stand the cold no longer, then looked over to The Galleon. The outside areas were almost deserted now and she could hear whoops of delight as the band starting playing up again.
Maybe she had overreacted? They had only been talking, for goodness’ sake. But a cheated heart is a paranoid one and she trusted her instincts. She had sensed their attraction from the start and as for saying ‘she’s a pretty girl’ – what a bastard! And where was he now? A man who cared would have followed her out. It was all suddenly very clear, Edward Duke wasn’t the man for her.
If she had had her own car there, she would have left. She reached for her phone. She had to call Noms. She would calm her, tell her what to do, tell her everything would be all right. There was a message on her answerphone. She struggled to hear what it said over the noise of the wind, but when she found a sheltered spot and could, she put her hand to her heart.
‘Gigi, it’s me, Lewis. I’ve had an accident, in the car. Don’t worry, nothing too serious, just had to have an op to reset my arm as it’s broken. But… but I just wanted you to know that you were the first person I thought of when I came to. And I know you’re seeing someone now, but I wanted you to know… His voice cracked … that I still miss you… I miss you so much.’