Chapter Thirteen
étienne’s stay had at last come to an end and tomorrow he was due to fly back to Italy.
How quickly the fortnight had passed, Cat thought sadly, realising how much they would miss him.
Tonight, dinner had been taken in the main restaurant where Anton showed them to a private booth tucked into one corner, giving them total privacy.
Even with the absence of Gareth, Ruan and étienne still managed to entertain everyone as they ate, recounting some more of the seemingly endless stories from their uni days.
After the meal they retired to the family apartment for an after dinner brandy.
Both Nathan and Cat joined the two older men.
They had put their heads together before dinner and come up with a plan.
étienne’s departure seemed an ideal opportunity to try and persuade Ruan to travel back to Italy with him for the break he so badly needed.
He had been working far too hard and the incident with the Gossip Girls had been the latest in a long line of frustrating occurrences involving their great-aunt and her so-called friends.
Before dinner Nathan had taken étienne to one side and asked for his help.
There was no hesitation. He, too, had noticed at times his old friend looked world-weary.
A change of air, he agreed, would be just the thing.
They decided to broach the subject after dinner as the brandies were being handed around.
‘Absolutely not,’ Ruan said, his brows butting together as the suggestion was made. ‘Who came up with such a crazy idea?’
‘We did,’ Cat and Nathan both spoke at once.
‘And it’s not crazy, Dad,’ Cat argued. ‘You need a break. What better place than the Italian Lakes? Three weeks, that’s all.’
‘And who is going to police Emelia and those blasted awful women while I’m gone?’
‘She hardly sees them now. The museum seems to have taken over her life,’ Nathan informed his father. ‘But should any trouble arise, I can handle it and Anton is here as back up.’
Ruan thought for a moment, running his fingers through his thick fair hair as he got up and paced the room. He battled with his thoughts for a moment. ‘No, it won’t work,’ he said, stopping and spinning around to face his children. ‘It will be a total disaster.’
‘étienne, please, make him see sense.’ Nathan glared at his father. ‘He needs a break.’
‘Are you party to this conspiracy?’ Ruan asked with an indignant snort. ‘I thought better of you, étienne.’
‘I am sorry, my old friend, but on this occasion I have to agree with your children.’
‘I haven’t time to be anywhere but here,’ Ruan argued. ‘We’re far too busy.’
‘Oh come on, Dad.’ Nathan rolled his eyes. ‘With Cat’s help, Anton and I are perfectly capable of running this place for three weeks and you know it.’
‘Nathan’s right,’ Cat said, adding her weight to the argument. ‘We’ll be fine. Besides, you’ve not been back to Fiore Del Largo for years and étienne tells me he’s made a lot of improvements. Aren’t you interested in seeing them?’
Ruan grunted irritably. It seemed the last thing he wanted was to go gadding off to Italy during August. It was their busiest month. As he had said, he needed to be here.
‘You have to learn to trust your children some time, my friend,’ étienne said gently, ‘so why not now? Besides,’ he waved his brandy glass at Ruan, ‘I need your advice. There is a new place I have my eye on.’
‘Oh.’ Ruan regarded him curiously. ‘Another hotel for the group?’
‘Indeed, and this one is too good to miss.’
‘So, which of the towns on the lake is it this time? Garda? Saló? Malcesine?’
‘It is not on the lake.’ He shook his head and smiled. ‘It is in the Dolomites, just outside Cortina. A family-run business catering for walkers, which is, for me, something totally different. I think it is good to diversify, no? To have a new challenge?’
‘Oh, definitely.’
‘You will come then?’
‘Well …’ Ruan hesitated.
‘Oh go on, Dad,’ Nathan said encouragingly. ‘Everything here will be fine, I promise. And if we do need you, you’re only a phone call or a two hour flight away.’
Ruan paced up and down again. Cat saw him stop, shake his head, and then throw up his hands in defeat.
‘Okay, okay, I’ll go. But,’ he waved a warning finger at Nathan, ‘you must promise to contact me if there’s a problem … any problem, however insignificant you may think it is, okay?’
‘Of course,’ Nathan said, ‘that goes without saying.’ He looked across at his sister. ‘But we’ll be fine, won’t we, Cat?’
‘Of course we will.’ She nodded. ‘We’ll be okay, Dad.’
The next morning they breakfasted together out on the hotel’s side terrace, making the most of the continuing sunny spell.
Marika was there to serve them with croissants and fresh fruit.
Cat watched her as she circled the table with the coffee pot, a self-satisfied smile on her face.
She was now convinced that Marika had deliberately set up the incident on the beach.
Jordan had dumped Chantelle and days later, if the gossips were to be believed, she had been spotted driving around with him in his car.
Just before eleven, Cat had just finished a call and was busy scribbling down a note when she became aware of a figure hovering in her office doorway. She looked up, expecting to see her brother. Instead, she found Ruan leaning on the doorjamb, a thoughtful expression on his face.
She closed her pad and tucked her pen into the side of her jotter. ‘Sorry,’ she said, checking her watch, ‘you’re about to leave, aren’t you? I completely forgot.’
As she slipped from behind her desk to join him, Ruan walked in and closed the door.
‘Dad?’
‘Cat, before I leave there’s something I need to say to you.’
Returning to her seat, she watched as he settled himself opposite, pausing to retie one of his shoelaces, which had come undone. As he finished he looked up from his task, his blue eyes meeting hers. Dropping his foot to the floor he cleared his throat.
‘You’re worried Nathan won’t bother to contact you, aren’t you?’ she said, guessing this was the reason for such a private conversation. ‘You’re concerned he’ll try and go it alone. Well, don’t worry, if he does, I promise faithfully I will phone you.’
‘Cat, it’s not Nathan,’ Ruan said calmly. ‘It’s about Luke.’
‘Luke?’ She frowned. ‘What about Luke?’
‘Why didn’t you tell me you were seeing him?’
‘Only because I didn’t think you’d be interested. He’s just a friend, that’s all.’ She shrugged. ‘Why, is there a problem?’
‘Quite the reverse. He’s a breath of fresh air in comparison to those other young men you brought home when you were at uni.’ Ruan gave her a thoughtful smile. ‘No, if I’ve any complaint it’s simply that you didn’t tell me. We’ve never had secrets in our family.’
‘Dad, I’m so sorry if I upset you, I had no idea,’ Cat apologised. ‘I promise it won’t happen again.’
‘Good.’ He looked pleased. ‘I know life here at the hotel can sometimes be hectic but I always take an interest in what my children are up to.’
‘Yes, of course, I understand and I’m pleased you do.’
So her father approved of Luke, but in the great scheme of things that didn’t mean much.
For some reason they seemed to dance around each other with so many ‘almost’ moments.
She knew he wanted her, but something held him back.
Even that kiss hadn’t been enough to break down the barrier between them.
In fact it appeared to have driven him even farther away; seen as an embarrassing and regrettable act.
It was so frustrating. How could she ever change their situation when she had no idea what the cause of the problem was?
‘Now then,’ her father’s voice broke into her thoughts, ‘I guess it’s time for me to leave on this Italian adventure you’ve both organised for me. The car’s outside; mustn’t keep étienne waiting. Are you coming to wave me off?’
‘Of course.’ Leaving her chair Cat joined him, giving him a hug and reminding him how much she loved him. Then slipping her arm in his, they made their way past reception and out to the waiting Bentley.