Chapter Thirty-Two
The most private place Cat could think of was the small arbour at the far end of the grounds beyond the rose garden. Not many people, other than family and staff, knew about it and it provided them with the seclusion they needed.
She sat silently, listening as Luke began to explain the events that had followed his release from Truro Police Station. She could see now how Tanya, determined to hang onto him, had cleverly planted the seeds of doubt in her mind as they sat chatting at the bar that evening.
‘Your brother told me to forget you, to get on with my own life. But there was no life without you. If Em hadn’t come banging on my door, I don’t know what I’d have done.
I had a temporary job lined up on the trawlers but she persuaded me to look for something more permanent away from the sea.
Luckily, Cadan Boscawen was looking for someone who was good with engines.
I’ve been there ever since. Waiting for you to come home. ’
‘Oh, Luke.’ Listening to him and watching the sadness in his beautiful eyes Cat found her hard protective shell beginning to crack.
Her need to comfort him the way she used to took over as she pulled him into her arms. The truth, for indeed that is what he had most certainly told her, made her ache for wasted days and lost moments, but most of all for the fool she had been.
Even after all that had happened he was still here, never giving up hope that one day she would come home.
She was about to tell him how sorry she was but, before she had a chance to move, Luke meshed his fingers in her hair and brought his lips to hers.
Feeling the pressure of his mouth moving softly over hers caused every nerve ending in her body to come alive.
How much she had missed his touch; his loving.
As he deepened the kiss she closed her eyes and gave into the heady sensations she thought she would never experience again with this man.
Eventually he broke away from her and smiled. ‘You’ll never know how I’ve missed your kiss, Cat Trevelyan.’
‘Me too, missed yours, I mean,’ she said, resting the tips of her fingers against his face.
‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Sure.’
His expression became serious and she wondered what was coming next.
‘Are you with Raphael now?’
‘No, he’s a work colleague and a very good friend.’
‘Is there anyone else? Some tall dark Italian you’re involved with?’
‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘And how do things stand between you and Mia?’
‘Mia is a friend, too, and as I told you, she’s with Jordan.’
‘If that’s true,’ she said, suppressing a grin, ‘what kind of madness prompted her to hook up with someone like him?’
Luke’s mouth quirked up in a smile. ‘Jordan’s very different now.
After Evie was arrested he changed. He saw what he was and what that had done to both himself and other people.
He buckled down to work and got promoted.
I introduced him to Mia last Christmas at a party.
They’ve been together about nine months.
He lives with her in the flat above the boatyard offices,’ he said, reaching out to push a stray curl behind her ear.
‘Now back to us. Another question. As there is no Tanya and you’re not with anyone else,’ he leaned forward and gently touched her forehead with his, ‘what is stopping you coming back home to me?’
Cat paused for a moment, aware there was only one answer she could give. ‘Nothing, I guess,’ she whispered. ‘Nothing at all.’
They returned to the party hand in hand, something noticed by several of the guests who gave them both meaningful smiles.
At the bar, Luke bought Cat a large glass of Pinot Grigio and they chatted for a while before he took her out to dance again, wrapping his arms around her and holding her as if she was the most precious thing in the world.
As she breathed in his familiar woody cologne, Cat realised things had finally come full circle.
Of course, now she had to break the news to étienne about her change of plan.
She was committed to seeing through the organisation of the gala opening of étienne’s new hotel in the Dolomites, so should be free to fly home by late October.
The music came to an end and Ruan stepped up beside the DJ and took over the mic.
‘And now, ladies and gentlemen,’ he said as the dimmed lights became brighter, ‘we have come to a very important moment in the evening.’ With a theatrical flourish he extended a hand towards the entrance. ‘The birthday cake.’
Cat watched as the room burst into loud applause and one of the waitresses wheeled in a trolley bearing a large white iced cake covered in cascades of delicate sugared flowers.
As Em caught sight of it she clapped her hands, her face a picture of surprise and gratitude as she looked across at Ruan and mouthed, thank you so much.
Ruan handed back the mic and stepped down from the platform, walking over to join Em and his parents at their table.
The cake had now reached them. Picking up a large silver-handled knife lying beside it, the waitress handed it to Ruan.
Em got to her feet and he handed it over, watching her carefully cut into it as everyone stood and sang Happy Birthday, which ended with loud applause.
As Ruan moved back to the DJ’s platform and retrieved the mic, the cake was wheeled away for cutting up and waiters appeared with trays of champagne, serving each guest with a glass of freshly poured bubbly.
He stood patiently until the last waiter had left and then proposed a toast to his aunt, which had the whole room on their feet once more.
As they settled back down he began to speak.
‘Em, I know you have missed Gerren and Jenna since their move to France,’ he said, looking across to where she sat.
‘In fact, at times it’s been quite lonely here for you.
The family has therefore decided to treat you to a holiday.
And not just any holiday.’ He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a large envelope.
‘A transatlantic cruise, with Gerren and Jenna keeping you company. A whole month visiting America and Canada.’
Ruan made his way over to his aunt, leaned in to kiss her cheek and handed her the envelope. Jenna wrapped an arm around her sister-in-law’s shoulder, their heads close together as Em stared at the envelope, brushing away tears from her eyes.
‘Such a great thing to do for her,’ Luke remarked. ‘She’s an amazing lady.’
‘Yes.’ Cat squeezed his hand. ‘She never lost faith in you, you know. She was the voice of reason; one I should have listened to.’
‘Never mind,’ he said, pulling her close and kissing her, ‘that’s all behind us now. We have a whole future to think about.’
As a stream of waitresses arrived with cake for each table, the DJ went back to his music.
The opening bars of something warm and romantic flooded the room and Luke drew Cat into his arms once more, manoeuvring her out onto the dance floor.
She closed her eyes, resting her head against his shoulder as the music took hold.
This is a perfect evening, she told herself.
I have everything in the world I could ever want and this time nothing is going to spoil it.
It was nearly ten thirty as Luke led Cat to the edge of the dance floor. ‘Do you mind if I leave you for a moment? There’s someone I have to see,’ he said, dropping a kiss on her cheek.
Cat nodded and watched him ease himself through the dancers, homing in on Em, who was sitting alone with a glass of wine, a faraway expression on her face.
She looked up as Luke arrived, then listened intently as he leaned in to speak to her.
Cat saw her smile and get to her feet. Within seconds, she was partnering him on the floor.
It was then, beyond a doubt, that Cat saw what had been lost in all the hurt and confusion of a year ago.
That, despite his disadvantaged upbringing, Luke Carrack really was a decent man.
One she realised she loved and wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
If he’d have her, of course. Silly thought, she decided, remembering the passion in his kiss when she’d apologised and told him there was no one else she wanted to be with. That there never had been.
As she made her way around the edge of the dance floor she caught sight of Raphael sitting with Jodie.
Something in his expression as he caught sight of her made her stop for a moment.
He looked devastated; as if he’d received the worst possible news.
Hurrying to join him, she slid into her seat, reaching for his hand.
‘Raphael, what’s happened?’
Jodie shook her head. ‘He’s just returned from seeing étienne. This is how I found him. Goodness knows what’s been said to upset him. He’s as white as a sheet. Actually, I think he could do with a brandy.’
As Jodie grabbed her purse and left, Cat tried again. ‘Raphael, please, tell me what’s wrong.’
‘I have done something terrible.’
Cat could see the anguish in his face. ‘I don’t understand, what is it? What have you done?’
He shook his head, his teeth grazing his lower lip nervously. ‘étienne … it is all my fault. I have been a fool. I should have remained silent. I should not have said what I did.’
She was about to ask him exactly what he’d said and why it had upset étienne so much when Nathan arrived.
‘Dad’s sent me to get you,’ he said, his gaze settling on Raphael before shifting back to Cat. ‘Says it’s urgent.’
‘I’m on my way.’ She patted the young Italian on the shoulder as she got to her feet. ‘Jodie’s getting you a brandy,’ she told him. ‘Stay there, I won’t be long.’
Raphael shook his head miserably as he gazed up at her. ‘I am sorry, Cat, I have caused so much trouble.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon and then you can tell me all about it. I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think.’