Chapter Twenty-Two
Monday, 26 th June
E arly morning sunshine was flickering between the trees as Stacy walked through the park the following morning, and she lifted her face appreciatively. It wasn’t as hot as Swiss sunshine, but still. She thrust her shoulders back. In an odd way, she felt better now that she and David were having an official break. What Mum was going to say… well, she’d know that in approximately ten minutes. Pen ’n’ Paper, here she came.
Summer sales were starting everywhere, and she slowed down to look at a shop window – glorious green and blue summer dresses; she should treat herself while they were less expensive. One of these would be perfect for a party or a posh evening out.
Her mother came in while Stacy was organising the till. ‘Morning, love – tea up! Did you– Stacy? What’s wrong?’
Three sentences later, Stacy was squashed against Mum’s chest having her back patted, and yes, it felt good.
‘Oh, sweetheart, I’m sure it’s all a misunderstanding. David loves you, and he’s been working too hard, that’s all. Now that he’s qualified, he’ll have so much less stress. It’ll all work out for you, you’ll see.’
Stacy extracted herself and lifted her tea. ‘I don’t know, Mum. It feels like the magic’s gone. I’m not even sure he wants to get married any more. He’s been avoiding wedding discussions for weeks.’
Her mother’s mouth was a round ooh of shock. ‘Stacy, you need to talk to him about that, love. He can’t just jilt you!’
A ridiculous laugh welled up in Stacy’s throat. As far as Mum was concerned, she was standing at the alter already.
‘We won’t let it come to that, don’t worry. But David and I need some time apart to work out what’s to happen now.’
‘Would it help if I had a word with him?’
Eek. Mum was perfectly capable of ‘popping by’ David’s flat to have her word. Stacy gripped her mother’s hands. ‘Believe me, Mum, and don’t take this the wrong way, but that would make things a whole lot worse. Promise me you’ll leave it to David and me. We’ll work it out together, don’t worry.’
Janie squeezed her hands. ‘If that’s what you want, lovey.’
Stacy relaxed. Good. ‘Working it out’ meant ‘putting it right’, in Mum’s eyes. She sipped her now lukewarm tea. Hopefully she’d done the right thing, leaving out the bit about Leggy Lucy. It wouldn’t be wise to demolish Mum’s opinion of David, because hopefully – well, maybe – they would get together again.
‘Thanks, Mum. Meanwhile, Emily’s arranged a weekend in Switzerland for us. Can you and Dad manage in the shop without me this Saturday?’
‘Oh Stacy, I’d love to be able to say we couldn’t possibly manage without you, but you know we’ll be lucky if we get half a dozen people in. You have a good time, love, take as long as you want, then when you come back, you get together with your lovely young man and patch things up again. All right?’
Stacy went in for another hug. ‘I’ll do my best.’ She would, too. She wasn’t going to give up on her relationship just like that. At least she had the prospect of a few days in Switzerland to take her mind off the doom and gloom for a while. And – best thought this morning – she would buy one of those summer dresses to wear on the terrace at Lakeside while she was drinking her prosecco. Bring it on.
***
Early on Wednesday afternoon she was crossing the park again, feeling more like her usual self. Perhaps it was having a holiday to look forward to, or possibly it was not having David’s excuses pinging into her phone all the time. She had a lovely family and great friends looking out for her, and she and David would sort something out eventually. She turned out of the park gates, trying hard to ignore the memory of David and Lucy walking away from the accident that day, arms around each other, hugging each other close.
This afternoon’s origami session in Pen ’n’ Paper was going to be interesting. Jo didn’t teach on Wednesday afternoons, and she’d organised a kids’ group – an hour after school spent learning how to make an origami bird. Other groups were planned for the summer holidays, too, and Gareth was going to be a business partner. Dad was delighted. Stacy exited the park and strode along the main road. This could be the start of a bright new beginning for the family business.
At the shop, she rolled up her sleeves and began to prepare the back room for the onslaught. They were expecting fifteen eight- to ten-year-olds, and they were going to make birds with wings that flapped when you pulled the head and tail apart. Jo had sent Stacy the instructions, and she and Emily had spent the previous evening creating a flock of brightly coloured gull-like creatures. This was going to be fun.
Jo arrived at half past three, her face shining. ‘Look! Gareth and I are getting married in October!’ She pulled out the gold chain she wore around her neck and waved the diamond solitaire strung onto it under Stacy’s nose.
‘You’re engaged? Wow! Congratulations!’ Stacy swallowed the pang of envy and rushed to hug the other girl. This was the best news ever – anyone could see Jo and Gareth were perfect for each other.
Jo’s eyes were sparkling as much as her diamond. ‘We told my mum and dad last night. Gareth’s coming here after origami, and we’ll tell your parents then too and I’ll put my ring on properly, so not a word until then, okay? I know it’s quick, but it’s right, Stacy. Will you be a bridesmaid? I’d like you and my friend Amira.’
Stacy fought to keep the smile on her face. ‘I’d love to. Where will the wedding be?’
‘York. It won’t be a church wedding, but…’
Jo chattered on, and Stacy listened, a big hot lump in her throat. She was thrilled for Jo and Gareth, of course she was, but oh, how bittersweet it was, invited to be a bridesmaid around the time she’d expected her own wedding to be. That wouldn’t happen, or not in October, anyway, even if she and David patched things up as soon as they saw each other again.
The children trickled in, and Stacy spent an intensive hour instructing and helping. By the end of the session, sixty-something multicoloured birds were sitting on the table, and the children were clamouring for a follow-up class .
‘We’ll have time for three more before the holidays,’ promised Jo. ‘You can put your names down when you leave. And there’s plenty of origami paper if anyone wants to buy a packet to practise with.’
Stacy waved as the children and their mums or dads left the shop and straggled along the main road.
‘High five,’ she said, turning to Jo and holding up a hand. ‘This is going to be fantastic for the shop. Let’s close early and tell Mum and Dad your news. They’ll be delighted.’
Gareth was upstairs already, and the next hour was spent drinking champagne and making happy plans. Stacy sipped, conscious that Dad, bless him, was shooting worried looks across the room in between enthusing about the first family wedding. Mum must have told him about her and David. Stacy followed on into the kitchen when her father went to fetch another bottle.
‘It’s okay, Dad, honestly.’
John Townsend’s voice was gravelly. ‘Don’t you worry, love. I’ll be dancing at your wedding too before you know it. David’ll come to his senses. This is all down to the stress of his exams and the unsettled feeling now that he’s moving on to the next stage in his career.’
‘I know. Don’t worry.’ Stacy gazed out of the kitchen window. Dad might be right, but he might be wrong, too…
***
Rico ran downstairs and took his glass of iced tea out to the terrace. At least the summer weather had returned, so they should do good business tonight. These would be the last few days of the Lakeside Hotel before all hell let loose; the locals would have every reason to boycott them when word of the sale got out. Ralph had abandoned ship and gone back to Lugano, probably because he couldn’t stand the feeling that he was about to let Mum and her hotel down. But unless something unexpected came up, he was still set on accepting Grande’s offer. He wouldn’t be back until a week on Wednesday, then the following day they’d have to make the final decision about the hotel and inform Grande. Rico sat facing west as the car ferry to Friedrichshafen chuntered across calm blue water. This little corner of Europe was his home – for ten more days.
He opened his phone as an email pinged in. Wow, this was Michael, Fabian’s estate agent brother. And double wow – he was suggesting a meeting. Rico keyed in the number, his heart thumping hopefully.
Thirty seconds later, he was less hopeful. Michael had no ideas about who might want Lakeside, but he had the contacts to find out. They arranged to meet at Michael’s Zurich office at two on Friday afternoon – by which time there would be less than a week to organise a new sale. But every straw had to be worth clutching at, didn’t it?
Alan was unloading the glass washer at the bar, and Rico’s other problem slammed into the front of his mind. Emily was coming on Friday, with Stacy – and who else? They’d reserved one room, but for all he knew, Stacy and her boyfriend would share it while Emily squashed into Alan’s room in the staff quarters. This was the kind of info that was difficult to find out unless you asked outright, so that was what he’d have to do. Rico stood up. If Stacy’s fiancé was coming, he’d be on the first train to Lugano tomorrow morning.
‘Looks like the weather’ll hold for you over the weekend,’ he said to Alan, taking his glass to the bar. ‘Who’s coming on Friday, then?’
Alan had never looked happier. ‘Just Emmy and Stacy. I’ll take the train and meet them in Basle on Friday afternoon.’
Friday… An idea slammed into Rico’s head. ‘What time? I’ll be heading home from a meeting in Zurich late Friday afternoon, if you can use a lift back.’
Alan tapped on his phone and peered at the railway timetable. ‘If their flight’s on time, we’ll hit Zurich between two and three. We could have a look around until you’re ready. Thanks, Rico, that would be great.’ He strode off to serve two women and their children at the edge of the terrace.
Rico shoved his phone into his pocket. Just Emmy and Stacy… Now he didn’t know if he should look forward to the illusion of Stacy with no boyfriend, or keep out of her way as much as possible. And giving them a lift home on Friday wasn’t the best way to start keeping out of her way. His feelings for her weren’t going to change – did he really want to set himself up for more hurt and frustration?