Chapter Twenty-Eight
A weird sense of déjà vu came over Stacy as they sat on the terrace of the fish restaurant that evening. A few short weeks ago she’d been sitting in this exact spot, thinking she’d never see the place again, and yet she was here for a second meal. Who was it who’d said things always happened in threes? That was a lovely thought, but oh, how unlikely it was that she’d ever be back in this part of the world. This weekend was like a little extra chunk of time in her life, and the incident with Elijah had given it all an unreal quality – but after tomorrow she might never see lovely Lake Constance again, and unless Alan kept in touch with Rico, she’d never know what happened with the hotel, either.
The tables here were square, and Rico was sitting on her right, with Alan and Emily on the other two sides holding hands on their corner of the table. Stacy smiled to herself. Loved-up was the biggest understatement ever; just looking at them made you feel all warm and soppy inside. But Emmy deserved it, after the time she’d had. She’d had to learn to trust again, and fortunately Alan must be about the most trustworthy bloke on the planet.
Rico emptied the wine bottle into the other three glasses, and Stacy sipped. He was driving, so he’d stuck to half a glass to clink with. They’d toasted Alan and Emmy, of course, and the hotel – though Rico looked pretty down when Emily suggested that. The last toast had been to little Elijah and his family, and the future. Rico had given her a number for Elijah’s parents, and Stacy sent a brief ‘thank you’ for the flowers and card. It was a pity Elijah was to be in hospital until tomorrow; it would have been nice to see him again. By the time he came home, though, she’d be gone.
Stacy leaned back with her wine glass. When you arrived at your last evening somewhere, your head was half full of home things already. She had a lot to sort out, back in Elton Abbey. Her job, for one thing. The shop? A big hospital? Community nursing? Then there was David… Stacy glanced at Alan and Emily, heads close together and fingers entwined as they murmured to each other. Trust was definitely there now, and that was what she and David would have to learn all over again.
A little breeze blew over the terrace, and Emily leaned forward. ‘Shall we head back to Lakeside? How long would it take to walk back, Rico?’
Rico wrinkled his brow. ‘About an hour? A lot depends on how fast you walk!’
Emily giggled. ‘I’m still a bit of a snail. Let’s go for a walk back at Lakeside, Alan.’
‘Sounds perfect,’ he said, kissing her hand.
Those two… Stacy met Rico’s eye, and they exchanged another grin.
‘Love’s young dream, aren’t they?’ he said when they were back in the hotel car park, waving Emily and Alan off in the direction of the lakeside path. ‘Come on. There’s a coffee waiting for you on the terrace.’
A wistful expression flashed across his face, and Stacy’s stomach plummeted. Oh, help. The look in his eyes there… he liked her, and not as a friendly acquaintance. He was a decent guy, he knew she was engaged and she didn’t need to be afraid he’d make a move on her, but oh, help. She bit her lip. He wanted to, didn’t he? The thought came again that in a parallel universe, she might want it too. It was maybe a good thing that this time tomorrow, she wouldn’t be here.
She followed him into the hotel and through to the bar. The terrace was busy but not overfull; it would be lovely to sit here for a while, fixing the scene and the atmosphere in her mind. She’d had a look at the weather forecast for the week, and it was rain all the way in Elton Abbey for the next few days. But tonight was still coffee on the terrace weather in Switzerland.
Alan’s colleague behind the bar was wielding a cocktail shaker with enthusiasm worthy of a better cause as they passed, and Stacy stopped to watch him. An orange flicker above him caught her eye, and she froze, her breath catching and both hands flying to her face.
High on the wall behind the bar was a TV, with CNN silently spilling news into the night. And oh my God … The headline ‘Manchester Gas Explosion’ was running along the bottom of the screen, followed by: ‘Devastation on Camberwell Street’ and oh, no, no – what must have been five or six houses were in absolute ruins, and hell, Camberwell Street was where David’s parents lived. In an identical terrace house to these wrecked ones. Stacy wrung her hands together, fighting the dizziness spreading through her. After last night, this was too much. She stood there, speechless and gaping as apocalyptic images chased each other across the screen. Ambulances were parked up nearby, with fire engines closer to the scene, and at least one of the ho uses was on fire. And she couldn’t tell… she couldn’t tell if David’s parents’ house was involved. It was dark and the extent of the destruction meant any landmarks she might have recognised were gone.
‘What is it?’ Rico spun round to see what she was staring at. ‘Heck – do you know anyone there?’
Stacy was reading the news band as it ran under the pictures of the scene. The explosion had happened at ten to seven and was thought to have been caused by a gas leak. Two people were confirmed dead and at least a dozen more were injured; three were unaccounted for. Emergency services were working to secure the site. The screen was full of horror and blue flashing lights.
She swayed on her feet, and Rico grabbed her, his arm around her shoulders holding her up. Her teeth were chattering so hard she could barely speak.
‘That’s the street where David’s parents live. What can I – I don’t have their number in my phone.’
Rico’s voice was thicker than usual. ‘Call David.’
‘He has it switched off while he’s working.’ Tears were swimming in Stacy’s eyes. David’s parents were lovely people, please, please, they must be all right.
‘If anything’s happened to his parents, he won’t be working, and he’d answer his phone.’
Rico’s calmness was infectious, and Stacy breathed out. In the circumstances, David would answer, so a no-answer would be good news. Unless of course the worst had happened and he wasn’t taking calls. But all she could do was try. She pulled out her phone and connected to David, walking across the terrace to the peace of the pathway down to the boathouse, Rico beside her, his hand still on her arm. The number rang, once, twice, three times, then a voice came.
‘Hello?’
It was Lucy. Stacy stood still, her thoughts scrambling stupidly around in her head. Why was Lucy answering David’s phone? Then she heard David in the background.
‘Luce, sweetie – fancy a nightcap?’
A shiver ran right through Stacy. How often had he said the same thing to her? It was David-speak for ‘let’s take a drink to bed’.
Stacy gripped her phone. ‘The explosion. Are David’s parents okay?’
‘Oh. I didn’t see it was you. They’re fine – it was further up their street. But…’
There was a little pause, and Stacy held her breath. But what? Then Lucy spoke again.
‘David’s moved on, Stacy. You should, too.’ The connection broke.
The sense of betrayal couldn’t have been greater, and Stacy stood still, fighting back tears of rage and helplessness. For a moment it was difficult to breathe. Lucy… I didn’t see it was you. Oh yes, she had – and she’d grabbed the opportunity to ditch David’s fiancé for him, too.
Stacy stuffed her phone back into her bag. Well, now she knew. Her darling fiancé had taken the coward’s way out, and simply omitted to tell her she was his ex-fiancée now.
Rico gave her arm a shake. ‘Stacy? Are they okay?’
‘Yes. They’re all okay, especially David. He’s found himself another girlfriend.’ How bitter she sounded.
Rico exhaled loudly, then guided her along the path and down to the jetty, where she sank down on the low wall.
He turned back. ‘Coffee and brandy coming up. I’ll be two minutes.’
Stacy sat choking back sobs, her handbag clutched to her chest. Thank God he’d given her a moment to be alone. David must have heard what Lucy had said there; he’d been clinking about nearby, making drinks. If he didn’t agree with Lucy, he’d call back now, so if her phone didn’t ring in the next twenty seconds, she’d know. She pulled the phone out again and sat staring at it and counting silently. Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen – nothing. That was it, then.
Behind her, happy voices spilled over from the terrace; in front, tiny waves were splashing against the jetty and the clink of chains from Rico’s family boat added to the lakeside ambience.
She thought she’d known David. And yes, they were ‘having a break’, but deep inside she’d never thought the break would be anything other than a breathing space to sort out what they wanted. It was only now she realised how strongly she’d been holding onto the assumption that they’d find a way through this. You didn’t throw away such a long relationship the first time things got tough, did you? Wrong, apparently you did.
Another thought stung its way into her head. David was with Lucy, making drinks and heading for bed. And that tonight, when an explosion had ripped through a street and dozens of injured people were pouring into Manchester’s hospitals. Why wasn’t he there, gaining experience, observing, helping? He’d been quick enough the day of the accident on the ring road a few weeks ago. Or had that just been his excuse not to see her, not to talk about the wedding he knew was never going to happen? Stacy choked back a sob. David and Lucy had been on the same course for years. How long had he been two-timing her? He’d been cancelling on her for months… How delighted he must have been when sh e’d come on that first holiday to Lakeside. A whole week without Stacy… And her move back to Elton Abbey would have helped him and Lucy no end, too. How they must have laughed at her, stupid, trusting, gullible Stacy.
An even more humiliating thought struck, and Stacy shivered. That night when all the med students had gone to the pizzeria and Lucy was flirting across the table with David… and then Lucy had gone to the loo, and David had gone too, a few moments later. They’d taken their time about coming back, and then… then she’d said something to Lucy about the ice cream, and Lucy had said it was good when… when you were hot. And David had sniggered and, oh my God . What had they been doing when they were out of the room? Stacy dabbed cold fingers on the skin under her eyes. She’d been blind and naive and too bloody sure of David and the power of her engagement ring to see what was going on right under her bloody nose.
And why ? Had David been waiting for her to realise what was going on and do the dumping? Maybe it had suited his ego, though, having two girlfriends. Well, Lucy was welcome to him. The woman obviously had no pride at all.
A puff of wind blew over the lake, and Lakeside Lady ’s chains clinked again as the little boat moved in the water. Stacy took a deep, steadying breath. Get a grip, Stace. You have to cope, you have to reorganise your life, decide what you want – and you should start all this now. How could he have done this to her?
Okay, she still had Mum and Dad. They wanted her to be happy – happily married to David, that was. And oh, the irony. David had wanted her to work in a hospital and not waste her training, and the very second, almost, that she’d decided he was right, this happened. Could her life be in any more of a mess?
Stacy stuffed her phone back into her bag and wiped her face on her sleeve. Footsteps were crunching down the gravel path.
***
Rico hurried back to the mooring place with his tray of drinks. Poor Stacy, what an awful thing to happen. Had she spoken to David – what the hell had he said to her? Rico pressed his lips together. It was nothing to do with him, and Stacy was probably kicking herself for having told him. No one liked looking foolish.
She was dabbing her eyes with her sleeve when he arrived. ‘Got a tissue? I used my last one at the restaurant. Sorry, I must look a mess.’
He passed her one. ‘I honestly wouldn’t have noticed, in this light. It’s private here, anyway. No one’ll see you.’
She accepted a mug of coffee and sipped. Her hands were shaking.
Rico sat down beside her. ‘Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it? Or shall I call Emily to come back?’
Stacy set her mug down, and lifted a brandy glass and sniffed it. ‘Let’s leave Emmy to enjoy her last evening here with Alan. I’ll get over it. I’ve known for a while that David and I were off-track, but I did think he’d have told me before starting something with anyone else. My bad.’
Her face might be in semi-darkness, but he could still see how drawn and bleak it was. Her cheeks were somehow sunk in, the skin stretching across her cheekbones and her eyes wide and glassy. For the second night running, she’d had a shock.
Rico searched for words. ‘When you’ve been with someone for a while it’s easy to ignore the signs. I did that last winter too. People change, and sometimes you don’t notice how much until it’s too late.’
She blinked at him. ‘You’re not wrong there. I trusted him. The guy I fell in love with wouldn’t have done that, but the David I didn’t speak to tonight isn’t that person any more. And you know, I’m as much angry as upset, and I suppose that should tell me something. The stupid thing is, I’d decided after last night that he was right – I shouldn’t waste my training in a low-key setting when I can make a difference to people and help them recover from life-or-death things. Cheers, anyway.’
She sipped her brandy, and Rico raised his glass. ‘To better times.’
‘Amen. I was thinking only tonight how great it was that Emily trusted Alan after what happened to her with Sam. Now I know what a big step she’s taken, because right now, I don’t think I’ll ever trust another guy as long as I live.’ She sipped again, then buried her face in the tissue and sobbed aloud.
Rico sat frozen. What on earth could he say to help her? All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and hold her tight, comfort her. And if he did, she might even let him, the state she was in. But it was the one thing he mustn’t do. He mustn’t use her distress to gain an advantage with her.
He reached out and gave her shoulder a little shake before removing his hand again. ‘You can make a difference in so many ways, Stacy. Okay, you made a huge difference to Elijah’s family last night, but you know, real life isn’t all blood and guts and drama. You’re the kind of person who can make a difference just talking to people, and empathising.’
Hell, that was a bit OTT. He was going all soppy here .
Stacy swirled her brandy glass. ‘That’s what Emily said too. You’re ganging up on me.’
‘We’re not. But look at how you helped Mr Johnson when he had his asthma attack, for instance. He stopped panicking the moment you spoke to him, and you were the one who knew to keep him upright. I’d have had him flat on his back on the sofa if you hadn’t been there.’
‘He’d have been okay anyway, the moment his inhaler arrived. But point taken. I guess this is one of those famous crossroads you get in life. It’s fortunate I don’t live with David, isn’t it? At least I can go home and get my life organised with a modicum of dignity.’
They sat sipping in silence for a while before Stacy spoke again.
‘You’ve had a tough time too, haven’t you? What with losing your mum, and the uncertainty about the hotel as well as a finished relationship.’
Rico nodded. ‘I’m pretty sick about the hotel. We’ve had a terrific offer from people who want to demolish it and build a casino.’
Hell. He should never have told her that; it had slipped out because his defences were down. Dad would kill him.
Her eyes widened. ‘No! You can’t! Sorry. It’s none of my business. But what a pity – is there no alternative?’
He shrugged. ‘My idea was to get someone in to run it, but we couldn’t find anyone, and a Swiss manager couldn’t keep on Mum’s “English hotel in Switzerland” theme, anyway. She was the brains behind project Lakeside, and it died with her.’
‘You could do it.’
‘I couldn’t – I don’t have the background feeling for all things English. Anyway, I’m going back to uni in a few weeks to do a master’s degree, and I was planning to start my own IT business when I’m finished. The hotel – it’s the wrong place and the wrong time and the wrong concept.’
And it was his home, and shit, his voice was wobbling like a jelly here. Rico scrabbled for a tissue, but he’d given his last one to Stacy.
She noticed, and passed it back. ‘Rico, it isn’t my place to say anything, so tell me to shut up if you don’t want to hear this, but – the hotel is here, now, and you know some changes can’t be reversed. The timing of your master’s degree doesn’t have to be set in stone. Why don’t you give it a go with the hotel for a couple of years? Then at least you’d have tried, and you could still sell later if it didn’t work out.’
She had put his entire dilemma into words. Rico struggled to find an answer. ‘That part wouldn’t be impossible, but there’s still the concept problem.’
‘Change the concept. Turn the boat house into a sauna. Get a giant jacuzzi for the garden. Have someone in to do hot stone massages.’
He smiled wryly. ‘The Lakeside Spa Hotel. We don’t have much spa stuff around here, I’ll give you that.’ They stared at each other, and the hairs on Rico’s arms rose. ‘You’re serious.’
She drained her glass and lifted her half-empty coffee mug. ‘I just feel that letting this place go is a huge decision. You don’t want to do something you’d regret for the rest of your life.’ She reached out and touched his arm. ‘Thank you, Rico. I’ll go upstairs now. I have a lot of thinking to do.’
She disappeared into the darkness, and Rico rose to his feet. The Lakeside Spa… He started off along the lake path, taking the other direction to Emily and Alan. Stacy wasn’t the only one with thinking to do.