Chapter 36
Gabe flipped the pages of the Metro newspaper that someone had left on the café table by the window. He’d arrived early, which had been pointless, because the only reliable thing about Rebecca was her lateness.
The coffee shop – which had been redecorated in his absence – was packed and noisy, but he’d managed to grab a decent table. Most importantly, it was dog friendly. He’d brought Stan along as a talisman, and he was tucked under the table looking with fascination out of the window as a constant stream of people walked by.
‘Can I get you another?’ The tall boy who’d brought him his coffee appeared, clearing his already-empty cup and raising a questioning eyebrow. Window tables were prime real estate on a Saturday and he knew he’d be pushing his luck to hang around for long without a drink in front of him.
‘I’m just waiting for someone. Shouldn’t be long,’ he said, crossing his fingers under the table. Not strictly true, but it would buy him some time.
A moment later Stanley pulled at his lead, scrabbling under the chair and getting caught as he pulled unexpectedly, his tail wagging furiously.
‘Hello, darling.’
Gabe looked up in surprise. Rebecca bent to say hello to Stanley.
‘At least he’s pleased to see me,’ she said drily.
Gabe stood up, his manners over-ruling everything. ‘Rebecca.’
‘Can I?’ She tipped her head toward the chair opposite his.
‘Of course. Sit down.’
She tucked herself in against the window, hanging her bag on the back of the chair and brushing her hair – lighter than he’d seen it – back behind an ear.
‘You’re looking well.’ Rebecca put her hands flat on the table for a moment, then steepled her fingers and rested her chin. ‘The outdoor life seems to suit you.’
‘Thanks.’ He cleared his throat and picked up the menu, which worked like magic to summon the boy in a black apron back to the table.
‘I’ll have a mint tea, please.’
Neither of them spoke as they waited for the order to arrive. They sat in an uncomfortable silence, Gabe looking out of the window, Rebecca stroking Stanley’s long, silky ears.
It was strange to think how often he’d walked those streets. Barnes prided itself on being a cosy enclave of independent shops and tasteful boutiques, with drinks by the river and wholesome weekend walks on the common. Now it seemed claustrophobic and packed with people and traffic.
‘Here you are,’ said the boy, a few short moments later.
‘Thanks so much,’ said Rebecca, smiling up at him.
Gabe picked up his coffee cup and looked at her across the table.
‘So,’ he said.
‘Thanks for coming. I appreciate it.’
He looked at her and waited.
‘I said it’s about the house. I want you to know that I’m putting it on the market.’
He sat back slightly. ‘You are?’
‘I want to move on. You must be able to understand that.’
Gabe gave a grim smile. ‘Yeah, I’ll give you that.’
‘I know you spoke to Jacob. But it’s not – it wasn’t his place to try and explain. I wanted to see you face to face to apologise for – well, for everything.’
He felt his chest lifting as a deep sigh of resignation made its way out of his body. How many times had he heard her apologise over the years? They’d tried so many different times, and every time in the end it would be just one more glass or a night out with the girls, or dinner after a meeting… there was always a reason to open a bottle.
‘I’ve made a lot of mistakes. Some of them I can’t ever fix, but I’m trying my best to make a start at repairing the things I can.’
He put his mug down and looked at Rebecca properly then, realising that it wasn’t just the shade of her hair that had changed. She looked different – her face was less drawn, and the loose linen shirt she was wearing over jeans was a far step from her usual slim-fitting black outfits.
‘Go on,’ he said, reaching down to stroke Stanley, who’d reappeared and was resting his chin on Gabe’s thigh with a hopeful expression.
‘I stopped drinking. I’ve been in recovery for a few months now, and away at a residential place where – oh, you don’t need to know the details. But now I’m ready to start making changes. Selling the house is part of that.’
He shook his head. ‘If you’re serious, this probably isn’t the right time to make drastic decisions.’
‘I know what you’re thinking. And I know if I tell you things are different, you’ll say you’ve heard that a million times over.’ She gave a small smile, twirling her spoon in her glass. ‘But you walked away from the house, and half of it is yours by right.’
‘And what about you? What are you going to do?’
She lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug. ‘I’d like to join Jacob in New Zealand, if it’s possible. When the house sells, I’ll have enough money that it shouldn’t be a problem. We both will.’
‘I’m alright for money.’ He gave a wry smile. His years working in industry had paid off, with share options and a pension which would mean retirement – something he didn’t want to think about for a long time – would be comfortable.
Rebecca shook her head with a smile. ‘Oh, I know.’
He laughed, despite himself. ‘Believe it or not, I’m living in a tiny, rented cottage with an octogenarian as a neighbour, and I’m perfectly content.’
‘I’m glad.’ She met his gaze, and her brows dropped in an expression he couldn’t quite interpret.
He cocked his head slightly in a silent query.
‘I want you to be happy,’ Rebecca said quietly.
‘Oh,’ Gabe said, realising in that moment where he wanted to be, and what he wanted to do. ‘I am.’
She stayed a while longer, and together they talked through the practicalities of selling the house he’d bought into when they’d got together, splitting the equity, dealing with lawyers, and all the rest of it.
‘Take care,’ Gabe said as they left the café.
‘I will.’ Rebecca nodded briefly and touched him on the arm. ‘You too. Thanks for being so kind. Not everyone would be.’
‘Everyone deserves a second chance.’
Rebecca looked at him sideways. ‘Or a ninety second.’
He watched as she disappeared into the Saturday afternoon crowds on the pavements. It was as if someone had loosened the final knot tying him to his old life back here in London. All he wanted now was to get back to Applemore, where the hope of a new life was waiting.
He’d broken the journey down with a few hours’ uncomfortable sleep in a Travelodge, and much as he wanted to turn straight around and head back to the Highlands, he had the wisdom to recognise that he was getting a bit long in the tooth for a twelve-hour drive. On a whim, he picked up the phone and called one of his old university friends.
‘Tommy. Yeah, I know, it’s been too long. I don’t suppose you’re around this evening, are you?’
* * *
‘I’m so glad you called,’ said Tommy’s wife Mel the next morning. ‘Can’t believe you thought we’d be doing something exciting on a Saturday evening, mind you.’
They were standing on the doorstep of Tommy’s house in Warwickshire. Stanley was dashing around the lawn with their two red setters, delighted to have a chance to burn off some steam after his trip back to the city.
Gabe shrugged, laughing. ‘You might have been off for the weekend now the kids are at uni and out of your hair.’
He pulled the car keys out of his pocket and Stanley, sensing his fun was about to end, hurtled off towards the far end of the garden and hid in some bushes.
‘We can’t afford it, mate,’ Tommy chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. ‘You dodged a bullet there.’
Mel slapped her husband on the arm. ‘Darling, for goodness’ sake.’
‘What?’ Tommy looked injured. Mel shot him a look which clearly said shut your mouth.
Gabe, who’d sent a bank transfer Jacob’s way only a week ago, kept his mouth shut. It might not have made sense to everyone that he still supported his ex-stepson, but he knew it was the least he could do for the boy he’d grown to love over the years.
Along the way he’d lost touch with most of his friends – the constant round of excuses and apologies that were part of life with Rebecca became too much for even the longest friendships in the end. But Tommy and Mel had always been there – the ones he’d turned to when he’d walked away for the last time, giving him a room for as long as he wanted. It felt fitting that they were here for him now when everything was finally falling into place.
‘Right, I’d better hit the road.’
Tommy, who’d overheard Mel giving him the third-degree last night while they were standing in the kitchen, waggled his eyebrows.
‘I want an update on what happens with this nice girl,’ said Mel, wrapping an arm around his waist and squeezing. ‘Life is for taking chances, remember.’
‘I don’t know what she’s on about,’ said Tommy, fondly. ‘This is the woman who’s ordered the same thing from the takeaway every Friday night for as long as I can remember.’
‘Romance is not the same thing as curry, darling,’ said Mel, shaking her head and laughing.
It was a long drive back – long enough for Gabe to decide what to do. He arrived in Applemore as the sky was still streaked with light and headed straight for the lighthouse.