Chapter 47
It was the second week in January when Mel’s phone rang – Geoff.
‘I hope it’s not too late to wish you a happy new year,’ he said.
‘Thank you. I wish you the same,’ Mel said evenly. She recognised that genial tone of voice from Geoff. He wanted something. She stayed silent.
‘Mel, I need your help. I’m in France. In the Alps.’
‘How long have you been in the Alps?’
‘Four weeks or so. Lovely skiing here. The thing is, Mel, I’m in a spot of trouble. My gap year is temporarily on hold. I’m being flown home this week. And I need you to organise some things.’
‘Well, let me stop you right there. I’m still not at home, and I have no plans to return at the moment, so I can’t organise anything for you. Peter must be back from the Caribbean by now? Ask him to organise whatever it is you want.’
‘He is, but it’s personal stuff.’ Geoff sighed a deep sigh. ‘I had a skiing accident two days ago and I’ve broken my left leg and my right arm. That’s why I need you to be at home when I return, to look after me. I’m going to be rather incapacitated for the next month or so.’
‘Sounds painful,’ Mel said sympathetically. ‘Maybe organise a private live-in helper or nurse for a few weeks?’ She didn’t voice the thought that sprang into her mind, ask @americansuzie to look after you.
‘I’d rather have you at home,’ Geoff said.
‘I’m sure you would. I’ll be back the last week in February, but I expect you’ll be well on the road to recovery by then.’
‘Can’t you come back earlier?’
‘I have commitments until then and I can’t leave before.’
‘Your husband needing you at home is a bit of an emergency. I’m sure whoever you have commitments to will understand that.’ Mel heard the sarcasm dripping from his voice. She took a deep breath.
‘It’s your emergency, Geoff, not mine. To be honest, I don’t really see why you expect me to change my plans and come home to nurse you.’
‘Because I’m your husband.’
‘If you remember, you just took off without any real explanation to me, your wife.’
‘Yes, well I’m sorry about that. I grant you I could have handled my need to get away better.’
‘You’ve always been a bit selfish,’ Mel said. ‘But leaving like you did was unbelievably selfish. The good thing about it, though, from my point of view, is I’ve had time to reassess my own life and to think about what I want for the rest of it.’
There was silence at the end of the phone for several seconds before Mel spoke again.
‘I’m enjoying being single. I feel happier than I’ve felt in years. I’ll see you at the end of February. When I’m back, we will need to talk about @americansuzie and divorce. Goodbye, Geoff.’
As Mel cut the connection, she heard Geoff say, ‘Suzie and I are no longer together,’ the quiet words barely audible down the phone.
Bringing Ginny’s number up, Mel typed a text.
Ring me tonight? Need to talk. xx
* * *
‘What has happened?’ Ginny demanded when she rang that evening.
‘Geoff rang earlier asking me to go home this week as he needs me to look after him. He’s had skiing accident.’
‘What’s he done?’
‘Broken an arm and a leg.’
‘No sympathy from me, I’m afraid. I hope you told him a definite no.’
‘I did. I also mentioned @americansuzie and wanting a divorce when I return in February.’
‘Good. What did he say?’
‘I ended the call almost as soon as I had uttered the words. But I just caught the phrase that he and @americansuzie weren’t together any longer.’
‘That’s a pity, she could have nursed him.’
‘I have a favour to ask. And I understand if you say no. Can I come and stay with you for a couple of weeks when I get back at the end of February, whilst I sort things out? Find somewhere to rent for a couple of months.’
‘Of course you can. Want me to ask around and see if there is anything short term available before you arrive?’
‘Thanks. I’m determined to challenge Geoff about his behaviour, but I’d rather not be living in the same house as him while I do it.
’ Mel took a deep breath. ‘There is just one other thing to tell you. You know weeks ago you said I wouldn’t want to leave the South of France?
You were right. I have fallen in love with the place and I’m planning on returning to Antibes to live, as soon as I can arrange a long-term visa. ’
‘Truly? I take it Marc is the real reason behind this decision? Not simply the fact you like Antibes. Justin told me he thought you and Marc might get together and you would end up moving to France to be with him.’
‘I’m not leaping into anything on the rebound, but, yes, I really like him and I don’t want to mess it up.
I know I’ve got a lot to sort out in my life,’ Mel said quietly, smiling at the delighted excitement she could hear in her sister’s voice.
She knew she was ready to move on to a life without Geoff in it.
But the thought of a future life without Marc in it was unbearable.
‘Well, the quicker you get sorting, the better,’ Ginny said. ‘You can tell Marc from me that I can’t wait to meet him – and warn him, if he messes you around, he’ll have me to deal with.’
‘Embarrassingly, Justin has already had a quiet word. Marc is not going to mess me around,’ Mel said confidently. ‘I can’t wait to introduce the two of you.’