Page 55 of A Riviera Retreat
‘Later. Bit too soon after that wonderful lunch for me.’
Chelsea picked up her towel, wrapping it around her waist like a sarong, before sitting down on the lounger next to him. ‘I don’t know what to do about Elsie or the business, Dad. Any ideas?’
‘There’s nothing you can do about Elsie until she contacts you. And then she might not be ready for your help. As for the business, you do need to think about a couple of things. You and Elsie were equal partners, right? So technically you have to decide whether you want to pursue her for the money she’s embezzled, because basically that’s what she’s done – not to mention the loss of your earnings because of all the cancellations.’
Chelsea shook her head. Ever since her father had told her the news this morning she'd been thinking about Elsie, wondering how she could help her. ‘Nope, can’t do that,’ Chelsea said. ‘Elsie’s got enough to deal with, she doesn’t need me hounding her for money she clearly hasn’t got.’
‘Fair enough. Secondly, could you cope on your own with the amount of bookings you need to make the business work, without Elsie sharing the workload?’
‘Doubtful,’ Chelsea admitted. ‘I wouldn’t be able to double-book events for the same day. Preparing and making the food isn’t a problem, but without Elsie to do front of house for one while I did the other…’ Chelsea shrugged. ‘I’d need to find someone to take her place and I don’t have any money – besides, it wouldn’t be the same working with a stranger. It’s catch-22 all round really.’ Chelsea bit back on her tears as she turned to face her father. ‘Oh hell! The business is stuffed, isn’t it? There’s no way I can survive without Elsie or funds. Next week when I get back, I’ll close it down, notify all the creditors, ask for time to pay and get myself a job and start to pay back everyone. Only take me a year or two with luck. Selling the equipment should raise some money too.’
‘There’s only one person you owe money to,’ Simon said quietly. ‘And yes, you will need to pay it back, but I’m not setting a timescale.’
‘What d’you mean?’
‘After I read Elsie’s letter, I went to the bank, told them what had happened and paid enough money into the account to pay the part-timers and outstanding bills,’ Simon told her. ‘If you want to carry on, I’m more than happy to call it an investment to help you get back on your feet.’
‘Oh, Dad,’ Chelsea said, sighing. ‘That’s so good of you. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but can I think about it? Whatever happens I’ll pay you back the money you’ve already laid out.’
‘Of course,’ Simon said. ‘You must do whatever you feel is right for you. I can’t tell you how sorry I am how things have ended up after all your hard work. It’s unfair, but then we both know life isn’t fair or kind at times.’
‘It felt strange not being with you yesterday,’ Chelsea said quietly. ‘I feel guilty I wasn’t there to go to the cemetery with you.’
‘Please don’t,’ Simon said. ‘It’s been five years and life moves on – has to move on.’ He glanced across at her. ‘I have to ask you about something Amy mentioned to me just now. Why have you never told me you feel guilty over your mum’s death?’
Chelsea stilled. ‘Amy shouldn’t have said anything.’
‘I’m glad she did. And I’m telling you now – you have no reason to feel guilty at all.’
‘If I hadn’t been late, we wouldn’t have been on the motorway in the path of that lorry,’ Chelsea said, pulling up the corner of her towel to dry the tears on her face. ‘Saying it was a tragic accident doesn’t change anything. It was still my fault.’
Simon shook his head. ‘No, it wasn’t your fault. If anybody is to blame, it’s me. I was the one who insisted you changed to training at that pool instead of the local one because the coach there was an ex-Olympian swimmer. And I should have been driving you that day.’
‘I remember Mum being cross at the last minute change and the late afternoon time of my session. She said she didn’t mind the drive, but she’d make sure we didn’t have to do it during the rush hour again.’
Simon was silent for several seconds.
‘Your mum hated motorway driving, particularly at busy times. I should never have insisted she drove that afternoon. I’d had to ask her to take you because I had a meeting that I didn’t want to cancel. I promised her that I would drive you there every day the next week. I should have rearranged my meeting and taken you myself.’ Simon closed his eyes momentarily as he placed a hand over his cheeks and mouth and squeezed his jaw in an effort to hold back his emotions.
‘But then you’d have died,’ Chelsea said softly.
‘Not necessarily. Me driving would have created a different scenario of events. Like you told Amy earlier, I drive fast, but I’m a good driver – perhaps I’d have been past the lorry before the tyre burst. Maybe I would have been able to take evasive action.’ Simon took hold of Chelsea’s hand. ‘But that is all hypothetical. The truth is Mum’s deathwasa tragic accident that neither of us could have prevented by doing something different that afternoon. But it’s taken me a long time to accept that and to stop feeling guilty and responsible. Promise me you’ll stop blaming yourself as of now.’
Chelsea sighed. ‘I’m not sure I can totally yet, but maybe it will become easier.’
They sat in silence for a few moments before Chelsea looked at Simon.
‘There’s something else, Dad.’
Simon looked at her warily. ‘Yes?’
‘How did you find me here? I didn’t give anyone the address.’
‘Ah. I was hoping you wouldn’t realise that. Would you believe I had a tracking device placed in your suitcase before you left?’
Chelsea rolled her eyes. ‘As if. The truth please.’
‘Can you wait until we’re back home?’
