Page 69 of A Riviera Retreat
‘I did try, but he shrugged it off, telling me I was paranoid and shouldn’t listen to gossip. Anyway, I’d hoped to fall pregnant quickly and when I hadn’t after two years, I started to worry. The gynaecologist I consulted arranged for some tests.’ Amy was silent for a moment, remembering back to those stressful days, the fear of never being able to have a child, the large number of tests she willingly endured, only to be told there was nothing wrong with her and to ‘just give it time’.
‘Did Kevin go for tests?’ Simon asked.
‘No. He let me go for all sorts of tests but typically refused to go for any himself. He took the stance of it’s always the woman’s fault. The phrase “low sperm count” was uttered several times by my doctor, but Kevin insisted there was nothing wrong with him.’ Amy took a long drink of water. ‘And technically he was right.’
Simon was still holding her hand and he gave it a sympathetic squeeze while she regained some of her composure and tried to keep the tears at bay.
‘I’ve always wanted children, a family to look after. Lie number one was when Kevin assured me, before we got married, that was what he wanted too. The truth, though, was the opposite. He had no desire at all to have children. In fact, he’d taken a deliberate step to ensure he never had any.’ Amy took a deep steadying breath. ‘Six months before we married, he had a vasectomy. An operation he elected not to mention to me.’
Shock registered on Simon’s face and Amy caught the muttered word ‘bastard’.
‘Funny how the word vasectomy never entered our discussions until the night he got so drunk and told me in a blind rage that he didn’t want kids ever, so I could just get used to it.’ Amy gave Simon a wry smile. ‘I think me giving him some leaflets about IVF may have sent him into meltdown.’
‘But you must have been devastated,’ Simon said.
Amy nodded. ‘I was. If I’d known the truth, I wouldn’t have married him. Might even have become a famous ballerina.’ She shrugged her shoulders before continuing. ‘He managed to shatter two of my dreams with his actions. No career and no family.’
‘What did you do once you knew the truth?’
‘I left him the next day. Went home to my parents and tried to regroup, as they say. Inheriting this place when Aunt Tasha died some months later was my saviour. Thankfully, Aunt Tasha never knew the awful truth about Kevin. She was quite ill by then and Mum and I decided she didn’t need to know anything other than I’d left him. She was happy about that.’
‘Why did you take so long to file for divorce?’
Amy sighed. ‘I was in a bit of a mess the first few months after I left him - couldn’t seem to think straight over anything. Then Tasha died and I ran away to this place and life became all about making it work. But it’s all in hand now. A few more months and it will be over. I’ll be a divorced woman.’ Relief flooded through her body at the thought. A new chapter in her life could begin. She glanced at her watch and stood up. ‘Come on, we’ve got a surprise birthday barbecue to organise.’
‘Just one more question – what will you do if he comes back again?’
‘I don’t think he will now that he knows he can’t touch the villa, but if he does, I’ll get a restraining order.’
As they started to walk back down to the villa, Simon carried the glasses and water bottle in one hand and held her hand tightly with his other one.
‘Thank you,’ Amy said quietly. ‘It was good to talk. And you’re right – you are a good listener. I’m glad you know the sordid details of my past life now.’
‘I must admit, I don’t like to think about you being alone here,’ Simon said.
‘I’m not alone often. Pierre is around a lot and…’ Amy hesitated, about to say Chelsea would be here for the summer before remembering Chelsea had sworn her to secrecy. ‘I’ve got guests coming throughout the summer, and my parents will be here in about a fortnight.’ She glanced across at him. ‘Maybe you’ll visit again too,’ she said, a questioning note in her voice.
‘No “maybe” about it. I was going to ask you if it was possible to reserve the Ernest Hemingway room for me for the rest of summer,’ Simon said. ‘Be good to know I have a room waiting.’ He grinned at her as she stopped in surprise.
‘I’m not sure I can do that. I’m going to have to employ a live-in cook this summer and that would be the room I use for that.’ Amy smiled at him. ‘But I’m sure one of the other rooms will be available.’ The thought of Simon being a regular visitor over the summer was a surprisingly happy one.
30
Early evening and Chelsea and Matilda were sitting by the pool watching Simon and Josh carrying food down to the summer kitchen before setting up the barbecue. Well, Matilda was watching them, Chelsea was lying on her tummy giving her back a last burst of sun.
‘I feel I should be helping them,’ Matilda said.
‘No way. You know how possessive men can get over barbecues,’ Chelsea said. ‘Best leave them to it.’
Once Chelsea had organised the salads, Amy had charged her with keeping Matilda away from the kitchen and the evening preparations in case she should find out about the surprise party. Chelsea glanced at her watch. Ten more minutes and she’d suggest they both went for showers and start to get ready for the evening. That should give everyone enough time to get the balloons inflated and put up the Happy Birthday bunting and anything else that still needed doing.
Matilda watched as Josh helped Simon erect a trestle table alongside the large barbecue, ready to take all the accompanying side dishes for the cooked meat, as well as plates, cutlery, glasses and wine. Matilda smiled to herself, Josh turning up unexpectedly for her birthday was such a wonderful surprise. Had quite made her day.
‘Chelsea, my dear, I’m going to need your help later on.’
Chelsea rolled over on to her back before sitting up and looking at Matilda. ‘Go on.’
‘There are a couple of bottles of champagne hidden in the fridge. Will you fetch them for me later when everyone has eaten and get Josh to pour everyone a drink?’
