Page 98 of Coming Home to Wishington Bay
‘Of course not!’ I replied, sharply. ‘Gigi was specific about that and the fact that you think I’d ever go against that just goes to show how little you really know me. But you’re obviously planning on leaving at some point. I don’t know how mums are in general from experience but your mum doesn’t seem quite like the flighty type you’ve made her out to be. You must have seemed serious enough about leaving the UK for her to have that much of an idea in her head. I’m just saying, when you have some possible dates, I’d appreciate it, as your landlady, if you could let me know.’
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he took in the way I’d addressed myself. There was nothing between us but business now.
* * *
‘Why don’t you just talk to him?’ Carrie asked as I sat on her living room floor and played with Bryan. Since our break-up, Gabe had returned to dropping the dog off at Ned’s rather than with me and I was missing this little four-pawed man just as much as I was his owner.
‘There’s nothing to talk about. I’m just angry with myself for being stupid enough to let something happen. I should have known it was too good to be true. It’s always too good to be true. Did I learn nothing from Paul? Honestly, I’m a capable, intelligent woman. How was I stupid enough to fall for another good-looking man’s lies?’
‘He didn’t exactly lie to you, and I don’t think this can be compared to what Paul did.’
I gave Carrie a look that said I wholeheartedly disagreed but I felt for her too. Whatever had happened between me and Gabe, he was still their friend and had been for some time. It was natural for her to feel torn.
‘Maybe not. Maybe I just got caught up in the novelty of it all and read it wrong. He said he cared about me but I guess I read more into that than I should. He’s a doctor. Of course he’s going to care about me. And anyone else he comes across.’
‘I don’t think he meant it in a professional way. Anyone could see that from the way he looked at you.’
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ‘Well then, I guess Gigi must have given him some pretty good acting lessons at some point, because it looks like he fooled us all.’
‘Holly—’
‘Carrie. It’s fine. I’m fine. It was a summer fling. These things hurt for a bit and then you forget about them. It’s how it is.’
‘Know a lot about summer flings then, do you?’
I chewed the inside of my cheek and stared out the window in reply.
‘That’s what I thought. This wasn’t a summer fling. For either of you. And you both know it. But if you’re both going to be so stubborn and refuse to admit it, I’m not sure there’s any hope for either of you.’
I shrugged, inwardly cringing as I felt like a 13-year-old in a strop.
‘Anyway, Gabe said himself he hasn’t decided about going back to Australia. He might stay here after all.’
‘And I should be grateful for that? I don’t think so. The point is that he never should have started something, knowing that. Or he should have at least told me so that I could make up my own mind whether to launch into something, knowing he might end up on the other side of the world at some point. I was stupid enough to fall for him once. I’m intelligent enough not to do it twice.’
‘Did it never occur to you he might be planning to return?’
‘No! Not at all. He said he was happy here, that he loves it here.’
‘But he was lonely. Until you came of course. The difference in him has been incredible. Everyone’s noticed it.’
‘Well, then everyone should mind their own damn business.’
Carrie didn’t reply and I immediately felt like a shit. ‘I’m sorry,’ I said, getting up off the floor and flopping down next to her on the sofa. ‘I didn’t mean to snap.’
‘It’s all right.’ She linked her arm through mine. ‘I just hate seeing you both so unhappy.’
‘Well, I’ll be heading back to London soon so you won’t have to see my miserable fizzog and … who knows what Gabe will do but either way, I’m sure it won’t last long on his part.’
Carrie shook her head before resting it on my shoulder. ‘I think you’ve vastly underestimated his feelings for you, Hols.’
I wasn’t so sure but I didn’t want to argue with the only people I had left in the world so I kept my mouth shut, rested my hand on her bump and smiled as the baby kicked beneath it.
Chapter 18
I was just about to start the second coat when the doorbell rang. I hadn’t seen Gabe for a few weeks now and I was doing my best to pretend that it didn’t matter and that I was OK with it. The truth was really something quite different but he’d made no effort to try to talk to me again, or see me since I’d asked him to let me know about his departure plans, so as much as I’d perhaps held the smallest of candles for Carrie’s comment the other week about the strength of Gabe’s feelings, it was pretty obvious now that both of us had been mistaken.
In the meantime, I’d finished clearing Gigi’s room, repainted it and the new carpet was arriving in a few days, which would finish it off completely. I’d divided her clothing between a couple of charities, and a really good vintage shop in London I knew. They’d taken a tonne of stuff at a good price and it made me happy that those pieces would be going on to good homes to be appreciated and taken care of by women who would love them just as Gigi had done.
