Page 31 of Love By Sunset

‘Oh.’

‘Oh, indeed. What’s worse is this guy, who as much as told me when we met there would be no future, this guy was wondering if commitment wasn’t such a bad word after all. Iknowhe was. He just about told me this morning. And now he thinks I was playing him for a fool.’ The tears came faster. Emily blindly put the plate down.

Elbows on knees, hands loosely clasped, Gerry looked at her, and she could see the worry on his face.

‘I don’t know what to do.’ Emily’s voice broke on a hiccupping sob as she pulled another tissue from the packet, dropping the old one onto the plate. ‘I don’t know what to do now.’

‘What were you going to do?’

‘Stay. Buy Haven House and turn it into a small hotel.’

Gerry offered the sandwiches again, but she shook her head.

‘So why can’t you still do that?’ he said, his voice reasonable as he chose a ham one for himself.

‘And live cheek by jowl with a man I love, but who hates me? A man I love, who freely admits to casual affairs with holiday makers? Can I bear to watch him?’

‘Can’t you avoid him?’

Emily fell silent, her mind considering the possibility of staying even as the tears still ran in slow drips down her face.

Gerry continued. ‘Jake will probably want to ignore you, and your affair will soon be yesterday’s news. Okay, you’re bound to bump into him at some point, but are you going to let it spoil what seems to me to be an excellent new venture?’

Shaking her head helplessly, she shredded the tissue in her hand. ‘I don’t know, Gerry. It’s too soon. It’s too heart-breaking. And I’ll have to watch as he reverts to his old ways. I’m not sure I could bear it.’

‘It would be a shame to let the house go, though, if that’s what you really want. I popped over there earlier today to have a quick look. Your idea is sound. See what you feel like tomorrow. Don’t run away just yet. Jake might give you a chance to explain properly. Now look, I’m sorry, but can you sign these papers? I need to get back early tomorrow so I’m setting off at the crack of dawn. And I’m sorry I dropped you in it.’ Gerry sighed as he took the papers from his document case, uncapped a fountain pen, and handed it all to Emily.

Gulping, Emily wiped the remnants of the tissue under her eyes and directed her attention to the documents.

After about fifteen minutes, she sighed. ‘Yes. Yes, it all seems fine.’ Leaning forwards, resting the papers on the table, Emily signed away the company she’d worked so hard to create. Despite it being what she wanted, it was still a sad moment. ‘There you are. I’m sorry it came to the parting of the ways. It wasn’t only our differing viewpoints, though. Iwasgetting restless. It’s so bloody ironic Jake is the one who triggered my final decision to get out, and now he’s convinced I was simply using him.’ Sighing again, she capped the pen and returned it, swiping her hand to catch another tear dripping down her cheek.

Gerry stuffed everything into his case and stood. ‘If you’re okay,’ he said, his voice hesitant, ‘I think I’ll get off to bed. I meant it when I said I had to be off early. Will you be alright?’

‘Oh, yes,’ Emily replied, still a catch in her voice. ‘I’ll be okay.’

‘Good night, Emily, and I hope we’ll keep in touch and stay friends?’

Emily stood and gave him a hug. ‘Yes, I’m sure we will. Drive safely tomorrow.’

Watching Gerry go, Emily lifted her glass and drained the whisky in one fiery mouthful.

‘Emily?’

She jumped, her eyes opening, and blinked. There in front of her stood Lucy, Annie, and Jenny.

‘Wha-?What?’

‘Ah, sorry, cariad. We didn’t mean to startle you. But we had to see you and make sure you were all right. It wouldn’t wait until morning. seeing as what’s happened.’

‘How did you know where I was?’

The three ladies sat opposite, and within moments, a server set down a tray of tea and some more sandwiches on the table between them. Jenny poured everyone tea and passed round the sandwiches before sitting back in her chair.

‘I was there,’ she confessed. ‘I came back to the café because I’d left my phone under the counter. I came in the front and heard Jake yelling at you and saw you leave. So I went round to see Annie.’

Annie sat forwards and put her cup down. ‘I was at home having a coffee with Lucy, see? When Jenny told me Jake was blaming you for trying to get the café off him, I knew he was wrong. Anyone can see how much you love each other. I was thrilled, Emily. Thrilled to bits when I met you, and I know you and Jake are just right for each other.’

Lucy laid her sandwich down on the plate. ‘Well,’ she said importantly, ‘Itold them it was all rubbish. I told them how Approach had withdrawn their offer anyway and how you’d searched for the will and found it this afternoon. Although none of us can say anything until Jake is told, we know Robbie indicated it was good news.’

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