‘Nothing. Dad’s just leaving. Aren’t you?’
‘Yeah. Alright. Your mam seems to have made her mind up. I lost a good woman and it’s all my fault.’
Unable to get around me, Michael says goodbye to the girls and makes his way to his car. Meanwhile, Jasmine and Poppy aren’t amused that I have made their dad leave.
It seems I may have drawn the boundaries with their dad, but helping the girls understand that I have moved on from him is going to be much harder.
Chapter Twenty-Five
When the girls finally leave for uni, I get the flat ready for Elias’s arrival. The thought of seeing him in this country makes me nervous. I know I’m desperate to see him, but what if it’s all different without the sunshine, French wines and romantic settings that played such a big part in our whirlwind romance? Butterflies are playing havoc in my tummy by the time I set off to collect him from the station. I even manage to drop my keys as I try to lock the car.
But the moment I set eyes on him at the station, I know that I have nothing to worry about. He bounds towards me and lifts me into his arms.
‘Oh, you’re a sight for sore eyes,’ he grins.
‘You too,’ I smile.
As we chat in the car on the way home, it dawns on me quite how much I have missed his wonderful company.
Back at the apartment, Elias is the perfect guest, removing his shoes without me saying anything. He is so considerate, and I force myself not to compare him with Michael in my head, not wanting to give that ex-husband of mine any more thought while I am with Elias. I make him a coffee, and we catch up for a while on what we have been doing since we returned, and I tell him of tonight’s dinner plans.
Since Elias has already met Soraya and Carol, I have arranged for us all to go out for a drink this evening. I thought I had better do something in case I needed a bit of support if things were awkward seeing Elias again. I can already see that there was no need to worry, but it will be nice for him to meet Andrew, along with Carol’s new friend, Duncan. She wasted no time once she was back from the holiday. Apparently, he came in to have a man weave, something that Carol specialises in at the salon. She says they got on incredibly well from the moment he sat down in front of her and confided in her about his vulnerabilities since his hair loss. It will be good to meet him – and check him out a bit, just in case there is more to it and he is only after a discount on his regular treatment. After all, those weaves don’t come cheap.
Soraya and Andrew are already seated at the table by the time Elias and I arrive. They wave over to us, and I pray that Elias gets on well with Andrew. I am hoping that since they have both run their own businesses, albeit very different ones, they will hit it off. I introduce the two of them and they seem to get along. Soraya and I catch up, and just as I had hoped, Elias and Andrew discuss their relative businesses. It is amazing how much they have in common despite their different industries.
I notice someone walk into the pub and immediately know it is Duncan, even though I have never met him before. He has the most incredible hair I’ve ever seen on a sixty-year-old. Then Carol pops out from behind him, confirming I was right.
With everyone at the table, we order our drinks, and all enjoy each other’s company. That is until Duncan announces that he works in the tax office. He has recently moved there, and I pray he isn’t in the same department as Michael. I don’t need him knowing about tonight.
By the end of the evening, Elias and Andrew have swapped numbers and become big buddies. On the way home, Elias tells me how much he liked Andrew.
‘I noticed how well you seemed to get on,’ I say.
‘Yeah, we might even do some business together.’
‘Oh, that’s great.’
‘Yeah, you never know. He’s a nice guy.’ Elias puts his arm around me in the back of the taxi, and I lean into him. I’m glad he gets on with my friends. That’s always so important to me. I could never date someone who disliked my besties.
Back at the flat, it’s just the two of us again. I had nothing to worry about as this is exactly like the nights we spent in each other’s arms in France. As Elias lies beside me in bed, stroking my shoulder, I look into his eyes and tell him how glad I am to see him again. It’s more wonderful than I ever imagined having him here. We definitely don’t need fancy things around us to enjoy each other’s company.
Waking up together to a brand-new day, I plan on taking him down to the Mumbles and showing him the lovely area I grew up in. But I should have known that my life is never straightforward. I have just thrown my kimono on to make us tea in bed when I hear a key in the door. Only Poppy and Jasmine have keys, so it must be one of them. I instinctively tighten my kimono around me as the door flies open.
‘Poppy. I wasn’t expecting you!’
‘I’m not well. I did message you,’ she says with a croaky voice.
She promptly tells me she has strep throat and has been sent off for the week despite having only just returned to uni. Her first thought was to come back here and have me look after her. I smile and tell her to go and sit down; my poor love looks pale.
While I am concerned for Poppy not being well, my heart is beating at a million miles an hour as I wonder how I can announce that there is a man in my bedroom, and it’s not her dad. I can’t exactly smuggle him out now that Poppy needs me.
‘Why are you making two cups of tea?’ says Poppy.
‘One for you,’ I smile. I lean against the kitchen island nonchalantly as I think on my feet. I am not going to be able to keep this up for long.
‘Oh, thanks. Just what I need for my throat,’ she croaks.
I notice her eyes as they turn towards the loafers that Elias left by the front door last night.
