‘Jobsworth.’
‘Nosy cow.’ Daisy couldn’t help smiling at her annoying colleague and pointed at Fi’s keyboard. ‘You have letters to type. Now would be a good time to do them, ready for Francesca to sign in the morning.’
Fi groaned. ‘Fine, but I will be asking about you and Gabriel again, so don’t think I’ll forget.’
Daisy didn’t doubt for a minute that Fi would bring up the subject again, but for now she needed a little time to get used to the idea of seeing him here. She stared at the spreadsheet in front of her, pretending to be absorbed by it, but all she could think of was Gabriel.
2
DAISY
It was hard to know what to wear for dinner. Daisy wanted to be respectful and dress smartly, but at the same time she didn’t want Gabe to think she was trying too hard. Seeing him again was bittersweet. She hoped his initial cheerful reaction to seeing her continued, though he had every right to be angry with the way she’d left things between them.
Trying to remain positive, she took a quick shower and stared at the floral cotton dress she’d decided to wear. Wrapping her arms around herself, she thought back to Gabe holding her, if only briefly, back in reception. She couldn’t deny it had felt good.
‘Gabe,’ she whispered, sitting down at the fitted dressing table and pulling a brush through her damp hair.
She stared into space, remembering meeting him in Vietnam on a sun terrace in Ho Chi Minh City. She’d taken a seat at his small metal table because it was the only one available. He’d been laughing when she sat down.
‘What’s so funny?’ she asked, trying her best to sound self-assured after taking a sip of her drink. She couldn’t help noticing how good looking he was, but knew her lack of confidence meant that if there had been any other seats free she’d have rather taken one of those instead of trying to make small-talk with this intimidating stranger.
‘I’ve just messaged my dad to say where I am and he was shocked,’ he said. ‘I know the Vietnam War endedback in the seventies, but in my dad’s mind this is still a dangerous place, a war zone even. He was quite concerned to think I was in Saigon, as it was back then.’
Daisy understood his father’s reaction. ‘My mum said the same when I told her I planned to visit here. She said she remembers her parents listening daily to the news bulletins about the dreadful losses.’
They gazed down at the busy streets and cheerful faces around them.
‘It’s hard to imagine the chaos happening here back when the city fell, isn’t it?’ he asked, staring at her.
‘It is.’ She recalled a documentary she’d seen recently of grainy film showing an Air America helicopter resting on the top of a building with people crowding up a roof ladder, trying desperately to reach it.
That hot evening in the bar had been the first of many evenings spent in each other’s company. She’d readily agreed when Gabriel suggested she travel with him to see a few towns on their way to H?i An, where they’d both planned to stay for a while. By the time they reached their destination they were besotted with each other, but unfortunately her mother’s health had taken a nasty turn and she had to hurriedly return to England. Everything had disintegrated after that.
Now though, seeing him back here and giving up all that he loved to assist his family, she could see he’d meant it when he’d told her, ‘Family is the most important thing you’ll ever have, Daisy. If you need to go to your mum, then we’ll just have to deal with it. We’ll make a plan to meet up again when she’s settled.’ She’d reluctantly agreed with him, but things hadn’t turned out as either of them initially hoped.
The landline in her room rang, making her jump. She glanced at her bedside clock and saw she was late to meet him downstairs. Picking up the phone, she heard Fi’sstammering attempt at professionalism and could tell Gabe must be standing in front of her.
‘Thanks Fi,’ she said. ‘Please tell Gabriel I’m on my way.’ It seemed odd referring to him by his full name. She pushed the thought aside and hurriedly dressed, picking up her bag with one hand and running the other through her long, wavy fair hair. She hoped it would be dry by the time they arrived at Lydia’s house.
She pushed open the door leading from the staff quarters to the reception area and hesitated when she saw him leaning against the counter, laughing at something Fi was saying. He looked so relaxed and at home here. As he should do, she thought, but it was still strange seeing someone she associated so much with her travels and the heady colours and scents of Asia, standing at her workplace in Jersey.
He looked up, and seeing her at the doorway held up a set of car keys. ‘I’ve got transport and have been instructed not to dawdle, so we’d better get a move on.’ He waited for her to reach him, then smiled at Fi. ‘It’s great to see you again, Fi,’ he said. ‘Tell that brother of yours that I’ll take him up on his offer to go kayaking with him and his mate Ed one of these days.’
‘Will do,’ Fi said, winking slyly at Daisy as soon as Gabe turned his back to hold the door open for her. ‘Have fun,’ she mouthed.
Daisy pulled a face at her and followed him to the red sports car. ‘Wow, you must be special to Mrs Grey if she allows you to drive her car,’ she teased as she got in, happy that the roof was down and her hair would have a chance to dry during their drive.
Gabriel took his seat in the car next to her and started it. He put the car into gear and turned to her, smiling. ‘It’s not hers, it’s mine. You’re looking very lovely,’ he said. ‘Your hair’s grown a lot.’
‘Thank you. It probably needs a trim, but I haven’t gotaround to finding a hairdresser in Jersey yet.’
‘It’s small, but there’s a lot to discover here,’ he said, steering the car down the driveway. Checking nothing was coming, he pulled out onto the main road. ‘Does it feel strange seeing me here?’
She was relieved she wasn’t the only one experiencing that surreal sensation. ‘Yes, very.’
He drove in silence for a couple of minutes. ‘I hope you don’t mind me asking, but how come you ended up working at the Encore?’
Gabe had never been one to hold back from facing anything awkward, so his question didn’t surprise her. ‘I’d never been here before, and after…’ She hesitated, not ready to share her story with him. ‘Well, after I decided to leave Devon, I remembered you mentioning how beautiful it was here. I needed somewhere to work and have experience working as a receptionist in a hotel back home. The Encore provided me with a job and somewhere to live.’
