Then we’re really not suited, thought Daisy. However much she might wish his divorce to be finalised and to have a home of her own where she could put down roots and make a life for herself, Gabriel was obviously not the person with whom she could ever hope to achieve this dream.
Before she could say anything further there was a shriek followed by a loud crash as a large tray of glasses was knocked from the bar area onto the floor.
‘Bryn, be careful,’ Soraya shrieked, staring at the splintered glass all around their feet. ‘You shouldn’t be so exuberant.’
Bryn raised his hands. ‘Not to worry, if someone will bring me a dustpan and brush I’ll clear this mess in a jiffy. Just put the breakages on our bill.’
‘Sorry,’ Gabriel said. ‘I’m going to have to go and sort this out.’
She nodded and took the opportunity to excuse herself and go to the ladies’. She was having a lot of fun, but couldn’t help being sad that she and Gabriel wanted such different things for their futures.
Feeling a little more settled, she returned several minutes later to see someone sitting on her chair in deep conversation with Gabriel. Unsure whether to interrupt them she hesitated, then when the woman lookedover at someone in the crowd, Daisy realised it was Bella. She decided this was her cue to leave.
10
GABRIEL
Gabriel was woken by his mobile ringing. ‘Hello?’ he said, checking his watch to see if he’d overslept, and noticing that it was just after seven in the morning.
‘Gabriel? It’s Fanshawe, your father’s lawyer. Sorry if I’ve woken you but I’m on an early flight to London and don’t have much time. I wanted to ask you if you got married in Jersey.’
‘No, South Africa,’ Gabe answered, pushing himself to a sitting position and rubbing his eyes with the back of his free hand. ‘Why?’
‘You might be able to arrange for a divorce or annulment in South Africa if that’s where you were married.’ There was a mumble and clatter in the background. ‘Sorry, I have to go now but wanted you to know that this might be one way to sort things out.’
Gabe couldn’t believe it. ‘Thank you, that’s great news.’
‘I’m not promising anything, mind.’
‘No, of course.’ He took a breath to say more but realised that the call had been ended. Delighted with this unexpected news Gabe dropped his phone onto his duvet and got out of bed. He needed to speak to Bella as soon as possible, but first he wanted a shower to work out exactly how he was going to persuade her to do this for him.
Freshly showered and dressed he phoned Bella and askedher to meet him for breakfast at St Ouen’s Bay.
‘So,’ she said, sipping at her latte. ‘To what do I owe this pleasure? I can only imagine you’d bring me out to this beautiful bay and buy me breakfast if it was to break bad news to me about the project.’
‘That’s partly it, yes,’ he admitted, going on to explain that the funding had been rescinded.
‘Damn, that’s lousy. Our findings were so positive, too. I suppose that means we’ll have to watch while another company completes our work, then?’
‘I haven’t been told of anyone else taking over, just that with cuts that we won’t be getting any further funding.’
‘I thought we’d be fine since we’d discovered that new species of sea anemone,’ she said, looking downcast.
‘Me too.’ He took a bite of his bacon roll and they ate in silence for a few minutes, both looking out at the rolling waves on the wide beach. ‘I’m going out soon to close everything down. I’ll take a few more samples of the algae and sea grasses in the area so we can test them, but other than that I’ll just have to ensure our records are fully up to date and the lab reports on the new species we believe we’ve found are recorded.’
‘Such a disappointment though,’ she said. Looking up at him she narrowed her eyes. ‘There’s more though, isn’t there? Why would you bring me here to tell me this when I’d already told you months ago that I’m taking a sabbatical from work?’
He explained about Daisy’s reluctance to be involved with him romantically if he was still married.
‘But that’s ridiculous,’ she said. ‘We’re not together any more.’
‘She has her reasons,’ he said, going on to explain about the phone call that morning from advocateFanshawe. He waited while she absorbed what he’d just said.
‘Bloody hell, Gabe, I won’t do it. Just because your new girlfriend doesn’t like our situation doesn’t mean I have to traipse all the way to South Africa to get an annulment.’ She shook her head. ‘Especially when you don’t even know that they’ll grant us one.’
‘I know, and I understand you being angry with me for even suggesting this to you.’
She stared at him for a few moments. ‘Have you told her what you’re planning?’ He shook his head.
