He had sensed this afternoon that Liz definitely liked him. Hands had tingled as he’d reached to hold hers walking around the marina, prompting a smile from them both. He and Liz could be friends, take their time getting to know each other. See what happened. They were both single, neither had any dependants, both of them were recovering from painful relationships and needed some time to heal. There was no need to rush, they could have an old-fashioned courtship. Guy smiled to himself remembering how his mum had told him and Jake how their dad had courted her for months, with flowers, small gifts and various kind acts that as a woman she had appreciated.
Guy felt more grounded and at peace with himself than he had done for years. The events of the past year had finally been put into perspective and accepted, although there was still that question he needed to ask Sandy at some point: ‘Why was Jacqueline in the taxi that day?’ Just to get the closure he needed.
* * *
It was late by the time Liz ran up the stairs to the apartment that evening, He’d almost been afraid that she wasn’t coming.
There was yet another firework display along the coast that evening, this time towards Nice, and the two of them stood together watching. In between the loud bangs and the sparkling displays, Guy looked at Liz.
‘I came to a decision earlier,’ he said quietly. ‘I’ve been thinking about your “what’s next” question this afternoon that I could not answer. I still don’t know the actual answer, but thanks to you, I do know I have to get on with living the rest of my life as well as I can, make the most of everything I have. So, when the retreat ends, I shall start seriously thinking about and planning my immediate future.’
Liz waited for several loud bangs signalling the end of the display to die away before turning to look at him. ‘I’m glad you’re feeling ready to cope with the future. It will be different to the one you expected to live, but I think that is a good thing.’ She smiled at him. ‘Time for me to go.’
‘I’ll walk you home,’ Guy said, uttering the words that had become their private joke. At the bottom of the stairs, as Guy leant in to cheek kiss Liz goodnight, he said, ‘I’m hoping my new best friend will want to be in my future – however it pans out?’
Liz turned her head at that moment to answer him and Guy’s kiss unintentionally landed on her lips, not her cheek. Time stilled and seconds passed before Liz slowly pulled away. ‘Night, Guy.’ And she disappeared into her room.
Returning upstairs, Guy sighed. Being friends with Liz and taking things slowly might not be as easy as he had thought.
27
Tuesday morning, Liz caught up with the other three as they reached the beach. ‘Sorry I’m late. I overslept.’
‘Late night writing?’ Lorraine said. ‘Sometimes writing at night, I lose all track of time and it’s two or three o’clock before I realise.’
‘So easy to do isn’t it when the words are flowing? This will wake me up properly,’ Liz said, happily agreeing with Lorraine’s assumption she’d been writing. Slipping her towelling robe off, she ran down to the water. After an energetic front crawl, she turned on her back and floated, letting her thoughts return to the night before and to Guy. He was so different to Ralph. Kind, gentle, good fun to be with. Considerate. The thought, almost too good to be true, flashed into her mind and straight out again. Somehow she knew Guy was the genuine article and the loveliest man she had ever met.
Invited to have a nightcap with him every evening until she left was something to look forward to. Calling her his new best friend and hinting he wanted her in his future all sounded positive, but what would happen after the retreat finished on Sunday and she flew back to England? Would that be the end for them? Or would they find a way to make it work? The sensible thing would be to enjoy spending time with him knowing it would end soon and to remember she was here to work, not to have a romantic fling. Yes, that was how she would deal with it – keep her expectations low and enjoy Guy’s company as often as she could. She wasn’t a naive teenager, she was a grown woman with a mind of her own. She also knew life didn’t always grant your wishes.
* * *
Later that morning after the informal session with Sandy and the others, Liz and Isobel helped themselves to coffee and biscuits and settled themselves on the terrace table with Lorraine. Helen and Mandy both disappeared off to their rooms to work. There had been no sign of Becky all morning.
‘Let’s hope scary editor likes my edits,’ Isobel said, pressing her email button with a sigh. ‘And away they fly. Now to play around with some ideas for a book in a new genre.’
Liz was reading through the words she’d written yesterday and doing a slight copyedit when Becky appeared.
‘Sandy suggested I asked you to read some of my story, so I’ve sent you three the first two chapters. If you don’t want to read them, just delete and forget it. I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a novelist anyway. Thanks.’ And Becky turned and walked away.
The three of them stayed silent as they watched her disappear into the villa.
‘Anybody else feel that Becky is not her usual self this morning?’ Liz asked.
* * *
After dinner that evening walking back up the stairs together to their respective bedrooms, Lorraine turned to Becky. ‘Do you have plans for the rest of the evening? More writing?’
‘I usually do some social media scheduling for an hour or two before bed,’ Becky said.
‘I’ve been looking at your social media sites, they are so good. I was wondering whether you would have time to give me a few tips about good content for Instagram and how to create it? I find it difficult and I really need to up my game, as they say.’
‘Of course I can help,’ Becky said enthusiastically. ‘Come on, where’s your phone? I love showing people how this stuff works.’
Once in Becky’s room, they sat side by side on the bed and Becky took over Lorraine’s phone and opened the Instagram app.
‘Right, you’ve been doing mainly stories,’ Becky said. ‘You need to do posts as well, they stay around longer than stories, and also reels are very popular right now. I know everyone thinks I’m slightly mad taking photographs of everything, but my first tip is you can never take too many photos.’ Becky’s fingers started to fly over the keyboard. ‘My next tip would be – you need to watch the videos in your professional dashboard.’
‘I do?’ Lorraine said. ‘I didn’t even realise I had one of those.’
