Sandy nodded miserably. ‘The two suitcases with her told me she was doing what she’d been saying she would for weeks.’
‘She was leaving me,’ Guy said it as a statement, not a question.
Sandy nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘Was she unhappy? Or had she met someone else?’
‘Both. And she was also bored with her current life. She wanted more – more money, more everything.’
‘I figured she was unhappy because I wouldn’t buy into that grand spa idea she had, correct?’
Sandy nodded.
‘So who was she leaving me for?’
‘I can’t tell you.’
‘Can’t or won’t?’
‘She never told me his name. Said it was better if I didn’t know.’
‘Did she talk to you about her feelings for me? She was barely talking to me about anything before…’ he made a small movement in the air with his hand.
‘She did in the beginning, but she knew I didn’t agree with the way she was behaving, so she stopped confiding in me. I know she felt guilty about what she was doing. Kept saying how much she hated hurting you, but she couldn’t keep up the pretence of being happy any more.’
‘Was he wealthy?’
‘Billionaire, according to Jacqueline.’
‘Well, that shortens the list of available men a little.’ He finished his coffee and stood up. ‘Thanks for telling me the truth.’ He was at the door before he turned. ‘Tell me, were there any billionaires at her funeral? I have no recollection of the event at all.’
‘I don’t know any personally and there were so many people there.’
Guy opened the door and left, closing it quietly behind him.
Sandy exhaled a deep breath of relief. Hopefully Guy now knew enough of the truth to have closure over Jacqueline’s death and move on with Liz. He so deserved to be happy. And she hadn’t lied when she said Jacqueline had never told her the billionaire’s name because she hadn’t. But she did know his name and hated him for enticing her friend away with promises of a new life with unlimited riches.
Months ago, she’d decided that if Guy ever asked her if she knew who the man was she’d deny all knowledge. He didn’t need to know the identity of the man who had been a frequent diner at Villa Celestia. Accidentally discovering who the man was when he’d had the shamelessness to attend the funeral, Sandy had promised herself the name of the bastard billionaire who was responsible for the death of her best friend and ruined Guy’s life would never pass her lips.
44
That evening, Liz and Guy sat out in the garden to eat the steak and frites Guy had cooked before taking a glass of wine each up to the roof terrace.
‘I think there should be another fireworks display tonight,’ Guy said. ‘Juan-les-Pins this time.’
Standing looking out over the beach and the Mediterranean, Liz sighed. ‘I am going to miss this view when I leave tomorrow.’
‘That’s easily fixed. Change your ticket and stay longer,’ Guy said, standing next to her and putting his arm around her shoulders and gently squeezing her. ‘We have lots of things to talk about and decide. Besides, I don’t want you to leave.’
Liz shook her head. ‘I’d loved to, but I know you have things to sort out and I do too when I get home.’ She took a drink of her wine. ‘We could talk about some of those things tonight? We especially need to talk about the biggest problem – how do we make things work with both of us living in different countries?’
‘We will talk about that in a moment. First, there is something I want to tell you so you know the truth about my first marriage and I can shut the door on my past and move on with you with no secrets.’
Liz looked at him. ‘If it helps you to get closure I’m happy to listen, but truthfully I’m not worried about your past. We both have baggage from our pasts. You and I are the future.’
Guy took a deep breath. ‘What I suspected was confirmed today that when Jacqueline died in that taxi accident she was on her way to join another man, a billionaire apparently, who had promised her a different life.’
‘Oh Guy, I’m so sorry.’
