‘The tension between us for months had been palpable. I suspected she was leaving me that day but didn’t know for sure whether she had a lover. Sandy confirmed it for me today.’ He sighed. ‘Sandy couldn’t, or wouldn’t, tell me who it was and denied ever learning his name from Jacqueline, but I suspect she does know the man’s name.’
‘If she is holding back from telling you his name, then I think she is a true friend of yours,’ Liz said quietly. ‘Knowing the name could make you feel very bitter towards both Jacqueline and the man she was involved with. Not knowing gives you the opportunity to remember the good times you had with Jacqueline, accept it was the accident that took her away and stop you harbouring any feelings of bitterness towards her.’ Liz paused. ‘My marriage wasn’t as happy as yours and after it ended, when we finally divorced, it took a long time for me to stop feeling bitter about him and all the wasted years. Now I’ve met you, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. You, on the other hand, had a happy marriage for many years with Jacqueline. Try to hang on to those memories. Push the later, fewer, unhappy ones deep down inside. Remember the good life you had together,’ she added.
Liz took a sip of her wine whilst Guy thoughtfully let her words sink in.
It was Liz who broke the silence that developed for a few moments. ‘How are you feeling about unexpectedly having a nephew like Leon?’
‘Deliriously happy, like I am about having you in my life,’ Guy said. ‘It’s not just Leon, there’s Joan as well. She would have been my sister-in-law, so she is also a part of the family now.’ He turned to look at Liz. ‘My life began to look up when you came into it and I began to believe I could have a new relationship. Jake’s unknown family showing up has also added purpose and direction. You are right, bitterness over the past should have no part in my new life. I am one lucky man.’
‘I like Joan,’ Liz said. ‘I hope I see something of her in the future. I feel we could be good friends. Shall we talk about location now?’ she said.
‘I promise our relationship is not going to be a long-distance one for too long,’ Guy said a serious tone to his voice. ‘There is one major decision I have to make and I think I’m ready to go ahead with it. I’m going to sell Villa Celestia.’
‘What will you do instead? And where?’ Liz looked at him, stunned.
‘I’d like us to do some travelling in Europe together. You could research a new setting for your next book? Italy, Prague, maybe even Morocco? And then I think it’s time for me to return to the UK. Dad is getting on, I need to be closer. You’re there. Joan and Leon are based there – well, not Leon quite so much, but it is his home.’
‘And what will you do there?’ Liz asked, smiling at the prospect of Guy living in the same country as her.
‘That, I’m still thinking about,’ Guy said. ‘I can’t really decide a definite course of action until I’m back in the UK and with you, but I do have several ideas.’
They were both startled at that moment by the loud bang of the first firework over the bay at Juan-les-Pins and they stood up and moved to get a better view over the Cap d’Antibes. Standing with their arms around each other, they watched as the night sky was lit up time and time again by the colours and shapes of different fireworks.
As the last of the fireworks burst into a shower of golden stars, Guy turned to face Liz. ‘The thought of you leaving tomorrow is hard to bear, but I promise you and I will be together very soon.’ He caught hold of her hand. ‘Come on. Let’s go to bed.’
45
They were both silent in the car on the way to the airport the next morning. Guy parked the car and wheeled her suitcase across to the departures hall. Liz had checked in online, so once she had handed her suitcase in, Guy walked her slowly towards the departures lounge. ‘I wish you’d changed your mind and stayed on for longer,’ he said.
‘I couldn’t.’ Liz bit her lip. ‘I have a deadline to meet. I want to be work-free for when you visit me. You will come soon?’
‘I promise. You go finish your book and I will be there to help you celebrate.’
A lingering kiss, oblivious to the people around them, and then Liz turned and walked up the steps into the lounge and was gone.
Guy drove slowly home along the traffic-filled bord de mer thinking about the last couple of weeks. How his life, shattered by Jacqueline’s death and all the questions that surrounded it, had been completely turned around. Hard to believe it was only eighteen days ago that Liz had walked into his life. And just five short days ago his life had changed again when he’d learned about the existence of Jake’s son. His nephew Leon.
Once home, Guy parked the car in the garage, made himself a coffee and sat out in the garden to drink it. So many ideas, plans, going around in his head. The need to get Villa Celestia valued was at the top of the list. Once he knew that, he could put the second part of his plan to sell into action. He’d walk down to an immobilier and arrange an appointment later today.
When Liz had asked last night what he would do back in the UK, he’d been a little evasive, because, in truth, he did know what he wanted to do. If at all possible, he wanted to go back to his first dream – open a small intimate restaurant somewhere in the West Country. But until he had a chance to do some research, he had no idea where exactly. He knew Liz loved her cottage and he would never ask her to move, but he wanted to be near her; he also knew he had to be reasonably close to his father.
And then there was time to be spent getting to know Leon, which would probably be easier if he stayed on the Riviera as the yacht Leon was on was more likely to visit ports in the Mediterranean than in the UK. Maybe he could buy a pied-à-terre down here as well as something in the UK? So many decisions to be made – some by him alone but a lot he and Liz would decide together.
Guy drained his coffee. Getting the villa valued was the first step. A step he’d organise right now.
* * *
Sitting in her window seat looking down on the clouds as the plane flew her back to England, Liz sighed happily. How apt they were travelling high above the clouds as she felt she was currently on cloud nine herself after the last few days. Her life was now full of unexpected dreams and hopes for the future that she would never have imagined being possible a matter of three weeks ago. Meeting and falling love with Guy Lyon had changed her life.
Dear Guy. Neither of them had mentioned the word ‘love’, but she knew in her heart of hearts that she loved him, and he loved her.
For years, characters in her stories had fallen in love at first sight, but she’d always been sceptical about it happening to people in real life. But now she knew for a fact it was possible – at any age.
Guy had clearly been hurt by Jacqueline and her betrayal, more than she herself had been hurt by Ralph’s behaviour and his final abandonment of her. The two of them were coming into this new relationship with baggage, but they were both mature enough to accept that the past was the past and had to be left there – it was their future together that mattered. He’d promised that their location in different countries would be short-lived and Liz could only hope he was right.
The retreat too had been a wonderful experience. The whole fortnight had been inspirational. Sandy, with her knowledge of the publishing industry, had impressed and the way she had managed to keep Becky onside was impressive. Liz smiled as she thought about Becky. Despite her bumptiousness and slightly crazy attitude towards life, she was fun to be around. Antibes itself was beautiful, lovely food cooked by Guy, swimming in the Mediterranean with new friends that she hoped would stay in her life, everything had combined to refuel her creativity and banish her writing block.
In the last week of the retreat, she’d written so much, despite spending every evening with Guy. Once home, she intended to sit down, add to the thousands of words she’d written at Villa Celestia and quickly finish the first draft. She’d treat the next ten days or so as her own retreat and get the book down while she waited for Guy to visit. And there he was, back in her thoughts again.
