‘You have to make her fall in love with you,’ hissed Katerina. ‘We’ll help.’
‘I don’t need any help,’ said Felipe, a touch panicked. The last thing he needed was his teenage cousins meddling. Goodness only knows what would happen.
‘Rebecca!’ Cristina’s saccharine sweet voice rang out. ‘You’re here!’
Rebecca looked a little startled. It wasn’t surprising because they all stood there looking at her like she was a movie star who’d just stepped out onto the red carpet. ‘Who’d like a glass of wine?’ suggested Ana. ‘While you have your nails done. Felipe, why don’t you open a nice bottle of Alvariño?’
‘Come sit down,’ invited Katerina, indicating the row of nail varnishes at the end of the table. Looking bemused by the overly cheery response to her arrival, Rebecca sat down. Felipe busied himself opening the wine, although he was all fingers and thumbs. Now he’d actually admitted it out loud, he was a bundle of nerves, fearful that one of the girls would say something. He knew he could trust Ana to be discreet, but Cristina? One never knew what she might say.
He poured glasses, including a small one for Katerina, who had the occasional glass with them, while Cristina helped herself to a can of Sumol.
He leaned against the cabinets in the kitchen while the women settled around the table and Rebecca kept glancing uncertainly at them all, while avoiding looking at him. There was a definite sense of awkwardness in the air. Not helped by Cristina’s faux chirpiness.
There was a screech as Katerina pushed her chair back on the tiled floor. ‘I forgot… something.’ She grabbed Cristina’s arm and tugged her out of the kitchen.
Seconds later, her head bobbed around the door jamb. ‘Ana, we need you.’
With an apologetic smile his way, Ana, docile as a hand-reared lamb, stood up. As she passed him, she leaned down and whispered in his ear, ‘You’re wrong,’ before trotting out of the room after them, leaving him with Rebecca. He didn’t have time to ponder his cousin’s words.
Awkward didn’t begin to describe the silence.
It felt incumbent on Felipe to say something. ‘I gather congratulations are in order.’ With obvious defiance, she lifted her head and looked at him without saying anything. ‘I heard champagne was requested. Good news?’
‘Will asked me to move in with him.’ Her words were tight and unfriendly.
‘Are you still angry with me?’
‘I don’t think I’ve got anything to say to you.’
‘I’m sorry I upset you.’
‘You didn’t.’ With a shrug she gave him a defiant glare, her eyes belying her words.
‘Are you happy?’
‘Pardon?’ she asked with icy composure, looking every inch a princess as she looked down her nose at him.
‘It was a simple question,’ he said, wondering why he had to be so combative about it.
‘Then I’ll give you a simple answer.’ She looked directly into his eyes. ‘Yes, I’m happy.’
He paused, trying to form his face into the appropriate expression. ‘Well. That’s good then.’
‘I wasn’t aware I needed your approval.’ She lifted her chin in that way she always did when she challenged him.
The resultant pregnant pause could have birthed a couple of elephants.
Rebecca refused to look his way and he realised he had nothing further to say. If she was happy with Will, he had to accept that. He wanted her to be happy– even if that happiness didn’t involve him.
Being the better man didn’t bring him any pleasure.
Chapter Thirty
‘Bom dia,’ said Rebecca, busy tidying up the rows of products in the spa reception as Inês arrived.
‘Bom dia.’ Inês smiled appreciatively and glanced at her wrist. Rebecca didn’t need to check her own watch to know she was at least fifteen minutes early. As she’d demonstrated over and over in the last few weeks, she didn’t like to be idle, and this work ethic appeared to have served her well because Inês almost approved of her these days.
‘That looks good. I like the way you’ve arranged the moisturisers. Much easier to see what we’ve got and what we’re low on. Like the toner. Would you order some more?’
