Читать книгу The Chateau - Karen Aldous - Страница 14

Chapter 5

‘Your dad.’ She began sobbing. ‘He’s gone Gina. He’s left me.’

Gina’s heart skipped. ‘What do you mean, what, just walked out?’ she enquired desperate for clues. She paced the room as Max looked at her wide-eyed and helpless. Listening intently and nervously tapping her leg while her mother collected herself she asked, ‘Are you OK, Mum?’

‘Yes,’ she sniffed. ‘He…he said he has fallen in love with someone else and that…’ she cried again, ‘he’s going to move in with her. Oh, Gina, I’m sitting here numb from shock. I don’t know what to do. I tried to speak to him but he said there’s no point, he’d made his mind up. He walked out with a bag five minutes ago.’

‘Whoa.’ She caught her breath. ‘Yes, it is a shock,’ Gina said biting her lip. She sat down for a few moments then jumped from the sofa. This was so surreal. ‘Look, Mum, is there anyone you can call to be with you until I can get there? I won’t get a flight until the morning.’ She felt herself trembling.

‘No. I don’t want anyone.’ Adrienne’s voice was curt.

‘I can drive. If I can get a crossing…’

‘No Gina, it’s too late to be driving,’ Adrienne told her.

‘What about Aunt Bernie or Suzanne?’

‘I’ll be fine. I want to be on my own, at least until you get here,’ Adrienne insisted.

‘Oh, Mum. I really don’t know what to say.’ She pinched her lips wondering what she should do or what she could say. Her mother was sniffing at the other end of the phone. Gina gave Max a helpless shrug. ‘Look Mum, I’m coming over in the morning but I’m at Max’s right now so I’ll go home and call you from there. Ring at once if you need me.’

Max caught her phone as Gina buried her head in her hands. A numbness washed over her. She noted he’d checked she’d ended the call before wrapping an arm around her.

‘Dad has walked out on Mum,’ she said, throwing her head back up. ‘I can’t believe it. He’s just packed his bag telling Mum he’s in love with someone else.’

‘Bloody hell!’ Max said, squeezing her close.

‘Fuck,’ Gina said wiping a tear from her cheek as the realisation hit. A flood of happy memories of the two of them gushed into her mind: the magic she’d once felt when her father drew her mother lovingly close and kissed her – it always wrapped a seal of comfort around her; the image of him trying to teach her mother to jump into the swimming pool in Italy one year. He’d picked her up and jumped in with her in the end and her mother actually began laughing once she’d got over the initial shock. They’d often been really sweet together. ‘I’ll need to go and book a flight and make calls and sort…’

‘Yes, yes. And call her back. Of course. If there’s anything I can do?’ Max offered. ‘Are you sure you’re OK? You look shocked yourself.’

‘I am. I mean, who’d have thought? It’s complete madness…I need to help Mum out. I don’t know how she’ll manage without him.’

Collecting her things while wiping her nose, she turned to Max. ‘I’ll call you,’ she said before pecking him on the lips and turning to leave.

On her return home, still dazed, she found the first available morning flight on the internet before calling Rebecca’s mobile, then her mother back. After an hour, she rang her father’s mobile. He wasn’t picking up. She packed her bags and left them by the front door. Her mind hazed. It kept drawing blanks as she asked herself over and over how this had all happened. She’d thought him distant, maybe upset at the wedding. Perhaps the wedding had finalised it all. Gina had so many questions as, she was sure, her mother had. It was two o’clock already; she had to be up again at four.

Arriving the next morning at Geneva airport, Gina boarded the train to Montreux. Tiredness was sucking out her energy but worrying about her mother’s well being was keeping her awake.

As the train began to border Lake Léman there was so much mist she couldn’t see much of Lake Léman nor the mountains, which was disappointing, but it was likely to burn off in an hour or two. It was brighter by the time Gina stepped off the train but she decided to take the road rather than the lake path. It wasn’t much quicker but the walk was what she needed after sitting down for hours. Once at her parents’ apartment, she let herself in and found her mother still in her dressing gown with red and puffy eyes. Gina rushed to her alarmed, throwing her arms around her. Her mother buried her head in her shoulders and began crying uncontrollably. Gina was unable to hold back either, letting her tears spill as she cradled Adrienne.

‘I couldn’t sleep,’ Adrienne told her several minutes later. ‘I don’t even know who this woman is but just the thought of your father…loving, touching someone else. Urrgh. It keeps turning my stomach.’

Gina pulled a face. ‘I can imagine, Mum. Must be a real shock,’ she said stroking her mother’s hair. ‘It’s awful. Try not to torment yourself with those thoughts.’

‘I can’t help it. It still hasn’t really sunk in.’ Adrienne slumped away and into her armchair swiping a glance at George’s empty one. ‘I keep expecting him to walk back in the door.’

Gina sat on the edge of the sofa facing her. ‘So what else did he say? I mean, do you know how long it’s been going on or how they met or why?’ Gina asked then walked to the kitchen area, reaching for the kettle and began getting the coffee cups prepared.

Her mother shook her head. ‘I’ve no idea. I had no idea. Like I said on the phone, it came out of the blue. He just came out of the bedroom last night with his large brown holdall; I was at the sink just drying my hands. I’d just put the dinner on the table.’ She sniffed and swallowed hard. ‘Then, he said. “I’m sorry, Adrienne, but I’ve fallen in love with someone else and we’ve decided to move in together.” Just like that and then I said “What do you mean?” and he just carried on walking. At first I thought he might be joking, I don’t know why, but when he got to the door, I thought, he means this, he’s going. I asked him to explain but he said he couldn’t be any clearer and went.’

Gina dashed to her mother as she broke down again. She held her shuddering body, allowing her to release her tears.

‘Oh, Mum, I don’t know what to say. I did try to ring him last night but he wasn’t answering.’ Rubbing her mother’s back she continued, ‘It’s really strange. I did think about ringing Aunt Bernie to ask if he’d spoken to her or gone to hers but I didn’t know whether you would want me to.’ Wiping her own eyes, she sat back. ‘I feel so useless.’

‘I know, I understand. I just don’t understand him though. Not a word.’

‘Presumably he’s taken his wallet and money, cards?’

‘Gosh, I’ve no idea. I hadn’t thought of that. He looks after all our money. He normally just leaves money out for me. What if…’

Gina took her mother’s hands. ‘Don’t panic. I’m sure he wouldn’t leave you homeless or without money. I’ll try to get hold of him again. Let me make this coffee.’

Now Gina was concerned. What if he had failed to provide? How would her mother cope? She’d never been self-reliant and, she imagined, she would struggle if her father didn’t pay the bills, although she was sure they’d paid cash for their apartment. That may be safe. Aunt Bernie was still the best person to ring but if her mother needed some time she had to respect that. She needed to ring her father. She rang his mobile again but still he didn’t answer. She texted him, urging him to call her. She finished the coffee and returned to her mother, still staring vacantly in her chair.

‘We’ll drink this and then you have a shower. That’ll make you feel a bit better at least,’ she told her mother handing her the hot mug.

‘I don’t feel like having a shower, Gina.’

‘I know but I think you should keep – ’ she stumbled on her words ‘ – to a routine. Keep yourself fed and watered and looking beautiful. You always look lovely.’

‘Didn’t do me much good, did it?’

‘Well, the way I see it is, if he walked back in here now and he saw you, he would think you could never manage without him. I personally, wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. If he’s been having an affair, he’s already betrayed you.’

Adrienne scowled at Gina. ‘My husband of thirty-three years has just walked out, how do you expect me to look?’ She held her cheeks, her palm spreading across her face, trying to contain her sobs. ‘I’m not like you, Gina. He’s my life. I care about him and I’m hurt. I don’t care if he sees me like this.’

‘Oh sorry, Mum. That’s just me. I’ll shut up. I’m sorry, I’m still just so shocked, and I’m sure, like you, confused. I don’t know how I’d react in all honesty.’

‘I’m going back to bed,’ Adrienne said, lifting herself from the chair and shuffling off, hunched, to her bedroom.

Cursing herself for upsetting her mother, Gina apologised again. ‘I’m so furious at him for hurting you like this.’

‘I’m tired. Maybe I’ll feel better after some sleep.’

‘You haven’t got any tablets or anything in there, have you? I mean, I don’t want to leave you alone…not in your state of mind,’ Gina said with panic in her voice.

‘No. But I wish I…never mind. I need to sleep.’

As her mother closed the door, Gina paced. For the first time in her life she felt helpless. With her own relationship struggling too, she failed to reach any answers. It seemed men still ruled. Did what they wanted.

What could she do? Respect her mother’s feelings and help her cope, she supposed. Looking through the fully stocked cupboards it seemed she didn’t need to go shopping. She tried her father’s mobile again, leaving him a message to call her urgently. She then left her mother a note and slipped out. She needed to walk.

She took the path along the lake towards the centre and continued until she reached Château de Chillon towards the end of the lake. A kiosk was open outside and, feeling a thirst, she bought a small bottle of water and an ice cream with some change in her pocket and headed back down the path.

A smaller path led her down to the shore where rocks formed a tiny bay just feet from the vast castle wall. She perched on the rocks and looked out across the lake. It wasn’t as bright as her last visit had been. Clouds and mist harboured the distant view but added drama. The mountains peaked dark grey above a bruised sky like shark fins protruding from the murkiest ocean. It was dismal but the sun was trying its best to sneak through. She peered back at the castle, its turrets towering above. It was beautiful in a haunting medieval way. She couldn’t remember ever visiting it before but noted a tour for when she had time.

She tried her father’s phone again and every few minutes thereafter but he continued to ignore her. She couldn’t bring herself to call her brother. God no, he would be horrified to discover his parents’ marriage had disintegrated having just tied the knot. Instead she rang Rebecca in the office who confessed it was busy but said she would manage there and sent her condolences. Lydia, she relayed, had agreed to do a few hours where she could. It was fortunate she could assist during school hours. At least something was sorted out, if only for the short-term.

She climbed some steps and began to meander back along the lake path.

***

Ollie Martin had begun the day early. He and Thomas, his foreman and good friend, had run through the schedules for the villas. With the first villa completing its second fix, Ollie inspected the sanitary ware and kitchen cupboards waiting to be fitted. The wall and floor tilers could now begin and the painters could return to complete the walls and woodwork. The landscaping surrounding the villa could also start.

He returned to his office and checked his laptop. He still hadn’t received a reply to his email. He wondered if Gina had seen it. Maybe she was busy. He’d give her a few more weeks but the option on the land in London had only two months left so, although he considered London a safe haven for his next investment and the property portals provided a huge amount of information, he would appreciate her input. It would also be an opportunity for her too. Not to mention an excuse for him to make contact.

Thomas wandered in removing his jacket and hard hat.

‘How would you feel about working in London, Tom?’ he asked conscious that it would be difficult with his family in Switzerland.

Thomas grimaced. ‘It wouldn’t be ideal but I have bills to pay.’

‘I’m spreading my wings a bit. London’s still a good investment,’ he told him as he watched Tom unroll a huge site drawing.

‘Well, you have to go where the opportunities are like me. I would prefer to stay with you.’

‘Yeah, we work well together so think about it.’

‘I’ll speak to Anna,’ Thomas said, nodding his head and spreading the drawing across his desk. ‘It’s all about schools nowadays.’

‘Oh, I completely understand. Yes, a bit different from when we started out and we could stagger round bars. Have a chat with Anna about it. Let me know,’ Ollie said, thinking how lucky Tom was. He certainly had a beautiful wife and super kids. He wouldn’t want to uproot them but wanted Thomas to stay with him.

Sitting back in his chair, staring at the screen, he had to admit it was always drink which made him brave. He had made a fool of himself being so drunk at the rehearsal and calling out to Gina. He’d probably completely blown his chances. He just wished he had a natural confidence with women. He was so inept, particularly with women he really liked. Why did it always go so wrong when he found someone that really stirred him? He could only conclude it all stemmed back to being rejected and, publicly humiliated, by Phoebe Barton-King in his first year at university. He’d been surprised when she’d agreed to go out with him. It had taken several drinks and a crass chat-up line to ask her. She’d been the girl all the guys buzzed around like bees around a honeypot, but she’d left a bitter taste after just four weeks. Just as his confidence was growing, she’d taken great pleasure in telling all his friends in the bar that he was the biggest and most boring dork she’d ever met. Adding that he was still tied to his mother’s apron strings. It was the worst moment of his life and for weeks afterwards he’d seriously contemplated suicide. Luckily, it was his mother who had got him through it.

Thomas called for a third time. ‘You’re miles away. Do you want coffee?’

Ollie stared up at his colleague. ‘Oh, er, yes. Sorry. Yeah, just thinking.’

‘Pretty deeply by all accounts,’ Thomas laughed.

‘Thinking how lucky you are. Having Anna and the children. It’s worked really well. Didn’t you meet her in that club we went to when we did my father’s site in Vevey?’

‘Yes. That was embarrassing. I’d met some other girl there the week before.’

‘Ha, that’s right. I remember she came up to you when you were chatting to Anna.’

They both laughed. Ollie had been finding his feet again around that time. Two other guys at the site, he and Tom had regularly enjoyed their nights out.

Thomas placed a mug of coffee on his desk. ‘Yes, my friend, you were quite the player then. What happened? Since Ella, you’ve not really been on many dates.’

Ollie thought he’d got over his fear. Picking up girls in clubs was easy. He was drunk, they were drunk and drooling. He didn’t care for them. Any really beautiful woman however, he steered away from. The Phoebe Barton-King incident had grossly knocked him sideways. He refused to approach a beautiful girl again. Labelled them all as cruel and up their own backsides. The irony was, the less sensitive he behaved towards the girls he did approach, the greater his success. He became the bad boy they all wanted.

‘I don’t know, it all became meaningless. Ella was sweet but…nowhere close to what I’m looking for, and what you have.’

‘God, I got lucky with Anna.’

‘You found the right person and you went for it. Clearly she is special.’

Special, that was what Gina was. And they’d exploded with chemistry. The attraction was strikingly strong, that’s for sure. He’d been brave enough with a drink inside him or perhaps just brash. Inevitably, he would struggle and he would have to risk humiliation. Surely he should be mature enough to deal with that. He rubbed his forehead. It was just his bad luck she was in a relationship. Long-term too.

His mind drifted as he closed He pictured her amazing dark chestnut hair, which happened to be his favourite colour on women. Thick and long with a soft natural wave flowing down her back. And the delicate bone structure shaping large green-blue eyes which smiled on their own, a pretty, slender nose with just slightly-flared nostrils which gave her a sort of wildness, sexiness even. Her aura bleeding a blend of confidence and independence, a quality that really turned him on.

‘Right,’ he said, shutting down his laptop. ‘I’m off.’

‘Can you sign off this before you go?’ Thomas brought him a sheet. ‘And I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘See you in the morning.’ He gave Thomas a swift wave and headed back to the centre of Montreux. He could, he decided, do with a quick beer.

He wandered along the lake path. He passed a statue on the edge of the lake: a door in just a frame leading directly in to the lake. He smiled. It never failed to amuse him. The lake path was strewn each year with a variety of art in several forms. He was curious as to the artist’s inspiration for the piece as he approached it. He’d intended to find out one day before it disappeared. Then, just as he peered away back to the path, thinking about stopping and reading the plaque beside it, a female figure grabbed his attention. It was Gina. She was strolling before him, deep in thought. He swallowed hard as his breathing raced.

‘Gina. I…I Would you believe it? Not five minutes ago I was just wondering why I hadn’t heard from you. How are you?’ He hovered throwing his trembling hands into his pockets. ‘Did you get my email?’