Knowing that sexy Penny had stayed over, Zoe crept out of the house, took the bike and headed for the beach. She resented the girl hanging around. She wanted Shane to herself. Every time he seemed about to share his thoughts with her, Penny would arrive unannounced or call, inviting them down to the bar for Happy Hour or to a party full of ex-pats or penniless students and Shane was only too willing to go. It was weird. He was obviously depressed but seemed to need to be on the go all the time. Zoe wasn’t sure if he was trying to escape her or himself. She’d waited for him to open up to her but it wasn’t happening, so she would have to confront him. Whether he liked it or not, they would talk today. She pondered asking Penny to back off for a couple of days, but if Penny said something back to Shane, there was no knowing how he’d react. She’d just have to watch and wait and pick her time.
She locked the bike to a railing on the seafront and scrambled down the slope. She had worn her bikini under her top and shorts in case she was tempted to take a dip, but right now she just felt the need to walk and breathe in this wonderful air. Perhaps she should thank Penny for forcing her out at this hour. There was hardly anyone about and the only noise was the waves gently lapping the shore. It was a romantic setting, perfect for couples in love.
Her thoughts inevitably turned to Robbie and the memory of their night together. It had been so special but she was beginning to wonder if he felt the same way. He’d only tried to contact her twice and both voicemails were frustrated and angry and gave the impression that he was more worried about her abandoning Isabella than leaving him. She had no right to expect him to understand or like what she’d done, but it hurt that he’d given up on her so easily. What do you expect? she asked herself. For him to jump on a plane and beg you to come back? He didn’t even know where she was. Terence too seemed to have abandoned her. She hated the thought of having disappointed him. Tara was the only one who had left a message, asking her to call.
The sun was well above the horizon now and people were drifting down to the cove, mainly parents with young families who hadn’t been up partying half the night. She stood up, wriggled out of her clothes and went to the water’s edge. After splashing water over her skin to prepare herself, she waded out until she was waist deep, and dived in. The shock of the coldness was refreshing and, when she came up, gasping for air, she was smiling. She swam across the cove and then floated on her back and stared up at the one fluffy white cloud in the sky, the water cushioning her, lulling her into a more peaceful and optimistic state of mind. She turned onto her stomach and headed back to the shore at a leisurely pace. By the time she’d reached her bike, her bikini was almost dry and she dressed and pulled her damp hair up into a knot before heading up to the square. She found a table outside her favourite café and sat down to enjoy breakfast in the sun. When she’d finished, she ordered another café con leche and called Tara.
‘Hello?’
Zoe checked her screen. Had she dialled the wrong number? Nope. ‘Tara? Are you all right?’
‘Yeah.’ Tara gave a loud yawn and then a groan. ‘Sorry, late night and too much wine . . . Zoe? Is that you?’
‘It’s me.’
‘I’m so glad you called, Zo.’
‘Why, what’s wrong?’
‘Nothing at all. First, give me a chance to wake up and tell me about Shane.’
Zoe took a sip of coffee and stared out across the square. ‘There’s not much to tell. Yes, as I guessed, it was the accident with Rachel that triggered this episode. It brought back some bad memories about Mam and Dad but he hasn’t given me any details. I hope to get him on his own later and try to draw him out.’
‘Alone? Who else is there?’
‘Ah, he’s taken up with an English student who’s working in the local bar.’
‘Huh, so much for inviting me out there. That would have been very cosy,’ Tara muttered.
‘I think they just met a couple of days ago,’ Zoe said hurriedly. ‘It’s nothing serious. He’s just looking for ways to keep me and his memories at bay. What’s your news?’
‘Dad was asking about you. He says you must come home.’
Zoe groaned. ‘You know that I can’t, Tara. Is he disgusted with me?’
‘He was but he’s calmed down now but – hang on.’
Zoe heard rustling and then Tara talk to someone else, a man. Crikey, was Greg back? Surely not.
‘Zoe, what on earth are you playing at?’
‘Terence!’
‘Do you realise that you are screwing up the greatest opportunity of your life?’
A slight exaggeration but he would never normally speak to her like that so he must be upset. ‘I’m sorry, Terence. I would never have done this if I didn’t think I had to.’
‘How long do you expect to be in Spain?’
‘I can’t say.’
‘Sorry to be blunt but what exactly is wrong with your brother? Why all the mystery? Is he in trouble of some sort?’
Zoe hesitated for a moment before deciding to be honest. ‘Yes, he’s in trouble and I’m the only one who can help him.’
‘How are you going to do that?’
‘By being here.’
‘Bring him home. Then you can be with him and do your job too,’ he said, sounding totally frustrated.
She didn’t think that was going to happen anytime soon, but she decided it was best to placate him. ‘I’ll try, Terence.’
‘You must. I’ve talked to Robbie and he’s willing to delay production for a short time.’
‘He is?’ She had imagined him in a fury and was touched that, despite her running out on him and the show, Robbie was ready to give her another chance.
‘But you must keep in touch and let us know what the situation is.’
‘I’ll do that, I promise.’
‘Good. Take care, darling. I’ll put you back on to Tara.’
‘Close the door on your way out, Dad,’ Tara called. ‘Okay, we’re alone now. Sorry about that. I didn’t hear him come in and he just grabbed the phone when he realised it was you.’
‘How come he’s there at this hour?’
‘He stayed over. He was here yesterday when Greg’s mum arrived to plead his case.’
‘So he knows?’ Zoe asked.
‘He does.’ Tara actually sounded relieved.
‘How did he take it? No, sorry, stupid question.’
Tara chuckled. ‘He wanted to go round and thump Greg, but instead, he took me out to dinner and we got drunk.’
Zoe would have preferred the thumping option. She was worried about Tara’s drinking. She was worried about Tara full stop. Zoe worried about Shane’s drinking too but somehow it seemed a necessary evil at the moment and, strangely, under control. But Tara’s growing dependence on alcohol was a direct result of the stress in her marriage. ‘Are you okay, Tara?’
‘Yeah, fine. It’s actually a huge relief that Dad knows.’
‘What did Greg’s mum say?’
‘She’s very upset about the whole thing and begged me to talk to him, to come to her house if I’m nervous of being alone with him. She says he’s ashamed of himself and will do anything to win me back.’
‘How do you feel about that?’ Zoe was not going to push her friend one way or the other. Tara needed someone who would just listen without giving advice or standing in judgement.
‘I suppose I have to face him sometime. Oh, by the way, he’s working away on your house and it seems to be going well.’
‘On his own?’ Zoe was surprised.
‘No, he has a plumber and tiler helping him but most of the work is done.’
Zoe didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know if the insurance company would pay up and, as Greg hadn’t given her a quote for the work, she had no idea what any of this was going to cost. Still, the job had to be done. ‘He’s very good. Thank him for me.’
‘Will do. Give Shane my love.’
‘I will.’ Zoe said goodbye and, raising her face to the sun, closed her eyes. Would the peace of this beautiful spot help her brother with whatever demons he was battling or would he be better off back in Dublin, facing reality? Her phone buzzed and she picked it up, to see it was a text from Shane.
Where are you?
In the square, she typed back.
On the way.
Alone, I hope, Zoe thought. It would take him at least ten minutes to get down so, before she talked herself out of it, she called Robbie. It rang several times and she was about to give up when the phone was finally answered.
‘Hello? Hellooo? Anybody there?’
Zoe hung up. She was ready for anger and recriminations or frostiness but the last thing she had been expecting was Robbie’s phone to be answered by a woman.