CHAPTER FIVE

Catherine picked up the telephone. She wondered if she could have it removed, it was becoming a nuisance and interrupting her work.

'Come and have coffee. I desperately need to talk to someone.' It was Selina.

Catherine looked at the half-finished designs for a new range of party dresses, inspired by the flower festival costumes, and sighed. But Selina sounded really down, and there was no real rush to finish, just her own impatience when she was in the throes of a new design project.

'Where's Charlie?' she asked. Charlie could normally be depended on to calm her more excitable sister down.

'Gone into town for more paints, I think. And Bernie's – ' there was what sounded suspiciously like a sob.

'Bernie?'

Selina sniffed. 'Oh, I'm being stupid. He's gone – '

'Gone? Where?'

'New York. Catherine, please come!'

This sounded serious. Had Bernie simply abandoned Selina, or had they had some serious quarrel? It would surely have to be a major falling out to send him all the way across the Atlantic.

'On my way. Put on the coffee pot.'

Selina was sitting on the patio, hunched over a plate of biscuits, the coffee pot beside them. She was also looking untidy, wearing a shirt and trousers in horridly clashing shades of lime green and pale turquoise, as though she'd thrown on the first clothes that came to hand that morning, and her hair seemed not to have been brushed.

Catherine sat down opposite her, reached over and clasped her hand.

'Why has he gone?' she asked gently. 'You don't mean for good, surely? He wouldn't do that to you, however badly you'd quarrelled.'

'I – I don't think so,' Selina said, and sat up. Catherine reached for the coffee pot and poured. Selina offered the biscuits. 'It's just that he had a phone call, I heard his mobile ringing, it's terribly loud, and he dashed off while I was showering, and simply left a note. He couldn't even wait, or even come into the bathroom to tell me himself.' She pulled a tissue out of her pocket and blew her nose. 'He can't get to New York except through Lisbon or London, and there are plenty of flights, so why couldn't he wait an hour more? Why did he have to dash off like that?'

Catherine wondered if it was the casual way he'd not even bothered to speak to her that upset Selina most, more than the fact of his going.

'Why has he gone?' Catherine repeated. 'Did he say? In the note? Surely it must have been something important? Bad news about someone in the family, perhaps?'

'Nothing like that. It wasn't important. He said it was for a conference on a new TV series. To discuss the theme music. But I know the publicist on that TV station is one of his old girl friends. She – Tanya – she still wants him.'

'He married you, not her,' Catherine reminded her.

'Yes, but he was married before, and had dozens of girl friends before we met. We were married within weeks, and I often wonder if he regrets it. He lost his freedom, though it doesn't stop him flirting with other women.'

Catherine thought somewhat guiltily of her suspicions that Bernie would like a closer relationship with herself. He had been flirtatious, and seemed to meet her on her solitary walks rather more often than could be accounted for by mere coincidence, especially as she deliberately chose different routes.

'Have you been having rows? Do you think that's why he's gone?'

Selina sighed. 'Not really. I shouted at him this morning. He was up at four, tinkling away at the piano, one phrase over and over, like it is when he's composing something new, and it drives me crazy! Especially in the middle of the night!'

Catherine could appreciate that.

'Surely that wasn't enough to send him dashing to New York? Especially when his father is due any day now. You don't know anything about the phone call? Did he tell you the truth?'

'I e-mailed a friend who acts in some of these series, and she said there was definitely a new one being planned. That must have been what the call was about. But I don't trust Tanya! She wants him back, she's made no secret of it.'

She suddenly burst into tears, and Catherine moved her chair round in order to hug her. At that moment a taxi halted outside the gate and Charlotte, loaded with several bags, including what seemed to be a couple of picture frames, came in to the garden.

*

'She'll be OK now,' Charlie said as she and Catherine crept out of the darkened bedroom. 'I need a drink!'

'Is there anything in it?' Catherine asked, sipping the Bloody Mary thankfully. 'Bernie and this woman, I mean.'

'There was, before he met Selina. She believes he was on the point of marrying Tanya when they met. I don't know if he was, but Selina sometimes feels guilty because she broke it up.'

'And there might still be something between them?'

'It's more that Selina feels insecure. If she could take Bernie away from Tanya someone else could do the same to her.'

Catherine speculated again about Bernie's remarks to her, his offers of help. She might have read more into them than he'd meant, but again she might not. Some men enjoyed preying on recently divorced women. The trouble was, she didn't know. For years there had been no one for her but Justin, and she had neither sought male attention nor noticed how other men treated her. She wasn't sure she'd recognise with absolute certainty any but the most blatant approach and was always wary of reading too much into mere friendliness, and making a decided fool of herself.

'You said he'd probably be back within a week?'

'It's only one conference, but of course, once he's actually in New York his agent will try and get more commissions for him and it always helps if the composer can be there to talk to people.'

'I gather he's not been doing too well lately.'

'No, and it's partly because he's so out of the way here. He's begun to realise this and is showing signs of restlessness.'

'Why did they come here?'

'Bernie said he needed peace to work, but he rejected all the suggestions of places to go to in the US, said they, his agent and so on, could disturb him too easily there. Selina had been here once on a holiday, said she loved it, and so they came. But it hasn't been a roaring success.'

'Will Selina stay here or will she go rushing after him like she said?'

'Yes, she'll stay when she stops to think properly. She knows Bernie hates any sort of fuss. Unless he creates it himself,' she added. 'He'd never forgive her if she followed him and created a scene, and she'll realise it would be disastrous publicity. Beside, if he plans to come back immediately she could easily miss him, and that would infuriate both of them. Will you help me keep her occupied though?'

'Of course. But what about your own work?'

Charlie shrugged. 'That will have to wait for a day or so, until she's back to normal. Luckily I'm ahead of schedule, but it's frustrating, I was just getting properly involved in it, the way it works occasionally when nothing goes wrong – with my painting, that is.'

By the following day Selina was resigned and apologetic.

'I feel a crass fool for making such a fuss,' she said, persuading Catherine to walk into Funchal and browse through the shops which catered for tourists. 'I need fresh air, I'm so drained and lifeless.'

'Has Bernie's father arrived yet?' Catherine asked, when she felt Selina had exhausted the topic of Bernie and his irresistible attraction for other women.

'He phoned last night, he's been delayed but he'll be here tomorrow. Now I shall have to entertain him if Bernie doesn't come back in time.'

*

Catherine and Fiona went to dinner with the Frasers that evening, and Catherine told them Bernie had gone to New York for a few days, though she didn't reveal Selina's fears about his interest in the girl Tanya.

'And his father will be here tomorrow,' she added. 'I don't think Selina is very keen on having to entertain him by herself.'

'What time is he arriving? Coming from Lisbon, did Selina say, or London?' the Major asked.

'Selina didn't say, but I believe he's staying with friends in Lisbon,' Catherine told him, wondering why it mattered to him. He wasn't usually interested in the details of other people's lives.

Margaret seemed puzzled too.

'I expect Selina will introduce him to us. Do you think she would appreciate it if we asked him here for a meal?'

'Oh, no. Well, I mean, we can hardly do that, Margaret, we don't know him,' the Major said.

'But you said you used to know a Peter Simkins, and this might be the same man,' Margaret said. 'Besides, we often ask people we don't know, visitors, friends of our friends, to meals. I'm sure Jenny will invite him, once she knows he's here.'

'All right, do as you wish,' the Major said. 'Are we having cheese next? Fiona, go and fetch the crackers and the butter please.'

Margaret looked down at the fish on her plate.

'Hamish, we haven't all finished. What's the hurry?'

'Sorry. What are you doing tomorrow, Catherine? Fiona, have you another examination paper tomorrow?'

Fiona shook her head while Catherine looked at her father, frowning. He was behaving oddly, unlike his normal self. She'd never known him so jittery.

'Fiona has two days free of exams now,' Catherine said. 'That gives her plenty of time for revision on the next one.'

'There would be time to go and see Dad play in his exhibition match,' Fiona said, disgruntled.

'A break would do her good,' the Major said. 'Catherine, why don't you take Fiona and your mother up to the golf club?'

Margaret frowned. 'Why can't you take us?'

'I have things to do, and you know I'm not in the slightest interested in golf. It's a pointless waste of time and money. If people want exercise they can walk, without the frustration of knocking tiny balls into heaps of sand and not being able to find them!'

Catherine wasn't anxious to watch Justin play either, but her mother seemed eager, and she supposed one day would make little difference to Fiona's chances of good results.

'OK then. Fiona, don't smother me,' she added, laughing, as her daughter leapt to her feet and hugged her tightly.

'Then go and get the cheese, child. It's all settled,' the Major said, smiling, and it seemed to Catherine, more relaxed than he'd been throughout the meal.

*

Fortunately, Dominic thought, the three people they had interviewed had all been suitable for the jobs, and had been engaged, so he was free to go back to Madeira and deal with matters there. He tried to suppress the thought that he would also be seeing Catherine again. He'd only parted from Helene a short while ago, and it had not been a final parting, they hadn't quarrelled, it was simply because of her new job. Though perhaps they had been finding one another less absorbing than had been the case at the beginning of their affair. He tried, on the flight back to Madeira, to analyse why. They had little in common, Helene was absorbed in her work with few outside interests, while he was able to switch off business concerns and devote himself to other things, enjoying both old and new activities. In Madeira he had opportunities to sail, to walk the levadas, try out new restaurants – and there were plenty of good ones – as well as enjoying the many festivals all over the island. He'd take Millie and Catherine to the Sao Vicente caves, his daughter was old enough now to enjoy them. Perhaps he and Helene would not get together again.

He was so busy with his thoughts that he only realised they were close to Madeira when the plane began its descent. He glanced out of the window at the rocky eastern peninsula, then braced himself for the sharp braking as the plane touched down on the short runway.

He had no baggage to claim, so walked straight out into the arrivals hall, and almost immediately saw Selina.

'Hello!'

'Dominic, hi. Was that the Lisbon plane?'

'Yes. Are you meeting someone?'

'Bernie's father, Peter. And of course dear Bernie had to fly off to New York right now, leaving me on my own to enertain a man I hardly know. I've thought of murdering him, but fortunately for him he's not here.'

He laughed. 'Is he staying with you? Bernie's father, I mean.'

'No, fortunately he prefers Reid's instead of my cooking. Oh, there he is, just coming through the door. Can I give you a lift back to Funchal?'

'I have my car here, thanks. Good luck.'

Dominic left her as she turned to greet a grey-haired man who looked very like Bernie, though he wasn't so tall and carried more weight. He'd no doubt meet Peter Simkins soon enough. Right now he was more anxious to get back to his apartment and then, when school finished, to go and see Millie. Lidia could wait until the following day.

*

It had been more than a year since Selina had seen Peter. He beamed at her and kissed her on both cheeks.

'You're looking well, my dear. Have you heard when my thoughtless son is due back? He phoned me to warn me he would not be here for a few days. I suspect he was trying to hint I stayed on in Lisbon, but I'd seen all my friends there, and I'd far rather be here with you. Is your delightful sister still with you?'

Selina though she would never become used to the sort of American effusiveness Peter had in full measure. All the way into Funchal, along the busy Via Rapida, he chatted about his home, the friends he had been visiting in Lisbon, his pleasure in being back in Madeira, which he had visited a couple of times many years ago, and marvelling at the changes he detected.

'I hope Reid's hasn't changed too much. It's such an institution. You will stay and have a late lunch with me, I hope? I hate eating alone, and since Bernie's mother died I've had to do it far too often.'

'That would be great,' Selina said, while her heart sank. She'd have to sound cheerful and happy for several more hours, and it was taking all her resolution to appear bright and interested while her inner thoughts veered between longing for Bernie to come back, and a mixture of anger and fear over what he might have been up to in New York.

*

As Dominic halted his car outside the Thorn villa, Catherine was coming along the road. She waved to him and he got out of the car to meet her. She was looking frazzled, and he frowned. What was bothering her?

'Hello there,' he said.

'Is all well? With your shops on the mainland?'

'For the time being, yes. And here? How are you? Is Fiona still in the middle of her exams?'

'Reluctantly. She wants to see Justin every day, and is furious when I force her to do some revision.'

Dominic narrowed his eyes. Was this what was upsetting Catherine?

'Justin? Your husband?'

Catherine shook her head in swift denial.

'Former husband,' she said.

'He's here? I didn't know he was coming.'

'Neither did I, and it's upsetting Fiona, having him here and wanting to be with him, when she needs to concentrate on these examinations. They are important, but she claims she doesn't need to do any revision. Daughters! I hope you don't have problems like this with Millie when she's older.'

Dominic laughed. 'I'm not looking forward to the teenage years. Perhaps it would have been easier if her mother were still alive. Girls need a mother almost more than men need a wife.'

Catherine found herself wondering if Dominic was thinking of marriage, and why he had not married again. Then she forced her attention back to what he was saying.

'Does Fiona play golf?'

'No. Justin tried to teach her, before we split up, but when she discovered she couldn't manage even a close putt, she decided it wasn't for her. She wanted something more energetic, where she could move fast herself, so she took up ice skating. I've wondered, these past few days, whether she is changing her mind. We have to go and see him play tomorrow on the Palheiro course. He's over on Porto Santo today.'

It was upsetting Catherine, with her ex-husband here, Dominic thought, but she would not welcome sympathy from him.

'Typical teenager. But I understand he is not staying with you?' That, at any rate, was better for Catherine.

'We haven't room, even if I'd wanted him. He's ducked out of some minor tournament to come here, accusing me of breaking the divorce settlement by bringing Fiona out of England. Somehow he arranged with his sponsors to come here instead of wherever it was, and play a few exhibition matches, and he's staying at the Quinta Casa Velha do Palheiro.'

Dominic wondered if Justin was paying for his accommodation at this expensive luxury hotel, or did his sponsors pick up the bill?

'How long is he here for?'

'A few more days. He leaves on Thursday for London. He has to go back to the States then for another tournament.'

He nodded in satisfaction, then decided he'd better change the subject. It was nothing to do with him what Justin O'Brien's arrangements were.

'By the way, I met Selina at the airport. She was meeting Bernie's father. I gather he's gone to New York?'

'Bernie? Yes. He's supposed to be discussing some new TV programme and the music they want for it, but Selina is suspicious. I understand an old girlfriend is involved with the TV company. I suppose she'll have to spend time with Mr Simkins, showing him over the island, until Bernie comes back. And she's none too pleased.'

'I'll get Mom to invite him for a meal.'

Catherine nodded. 'Somehow I thought she would. Your mother is the most hospitable person I know.'

'And often indiscriminate. Look at that dreadful Livermore. When are Fiona's exams finished?'

'Next Wednesday. Why?'

Good, Justin O'Brien would have left by the following day.

'I want to take Lidia to meet the staff at all the golf courses. Perhaps we could combine a trip to Porto Santo with that? Millie is longing to play on the beach there. Would Selina like to bring Bernie's father?'

'I'm sure she would, especially if Bernie is not back.'

'Good, then I'll ask her. Would next Saturday be convenient? We'll have to stay one night, it's an eight-hour crossing, but I'll book rooms. Tell Fiona it's a celebration for finishing her exams. If she misses her father this might take her mind off it.'

'Thanks, that sounds great, and I'm sure Fiona will be pleased. Millie too, she's been saying how disappointed she is that you had to go away.'

He nodded. 'It's been convenient for Mom and Dad to have her, since her mother died, but I want to come and live here permanently, soon. My fellow in Spain can look after things on the mainland, he's very efficient and reliable, and it's only a few hours away if there are problems he can't deal with. Like now. But thankfully I believe these are all sorted for the moment.'

*

Fiona was packing away her notes, ready for bed, when Justin arrived.

'Dad! I didn't expect to see you till tomorrow. Why have you come here so late?'

'I want to talk to you and your mother. There won't be time tomorrow, too many other people around, and I'll be pretty busy after that.'

Catherine suppressed a sigh of relief. The less she and Fiona saw of Justin the better for all of them. He was distracting Fiona just when she needed to concentrate on her exams.

'Then won't I see you again after tomorrow? Dad, I thought you came here mainly to see me.'

'I did, but I want to see a lot more of you. It would be possible. Your mother ought not to have left England without consulting me, but I do appreciate she wanted to get you into a warmer climate.'

Catherine raised her eyebrows. He was being unexpectedly conciliatory.

'I want you to come to Florida for a month or so. You too, Catherine,' he added just as she opened her mouth to protest.

Fiona clapped her hands and gave him a hug.

'Dad! That would be great? I'd love that, I really would. Can we go as soon as my exams are finished?'

'No!'

'Mom! Why on earth not? It would be great, and even warmer than here. And there would be lots more to do.'

'It's not possible. I imagine you would be playing all the time, Justin?'

'Well, I do have to earn a living, you know, and I have my fans and my sponsors to please.'

'So do I have to earn a living, and I couldn't over there. And if you are playing, probably staying away at more distant courses, when would you have time to see Fiona? You haven't exactly spent much time with her here.'

'Not my choice. Having ducked out of that other tournament I had to agree to do these exhibitions here, to keep the sponsors sweet. It's a tricky course, I've needed to concentrate and learn it. Which is why I'm suggesting she comes and stays near me, where I can see her in between tournaments. They are nearly all in Florida, or just a short flight away, for the next couple of months.'

'I could go on my own, Mum,' Fiona said. 'I flew out on my own last summer.'

'Not exactly. You went with the Staffords.'

'Oh, them! They were utterly boring, and their kids were real pains.'

'I couldn't be with you all the time,' Justin began.

'And how could you manage when he's away?' Catherine asked. 'There would be no one else there in the house. It wouldn't be safe.'

'Which is why I'm suggesting you come too, Catherine. Don't worry about the expense. I'll pay your fare, and I'll rent a place for you if you prefer not to stay in my house, there are several available near my own.'

'Why can't we stay with you?'

'Your mother will be happier in her own space,' Justin said.

So that he can entertain whichever girl has caught his fancy now, Catherine thought. Was this the reason he had included her in the invitation? To keep Fiona occupied while he pretended he was being a responsible father to her? She was still bitter at the way Justin had flaunted his conquests during their marriage.

'We are not going.'

The argument lasted for another half hour, but as Catherine pointed out, he could scarcely abduct them, and it would take time for him to obtain a court order from England, even if any court would give him one. Her main fear was that Fiona might attempt to join him when he left. She was angry enough and as soon as Justin, muttering that Catherine would regret her intransigence, left, Fiona had stormed off to bed.

Catherine could hear her banging cupboard doors in her bedroom. Fiona had had tantrums as a baby, but rarely during the past few years. Was she angry, and silly enough to think she could carry out her threat to run away and go to London with her father? Catherine determined to ask her father to put Fiona's passport in his safe. She could not risk the child going off to Florida on her own, she was too young, and she had no confidence that Justin would provide a suitable companion for her.

*