2010
Stuart sat beside her as Natalie drove to the airport on Friday morning. His case was in the boot, alongside her weekend bag. Apart from the outfit for the wedding she hadn’t needed to pack much. Low clouds heavy with rain darkened the sky and Natalie was glad to escape what promised to be a wet weekend.
‘How’s things in the cottage? Any more disturbances?’ Stuart gave her a sideways look.
‘It’s been okay, apart from vivid dreams.’ She gave a short laugh. ‘I think I’m slowly learning more about your grandmother than even your mother knows!’
‘Oh! That doesn’t sound good. What kind of things?’
She slowed down as they approached a junction and glanced at him. ‘Assuming the dreams are replays of what actually happened rather than my imagination, seems she and your grandfather argued an awful lot. I don’t hear the words, just feel a sense of what they’re saying. Or shouting. And he…he hit her. I always feel exhausted afterwards.’ Natalie bit her lip. ‘Should I say anything to Tabby? It doesn’t seem the right time, at a wedding…’
‘No, I agree, it’s not. Sounds awful.’ He frowned.
‘You don’t feel comfortable with what’s happening, do you?’
‘To be honest, I’ve never believed in ghosts or anything paranormal. I’m not religious either, so don’t think we go on to an afterlife. The thought that my grandmother could be haunting your home – and your dreams – is, is anathema to me.’ He shook his head.
‘How do you think I feel?’ Her voice was sharp. ‘I’ve never believed in such things either, but you saw it too. I’m glad to be getting away from whatever it is for a few days. It’s…it’s getting to me.’ Natalie gripped the steering wheel tighter, fighting back a sob. She didn’t want him to see her as weak.
‘I’m so, so sorry, Natalie. It must be hellish for you.’ He patted her arm awkwardly, as if unsure what to do. ‘Shall we make a pact not to mention anything to do with the cottage while we’re away? I’ll do my best to help you enjoy the weekend.’
Her throat tightened and she turned to look at him. As their eyes locked she felt herself flush. Quickly turning away, she said, ‘Thanks, that’s a…good idea. I’m looking forward to exploring the area. Now, can you spot a parking space?’
Natalie felt the perspiration trickle between her breasts almost as soon as Alan escorted them out of the airport. It had been hot in Guernsey that summer, but nothing like this. Must be about thirty degrees, she thought, pushing down her straw hat before scrabbling in her bag for sunglasses.
‘Don’t worry, it’ll be cooler at the villa. Being on a hillside we get to enjoy a gentle wind.’ Alan assured them as he led the way to the car park. The heat bounced off the tarmac and the parked vehicles, leaving a slight metallic taste in Natalie’s mouth.
‘How far’s the villa?’ Stuart asked, deftly avoiding a badly steered trolley piled high with luggage.
‘About twenty-five kilometres. Takes about half an hour as the road winds up into the hills. Our nearest town is Allauch where the mayor will be marrying us tomorrow.’ Alan aimed his key at a dusty Peugeot estate before lifting the tailgate. He loaded the luggage and offered Natalie the front passenger seat while Stuart slid into the back. She sat gingerly on the hot cloth, the heat burning through to her skin. No-one spoke until Alan had steered the car out of the parking area and on to the main road, bombarded by constant traffic from all directions. Natalie was grateful she didn’t have to drive.
‘How was the journey?’
Natalie smiled as she replied. ‘Good, thanks. Wasn’t it, Stuart?’ She turned to look at him, sitting behind Alan. Stuart had proved to be the perfect companion, sharing interesting facts from the guidebook he had bought. He had also been most attentive, offering her the window seat to get the best view as they came into land. And it had been spectacular. Natalie was taken aback by the sight of the runway along the side of a lake and their approach over the hills heading towards the water. She was beginning to wish she had agreed to stay longer, but…it was too soon.
‘Yes, it was. And thanks for paying for the tickets.’
Alan nodded. ‘The least we could do after asking you to join us here for the wedding. And it cost far less than flying my family from the States!’ He chuckled.
‘Have they arrived yet?’
‘Yesterday. And your mother’s in her element playing the role of step-grandmother. Even though everyone was shattered from the long flight, she insisted on taking the kids shopping for clothes this morning. They went dressed in typical American fashion of jeans and trainers and came back in head to toe French chic, like mini models for a fashion house!’ He shook his head, adding, ‘Not sure what Rose thinks, but my granddaughter, Kimberley, now walks like a model, hands on hips. Looks cute on a ten-year-old.’
‘Sounds like Mum won’t even notice me,’ Stuart said in a mock-sorrowful voice.
‘Oh, she will, don’t worry. Before my gang arrived she was fussing over your room, wanting everything to be perfect. Which it will. Tabby’ll make sure of that.’
The villa nestled under trees on the hillside, the white walls gleaming in the sun. As the car drew to a halt in the expansive driveway, a woman who looked like a housekeeper appeared at the front door, beaming and waving her hands.
‘Bonjour! Bienvenue! Bienvenue!’
‘This is Adele, who looks after us beautifully and is uber excited about the wedding and meeting the family. And she has little English.’ Alan performed the introductions and Adele planted exuberant kisses on their cheeks. She looked particularly taken with Stuart, pointing at his hair and eyes as she gabbled on in French. Natalie’s French was rusty but she guessed Adele was commenting on Stuart’s likeness to his mother. Alan nodded and replied in perfect French and gently manoeuvred them all inside out of the fierce glare of the sun. Adele insisted in carrying Natalie’s luggage and Stuart carried his own into the cool, airy hallway. Natalie caught a glimpse of wooden doors leading off in different directions before a flurry of bright colours erupted into the figure of Tabby bursting through a far door.
‘You’re here!’ She swept upon Stuart with outstretched arms and squeezed him. Natalie caught him rolling his eyes over his mother’s shoulder and grinned.
Tabby turned to her and gave her an equally fulsome hug before steering them towards the far door.
‘Leave the luggage, Adele will take it to your rooms. Come and join the others and we’ll have lunch. Oh, I’m so excited to have everyone here, I could burst!’
Alan gave Natalie and Stuart a conspiratorial wink before taking Tabby’s arm and escorting her down the hall.
Natalie and Stuart exchanged glances and, placing his hand on her elbow, he said, ‘I think it’s fair to say Mum’s excited, don’t you? Hope you don’t find it all too much, meeting a load of strangers.’
She liked the touch of his hand and appreciated his calmness. Although he looked like his mother, in temperament they could not have been more different.
‘It’s fine, I’m sure everyone will be lovely. But if it does get too much perhaps we could sneak away for a walk.’
His eyes lit up. ‘I’d like that,’ he said, squeezing her arm.
Natalie wondered what was happening to her. She was flirting with Stuart! Had the alcohol on the plane gone to her head? Or was it the heat? Either way, she enjoyed the sensation of letting go of the tension which had been building up over the past weeks. She needed to relax and have fun.
Lunch, served on a covered veranda smothered in bougainvillea, was noisy and less awkward than Natalie had expected. Rose was charming and easy to talk to, wanting to know what it was like to live on such a ‘teeny-weeny island’ as Rose put it. Blake, her husband, said little, taking surreptitious glances at his mobile, earning frowns from Rose. Their children, Kimberley and Jed, sat between Tabby and Alan at the opposite end of the table, were noisy but seemed in awe of their soon-to-be grandma. The food, prepared and served by Adele in bright coloured dishes, consisted of mixed salads, both hot and cold choices of vegetables, meats and cheeses, all washed down with copious bottles of wine. As the wine flowed through the afternoon, the conversations grew louder with the odd outburst of laughter from shared jokes. Natalie’s head swam and she had the sudden urge to splash cold water on her face.
‘Sorry to interrupt, Tabby, but could you tell me where my room is? I’d like to change into something cooler and hang up my outfit for tomorrow.’
‘Of course. Up the stairs and the second door on the left. You can’t miss it as it’s the only one painted bright blue. There’s an en suite if you want a shower.’ Tabby beamed.
Natalie stood and excused herself before retreating inside. For a moment she had to adjust her eyes to the dimness and as she hesitated, Stuart joined her.
‘Phew! Thought I’d take the opportunity to escape as well. Do you fancy a walk round the garden after you’ve changed? Mum and Alan are taking a siesta shortly and the others are going out in the car.’
‘Okay, give me half an hour and I’ll meet you down here.’
They walked upstairs together, separating as she reached her room.
‘I’m next door it seems,’ Stuart said, pointing along the corridor.
Wondering if his mother had put them near each other for a reason, Natalie nodded and went in to her room. She immediately felt cooler, thankful for the air conditioning. The room was simply but elegantly furnished, a mix of old French painted furniture and a touch of modern light wood, set against soft blue walls. Muslin encased the double half-tester bed and looked inviting. Too inviting. She walked to the window and pulled back the painted shutters, releasing a contented sigh. Below her lay terraces leading down to an inviting azure pool surrounded by loungers and parasols. Beyond the pool the garden was laid out in shrubs and flower beds, bordered by olive, lemon and fig trees. Taking a deep breath she caught the scent of lavender and jasmine. Now keen to get down and explore, she unpacked quickly, hanging up her outfit for the wedding before heading into the marble-tiled shower. Huge white fluffy towels lay on a rack and a matching towelling robe hung on the back of the door. Natalie’s eyes widened at the selection of L’Occitane toiletries arranged in a basket on the vanity unit. Tabby certainly knew how to pamper her guests, she thought, stepping into the shower.
Minutes later and wrapped in the robe, Natalie dried her hair with the thoughtfully provided dryer before dressing in shorts and a T-shirt. She went downstairs to find Stuart waiting for her. She noticed the gleam of admiration in his eyes as she ran down, her bronzed legs shown to their best advantage. Stuart’s skin appeared pale against his cream shorts and blue T-shirt. He looked down at his own legs with a rueful grin.
‘I have some catching up to do, don’t I? It’s so good to finally relax and enjoy the summer. I don’t plan to stir much beyond the villa for the next two weeks.’
Natalie cocked her head on one side as she joined him.
‘I’m not sure Tabby will let you. I bet she’s drawn up a timetable of activities and sightseeing to keep you busy!’ She laughed.
Stuart rubbed his face, groaning.
‘I hope not! It’s been an exhausting term and I need a full recharge before I face those teenage hordes again. Come on, let’s go check out what promises to be a fantastic garden.’
They stepped down from the veranda, now empty of people and any remains of lunch, and headed for the pool area. Stuart placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her and Natalie sensed his hesitation, as if he wasn’t sure how she would react. But she liked the sensation and moved closer to him. The wide paths allowed plenty of room to walk side by side as they admired the flowers and shrubs.
‘Who’s the gardener? It looks immaculate.’
‘Mum’s always been a keen gardener so I’m guessing it’s her. Although I bet she has help. She did mention having a pool man who can turn his hand to most things. I wouldn’t want to work outside in this heat, would you?’ He wiped beads of sweat from his forehead.
She shook her head.
‘No, for sure. This is the time to sit and admire not dig. And enjoying a tall glass of something cold. Shall we find some shade for a moment?’ Natalie made for a couple of adjacent pool loungers and Stuart opened a parasol, angled to protect their heads from the sun’s glare. Stretched out on the thickly padded loungers, Natalie gave a contented sigh.
‘This is heaven! Doesn’t the pool look inviting?’ She admired the blue tesserae tiles lining the pool which made the water appear an incredibly deep blue. ‘Wish I had room for one at home.’
‘You wouldn’t get to use it much and they take a lot of looking after. Mum and Dad had one and the cover stayed on most of the summer. I think you’re better sticking with your pond,’ Stuart said, crossing his arms under his head.
Natalie frowned. ‘There’s been a delay with the liner so heaven knows when it’ll be finished. I was looking forward to sitting on the terrace being soothed by the sound of running water.’
‘You could always leave the garden tap on. Similar effect.’ He chuckled.
‘Hey!’ Natalie leaned over and aimed a mock-punch at his arm. Stuart raised the arm defensively and caught hers, knocking her off balance. She fell on top of him and he grabbed her upper arms. Somehow, they ended up in an embrace, their lips virtually touching. Natalie’s heart thumped and as she stared into the tantalising blue eyes, was lost. Stuart inched forward and kissed her. At first a gentle kiss, it became harder and his tongue separated her lips. She allowed herself to let go and enjoy the sensations fizzing through her body. Stuart’s hands caressed her back and Natalie arched her spine in response. Then reason prevailed.
Pulling back gently she twisted her body away from him and flopped onto her lounger. Her heart thudded, savouring the memory of the kiss.
Stuart’s fingers stroked her arm and she turned towards his smiling face.
‘That was some kiss, Mr Cross. You…you took me by surprise.’
‘I surprised myself. I hadn’t intended to, it just happened. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, Miss Ogier.’ He continued to stroke her arm, his eyes never leaving hers.
‘Mm, yes. I’m not sure where this leaves us–’
‘Well, I’d say it shows we find each other attractive, don’t you? Do you have a problem with that?’
Natalie swallowed. Was it a problem? It was if she were really off men like she’d told herself these past months since Liam…On the other hand Stuart was proving to be the complete opposite to Liam, a man who knew how to treat women with consideration and respect.
‘Guess not. But let’s not rush anything. Once you get back to Guernsey we’ll have time to get to know each other…better.’ Her body’s irreverent response to his feather-light touch undermined her resolve to wait. Could they wait two weeks? Trying to regain control, Natalie swung her legs over the side of the lounger and fixed her sunglasses firmly in place. Best to avoid eye contact.
Before she could move, Stuart stood up and lifted her chin. His thumb traced her lips and before she could say anything he dropped a light kiss on her mouth.
‘I don’t want to scare you off, Natalie. Let’s play it your way. In the meantime I fancy a swim and I’m going to get my things before our peace is shattered by my new sister’s family. Care to join me?’
‘Yes! I do need to cool off.’ For more than one reason, she told herself, as they retraced their steps inside. Barely minutes later they were back downstairs, her bikini and his trunks covered by towelling robes.
The water flowed over her body like cool silk and Natalie swam a complete length before lifting her head to see Stuart power his way towards her. Exhilarated by the swim, she laughed, pushing her hair back as she trod water. Stuart’s grin said it all.
‘Great, isn’t it? I could spend the weekend in here!’
‘I think your mother would have something to say about that! You’re here for her wedding, remember. Oh, and it looks like we have company.’
Trailing out of the villa were Rose and her family, looking decidedly hot and sticky.
‘Mind if we join you? The children are dying for a swim.’ Rose looked from one to the other, her eyebrows raised. Natalie felt herself flush. Rose was putting two and two together.
‘Not at all. There’s plenty of room. What have you been up to?’
Rose, stripping down to her swimsuit, slid into the pool alongside her and began chatting about their trip to the local town. The children jumped in shrieking, creating such a splash even the loungers were soaked. Blake tried half-heartedly to remonstrate, but they ignored him. Natalie watched, amused, as Stuart swam towards them and said something she couldn’t hear. Whatever it was, it worked as the children began quietly swimming the length of the pool. Beside her, Rose’s jaw dropped.
‘You can tell Stuart’s a teacher, can’t you? They have a knack with kids that parents never seem to master. I must pick his brains while we’re out here.’ She and Natalie swam lazily up the pool, managing to stay clear of the children. Stuart and Blake trod water by the edge, deep in conversation.
Adele came out calling something in French and Rose told the others it was time to go in and change for dinner.
‘We’re eating early tonight as it promises to be a long day tomorrow and we don’t want the kids getting overtired.’ Rose chuckled. ‘Mind you, the same could apply to the grown-ups, too!’
Everyone collected their things and filed back indoors, all chatting away. Natalie was pleased to have another woman to talk to and Rose seemed equally keen to chat. By the time they reached the bedrooms they were like old friends, offering to help with each other’s outfits the following day. Rose moved off with her family in tow and as Natalie stood at her bedroom door, Stuart came up and gave her waist a squeeze.
‘I can see you’ve hit it off with Rose, which is great. I like her. Though Blake’s a bit heavy going. Umm,’ he added, hopping from one foot to another, ‘You, er, won’t tell her what’s been happening back home, will you? About the ghost or whatever it is.’
She shook her head. ‘Of course not. It’s the last thing I want to talk about – as we agreed. On top of which she might think I’m a nutter.’ Although Natalie was telling the truth, she wasn’t being totally honest. She was more worried about how to avoid falling into bed with Stuart. Something her traitorous body desired while her head kept saying, ‘Are you sure?’