I think about Tina’s text and wonder if she’s seen sense at last. I certainly hope so because it’s obvious she’s losing her mind a little and going through a sort of crisis. I feel so sorry for Jamie and Harry being caught up in the whole sorry saga and think about what Tina told me about Isabel.
So, it’s with considerable surprise that I read the next text that flashes in my Inbox, it’s from Isabel.
I stare at the text and feel a little apprehensive. There is so much that has been left unsaid and I’m pretty sure that this is no cosy get together. Whatever Isabel wants to say is going to be hard to hear. However, curiosity wins and I text back.
I realise she doesn’t know that I know about her night spent with my friend and I expect she’s about to tell her side of the story. However, I have questions of my own that require answers and she may not like what I have to say.
* * *
One o’clock comes and I head quickly to Costa. I see Isabel waiting just inside the door, and she nods as I approach. She looks tired and anxious, completely different to how she usually does, and I can tell something is troubling her.
She smiles weakly. “Let me buy the drinks while you find a seat. What can I get you?”
“Um, a latte please, but let me pay for it.”
Waving away my money, she says with determination. “No, my treat, I insist.”
I choose a seat at the rear of the coffee shop that gives us a little privacy and wonder what she has to say. She looked almost defeated as she stared at me. I’m not sure why but at that moment, Isabel looked vulnerable and I wonder what’s wrong. It must be what happened with Tina.
As I see her approaching, balancing the tray of drinks, I harden my heart. No, Isabel needs to explain herself and I will not be swayed by this act she has going on.
She sits down and pushes the drink towards me and looks apologetic. “I’m sorry about this. I know you don’t have long so I’ll get straight to the point.”
I say nothing but feel my heart thumping inside. There’s a look in her eye that I’ve never seen before. She’s always appeared so self-assured, so in control and a little cold, but the woman sitting in front of me is none of those things. Her eyes are filled with tears and she says sadly, “I just wanted you to know that they’ve found Eddie.”
Of all the things I thought she was going to say, it wasn’t this. As I stare at her in shock, her face falls, and she sniffs, “I found out two days ago. His body was found, and they identified it as him. I’m sorry if I gave you cause to doubt your own relationship with Tom. It must have just been a coincidence; he must have a double out there.”
Shaking my head, I feel sudden compassion for her and reaching out, take her hand in mine. “Are you ok?”
She smiles sadly. “It’s a relief if I’m honest. I suppose I’ve been in limbo for a while and I really thought Eddie was Tom. There were just too many coincidences to ignore.”
Leaning back, I nod in agreement. “I thought so too. You see, when you were supposed to have been seeing Eddie, things with Tom and I were rocky. In fact, that’s too mild a term for where we were heading. I always thought he was having an affair but could never prove it. I suppose I’ve always been expecting that knock on the door or the phone call and when you arrived all my worst fears were confirmed. I’m sorry to hear about Eddie, was it drowning as you thought?”
I feel bad for asking when the tears spill onto the table. Wiping them away, she sniffs. “Yes. They found his body in the lake. The funeral is next week and so I’ve decided to head home. I’ve left my job at the school and have taken another one.”
She laughs as she sees my expression. “I know you think I’m a fast worker but quite honestly things have become… shall we say, difficult for me here.”
I nod and she sighs. “I can tell you know about, Tina, I wouldn’t have expected you not to. The trouble is, I just wanted friendship because as you know, I don’t have many. That night was unexpected, and things got a little out of hand. I didn’t expect to wake up next to Tina, and I can’t deal with what we did. I need to move away and start again and think that’s the best for everyone. Please don’t tell Tina, at least until after I’ve left.”
Feeling a little uncomfortable, I smile weakly. “I’m sorry for everything. I didn’t think highly of you because I thought you were the ‘other woman.’ I thought you had come here to ruin my marriage, and I didn’t trust you. Tina is vulnerable at the moment and I suppose I thought you were taking advantage of that.”
Reaching across the table, I hold out my hand and as she takes it, I squeeze it and say softly, “I’m sorry for not being the friend you wanted and I’m sorry for what has happened both with Eddie and Tina. I wish you well though and hope the future is brighter.”
Suddenly, Isabel smiles and her face totally transforms. She looks as if all the troubles she has faded away in an instant and she smiles mysteriously. “My future is bright, Karen. You don’t need to worry about me. I have everything I came here for and more. I have closure and that means everything. Now I’m about to embark on another journey and this one promises to be everything I’ve ever wished for.”
I notice the time and say apologetically, “I’m so sorry Isabel, I need to get back. I appreciate you telling me though, you didn’t have to.”
She smiles. “I did. Don’t think badly of me, Karen. We’re all looking for the same things in life. A loving family and a happy life. Some are luckier than others and find it sooner rather than later. Others have to work at it a little harder. Mine is out there, I just know it.”
As we part company at the door, I wonder what the future holds for Isabel. I hope it’s a better one than the last year because underneath it all, she seems nice and would make a lovely wife and mother for some lucky guy.
As I make my way back to work, it’s with a new spring in my step. So, Tom wasn’t the one. He didn’t cheat on me with Isabel at least, and the watch must have been bought from whoever mugged Tom. If Eddie mugged Tom, he paid the highest price for his sins.
Now all I want to do is put this all behind me and concentrate on helping Tina save her relationship.