CHAPTER 16
As the door closed on Phil, Franz and Ella spoke simultaneously.
‘You don’t want to come to Ireland with me, do you?’
‘You don’t really want me to come to Ireland, do you?’
In happier times, this would have made them laugh. Now they both waited politely for the other one to speak first.
‘Okay,’ said Ella. ‘I’d like to go but only if you want me to. Be straight with me.’
‘I’d like you to come.’
‘Why?’
He hadn’t expected the question. ‘Of course I’d like you to! I enjoy your company.’
‘The real reason?’
Nothing was face value with Ella, he thought, half-admiringly, half-irritably. If it wasn’t the whole truth, she wouldn’t settle for it.
‘I’m scared of going on my own,’ he said.
‘Fine. I’ll come for that reason. What should I pack? Is it colder there than here at this time of year?’
‘Dismal,’ he said, ‘at any time of year.’
‘How long is it since you were there?’
A sigh escaped him. ‘This isn’t going to work,’ he said.
‘What isn’t?’
‘You coming with me.’
‘Why not?’
‘Ella.’ He sat down and took her hands. ‘I want to be honest with you. But I can’t answer all the questions you’re bound to ask me. I need to think, to work things out for myself first.’
‘I won’t ask questions.’
‘That wouldn’t be fair on you. You have a right to know what’s going on.’
‘Do you know what’s going on?’
‘Not really.’
‘Then there’s no point trying to put it into words for someone else. You’d only confuse yourself more. You’re sure it’s right to go, at this time, to this place, though?’
‘I think so.’
‘Okay.’ She turned and wound her arms round him, burying her face in the side of his neck. ‘Let’s both go on this journey into the unknown reaches of Ireland and Franz Kane.’
He laughed. His mobile rang. He went to switch it off then saw it was from Alison and answered it. Ella stood back.
‘Hi.’
‘Franz, sorry to disturb you. The building contractor’s here – Rory Delaney. He wants to take a quick look at the ceiling but I’ve asked him to wait in case you want to see him.’
‘Thanks. Yes, tell him I’m on my way.’
Ella turned away from him and went back into the kitchen. He heard her clearing the table.
‘Was there anything else, Alison?’
‘Nothing urgent. Two calls from people wanting to know if we were interested in the courses they run.’
Franz noted the ‘we.’ Alison was assuming responsibility in her new temporary role even before he had gone. He thought it was a promising sign but didn’t know how he felt about it.
‘What are the courses?’
‘Life coaching and therapeutic touch.’
‘Probably no to the therapeutic touch one; we’ve got practitioners already who want to do more hours. How can life coaching be done as a course? I thought it was one-to-one.’
‘I asked her that. She said she teaches people techniques to divide their lives into different segments – work, social, creative and some other categories, can’t remember exactly – and set themselves goals and then try to improve their performance in one area at a time.’
‘Sounds like a recipe for a nervous breakdown. Okay, yes, life coaching is on the up and we should be offering it in some form. Would you call her back and make an appointment for me?’
‘When will you be back from Ireland?’
‘In four days’ time. I’ll need to cover the start of Sharma’s courses and the first one is in five days.’
‘That’s Tuesday. I’ll ask her to come in on the Wednesday or Thursday, shall I?’
‘Cool.’
And Alison would be cool too. She was capable; she would cope with anything. He could go away with a clear mind. No worries. Or none to do with The Healing Place.
‘Her name is Rachel Ferguson,’ Alison told him, reminding him that he should have asked her that one.
Another Rachel. He couldn’t escape from Rachel recently. Or from the past. It was a myth, that the past was something that happened a long time ago. Franz was discovering that it had a sneaky habit of moving up the line and overtaking the present if it wasn’t kept firmly in its place.
He intended to keep his past very firmly in place. Especially in Ireland.
The Healing Place Page 16
