Tripping On Love

by Carrie Stone

  'Lizzie' Sam nudged me with a Biro pen as she passed my desk. 'Ronnie wants to see you in his office' she said, raising her eyebrows. I stared at her.

  'What for? We already went over everything this morning.' Sam shrugged, picking up her telephone and averting her eyes to her monitor.

  Sighing, I reached across for my notebook, heavy with additional reminders and Post-Its. Aside from the increase in salary for taking on the additional marketing role, I was beginning to despair of the launch and its never-ending task list. I had been confident after my meeting with Ronnie earlier in the morning, that everything was under control, and he in turn was satisfied with my progress. Evidently, he'd thought of something else he wanted to include or amend. I strolled towards his office, head busy and heavy with thoughts.

  Ronnie was standing with his back facing the door way as I walked into the cramped office.

  'You wanted to see me?' I said with a hint of annoyance, my voice betraying my calm exterior. Deep in thought, Ronnie turned to face me with a wistful expression.

  'I've been thinking. There's been a surge in the Spanish property market' he said, picking up a pile of documents on his desk.

  'Yes, there has' I said knowingly. My two weeks in Spain had been enlightening hearing of the amount of Western Europeans buying second homes on the Costa del Sol. My mother's property value had rocketed based on sales of similar nearby premises.

  'I'm going to look into opening a real estate company in the south of Spain' Ronnie said, catching me off guard.

  Real estate? What did real estate have to do with the travel industry? And why was he telling me this? Voicing my questions, Ronnie chuckled lightly.

  'It doesn't have anything to do with the travel industry, but real estate is how I earned my fortune' he divulged seriously, tapping his nose in wisdom.

  He sat down in front of me, his intense stare making me feel uneasy. What had gotten into him?

  'You, Lizzie, have something. I can see it' he said, nodding to himself. Astounded, I remained quiet, intrigued by his comment. What did I have?

  He pulled out his wallet, removing the dog eared photo of Teddy I had so often been subjected to.

  'It was in his eyes too' he said pointing to the photo of the chubby faced teenager. 'That passion and determination to succeed. The will and drive to be a somebody' he spoke his words clear and pronounced for effect. Evidently, he had lost the plot. I was a twenty eight year old roomie, with no savings, investments or drive for anything other than not turning into a replica of my mother.

  Fair dues to his son Teddy, clearly he'd managed to combat his days as an overweight adolescent and was now a successful businessman. But why was Ronnie comparing me to Teddy? Had I become his replacement child?

  'Ronnie' I said softly, cautious of my tone. 'I'm not sure I'm following where you're going with this?'

  He looked at me in surprise, a sparkle of excitement in his eyes.

  'What I'm trying to get around to saying, Lizzie' he began carefully 'is that if I open a real estate in Southern Spain, I’d like you to be the one to head it up.' He looked at me expectantly as I slowly digested his words.

  My heart began to race with shock and adrenalin; I was being offered the chance to manage and run a new business start up in Spain. Ronnie had the belief and trust in me to make such a proposition. I bit down on my lip in excitement as pride overtook me.

  'Oh Ronnie, I don’t know what to say' I gushed, thrilled at his proposal, ready to discuss it further, as reality hit me. What did I know about real estate? What did I know about Spanish property market regulations? Doubt set in immediately, overbearing all positive emotions. I frowned at Ronnie.

  'But I don't know anything about the property market, neither here or Spain.'

  Ronnie waved his hand dismissively, cutting me off.

  'Lizzie, I can teach you everything you need to know. You're brighter than you realise. You've proven it, in the small amount of time you've been here. It also makes sense to offer you the position given that you have links to the area.'

  I looked at Ronnie's reassuring expression. He really did have faith in me. It was a magnificent opportunity, but it was also a life changing one. Not something I could be expected to answer immediately. It would impact upon so many things. Namely, my relationship with Edward. I hesitated before answering.

  'I need time to think this over, it's an incredibly generous and life enhancing opportunity but as you can appreciate, there's things I need to weigh up first.'

  'Of course. I don't expect you to answer straight away. You have the launch to focus on. Not to mention that it will take a few months to get everything organised. The offer stands until after the launch. That should give you enough time to make your decision' Ronnie replied, standing up and adjusting his tie.

  'I've got my three o’clock appointment due now - tell Sam I need annual stats on Stylus travel bookings' he said indicating that the meeting was over.

  Walking back to my desk I tried to suppress my mixed emotions, tears threatening to spill from my eyes. Why was life so complicated?

  Change always came in unexpected and challenging ways when I was least prepared. I put Ronnie's offer from my mind, already clouded with thoughts of Stella's affair and Mel's looming departure. One step at a time.

  The rest of the afternoon passed quickly and I was relieved to arrive home ahead of Mel, allowing myself the solitude and silence to mull over my concerns. Stella's revelation had come as a great surprise but hearing her changed attitude and upbeat, confident self was a welcomed difference. I'd agreed never to refer to the situation again and whilst I felt it dishonest of Stella to keep it secret from Miles, I understood her reasons.

  It had intrigued me to discover that Chris or Christine, as she was known, also had a similar family situation. Part of me wondered if the relationship had been formed on kindred-ship and empathy. Stella hadn't wanted to discuss the details, which had been a relief. Although I didn't have to agree with her choices, it wasn't my place to judge her. My mother thankfully didn't have any awareness of what had been going on. We both decided that it was best to keep it this way.

  Especially once I had discovered Chris was Christine. She would surely have something to say about that.

  My phone rang, Edward's name flashing across the screen. His third call of the day. He'd told me he'd call when he arrived back into London Euston from Manchester. I answered tiredly, my stomach alight with butterflies.

  ‘Hey.’

  'Hi babe, my train just pulled into the station.'

  I smiled to myself, he was home and back on familiar territory within meeting distance.

  'Pleased to be home?' I ventured lightly. Edward laughed.

  'Pleased to be available to meet you actually. I was thinking we could grab some dinner together? You can spend the night at mine?'

  I took a deep breath to calm my nervous giggle. He had spoken on many occasions about his penthouse in the Docklands and I couldn’t think of any way I would rather spend my evening than with him.

  'Sounds the perfect plan. Except I refuse to eat out. I shall cook for us' I said regretting the words as soon as they'd left my mouth. Edward didn’t skip a beat.

  'Erm, based on conversation's we've had about food, I think it's safer we order a take out, than allow you to poison us with your cooking attempts' he joked.

  It made me feel secure inside knowing he'd paid attention to the smallest comments I’d made.

  We discussed meeting arrangements and all concerns within my mind were suddenly replaced with excitement at seeing Edward again. I eagerly packed an overnight bag, slipping a spare toothbrush into my toiletries case. A deep inner knowing was telling me it wasn't going to be the first or last overnight stay. Leaving a toothbrush at his place would hopefully be the beginning of what was to come.

  CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

  Hugo was waiting patiently in the living room as I ran through the list of reminders that Mel had prepared for me. Her bulg
ing backpack took up much of the hallway floor space alongside his, both ready to embark on their Asian adventure.

  'Don't forget to sort out the broadband, there's a new router being delivered next week' Mel instructed, forehead furrowed as she concentrated on reading her unfathomable handwriting.

  'Also, my client Rita Murdoch is going to be coming here to collect her package on Tuesday evening. You've already got that in your diary haven’t you?' she asked, her voice heavy with concern. Laughing, I put my hand on her shoulder.

  'Mel, stop it, you're stressing too much! We've already been over this list. Trust me. I'll make sure that everything runs like clockwork. It's under control.'

  Grabbing the list from her hand, I pinned it back against the note board, shaking my head.

  'Sorry. I do trust you Lizzie, I think it’s just nervous excitement' she grinned sheepishly.

  I reached across and hugged her. Four months without her was going to be very strange indeed.

  In the three weeks since I’d returned from Ireland, my relationship with Edward had evolved into something a lot more serious. Most evenings were spent together and any time with Mel had been limited, not least because of her almost identical relationship with Hugo. Both men had been fighting for the majority of our attention, and succeeding. However, knowing that Mel was in Asia and not as available to speak with, wasn't a thought I relished. I would miss my best friend. Hugo appeared in the doorway looking nervous.

  'The airport cab has just pulled up outside. Are you ready?'

  A lump formed in my throat as my eyes filled with water. Mel looked at me, bottom lip quivering.

  'Bye doll' she said holding me tightly as I returned her hug, trying my hardest to remain composed. Turning to Hugo, I swallowed back tears.

  'You make sure you look after her. And yourself' I said as he reached out to embrace me, whilst looking towards Mel.

  'She's my world, I’d never let anything harm her' he replied with a smile, reassuringly squeezing my arm. His fluffy hair flopped against his forehead as he walked into the hallway, opened the street door and began to heave the backpacks onto the porch.

  It was surreal to see Mel so happy in love with someone so unlike herself. I had no doubt that Hugo would look after her to the best of his ability. Mel couldn’t have asked for someone any more organised or efficient. She was in exceptionally safe hands.

  Linking arms with Mel, we walked the short distance to the doorway together.

  'Well I guess this is bon voyage' I said lightly, feeling Mel's excitement. She squealed, hunching her shoulders and smiling widely.

  'I must be mad! I can't believe I’m actually doing this' she said, more to herself than me. 'I'll write you emails and once I get settled, I’ll call you to let you know how it is.'

  'Yes, write me and take lots of pics. You will have an amazing time.' I picked up her smaller holdall and handed it to her, hugging one last time before she walked towards the waiting Taxi with Hugo.

  Waving them off, I felt a great sense of loss. The five months I’d been living with Mel had been a bumpy journey of rediscovering myself and my friendship with her. By the time Mel arrived home from her trip, we would likely be at very different points in our lives.

  Hugo wasn't one to waste time and I suspected that if the trip went to plan, a proposal would be on the cards. Furthermore living next door to one another wouldn’t be financially beneficial for either of them if they were planning a future. My room share arrangement would be hanging in the balance. I didn’t want to become Lizzie, the spare wheel.

  I thought about my own life. Within four months I would either already be making plans towards a new life in Spain, heading up Ronnie's new real estate business, or hopefully, preparing to make future plans with Edward.

  Grinning, I walked back into the house closing the street door behind me. In the short time I'd been with him, I'd learned the real meaning of love. Although we had yet to say those three important words to one another, my heart told me that what I had with him, was far different to anything I’d experienced before.

  My mother had been more than surprised to learn of the developments within my relationship with Edward. I was in no doubt that Stella had been drip feeding her more information than I would like to have shared, but my mother's uncharacteristic interest in my love life was most welcomed.

  There had been a significant change in her personality since her engagement to Sampson. Jemima, still staying with both her father and my mother, had been a blessing. My mother couldn’t speak highly enough of the teenager. Part of me wondered if she saw it as her second opportunity to be the mothering figure she hadn't been to myself and Stella. Neither of us were complaining. The radical change in my mother was a relief. While it lasted, I intended to make the most of it.

  I'd already planned to stay with her during my trip back to Spain for the hotel launch, just over a week away. This time, I was safe in the knowledge that I wouldn’t be subjected to any pre-arranged romantic dates or set ups.

  The launch had been weighing heavily on my mind. Ever since Ronnie had proposed the real estate opportunity, I had been in two minds as to my reaction, conscious that I had only another ten days to weigh up my decision. A large part of me was looking upon it as a wonderful stepping stone within my career, helped immensely by the fact that I loved Spain. Yet my heart had other desires. Edward being the priority.

  I still hadn’t found the right moment to tell him about my work. His assumption that RJ's was a large travel corporate was hard to correct, seeing as I’d allowed him to be misled into thinking that my role was far more important than the reality. Any conversations around the work topic I had strategically managed to avoid, without providing too much detail. There would come a time that I would need to be honest.

  Despite making me feel sick to my stomach at the thought, I had decided that after the launch I would have to tell Edward about the real estate offer. Mel had warned me that it was relationship disaster to give him an ultimatum, yet I didn’t feel I had much choice. It was irrelevant that we had only just begun dating. Sampson had proved that love can blossom quickly and a man can know within a short time, if the woman is the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with. I didn’t have time or energy to waste. Ronnie's offer was far too grand to decline. Especially if it was for a man that didn’t want to show some level of commitment to a future with me.

  I wasn't expecting Edward to propose, simply to give me enough of a reason to feel that turning down the offer for the sake of our relationship, was justifiable. Surely that wasn't too much for a woman to ask?

  Walking into the bathroom, I stared at my reflection in the mirrored cabinet. I'd regained a little of my original weight since things had progressed between Edward and I. Going to his apartment had become a regular routine, with most nights spent cooking together and cuddling on the sofa. He'd even allocated me a special 'Lizzie' drawer within his wardrobe space.

  Things were moving at a much quicker pace than I could have imagined. I'd even been harnessing thoughts of late about having children. It wasn't something I’d thought about since my relationship with Will, yet hearing Edward speak with Maddie on the telephone melted my heart. He was taking to fatherhood, like a duck to water.

  The doorbell rang just as I finished tying my hair up into a tight knot. Stella and the children were here already.

  'Pow Pow, Pow Pow.' Freddy's loud noises penetrated my ears as I opened the door, grimacing.

  'Boys, keep the noise down please' I said, looking at Stella and smiling. The difference in her was evident just by her appearance. Glowing, flushed and healthy looking, Stella slapped Jacob's arm at the same moment as he reached forward to pinch Freddy for a second time.

  She looked at me in exasperation.

  'They haven't stopped misbehaving today. I hope you know what you're letting yourself in for.' She hauled the large overnight bag in beside her, as I ushered the boys towards the living room.

  'Watch TV or so
mething as we're not going to Tumble World for another hour' I instructed as the boys faces lit up at my words.

  'Tumble world! Are you taking us tumble world Auntie Lizzie?' Jacob squealed in amazement, bouncing on the spot as Freddy threw down the cushion he was about to launch, startled.

  'Yes, but only if you behave until then.' Behind me, Stella peeked into the room as both boys immediately sat quietly in front of the television, clearly on their best behaviour.

  'How did you get them to do that??' she whispered in awe. Tapping my nose, I winked at her.

  'Secret aunt powers.'

  Laughing, we retreated to the kitchen to catch up over coffee. Stella's surprise dinner and hotel date she'd planned for Miles was taking place this evening. I'd happily agreed to babysit the boys for the weekend, to allow the couple the much needed time together to rekindle things. Edward was away on a two day business trip and with Mel also gone, the boys company would be a blessing.

  As I sat listening to Stella's enthusiastic plans to surprise Miles with a theatre show and later a seductive lap dance, I marvelled at how things had changed for the both of us, in such a short space of time.

  Only upon hearing the sound of shattering china in the living room, did I wonder if I had bitten off more than I could chew. Both Stella and I walked hurriedly towards the room, where the small offenders stood with their smiles down turned in pleading and sorrow.

  Spotting Mel’s overturned colourful light sculpture, now shattered into many pieces, I suppressed a smile. Perhaps there was one good thing to come out of Mel not being around after all.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  Edward's car pulled to a stop outside the house fifteen minutes earlier than planned.

  Thankfully, I was already prepared and waiting. Picking up my holdall and ignoring my sweaty palms, I walked towards the street door. Why was I nervous about meeting Maddie? I wasn't Edward's mistress and nor was she Edward's wife; just a little girl that probably wouldn’t take the slightest notice of me. Yet I wanted her to like me. More so, I wanted her to accept me. Maddie meant everything to Edward, without her approval our relationship would be put to the test.