"Sure thing." He slid the computer over, and I sat down next to him, putting the laptop in my lap. "I actually have the internet tethered to my phone’s LTE, so it might be a bit slow. There’s hardly a signal here."
"Thank you so much! I’ll just be a minute."
I logged in quickly, and he was right. It took two full minutes for my account overview to even show up. I inhaled deeply at the number. I hadn’t realized that the flight out here cost so much, or at least the $2400 hadn’t registered in my mind. Last minute tickets were clearly not the most economical way to travel. The nightly room and dinner charges (which Helen was doing separately every day, because I wasn’t sure how long I was going to stay) didn't exactly come cheap either. My checking account was almost empty.
I quickly (or as quickly as was possible) transferred more money from my savings. I now had equal amounts in both my checking and savings accounts. It unnerved me. For as long as I could remember, I’d kept a significant cushion stored up in my savings for a rainy day. If I burned through that as quickly as I had this weekend, I would be broke in a week. I decided I would try and live off of the amount that I had transferred, so that I would have something for when I got back to the States.
I logged out and handed the laptop back to Mr. Braine, thanking him again. I walked over to Helen, who was talking to Henry now, and waited for them to finish up their conversation. Once they did, I’d made up my mind.
"I’ll take the job," I declared. Helen smiled.
What had I gotten myself into?
PART THREE
Helen and George had kindly refunded my week’s stay at the Parc, as well as all meals, even though I had insisted I pay for them. But they were stubborn, and pretty soon they were welcoming me into the Parc-Le-Bouveret family. We made plans to go into Swansea the next day to purchase a computer and, much to my dismay, I realized they knew absolutely nothing about computers or the Internet. It was kind of admirable. I would be the point of reference for anything computer-related. The free room and board was a steal in and of itself, I thought, thinking of the gourmet meals I’d be eating daily. I wouldn’t be making as much as I had been making in L.A., of course, but it would be enough to bolster my savings a little bit before going home.
After a quick discussion about my compensation, we all walked into dinner together – the two owners of a bed and breakfast and their new employee. Lucy and Ted were there, this time in separate chairs, and the Braine family was seated at the other end of the table. I noticed Alec was missing. I didn’t have to ponder for too long about where he’d gone after our conversation, because pretty soon traditional Welsh Cawl was being served in large bowls to each guest.
I inhaled the scent of the stew, which was absolutely lovely. The lamb was tender, and the carrots, onion, and leek gave it an almost tart taste. There was a bit of melted butter to give it a little bit of richness, but not too much. I was afraid I might drool all over the front of my shirt: it was that good. I was not going to mind staying here for a while – although I might need to buy bigger pants. I never ate this well at home, which was lucky for me, because I’d always maintained a slim figure. Now, I wasn’t so sure. This might put me over the edge, but I didn’t mind one bit.
I barely noticed when Alec walked in, sat down, and began eating his stew quickly. He passed around beers. Now I knew where he’d gone. We all cheers’d (except for the Braine children, obviously) and quietly slurped up our meals. We all requested seconds, which sent Katie and Helen into a happy little tizzy. I ate my seconds and sat back, absolutely stuffed and completely satisfied. I sipped my beer and looked around. Everyone seemed so content and happy. I was going to like working here.
When people began to slowly trickle out, I saw Alec get up and leave. I was so full. I could barely walk, but maybe a nice walk outside would settle my stomach. It was still warm out. Summer had finally descended onto Wales. A very small part of me hoped to see Alec outside, and to my pleasant surprise, he sat on the front porch drinking a beer. I sat down next to him.
"So… did Helen tell you?"
"Tell me what? Obviously not, because I don’t know what you’re talking about," he slurred. He was a little drunk. For some reason, knowing I’d get the uninhibited Alec sent a trill down my spine.
"She and George offered me some temporary work here, helping out with the computers and PR for the Parc. So, I guess I’ll be staying longer than I thought."
He looked up at me, and something in his eyes was… scared? Or possibly angry. I couldn’t tell. I couldn’t read him very well. Especially when he was inebriated.
"So, you’re saying you’ll be around for awhile?" Hope. It was hope in his eyes before. My stomach did a somersault at that notion.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Great," he said, caustically. Maybe it wasn’t hope. It must’ve been something else. Dread? He sipped his beer.
"You sound happy," I accused.
"I’m not. Trust me."
"You know… I’m beginning to think that I don’t like you," I said, boldly.
He stood, and I followed suite. He was so much taller than me. I was leaning against the railing of the porch. He put one hand on the railing, blocking me in; pinning me against the hard wood. I liked it, but he couldn’t know that. I stood up straight to prove that his gesture wasn't bothering me. He couldn't intimidate me.
"Well, I’m beginning to think that I don’t like you either," he said. He was smiling now.
"What’s your problem?" I crossed my arms in front of me.
He backed away, looking smug and frisky. His dark eyes bore into mine, and I felt my heart hammering in my chest. I wiped my sweaty hands on my pants. Why was I sweating? And why did Alec make me feel… like this?
"I think you know."
"Spell it out for me," I said, playing along. Two could play this game.
"Why are you staying, anyways?" He swayed a little bit, falling into me slightly. "What does this place have to offer you? I guess I just don’t trust you."
"You don’t know anything about me," I hissed. He was just trying to get a rise out of me. He was pushing my buttons.
"Thank god for that," he whispered, coming in so close I thought he might kiss me. His eyes were annoyed and unsmiling, but his ragged breathing suggested otherwise.
He really was infuriating. But I wasn’t going to let him win whatever game he was playing with me.
"I have been nothing but nice to you since I arrived a week ago. And you… you’ve been nothing but rude and arrogant. I don’t know what I did to piss you off, but I’m done trying to be your friend."
Alec looked down at me. His face was stony and expressionless.
"What makes you think that you could say something to piss me off? Do you think I care that much? Never in a million years could we be friends." And with that, he turned around and left, carrying his beer.
I stood there shocked and exasperated. We could never be friends. Fine. I could deal with that. I wiped my hands on my pants. I was done trying to get to know Alec.
I went back inside to do some laundry while the night was still young. I remembered the book I’d brought with me: the smutty chic lit book that was really bad and yet exactly what I needed right now. I’d read the beginning part on the plane ride over. I ran back into my room while the laundry washed, grabbed my book, and headed to the common room. The Braine’s were nowhere to be seen, which was honestly a little bit disappointing and a little disconcerting. I’d gotten so used to their nerdy presence. I was all alone.
I settled in, tucked my feet underneath me, grabbed a blanket, and began to read my book. The fire crackled, and the lingering smell of dinner filled the air. I felt so good. Even though I’d been dunked in the ocean and ridden on a horse for far, far too long today, I was so happy. And even though what Alec said had jolted me slightly (only slightly), I realized, in spite of all of that, this was where I was meant to be right now. I could feel destiny lining up with my life. I hadn’t necessari
ly been unhappy before (towards the end I was, but not before that); I had just been living outside of my destiny. But I was here, finding my swims, as Anna had put it, and I was in the right place at the right time, for once.
I’d never felt this way before, except for maybe when I was in college. I supposed it was easy to live a life outside of your destiny if you didn’t know what that destiny felt like. I nestled deeper into the couch, more content than I'd been a minute ago, and smiled. This was it. I was here.
***
I woke up the next morning feeling completely rejuvenated… until I got out of bed. The amount of pain I felt tingling down my legs and oddly, my abs, was excruciating. It felt like someone was sawing off my inner thighs and stomach. I hobbled over to the bathtub and drew a bath, hoping the hot water would soothe my aching muscles. I clutched the side of the bathtub as I plopped in, but all of a sudden, the pain was more than I could bear. I leapt out of the water and looked down. My stomach was fine, but the insides of my thighs were lined with thick, red welts. They must’ve been chafed from the saddle.
I dipped my lower half into the water, slowly this time, and pretty soon, the stinging subsided. I decided that I didn’t care for horseback riding. When I got done soaking, I checked the clock. It was nine, and I had an hour to get dressed, eat breakfast, and get ready to go into town with Helen, George, and Tommy. I put on my black trousers, cuffed them on top of my brown boots, and layered a t-shirt underneath my cashmere sweater. I threw my hair into a loose ponytail, and dabbed on a little mascara, blush, and lip gloss.
I grabbed my military jacket and my purse, and headed downstairs. Helen came around the check-in desk and hugged me when she saw me.
"I’m so glad that you’re going to be with us for a while. I couldn’t be more thrilled. I was up all night, excited to start tweeting!"
"I'm happy to help! I’ve loved it here since the minute the taxi pulled up. If anything, you're doing me a favor," I smiled. It was nice to have someone like you as much as you liked them. Helen was kooky yet proper, shy yet loud. I loved it. She was such a mother hen.
"Brekkie is being served in the dining room. Why don’t you go eat and we’ll meet back here around five to ten?"
I nodded, hugged her again (because I felt like I could now), and headed inside. Lucy and Ted were sitting quietly, eating hard-boiled eggs, while the Braines munched on a full English breakfast.
"Morning, Charlotte," Lucy said, while cracking her egg. "It’s our last day here before we head off to Ireland tomorrow." She looked morose.
"Aww, baby, it’s OK. We had fun here, and we still have all day. Maybe we could stay longer? I can ask Helen if they have availability," Ted suggested.
His southern twang was very prominent this morning. I hoped they would decide to move on. As nice as they were, they were extremely annoying to me. I couldn’t figure out if it was because they were all lovey-dovey all of the time, or if it was because they seemed like rich, southern folk, which always seemed to irritate me.
"We’re going to Ireland, too!" Mrs. Braine piped up.
It was the first time I’d heard her voice, and it was much, much higher than I’d imagined. For some reason, I had pictured her with a scholarly, throaty voice. She sounded like Minnie Mouse.
"Fun! Whereabouts?" Ted looked intrigued. I wondered if Ted and Lucy had ever spoken to any of the Braines. It seemed unlikely.
"We’re touring all of Ireland. I had Alec give us a few pointers. He even gave me his mum’s address and said we should stop by for tea. Sweet man, that Alec."
I almost choked on my tea as Mrs. Braine said this. Sweet man? Yeah, right. But my ears had perked up after learning that he came from a seemingly normal human family, and not a pack of wolves.
"Sweet! We’ll be in Belfast first, going south. Maybe we’ll pass each other on the road," he winked. Ick. Ted winking was gross to me.
"Oh, you should really ask Alec for tips. That’s where he’s from, right outside of Belfast. I’m sure he has a lot of information that might be helpful."
"Yeah, I’ll ask him later," Ted agreed.
I ate my full English breakfast in silence, thinking about all of this new information and why it seemed to fascinate me. The only thing I knew about Belfast was that it was the capital of Northern Ireland. I wondered if his mother was still married to his father. That could be reason enough to turn a guy into a jerk. Like yesterday, I started to feel bad for Alec. I hoped he hadn’t had a rough childhood. The thought made me really sad. I couldn’t pinpoint why. I imagined him as a scrappy little kid, having to live through the Northern Ireland Conflict, not having enough food… and suddenly I was envisioning Angela’s Ashes, the novel about the McCourts’ struggles in Limerick, Ireland in the 1930s and 1940s. I knew I was being dramatic.
"Where are you headed next, Charlotte?" Lucy asked. I'd been dreading this question. They were all moving on and I was staying behind like some sad, homeless soul.
"Actually, Helen offered me some part-time work here, to help get the Internet up and running, and to bring in new business. I guess my background in PR came in handy. But after I’m done, I’m hoping to travel around a bit."
All of their stories sounded romantic and plausible. The Braines were on their annual month-long vacation, and Lucy and Ted were honeymooners exploring the United Kingdom. I was a woman who had just been left by my husband of six years, and I came to Wales randomly, and by complete chance. I’d been lucky enough to have Tommy as a taxi driver from the airport, and now I was here, starting my first day on the job. I couldn’t relate, and I realized how absurd my story must sound to them.
"Oh, that sounds fun," Ted said. Lucy giggled quietly.
"I think that’s fantastic." Little girl Braine had spoken up. She couldn’t be older than eight. "I absolutely adore it here." Little kids with British accents were the cutest thing ever, I decided.
I gave her a look of gratitude, smiling. I liked her. In fact, I liked the Braines for some reason. Everyone finished up their respective breakfasts. I checked the clock. It was time to meet Helen and George out front. I hoped I’d have time to pick up a heavier coat and boots while we were out. If I was lucky, I would grab a few other items like some more shirts and another pair of pants.
I limped to the front desk, my thighs still burning from horseback riding, and put on my jacket to go outside. Helen was standing in the driveway with George, and they both waved at me as I walked out. Tommy would be here any minute.
"The truck should be here soon," Helen explained.
"It’s about twenty minutes in to town. I figured we could stop by the computer store, and then we would have some free time to run some errands." George smiled, and then gestured to the plume of dust coming towards us. For such a rainy country, you would think dirt roads would be mud roads, but no. "Here he comes."
I watched as a dirty, old pickup truck stopped in front of us. The dust stood all around for a minute, and I chuckled when I imagined Tommy driving such a large vehicle. He was small for a man, large around the middle, but not that much taller than me, which said a lot. Suddenly, Alec emerged. He was wearing a tight black long sleeve shirt and some khakis that he’d rolled up a bit over his work boots.
"Shall we?" Alec nodded to me, and then went to open the passenger door.
"Charlotte, you go in the middle, next to Alec. George and I will squeeze in beside you."
"Where’s Tommy?" I asked casually, while I hoisted myself into the truck. I felt Alec take my hand, helping me inside. I shivered at his touch. Then I remembered that I was mad at him and that we weren't friends. I withdrew my hand immediately.
"Tommy came down with the stomach flu this morning. I only just found out. Alec was kind enough to offer to take us instead." Helen beamed at him.
"Can we all fit?" I asked. "Maybe we should go another day, when Tommy is feeling better," I suggested.
"Don’t be silly, dear. We all fit, see?" Helen said, pointing to George as he shut the door against
him.
She was right. We were all lined up comfortably, four people up front. There were no seat belts. Also, my legs were touching Alec’s, which made me slightly uncomfortable.
Helen, who was on my left (because they drove on the right here, like in England), patted my thigh. We backed out of the driveway. Alec put his arm behind me on the seat, facing me as he slowly backed down. I looked straight ahead, trying to distract myself. Alec got on to the road, and we were on our way. I kept shifting uncomfortably as our legs touched.
"Lovely day," George said loudly, to break the awkward silence.
None of us replied. I was too busy trying to shift away from Alec, and Helen was tapping her fingers on her legs like a nervous child. I hadn’t realized I’d be in such close proximity to Alec, and I smoothed my hair casually. I checked my reflection in the rearview mirror. My heart stopped when Alec’s eyes met mine. Busted. I looked away quickly and cleared my throat.
"Music?" Helen chimed, trying to break the silence unsuccessfully.
I saw Alec reach for a small, leather case. He handed it to me. I was confused until I realized it was a case of CDs. It was something I’d had in high school, one almost exactly like it. I laughed as I flipped through the options, all of which were amazing in my opinion. He was a jerk, but we had similar taste in music. He was an alternative rock guy, like me.
"What’s so funny?" Alec was looking over at me as I sifted through the choices.
"Nothing. I just haven’t seen a case full of CDs since I was eighteen. It brings back memories."
"We can’t all be as sophisticated as you, Charlotte." He smiled at me.
My heart did a little flutter. He’d never said my name out loud before, and it was nice. I liked the way he said it, and I felt relieved that he was making a joke. Perhaps there was a human in there somewhere. Most likely, he just didn’t remember last night.
The Foretelling (Charlotte Bloom #1) Page 12
