by Kim Nash
She managed to pull herself away once the sun was fully up. It was time for her run to keep her head clear. As she walked back into the lounge, she bumped into Eduardo, who had clearly crept down the stairs and was trying to sneak out with his shoes in his hands. She smiled at the thought that he was creeping around. She hadn’t realised he’d stayed over. She was glad that Debs had spent her last night with both her friends and him. Neither one had made her make a choice.
Debs appeared behind him in her running gear. ‘OK if I join you?’
‘Of course.’ Liv grinned.
Eduardo blew Debs a kiss, and waved goodbye to them both.
‘See you later,’ Debs whispered after him.
‘You’re becoming quite the runner, aren’t you?’ said Liv once Eduardo had driven off.
‘I never thought I’d see the day where I said that I was enjoying running, and I’m not sure that I’ll have the motivation and love it quite so much when I’m doing it on my own, but I shall have a damn good try. I’ve spent way too long feeling sorry for myself since Dave left me. It’s time I started to look after myself and put me first.’
‘I’m proud of you, hon. I really am.’ Debs smiled back at her friend.
‘Thank you. Have you had any more thoughts about what you’re going to do, Liv?’
‘I have, but I’m still trying to get my head around them right now. Do you mind if we don’t talk about it yet? I’ll tell you over breakfast.’
‘Of course, darling. You know that whatever you decide that we’re all here for you, don’t you?’
‘I do, and likewise. Whatever decision you make, you know we’ll support you. I’m so lucky to have you guys in my life. Just think back to a week ago and how much all our lives have changed in just a short time. Quite amazing really.’
‘It sure is. And Eduardo threw another spanner into the works last night.’
‘Come on, let’s run and you can tell me all about it on the way round.’
They walked out to the gate. Debs relayed the news about Eduardo’s daughter from the previous evening. She’d got used to the idea but was still feeling quite nervous about meeting Sabina later that morning.
‘What if she’s rude to me? What if she clearly doesn’t like me?’
‘And what if she’s the daughter that you never had? Have you thought about that at all?’
Debs stopped running and stared after Liv, who jogged on the spot.
‘Sometimes you have to see the positives instead of the negatives in life. You could become great friends and she could fill a space that you never thought possible. How could she not love you? You’re fucking fabulous. Come on, don’t stop. You have to keep running.’
Debs joined Liv once more, her brain even more jumbled than it was before. What if Liv was right? Now wouldn’t that be amazing. What should she wear? Should she put make-up on or go au naturel? Why did she overthink everything? She laughed at herself. She needed to lighten up.
Twenty-Nine
Faro airport was buzzing with activity; loved ones saying goodbye to each other, tourists at the end of their holidays, others just landed and traipsing through with cases, keen to take in the sights and sounds of the Algarve for however long they were staying.
Mikey appeared, pushing a trolley loaded with cases while the ladies were looking for their flights back to their respective corners of the UK.
‘You ladies don’t believe in travelling light, do you?’
‘It’s all that extra stuff we bought at the market. We really love it here in Portugal, Mikey, and can so understand why you live here. Portugal will always have a special place in my heart and hopefully it won’t be too long before we’re back. Thank you for being the best organiser in the world.’ Fiona kissed his cheek.
‘Just don’t mention the boat trip, please.’ Nervous laughs all round signified the mood. ‘Thank you, Fiona. And you need to remember to go and be yourself. Don’t worry what the world thinks. Look at how much time I wasted worrying what people thought when I really didn’t need to. Good luck with everything.’
Samantha turned and put both her hands on Mikey’s shoulders. ‘It’s been wonderful, Mikey. Thank you for all that you’ve done to make this a holiday to remember. It’s been so special. It really has.’ She kissed both his cheeks. ‘And I’m so glad you got everything sorted out too. I’m very happy for you.’
‘Thank you, Samantha. I hope your new exciting life works out. Can’t wait to hear all about it.’
He turned to Debs and Liv. ‘Ready, ladies?’
There were nods, then kisses all round and even the odd tear as the four friends departed on the next stage of their lives, which they’d all worked out while there in the Algarve. This had certainly been a holiday none of them would forget.
Mikey got into the passenger side of the car and told the driver they were ready to go. He turned to the back seat.
‘Now, are you both absolutely sure?’
Debs and Liv held hands and looked each other deep in the eye and nodded in solidarity.
‘We’re sure.’
The driver headed back to the villa.
As the driver headed back to the villa, Liv looked out the window of the limo and thought back to the events of the morning. Showering after her run had brought everything into focus. She’d had a word with Mikey and she’d learnt the villa was free for the next week, so she could stay there longer while she tried to work out everything. As she’d dried herself, she became more sure with each movement that the decision she had made was the right one.
Grabbing her phone from the bedside cabinet, she had dialled George’s number. It diverted to answerphone, so she ended the call. Two minutes later she picked it up again and plucked up the courage to leave a message.
‘George, I’m so sorry but I can’t come home today. You’ve probably not even noticed, but I’ve been extremely unhappy for a while. I’m going to stay out here in Portugal for a little longer while I work out what I want to do long term. I miss our old life, George. I don’t like this new one. In fact, I hate it. That’s why I need some time to work out what I want. I’m sorry. I do love you all, but I miss being your wife and a mum to the boys, rather than someone who is treated like a member of the household staff. I just can’t come home right now. Bye.’ Her voice cracked on that last word. She’d been trying so hard to stay strong but the enormousness of what she’d done hit her by the end.
She doused her face with cold water to try to hide her red eyes. She headed downstairs and there was a knock at the door. Eduardo and a pretty young lady stood on the other side, both looking apprehensive.
‘Come in, come in. You must be Sabina. It’s so nice to meet you.’
Sabina took her hand and Eduardo kissed her cheek.
‘Thank you, Olivia.’ He looked very nervous.
As they walked into the lounge Debs stood and walked over to Sabina first and held out both hands to her. Sabina hesitated. Everyone was watching and seemed to be holding their breath. Sabina took Debs’ hands and smiled at the woman standing before her who was smiling back. It felt as if one big breath was exhaled from each of them.
A nervous, high-pitched giggle escaped Sabina’s lips.
‘I am so pleased to meet the lady who make my papa so happy.’ She beamed and her face lit up just like her father’s did when he looked at Debs.
Debs’ heart filled with such joy she thought it might burst. Her eyes teared up.
‘Why don’t you all go out to the terrace and I’ll make some drinks,’ said Liv.
She headed through to the kitchen. Eduardo said he was going to check on the garden, leaving Debs and Sabina alone. Debs had never felt so tense in her life. Sabina may have been young, but Debs could see she had spirit and she immediately liked her. But she was completely tongue-tied right now – all the things she had rehearsed to say to Sabina when they met went straight from her brain and she had no idea what to say.
‘Sabina—’
‘Deb-ora
h—’
‘No, you first.’ Debs smiled at this beautiful young lady in front of her.
‘Thank you. I just want to say I am so very pleased that Papa find someone to make him happy. He work all day, and is alone at night. I worry about it. He tell me that you make his heart fill with joy and that make me happy too.’ She smiled again. ‘Papa tell me that he ask you to stay here? Have you made a decision yet?’
‘To be honest with you, Sabina, I was waiting to meet you. I don’t have children of my own. I wasn’t able to. But I know how important children are to a parent and I would never want to come between a father and his daughter. I wanted to see how you felt about it. It’s all been very quick.’ Her voice quivered.
‘We’ve only just met, Deb-orah.’ Debs smiled at the way she said her name exactly the same way her father did when he first met her. ‘But I like you, and I would like to get to know you better. I know that things are complicated and you have a lot to work out, but love isn’t in your head. Love is in your heart and it’s how you feel. Papa is a very good, how you say, judge of character?’ Debs nodded thinking that this young lady was wise beyond her years. ‘And if he like you very much, then I think that I will like you too. Perhaps we could spend time alone together. And then the three of us spend time together. Today families come in all shapes and sizes. And when I’m not with Papa, I would like to think that he is not alone and has someone to love him and look after him. He does need a bit of looking after. After all he is a man. And sometimes they can be very stupid.’ She grinned and Debs realised she wanted to get to know this young lady more.
‘I would like that very much, Sabina.’
‘Then I think you need to go tell Papa your decision and put him out of his miserable.’
Debs laughed through her tears. She headed outside to Eduardo, who was pruning a tree. He wrinkled his brow when he saw her approaching, his eyes questioning what was going to come next. She leaned up, kissed his cheek, took the secateurs from his hand and placed them on the nearby wall, then took both of his hands in hers. She looked down at the floor, before lifting her eyes to his.
‘Eduardo! If you still want me, then I’m yours.’
‘Oh, Debs. You are going to stay?’
Debs nodded, never more sure of anything in the world. ‘I’ll have to go back at some point to get some stuff and to work out what to do with the house, but yes, I’d really like to stay with you.’
Before she knew it, she was lifted from the ground by a pair of big strong arms and twirled around, her face being covered in what felt like a million tender kisses. Laughter erupted from her.
‘I am the happiest man in the world. I am so excited about our future.’
Sabina walked out towards them.
‘Sabina, Sabina, she said yes!’ her father shouted across the garden.
Debs opened up her arms to Sabina and she joined the embrace. All Debs needed to do now, was to work out how it was all going to happen.
Thirty
Liv was still thinking about the huge decision she had made only this morning. Samantha and Fiona were on their way home, and Eduardo, Debs and Sabina had gone into Vilamoura for a celebratory early meal and to talk about their plans for the future. Debs needed to work out when to go back to the UK, hand in her notice at work, what to do with the house. She should probably tell Dave her plans, too, even though it was really nothing to do with him.
Liv had asked if they would mind if she stayed back at the villa. She had a lot of thinking to do.
She knew she loved her family, always had and always would, but she wanted to feel valuable in their lives. She wanted her opinion to matter, her views to be taken into consideration. She wanted them to ask her how she felt about certain things. She knew she’d made a rod for her own back by pandering to their every whim, but it had seemed easier when they boys were younger. Now they just took her totally and utterly for granted.
When she heard a knock on the villa’s door, she ambled to the foyer expecting it to be Mikey checking up on her. He’d said earlier that he’d pop in to see how she was. But to her total shock, there – standing on the doorstep when she opened the door – was someone she had never expected.
‘Olivia. Oh my God. Are you OK?’
‘George, what a surprise. Of course I’m OK. Where are the boys?’
‘My mother is looking after them. When I got your message, I packed a few things and I headed for the airport while Cynthia booked the next possible flight. I want to know what I can do to sort everything out. Olivia, you have to tell me what is going on. I’ve never been so shocked by anything in my life. I thought you were happy.’
‘You’d better come in.’
He shut the door behind him, and turned to look around him, taking in the splendour of the beautiful villa. ‘Wow! This is stunning.’
‘It is. Come and have a look out the back. The view is amazing. Do you remember when we were first married, George? We always talked about having a holiday home in Portugal.’
‘So we did. I’d forgotten all about that.’
Liv raised an eyebrow, which didn’t go unnoticed by her husband. She walked through to the kitchen area and held up the kettle.
‘Coffee or wine?’
He pointed to the wine. ‘I think if we’ve got some sorting out to do. We should perhaps do it over a glass or two of vino.’
She smiled back at him.
‘God, Olivia. I’ve been such a fool. Life has been so manic in the business, and I think it’s taken over my life. I’ve forgotten all about those early dreams we had. There was so much we wanted to do together. We had so many hopes for the future. We wanted to see the world, take on the world. I’ve been thinking on the plane on the way over. I really don’t know what I’d do without you, Olivia. I really do hope that we can sort whatever this is out.’
Olivia sipped at her wine. Right now she couldn’t trust herself to speak. Her heart was hammering in her chest. She walked around George and sat on the sofa, tucking her knees beneath her.
‘You look beautiful, you know. But then, to me you always do.’
‘Do I?’
‘Of course. You know I think that. Don’t you?’
She shook her head.
‘You always look amazing, Olivia. You’re as beautiful now as you were the day I met you.’
‘How can I know that, George, when you never tell me? Our life is such a rush. You spend most weekends in the golf club, and I have to come and pick you up, so we’re always rushing to get ready to go out. I honestly cannot remember the last time you told me I looked nice in something. When we were first married we used to spend hours getting ready to go out together. You used to lie on the bed and watch me try on lots of different dresses, telling me I looked fabulous in them all. You couldn’t keep your hands off me, George.’
‘But, Olivia, life gets in the way.’
‘Life gets in the way if you let it, George. Marriage and parenthood aren’t easy. There’s no handbook that comes with them, either. We should pull together and do things as a family, not as two people living in the same house. Or even four people. Especially when one of those people is trying to balance it all like a deck of cards, wondering just when the hell it is going to topple over.’
‘I had no idea you felt like this.’
‘And why would you? We barely spend time together. If you’re not at work, you are in the golf club or at some charity event. And if I’m not in the house, I’m running around getting the boys to whichever classes they need to be at, and doing the washing and ironing of their rugby kits, their football kits, their karate outfits, their school uniforms. It’s like a never-ending hamster wheel. And I hate it. I hate my life.’
There, she’d said it to his face.
‘I honestly had no idea you were feeling this way. We struggled so hard at the start of our married life together, in the place that we called home then. I thought that if you had the money to do anything you wanted, that you’d be happy. I’ve g
ot it all so wrong, haven’t I?’
Liv nodded at him. ‘Yes,’ she whispered.
He closed the gap between them on the sofa. Their knees were touching and he took her hands in his. ‘What are we going to do, darling? Tell me what you want me to do and I’ll put it right. I’ll do anything. Please.’
She looked at the man before her. He was the man whose eyes she had met across a crowded dance floor at her twenty-third birthday party. The man who had swept her off her feet, treating her like a princess. The man with whom she had stood in front of a vicar in their village church nearly twenty-five years ago and vowed to love until the day she died. He was the father of her two children. He was once her everything. But was he all of that now?
She heard his belly rumble and knew he must be hungry. He probably hadn’t had anything for a while. She went to offer to get him some food, but then changed her mind. It was this servant-like habit she’d got herself into that was making her feel this way.
‘There’s some food in the fridge, if you’d like to help yourself.’
‘Thank you, but right now I’m too scared to eat. I’m scared of what you are going to say to me, Olivia.’
‘You should eat, George. I need some time to think. You’ve totally thrown me by turning up here like this. How did you even know where I was?’
‘Ah well, don’t shout at me, but I went through your emails. I tried the boys’ names for your password, then when I came up blank Seb suggested I try the dog’s name. Bingo.’
‘My darling Hector. How is he?’
‘He’s pining for you! He just sits by the door looking forlorn and every time he hears a movement, he’s dancing on all four paws, hoping it’s you. And when it’s not he goes back to looking sad and puts his head on his paws, staring at me with those big brown eyes.’
‘Ah, my sweetheart. I do miss him. I’ve missed running with him.’
‘What can I do, Olivia? Please tell me it’s not too late for us. I’ll do anything.’
