BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY (19 page)

She opened the door.

“It’s perfectly natural what we’ve just done Carrie,
don’t be so hard on yourself”

“I don’t behave like this!  What is it about
you Nico that makes every sensible thought leave my mind?  No don’t answer
that, I’m rambling, I need to get out of here” 

She picked up the discarded hard hat and replaced it
on her head.  Health and safety after all.

“Wait Carrie, wait.  I’m cancelling this
meeting we have things to sort out.”

Carrie paused at the door.

“Please Nico, don’t, just don’t.  I think it
best that you go.  I’m a mess and need to gather myself.  You know
I’m a widow and I haven’t been with
anyone”
she stressed, “anyone since
my husband died.  Let me deal with my feelings”

He pulled her back into his arms but she didn’t pull
away.

“Okay, I will give you space but just for
today.”  He kissed the top of her head.  They walked back down the
stairs and Carrie avoided eye contact with all the contractors.

She heard a bellowing laugh, Monique.

“Carrie, when did you get here?  So do you like
my home?  It’s fabulous, isn’t it?”  Before Carrie could answer she
was pulled into the arms of Monique for a bear hug of epic proportions. 

“And there is my favourite man, Nico!”

“Are you two friends?  Was this your mystery
date?”

“Monique you ask too much!  Give me a chance to
answer your questions” Carrie dodged.  “I think your home is lovely and
yes Nico is my friend”

Nico checked his watch discreetly and Carrie knew he
was leaving.

“Nico has a meeting to go to Monique, why don’t you
excuse us for a moment and you can show me around the house and tell me your
plans”

Carrie walked through the front door with Nico.

“Are you okay Carrie?  Don’t go all distant on
me”

“I’m fine Nico, honest.”

“I will be back tomorrow but not until later, it’s
the commerce dance tomorrow, why don’t you join me as my guest?”

“I eh, I don’t know Nico, let me think about it,
anyway I don’t have anything to wear, I didn’t exactly pack a ball gown!”

“Okay Carrie, we can talk about this later, what are
your plans now?”

“I’m going to stay here with Monique for a little
while then back to the inn I suppose, I’m not too sure,”

They kissed goodbye with Nico promising to call her
later.

“Hey Monique,” she returned to the house.

They walked round each room in more detail that
Carrie previously had seen.  Monique discussing her plans, her hopes and
dreams for this new start.

“I am blessed with my children, the fire made me
realise that even more.  Family, friends and strangers have all been so
kind.  Do you know I got a cheque for five dollars from a little girl
whose parents had told her our story?  She wrote a letter saying she
wanted Tameka to get a new dolly with the money.  Now that’s kindness. 
Tameka wrote her a thank you letter.”

“That was a lovely gesture Monique.  People can
be kind hearted.  I wanted to do something too after reading the article
and I guess here I am!  This will be a wonderful fresh start for you all
Monique.”

“Now let’s get cleaning!”

It must be the sea air but hours later Carrie found
herself helping Monique scrub skirting boards from the dust that had
accumulated.  They washed down the kitchen cabinets in preparation for the
flooring that would be fitted later that day.  During their marathon
cleaning session Carrie and Monique left to do a coffee run for everyone. 
A caffeine pick me up and some pastries too.  The children were staying at
their Aunts whilst the adults continued with the last minute paint touch ups
and cleaning.  They were on track for moving in this weekend.  Tansie
had joined them after her shift at the Inn.

“Stay for dinner Carrie, we are just going to order
some Chinese takeout”

“Thanks, I think I will”

They sat on the porch, the evening air warm and
tucked into the boxes of noodles.

“What brings you here Carrie?  Who are you
running from?”

“Ha, I’m running from myself Monique, it’s as simple
as that, I’m a widow and have too many memories at home just now.”

“Well that’s as good a reason as any I
suppose.  I did wonder.  You are a contradiction.  Staying at
the Inn and you are friends with Nico.  I really didn’t expect you to roll
up your sleeves as you have today.  Thank you for your help.”

The house was ready for the furniture to be
delivered tomorrow and the finishing touches.  The construction workers
had left for the day and the permits passed without issue. 

There were three bedrooms, Trey and Tyreese would
share, Tameka would have her own room too.  This she was very excited
about. 

“I am so grateful for all the help and generosity
I’ve been given.  But there’s one thing I would change if I could. 
Tami has wanted a princess bed for her new room and I can’t get her it just
now.  Not with everything else.  She understands but at four years
old, oh she’s stubborn.  Wants a princess bed for her and Betsie.”

Monique cleared away the cartons from their
leftovers. 

“Okay ladies, I’m the newbie here but let’s go
shopping.  We can take my car back to the Inn so we will need to go in
yours Tansie if that’s okay.”

“What?”  They both echoed.

“Time for some fairy godmother treatment.”

After much persuasion they went to the Mall. 
One princess bed ordered and given the local interest in their story, the store
promised to deliver it the next day free of charge.  Carrie and Monique
promised they would include this donation in the follow up story in the
newspaper.   They also had a toy version which Carrie insisted on
ordering for Betsie.

“Are you crazy Carrie?”  Monique repeated.

“No, I just want to make a little girl happy”

Finally, the stopped off at an electrical
store. 

Carrie purchased a mac computer for Trey and a games
station for Tyreese. 

“No Carrie, that’s too much”

“Monique, maybe I am a crazy lady, but indulge
me.  Your community have helped you so much but I would like to do
this.  Please.”

During their trip through the mall Carrie also
managed to get herself another suitcase.  Much needed for all the gifts
and clothes she had been buying.  When she returned to the Inn it was
early evening and Carrie was beginning to feel the effects of her day. 
Time for a soak in the bath and then an attempt to put things right in her
mind.  She had blocked out the time that she had spent with Nico in the
bedroom.  Needed to compartmentalise it to get through the
day.   The bath running the scents of the hatian vetiver and Turkish
rose once again filled the air.  Her ipod on shuffle until she picked a
playlist that matched her mood.  Whilst the hot water filled the bath she
sent a text to her sister.

“Hi sis, had a busy and eventful day.  Not as
much as yours.  How did the final move go to Bluebell Gardens?  Sorry
I wasn’t there to help you get settled.  Helped out with the family I was
telling you about whose house burned down.  Been cleaning for their move
tomorrow and making some friends.  Speak soon Cx”

She opened the chest of drawers next to where she
had ‘Rob’.  Took out some fresh nightwear and closed the drawer.  It
jammed a little causing the cylinder to wobble and she caught it before it
toppled. 

Taking it in her hands she sat down on the edge of
the bed.  She crossed her arms holding it close.

“What am I doing?” she spoke out loud.  “This
is crazy.”

“Have I betrayed you today Rob?  I really like
Nico and I hope you are okay with me seeing him”

She placed him back on the drawers, glad that she
had spoken aloud the words that were whirring through her head all day. 
Ever since Nico had kissed and touched her.  The bath water ready she
turned off the tap and heard the familiar beep of her phone.  Her sister
had replied.

“Hi Sis, all okay here.  A bit chaotic but
think we have one more load to un-load and that’s us done.  I have been
taking it easy before you ask!  Harry is loving it but keeps asking where
Auntie Carrie is. Awww.   Mum is already re-organising.  Don’t
worry you will still recognise the place when you get back!   Have
you seen Nico again after your ‘dinner’ last night? Cx
”

She hoped Claire wasn’t overdoing it but it would be
impossible to hold her back.  Hmm re-organising she wondered what her Mum
was up to but that could wait until she got back.  So what did she say to
Claire about Nico?  Hmm well I saw him today and he gave me the most
amazing orgasm of my life and that she was hours later still completely,
utterly embarrassed about it.  Nope that was hardly the topic of
conversation for a text. 

“Oh re-organising, I know what Mum is like when she
is in that mode!  Guess I will have to wait and see next week what the
changes are.  Give Harry a big kiss from me.  Missing him so
much.  I saw Nico today at the house as his charity has been organising
the re-fit.  He’s asked me out tomorrow to some dinner dance thing but
I’ve said no.  I haven’t got a thing to wear!  I’m just about to go
for a bath, will catch up with you later. X”

Soaking in the bath water was just what she
needed.  Time enough to think about last night’s dinner and today with
Nico at Moniques.  Soon it would be time to go back home and make some
decisions about what she was going to do with her life.  Her time here at
the Cape had made her realise that her she didn’t want to go back to working at
AGM.  When she returned home she would resign from her position.  It
was the best thing to do.  Life had moved on around her and she didn’t
feel any regret at coming to that decision.  There were too many reminders
of Rob at her place of work.  Being away she could see that returning to
work after he had died had not helped her frame of mind.  So many times
she expected to see him in the corridor or in his office that looked strange
without him sitting behind the desk.  She had avoided that room like the
plague but very little had changed.  Phil, Rob’s replacement was a family
man and every inch of the desk was covered with pictures of his children and
their achievements.  The wall was marked where they had removed Rob’s
awards but they had not replaced this blank space with a picture or
redecorated. 

Wrapped in one of the fluffy bathrobes, Carrie read
through some emails and was browsing for flowers.  She wanted to send some
flowers to Claire to ‘welcome’ her to the house.  She found a local
florist that she had used before and ordered some for delivery the next
day.  A few clicks later and the flowers were ordered.  She texted
her Mum.

“Hi Mum, hope today went okay with the move. 
Everything fine with me.  I’ve been helping out with a house move too here
keeping busy.  Tell you all about it when I speak to you. Cx”

The phone rang but it wasn’t her Mum replying but
Nico.

“Hi Nico, How’s New York?”

“Hi Carrie, it’s been boring but necessary. 
Did you have an interesting day after I left?”

“I had a really good day, helped Monique get the
house ready.  Then we did some shopping with Tansie who works here at the
Inn.  I am just relaxing back at in my room”

“Have you had dinner yet?  I’ve got another
meeting scheduled later”

“Yeah I ate with Monique, we had some Chinese
take-out”

“That’s good.  I’ve been thinking about
tomorrow.  I know you said no to coming to the dance with me but I’d like
you to reconsider.  Now before you say anything I have an idea”

“Nico, I really don’t have anything suitable to
wear.  I’ve packed for a vacation.” She tried to interrupt.

“Carrie, let me take care of that.  I’ve
already set some things up.  Tomorrow morning my assistant Robin Wells is
going to come to the Inn.  I hope you don’t mind but before I set anything
in motion I took the liberty of running this past Terri.  There’s a team
coming over and they will be ‘taking-over’ the front parlour.”

“What?”

“I’ve arranged for hair and makeup to come around,
along with some dresses for you to pick from.”

“Nico, I can’t believe you have gone to this much
effort for me.”

“You don’t have much time left of your vacation and
I want to spend it with you.  I would ask you to stay longer but from what
you’ve told me you have commitments to get back home to.  Let’s make the
most of the time we do have and let me do this for you, please Carrie”

“Nico, thank you for this.  How can I refuse?”

“Great, the team will be available early
morning.  I don’t get back until late afternoon and have to be there for
the commerce dance starting as we are one of the sponsors.  Jay can pick
you up at eight pm if that will be okay for you?  If you need any more
time let me know and we can work something out”

“Nico, I don’t know what kind of people you are used
to but I think that will be plenty of time for me to get ready”