BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY (33 page)

“For your information, I neither want nor need your
money.  As for baggage, how dare you speak to me like that.  That’s
my life you are talking about.  Mrs Devanti, I think that you should leave
before we both say things that we can’t take back.”

“Nico is a good man and he deserves to be with
someone of his own calibre, someone who hasn’t been married before and has
that
type of baggage.”

“I have never been more insulted in my life. 
I’m a widow not some serial gold digger divorcee.  I don’t care if this is
your property get out.  Get out before I forget the manners that my Mother
instilled on me and kick your skinny ass as you leave”

Shaking she stormed through the house collecting the
remaining items of her belongings.  Baggage! She exclaimed.  No way
could she stay here another twenty four hours.  She would rather sleep on
the floor of the airport than spend another moment on Devanti property. 
On hold to the airline she zipped closed her cases for the final time. 
She couldn’t use her beloved but battered blue tote.  She had packed it
away.  The little Marc Jacobs bag would have to accommodate her passport,
cards, money and Rob until she could collect her tickets from the
airport.  She read out her credit card number and confirmed she could be
in the airport for the first of her connecting flights.  Portland to JFK
with a couple of hours waiting time then JFK to London.  Then another
couple of hours at London before her connection home to Glasgow.  She was
going to call Jay but forgot he would have left with Nico.  Feigning
innocence she called the main house and asked for a cab for the airport. 
Without quibble the said it would be there ten minutes tops.  She guessed
Mrs Devanti had given them a heads up of her departure.  If she hadn’t
well she didn’t care.  Her bags were collected via the staff access to the
building and Carrie followed them.  She didn’t want to go through the main
house.  The cab was waiting and the driver happily talked about the weather,
the economy and Scotland once he heard her accent.  As the iconic yellow
cab drove through the gates of the property she didn’t look back. 

“This is becoming a habit Robin.  What do you
mean no one knows were Carrie is?  I left the Cape less than twelve hours
ago and you are telling me she isn’t at the beach house”

“Nico she answered my text this morning about the
tickets but I haven’t been able to contact her since.”

Nico checked his phone and he didn’t have any
unanswered calls or texts from Carrie.  He had planned on calling her
after the emergency meeting that had been called.  Instead he was speaking
now with Robin.

“Leave it with me”

Carrie collected her tickets and checked in at Portland. 
She had little time to make it through security but soon she was buckled in and
on her way to JFK.  She had switched her phone off and closed her
eyes.  Trying not to breakdown, to give in to the tears that had been
threatening since her altercation with Mrs Devanti.  They were wrong for
each other, they moved in different circles a point that she had repeatedly
made to Nico but spending time with him had changed that.  She needed to
get home and back to her family.  Because she knew she had fallen for
him.  Beau, she hadn’t even got a chance to say goodbye to the puppy who
had been her companion these last few weeks.  That’s when the tears fell
that she had been struggling with holding back.  The affectionate little
or not so little dog had helped her recovery so much.  She popped on her
sunglasses and let the tears fall.  Damn them all. 

Any enthusiasm for airport shopping had
vanished.  A brief stop to get some magazines as a distraction for the
flight and some water to take her pain killers.  The headache was reaching
a crescendo all of its own.  Her upset, tension and tears of the last few
hours hadn’t helped.  She checked her watch, another hour until it was
time to board.  She picked up a coffee and headed towards the gate. 
She would wait there until her flight was called.  Time to let back home
know she was on her way home.  She didn’t trust herself but knew she had
to speak to them. 

“Hello Daddy,”

Her voice didn’t betray her upset as she kept it
brief.  Promised to text her arrangements for him to track and he said
they would be waiting for her at the airport when she got home.  For once
she didn’t try to dissuade him.  Her phone beeped letting her know someone
else was call.  It was Nico. 

 “Hi Nico,”

“Carrie, where the hell are you?”

“JFK”

“What the hell?  Why didn’t you wait until
tomorrow when Robin had organised your flights?  Tell me this did you
leave the moment my back was turned?”

“Let’s just say, the enthusiastic pep talk from your
Mother persuaded me to advance my departure.  Oh and that doesn’t mean I
accepted her financial incentive to leave either.”

Nico could feel his temper beginning to boil. 

“Fuck, why is she interfering?  It’s none of
her business.”

“Well it worked Nico; she made it her
business.  I need to go home back to my family.  But I won’t be
spoken to like that by anyone.”

“What did she say to you?”

“I’m not a tittle tattle.  Let’s just leave it
at that”

“I want to know Carrie and I will find out even what
she said even if I have to leave LA now”

Thinking back on their conversation Carrie briefly
told him, “She said I had baggage and that you deserved someone of your own
calibre, before offering to pay me off.”

“Carrie I apologise on behalf of my Mother. 
That’s untrue what she said.  You know my feelings for you and no one
tells me how to live my life”

“I feel like I have been in a different world whilst
I’ve been with you Nico.  It’s been a real rollercoaster with highs and
lows.  I guess this is a low.”

“Oh Carrie, never lows but a bit bumpy I would
agree”

“My flight will be called soon, I need to get
ready.  Time to get back to the rain and my family” she tried to joke.

“Call me when you get home, I want to know you
landed safely”

“Okay I will, Good Bye Nico, take care and say good
bye to Beau for me, it was kind of rushed earlier”

“That sounds like a permanent Good Bye?”

“It isn’t, Nico, things will be different when I go
home and that’s what we need.  It’s been life changing for me this visit
to the Cape and meeting you.  I needed to find the old me again”

“I like the new you a lot”

“I like you too” she laughed.

Carrie checked the board again and the message now
instructed to go to the gate.

“Good Bye Nico”

“Good Bye Carrie” and she hung up. 

Including the stop overs it had taken her 22 hours
to get home and she was never gladder to see her parents waiting for her at
arrivals.  Sitting in various departure lounges had given her more time
than she wanted to think and she was exhausted.  Her wrist was throbbing
and she was too headstrong to admit she was so foolish to take the first option
home.  She could see their waiting figures on the monitor at Glasgow
airport.  At the carousel whilst waiting for her luggage she had texted
Nico that she had landed.  Hugging her parents she shared a tearful reunion. 

“Oh Carrie, what a fright you gave us?  Darling
you look well but tired”

“Thanks Mum, it was a bit of a journey home but I
finally made it”

“Now let’s get you back home and you can tell us
everything that happened”

They had missed the morning rush hour traffic taking
the journey home in less than twenty minutes.  Her mother talked non-stop
updating Carrie on all the latest family news.

“Claire and Ryan have settled well into your home
Carrie.  It was such a good idea that you suggested they stay a while with
you.  Harry loves it too, playing in the garden; it’s about the only thing
that tires that little one out”

“That’s good Mum.  I’m pleased it’s worked
out.”

Soon they drove past the familiar houses of the
Bluebell Estate and pulled in to the driveway of Carrie’s home.  The front
door was opened before the car had even stopped.  Claire must have been
watching for them.  Again more hugs and some tears. 

“Oh I need a cuppa, get the kettle on”

It was good to be home. 

Removing her jacket she went to hang it on the hooks
that were discretely positioned near the back door to the garden.  She was
momentarily surprised to see the jackets of Claire and Ryan on the hooks. 
Forgetting that they would have their clothes and possessions around the
home.  Her red cushions were missing from the sofa.  The teal
coloured cushions from her sisters sofa in their place.  Claire followed
her gaze.

“They were driving me nuts Carrie, I’ve got them
bagged up in the garage.  Harry spent all day taking them off the sofa and
I spent all day placing them back.  He thought it was a really fun game to
play!  All twenty three of them.  Tell me who needs twenty three
cushions?”

“Well I did, I guess they can stay where they are”
Her Mum fussed around making the tea while Carrie settled.  Checking on
her bruises and wrist which was still in the sling.  Harry delighted to
see his Auntie cuddling up on the sofa with her making his baby noises and
talking to Carrie. Kissing his soft cheek and pulling him closer.  She had
missed her nephew.

“Sorry Mum, I was miles away there, what did you
say?”

“I said, I can see your bruises are fading and
you’ve done something different to your hair.”

“Oh they are, I was a little foolhardy Mum, that’s
all.  Everything is okay.  My hair oh nothing has changed I’m just
wearing it a bit loose and not so straight.  Had to try and cover the cut
on my forehead somehow.  I’ve got some gifts for everyone but they will
need to wait until I unpack later.” She said trying to change the subject, “I
even got you a baseball cap Dad, you will love it”

“I’m sure I will Carrie,”

Her Dad had carried the cases upstairs.

“I thought you only took one case?”

“I bought too many things Dad, you know me and I
just couldn’t squeeze anymore into my case”

She didn’t add that there was also a full designer
outfit in the second suitcase.

“How are you feeling Claire?  You look well”

“I’m fine Carrie, this pregnancy has been good so
far, touch wood and I haven’t had the sickness I did with Harry,”

Several cups of tea later her parents left once they
were happy with seeing her in the flesh and in one piece.  Fatigue was
surrounding her and she struggled to stay awake.  She promised to make an
appointment to see her own GP and join them for Sunday lunch tomorrow along
with Claire, Ryan and Harry. 

“I’m going for a shower then bed for a while until
my body returns to the right time zone!”

When she woke late afternoon she felt a little more
like her old self.  Dressing casually in a long loose t-shirt and leggings
with her ballet pumps she returned downstairs holding the gifts she had bought.

“I’m sorry I missed your birthday Claire, I hope
this makes up for it!”

“Oh Carrie you shouldn’t have, this is too much but I
will definitely hold you to that offer of babysitting.  A night at a hotel
will be a luxury after the baby is born.  Mmm the scent of sandalwood,
chamomile and lavender to lull you to sleep.  Sounds bliss.  This is
one to put away for use after I’ve had the baby.”

“Not to mention, much needed”

“Mum was right, you do look different.”

“I guess that’s the Nico effect and staying at the
Cape.  I really liked it there”

“Well, tell all, I’m fit to burst waiting on all
your news.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Are you going to see him again?”

“I’d like to Claire but I don’t know how practical
that’s going to be.  There is the matter of living thousands of miles
apart.  We didn’t talk much about the future.  He left quite suddenly
to go to LA to the hotel that Aunty Belle is working on with him.”

Harry had begun to cry after waking from his
nap.  Claire moved to go and see to him but Carrie shook her head, “I will
get him,”

She returned holding a sleepy Harry who had refused
to go back to sleep in his bed.  She made him a drink and he cuddled into
her as she sat back on the sofa with Claire.

“Oh I’ve missed this little guy so much,”

“He’s missed his Auntie too.  I didn’t get the
chance to properly say thanks for letting us stay here Carrie; it’s gotten us
out of a big mess.  Ryan contacted the estate agents again for some new
listings but as soon as something is added it’s gone almost straight away.”

“Claire I told you, there is no rush.  You are
all welcome to stay here as long as you need.  Honestly I don’t want you
to even think about moving out.  Even if you did get rid of all twenty
three sofa cushions” she joked.   “Now tell me all the Reynolds
gossip.  Who has Aunt Peggy offended lately?”