CORAL (A Romance Trilogy, Book 1) (27 page)

“Is she?” He asks his voice full
of surprise.

“Yes, I only found out yesterday.
We’re at the Hilton, they’re having the wedding here, next month.”

“Wow, that’s...quick.” Tristan
still sounds shocked.

“Tell me about it, I didn’t even
know she was seeing anybody.” I answer dryly.

“Are you ok?” He instantly sounds
concerned.

“Um...quite honestly, I don’t
know...well, yeah I guess. I’m happy she’s happy, and has found Malcolm’ –
“Malcolm?” Tristan interrupts.

“Yeah, the guy she’s going to
marry. He’s nice.” I say trying to placate him.

“Hmm.” Tristan doesn’t sound
convinced.

“Honestly...he is,” I sigh. “I
feel comfortable with him...which is surprising.” I roll my eyes. “And you
should see the way they keep looking at each other, all gooey-eyed and loved
up.” I add dryly.

“That’s good though right?”
Tristan says still sounding concerned.

“Of course I’m...h-happy for
them…but,” I break off. Why do I feel the need to spill my guts to him? I was
only supposed to be checking it would be ok to get the time off!

“I’m coming to see you,” he says,
his voice low, but full of a deep and profound promise. And I believe him. I
think if I asked him, he would come to me. I can hear his footsteps moving
quickly across a wooden floor. Then I think about the guilt I will feel
afterwards, the fact that I just need someone to lean on because I don’t have
anyone right now.

“No Tristan, don’t. I...” He
sighs heavily. I can no longer hear his rapid footsteps across the floor. “I’m
ok.” I try to sound convincing, then I sigh feeling the weight of my words.

“I’m not convinced.” He states.

“It’s just all…a bit of a shock,”
I croak.

“I’m sure it is. Have they known
each other long?”

“A year, Gladys didn’t want to
tell me until...” I sigh again feeling a little of the betrayal I initially
felt when she told me.

“Until what?” Tristan asks a
little annoyed.

“She wanted to wait until, well,
that they were both sure. I guess they were just being careful, they’ve both
been hurt in the past.” I say, I don’t mean to sound gloomy.

“Well that’s understandable,” he
says. I wonder for a moment if he’s actually right?

“Either way, the Wedding isn’t
the worst part of it.” I say somberly.

“Then what is?” He asks.

“Oh they’re leaving,” I croak, my
eyes filling with unshed tears -
What’s going on? I was fine a minute ago!

“Leaving?” He says his voice low
and dark.

”Yeah...Gladys wants out of
Brighton. Malcolm likes Cornwall, or Devon, they’re not sure which yet.”
Tristan is silent, I hear nothing and I wonder if I’ve lost signal. “Tristan?”

“I’m here.” He answers.

I take a deep breath and compose
myself. “So anyway, the reason I was calling is to see if it would be ok to get
the time off.” He doesn’t say anything, so I continue while I can. “For the
wedding...I mean...it’s going to be on a Thursday, the 8th August’ – “Your
birthday?” He interrupts -
He knows when my birthday is too?

“Um...yeah, I...well that’s why
I’m calling...will I be able to get the time off?” Tristan is still silent. What’s
wrong with him? “Tristan, are you there?” I ask.

“Yes.” He exhales loudly like
he’s been holding his breath for a long time. “Of course you can have time
off.” He sounds a little miffed.

“Well, I just thought I’d
check...you know with the take-over and everything...” I say scowling at the
floor.

“It’s no problem at all Coral;
you shouldn’t even have had to ask.” He scolds.

“Sor-ry!” I bite back.

“No...I didn’t mean...” Tristan
exhales in a rush. “I really would like to come and see you, see for myself
that you’re ok.” I close my eyes and swallow hard, my throat seems so dry.
Get
off the phone Coral!

“I have to go,” I tell him.
“They’ll be wondering where I am.”

“Can I call you later?” He asks
his voice a somber whisper.

“Sure.” I reply before I’ve even
thought about it –
No Coral, what are you doing?

“I’ll let you go…I miss you.” He
whispers then hangs up. I stare at my mobile in disbelief. Did that
conversation really just happen? Did he really just say I miss you? I feel a strange
fluttering in my belly – “Coral?”
Shit Gladys!

“Yeah...I’m here!” I scramble out
of the stall.

“We were wondering where you
were?” She says, her cheeks a little flushed.

“Sorry.” I mumble and walk over
to the sinks to wash my hands.

“Darling, are you really ok about
the date?” She looks so worried. I quickly dry my hands and hug her hard.

“Yes, I really am. I’m not just
saying it.” I feel her shoulders relax. She hugs me back for a second then
pulls back with her hands still on my shoulders, studying me intently.

“Who were you talking to?” She
quizzes, her eyes narrowed –
Shit!

“Rob,” I lie. “Something’s really
wrong with him.” I frown hard. “He won’t tell me what it is, and he’s not
coming on Saturday, which reminds me, can I get a lift with you and Malcolm?”

“You don’t need to ask that.”
Gladys softly scolds.

I pull my lips up to smile. “Bob’s
coming too.” I add feeling a weird fluttering race up and down my body, and I
know it’s because I'm going to hear Tristan’s voice later.

“Oh lovely, haven’t seen him in a
while.” She says warmly. I nod with more enthusiasm that is necessary and pull
my lips up to smile again, it feels odd. “Come on, let’s get back to Malcolm,
he’s going to think I’ve deserted him.” She chuckles.

I follow Gladys out of the
restroom and back into the main restaurant.

MALCOLM HAS WALKED ME BACK TO MY STUDIO
. He was insistent, even though I told him I was fine at the car
park. I unlock the door and smile up at him. “Thanks Malcolm.”

“My pleasure,” he smiles. “Now go
on, get yourself inside and lock up behind you.” He adds.

“I will.” I say pulling the patio
door open. Malcolm watches me lock the door behind me, smiles, nods once, then
waves as he walks away – Well, that felt nice, how protective of him.

Then I realise how hot it is.
Dashing over to the air-con I switch it onto full to cool the room down. I feel
exhausted, my belly is full and I’ve had far too much wine. Kicking off my
stilettos, I pick them up and make my way up the stairs – My head is swimming
again, so much is happening, I don’t even know where to begin trying to
assimilate it all.

As I’m getting changed into my
sweats, I feel my heart start fluttering, like a bird in flight – which is very
worrying – because I know it’s because I’m going to hear Tristan’s voice soon,
that’s if he calls. I sigh inwardly and head back down the stairs. I decide to
call Carlos, Rob’s been on my mind since this afternoon, I’ve been trying to
work out how I can reach him so I can find out what’s wrong. Maybe Carlos can
shed some light on the situation?

I check the time 10.20pm, it’s
not too late, so I call him, but I get no answer, which is strange, Carlos
always answers his mobile. I check the number to make sure I got the right one
and press call again, only this time it goes straight to voice-mail. I
instantly feel angry, he knew I was calling and pushed me to voice-mail -
Arghhh!
–
I chuck my mobile on the sofa in frustration.
Why won’t they talk to
me?

I AM STOOD STIRRING MY CUP OF
hot chocolate when my mobile starts ringing. I spin around and dash
over to it, hoping its Carlos calling me back. But it’s not, it’s Tristan.

“Hello,” I mumble feeling a
little deflated.

“Convince me not to come down
there and see you.” He replies sharply.

“Um...” I pinch my nose trying to
think of something to say. “I’m really ok,” I say.

“You don’t sound it,” he states
sternly.

“Ok...ok,” I sigh heavily. “I’m
not 100%, but I need to learn to stand on my own two feet Tristan, that much is
evident.” I huff.

“Coral, having your family around
you to be there for you in times of need doesn’t mean you can't stand on your
own two feet. You seem very capable of doing that to me.”

“Look, it’s just’ – I sigh again
– ‘there’s just a lot going on right now and...”
Why am I telling him this?
–
I exhale loudly. “It just feels like my life has gone from being very
organized and balanced, to messy and complicated in a nano-second. It’s a
little disorientating that’s all.”

“Spill,” he orders.

“I...I” I stop there. I don’t
need any more complications right now –
Especially with him.

“A friend in need is a friend
indeed,” he reasons.

I sigh again, and against my
better judgment I start babbling it all out. “Ok, well my job is changing. I’m
losing Joyce, Robs weirding out on me, Carlos won’t answer my calls and then I
find out Gladys has kept this relationship a secret and well, I’m happy for her
of course, but I’m so gutted she’s leaving. Gladys and Joyce are my family and
in one foul swoop they’re gone, just gone...” I stop and think about what I’m
saying. That must have been what it felt like to Tristan when he lost his
folks, well his grandparents. “Incidentally, how did you know it was my
birthday?” I say changing the subject.

“Had something planned,” he tells
me.

“You...what? Why?” I gasp trying
to get my head around it.

“It’s not a problem I can move
it. Do you have any plans the Saturday after?”

“Um...I...” My head feels
scrambled.
He had something planned?

“Coral?” Hearing his voice pulls
me from my musing. I think back to what Malcolm told me while Gladys was in the
ladies, “I’m
taking her to Bali, she’s always wanted to go, we leave
Saturday after the wedding”

“Why?” I ask, wondering what he
has planned. I'm not so great with surprises.

“Believe me, you’ll love it,” he
says with full confidence.

“You don’t know me Tristan so how
can you say that?” I argue.

“Are you free?” He asks again
changing the subject.

I give in I'm too tired to argue.
“I guess, but I warn you...I’m not too good with surprises.”

Tristan chuckles. “How did I know
you were going to say that?”

“When’s
your
birthday?” I
ask wondering who he’ll be spending it with now that his folks have gone. My
mind instantly speeds forward to Christmas. Who will Tristan spend it with? And
what about New Year? He can’t be alone, that’s just…just awful...

“Coral, I heard you gasp then,
what’s wrong?”

“I...nothing, when’s your
birthday?” I ask again.

“November,” he tells me.

I roll my eyes. “What
date
in
November?”

“25th” He answers.

“Do you have any plans?” I ask sweetly.

“It’s a little early to be’ – “Do
you?” I ask more forcefully.

“No actually, I don’t.”

“What did you used to do?” I
enquire.

“Not much. I don’t really agree
with the western way of thinking...you know the age thing.”

“Age is just a number baby.” I giggle.

“Exactly,” he says in agreement.

“What about Christmas and New
Year? What did you used to do then?” I question.

“Hold on a second I thought this
conversation was supposed to be about you?” I ignore that one.

“Please,” I whine. “Answer me
this one and we can go back to me.” I say with my fingers crossed.

“Fine!” He barks, then he’s
silent for a long time. “I’d.... be with my folks,” he answers somberly.
I
knew it!

“I guess this year’s going to be
pretty rotten huh?” I say my voice sounding a little sad.

“I was planning to go abroad
actually, completely forget the holiday season,” he says.

“Really?” I squeak. “Where to?”

“Oh…I don’t know somewhere warm
and tropical, not really sure yet.” His voice sounds wistful.

“Sounds delightful…” I’m already
day-dreaming about it.

“Want to come?” Tristan asks
playfully.

“Can’t, Gladys would never
forgive me if we weren’t all together for Christmas. So I’m officially inviting
you, I don’t want...I don’t think you should be on your own at Christmas
Tristan...that...it’s just...wrong.” I stutter.

“Is it now?” I can tell he’s
smiling again.

“Yes it is!” I state.

“Well, thanks I accept your
offer, if I don’t go away that is.” We sit in comfortable silence for a while.
My eyes start to feel heavy, the evening’s events catching up with me.