CORAL (A Romance Trilogy, Book 1) (5 page)

I FINALLY REACH THE END OF EASTERN ROAD
and make a right turn onto Arundel Street, then left onto Marine
Drive, then I make a u-turn and start zigzagging my way along Marine drive
until I finally turn right at Undercliff Walk. Passing Marina Car Wash I give a
wave to Rob’s friend Pete, he’s been working at the Car Wash for two years now
and always gives Rob a discount. I think they like each other, but Robs been
married since he was twenty-five, he simply went abroad for two weeks to Spain
and came back with a gorgeous Spanish man in tow called Carlos, they married a
couple of years later. I love him as much as I love Rob; they are perfect for
each other.

I met Rob a couple of years ago,
he came wondering into the gym with a swollen black eye, we got chatting
straight away and he advised me of being jumped on by a gang of pissed up men.
I told him about my personal trainer Will, he teaches combat training
incorporated with boxing, it’s hard work but really confidence building and
definitely worth the effort, my body looks leaner than it has ever looked, and
I no longer worry when I’m walking the streets alone, I know I can take care of
myself. I introduced Rob and he’s been with Will ever since.

When I reach the steps taking me
down to the Concourse, I can't help but smile. I still can't quite believe I
own my own place, I mean yes, I had to live with Gladys for a long time and
save like crazy even though I wanted my own place, but every time I got
miserable about it, Gladys reminded me that it would all be worth it when I
finally put that deposit down. Besides, she refused to let me rent, said it was
money being flushed down the toilet. She did the same with Debs too, let her
and Scott live together in the house saving up all their wages, all we had to
contribute to was food; Gladys took care of the rest. She really is the most
wonderful woman I have ever known.

As I walk along the sundeck
towards my floating studio, located on the Western Concourse in Brighton’s
Marina Village, I’m reminded of the look on Gladys’s face when I said I wanted
to buy the property....

“But it’s a floating studio
darling, It’s just so tiny.” She says looking around the tiny
living-room/kitchenette.

“But I love it Gladys, it’s right
on the water.” We turn in unison and look at the stunning views of the Marina,
the boats bobbing up and down.

“It is lovely,” she anxiously
agrees. “I just think you could get so much more for your money.” I sigh
heavily and follow her back outside. “Coral, it looks like one gust of wind and
the whole thing will fall down.” She looks up and down the long stretch of
yellow and white studios neatly packed together. I think there’s about fifteen
all in all?

“You don't like it?” I say, my
voice sounding sad.

“It’s not that,” she says. “They
look like they are made out of corrugated cardboard, such an eye-sore.” She
adds – I chuckle because I don't really care what it looks like, but she is
right, from the outside they don't look so great – I’ll give her that.

“Yes, you’re right, they don't
have curb appeal and you don't get much for your money, but I don't really have
much choice.” I remind her.

“Stay with me for another couple
of years’ – “No!” I bark, interrupting her.

I need my own place, I need my
independence, my 29th birthday is only two months away. I don't want to still
be living with Gladys by the time I hit thirty – It’s too depressing to even
think about.

“Gladys, we’ve spent three months
searching now, how many studios have we looked at?” I question. I’ve lost
count.

“Lots darling,” she says looking
up at the structure.

“Point is, for one hundred and
twenty five grand, I don't have much choice, it’s either here, or a dark dingy
studio in town. Gladys, we both know if I choose town I get traffic all night,
drunken idiots making loads of noise, or trains going by every five minutes.”

She’s nodding in agreement, so I
carry on.

“All the studios we have looked
at don't come near this place, I don't want to live in a dark, dingy place in
town, some of them have been so awful...” I drift off, because Gladys is
tapping the outside wall in confusion. Why I don't know? She knows nothing
about construction and neither do I. “I'm surprised they sold at all,” I mumble
to myself.

I wait for what I have said to
sink in. I mean yes, this place is really dinky and small, but it’s so light
and airy and has wonderful views. The air is fresh from the sea every morning,
and it’s quiet, really, really quiet and peaceful, but most importantly I feel
safe here, and Gladys knows how important feeling safe is to me. But then it
hits me that she’ll probably be like this whatever place I buy. She worries
about me and is no doubt feeling a little sad that I’m really moving out, just
as I am.

I walk over to where she’s
standing and wrap my arms around her waist. “I know this is tough for you.” I
whisper and hug her tighter.

Gladys wraps her arms around me
and squeezes me tight, kissing the top of my head. “I’m going to miss you so
much.” She chokes.

“Me too,” I offer. “But I won’t
be far away, and you know I’ll be home on Sundays for one of your Roast
Dinners.” I smile broadly at her, hoping her opinion is swaying.

“You really like this place?” She
questions.

I nod frantically at her. “I feel
safe here Gladys, it’s so quiet and peaceful, and you know how much I love
boats and the water, it’s idyllic. Plus, I have the gym and the supermarket, so
you know I’ll never go hungry and I...,” I stop for a moment a blast from the
past igniting my memories. “We used to spend hours down here when I was
little.” I add feeling some of those old emotions resurfacing. God…I felt so
lost back then.

“Yes we did, you even loved it
back then.” She says, gazing warmly at me.

I nod in agreement. “I need you
on my side with this Gladys. I need to know your ok with it, that you’re
happy.”

“Oh darling girl, if you’re
happy, then I’m happy.”
Yes!

“Thank you Gladys.” I kiss her
cheek, clap my hands together in glee, and run off to find the agent...

AS I REACH MY STUDIO
, I
pull my keys out of my bag, and unlock the patio door that looks out at the
Marina. Walking inside, I’m instantly bowled over by the heat sapping at my
skin, making my hair feel damp and sweaty.
Whoa! It’s only the beginning of
July and it’s already scorching!

I smile to myself as I think
about my upcoming birthday in August. I must ask Gladys if we can have a
barbeque at hers. She loves entertaining, and she especially loves Rob and
Carlos, she knows they are good guys and take care of me.

I turn and dump my bag and keys
on the sofa, and head up the tiny staircase to my bedroom that has an open
gallery view of the lounge. I quickly strip my work clothes and put them into
the laundry basket - If there’s one thing about having a small space is that it
makes you be tidy, even when you don’t want to be! I open the built-in wardrobe
doors, and find my clean training gear.

I quickly dress in my full length
Lycra leggings, my support bra with extra support - if there’s one thing that’s
totally annoying about having large breasts, is them bouncing all over the
place when your training - and pull my training vest over the top.

Slipping my feet into my
trainers, I take a quick look in the mirror. I see a toned, fit, 5ft 4ins curvy
woman looking back at me.
God I’m such a short arse!

My mind wonders for a moment if
I’m actually Tristan’s type? From all the photos on Google, he seemed to have
tall leggy blondes hanging off him, not short arse brunettes. I shake my head
at myself, find a hair tie and scrape my sticky hair up into a ponytail.

Once I’ve opened the bedroom
window to let some air into the place, I run back down the stairs and fill up
my water bottle. I know I’m going to sweat buckets tonight, so I better make
sure I’m hydrated, especially as that’s one of Will’s bug-bares. Then I open
the downstairs bathroom window, leaving the door open so it helps the breeze
flow through.

When I’m satisfied I’m ready, I
pick up my gym bag and pull it over my shoulder. Picking up my MP3 player I pop
the headphones back in and make my way outside onto the sundeck.

My next door neighbour Bob, is sitting
at his little table, his head buried deep in his newspaper. He’s been living
here since they built this place. He’s old, sweet and winds me up a treat
sometimes, but I really get along with him.

“Hey Bob.” I call out.

“Evening Coral,” he answers but
doesn’t look up from his paper. It always makes me smile.

“Beautiful day,” I offer.

“It’s hot!” He moans.

I smile and shake my head at him.
“See you later Bob.” I shout.

“You off out again?” He whines.

“The gym,” I say smiling at him.

“Don’t think so,” he teases. “Not
with your keys still sat on the sofa.”
Shit, my keys!

“How did you’ – “Nothing gets by
me young lady.” He looks up over his newspaper and smiles, tapping his nose at
me. I never do things like that?
What’s wrong with me?
I think I know
the answer to that, but I am not going there!

I smile back at him, but it’s
forced, then I head back inside and pick up my keys, shaking my head at myself.
As I come back out, I decide it’s probably best to leave the patio door open,
I'm sure it will be baking by the time I get back.

“Hey Bob.” I say.

“Yes.” He drawls the word out
slowly. I can't help chuckling.

“You mind keeping an eye out? I
want to leave the patio door open.” He looks up from his newspaper, looks me up
and down then scowls at me.

“Why d’ya spend so much time at
the gym Coral? Your figure looks just fine to me.”

“Well it’s not really the gym,” I
answer. “It’s combat training.” I know this will get his attention.

“As in military training?” he
asks, putting down his newspaper.

I figured Bob to be in his
seventies when I first met him and was totally shocked when he told me he was
ninety-three, and that he was twenty when he was drafted into the second
world-war, he’s as fit as a fiddle for a man his age.

“Yes and my instructor doesn’t
take too kindly to lateness, so I’d better go.” I walk over and give him a kiss
on the cheek. “Thanks Bob, I owe you one.” I look down and see he’s gone as red
as beetroot.

“Go on, you’ll be late,” he says,
ushering me away.

As I turn and wave goodbye, I
make a mental note to invite him to Lily’s birthday party, he doesn’t get out
much, and I want him to have some fun.

AS I HEAD WEST ALONG THE CONCOURSE
, I take out my MP3 Player and hit shuffle. Puddle of Mud starts
playing Blurry, the words hitting me sharply, reminding me of Justin and how I
fucked it all up by not being open and honest and well, ’emotionally available’
George calls it.

I grit
my teeth at myself and try to be positive about it all, to do what George tells
me to do and look at it as a learning curve. I sigh inwardly, sometimes I think
I’m getting better, then I think of the fact that I haven’t had a date in five
years - well apart from that one – I stop walking and steel myself.
Don't
think of it, block it out!
It takes a while, but when I’m satisfied the
horror of that night hasn’t entered my mind, I continue walking.

Truth is, the split with Justin
hit me hard and made me withdraw even deeper into myself. Because for me,
Justin was the closest I’ve ever got to someone - well as close as I can get to
someone. I opened my heart, eventually, and he got a knife, stuck it in and
ripped it open by doing the one thing he told me he would never do - cheat on
me - which triggered all my trust issues all over again.

But when I really think about it,
when I go into the deepest darkest part of my soul, and I ask the same question
over and over again - Do you really want to be alone? - The truth is I don’t, I
hate it, but I just can't get past my demons, my fears, my insecurities. I know
I’m standing in my own way, but it’s like I'm hitting my head against a brick
wall. I want to feel deeply connected to someone, I see it all around me,
people happy and in-love, but the fear of being hurt, lied to or abandoned take
over the fear of being alone.

George calls it a vicious circle,
one that only I can break, but I don’t know if I’m even ready to, or even
willing to do that - So this life I have, will have to do - for now anyway!

Feeling melancholy from running
it all through my head again, I take a deep breath and decide to run it out.
Picking up my pace I reach the steps up from the concourse and jump them two at
a time, then I pace even harder as I head past McDonalds, its greasy smell
wafting through my nostrils, I don’t know how anyone stands to work in there
all day, it would drive me nuts.