CORAL - Forever (A Romance Trilogy, Book 3) (27 page)

“Not easy to tell someone something like that,” I say,
taking a sip of juice. “Anyway, this isn’t about me, this is about you. I did plan
on telling you everything, but in all honesty it’s not important. It was in the
past and this is the present – and right now, we should be talking about you.
So, fantasies?”

Debs turns and looks at me, her blue eyes wide. “Just like
that?” she whispers.

I sigh inwardly, maybe I shouldn’t have told her yet? “Look
Debs, you can ask me about it, but not now, some other time ok? What’s going on
with you and Scott is much more important, so I’ll say again, fantasies?”

Debs swallows hard, frowning deeply and nods once. “Ok.
Well, we weren’t being honest with each other; well actually, more like Scott
wasn’t being honest with me. I thought we were satisfying each other in that
area, but apparently not!” she scoffs. “So with that going on and us not really
having the time for each other...well...Scott said he doesn’t feel anything for
her, that he loves me, it’s just she was giving him his kicks, making him feel
good about himself and I wasn’t.” Talk about a kick in the teeth! –
Keep it
zipped Stevens!

“Ok,” I mumble, trying to understand.

“Coral, you can never blame one person when either partner
has an affair, both people are to blame.” Debs tells me.

“Um...I guess,” I say, remembering Justin, remembering how
he wanted to explore, try different things and I wouldn’t. I suddenly see
things in a different light, I see things from his perspective...still, I
wouldn’t have shagged around – I’d have talked and then left if it didn’t work
out – not done the dirty – but I guess everyone is different, that no-one’s
perfect!

“Debs, I'm confused...this happened a year ago, but you guys
are still together? I'm presuming you forgave him?”

“Not at first, in fact he moved out.”

“He did?” I squeak.

“Yes. I told him to go stay in a hotel, which he did; we
told Lily he had to go away for work. When he first told me, I thought about a
lot of things...and the last thing I wanted was for us to split, for Lily to
grow up without her Daddy there. I don't know about you Coral, but as a
teenager, I used to hate it when my friends used to talk about their Dad’s, I
didn’t have one, and I really felt like I missed out. Maybe that’s why I
married so young?” She muses, staring at the floor for a moment. “Anyway, he’s
at the hotel and I don't speak to him for a month. Then he calls me, says he’s
missing me and Lily. By then I’d calmed down enough to actually have a
conversation, so I met him at the hotel, we had a meal and we talked all night.
And I realised it felt like it did when we were dating, just fresh you know...”
Debs stares down at the floor for a second. “So he kind of moves back in, and
we start...well dating again. We took it in turns each week, booking a different
hotel for the Saturday night – you know Gina?”

I nod, her friend at work. “Well, she knew what was going on
and said she would have Lily stay over at hers, so that’s what we did. We
dated, stayed in hotels and well, got back to us being good again. I'm not
going to say the hurt is gone, and I'm still working on trusting him
again...but I don't want to lose him Coral, I love him.”

“I know,” I whisper. “You could have asked me to have Lily,”
I add, feeling sore that she didn’t.

“I didn’t want you or Mom finding out. I needed to do this
on my own, Gina understood, she’d been through the same thing with her
husband.” Debs tells me.

Ok, I actually feel sick now.
What if Tristan does that
to me? What if we get bored with one another?
My heart starts palpitating,
my breathing hitching up. I feel a panic attack coming on! I quickly get to my
feet and throw a fake smile at Debs.

“Loo break,” I offer and scuttle off to the downstairs
bathroom.
Ok, I am definitely freaking out here! –
What the hell am I
doing marrying a man I hardly know? What if Tristan has all these fantasies
going round in his head and he won't tell me, and the same thing happens to us,
some girl comes along and plays out those fantasies with him?
Oh god! Oh no!...
I
fall to the floor my bottom hitting the hard linoleum surface. I put my head in
my hands and start a mantra...
That won't happen to us....That won't happen
to us....That won't hap
– “Coral?” Debs calls outside the bathroom door,
interrupting me.

I lift my head and call out to her. “It’s open,” I tremble. She
pushes the door open and gasps when she sees me.

“Coral!” She breathes and sinks down next to me. “What’s
wrong?”

“I'm freaking out!” I choke. “That’s what’s wrong!”

She looks relieved. “Bloody hell Coral, I’d thought your
stitches had split.” She shakes her head, then asks, “what are you freaking out
about?”

“Tristan!” I squeak.

Debs smiles at me. “You have no worries there Coral, he
can't take his eyes off you.”

“And Scott couldn’t with you either, you two used to be so
lovey–dovey it was almost sickening! Why do you think I said no so many times
when you offered for me to stay over with you?”I blurt, then take a deep
breath.

“Oh!” Her cheeks flame. “Yeah, that can be uncomfortable,”
she adds.

“You don't say!” I retort dryly.

“Sorry, didn’t realise that’s why you kept saying no,” she
giggles.

“Debs, it doesn’t matter,” I say trying to calm my racing
heart. “Fuck!” I hiss and squeeze my eyes shut. “I can't lose him Debs, not
ever, not to anyone!”

“I know, but you’re really worrying me now, please calm down
little sis!” I open my eyes and stare back at her. Following several deep
breaths I start to feel a little better, but either way, it’s made me realise
Tristan and I need to lay everything out on the table, I need to know if I'm
not fulfilling him, giving him his kicks as Debs put it – I can't have the same
thing happen like it did with Justin!

“Feeling better?” Debs softly asks, reaching out and tucking
my hair behind my ear.

“Yeah...I think so,” I mumble. “My ass hurts, let’s get out
of here,” I add, Debs stands and helps me to my feet.

“I do mean it Coral. I don't think you need to worry about
Tristan at all, but I am surprised you’re marrying him,” she says as we head
back to the sofa.

“Why?” I say, frowning at her.

“Well, it’s just...it’s not like you’ve played the field,
seen all your options before making a choice’ – “Neither did you, you married
the first guy you met in college!” I retort.

“Oh I dated, I dated loads and Scott was one of them, but I
soon realised Scott was the one I had the most fun with, the one I missed, the
one, even though we weren’t dating, that was my best friend, he was always
there for me to talk to. I chose Scott over all the others, I didn’t know I was
going to marry him. I just realised I loved him and I wanted him in my life.”

“Well that’s how I feel about Tristan, I don't need or want
to play the field, I don't need to see what my other options are, I'm not
stupid Debs, I know I can pretty much chose any guy I want – and I choose
Tristan, end of story. Did you want another drink?” I ask, trying to get off
the subject.

“I’ll get it!” Debs smiles wryly at me then heads off to the
kitchen. I think about what Debs has told me, and I can't help wondering why
she’s upset
now
? Especially as this happened a year ago?

Debs returns and sits next to me. I turn and frown at her. “Debs,
if this all happened a year ago, then why are you upset now? I don't get it?”

“Yeah...kind of didn’t explain myself very well there did
I?” she laughs.

“You’re laughing?” I choke glugging the rest of my orange
juice back.

Debs frowns then takes a sip of her drink. “When Scott told
me, I asked him to quit the company. There was no way I could even begin to try
and see clearly if he was seeing her every day, and give him his dues, he
walked into work and quit the very next day. But they told him he couldn’t
leave without giving his notice, so he had no choice but to come clean to his
boss – who’s a woman!” Debs giggles. “Anyway, she told him to work from the
hotel until he’d worked his notice, then he went and worked for Malcolm on the
building sites and he loved it, I mean really loved it. So to cut a long story
short we were moving to Spain because Scott got offered a job over there, still
building work, but shorter hours, more time for us. It’s so cheap living in
Spain, that I could go part-time too; which means we’d have loads of time for
each other, and for Lily.” Debs sighs heavily.

“So what’s the problem?” I say, still not understanding.

“Lily doesn’t want to go, remember?” She whispers.

“Oh!”
Shit!
My face falls. “Have I fucked it all up
for you Debs?” I whisper, feeling mortified.

“No Coral,” she says, grabbing my good hand. “I would never
have forgiven myself if we’d have dragged her away and she was just going along
with what we wanted.”

“So you talked to her?” I tentatively ask.

“Yes, yesterday. Scott and I sat her down and told her she
was in trouble if she didn’t tell us the truth about moving, and well, the
floodgates opened and she told us everything.”

“Everything?” I question.

Debs nods looking a little ghostly. “She’d been talking to
her friend at school, who told her that mommy’s and daddies pretend that
everything’s ok, then they divorce and go and live somewhere else, and that’s
what Lily thought was going to happen.”

“You’re kidding?” I choke.
Poor Lily!

“Nope, I had very strong words with his mother last night.
Anyway, Scott and I talked and talked about what to do, then argued and argued
some more...he wants to go, said it would be good for us, for Lily, but I said
it was wrong, that if she doesn’t want to go we shouldn’t drag her away...”
Debs shakes her head at me. “And well...he left last night...and he’s gone to
her,
I know he has!” She adds, wailing loudly into her hands again.

I frown down at her. That doesn’t make any sense – at all?

“Er...Debs, did he say that was where he was going?” I
calmly ask.

“No, but I know he has!” She bawls, throwing her body onto
the sofa and curling up into a ball – She is now crying hysterically!

“How can you
know
without really knowing?” I ask.
This
is bizarre!

“I just do,” she says, her bottom lip wobbling as she stares
up at me.
No you don't!

“Give me a sec,” I say, patting her hip. I think I know a
way to sort this. I get to my feet and head over to my handbag on the kitchen
table. Taking my mobile out without Debs seeing, I step out onto the patio and
call Scott’s number.

He quickly answers. “Hello?”
Ooh, he sounds glum!

“Scott,” I whisper. “It’s Coral.”

“Oh...H-hi?” He says sounding surprised.

“Scott, I'm going to ask you a question.” I tell him firmly.

“Ok,” he answers hesitantly.

“Are you with the woman you had an affair with?” The line is
silent for a long time. “Well, are you?” I snap.

“You...you know about that?” He whispers.

“Er...yeah, kind of by accident. I called Debs today to see
if she wanted to meet up, she sounded upset and well she told what happened...point
is, she’s here with me at Trist – our place, crying her heart out because she
thinks you’ve ran into that woman’s arms’ – “I haven’t!” he interrupts. He
certainly sounds genuine.

“I didn’t think you had,” I say. “So, can you do me a favour
and tell her that?”

“I'm in Brighton Coral, at the Metropole. I’ll come straight
over’ – “No, please, talk to her first, I...well I wanted to spend some time
with Debs tonight.”

Scott laughs. “Ok, let me speak to her, I can always come
and pick her up in a while. Oh and Coral, I really am sorry, for hurting her,
please don't be mad at me.”

“Well half an hour ago, I’d have strung you up by your balls,
but I guess you can say I’ve calmed down now!” I bark.

“Oh...er...thanks, I guess,” Scott says.

“Hmm. Hold on a sec and I’ll pass you over.” I walk back
into the house, go straight over to Debs and tap her on the hip, she stops her
wailing and looks up at me. “I have Scott for you,” I say shoving my mobile in
her hand and walking back outside to give them some privacy, but I can still
hear.

“Hello?” Debs trembles, she listens for a while then bursts
into fresh tears.
Jeez Scott, cheer her up, don't make her cry!
“Oh
Scott,” she blubbers. “I love you to, I miss you baby...yes...more than you...”
Debs is doing a giggle-sob. I guess that’s good?. “No you don't...really? Ok sweet-cheeks....later,”
she whispers.
Sweet-cheeks?

Five seconds later she’s tapping me on the shoulder, making
me jump a mile. “Jesus!” I hiss. “Don't do that Debs!”

“Oh sorry,” she says wrapping her arms around me. “Thank
you,” she adds, crushing me again.

“Can't...breathe!” I choke.

Debs instantly releases me. “Oh Coral, he’s at the Metropole,
he’s not with her!” She says, her whole face radiating joy.

“I know,” I say, smiling along with her. “But what are you
guys going to do? Stay or go to Spain?”

Debs shrugs. “Not sure, I guess we’ll figure it out.”

“So you might not leave?” I beam.

“You don't want us to?” she says frowning at me.

“No, I don't.”
There I said it!

“But...we’ve haven’t hung out in ages?” she says.

“I know,” I whisper. “I...I find it hard to...” I stop
shaking my head. “Look, I'm sorry Debs, I know I haven’t been that great these
past few years, and I guess what I'm trying to say is things are different now.
I feel...stable, secure, and it would make me so happy if you guys stayed, and
if you do, I promise you we’ll spend more time together like we used to. And
I’d love to have Lily stay over, which would give you and Scott more time
together.” I stop talking because Debs is crying silent tears. “Debs, stop
crying!” I scold.