The Chateau. Karen Aldous

yourself.

      ‘Interesting,’ she said aloud.

      ‘What’s that?’ Rebecca asked.

      ‘Oh, just someone I met at the weekend. Might be some new business,’ Gina said, dragging her fingers through her hair and then resting her chin in her palm. How he got the name of her business she didn’t know. She could only guess he’d asked one of her family. Well, she would have a think before she replied. She had met people before who were full of promises and she really didn’t have time right now to begin speculating on what could be years off, even if he was deadly attractive.

      ‘Coffee. Do you want one?’ Rebecca boomed, waking Gina from her trance. ‘And, cakes, of course.’

      ‘Mmm, yes please, before these phones start. What have you baked this time?’

      ‘Just some lemon cupcakes. Mum was cleaning out cupboards last night so I kept them simple.’

      ‘Ha! Lovely, do you think she’ll come and clean mine?’

      Rebecca marched out to the kitchen with a snigger. ‘She probably would.’

      The two of them managed to catch up on work and gossip while drinking coffee, Gina not giving too much away about Max and their recent drama. He often popped in and although she trusted Rebecca totally, she didn’t like airing her dirty laundry in the office. She did wonder though how long Max would be in the United Emirates for. She hadn’t thought to ask him. She didn’t really want to give him the impression she cared. But, of course, she did. She knew he wasn’t one to sit still, accepted that he’d be off to Manchester, Berlin or Milan at a moment’s notice, but United Arab Emirates was different. She presumed he’d organised his ex-wife to keep his daughters Daisy and Gracie, which was a shame, she had missed them this weekend.

      A week later, Max texted Gina at five to say he’d arrived back the previous evening and would meet her at eight at the White Horse in Parson’s Green. Gina was quite pleased with this arrangement because it meant they were unlikely to argue in public. After another busy week she was tired but she’d felt rather lonely and looked forward to seeing him. She wished she could have at least arranged to see his daughters; they would have kept her mind off the nagging echoes of those nightmares too.

      ‘Well, what did you achieve in the United Emirates?’ she asked kissing him swiftly on the lips. He wore a self-satisfied smirk. It was evident he’d done well.

      ‘There is so much money out there, Gina. I’ve secured some nice large donations and after a talk I did the audience was so excited that I’m now putting a project together so that individuals or groups can get involved directly with business start-ups and mentoring in poorer parts of the world.’

      ‘Brilliant. That’s going to take quite some organisation. Does that mean you’ll be travelling more?’

      ‘I certainly will, but you can come with me.’ Max squeezed her hand then pumped his palms with energy and enthusiasm. He could hardly stand still. He ordered drinks and Gina felt her own plans drifting further down his list.

      ‘My business is here and needs me,’ she said.

      ‘How has that been going?’

      ‘Yes, good. We’ve had an amazing few weeks, a sign, I hope, of more to come. I need more hands on deck though, I can’t just up and leave.’

      ‘So there’s no way you could start a family yet then?’ he remarked sipping his beer and leaning against the bar.

      Gina scowled into his grey eyes, the eyes that had once fired in to her and melted her.

      ‘Do you have to start? You’ve just got back. Anyway, it’s much better than I could have expected eighteen months ago when I set up. Luckily the market has turned. I’d certainly prepare myself and be organised with help in the office and childcare. At least I’d have time to get everything in place.’ Gina picked up her drink from the bar. Despite running a business Gina knew she’d always put a child first. But Max didn’t. He had two children but they didn’t feature at the top of his list any more than she did. It was so unfair. ‘Anyway, let’s stop there, we’re just going around in circles again,’ she said feeling defeated once again. ‘Oh, but, why don’t you organise for me to have the girls while you’re away. Especially if you’re going to be way a week at a time. I’ve missed them.’

      Max shrugged. ‘I can speak to Mel and see what she says.’

      After dinner, and listening to Max rant with fervour about his feats abroad, she refused to go back with him to his apartment instead agreeing to see him the following night. Yes, she wanted to feel his arms around her but how could she keep living this lie? They were so obviously in different worlds right now. She would have to do something. End it and move on.

      With her decision made she arrived at his flat the following evening but she wasn’t prepared for what was waiting for her. He had a romantic table set with candles and bottles of wine, brand new red wine goblets and the aroma of a sumptuous dinner hung heavy in the air. She slipped off her jacket and kissed him lightly.

      ‘Well, this is a surprise. What’s all this about?’ she said hanging her jacket on a hook in the hall.

      ‘I just want to shower my beautiful girlfriend with love and attention. Show her how much she still means to me.’ He sidled up to her and took her in his arms.

      She burrowed her eyes into his and stroked slightly greying temples awash with sun-streaked hair. He wore a healthy glow still from his time abroad. He pulled her closer.

      ‘I sensed yesterday you are unhappy, disappointed. I do know what it is you want and all I’m asking is another twelve months. I just want to get this baby up and running first,’ he told her now, brushing her face with his thumb while cupping her chin. He was just drawing his lips close when her phone rang. She was tempted to ignore it but she just needed to check who was calling.

      Grabbing her phone from her bag, she saw her mother’s avatar.

      ‘Hi Mum, how are you?’

      ‘Oh Gina, I don’t…’

      ‘Mum. What’s wrong? Are you OK? Is Dad OK? What is it?’ she shrieked down the phone.

       Chapter 5

      ‘Your dad.’ She began sobbing. ‘He’s gone Gina. He’s left me.’

      Gina’s heart skipped. ‘What do you mean, what, just walked out?’ she enquired desperate for clues. She paced the room as Max looked at her wide-eyed and helpless. Listening intently and nervously tapping her leg while her mother collected herself she asked, ‘Are you OK, Mum?’

      ‘Yes,’ she sniffed. ‘He…he said he has fallen in love with someone else and that…’ she cried again, ‘he’s going to move in with her. Oh, Gina, I’m sitting here numb from shock. I don’t know what to do. I tried to speak to him but he said there’s no point, he’d made his mind up. He walked out with a bag five minutes ago.’

      ‘Whoa.’ She caught her breath. ‘Yes, it is a shock,’ Gina said biting her lip. She sat down for a few moments then jumped from the sofa. This was so surreal. ‘Look, Mum, is there anyone you can call to be with you until I can get there? I won’t get a flight until the morning.’ She felt herself trembling.

      ‘No. I don’t want anyone.’ Adrienne’s voice was curt.

      ‘I can drive. If I can get a crossing…’

      ‘No Gina, it’s too late to be driving,’ Adrienne told her.

      ‘What about Aunt Bernie or Suzanne?’

      ‘I’ll be fine. I want to be on my own, at least until you get here,’ Adrienne insisted.

      ‘Oh, Mum. I really don’t know what to say.’ She pinched her lips wondering what she should do or what she could say. Her mother was sniffing at