The Holiday Escape, page 17
I quickly looked around, hoping no one I knew was in earshot.
‘Yes, well,’ I said quietly, ‘we’re not supposed to be talking about that, are we?’
‘Sorry,’ she whispered, tapping the side of her pretty nose. ‘Inner circle only. Now come on, I’ll get these.’
As usual, it took Tara no time to get served, but given the time we’d taken to chat, I’d been gone a while before we returned to the snug. I walked in ahead of Tara, who was carrying the tray of glasses, and with a smile plastered across my face.
‘I was just about to send out a search party,’ tutted Flora. ‘You’ve been gone forever.’
‘My fault I’m afraid,’ said Tara, stepping out from behind me.
‘Most things are,’ Flora sighed, narrowing her eyes.
‘Hello, Flora.’ Tara smiled, ignoring the barbed comment. ‘Long time, no see.’
Flora nodded but didn’t return the greeting.
‘I’m afraid I waylaid Ally, just as she was about to get served,’ Tara carried on.
‘It’s packed out there now,’ I joined in, wondering where Logan had disappeared to.
‘And I’m really sorry I’m so late,’ Tara apologised as she set down the tray. ‘I got held up at work and then I couldn’t get hold of a colleague I needed to talk to. Flora, I know that spending time with me is the last thing you want to do, but I’m so pleased you’re here.’
Flora still didn’t say anything, so I moved towards the table and gave her a look.
‘Well,’ she finally said, standing up, ‘you only just caught me. I was about to head home.’
‘You’ll stay a bit longer now though, won’t you?’ I said and she shrugged.
‘Look, I know you have no reason to believe me, Flora,’ Tara said, rushing straight to the heart of the matter. ‘But I honestly had no idea that you were still living with this hatred of me. And worse than that, that you still weren’t talking to Joe.’
Flora’s eyes flicked to me.
‘And I had a go at Ally about that,’ Tara added, dragging me into it. ‘Because she never mentioned it. I found out from someone else and I was so upset—’
‘You were upset…’ Flora echoed.
‘Yes.’ Tara nodded, ignoring the even more sarcastic tone. ‘I was. I know I was a total bitch in school, but when my parents and I left Shellcombe in a rush that summer, I had so much more on my mind than thinking about the stupid prank I’d pulled on you at prom.’
‘Well, it’s nice to know it meant so much to you.’ Flora scowled.
I resisted the urge to ask why they had left in such a rush.
‘Fuck,’ said Tara, dropping into a chair. ‘Why am I making such a mess of this when I’ve been rehearsing what I’m going to say for days?’
‘No idea,’ said Flora, folding her arms.
Tara gulped down half of her wine and I picked my glass up.
‘I thought you were on pints.’ Flora frowned at me.
‘I was earlier,’ I said.
‘Oh shit,’ said Tara, looking at the empty glasses. ‘Were you? Sorry. I ordered this and as Ally and I had enjoyed the wine the other week, I just got the same again.’
Tara was digging herself into the deepest hole and Flora looked ready to fill it right back over the top of her.
‘Come on,’ I said, pulling Flora’s sleeve. ‘Let’s sit down.’
‘Okay,’ Tara bracingly said, once we were settled. ‘I’m going to start again and this time, stick to what I’ve been planning to say.’
‘Where’s Logan?’ I asked, when she didn’t then say anything.
‘He had to make a call,’ Flora told me. ‘He’s been gone ages. Go on then,’ she nodded at Tara. ‘Let’s hear it.’
‘Okay,’ Tara said, taking a deep breath and fiddling with the stem of her glass. ‘Okay,’ she repeated as she pushed her wine away. ‘Firstly, the situation with Joe at prom, Flora, that was all me. I could see he’d had more than plenty to drink that night. You know his mates had smuggled in bottles of spirits?’
‘I remember that.’ I nodded.
Freddie had had a mammoth hangover which bore that part of her story out.
‘I took Joe up to your room on the promise that you were already waiting for him,’ Tara continued, sounding mortified. ‘He said he was feeling tired and sat down and I jumped on his lap when I heard you in the corridor. He was pretty gone by that point and had no idea what was happening until you burst in and started shouting at him. And me, obviously.’
Flora didn’t say anything.
‘That is what Joe has always said,’ I pointed out.
‘I know that,’ Flora snapped, then turned on Tara. ‘So, why did you do it?’
Tara looked sorrier than I’d ever seen anyone look.
‘Because I was a bitch,’ she said. ‘And I was so jealous of what you and Joe had going on, I decided to ruin it. And as I’m truth-telling, I should tell you I never had any intention of wearing the dress we’d picked out together or walking to prom. Dad did get me the gown and ride, but only because I’d asked him to.’
‘We’d already guessed that,’ I told her. ‘We might have been gullible, but we weren’t completely stupid.’
Hearing her clarify what she’d done made some of her polish and shine dim in my eyes, but at least Flora had heard the truth from the horse’s mouth. I just hoped she believed it.
‘Of course, you weren’t stupid,’ she sighed. ‘But I was selfish and spiteful, though I’m not anymore. Had I known the repercussions of that night were still echoing around the cove, I would have come back years ago. I can’t believe you and Joe still aren’t talking, Flora.’
‘Yeah, well.’ Flora shrugged, sounding less pissed off than I had expected her to.
‘I really am so sorry,’ Tara sniffed, her eyes filling with tears. ‘You could have been married with half a dozen kids by now.’
‘I don’t think so,’ Flora gasped, looking horrified. ‘I’m not my mother.’
‘But you know what I mean,’ said Tara, dabbing her eyes with a serviette. ‘Your life could have been completely different if it hadn’t been for my stupidity.’
‘My life’s pretty great, in spite of your meddling,’ Flora said forthrightly. ‘And your life turns out how it’s supposed to, you know. There’s only so much you have a hand in.’
That was as close to an acceptance of what she had said as Tara was likely to get. I could see that Flora believed her version of events and hoped she would be able to find it in her heart to tell Joe that.
‘Sorry,’ Tara tutted as her phone sprang to life, filling the snug with a catchy dance classic. ‘I’ll put it on silent,’ she added, quickly.
‘What if it’s the person you were trying to get hold of earlier?’ I reminded her.
‘They can wait,’ she smiled. ‘No more work for me until Monday now.’
‘You still haven’t told me what your work is,’ I said.
‘No work chat tonight either,’ she responded, raising her glass. ‘Tonight, I just want to hang out with friends. Can we be friends again now I’ve cleared the air, Flora?’
‘You know as well as I do, that we’ve never been friends,’ Flora bluntly said. ‘Not real ones. However,’ she relented, ‘you do seem to be a better version of yourself these days, so maybe we can move on.’
I could hardly believe my ears. I had expected her to put up more resistance than that.
‘I am,’ Tara vehemently said, as she shrugged off her Joseph jacket. ‘So much better. Good things only is my mantra and I’ve done a good thing tonight, haven’t I?’
Flora looked at me and I smiled.
‘I suppose you have,’ she said. ‘And you can do another good thing now by getting more drinks in.’
Tara grabbed her bag and jumped up.
‘Come with me then,’ she said to Flora. ‘Beer or wine for you, Ally?’
‘Um,’ I dithered, feeling like I was picking more than a drink. ‘You know what, with it being a work day tomorrow, I think I’ll have a Coke.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Tara said, patting me on the shoulder, ‘the end is in sight.’
‘The end of what?’ Flora frowned.
‘Ally having to spend her time keeping other people happy, of course,’ Tara declared as my face flushed red. ‘When she leaves Kittiwake Cove, she’ll be able to do what she likes at the weekend, won’t she?’
Flora’s eyes bored into mine.
‘Shit,’ said Tara, looking between us, ‘please tell me you knew, Flora.’
‘Of course, I knew,’ she tightly responded. ‘I just didn’t realise the rest of the world did. Wasn’t this supposed to be a secret?’ she demanded of me.
‘I shouldn’t have said anything,’ said Tara, sounding tearful again.
‘Oh, don’t worry,’ said Flora. ‘It’s not your fault, Tara. Ally’s the one who can’t seem to keep her stories straight these days.’
The pair went off and I found myself wondering if I was going to be shoved out of our newly formed fragile friendship.
‘All right?’ asked Logan, appearing as if by magic and slipping into the seat next to mine.
‘You’ve been gone ages,’ I said accusingly.
‘Sorry,’ he apologised. ‘Has your other friend turned up yet?’
‘Yes,’ I said, ‘and everything seems okay, but time will tell. She’s just gone with Flora to get another round in.’
‘Are you really all right?’ Logan frowned. ‘You don’t sound it.’
‘I’m okay,’ I said, suddenly feeling the full weight of the last few days land squarely on my shoulders. ‘Just tired, you know.’
‘The trip to Max Gate was a lot, wasn’t it?’ Logan said sympathetically.
‘It really was,’ I agreed. ‘But I loved going back.’
‘And saying goodbye,’ he said wistfully. ‘I suppose, this is just the start of it all for you, isn’t it?’
‘All off what?’
‘The influx of emotions you’re going to experience as you get ready to leave the cottage and the cove. And your dad.’
‘I daresay you’re right,’ I said, ‘but I’ll get through it.’
I was about to tell him that seeing more of Tara would help because she was the epitome of the woman I wanted to be, but she and Flora walked in right at that moment.
Given that Logan then couldn’t take his eyes off Tara, I concluded that she was the sort of woman he liked the look of, too. He might have seemed happy enough with the Ally he’d found in Kittiwake Cove, but if the way he stared at Tara was anything to go by, I think he might really have preferred the sleek Spanish version called Flora.
‘And who are you?’ Tara practically purred when she spotted him. ‘Another new local?’
Flora looked at me and raised her eyebrows but I pretended I hadn’t seen.
‘He is for the next couple of months,’ Flora said, nudging Logan along the seat so she could sit next to him. ‘Budge up.’
‘I’m Logan,’ he said to Tara, as he moved closer to where she had sat down. ‘I’m staying at Hollyhock Cottage for the summer.’
‘Oh my.’ Tara smiled, first at Flora and then me, before looking back at Logan. ‘Kittiwake Cove just got interesting.’
‘His uncle has just died,’ I stupidly blurted out. ‘Sorry,’ I gasped, turning to Logan. ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’
‘I’m very sorry for your loss, Logan,’ Tara smoothly responded, before he could say anything. ‘I hope being in this beautiful part of the country proves to be a balm to your grief. Though perhaps you haven’t seen much of it yet?’
‘Him and Ally have been taking trips out,’ Flora revealed, even though that wasn’t entirely accurate. We’d only been out once so far. ‘So, he’s seen some of it.’
‘Is that right?’ Tara asked, her eyes widening. ‘That sounds… cosy.’
‘And my uncle lived in the north of the county,’ Logan added, ‘so I’m already familiar with certain parts of it.’
‘Accompanying Logan is giving me the opportunity to say goodbye to the area,’ I chimed in, for some reason feeling I had to explain why I was going out with him.
‘So, Logan knows you’re planning to leave the cove, too, does he?’ Tara frowned.
‘Oh, yes,’ I said. ‘He does.’
‘The list is growing by the day,’ Flora said and Tara nodded.
‘No, it isn’t,’ I shot back, feeling flustered. ‘It’s just us four and that’s how it’s going to stay.’
‘Are they always like this?’ Tara laughed; the question directed at Logan as she laid a proprietorial hand on his arm.
‘I honestly couldn’t say,’ he laughed, sounding nervous.
‘Well, I think it’s wonderful.’ Tara smiled at me. ‘How lovely to have the opportunity to say a fond farewell, in such wonderful company. It’s so much lovelier than going it alone and feeling more inclined to say, good riddance.’
Chapter 17
The walk back to the cottage from the pub was mostly silent. There were plenty of things I wanted to say and I daresay Flora had a whole lot she wanted to get off her chest too, but with Logan walking between us, it hardly felt like the moment.
Logan had been the perfect gent when we decided to leave The Ship, offering to see Tara home, but as she had her car, it wasn’t deemed necessary. The gentlemanly gesture did however give Flora the opportunity to throw me another of her best I told you so looks, implying the pair might be a match, which I determinedly pretended I hadn’t seen.
‘So,’ said Logan, when the silence started to stretch beyond the bounds of what was comfortable, ‘would you say tonight was a success? Are the three of you friends again now?’
Flora had mostly ignored me after I had snapped at her after her comment about how many people now knew I was planning to leave, but she had talked to Tara a bit, so I supposed that was a success, of sorts.
‘Given that stupid prom prank, we’ve already established that we never really were friends,’ Flora light-heartedly reminded him, ‘and thinking more about it, I wouldn’t say we’re going to be bosom buddies now, either. Ally and Tara might be, but not me. However, the evening did go some way to clearing up a few things.’
‘I don’t think we’ll get that close,’ I was quick to say, ‘but I’m pleased we now know for certain that it was Tara behind the whole set-up and that Joe played no part in it. Reciprocating or otherwise.’
‘The only thing he sounds guilty of is drinking too much and believing what Tara told him about you waiting for him in the room,’ Logan said reasonably. ‘Will you talk to him now, Flora?’
She let out a long breath.
‘Maybe.’ She shrugged. ‘I guess. Though he really should have known better than to drink so much on that of all nights. And I daresay, given her motives, Tara didn’t do anything to discourage him, so…’
‘Oh, Flora,’ I groaned.
‘What?’
‘Just let it go,’ I said, rounding on her. ‘Even your own brother thinks it’s time you moved on, so why don’t you? What Tara said tonight puts Joe completely in the clear as far as getting off with her is concerned, but you’re still looking for something to throw at him.’
Logan cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable to hear my harsh words.
‘We’re ten years away from it now,’ I continued. ‘It’s time to grow up and move on.’
Flora looked floored. Out of the two of us, she was the one who usually told it straight. Hating conflict, I had always had a tendency to skirt around things and soften the edges of whatever it was that I wanted to say, but I’d hit my limit.
‘Well,’ she said, swallowing hard, ‘that’s me told, isn’t it? Congratulations Ally, on finding your backbone at last.’
‘I thought you could do with a dose of your own medicine,’ I shot back.
‘So,’ she said, nudging Logan, ‘what did you think of Tara? Is she someone you could imagine being friends with?’
‘Yes,’ I said, ignoring the emphasis Flora put on the word and hating the fact that I desperately wanted to know. ‘As impartial observer, what did you make of her, Logan?’
He didn’t answer straightaway and I wondered if he felt like a condemned man. He was going to struggle to find an answer that would please both Flora and me, but then perhaps he didn’t think he had to and would say exactly what he felt.
‘It’s not really my place to comment, is it?’ he said evasively, ‘and I don’t know about me being friends with her, but I’m surprised that you two to are. Were. Whatever.’
‘Weren’t,’ Flora corrected. ‘But why do you say that?’
‘Well,’ he said, ‘guessing what she was like at school—’
‘Mouthy, trouble, annoyingly cool and a huge fan of labels,’ Flora succinctly described. ‘Much the same as she is now, based on what I’ve seen tonight.’
Everything Tara wore was a designer brand and I hadn’t been able to stop staring at the bag I knew was a Birkin. However, I didn’t think she had been mouthy. Or not intentionally gobby, anyway.
‘Exactly,’ said Logan. ‘Nothing like either of you.’
‘Er,’ Flora loudly said. ‘I think I’m pretty cool.’
‘And I don’t mind labels,’ I shrugged, though I was surprised to realise that I wasn’t feeling quite as determined to own as many of them now as I previously had been.
I knew I wouldn’t feel comfortable spending tens of thousands of pounds on something to carry my phone in, like Tara obviously had. Especially my phone, which was now so ancient it had an imprint of the keyboard burnt into its screen.
‘You know what I mean,’ laughed Logan. ‘I don’t have either of you pinned as mouthy or trouble. Well, maybe you a little bit, Flora.’
‘Hey!’ She yelped, giving him a shove.
‘You didn’t feel that way the day you spotted me on the beach,’ I reminded him.
‘That’s true,’ he agreed, ‘but as soon as you’d explained everything, I forgave you.’
‘But, had I not happened to be here,’ I pointed out, ‘you’d still be hating me.’
