Unforgettable Embrace (32 page)

Rachel felt stricken as she let herself into her house. She couldn't believe she'd had a major fight with Batt the night before she was leaving for a few days. She hoped it was just a bad fight and that it wasn't completely over between them. How could such a lovely evening have ended so badly? she asked herself. Why did I say when I meet the right person I might consider getting married? What is wrong with me?

Batt's the best boyfriend any woman could ever even dream of, and I'm so lucky to have found him, she thought mournfully. She remembered the hurt in his eyes as he listened to her ramblings. She felt absolutely gutted that she had upset him so badly. She cringed when she recalled what she had said to him. She desperately wanted to call Liz or Jen and tell them what had just happened, but she didn't want to steal Jen's limelight so thought it best to keep the fight to herself and hope it would all just blow over.

She finished packing for her trip. She had an early start the next morning to drive to Cork, so she decided to go to bed, even though it was only just after ten. She sent Batt a text apologising again. Then she switched off her mobile and crawled under the duvet.

Chapter 44

Rachel anxiously switched on her mobile phone as soon as the alarm went off at six o' clock. She'd tossed and turned most of the night, replaying their conversation in the restaurant over and over again in her mind. She couldn't get Batt's crushed look out of her head. The few minutes that it took her mobile to switch itself on and load her messages seemed like an eternity. She said a silent prayer that he had responded to her text, hoping he would reassure her that it had all been a misunderstanding and that everything would be fine between them.

Her phone beeped twice as two texts arrived. She opened them expectantly; one from Liz and another from Jen, telling her they couldn't wait for the weekend. There was nothing from Batt. She had a terrifying sinking feeling in her stomach. She decided to call him, wanting to hear his voice, but he didn't answer. She wanted to crawl back under the duvet and cry her eyes out, but she knew that wasn't an option, not today. She had to pull herself together for her friends' sake.

Rachel went through the motions of showering and getting dressed. It was difficult to force herself to make an effort with her appearance as she knew the girls would be all dressed up and she didn't want to let them down. She looked longingly at her velour tracksuit and Uggs but instead made herself wear her long jumper dress over skinny jeans which she tucked into high-heeled brown leather boots.

It was agony to blow dry and straighten her hair, when all she wanted to do was scrape it back into a ponytail. She looked at her ashen face in the mirror. She had dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. I look like death warmed up, she thought as she piled on her foundation and bronzer, and brushed her pinkest blusher into her cheeks in an effort to paint on a happy face. I hope I haven't ruined everything with Batt, she sighed, as she loaded her luggage into the car and sped off down the road.

It was a seven hour drive to Cork. She was going to meet the girls at the check-in desk at the airport as their flight was due to depart at four o' clock. She parked her car and caught the shuttle bus to the airport entrance. Batt still hadn't responded to her text message from the night before. She must have checked her phone a million times on the drive to Cork, but there wasn't a word from him. She regretted her hasty words from the night before more and more.

The girls greeted her with hugs and kisses as she made her way towards them. She smiled and laughed along with them, hoping her worry wasn't showing on her face. Their excitement was contagious and she started to feel a little better as the plane took off and they were heading towards New Quay. Jen insisted that they get stuck into some champagne on the flight. She was already in party mode. Rachel finished her first glass in a few gulps, hoping the bubbles would help to take the edge off.

Holly was drunk after her second glass of champagne. “I'm not used to dri
nking,” she tried to explain,. “Hangovers and small, screaming children don't mix well.”

“
Have an
other glass, girl,” Liz said. “You deserve to let your hair down.”

“
I don't mind if I do,” Holly laughed, downing her third glass even quicker than the first two. “Ok, Holly, you have to pace yourself,” Rachel said, going into sisterly mode, “have some water. We don't want you comatose before the party begins properly, now do we?”

“
Just one more glass,” Holly insisted, “then I'll take it easy. This champagne is divine, and it's making me all lovely and floaty.”

Holly had to be helped into the car by Rachel and Jen at New Quay airport. The champagne and altitude had completely gone to her head, and she was almost legless by the time they landed. Liz was the designated driver and she'd chosen a sporty number to transport them in style from the airport to their guest house. She turned the top down on the Tigra as they sped along the motorway with the stereo blasting.

Jen was sitting in the front singing along loudly to the songs with Liz. Rachel was sitting in the back with Holly's head on her lap. Holly had passed out as soon as she'd hit the back seat. Rachel was glad to be sitting in the back, where she wouldn't have to put on a happy face for the others. She wanted to cry her eyes out and had to bite hard on her lip to stop it quivering. Batt had texted her asking her if she'd landed ok, but he hadn't signed off with his usual “love u” and three kisses. She was more upset by getting his cold text than by not getting anything at all.

They arrived in Padstow just after seven o' clock. The guest-house owners were very warm and welcoming. They showed them their private cottage and told them breakfast was served between nine and eleven in the morning. The cottage was lovely and cosy. There was a large queen size bed and a pull out double bed in the living room area. They also had quite a large bathroom. Holly and Rachel would sleep on the sofa bed and Liz and Jen in the queen. Holly had managed to compose herself by the time they arrived in Padstow. The nap in the car had done her some good, allowing her to sleep off most of the effects of the champagne. The girls ordered pizza and spent the rest of the evening chatting and watching television and talking about all the exciting activities they had planned for the weekend.

Chapter 45

“
Ok, Rachel, please put us all out of our misery and tell us what is wrong with you,” Holly demanded, “you've been in a major grump ever since you met us at the airport and you must have checked your mobile phone a million times since yesterday.”

“
It's nothing, honestly,” Rachel replied, “Batt and I just had a disagreement, that's all.”

“
I think you should tell us about it,” Liz said, “it'll do you good to get it off your chest, cos it really seems to be bothering you.”

So Rachel told them the whole story of their conversation at the restaurant and Batt's talk of marriage and her telling him to slow down.

“
Oh, Rach, he's
such a lovely guy,” Jen said. “Why wouldn't you want to marry him?”

“
I know,” Rachel said, “I just got nervous when he started talking about weddings. I love him so much, and yes, I do want to marry him one day, just not right now. I tried to explain it to him but the words came out all wrong. I think I hurt his feelings quite badly. You should have seen his face.”

“
I'm sure it will all be fine,” Holly said, “he probably just needs some time to calm down and everything will be good again when you come back from our party weekend.”

“
Do you really think so?” Rachel asked, looking doubtful, “he hasn't been responding to my texts or calling me.”

“
I think you should give him some space for a few days and when you return to Mayo explain exactly what you meant, and I'm sure he'll forgive you. He thinks the world of you,” Jen said. “Now, I think you should switch off your mobile phone, and stop tormenting yourself and throw yourself into the party,” Holly said.

“
You deserve to relax and enjoy yourself for a few days, you've had a lot going on lately, so let's all forget about men and enjoy our girl time,” Jen said.

“
Ok, deal,” Rachel said, feeling better already. She checked her phone one last time, switched it off and flung it into her suitcase.

“
I don't know about you girls, but I'm absolutely starving,” Holly said, jumping to her feet. “Yeah, me too,” Jen agreed, “let's get some breakfast and head into Padstow.” Half an hour later and the girls were tucking into a very tasty full English breakfast.

“
Thank goodness for coffee,” Holly sighed, helping herself to her third cup, “it's starting to lift my hangover fog. I can't believe I got so drunk so quickly yesterday. I hardly had any champagne at all.”

“
I think the excitement and the altitude combined with the alcohol just went straight to your head,” Jen laughed.

“
I'll be the designated driver for today,” Holly volunteered, “I really don't want to get drunk again this soon.”

“
Let's get the party started,” Liz said, “I'm having the first shower,” and with that she bolted out the door and back to their cottage.

Two hours later and the girls were finally ready and pulling out the drive of the guest-house. They made their way slowly into Padstow village, as they weren't familiar with the windy road. The locals sped by them at breakneck speed, causing Holly to swerve violently, at times, almost landing them into the ditch. Thankfully, the village was only a few kilometres from their guest-house so the journey was over almost as soon as it had begun. “Wow, it's so pretty here,” Liz said, looking around at the old-fashioned shops and the colourful sailing boats and yachts that were moored in the harbour. The girls spent a happy morning shopping and walking around the village. Holly bought some sticky Cornish toffee for Simon and Will and a giant lollipop for little Mia, who apparently was addicted to all lollipops at the moment.

Liz treated herself to a big box of handmade chocolates, saying that if she didn't treat herself then nobody else would. Jen bought Vic a pen knife, as he collected them and liked to have a pen knife from as many places as possible. Rachel considered getting Batt some toffee as he had a very sweet tooth, and hoped he would accept it when she offered it to him. They all bought postcards for their family and friends and spent a pleasant while writing them and sipping coffee in a cosy café which overlooked the harbour. They decided to save having scones with clotted Cornish cream until after their lunch at Rick Stein's gourmet restaurant.

At one o' clock sharp the girls made their way to the restaurant. It looked very modern and the staff all looked like models. A very handsome young man showed them to their table and took their drink orders. Holly ordered a mineral water and Rachel had the same, in solidarity with her sister. Liz and Jen ordered a bottle of white wine to share. The décor was black and white and the clientèle looked very sophisticated. The girls were glad they'd made an effort to dress up.

“
You'd think it was dinner time not lunch the way these people are so glamorously dressed,” Liz whispered.

“
Rick Stein's restaurants are very exclusive,” Jen said, “thanks girls so much for treating me. This is definitely my sort of place.”

“
That's why we booked it,” Rachel smiled across the table at her friend, “ we all know how much you love a bit of glamour.”

“
Well, I hope their food is as good as their decorating,” Holly said.

“
More wine, ladies?” their handsome waiter asked, smiling pleasantly around their table.

“
Yes, please,” Liz held out her glass.

“
What about you, madam?” he asked, looking at Rachel, “why aren't you indulging yourself this afternoon?” He smiled at her, his brown eyes twinkling.

“
I'm fine,” Rachel replied a little shortly, taking a quick sip of her mineral water.

“
Your food will be with you momentarily,” he said, “in the meanwhile, please enjoy these olives, compliments of the house.” He smiled at Rachel again, and walked away.

“
I think you have a fan there, Rach,” Holly teased.

“
What are you on about?” Rachel said somewhat testily, “he's only about twenty years old.” “Did you see the way he was smiling at you?” Jen said.

“
Ah, don't be daft,” Rachel said, “these olives are tasty.” She quickly changed the subject.

“
Oh my goodness, this food is to die for,” Jen exhaled, surveying the feast before her.

“
It smells and looks so good,” Liz agreed.

There was a medley of food in front of the girls. They hadn't known quite what to choose as everything on the menu had looked so delicious, so they'd chosen a little bit of everything. Rachel had chosen “Oysters Charentaise” as her first course, which consisted of freshly opened oysters with hot spicy sausage. Their helpful waiter had advised them that the way to eat the course was to first eat an oyster, take a bite of the sausage and a good gulp of cold white wine. He recommended a bottle of the Muscadet white wine, which of course the girls couldn't resist.

Liz ordered a small “Fruits de Mer”, which wasn't actually very small at all. The dish comprised hot shellfish with parsley, chilli, olive oil and garlic and lemon juice. Jen requested sashimi as she adored Japanese food. Her sashimi was made up of hand-dived salmon, scallop, sea bass and mackerel with wasabi, which is made of Japanese horseradish, pickled ginger and soy dipping sauce.