A Curvy Christmas (2 page)

“Only because you want me to cook.”

“You read my mind.” He looked past Robin and his eyes lit up. “Here she is. Packed for a month?”

“Oh. Does it look as if I’ve over done it?”

“No. Not at all,” he said quickly. “It’s just a good job I’m travelling very light.”

“You have packed a suit?”

Robin couldn’t resist winding him up. “Yes, Dan. A tuxedo would be better, you are going to be dining with the country elite.”

“Robin,” Max warned.

“Sorry. Look,” she said, holding one of their hands in each of hers, “You two are the blazing light of love. Do not let that change, no matter what happens while you're away.”

“We won’t,” Max answered, leaning forward and kissing Dan on the cheek. Over his shoulder she saw the time. “Damn, we’re going to be late. Come on, Dan. Are your mom and dad already on the way?”

“Yes,” Dan lifted her suitcases, and the two of them were ushered out of the door by Robin. With last goodbyes, and hugs, they finally went off to their family Christmas.

Robin stood watching the two most important people in her life disappearing. Only now, with the empty apartment behind her, did she realise how lonely she was beginning to feel.

Shutting the door she went back in and drank the rest of her wine, feeling the warmth spread through her. Glancing down she saw the silver charm bracelet. With a bit of fiddling with the clasp, she managed to put it on. The small charms shone so brightly, and she went through them, looking at each in turn. A cupcake for her cooking, a crescent moon for her hippie stage, and the Buddha nestled amongst others, all part of the rich array of her past. And somewhere in there Greg was hidden, a mystery she couldn’t quite solve.

Standing here alone she decided that she really did need to solve this one mystery. It was the only way she could let him go and move on.

“I didn’t know you were coming this way?”

“Nor did I. But the the weather had turned and I decided it was time to fly back to England for Christmas. So here I am.”

“Are you looking for somewhere to stay?”

“Are you offering?”

Greg didn’t really want Carl to stay with him over Christmas, he wanted to wallow in his loneliness instead. But maybe it would do him good, he was becoming too used to his own company. Although it would mean he would have to go out and buy food for Christmas lunch, something he had put off. When you lived alone it was just as easy to put a pizza in the oven than make a traditional dinner. All those dishes to do after you had stuffed yourself silly.

Cooking reminded him of Robin. He’d acted like a child. But he was hurt that she didn’t even remember his face. Although it had been seven years ago, and he had changed beyond recognition ... but still.

He remembered her. Every curvy inch of her voluptuous body.

“So what are you up to these days, Carl?” Greg asked his old friend.

Carl sauntered around the gallery, looking at the paintings hung up ready for sale. “Nothing too strenuous. Following the sun mainly.”

“Some things never change.”

“I’m a free spirit, you know that. But I fancied coming home for Christmas. Something called me here,” he said mysteriously.

“Run out of money?” Greg joked.

“You know me so well, Greg.” He paused in front of one of the big paintings, looking at it for a while before adding, “I don’t know how you do it. Work, day after day.”

“It might surprise you, but that’s how the world works. Anyway, I’ve earned enough to indulge myself, so I bought this gallery.”

“I suppose it has a bit more soul than stock trading.”

“I’ve made a nice nest egg, and now I plan to widen my business assets.”

“And here is a tremendous asset walking through your door. I can see why you enjoy it here when there are women like this to meet.”

Greg looked up, his heart lifted, and then sank all in one beat. “Robin.”

Carl grinned, and turned to watch Robin walk in. Greg’s heart thumped so loudly he was sure everyone else in the gallery could hear it. He wanted to pull his tie to loosen it. But he didn’t. He kept his cool, a well rehearsed act around the woman he had lost his heart to seven years ago.

“Hello, Greg. I thought I’d pop by and say Merry Christmas. And see if you have anything I might be able to buy for my friend. She bought me this wonderful charm bracelet, and I’d like to get her something special.”

“This is for Max, the friend that’s getting married?”

“Yes. Yes, it is.” Why did she feel so pleased he had remembered a small detail from her life?

“Robin,” Carl sauntered over, all suntanned and blonde haired, so out of place in the grey winter light.

“Hi,” Robin said, accepting Carl’s offered hand, but taking no more notice of him than politeness dictated. When he loosed it, she turned back to Greg. “I have a tight budget ... not that I’m asking for any special favours or anything.”

“Robin,” Carl repeated, and Greg’s stomach lurched towards the floor.

“Yes. I think we’ve all established that is my name,” Robin replied, her usual acid tone never far from her lips when she was irritated.

“Wow. A blast from the past my little Christmas Robin.”

“Excuse me. I don’t think we’ve met.”

“Oh, we’ve met. I should be offended you don’t remember me. After all we did together.”

“Carl,” Greg said, his voice filled with warning.

Robin had gone pale, her eyes big. The penny was slowly dropping, and she looked at Greg, her mouth opening to speak, and then closing again. “Is this a joke?” she asked, finally finding her voice. The accusation went straight towards Greg.

“No. Carl here has dropped by for Christmas.”

“Completely unannounced. I’m sorry if I’ve intruded on you two love birds, but who would have thought you’d kept in touch. Greg never was your type before. But I guess we all change.”

“We’re not love birds,” Greg corrected.

“Oh, really. Well in that case, perhaps you and me could relive some old times.” Carl sidled around Robin, his face so close to hers. Greg wanted to tear him away, throw him out of the gallery, and out of his life. Damn him for turning up now. Any chance he had with Robin had gone, there was no way a woman like her would choose a safe secure life with him over the joys of Bohemia Carl could show her.

However, Robin did not look too please to see Carl, or was that wishful thinking?

“It’s good to see you again, Carl.” A sentiment not carried over in the tone of her voice.

Carl whistled. “Not as good as it is to see you. I am between women, and know exactly how the two of us could keep each other warm on these cold nights.” His hand slid around her waist, and then lower over her bottom.

Greg hated himself for never been able to speak to women so casually, and treat them so intimately. Carl always did get whatever he wanted with his smooth talk and boyish charm.

“If you want to keep that hand,” Robin hissed in a low voice that only the three of them could hear. “I suggest you take it off my ass.”

Carl froze, and then very slowly removed his hand, taking a step away from Robin. “Sorry,” he said, holding his hands up in surrender. “I never meant any offence.”

“None taken,” Robin said brushing it off, but to Greg she looked visibly disturbed.

“To apologise, why don’t the three of us go to dinner? What do you say Greg?”

Greg looked from Carl, to Robin. The answer was a resounding no. However, if he was ever going to get through to Robin, if they stood any chance of finding each other through the haze of the past, he had to spend time with her. And protect her from Carl. He couldn’t lose her to his friend again.

“Yes,” he said, wincing internally. “That’s a great idea. Don’t you think Robin?”

No. She didn’t think it was a good idea at all. Her past had suddenly come tumbling in on her, but being the person she was, there was no escaping this. She would hold her head up high and have dinner with them. And then walk out of their lives for ever.

Greg must have set this up. He had always hinted that they had known each other, but she could never put the pieces together. Until now. He came from a part of her life she had tried so hard to forget. Even now, looking at him standing here in the gallery she wouldn’t have been able to say for certain she had met him before. If it hadn't been for the corroborative evidence ... Carl.

Not that she had recognised him straight away either, even their names hadn’t jogged her memory if she was honest with herself. But little by little the memories were coming back, making it hard for her to breathe.

“I’m here for another hour,” Greg said, making her start.

“The two of us could always go on ahead, Greg can join us when he’s finished.”

She flashed a look of panic at Greg before she flattened her expression, but she knew he had seen it. Robin hated appearing weak, but she really didn’t want to be alone with Carl. What if he thought she was the same girl he had seduced all those years ago?

Greg came to her rescue. “We haven’t looked at paintings yet. Let’s go and see what I’ve got for you, Robin.” He held his arm out, guiding her to the back of the gallery.

“Surely that can wait. Let’s go and get hammered, celebrate meeting up like this,” Carl said pouting at not getting his own way.

“No. Really, this is important. It’s still a bit early for drinking, there’s plenty of time for that later,” Robin said firmly.

“And a lot more,” Carl said, winking at her knowingly.

Robin held her head high, ignoring him and followed Greg. With each step her desperation grew, she had felt so much attraction to Greg, and now this. Was this Greg’s way of telling her she was not the woman for him? That her distant past was a barrier to them ever being together.

Wait. She was being unreasonable. And hot-headed. There was no way Greg could have known she was coming here today, it had been a split second decision. She hadn’t seen him for weeks, their relationship had never developed.

In reality, Robin had implied her relationship with Greg had been more than it actually ever was. Stupidly she had exaggerated, perhaps because she was jealous of Max and Dan. Well, jealous might be too strong. Robin wanted the best for her friend, but seeing them so happy had left her feeling lonely for the first time in years.

She wanted to experience that kind of close relationship, but hadn’t managed to capture Greg’s attention. It hurt her that she hadn’t been able to get him to take her seriously. All those nights, agonising over why he wasn’t attracted to her, now she knew.

“What did you have in mind?” Greg asked, his voice that of a dispassionate professional.

“I don’t really know.”

“Shall we start with budget.”

“Minuscule.” She looked at him, and all the years dropped away, he was a skinny guy on the beach, trying to stop his friend from drinking himself into oblivion. “Look, Greg. I can’t afford anything you’ve got, so I won’t waste your time. Maybe it would be best if I leave.”

“Why did you come here today, Robin?” he asked softly.

“To see you,” she said honestly. “I couldn’t work out why you were so hot and cold over me. Now it all makes sense.”

“I’m glad it does to one of us.”

“I guess you thought I was an easy lay after what happened with Carl all those years ago. I just can’t work out why you didn’t fuck me and move on. At least I would have known where I stood.” She lifted her chin, waiting for his reply, but not really wanting to hear it.

He winced at her language. “No. It’s not like that at all. Look, we can’t talk here.” He looked over to where a client was waiting for him. “Let’s go for dinner, and we can talk.”

“With Carl there too?”

“Afraid so, he wants to stay with me, and I daren’t let him go back to my place alone. God only knows what he’ll get up to if he’s left to his own devices.”

“I don't know. Maybe some things are best left in the past.”

“Maybe. But that depends on if they are still affecting your future.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Come to dinner, and you can find out.” With that he walked away to his client, a smart woman in a skirt suit. Robin watched them out of the corner of her eye, whilst pretending to look at the paintings she could never afford. He fitted in so well in this world, so different from the young man she had met before. He had grown up, changed beyond all recognition, in a good way, whilst she still felt like a juvenile.

“See anything you fancy?” Carl asked coming to stand by the side of her.

“They’re all too expensive I’m afraid.”

“Different world isn’t it?”

She followed his direction of vision, it rested on Greg. “Yes.”

“You and me, we’re free spirits, and I think that’s what we should remain. He’s a different species. A good man, but too tied down. I would love to have someone to travel the world with.”

“You mean me?” Shocked at the way his suggestion appealed to her.

“Yes. What do you have that ties you here?”

“I have a job, and an apartment.” And Max. A friend like no other. Robin smiled at the thought of her, and hoped she was surviving her parents.

“But are you happy? Really happy. To me being happy means freedom.”

“Freedom.” She repeated, it had been a while since she had felt free, and since Max had got engaged her world seemed content to stifle her with fear and worry. Perhaps Carl had the answer after all.

“Shall we go and get that drink while Greg does his big business deals?” Carl asked, his voice tempting her.

“No. We said we’d wait for him.”

“Shame. It was always fun hanging around with you, I didn’t know we needed a babysitter with us. I could entertain you, and instead of going back to Greg’s apartment, I could come and stay with you for the holidays.”

Luckily Robin came to her senses. “I share the apartment, so it’s not happening, sorry Carl.”

“Shame,” he said threading his finger into her long hair and twisting it around his finger before loosing it. “I’d like a little trip down memory lane. Perhaps by the end of the evening I might persuade you to join me. I mean if you’ve been spending time with Greg, you must be having a dull time.”