Foreign Affairs (51 page)

Brenda knew that the other girl was feeling left out because she hadn’t been asked to dance much, or hadn’t got a date yet, so she tried to be extra nice to her. She always made sure
to tell her she looked very well when they were going out at night, and shared make-up and perfume with her. She even lent her the baggy white cotton top that was the only thing she had that would
fit the other girl. Julia latched on to her like a limpet and confided that she was disgusted with Joan, who’d turned out to be a right plonkie. Brenda tried to explain that Joan was on
holidays and having a bit of fun and a good time, but Julia was having none of it. Joan had dropped even more in her estimation, Julia declared. At least Joan was making an effort to enjoy herself,
Brenda was tempted to retort, but she restrained herself. There was no point in adding fuel to the fire. Julia was determined to be a wet blanket and disapprove of everything the others did. She
was now looking at Brenda coldly. No doubt Brenda too had dropped in her colleague’s estimation.

Tough, she thought as she saw Raul heading in her direction. ‘See you later,’ she said hastily. She didn’t want Raul to get too near the stunning Tara.

‘Have fun.’ Tara grinned.

Julia ignored her.

‘I will. ’Night, Julia,’ she saluted the other girl.

‘’Night,’ came the curt response.

She’s only pea-green with jealousy, Brenda thought crossly. Why did she have to try and ruin everything with her prim and proper ways? Just because she couldn’t get a man.

‘Ready?’ Raul enquired.

‘Sure,’ Brenda said brightly, putting all thoughts of censorious Julia out of her head.

‘Good! There is a beautiful full moon tonight, I will bring you to a very romantic place. You will like it. I promise.’ He smiled warmly at her. His expression sent a little shiver
of excitement through her. He took her by the elbow and the light pressure of his firm fingers on her tanned skin was delightful. Her eyes widened when he opened the passenger door of a metallic
grey BMW.

‘This is gorgeous,’ she breathed, sinking into the luxurious front seat.

‘Yes, I think so too.’ He laughed.

They drove through the gaudy, neon-lit, bustling town, with its rowdy happy revellers, down along the coast, past peaceful, slumbering villages, until they came to a small headland overlooking a
moonlit bay. A primrose yellow moon cast dancing rippling reflections on the white-tipped indigo waters below. A thousand stars twinkled in ebony skies. The scent of jasmine was heavy on the warm
night air. The sound of the crickets, and the surging beat of foaming waters breaking against the rocks, were all that broke the stillness of the night. It was the nearest to paradise Brenda had
ever been.

A small track led to the beach. Expertly, Raul manoeuvred the car down along its narrow length. I bet he’s done this a few times, Brenda thought. He brought the car to a stop, leaned
across and opened the dashboard and took out a tape. ‘We have our very own nightclub under the firmament.’ He smiled as the melodious seductive tones of Andy Williams singing
Moon
River
wafted out of the stereo system. Raul got out and held open her door for her. ‘Let’s dance,’ he suggested.

‘Let’s.’ She smiled back happily, as she kicked off her shoes and took his outstretched hand.

He held her close, his body hard and lean against hers. It was wonderful having a man’s arms around her. It was a delight to feel the firm plane of his jaw against hers as they danced
cheek to cheek in the moonlight. When his hands slid down over her hips to mould her closer against him, Brenda did not protest. When he turned his head and lowered his mouth to hers, she raised
hers eagerly for his kiss. It was a long, slow, languorous kiss, that went on and on. His hands caressed her, sliding sensuously over her body, slipping inside the material of her sundress to cup
and fondle her breasts. Brenda arched herself against him as her body responded to his touch. With impatient fingers she unbuttoned his shirt and ran her fingers over the soft tangle of black hair
which covered his chest and snaked down to a narrow line that disappeared inside the band of his trousers. Raul murmured husky endearments to her in Spanish. Gently he eased the material of her
dress up her thighs and slid down her panties. Brenda didn’t care, she wanted him to make love to her there and then. Feelings and desires that had lain dormant flamed into need and longing.
To be needed and wanted and to need and want in return was all that she wished for at that moment. The joy of desiring someone other than Eddie was such a liberation for her. After all these years
she was finally free of him. Ardently, Brenda returned Raul’s kisses, all inhibitions swept away as she sought to arouse him as much as he was arousing her. His quickened breathing and the
sensual movement of his body against her told her she was succeeding. She was just unbuckling his belt when the sound of a car’s engine gave them pause. A moment later the headlights of a car
lit up the track as it slowly made its descent to the beach. Raul cursed harshly in his own language as he drew away from Brenda.

‘This place is getting too crowded. Let’s go.’ He scowled, took her hand and led her back to the car. Brenda gave a deep disappointed sigh. Raul tenderly kissed her on the
lips. ‘Soon,’ he whispered huskily. ‘Soon.’ He reversed the car and headed back up the track and out onto the narrow road that led to the main road.

‘Are we going to your villa?’ Brenda asked, stroking his tanned forearm as he drove the powerful car at speed along the highway.

‘Aah . . . no,’ he said quickly. ‘My mother is staying for a few days, and you know what mothers are?’ He smiled. ‘They think you have never grown up.’ Brenda
nodded, although she was rather disappointed. She’d been hoping to spend the night with him at his villa. It was probably very luxurious and most likely had a pool as well. But she could
understand why he wouldn’t bring her home if his mother was there. Spanish mothers went in for chaperons and the likes for their daughters, so Señora Suarez might not look too kindly
on a strange young woman spending the night with her son.

‘Where are we going?’

Raul turned to look at her and let his hand slide up along her inner thigh.

‘I thought we might go back to my office. It is quiet and private and I have a room there where I relax when we close for siesta.’

‘Sounds nice,’ she breathed. His touch was sending quivers of pleasure through her and she wished they were at the office already.

‘Will I put in another tape?’ Brenda suggested.

‘There’s a Julio Iglesias one in the dash there, you might like it.’ Raul flicked open the compartment for her and switched on the light. There were several tapes and she
picked one out and studied it. It wasn’t the Spanish crooner’s cassette so she replaced it and selected another one. That wasn’t the one either. She was reaching in towards the
back when something glinting in the light caught her eye. Her heart sank and a wave of dismay washed over her as she pulled out a gold wedding ring and turned to confront the man at her side.

‘You’re married, Raul, aren’t you?’ she said quietly. ‘All that rubbish about your mother staying at your villa is just a cock-and-bull story.’

‘Come on, Brenda,’ he said lightly. ‘What difference does it make? You’ll be gone in a week or so, it’s not as if we’re going to have a long committed
relationship. We are ships that pass in the night, as they say. There is no harm in having one night of pleasure and it will be very pleasurable, believe me,’ he urged persuasively, his hand
sliding even further up her thigh.

For a moment she was tempted to think as he did. After her holidays she’d never see him again. She might never in her life again meet a man as sexy and handsome as Raul. An image of
Julia’s disapproving face popped into her mind. Bad enough that Brenda was going to spend the night with a man she’d only met that evening, but a
married
man. Julia’d
look down her aquiline nose at her for ever and a day if she knew about this. Not that she’d ever know. Not that anyone need ever know, Brenda argued with herself. You’d know! she
thought glumly. Why the hell had she suggested putting on another cassette? She could still be sitting in blissful ignorance of Raul’s marital status. Brenda gave a huge sigh and slumped back
in her seat. The evening was ruined. Even if she did go with Raul and make love with him, she’d feel as guilty as anything.

‘Take me home, Raul,’ she said dispiritedly. He turned a seductive gaze upon her.

‘You don’t mean that,’ he said huskily, pulling in and cutting the engine. He gave her a deep sensual kiss. She tried to enjoy it as she had before, but she couldn’t.

‘Just bring me home,’ she said quietly, pushing him away.

‘What a pity,’ Raul drawled. ‘It would have been a great night.’

‘Maybe, maybe not.’ She smiled ruefully. ‘We’ll never know.’

It could have been such a great night, Brenda thought as the Aer Lingus 737 lifted off the runway at Malaga Airport and soared into the sky. She peered down at the lights
twinkling beneath them. Somewhere down there was the little bay where she’d spent the most hot, sensual moments of her life. It had never even been like that with Eddie. She’d been too
scared of getting pregnant. Too desperate for him to marry her. With Raul, there’d been none of that. It had just been lusty pleasure with no commitment or responsibilities, until she’d
discovered he was married. If only she’d been able to ignore that. But she couldn’t. She wasn’t that sophisticated, she thought regretfully. Would she ever experience moments like
that again? God I hope so, Brenda thought fervently as the plane banked and headed north.

‘Kathy, he was the most gorgeous hunk. I’m telling you.’ Brenda sighed.

‘He sounds it.’ Her friend grinned. They were sitting in the Autobahn pub having a drink and Brenda was telling Kathy all about her holidays.

‘Brenda, you look a million dollars,’ Kathy declared. ‘I feel such a frump beside you.’ She patted the large bump that meant she could no longer even see her toes. Kathy
was eight months pregnant and wished it was all over.

‘Imagine me in a bikini.’ She giggled. ‘You wouldn’t have stood a chance with your Raul if he’d seen me first.’

Brenda laughed. ‘It was great for my ego I can tell you, especially since Tara and Eve were on the scene. I really enjoyed that holiday. I feel I’m ready for anything.’

‘Great stuff,’ Kathy approved. ‘Who knows, you might meet a Raul out in Tamango’s some night.’

‘Let’s hope he’s not bloody well married,’ Brenda snorted.

‘Speaking of being married,’ Kathy murmured. ‘Guess who got engaged last week?’

‘Who?’ Brenda was agog. There hadn’t been any engagements in the offing that she knew of. Kathy was looking at her a little strangely.

‘Um . . . well.’

‘Who, Kathy?’ Brenda said sharply. She was beginning to feel a little disquiet.

Kathy took a deep breath. ‘It’s Eddie . . . He and Anna announced their engagement last Saturday on her birthday. They’re getting married next June.’

Chapter Forty-Five

‘The goddamn fucker!’ Brenda burst out. ‘He’s getting
married
! I don’t believe it. What about all that crap he gave me about wanting his
freedom to do things? To go places, for God’s sake!’ She was furious. She felt like thumping the daylights out of Eddie Fagan. She wanted to kick him in the balls, poke his eyes out,
pull his hair out in great big chunks and just tell him exactly what she thought of him. And to think she’d thought she was over him. What a laugh.

‘I know, I know, but that was over four years ago,’ Kathy said placatingly.

‘Yeah. But what’s he done? Where’s he gone? Shag all. Shag anywhere. The bastard.’ A thought struck her. ‘She’s not pregnant, is she?’ Her tone was
faintly hopeful. Maybe they
had
to get married.

‘No, no, nothing like that.’ Kathy shook her head.

‘So he’s doing it because he’s madly in love with her and he wants to. Huh!’ snorted Brenda. ‘Well I hope he and Miss Fat-Arse live unhappily ever after for the
rest of their miserable lives.’

‘Brenda!’ Kathy tried to look disapproving but she couldn’t help laughing.

‘Well she is a fat arse.’ Brenda grimaced. ‘And now I’m dead sorry I didn’t sleep with Raul. I can tell you one thing, he’d have wiped the floor as a lover
with that shithead Fagan!’

‘Come on, Brenda, stop that now,’ Kathy said firmly. ‘You’re not still in love with Eddie. You only think you are. And you’re just annoyed that Eddie’s
getting married. If this Raul guy hadn’t been married and he’d decided you were the woman for him, I bet you would have fallen for him. Am I right?’ Kathy demanded.

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ Brenda scowled. Although privately she conceded that Kathy had a point.

‘I’m not being ridiculous. I’m being objective,’ Kathy retorted.

‘Oh is that what it is?’ Brenda said sarcastically. ‘How do you know whether I’m over Eddie Fagan or not?’

‘Well if you’re not, you should be. You’re a fool if you’re still carrying a torch for him. He’s not carrying one for you, Brenda. Why are you wasting your life?
You should be out there having a ball.’

‘I don’t want to have a ball,’ Brenda said forlornly. ‘You’re married. Pamela’s going to get married. Eddie and Anna are getting married. I just want to be
married like everybody else.’

Chapter Forty-Six

‘I don’t want you to go, Ronan,’ Jennifer sobbed, burying her head against her boyfriend’s shoulder.

‘I have to go, Jennifer, it’s the only way I’m going to earn good money. And I want to have my own money. Especially now that Mam’s gone. I’ll be home in September.
I don’t want to leave you either. I just have to go, that’s all,’ he said miserably. They held each other tightly as passengers flocked around them to pass through the boarding
gate for the transatlantic flight to New York. Once more, his flight number was called.

‘I’d better go, Jen, I’ll phone, and I’ll write as soon as I’ve settled,’ Ronan pulled away from her. And then he pulled her back into his arms and kissed her
and Jennifer could taste the salt of a tear on his lips. His shoulders were thin and bony under her touch. He’d lost weight since his mother died. The thought of him going off to America
alone and knowing no-one there nearly broke her heart.