New Encounters (20 page)

*I’m sorry Bella, but something has cropped up. I won’t be back for another 2 days. Xx*

My heart sinks. I have been counting down the days for him to come back, and there is only so much I can entertain myself. If I was back home I would have had friends to see and familiarity. But, thankfully Ash is coming tomorrow morning and will be here at 11am. So this has soften the blow.

*Disappointed, I was looking forward to seeing you. But it can’t be helped. Hope it works out xx*

*I promise, I will make it up to you. xx*

I know he will, but it will carry on won’t it. If he is such a high flyer in this family business, he is always going to have these moments. Diamond bracelets and diamond earrings are great, but not as a continuous ‘I’m sorry present’. Oh well, I guess today I will spend the day topping up my tan. I suppose I can always plan Ash’s visit.

Later that evening, I rub some after sun onto my shoulders. They are a little pinker than they should be, seems I have overdone the ‘topping up my tan’. I have found some great bars for Ash and I to go to when she gets here, some great quirky boutiques and of course the beautiful beaches. I can’t wait wait to see her. I feel so excited, even though its only a week since I last saw her... it feels more like months. I like my own company, but even I am fed up with myself this week.

*Ash, I am so excited, I can’t wait to see you. x*

I decide to watch a DVD in bed, with a huge glass of wine. Thinking about a business I could fund for Ash and I, then she could leave her job. I will have a chat about it with her when she gets here.

CHAPTER 26

The next morning I have breakfast and skip upstairs to get ready. I have bought a beautiful bunch of flowers for Ash’s room, and a beautiful scarf. She is going to love it here I know she will. The driver is waiting outside for me and we set off to the airport. I have butterflies I am that excited. I have so much to show her, take her round the sites. I am pleased that I have had time to investigate the area now. Somewhere in my bag... yep there it is, I have the flight number and expected time of arrival written down. They should land at 11:05am.

The driver pulls up to the arrivals entrance and I tell him I won’t be long. He nods and opens my door. I have to refrain from pushing him out of the way in my eagerness. Going inside the arrivals is always lovely in any airport. You always see so much love. Families, friends and loved ones waiting.... waiting for their special person to walk through those unassuming doors. Some wait with flowers, some wait with a banner to exclaim their love. I should have made a banner, a funny one.... it would have made her laugh. But who am I kidding, she laughs all the time anyway. A flight arrives and my heart flutters, but as I look at my watch I realise that its too early. There is another 15 minutes until Ash’s flight is due. So I go over to the little coffee bar, and order an espresso. I love espresso, so thick and pungent. Like rocket fuel. I watch the screen updating the arrivals and the flight number says that it has landed. Ohh... this should be it, I jump up and run over. With a stab of disappointment I remember that she will have to go through customs and go to collect her luggage. If I know Ash, there will be more than one suitcase.

I look around and can see people gathering around the barriers along with me. Some couples in their fifties, some boyfriends waiting for their girlfriends armed with flowers. Awwww... I love seeing that, its always so cute. It takes ages, and then eventually the double doors to the other side slide open and people start coming through. Their loved ones wrapping their arms around them. Some people are cheering, some are shouting what I can only assume is their name and that they are ‘over here’. More people come through, I wait...... oh I think I see her hair behind some really big guy..... I strain and peer around the woman in front of me. Nope... that’s not her. I have no idea why, but my heart is beginning to beat a little bit quicker. Silly, I tell myself off. The crowd of people coming through the doors thins out. Have I missed her? I look around, but I can’t see her.
I stand and wait, and then the doors close. It opens again, but to my disappointment its an old woman. I keep looking around, but to no avail. One of the guys that walked through earlier is still chatting with his family.

‘Excuse me can you speak English?’

‘Yes, are you ok?’

‘My friend was due. Is this flight number IT3452?’

‘Yes it is.’

‘This is really stupid.....’ I get my phone out of my handbag and find a photo of Ash from when we were out in a bar drinking very large Mojito’s. ‘You didn’t see this girl did you?’ Why have I just called her a girl? She is 34.

‘No.... no I am sorry I do not recognise her.’

‘ohhhh’ My eyes fill up slightly.
‘I am sorry’

‘Oh no... it’s not for you to be sorry. Thank you for helping, enjoy your trip. Bye’

‘Bye’

With that, I wonder what to do. Maybe she is stuck in customs, I mean you never remember every face on the same plane as you, do you? It means nothing. I call Ash’s number, but its switched off. That’s a good sign, she must still be with security or something, through those double doors. I leave a message.

‘Ash, its me Bella. Are you ok? I am waiting just through the double doors as you come out. Near the coffee bar and helpdesk. See you in a minute.’  I say hopefully. Arghhh the helpdesk. I walk over and explain my problem and asked if she could check for me. She asked the other lady to watch the desk and she said she would go and check. I think she can see how worried I am.

I wait patiently by the doors for Ash, and the helpdesk woman. Hopefully, Ash will come running through after causing some sort of chaos and I will have to then find the help desk woman to say it was all sorted thank you very much. When all I will want to do is run out of here with Ash and start causing some mischief together. But the doors don’t open.

‘Excuse me madam’ I turn around and it’s the helpdesk woman. I can’t bring myself to look at her, but I do.... I feel ... frightened.

‘I am very sorry but your friend never checked in for the flight. Perhaps you should call her and see if she has missed it by mistake. Maybe she got to the airport late or something?’

She is trying to reassure me, but this is not right. I thank her for her time. If Ash has missed this flight, then why hasn’t she let me know? Why has she got her phone switched off? I try it again, but its on voicemail again.

‘Ash its me. I am at the airport and you have not arrived, did you miss your flight sweetie? Its ok, we can book another one. Let me know you are okay though.’

I hang up. I could cry. I was so looking forward to spending time together. Robert is away, now Ash hasn’t come. Why is everything going wrong? This just doesn’t feel right. In my gut, this feels very... very wrong. Ash was so excited about coming, if she had missed her flight she would have called. Maybe she forgot? Noooo.... she has been counting down the hours, just like me. She is far from a scatter brain, she is always so annoyingly organised with everything. Even down to putting the right colour bins out on the right days at home. Why am I thinking of bins? Whenever there is a crisis, I can always be counted on for thinking of the ridiculous and the obscure.

I step outside and I can see my driver is stood there smoking a cigarette, as soon as he looks at me he looks puzzled. But then and again, he was expecting 2 people... not just me.

‘Scusi, Miss Stone.... where is your friend?’

‘She isn’t here.’ I feel slightly stunned, and I am preoccupied with trying to figure this out.

‘What you mean...?’

‘Well, she wasn’t on the flight.’

‘Did she forget? Or miss her flight?’

‘No... she was so excited about coming out here. She text last night to say she couldn’t wait. If she had missed her flight she would have called. This isn’t right.’

‘Have you called her?’

‘Yeah, it’s on voicemail. I have left her two messages.’

‘Let me take you home.’

‘Okay.’

‘Are you okay?’

‘Not really. This is not right. I need to start making some phone calls.’
 

He looks at me in the rear view mirror and gives me a serious nod. I called my house phone, but it just rang and rang and rang. It’s Sunday so I can’t call her work until tomorrow. I text Emma and Sarah and try not to alarm them. So I casually ask

*Hey. Hope your ok. Have you spoken with Ash recently?*

Emma responded first.

*Yeah, 2 days ago, and all she could talk about was visiting you today. She should be arriving soon. Everything ok?’

Sarah was next.

‘You ok??? Not spoken to Ash for a week. Why? x’

I responded to them both and told them that she had not arrived and I was worried. Emma said she would try and call her. Sarah said she would drive around to my house and see if she was in. I am racking my brain trying to think of what I can do next. I don’t want to start alerting her Mum and Dad when we didn’t know anything yet. I called Robert.

‘Hey Bella. Have you picked Ash up? I have just remembered she is flying in this morning.’

‘No... listen.’ I interrupt him from continuing. ‘She never turned up at the airport, and when I asked a woman to check, she never even checked on the flight.’

‘Maybe she missed her flight baby... don’t worry. I can hear you are worried.’

‘I am getting more and more worried. If she had missed her flight she would have called me.’

‘Have you tried calling her?’

‘Of course I have!’ I immediately regret snapping at him. It’s not his fault.

‘Okay... have you tried her friends?’

‘Yes... yes I have text Emma and Sarah. Sarah is going to go round to the house to see if she is in. Emma is going to carry on calling her.’

‘Well, let’s see if Sarah and Emma can get hold of her. What about work?’

‘I can’t check that yet, it’s Sunday.’

‘Oh shit... yeah I forgot what day it is. Right, I am sure there is a reasonable explanation for all of this. Don’t worry. ‘

‘Okay. I better go in case one of the girls tries to call.’

‘Yeah. Call me as soon as you hear anything.’

‘I will.’

‘Bella... I love you.’

‘I love you too. I just wish you were here.’ He pauses....

‘Me too.’

With that we hang up. Then my phone rings, its Sarah.

‘Sarah.’

‘There is no answer Bella. I have been round the back as well but nothing.’

‘Oh shit Sarah. Let me call Emma and see if she has heard anything and I will call you straight back.’

‘Ok, bye’

‘Bye’

I ring off. Sarah sounds as worried as I am. I call Emma.

‘Bella, I was just about to call you. She has text me, just now.’

‘What did she say? Is she ok? Thank God’

‘Yeah she sounds fine. She said that she has met a guy and decided she needed a dirty week away more than a week away in Sicily.’

‘Did she?’ I feel hurt. How could she do this to me? Why wouldn’t she text me and let me know?

‘Yeah, bit strange, I tried to call her, but it was back on voicemail. Maybe it really is a dirty week away and she really doesn’t want to be disturbed.’

‘It doesn’t feel right Emma.’

‘Well...you probably feel a bit let down and I understand that. It is very out of character for Ash, but live and let live and all that.’

‘Yeah.... maybe your right. Thanks Emma, I better call Sarah and let her know.’

‘Good idea, take care Bella and let’s catch up when you are next back’

‘Will do. See ya’

With that I ring off and I call Sarah and relay what Emma has just told me.

‘Bells, this doesn’t feel right. She would never do that. Why text Emma and not you? You haven’t fallen out have you?’

‘Hell no. She text me last night to say she can’t wait to come over. How could she all of a sudden get swept off her feet between 9pm last night and this morning…. enough for her to just not bother coming. It’s odd.’

‘I agree.... this is strange. But what can we do?’

‘Oh I don’t know Sarah. I really don’t. Emma said she tried to call her, but her phone is switched back off.’

‘I will send her a text to say we are all worried and she must call one of us to let us know she is alright.’

‘Yeah good idea. I was going to call the doctors surgery tomorrow when it opened, but she isn’t due back in until Thursday.’

‘What about asking her Mum and Dad?’

‘Not yet Bells... we don’t want to worry them. If she has gone off for a dirty few days with some guy she would be mortified if her Mum and Dad knew. Let’s wait.’