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‘No, it isn’t.’
Gabriel was perfectly capable of starting an affair, letting it runs its course, and then ending it within the space of a few days. Clara trusted that he would play by those rules and that he wouldn’t hurt her. He’d let her go and she’d return to work next week. The thought of how it might feel to touch him, and have him touch her, made it all seem possible.
When she turned, looking back at the house, she saw that the group on the veranda was starting to break up. Leo had risen from his seat, and was walking towards the large garage, presumably about to take their guests home.
‘I should say goodbye,’ Gabriel said quietly. Clearly he felt awkward with the women who had lost their sons when he had survived.
‘Go. I’ll stay here and appreciate the science.’ Maybe Gabriel would take the opportunity of speaking to his father when he returned. As she watched him walk away from her, up the beach, Clara could only hope that he might.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
GABRIEL HAD WAITED for his father’s return, and then all hell had broken loose. Clara returned from the beach to the sound of raised voices coming from Leo’s study.
‘Is everything all right?’ she asked Alessia, who had met her on the veranda, carrying two glasses of lemonade.
‘No. I do not think so.’ She put the glasses down on the table and sat down, motioning for Clara to join her. ‘Leo tells me that the making of an omelette requires the breaking of eggs.’
Both women jumped as the sound of a door slamming came from the house. Then whoever had walked out on the other obviously returned for a second round, because the sound of voices swelled again.
‘I hope they don’t break too many.’ Clara felt a little guilty now.
‘Do you?’ Gabriel’s mother looked at her thoughtfully. ‘I was rather hoping they might break them all.’
* * *
It was a surprise to find that the house wasn’t in ruins when Clara awoke the following morning. Gabriel and his father had still been closeted in the study when she’d gone to bed, and the house was suspiciously quiet now.
She showered and dressed, hoping that the sudden peace meant that all the available eggs had now been broken and that some kind of resolution had been reached. But when she went downstairs, she found Alessia alone in the kitchen, drinking coffee.
‘Where are they?’ If they’d gone to fight a duel at dawn, she doubted that Gabriel’s mother would be smiling.
‘Gone to the office. I told Leo that if he must shout, he should do it there.’ Gabriel’s mother got to her feet, pouring a cup of coffee for Clara. ‘Do not worry. There is nothing you or I can do.’
‘I may have done too much already. I told Gabriel I th
ought he should talk to his father.’ Guilt started to nag at Clara again.
‘You did the right thing, this is long overdue. Sit down and eat.’
* * *
The day had passed slowly. Clara had spent most of it working, because she couldn’t think of anything else to do. At four o’clock she heard Gabriel and his father return, and decided to stay put. She’d already meddled enough.
Half an hour later, the sound of movement came from the sitting room outside her bedroom. Then a loud rap on her bedroom door made her jump.
‘Are you coming out?’
Clara opened the door, poking her head around it. ‘Has the all-clear sounded yet?’
‘I wouldn’t go so far as to say that. I’m sorry to be such a bad host...’ Gabriel was standing in the middle of the room, his hands in his pockets. He looked surprisingly relaxed, and more than a little handsome.
‘Forget that. I think I’m probably the house guest from hell.’
He chuckled. ‘No, you’re not. Everything you said was entirely right, and I needed to hear it. I needed to hear what Dad had to say as well.’
‘Dad?’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘Is that a good sign? You’ve worked things out?’
‘Not even close. It’s going to take a little longer than this.’ His gaze dropped to the floor and he seemed suddenly awkward. ‘I said I love him, though. And he told me he loves me.’
