Running Scarred Read online

  He bent and picked up a flat stone, weighed it in his hand before he skimmed it across the water.

  “Great. I can’t believe how well you have done already. And how’s the budget going? Are we overspent by much?” Ellen had discussed the figures with him the evening before, over dinner, but David had been more preoccupied, flirting furiously with Geraldine, one of her specialized staff who was helping out all round. He had been so entranced as she had waited at the table he hadn’t really listened to Ellen at all.

  “Not too much. Twenty eight thousand at the last count. It sounds like a massive amount but it’s only because of the additional accommodation. I’m getting a few bookings for later on in the year and we have the first of three weekends of corporate guests arriving at the end of January. They are fully booked and paying the full going rate for all of the rooms so I’ve nearly made up the difference already. If they recommend us to other business clients, I’m hoping all the corporate weeks will be filled completely. They are only happening one week in six but will pay for the entire shortfall with our other guests. I’m relying on Joe to organize all the team building activities before then. I must make a note to remind him that the corporate stuff will be for normal human beings and not for a load of adrenaline junkies like you lot. I don’t want them put off because he’s making them try and leap over a twelve foot wall.” She sounded a little flat.

  David looked over at her, wondering whether he should bring the conversation up.

  “Joe’ll find that a doddle, it’s right up his street…” He stared into her sad eyes. “Not still fretting over that scumbag that let you down, I hope?” He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

  She smiled weakly and lied badly.

  “No, don’t be silly. I haven’t had a moment to think about him. I have a hotel to open in less than a month and there are still a million things to do.”

  David stared down at his sister as she turned to face him.

  “You are such a bad liar Ellen…You are skinny and listless and have obviously been working all the hours God sent, just to keep your mind off him. I knew you were still upset when we left before, but I had no idea that you were in so deep.”

  She turned away from his scrutiny, her voice was almost strangled when she replied.

  “Deeper than you’ll ever know David. I’ll never get involved with another man again. No one could come close.” She stared into the distance and blinked hard as she thought of Patrick.

  David picked up another stone and hefted it in his hand.

  “I just can’t see how he’d drop everything like this. I mean, it’s been months now. His house must be a right mess.

  Ellen didn’t dare look back up at David. She couldn’t tell him that before he had arrived she had spent every night at Patrick’s house, sleeping in his bed and snuggling up to his coat, desperate for anything of him, any tiny infinitesimal shred of him, to hold onto.

  She nearly cried out at the thoughts. She quickly changed the subject.

  “Come on, I’m going back up to the house. I need to speak to Geraldine about the other bar staff she’s booked and I also need to sort out the first aid exams. I have three staff taking them this week. And you need to get out of those wet clothes. You must be freezing.” David’s trousers were flapping wetly against his legs.

  He looked down at the dripping fabric, completely unconcerned.

  “Huh! Don’t see why you would think that. I haven’t got any legs to freeze.” He grinned as she rolled her eyes and they turned to make their way back to the cable car. “Not nearly so exciting as going down.” He muttered darkly as they rose slowly through the trees.

  They spent the next three weeks ironing out minor problems and training all the staff in emergency first aid, regardless of their official position.

  Joe arrived on Christmas Eve, tired and thin and more than relieved to be out of the services.

  He slugged back another glass of delicious fine wine and sat back in his chair obviously very relaxed.

  “It was hell there last week. I’ve been to that many goodbye parties. I’ve barely eaten a thing, only drunk barrels of cheap beer. I feel like it’s all still sloshing about inside me. I shall need feeding up before I start work here.” His speech was slightly slurred.

  David laughed out loud.

  “Well you’ve come to the wrong place then. Ellen’s doing all the cooking as we still can’t find a real chef. She’s interviewed a couple, but they’re all into that nouvelle cuisine here. Useless for us lot. This is a hotel for chaps with massive appetites. Ellen’s going to stick with the roasts and buffets for a bit. She can just about manage them.” He winked at his sister.

  “Cheek! You haven’t complained much, just scoffed the lot and you should see what we’re having for tomorrow’s dinner. It’s going to be fabulous. Geraldine’s been no end of help and I’m loads better at it all.” Ellen looked indignant.

  Joe looked up, suddenly very interested.

  “Ah! Would that be the lovely Geraldine that I’ve heard so much about? I swear she was here before looking after Adam, but I barely took any notice then. I wondered why Adam kept coming down to breakfast with a massive grin.” He smiled at Ellen’s puzzled expression. “David has been giving me daily updates on her, via email. I’ve heard all about her fabulous green eyes and glossy dark hair.” He ducked as David threw a roast potato at him. It landed further down the table leaving a trail of grease across the tablecloth. “Have you still got her helping you with your legs every morning and night?” Joe leaned across, stabbed the potato with his fork and popped it in his mouth.

  Ellen gaped at David.

  “What? Helping you with your legs? You haven’t David!” She stared, aghast at her brother.

  David blustered, looking as though he were about to kill Joe.

  “No, no. I was just kidding Joe about that, though I may have mentioned her eyes once or twice.” David protested his innocence and then concentrated very hard on his roast beef and Yorkshire puddings.

  They finished dinner with a delicious almond cake from the market, smothered in crème fraiche. Geraldine came in, green eyed and dark haired, with a tray of coffee. Ellen smiled as she saw her wink at David before gliding away again into the kitchen.

  Joe let out a great guffaw of laughter, but then stopped quickly as he registered David’s glare.

  “By the way.” He changed the subject swiftly. “I saw that terrible ex-fiancé of yours last week. That awful blond guy. Justin was it? He said you had invited him over for a stay. He said something about a reconciliation. I didn’t think you would get back together with him. I was a bit surprised.”

  Ellen’s jaw dropped and she nearly choked on her mouthful of coffee before she spoke.

  “Surprised! So am I. I’ve not seen him for months and I’ve certainly not invited him over. The last time I had any contact with him was about the sale of my Spanish apartments. I had to write him an enormous cheque just to get him off my back. You must have been mistaken Joe. I don’t want anything to do with him ever again.”

  Joe smiled grimly.

  “I knew he was talking out of his backside. Ghastly bloke, bit creepy. I was glad when you split up. Can’t think why you ever went out with him in the first place. I was a little drunk at the party. I must have misheard him. Oh well.” He yawned widely. “I think I’m going to get an early night. It’s been a long day what with all the travel. I can’t wait to have a look over the grounds and see what you have planned for me.” Joe pushed his chair back and stood up.

  “I’m going to go to bed too Ellen.” David finished his coffee and levered himself out of the chair. He winced as he rose. “God! I think I’ve jarred my back going down that zip wire.” He rubbed the base of his spine.

  Ellen rolled her eyes in despair.

  “Serves you right. You’ve been down it about thirty times this week alone. It’s meant for the kids, you great idiot.” She looked exasperated at him.

  David let out
a laugh.

  “I was testing it out, making sure it’s safe.” His eyes twinkled merrily at her.

  Joe was nodding eagerly at David.

  “Yes, Dave has been telling me all about it and I agree. You can’t test out that kind of thing enough. I think I’ll have to test it too. You know, just to make sure.” They were both grinning widely.

  Ellen shook her head in defeat.

  “Oh, do what you like. You’re like a bunch of kids, but don’t come moaning to me when you’re in agony from being so reckless.” She picked up the remaining dishes and took them through to the kitchen.

  She heard David and Joe making their way up the stairs. She filled the dishwasher and turned it on, then turned off all the lights and followed them up the stairs.

  She walked along the corridor towards her own room, but stopped as she heard David groan as she passed his door.

  Perhaps he really had hurt his back? She sighed deeply, opened the door and stepped in to check on him.

  She stopped instantly as she saw Geraldine sitting on the edge of the bed beside David. She looked as though she was tucking him in. He was half under the covers, his scarred chest showing just above the quilt. The two of them stared silently at her. Then Geraldine slid her hands out from under the sheets and pulled out one of David’s false legs.

  Ellen glowered at David, who stared back at her, guilt written all over his face.

  “For God’s sake David! You weren’t joking.” Ellen hissed at him. “Taking off your legs is not in Geraldine’s contract. She has enough to do without pandering to you.” She looked over at Geraldine and smiled apologetically. “Don’t believe him when he says he can’t manage. He’s a rotten liar. And David, you can get up in the morning and make breakfast for everyone for taking advantage. And you can bring me a tea up here too. I don’t take any sugar.” She slammed out of the room and stalked to the room at the end of the corridor.

  She turned the door handle and crept inside. There was a small camp bed pushed against the wall between some boxes. Her sleeping bag was laid on the top and over that was Patrick’s coat. She was about to get undressed when there was a gentle knock at the door.

  David walked in, both legs back in situ, his pyjama jacket on but unbuttoned and the trousers slightly askew where he had obviously dragged them on in a hurry.

  Ellen slumped.

  “What now David? I’m tired. I’m sorry I was sharp, but really, taking your legs off indeed! Whatever are you going to get the poor girl to do next?” She folded her cardigan over the back of a small chair.

  David walked to the chair and sat down.

  “You really should knock before you barge in Ellen…” He paused briefly. “She wasn’t taking my legs off.” He looked at the floor and then glanced back up at Ellen, hoping he wouldn‘t have to elucidate further.

  She raised her eyebrows.

  “Really! So what was she doing then, straightening your sheets and tucking you in? You’ll be getting her to make you hot chocolate and read you bedtime stories next.”

  David coughed into his palm.

  “Don’t be silly, it’s just that she…she was, well I was…” He paused again and stared hard at his sister. Ellen just looked right back at him, waiting. He rolled his eyes and took a deep breath. “Well, if you want me to spell it out for you. She wasn’t straightening the sheets Ellen, she was helping me straighten something else entirely.” His tone was significant and he squared his shoulders as he glared at her. He twiddled his thumbs and sat with his hands in his lap while he watched her expression as she suddenly caught on.

  Her mouth fell open and she felt herself flush to the roots of her hair.

  “Oh God! I am so Sorry! I thought it was all just a load of flirting. I had no idea you were actually involved. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? How embarrassing.” She covered her face with her hands.

  David laughed, relieved that he hadn’t needed to be even more explicit.

  “Embarrassing! Bad luck for me more like. I was about to have the best Christmas Eve of my life. She’s gone back to her own room now. She was mortified.” He smiled gently at Ellen who was also looking mortified. “Look, we were going to tell you, but it’s only been three weeks and I just hadn’t got round to it. I liked her before when we came but she was only helping Adam and he had all her attention then, but this time, well I didn’t want to say anything if we weren’t sure about each other. We’ve been emailing and speaking on the phone all autumn. I adore her Ellen and I don’t know how, but somehow she seems to adore me too. Even with only half a body and less than half of a face. It’s just as well that I’ve still got all the most interesting bits of me left. And I don’t mean just my brain!” He grinned sheepishly.

  Ellen laughed and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

  “Oh David! I’m so glad for you.” Her eyes were shining.

  He let out a relieved breath.

  “Yes, well, I’m going to put a lock on that door tomorrow morning and knock from now on eh.” He glanced around Ellen’s room suddenly taking in the lack of furnishings and a proper bed. “Why are you sleeping in here anyway? This is just a box room. Why haven’t you sorted out your own bedroom yet?” And then he noticed the big coat. “Oh Ellen, you had been sleeping at his place, hadn’t you? Good God, I’ve been here for nearly a month and I was so wrapped up in Geraldine I didn’t notice that you were practically sleeping rough. Had you been down at his place until I arrived?”

  She gulped and nodded, tears suddenly springing into her eyes, desolation in her heart.

  “I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to be with him so much, I did the only thing I could think of to be near him. I wanted to be there if he came back.”

  David pulled a handkerchief from his pyjama pocket and handed it to her.

  “But what if he comes back with his wife? You have to give this up Ellen. He hasn’t made any sort of contact. He’s not interested. He would have written or something if he was.”

  Ellen gulped loudly and stifled the tears.

  “I know. I know, I just didn’t think it would be so hard without him. If he had just told me it was over, I would have felt better about it. It’s the not knowing. His letter was so vague.” She wiped her eyes on the back of her hand and blew her nose in David’s handkerchief.

  “I think he’s made it pretty clear by now, don’t you?” David was firm.

  “Yes, I know. I’m just being pathetic.” She sighed. “Don’t worry. I’ll get this room fixed up properly. I won’t go back to his place again.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

  David grunted in approval.

  “Good. Have you any of your stuff there?” She nodded silently, her heart hurting so much that words wouldn’t come. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly “I’ll go and get it all for you over the next few days. I don’t want you going back there and being all upset again. We have too much to organize here. I tell you what, I’ll go down there when you go to buy the pig for the New Year’s hog roast. Then you won’t even think about it. You’ll be too busy working out how to cook the blooming great thing.” He stood up, ready to leave.

  She chanced a few words, praying she could hold in the tears.

  “Thanks David. And I’m sorry about earlier again. I didn’t mean to ruin your evening.”

  David laughed again.

  “Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure there will be plenty of other opportunities for her to practice her techniques. Oh, and you can bring me my tea in the morning, just to make it up, two sugars please.” And he left the room chuckling lightly.

  Chapter Ten

  Patrick turned the light on and dumped his bag on the settee. God! Nearly New Year’s Eve. He sighed in relief, glad to be home. The last few months had been a complete nightmare.

  He shivered. The house was colder than he had hoped. He wasn’t expecting Ellen to be right there waiting for him, but he had hoped that she had left a fire going. He rested his hand over the stove. It was sto
ne cold. He opened the door and peered in at the ash. It was clogged and damp. He stood up straight and looked around at the rest of the house. He frowned, slightly confused. There was a thin layer of dust over all of the surfaces.

  It wasn’t that there was dust that disturbed him. He didn’t care about a bit of dirt. In some ways he rather liked it. It made everywhere seem more homely and normal, but this was all wrong. There was no way Ellen would have allowed their home to become cold and dusty. He walked into the bedroom. It was cold too. He sat down on the bed and pressed his hand to the quilt. It was slightly damp.

  His heart started to thump hard and for a moment he was worried, but then he sighed in relief as he thought he knew what must have happened. She was probably busy up at the Chateau. Perhaps she had opened the hotel for Christmas and was now coping with left over guests. She probably had more arriving for New Year too.

  He stood up again and walked back to light the stove. She would be tired when she eventually arrived home. He would get a fire going, make it warm and cosy for when she got back.

  The flames grew a little higher and he watched as the smoke churned up the chimney. The fire was warming the house quickly. He walked back to his bedroom and pulled the quilt back to let the sheets air. A wonderful waft of her perfume floated up to him. He pressed his face to the pillow, breathing in the fragrance he loved so much. He sat for a while waiting to hear the door open, but as the heat permeated the room he stood up and pulled off his clothes. He took off his leg, then lay down on the bed and wrapped himself in her scent. God, he was so tired from the journey. He wished he’d hired a car. The ferry and then the trains and then the taxi, had taken forever. He breathed in deeply again and closed his eyes. He couldn’t wait for her to come and find him. He was desperate to have her back in his bed. `

  He curled up in the slightly damp covers, anticipation and desire warming him more than the flames of the fire in the room next door.