The Prodigal Son Page 14

  It was lunchtime, so he made a light lunch with bread, cheese and cooked meat, poured a glass of wine, and took them to the terrace overlooking a large rectangular pool. As he ate, he took in spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and admired the large, well-kept gardens. They were accessed by a metal gate at the bottom of the drive or by a large electrically-operated gate if vehicle access was required.

  After lunch, he took his time to unpack. Relaxing by the pool sounded like a good idea and that was what he did. That evening, he found a menu in the kitchen from a local restaurant that delivered, so he phoned in an order and waited.

  The restaurant owner himself delivered the food, on a noisy little scooter no less. Rob returned to the terrace and washed down Stifado, a Greek beef stew with red wine. The villa had a large flat-screen television equipped with a generous satellite package, so later he sank into a large comfortable settee and watched BBC World News and then a movie. By that time, Rob struggled to stay awake so headed for bed; he was almost asleep as his head met the pillow.

  The next morning, the heat of the day had not quite developed, so Rob decided to run. Donning a white cotton vest-top, running shorts and trainers, he set off. He ran up a hill towards the village and cut off the road to race along a small track, signposted for Pelekas Beach. The track evolved into a road, which wound steeply down to the beach.

  It took him a good fifteen minutes, running at a fair pace, to reach a long curving sandy beach, which was still reasonably quiet as it wasn’t yet ten o’clock; most of the tourists who’d populate the beach would still be at breakfast, or in bed for that matter. He was hot by the time he reached the beach, so he removed his top and trainers, and ran into the water.

  As he swam, he savoured the warmth of the shallow water; finally, he collected his clothes and continued the run. He noticed a steep road snaking up the hillside and decided to take it. Soon, Rob was sweating profusely under the increasing heat of the day. By the time he reached the main road at the top of the hill, he was soaked in sweat and breathing heavily.

  On the main road, he decided to run through the village and down the hill to the villa. He arrived feeling charged and took a quick cool shower. This trip was exactly what he’d need; he owed Joe a big one. Dressed in a light linen shirt, shorts, and leather flip-flops, he walked to the village and bought fresh bread from a local bakery. Given he was here to relax, he stopped for coffee in a village café and checked emails as he sipped the delicious brew. Nothing needed urgent attention, so he took his time drinking the coffee before he finally returned to the villa.

  As he was walking up the drive, his phone rang.

  “Hey, Mr Holidaymaker,” Joe chirped. “How’s the villa?”

  “Brilliant and very comfortable. You certainly look after yourself.”

  “That’s Suzy. I would camp myself: nice little tent, sleeping bag, and primus stove would do me fine. However, I’m prepared to make sacrifices where Suzy is concerned, so a luxury villa it is, sadly,” Joe replied wryly.

  “Joe Harper, you are so full of bullshit, you’re actually a health hazard,” Rob laughed.

  “Getting back to reality ... I’ve just e-mailed you a couple of documents, one’s part of a proposal and the other’s part of a contract we’re about to sign. Can you find time in your busy schedule of swims and G&Ts to have a read make sure they’re all in order, and get back to me? If you think they need amendments, type them in red, and we can do the needful at this end.”

  “I’ll do that after lunch,” Rob replied cheerfully. “By the way, tell Suzy thanks for this. The flight was excellent and the villa’s absolutely beautiful. Just what I needed. Thanks, mate.”

  “I’ll pass that on. Must go. Talk later.” Joe ended the call.

  During the next few days, Rob got into a morning routine: run, swim, run back, shower, and walk to the village for bread and coffee, sometimes lunch. The local shopkeepers were getting to know him and his needs. At the café, his coffee arrived without being requested; at the bakery, his fresh daily bread was waiting on the counter. Courteous greetings became conversations with proprietors and staff, all of whom spoke English surprisingly well.

  By the end of the first week, he was being greeted like a long lost friend. His afternoons consisted of reading, relaxing by the pool, having the odd phone conversation with Joe, and attending to e-mails. Rob was feeling very relaxed and had considered some of the problems that the events on Achravie had presented him. His skin was taking on a deeper tan and his blond hair was lightening even more with the sun and sea. He wasn’t as out of breath when he reached the top of the hill after running up from the beach, like that first morning.

  On Sunday evening of the second week, his smartphone started playing Springsteen’s “Darlington County”. Joe, without a doubt.

  “Joseph, to what do I owe the honour of your attention this fine evening?” Rob asked amiably.

  “Someone sure sounds relaxed,” a woman’s voice said.

  “You’re not wearing Suzy’s underwear again are you, Joe? What have I told you about that? It makes your voice go all funny and girly,” Rob responded good-naturedly.

  “Very funny. Do you and my husband ever take anything seriously?” Suzy asked.

  “I think Joe wearing your underwear is serious; his voice will stay like that if he’s not careful,” Rob said with feigned seriousness.

  “God, you’re like Morecambe and Wise, the pair of you. You should take to the stage, not the Welsh mountains.”

  Rob laughed.

  “It sounds as if Corfu’s doing you a bit of good. Enjoying it?” Suzy asked.

  “I’m feeling a lot more relaxed and getting my head round a few things … starting to make a list of things I need to do when I get back. How’s the baby? He or she behaving in there?”

  “All’s fine. Still got a way to go, so fingers crossed. Listen, Joe had to nip out, but he asked me to ask you if you could do a conference call with a client. He didn’t say which one … something about a change of requirement. He asked if he could Skype you at twelve-thirty your time tomorrow morning?”

  Rob thought it strange that Joe should not have called himself. Even if he were out, he still had Bluetooth in the car. “That’s fine. Is Joe alright? He usually phones himself … not that I’m complaining about your dulcet tones, you understand.”

  “He’s fine. I asked him to nip out for me and he was a bit concerned about phoning you too late, so he said he’d go if I gave you a ring while he was out. Seems this is quite important. He was getting uptight about it.”

  “You don’t know who the client is?”

  “I’m sorry, no,” Suzy replied apologetically.

  “No problem, I’ll talk to him at half twelve.”

  28

  Monday morning, Rob was running back up from the beach and realised it was the start of a new working week. He’d left a bit earlier as the days were getting hotter earlier. He was amazed at the difference a week could make to the average temperatures in an area like Corfu.

  Back on to the main road, he wiped sweat from his eyes as he approached the villa. His phone had pinged as he was going through the village with a text from Joe asking if all was still okay for half twelve. Without breaking stride, he’d replied, “Si, no problemo.”

  Joe obviously felt this was an important call and he knew Rob—the silvery-tongued salesman—was better at talking to clients than he was. Joe was happier behind the scenes as the organiser.

  After a shower, he dressed in a white shirt, in case the mystery client was on the Skype call, and a pair of loud shorts, which no one would see during the call. As 12.30 approached, he opened up Skype on the laptop, prepared a coffee in the espresso machine, and carried both to the table on the terrace. At 12.30 on the nose, Rob’s laptop sprung to life; Joe Harper was calling. He clicked the icon and a few seconds later Joe smiled at him from the screen.

  “Good morning campers,” Joe shouted in his best Hi-de-Hi! impression.
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br />   “It may be morning for you, but it’s afternoon here. Some of us have already done half a day’s work,” Rob chided.

  “Half a day’s work?” Joe responded. “You haven’t done half a day’s work this month, never mind this morning. You’re probably just up, you lazy sod.”

  “I wish,” said Rob, laughing. “I’ve been for a run and swim already. It’s a beautiful morning, Joe. In fact, it’s been a beautiful morning every morning, truth be told. This is a cracking place. Lovely and quiet, beautiful views, wonderful beach, and the villa itself is amazing. Bit big for just me, but there you go.”

  “Like I said, it was all Suzy’s doing, so it was always going to be first-rate. Tell me more.”

  As Rob explained the morning, he idly watched a black Mercedes taxi stop at the gated entrance and someone wearing a wide-brimmed hat get out. A minute later, the intercom buzzed.

  “Hang on, someone’s here. Let me find out who it is. Back in a mo.” Rob sauntered to the intercom. “Yes?”

  “Rob?” a woman’s voice asked tentatively.

  He stood in stunned silence.

  “Rob, are you there?”

  “Tina, is that you?” Rob asked in disbelief.

  “Can we talk, please?” Her voice quivered slightly.

  “O-of course, c-come in,” Rob spluttered and pressed the entry button. He replaced the handset and walked down to the drive as the gate swung open. There stood Justine, wearing the same pale blue suit she’d worn the night they first met and a wide brimmed straw hat. She had a suitcase. Rob couldn’t believe his eyes. As he approached, Justine removed the hat and he could see tears running down her cheeks.

  “Rob, I’m sorry, I’ve been so stupid. I don’t know what I’ve done to us, but I know I love you. You risked your life for me and I just ran away from you and—”

  “Whoa! Stop right there.” Rob stepped forward, put his arms round her, and pulled her close. “I don’t quite know what’s happening here, but I do know that I love you too, and I want you as a part of my life.” He kissed her forehead and wiped away her tears with his thumbs. “Please don’t cry, darlin’. Come on into the house.”

  Rob dropped her bag in the foyer upon entering, took a step, then slapped his head. “Joe’s on Skype! We were talking when you arrived.” He hastened onto the terrace and adjusted the screen. Joe had ended the call.

  His smartphone pinged him to advise that a new message had arrived. Joe’s message: I love it when a plan comes together.

  Rob laughed and turned to Justine, standing in the doorway. “I’ve been set up here.”

  “It was Suzy and Joe’s idea. I didn’t know how you’d react … I thought maybe you hated me for the way I’d treated you.” She smiled and, as she stepped before him, he wrapped his arms around her. “Joe invited me over for lunch on Saturday and the two of them said you’d been trying to talk to me, but not getting any response.” She smiled ruefully. “Suzy and I had a long talk about my past and my hang-ups, and she told me—if I wanted you—I had to fly to Corfu and talk to you. She booked the flight and arranged the call to make sure you’d be here.”

  She stared intently into his eyes. “Do you really love me Rob?”

  “I do … I thought I’d lost you, because of what happened on Achravie. Please believe me, I could never hurt someone I care about.”

  “I know that now. I panicked back there. I couldn’t stand another violent relationship. I knew you and Joe had killed men in the past, as soldiers, but that was what you’d been trained to do. Suzy and Joe assured me that never crossed over into your personal life. We talked for ages about you and I told them what I felt about you, but that you’d really frightened me. As Joe pointed out though, you walked into a situation to save Lorna and me, knowing full well you were risking your own life. You’ve got two really good friends in those two.”

  She drew a deep breath. “There are things about me that I need to share … and discuss. I don’t want any secrets or surprises if we can sort things out between us.” She straightened her jacket. “Do you remember this suit?”

  “You wore it the first time we met. I’ll try not to spill G&T on it this time,” Rob said with a wink.

  “I’m glad you remember … ‘cause I’d like us to start again,” she said softly and dropped the jacket on the settee, then unbuttoned her blouse.

  They left their clothes on the floor and Rob led Justine to the bedroom, where they fell on to the king-sized bed and lost themselves for the next few hours. They made love repeatedly and, late afternoon, finally fell asleep in each other’s arms.

  After showering together, Rob suggested they eat in the village.

  “Sounds good to me,” said Justine, stretching lazily as she took a seat on the settee. “I haven’t had anything all day apart from an EasyJet sandwich.” She regarded him intently and smiled sadly. “I can’t have children, you should know. You did say you wanted to have babies with me.”

  “Joe told me what you said in the car that day and I told him what I’ll tell you now … I don’t care about babies. You’re what’s important to me. That was my clumsy way of telling Joe that I was falling in love with you.”

  “I sometimes feel as if I’m not a whole woman, because I’ll never be able to have a child,” Justine said dolefully. “I cried when I heard what you’d said to Joe … I felt so inadequate.”

  “I really don’t care about children. As long as I’ve got you, I’ve got all I need. As for not being a whole woman, that’s nonsense. You once accused me of treating you as if you were some sort of leggy blond bimbo, whose only assets were good tits and a nice arse.” He smiled fleetingly. “You’ve got those and more. You’re beautiful, Tina, but more than that you’re intelligent, witty, fun and sensitive—you’re everything I ever wanted in a woman and till I met you, was never been able to find.” Rob explained, holding his hand out to Justine and pulling her off the settee to hold her close to him.

  “I didn’t believe Joe when he said you wouldn’t care. I was dreading your reaction, but I knew I had to tell you,” she said, looking and sounding relieved.

  “Let’s add honest to that list of assets,” Rob smiled cheerily. “But seriously, it’s not an issue.” He kissed her cheek. “Shower?”

  A hot shower on a June day on Corfu is not a good idea so Rob and Justine stood under a cool, refreshing spray of water and slowly lathered each other’s bodies, exploring each other’s curves, muscles, and recesses. Justine wanted to know what the wounds and the scars on Rob’s arms, leg and shoulder were while Rob just marvelled at the smooth, texture of the skin which covered Justine’s perfectly proportioned body. They rinsed off the lather and dried off using the large fluffy bath towels which the villa supplied in abundance and then got dressed leisurely in the bedroom. Justine wore a pair of white linen trousers and a floaty navy-blue and-white striped white top with a pair of white Sketchers casual shoes, while Rob opted for a pair of pale grey jeans and a navy shirt and with a pair of navy GEOX moccasin shoes.

  It was still daylight when they left, but as it would be dark when they returned and there were no streetlights on the road to the village. Rob tucked a little Maglite torch in his pocket.

  As they walked through the village, lights were on in the shops, bars and restaurants. They stopped at Jimmy’s Restaurant and enquired about a table outside on the terrace. A cheery, chatty waiter showed them to their table and quickly brought menus and a wine list.

  As they waited for the main meal, they sipped wine and nibbled bread with oil and balsamic vinegar, and chatted about how picturesque and pleasant everything was. Once the food arrived, Rob decided to ask what had been on his mind for the last few hours. “What made you decide to come looking for me?”

  “Joe, Suzy and Lorna. I think they could all see that I didn’t want to lose you, and they seemed adamant that you felt the same, so they convinced me that the Rob MacLaine that I saw on Achravie was not the Rob MacLaine that they knew. Suzy said you were a lovely guy wh
o needed the right person to love you.”

  “Have you spoken to Lorna since you got back to London?” Rob asked

  “She came to see me … begged me not to end our relationship … said you were devastated that I wouldn’t talk to you and that you loved me. She told me all about the Robbie MacLaine she grew up with, the things you did together, how you were taken away after the accident and she lost touch with you till the other week. She thinks the sun shines out of your backside by the way.” She smiled wryly. “I wish I had a friend like Lorna.”

  “How did she know where to find you?”

  “Joe told her. Listening to what these guys said about you, and seeing how they felt about you, helped me understand where the violence came from. As Joe said, if you hadn’t reacted like that, we might have been killed. I also understand where Lorna fits in, I must admit I was very jealous of Lorna initially, but I know now she’s not a threat to us.”

  The waiter stopped by to check all was well and top up wine glasses, and she waited until he was out of hearing range before continuing.

  “About four years ago, I met a guy at the gym I frequented. We went out, became a couple, and after a while Harry moved in with me. A few months down the line, he lost his job. Later, I learned he’d been reported by a female colleagues for sexual harassment and had been sacked when he reacted badly to the accusation. He hit that woman the day he lost his job, and she ended up in the hospital.

  “Harry started drinking quite heavily and was very frustrated at not being able to find another job. He claimed it was because his boss was being childish and wouldn’t give him a decent reference. Again, I found out later, it was because word had got out about the accusations and the assault.” She shook her head, peered into the distance and sighed. “The more frustrated he got, the more he drank, and the more aggressive he became. Not with me at first, but gradually he started to shout and throw things around the flat, and eventually he started to hit me … not often initially, but as time passed, it happened more regularly and with more aggression.