‘A bit. But it’s all completely different now. It feels different.’ All the walnut fittings had been ripped out, replaced with ultra-modern units in shades of palest grey. ‘Is Ingrid definitely not here?’
‘She’s visiting a client in Madrid. Back tomorrow night. Coming back,’ he amended, ‘and moving out the next morning. Can’t wait.’
‘You might change your mind.’
‘I won’t.’ Benny was firm.
‘What happened?’
‘She’s been seeing someone else.’
‘Oh no, I’m so sorry.’
‘These things happen. It’s not the first time.’ Benny grimaced. ‘Or the second or the third. Sven’s an old boyfriend. They’ve been sleeping together on and off for years, but he’s married. When Ingrid first moved in with me, I think she only did it to teach him a lesson, to make him jealous and realise that he needed to leave his wife. Except it didn’t happen. I was an idiot, I know that now. I thought she needed to get him out of her system and then she’d be able to settle down with me.’ Drily he added, ‘Because that’s how gullible I am. But the last couple of years haven’t exactly been great. And that’s an understatement.’
‘This is so sad.’ She might not be a fan of Ingrid, but Rosa’s heart went out to him.
‘Sad in one way,’ he admitted. ‘On the bright side, it means I’ve had plenty of time to get used to the idea that sooner or later we’d be going our separate ways. Honestly? It’s kind of a relief.’
‘Well in that case, maybe we should celebrate. If I had a bottle of champagne right now, I’d open it.’ Rosa held up an imaginary glass and clinked it against the imaginary glass in Benny’s hand. ‘Cheers! Here’s to you and to the start of your fabulous new life!’
‘There’s a bottle in the fridge.’ Benny made to slide down from his stool. ‘Shall I open it?’
‘Oh gosh, I’m supposed to be working this afternoon. I have a doll to finish.’
His eyes twinkled. ‘Just one glass wouldn’t hurt, would it?’
‘Go on then. You’re a terrible influence.’
He fetched the bottle and a pair of non-invisible glasses. ‘Who’s the doll for?’
‘A three-year-old boy in Singapore. Poor little chap was born without arms.’
‘Did you ever hear from that woman again? The one with the granddaughter?’
‘Oh for heaven’s sake, get away!’ Flustered, Rosa batted her hand at a wasp that had landed on the table. She’d posted the doll off to Pamela Baker by recorded delivery and had kind of expected to receive a thank-you letter, but nothing had arrived. Oh well.
‘I know what we said to you at the time, but I did feel a bit bad about it afterwards.’ Benny’s smile was rueful as he tore the foil off the top of the bottle and loosened the wire cage. ‘It’s a shame you threw those letters away, because I kept thinking afterwards, what if it wasn’t a scam? If you still had the address I’d have paid you to make the doll and send it to her.’
Pop went the cork; they both jumped as it ricocheted off the ceiling, and Rosa clapped her hands in delight.
‘If Ingrid was here now,’ said Benny, ‘she’d be shaking her head. Apparently letting the cork pop is what common people do.’
‘It’s my favourite sound in the world.’ Rosa beamed at him. ‘I love it. And if Ingrid was here now, I wouldn’t be here at all.’ When the champagne had been poured, she said, ‘Here’s to happier times ahead.’
‘Cheers.’ Benny’s eyes crinkled at the corners.
‘And I’m so glad you said that about the doll. It’s nice that you wanted to pay for it.’
‘Why are you looking at me like that? Do you still have her address?’
She nodded. ‘I have her address.’
‘Yes!’ Benny was delighted. ‘I’ll give you the money. Let’s do it.’
He really was a lovely man. Warmed by his change of heart, Rosa took a sip of Veuve Clicquot and confessed, ‘I already did.’
He started to laugh. ‘You sent it? I might have guessed. I bet the grandmother was over the moon.’
Rosa shrugged and broke into an unrepentant grin. ‘Let’s hope so. I haven’t heard back.’
He winced. ‘You’re kidding.’
‘I know. Don’t tell Red, I’ll never hear the end of it.’
‘And don’t you tell him what I said either.’ By way of a pact, Benny touched his glass against hers. ‘He’d call me a bloody soft touch.’
It was the second day of September and their time together was up. For now at least.
‘Your car’s waiting outside.’ Shay attempted to disentangle himself; Caz was clinging to him like a baby koala.
‘I don’t want to go. Don’t make me!’
But it was kind of necessary that she did. Filming was due to begin the day after tomorrow in Toronto, and the director wouldn’t be thrilled if his lead actress was a no-show.
‘Come on.’ He led her down the centuries-old oak staircase. ‘You’ll love it once you’re there.’
‘I won’t! I want to stay with you . . .’
‘I’m going to be working sixteen hours a day.’
‘Will you miss me, though?’
Shay’s mouth twitched. ‘Of course I’ll miss you.’
She kissed him on the staircase, then again on the pavement outside the hotel. The chauffeur opened the door to the car and Caz gave Shay one last desperate kiss before clambering inside and loudly proclaiming that life was unfair and she was so miserable she just wanted to superglue her mouth shut so she couldn’t even act.
‘Now do you have your passport?’ said the chauffeur.
‘No.’ Caz gave him an innocent look. ‘Lost it. Oh dear, now I can’t go.’
The chauffeur, who had evidently worked with her often enough before not to be alarmed, checked her handbag. ‘Yes, it’s in there.’
‘I hate you. OK, let’s go.’ She clutched Shay’s hand through the open window. ‘Don’t you dare do anything naughty while I’m away. Definitely don’t sleep with the next person who moves into the Midsummer Suite.’
Shay said, ‘I’ll try not to.’
The car moved smoothly off down the high street. When it was out of sight, he turned back and saw Didi behind the desk in reception.
She looked up. ‘It probably won’t happen.’
‘Sorry?’
There was a flash of diamond as she reached up to smooth an errant lock of dark hair behind her ear. ‘Just a couple of hours from now, a big burly American called Myron is going to be moving back into the Midsummer Suite.’
Myron, owner of the troublesome electric toothbrush.
‘Well,’ Shay managed a faint smile, ‘never say never.’
He answered his ringing phone and heard Red’s voice. ‘Are we going over to the house? I thought you were coming to collect me at ten.’
‘Caz was late leaving for the airport.’ She had kept the driver waiting outside for twenty minutes. ‘I’m on my way now.’