Free Out of Sight by Isabelle Grey Page B

he’d had to wait alone for her arrival. Maybe he’d been having similar doubts about the interpretation of his impulsive action. The insight empowered her, and she stopped on the threshold. ‘I’ve had my dinner, thanks.’
    She cast her gaze provocatively up the stairs, but he gave a short laugh, deflecting her, and said, ‘I guess maybe I need a drink.’
    Determined to enjoy this erotic adventure, she leant stagily against the door jamb. ‘And I’d like a kiss.’
    Still edgy, he came to her. She was beginning to understand how, despite his passion, he nevertheless sought to evade responsibility, to repudiate the role of seducer. She wondered if maybe he feared repeating whatever erotic decision or mistake had led to the end of his marriage. And so she chose to be reassuring, slow, seductive, and in the almost frantic sex that followed allowed herself to forget all about having no contraception.
    Although she resolved never to take such a stupid risk again, the few days of uncertainty and forbidden hope that followed opened a door on her thorniest sorrows – that she was thirty-four and desperately wanted to be a mother, and that it was her desperation to have a child that had driven Greg away.

III
    Leonie’s period arrived bang on time a fortnight later. The familiar stomach cramps made her shift around in the car seat as she drove to pick up Stella from the airport. She had taken a couple of days’ holiday herself so they could spend time together. Although fewer of Gaby’s rental properties were occupied in mid-October, there was still plenty of work to do. Inventories had to be checked, repairs organised, recalcitrant owners persuaded to refurbish. Photographs and other details on the website needed to be updated and costings revised, all before the new booking season opened for the following year.
    The autumn colours of the landscape chimed with her dragging sense of regret, of life passing too quickly. She couldn’t wait to set eyes on Stella, the one person in whom she could confide. Leonie had to admit that she was exhausted, strung out. Life was full of intensity and novelty, which was wonderful, but there were too many nights when she and Patrice didn’t sleep until after midnight, when his bed was ridiculously narrow for the two of them.Too many nights when, alone in the more spacious bed in her own apartment, she stayed awake, hoping past all reasonableness that he’d call. She had imagined she would feel more settled by now, more entitled to his consideration, though she wasn’t sure she would care to admit that even to Stella. Besides, this obscure dejection must surely just be hormones. She should buck up and make the most of her friend’s brief weekend visit.
    â€˜Lennie!’ Stella, a big, graceful woman wearing untidy clothes, hugged her fiercely. ‘I can feel your ribs. I hope you’re eating!’
    â€˜I’m absolutely fine. But oh, I’ve missed you!’ Finding relief in the effortless expression of a simple emotion, Leonie bit back the insidious reminder of how she still felt the need to be guarded with Patrice: neither had yet used the L-word, for example, though sometimes it hung in the air between them.
    â€˜Well, I can’t tell you how good it is to be here. I’m shattered.’ Stella surrendered possession of her carry-on case and let Leonie lead the way out of the terminal.
    â€˜But you’re still glad you took the job?’
    â€˜Oh yes. The more I get into it, the more fascinating it is. I’ll fill you in, don’t worry! But first, how soon do I get to meet the man?’
    â€˜Tomorrow probably.’ Waiting for the automatic doors to open, Leonie avoided Stella’s glance. ‘He’s not a great one for arrangements,’ she added, making light of Patrice’s rather trying and, if she was honest, hurtful refusal to benailed down on when he’d come