Free Two Days in Biarritz by Michelle Jackson Page B

love that drawing on your bag – is it meant to be the sun?” Annabel asked.
    She was delighted to have someone to talk to, no matter how reluctantly.
    Kate clicked the roof of her mouth with her tongue. “It’s The Third Eye,” she droned.
    Anna bel didn’t want to ask what The Third Eye was, but she made it her business to find out when she got home, that evening.
    “What date is your birthday?” she said instead. “I’m an Aries, 24 th March.”
    Kate looked sick and Annabel wondered why. She didn’t know that this didn’t suit Kate’s plans at all. She wanted to be the interesting girl at the back of the class that nobody would talk to because they were afraid of her – but this mousy-looking girl seemed intent on changing that. Was this perky girl going to get the hint or not? To make matters worse they had something in common – Kate was an Aries too.
     
    “Cabin crew, your seats for landing, please,” Shane’s voice called over the intercom.
    An air stewardess scurried over to Annabel shortly before the tall ESB towers in Dublin Bay came into view.
    “The captain would like to know if you’re able to meet him for coffee after we arrive in Dublin airport?” she said, with a bat of her long curly eyelashes and pursed-pink lips.
    “Tell him I’d love to!” Annabel replied.
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    The wrought-iron gate seemed heavier to open now than ever before. The gravel pathway crunched under her feet as she drew near the turquoise front door. God, I love this place, she thought. The mountains hung like a velvet drape behind her charming gîtes and she let out a sigh of relief now that she was finally home. The larks sang an accolade in the cypress trees on her return.
    “Let me help you,” Fabian urged, taking the key out of her hand and putting it into the lock for her.
    “Thanks,” Kate replied. “It was great to see you at the station.”
    “Serendipity, ma cherie ,” Fabian grinned. “And we are blessed with more than our fair share living in this beautiful place. Are you not exhausted from your trip to the ocean?”
    “I grew up by the sea, don’t forget!”
    “ Mon dieu, but of course, so tell Fabian everything,” he said with a flick of his wrist to his fringe. “How was your friend?”
    “I need a coffee and cigarette first,” Kate said with a shake of her head.
    “But, Kate, you don’t smoke any more!”
    “I’m taking it up again, Fabian,” Kate replied mysteriously. “I swear, you think you know someone and then . . .”
    “Say no more until we are sitting down and you are able to tell everything.” Fabian developed a spring in his step as they entered the cosy interior with rich burgundy tones on the walls and shiny black tiles on the floor.
    The tall Frenchman opened the weighty pine-door that led into the kitchen. Kate followed anxiously, in a rush to put the percolator on and accelerate the telling of her tale.
    “So, is Annabel still as delicious as that photograph you showed me?” Fabian asked, again brushing back his long black fringe with his fingers and making his nose appear even more prominent than when it draped down over his face.
    “Don’t pretend you fancy her, Fabian!” Kate said scornfully. “We don’t have any secrets and maybe it’s time you told the rest of our friends that you’re gay – most of them suspect it anyway.”
    Fabian was taken aback at Kate’s matter-of-fact tone
    “ Cherie ,” he said with a shake of his head. “I can still appreciate a good-looking woman, can’t I?”
    Kate wiped her brow and her right eye with her hand. It was a habit she had carried with her through life since she was a small child. Her brother Philip had fired a stone at her from his slingshot, missing her right eye by millimetres but cutting the skin under her brow – she resorted to soothing it whenever she was stressed.
    “Fabian, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. You are truly one of my dearest friends – if not the