'Jo, I won't be a sec. I've just got to pop out to the front gate!'
'Okay, I think I've got the perfect outfit for you!' she yelled back. I laughed and closed the door behind me.
Approaching the gate, the woman looked nervous, and a little crazed. I gulped, hoping to God she didn't have a gun underneath that coat. What was I doing? Perhaps Steven should ring the police.
'Miss Robinson, I'm sorry to bother you, I really am. But I really, really need to speak to you about Gavin.'
'Gavin?'
She nodded avidly.
'Who’s Gavin?'
She looked at me as if I was the one who was mad.
'Gavin, the guy you've been... dating.'
'I'm sorry erm, Gina, but I think you have me confused with someone else. I'm not dating anyone called Gavin.'
Suddenly she opened her coat and I stepped back in absolute terror.
I needn't have worried. Hidden inside was just a magazine.
'Gavin,' she said pointing to a photo of me and Luigi, eating in a restaurant just a few days earlier.
'That's not Gavin, that's Luigi.'
But Gina shook her head. 'Nah, it isn't. It's Gavin and he's my husband.'
My mouth went dry and all I could do was stand there, dumb-founded, not saying a word.
'Maybe I should come in?' she asked.
I nodded at her and then looked over towards Steven. With a nod, he unlocked the small pedestrian entrance and Gina followed me back to my house.
'Jo, could you come downstairs please?' I yelled from the bottom of the stairs.
She came happily hopping down, carrying a couple of dresses, but when she caught sight of my face, she dropped them on the floor and rushed to my side.
'Kate?' she whispered.
'This is Gina. Lui... Gavin's wife.'
'Gavin? Who’s Gavin?'
'Luigi.'
'Huh?'
'Apparently, Luigi is Gavin.'
'What? What is going on here?'
I led them both into the living room where the three of us sat down.
Gina suddenly stood back up and took off her coat. Sitting slowly back down, she smiled nervously. 'You have a lovely home.'
'Thanks.'
'Hang on a minute. Who are you?' Jo said sternly.
Clearing her throat, Gina looked from Jo to me and back again.
'I'm Gina Foster and I'm married to Gavin Foster. Here, look,' she said as she plunged her hands into her enormous zebra print handbag and pulled out a small photo album. Opening it, she revealed several wedding photos of her, wearing the most hideous meringue of a dress, next to a man wearing a blue suit. There was no doubt about it. It was Luigi.
My hand covered my mouth and I looked up at Jo, whose face was one of extreme disgust. I guess she didn't like the dress.
'You're telling me that your husband has been pretending to be someone else in order to begin a relationship with my best friend?'
Gina nodded.
'But why? Why would he do such a thing?'
'The money,' I whispered.
Gina nodded.
'How long have you been married to him, Gina?'
'Thirteen years. But we've known each other since we were like, five or something.'
'So you knew him when he lost his brother in the fire?'
'Huh? He never lost any of his brothers in a fire. They all came to the wedding. Look,' she said as she turned the page and pointed to another photo of her with Luigi, or Gavin, or whatever his name was, with a bunch of other men, who all looked remarkably similar.
'Did he ever go to Skegness?' I asked through gritted teeth.
'Skegness? Yeah, we used to go all the time,' she said with a smile.
'In fact, I've got more pictures of when we were kids and went on holiday there. You see, our parents were best friends and we used to rent caravans there. Look, there's me with Gavin when he was about twelve or thirteen, I think.'
I couldn't bear to look but I did. There, standing with a mousy-haired skinny little girl was a boy I'd never set eyes on before.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
I'm ashamed to admit that I cried for days after Gina left. I refused to see the scum bag, Luigi, Gavin, whatever - and I asked Tony and Paul to deal with him when he came to collect me for our 'date'. I think Jo slapped him, too, but it was all a bit of a blur.
Eventually, Jo had to go home to her daughter and I had to force the rest of my friends to leave me alone. I told them I was fine. They knew I wasn't. But they also knew I needed time on my own to sort out my head. I tried to call Mum, but mobile phone signals weren't particularly good where she was so I couldn't get through. I'd hoped she'd call me back but I was still waiting, four days later.
Sitting on the sofa, with a duvet over me and a mass of takeaway boxes around my feet, I felt ashamed of myself. I wasn't this person. I didn't react to things this way. I was strong, wasn't I?
Thinking back to the last time my mum had called, I remembered everything that Abika woman had said. It was so obvious now. She'd practically warned me about Luigi. He was after my money. And he'd gone to such ridiculous lengths to fool me - even arranged for his very first letter to be sent via Rome. Jeez.
All he'd wanted was the cash. It was clear as day. And I'd been too bloody stupid to notice. Too convinced by his stupid lies that he was the one. The one I'd been searching for my entire life.
I was such an idiot.
I flicked the channels for the thousandth time that morning (and it was only - I glanced at the clock - 9.22am) and settled on Heir Hunters, which made me laugh out loud as I blew my red nose and dropped the snotty tissue on the floor, on top of the mountain of other snotty tissues down there.
The sound of the phone ringing didn't bother me anymore. It had been ringing on and off for the past three days and I chose to ignore every call. The only person I'd speak to was Mum and so far, there had been no call from Africa.
When the constant banging on my front door began to drive me insane, I had no choice but to go and open it.
'Surprise!'
'Mum,' I cried, falling over myself to get to her.
'How? Why? What? Oh my god. I can't believe you're here. I'm so happy to see you. Where's Nick? Are you staying for long? Oh, Mum,' I cried, breaking down in tears for the umpteenth time that week.
'I know, I know, my angel. Now let me come in and we'll talk it all over.'
Pushing me backwards, I noticed her do a little wave to someone outside. Taking a quick peek, I spotted Tony standing with his arm casually draped over Zara. Both smiled sadly at us before they walked back indoors.
'Well, this is all very swanky, isn't it?' she marvelled.
'No, not really. It's just a bit different from the African bush, that's all Mum.'
'Well, you can say that again. Where's the kitchen? I'm parched.'
Dropping her only bag onto the floor, I led her through and immediately put the kettle on.
'Tea okay?'
'Oh, you sit down, my angel, let me do it. Now, tell me. I want to know exactly what happened?' she asked as she opened every cupboard door trying to find some cups.
'It was just as your friend said it would be.'
'My friend?'
'Yeah, Akiba?'
Chuckling, she threw back her head. 'You mean Akwasibah?'
'Yeah that's it. Akwasibah. Everything happened just as she said it would. I should have listened. I should have known. Why did I do it? Why did I follow such a pathetic little girl's childhood dream?'
Mum walked over to me and put her arms around me, pulling me close, like only a mother can. She held me so tightly that I felt safe and comforted. It felt like her touch made everything instantly better.
'There there, angel. It's not the end of the world. You were taken advantage of by a cruel man. Unfortunately, it happens all the time. The difference with you,' she said, as she pulled back and touched the end of my nose with her finger (just like she used to do when I was really litt
le), 'is that you will learn from it and won't let anyone take advantage of you again. This whole experience will make you stronger. I promise you that.'
'Thanks, Mum. But it's not just about Lui- Gavin. It's about my stupidity for believing that I could hold onto a dream and make it come true. A dream that was so far-fetched and idiotic in the first place. I feel like the world's biggest idiot and the worst part? Everybody knows about it. It's like everyone in England knows what a foolish moron I am. I don't feel like I can step out of my front door... ever... again.'
'Oh, pooh, nonsense. Nobody thinks you're a fool at all. Remember when your story first came out?'
I nodded shyly.
'Remember people's reactions?'
'Not really,' I pouted, not wanting to think about it.
'They all thought it was incredibly romantic and they were all rooting for you. They all wanted you to find him. So many women were living vicariously through you, my angel. Don't you realise that?'
I shook my head like a little girl.
'How do you know all this?'
She smiled sheepishly. 'I've been keeping up to date with everything.'
'What do you mean, you've been keeping up to date with everything, exactly?'
'I have my ways.'
'Mum?'
'Oh alright,' she said, putting the kettle back down onto the worktop. 'I got a friend to send me all the magazine articles, newspaper clippings and recordings of everything with you in it.'
'Oh my god, Mum, really?'
'I'm sorry. I couldn't help it. You're my daughter, I didn't want to miss anything. I wasn't snooping or anything, I promise it wasn't like that.'
A giggle erupted from the depths of my stomach and suddenly came out of my mouth with hardly any warning.
Mum stopped talking and stood staring at me.
'You're not mad?' she asked gingerly.
Shaking my head, the laughter continued to come. 'Of - course - not,' I stuttered. 'Oh Mum, I'm happy. I'm so glad you did this.'
'You... are?'
Nodding in between deep breaths, I watched her face soften as a smile lightened her face and soon we were both howling with laughter. Not really knowing why, but knowing that we needed it. We really, really needed it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
A few days later, Mum threw a party. She called it the 'FAF Party' (Forget About Fred) and she invited everyone that mattered. The only people who were missed were my dad, of course (but that would have been a bit awkward), and Liz and Jorge (who couldn't leave the Azores at such short notice), who phoned just before it started, to give me a massive phone hug. It was almost like they were passing me their energy through the phone and it gave me such a buzz that when I opened the door to my first guest, I nearly knocked Tiffany onto the floor.
'Oh WOW, you're obviously feeling a little better?' she laughed as I grabbed her hand and led her through into the kitchen, where Mum was ready with the fruit punch she'd insisted on making - it went perfectly with the rest of the seventies-style buffet she'd prepared, including mushroom vol-au-vents, pineapple and cheese on sticks, pigs in blankets, cheese straws and melon balls among other things.
She'd gone a bit mad, using the excuse that she hadn't had the chance to make party food for years.
'Party food isn't exactly popular with the African tribes I live with, dear.'
'Tiffany, I'd like you to meet my mum, Angela. Mum, this is...'
'Tiffany Chantelle,' Mum whispered, approaching her with her arms outstretched. 'What an honour to meet you. I loved you in Into The Dark Lands. That was such a powerful performance from you. I watched it about twenty times.'
'You did?' I asked, surprised she'd been able to watch a movie that wasn't actually that old.
Nodding, she turned to me with a grin. 'We stayed in the city a couple of years ago and there was a makeshift cinema there. Into The Dark Lands was the most popular film they showed. I hadn't realised how much I missed the movies, so I kept going back. I think I drove Nick insane.'
'Oh wow, that's lovely, Angela. Thank you,' said Tiffany, who was genuinely moved.
'Here, you must try my special fruit punch. It's got a bit of a kick to it,' she said as she handed the pink juice to her in a champagne glass.
'Oh gosh,' Tiffany coughed. 'It certainly does. But it's absolutely delicious. You could market this. You'd make a fortune.'
I glanced at Mum who blushed slightly.
'Mum's not really interested in money. She lives with various different tribes in deepest Africa.'
'Really? That's amazing. You must tell me more about it. I'd love...'
I left them chatting as more guests arrived.
Soon, the house was full of laughter as my dearest friends surrounded me with love and support as I tried to forget the exploits of a man I had found myself falling for.
The wine, and fruit punch, flowed as Mum regaled everyone of tales of the African bush and of the many witch doctors she'd met over the years. She had them literally hanging on her every word. It was weird how she'd changed since I was a child. She was more confident, more outgoing and even more beautiful. Africa suited her. Or perhaps it was Nick. Or both. Either way, I was so proud to call her my mum.
Stepping down into the lounge much later on, balancing several cups of coffee on a small tray, I overheard Tony telling everyone about Luigi - Gavin's - pathetic exit out of my life.
'...and then Jo slapped him hard across the face. He stumbled backwards on the step, falling right into Steven, the security guard on duty, who man-handled him right out the gate where his wife was waiting for him with a look of death on her face. Gina, wasn't it, Kate?' he asked as I placed the tray on the coffee table. Leaning over and nodding, the blood rushed to my head. Feeling a little dizzy, I closed my eyes for a second, just as Mum arrived with the cream and sugar. Noticing, she caught my arm and gently led me to the sofa where I sat down.
'You okay, honey?' asked Tiffany.
'I'm fine,' I smiled. 'It's just the alcohol.'
'Did you eat anything?' Mum asked, looked worried.
'Actually, no. I guess I forgot.'
Mum rushed straight up the steps to the kitchen, returning with a small plate piled high with food. Then she stood over me, making sure I ate every bite. I felt like a child again, as someone asked about the magazine article that was due out in a few weeks.
'Kate doesn't have to worry about that. I've made some, er, rather drastic changes so that Luigi doesn't get any coverage - other than a little box at the bottom of the page warning other women about him,' Julianne grinned.
I smiled gratefully.
'I've also reduced the spread significantly. I realise now how I used Kate to help sell magazines and I'm absolutely disgusted with myself,' she said, seemingly rubbing a tear from her eye. 'I hope you'll forgive me.'
Shaking my head and swallowing the last sausage roll, I said, 'There's nothing to forgive. I understand what happened to me was big news and I'd rather you had more coverage than any other magazine.'
'You are such a sweetheart. Do you know that?'
I laughed quietly.
'You are, Katie,' Jo reiterated, as everyone else nodded.
'Thanks, guys, that's sweet. And so are all of you. I love you guys but I've decided to leave you all for a while.'
'What?' Jo almost yelped as I nodded and looked at my mum who patted my hand.
'I've decided to leave England, just for a while, to try and sort myself out.'
'But where will you go?' asked Anna with a look of horror plastered across her face.
'The Azores, New York and Toronto.'
'Are you going on your own?' asked Tony.
I nodded.
'But how long will you be gone?' asked Zara.
'I haven't decided yet, but I was thinking maybe a few months,' I shrugged, taking a gulp of hot coffee. 'I need to go over to the Azores to see how Liz is getting on, see if she needs my help with anything. Then I really do need to head over to New York a
nd Toronto, to check out my new homes over there. It just seems like the right thing to do. I think it will help me to find me again, if you know what I mean.'
'Sure we do,' said Mum as she patted my hand again.
'But we'll miss you,' Jo cried as she rushed to my side to hug me tightly.
'I'll miss you, too. But I need to do this.'
'I know and I understand. You will call, won't you?'
'Of course.'
'And, if you need me, you know I'll be on the first plane, right?'
'I know.'
'I'll contact the solicitors in New York and Toronto and tell them to expect you,' Tony said, with a sad smile.
'Thanks, Tony.'
'When are you leaving?' hiccupped a red-faced Tiffany, who'd drunk a little too much punch.
'Saturday.'
'Saturday?' Jo almost shrieked. 'But that's only two days away.'
I smiled, nodding. 'I wanted to leave tomorrow but Mum convinced me that I'd need a little longer to prepare myself.'
'And speaking of which, I must head on upstairs and pack. I have an early flight to catch in the morning,' said Mum as she lifted herself off the side of the sofa and stretched her arms and legs. 'It has been wonderful to meet you all,' she said as the others all stood to say goodbye. 'I'm delighted that my angel has so many wonderfully supportive close friends. I shall return to Africa happy in the knowledge that she will never be alone.'
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
The ocean was even more blue than I remembered. So was the sky, even though the sun had not yet risen wholly above the horizon. It was so peaceful.
Glancing down from my private balcony, I watched the yoga teacher and seven others on the immaculate lawns below. As they practised the downward dog and the upward leopard (or whatever the poses were called), I smiled. Liz and Jorge had done the most amazing job in turning Casa Linda into a real health and beauty retreat. Apparently bookings were on the up, and they'd even been approached by a number of celebrities who were looking for somewhere to recharge their batteries without the worry of the paparazzi hiding in the bushes. And that was even before the official launch. It was amazing.