When they arrived at the plaza, where most of the action would be kicking off from, they were greeted by the manager, who led them straight up to the small roof terrace. From what Taylor could see, their spot was one of the only ones that allowed spectators to actually see what was unfolding.And what a sight it was. Tens of thousands of men, women and children were crammed into the plaza and the surrounding narrow streets. Many of the shop fronts and homes had been protected with huge plastic sheets. Scores of mostly young men were attempting to shimmy their way up a two-story pole with what looked like a hock of ham at the top, but he guessed it must be greased, for the men got no further than a couple of feet before sliding back down on top of each other, only to immediately try again.Chairs had been laid out for them; the terrace was safe enough for the kids to jump up and down with the excitement of it all.Never in his wildest dreams had Taylor imagined he would take a day off
“More wine?”Dianne blinked. She’d been a thousand miles away.She breathed deeply and fixed a smile on her face. “Go on, then. We might as well order our food too.” They’d been in the restaurant for an hour and still there was no sign of her dad. Neither did he answer his phone.“Are you sure?”She gazed back at the menu open on her lap. She didn’t want to look at Taylor or the sympathy radiating from him.He was only an hour late. For her dad, that was nothing. As a kid, she’d often spent whole days waiting for him to arrive.Definitely. The minute we order is the minute he’ll arrive,’ she said brightly. ‘You wait, he’ll be here any second.’Of course he will,’ Taylor agreed, with eyes that said he thought the total opposite.She snatched up her glass and downed the last of the red liquid. Forget bouquets of blackcurrant and cinnamon and whatever else it was reputed to have, the only attribute she cared for was its anaesthetic quality.She was an adult now, she reminded herself, and
Taylor tried to keep his features composed, not to let Dianne see the anger her words were provoking in him.He had little doubt that if her father walked into the restaurant at that moment, he would connect his fist to his face with all the force in his possession. How that man had the nerve to call himself a father...How Dianne had managed to grow up into the warm, compassionate woman she was today stumped him too.“Can we go home?” She asked. I’ve got a headache.She did look pale.He called for the bill and discreetly told the waitress to cancel the cake waiting in the kitchen that was to have been brought out when their meal had finished. Getting to his feet, he felt in his pocket for the square box. He would give Dianne her present when they got home, after a relaxing massage and a bottle of champagne. He would spoil her rotten and make this a birthday to remember for all the right reasons.But first he had to get them home. The streets surrounding the restaurant were gridlock
“Then what? I loved you.’Her eyes became pincers. If you loved me as much as you say you did, then why did you try to change me?I didn’t try to change you.’Well, that’s what it felt like, “she said, a tremor carrying in her voice. She rubbed her forehead. Before we’d even exchanged our vows, you’d thrown tutors at me to teach me elocution and all that other stuff. You got your sister to take me shopping to all the best places; you hired me my own personal trainer and dietician... The only reason you went to all that effort was because I wasn’t good enough for you and your perfect family as I was.”For the last time, I was trying to help you fit in.And why was that? It was because I didn’t fit in.’He slammed his fist on the steering wheel. ‘I was trying to protect you!’Astonishment crossed her features. Protect me from what?“From my world and the people who live in it. I didn’t want you in social situations where you felt intimidated or unable to hold your own.”The only sounds
Grabbing her bag, she slipped out of the car and slammed the door with so much force the Lotus shook.Taylor stared at her rapidly retreating figure, his heart thumping, something sharp tearing at his throat.What the hell had just happened?It took a few heartbeats before the shock of her reaction dislodged him and his body unfroze.He unbuckled his seat belt, jumped out and, ignoring the dozens of angry drivers honking and waving their fists at him, slammed his own door shut.For a moment, he couldn’t see her, and there were seconds when his heart seemed to stop with the panic of it all. Then he spotted her, already far in the distance in the middle of a crowded pavement.Dianne slipped through the crowds and into a narrow side street where cars were banned, not knowing and not caring where she was going. All that mattered was escape.A hand grabbed her arm. Her throat opened to scream, but then she saw it was Taylor who had hold of her.She yanked out of his grasp. “Taylor, please,
Taylor let himself into the villa and threw his keys on the sideboard.The house sat in silence, the staff having long since retired for the night.He rubbed his temples and headed to the bar. After fixing himself a strong drink, he sat on a stool, used the remote to turn the television on, and flicked through the sports channels until he found the highlights of the evening’s La Liga games.Sipping at his drink, he concentrated on watching Barcelona demolish Celta Viga. There were some good goals to enjoy and ordinarily he would have been cheering his team on football. His guilty pleasure.Tonight, though, he was distracted. Something in his trouser pocket was digging into the top of his thigh. He should pick it out.Instead, he waited for the advertisements to finish, swallowed his drink, and poured himself another.The damn thing still dug into him.With a grimace, he shoved his hand into the pocket and fished the small square box out. Without looking at it, he stuck it on the bar a
She sat up straight, suddenly as certain of something as she’d ever been in all her life.Taylor loved her with all her imperfections.She jumped to her feet, bouncing, then slumped back down as another thought occurred to her.He might love her, but she’d hurt him badly. His pride was enormous, and she’d wounded it not once, but twice.He might not want to listen to her. Even if he did listen, he could still walk away.Oh, get some backbone, she snapped at herself. If he walks away, it’ll be nothing less than you deserve. You’ll still live.It is better to try than to spend the rest of her life wondering what if.But before she could do anything, she realized there was something that needed to be taken care of first.She’d spent the years of their marriage searching for her self-respect. Somewhere in their short time together, she’d found it. She didn’t know where or when, but it had nestled inside her. And now she needs to claim it. Until she claimed it and embraced it, she would ne
She was wearing a royal-blue lace dress that fell to mid-thigh and displayed her gorgeous curves; her now even lighter blonde hair was loose around her shoulders. She wore black heels, which made her fabulous legs appear even longer.Even with the distance between them, he could see the animation in her eyes.A tall man he recognized—possibly a famous American singer—stepped in front of her and the contact was broken.Everyone took their seats.The wine was poured and the evening began.Course after course was brought out to them by an army of attentive waiting staff, laughter filling the room, overshadowing the piano player in the corner.Through it all, through all the conversations he had with the others at his table, Taylor’s eyes didn’t stray far from his wife.Dianne's table of twelve looked as if they were enjoying themselves immensely, and she chatted away happily as she ate her food. Every so often, she would look over to him and catch his eye, and he would feel that pull tha