Page 69 of A Seaside Escape
‘Mallory!’ Greg called to her. She looked over to where he sat. ‘Can you talk?’
Now her subconscious screamed a hundred sarcastic retorts, but she couldn’t bring herself to say any of them out loud.
‘What are you doing here? I thought you were out walking,’ she said dryly.
‘Aye, I was but I wanted to talk to you…alone… so I asked Alice to head on without me. I’ll meet her back at the house.’ He looked at his shoes.
So, she’s staying with him too. How cosy.
She sighed. ‘What did you want to talk about?’ she asked coldly.
‘Will you sit for a while?’ He gestured to the other side of the table.
Reluctantly, she sat down, placing the milk and her purse side by side.
‘I haven’t seen you for a while, how are you?’
‘I’m fine thanks. Is that it because I have people coming.’
‘To view the house?’ He picked at a splinter of wood protruding from the table.
‘Yes. Not that it’s anything to do with you.’
‘Why do you have to be so hostile, Mallory? Nothing has changed for me. I wish you’d realise that.’
‘It’s of no consequence to me how you feel. How is yourwifeliking it here?’ The acerbity of her tone did not taste good, even though she couldn’t help but say what she was thinking.
Greg bit his top lip and shook his head. He was angry and she didn’t blame him really. ‘Okay, we’re being like that, are we? She’s just here to finalise things. That’s all. And I really thought you and I had something a little more mature, Mallory. I thought there were feelings on both sides of this. Clearly I was wrong.’ He looked directly at her, making her fidget uncomfortably.
His words stung and she winced. ‘Greg, you’re married. You kept that fact from me just as I was about to give myself to you. Whilst I was still grieving for thereallove of my life. Excuse me if I’m a little indignant.’
‘Can we at least be civil? Or maybe even friends? We got along so well, Mallory. Don’t you miss that? I know I do.’
‘It’s irrelevant. I can’t trust you. How can we possibly be friends?’ She pushed her glasses up her nose.
‘Okay, well, it was worth a try.’ He sniffed and looked down at the table. ‘Will you do me one thing? Will you tell me if you do sell the house? I would at least like a chance to say goodbye.’
‘Greg, we said goodbye that day in August,’ she said regretfully and left him sitting there.
She walked away from him for the second time that day and again a little piece of her heart broke. She walked fast in case he had decided to follow. He hadn’t.
When she got back to the cottage, she closed her front door behind her and burst into tears – a regular occurrence of late.
*
The young couple who viewed the cottage that afternoon had apparently fallen in love with it and made an offer—albeit a low one—an hour after they left. Mallory noted the anxiety that knotted her insides when the estate agent called with the details but was determined to dismiss the unease. After pushing the niggling worry down she gave an indication to the agent that the offer would need to be increased significantly if she were to consider it and he said he would discuss the matter with the couple and come back to her with any further news.
Her shift started at seven that night. When she arrived outside she was greeted with a sight she would rather not have encountered. The chalkboard she had made for Greg was propped up outside the door and it was evident that her former friend was playing.Great.She was tempted to turn and retreat back to the cosy womb of her newly decorated house. But instead she walked through the door, putting a fraudulent smile on her face. She would be busy so it would all be fine. Wouldn’t it?
She got herself set behind the bar and noticed Greg was sitting in his usual pre-gig spot withher. They were chatting and laughing together. Every so often she would touch his arm or toss her hair. From what Greg had told her of Alice it seemed that old habits, did indeed, die hard. Once again Mallory was reminded of the fickleness of the man who had claimed to loveher. If that was the case why had he brought Alice and paraded her around like his love for Mallory had never existed.
Dammit!Alice looked over and realised that Mallory was glaring in their direction. She muttered something to Greg who turned towards the bar. Mallory quickly dropped her gaze and wiped the glass she was holding so hard that it slipped from her grasp and shards of glass flew everywhere as the vessel shattered.
Greg rushed over. ‘Hey are you okay?’ he enquired, concerned.
‘It’s just broken glass. I’m fine.’
‘Let me help you.’ He grabbed the dustpan and brush from its place on top of the dishwasher, but she snatched it from his hands.
