Two Days in Biarritz Read Online Free Page A

differently. She was defined by her status as Mrs Annabel Hamilton and she wished to remain that way until she died. She had her kids to think about and her mother while she was still alive. They would be distraught if her marriage failed. Annabel had a lot of other people to think about in every aspect of her life and she couldn’t be as flippant as Kate. But it had always been that way. Annabel watched from the sidelines as Kate went ahead and did everything she wanted to do.
    “I think in life, there are two types of people,” she blurted out. “Those who know what they want and go out and get it and those who don’t know what they want so they go around doing what everyone else expects of them!”
    “Where did that come from? ” Kate asked. “I was busy taking in the spectacular view and dodging the twenty-foot spray!”
    Annabel paused. She had hardly noticed the rugged rocks in hues of yellow ochre and burnt umber jutting out of the sea. Kate was standing at the footbridge that led to a viewing point and was considering crossing.
    She beckoned to Annabel. “Will we?”
    “You see what I mean. I don’t know if I want to go over there and get battered by the waves but you just do it.”
    “Are you Okay?”
    “I’m deeply troubled by the way you called your marriage a contract actually.” Annabel’s voice was a pitch higher than usual.
    “ I think you were the one who came up with that word. Anyway life’s full of change and that’s the time I was allocated to spend with Stefan, that’s all.”
    “How can you be so matter of fact?”
    “Annabel, I was married before, remember? It might only have been for a few months but when Harry died I dealt with it and I had two babies waiting to be born inside me.”
    Annabel felt naïve and inadequate next to her friend who had experienced so many different facets of human life.
    Kate sighed. “Have you ever known me to be without a man . . . well, apart from now.”
    “Apart from now? No , actually.”
    “There you go, there’s someone better out there just waiting for me. I did love Stefan , I was with him long enough, but to be honest he wasn’t the love of my life and you know that.”
    Annabel knew exactly what Kate was saying. More than that , she understood exactly how that felt, but unlike her friend she couldn’t admit it to anyone, much less herself.
    “I saw him in Toulouse, you know, about three years ago,” Kate said in a calm voice. “He was doing a refresher course on the Airbus. He’s a captain now for AirJet.”
    “You mean Shane?” Annabel asked quietly.
    Kate didn’t flinch but stared out at the rolling waves.
    “I heard he moved to the south side,” Annabel continued. “His wife’s from Dalkey. I haven’t seen him in years.”
    “He told me all about his wife. He was only just married and still fid dling around with the thin gold band on his wedding finger. It didn’t sit comfortably, he said. Do you know it had been ten years since I’d seen him? He hadn’t changed a bit. He still rocked me.”
    “I can only imagine. What did you do?”
    “I was visiting a small gallery that Fabian told me about. His brother’s friend’s or someone like that. It was a Saturday and I was meant to bring the kids with me but as luck would have it one of the neighbours took them. I had just parked the car and was walking along when I saw him, in a T-shirt and jeans like he used to always wear. Only I think the T-shirt was Lacoste .”
    “He wouldn’t have been seen dead in that in the old days.” Annabel was wondering how she didn’t hear this story from Kate before now.
    “He walked straight towards me as if we’d arranged to meet. It was so bizarre. He had three hours until the flight simulator was free and he was looking for so mething to bring back to Natasha.”
    “Easy does it , girl, I can hear the cattiness in your voice.”
    “I’m sure she’s a lovely girl. She’d have to be, for Shane to marry her. I hated listening