A Girl Called Tegi (7 page)

She put her hand out to squeeze his and he drew it away sharply.

‘I’m not exciting enough for you, am I?’ he said bitterly. ‘What do I have to do—wear a black leather suit and career around the island on an expensive machine?’

‘What do you mean, Colin?’ she asked with a set face.

‘You know what I mean. All this talk about not liking motorbikes doesn’t prevent you from accepting a lift on one. I know all about you coming home from Douglas on the back of Tony Mastroni’s bike and about him taking you and Gary home in his car after the football game.’

Tegi drew in a deep breath of exasperation. ‘So the wires are buzzing about that, are they? Well, I’m a free agent and I can do as I please. Or did you think I had to ask your permission to go with someone else? Be your age, Colin! I’m only one of many girls Tony Mastroni will take out while he’s here on the island.’

‘But not the girl I go with,’ Colin told her grimly.

Tegi stared out of the window facing them at the view of the bay. Did she really want to break with Colin? There were times when he infuriated her so much, would it not be better to say goodbye here and now and keep out of his life? Until now they had enjoyed an easy friendship, but there was so many times when he reminded her forcibly of the humdrum lives of young marrieds around her—the Cola and crisps brigade.

There must surely be more to life than that? Or was there? Was any other kind of life just pie in the sky?

Did she really want to go and try her wings in some other land, to explore to the full other opportunities of living? She was young, full of life, eager for adventure. The thought had nagged her for years that the island was not just the be-all and end-all
o
f existence, that there actually were wider horizons to be explored.

So often how she found herself reminded of Tony. And she would never be free of the island while she kept in touch with Colin. Yet she hesitated, feeling restless and confused. Despite Tony’s arrogance,
there was a powerful magnetism drawing her to him.

She was an idiot, of course, for it was perfectly obvious that Tony Mastroni was a philanderer, and she wondered how many hearts he had broken on his travels. He was so virile, so startlingly handsome, he probably had dozens of girls grovelling at his feet.

Colin was watching her closely. He was bending forward in his seat, hands clasped tightly between his knees. Most of her pity for him was fast being dissolved in anger. Surely it would be wrong for her to continue a friendship with him?

She said slowly, ‘So our friendship is finished? Is that what you mean? It’s all right with me if you want it that way. At least it will mean that you aren’t discussing me any more with your friends at work.’

‘I’m sorry about that... about my friends at work, I mean. But you know what people are when one is in daily contact with them.’

‘People are what you let them be.’

Colin gave a smile that was more of a grimace. ‘You’re right, of course. You’re right about many things. Don’t go away thinking too badly of me.’ He covered her hand with his as his voice changed to a cajoling tone. ‘Shall we call a truce?’

‘I don’t know,’ she hedged.

He said, ‘We’re still the same two people who came into this room not so long ago as good friends.’

Tegi’s face clouded. She would miss him, that was for sure. At home, there had been no privacy, no chance to come to terms with her restlessness. Her mother was too busy with a demanding husband and son, and too fond of her younger daughter to talk
with her on important matters concerning her life.

Her father had been a good parent, but not really concerned with his elder daughter’s need for help and advice. Yet both her parents would be surprised to know that she had found them wanting in their role of protectors.

Some days she had found that Colin’s companionship had been a lifeline. If she had few illusions about her parents he had many. His mother could do no wrong in his eyes. But he was weak where she was concerned, and weakness in a man was disastrous in a marriage as far as Tegi was concerned. Overprotectiveness by his mother had made Colin what he was. Tony Mastroni’s parents had been much more sensible in letting their son go out into the world on his own. But there she was, thinking again of Tony.

‘All right, Colin. We’re friends again, but friends only,’ she told him lightly.

He caught the hand he held in both his. ‘We’ve had some good times together and we shall have lots more,’ he said. ‘Now what about putting on a dance record and we can dance round the room?’

For the rest of the evening Colin was courteous and friendly, which meant that he would keep his word and just be friends. Tegi was relieved at this. His lovemaking upset her, reminding her all too vividly of Tony’s more practised approach. In time she would be able to quench her longing for Tony. It would be only too easy to pretend that Colin was Tony if only the magic were there. But it was not.
W
hen Tony had left the island she would set about forgetting all about him. In the meantime she had to keep out of his way whenever possible.

Dorothy said, ‘Tony is coming to tea tomorrow afternoon.’

Tegi was in bed. It was late when her sister came into the room, but Tegi had not yet gone to sleep.

It never occurred to Dorothy to be quiet when arriving home in. the small hours from an evening out, especially as she was sharing Tegi’s room. Sharing a room meant nothing to Dorothy, who slung the evening dress she slid out of on to the back of a chair. She shed her clothes like a flower shedding its petals, strewing them around her untidily.

Tegi said sleepily, ‘Is he coming with his friends to see Dad?’

‘No.’ Dorothy slipped into a transparent nightdress, and Tegi had to smile. Her sister lived in dreams, but was not she doing that herself?

She said, ‘You mean you’ve invited him yourself?’

‘That’s right. And I want you out of the way. What do you usually do on Saturday afternoons?’

‘Nothing special. Sometimes I do the weekend baking for Mother.’

‘That’s off.’ Dorothy slid into bed. ‘I want Mother to do some baking in the morning for afternoon tea.’

‘Your mother goes out shopping in the morning. You can’t stop her from doing that.’

‘You can do the weekend shopping, then you can take yourself off in the afternoon. I won’t have you around when Tony comes. What about Gary?’

‘He goes to the cinema in Douglas on Saturdays with some friends in their car.
’

‘That leaves Mum and Dad,’ Dorothy remarked with some satisfaction. ‘I don’t mind them as long as you aren’t around.’

Tegi murmured, ‘I fail to see what difference my presence will make. After all, who would have eyes for me with you floating around looking all glamorous? Only don’t get ideas about Tony Mastroni. You could be in for a surprise where he’s concerned.’

‘Jealousy will get you nowhere,’ replied her sister loftily.

The next morning was fine and warm. Tegi enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and watched her mother take a tray up to her father with a cup of tea for Dorothy on the way. Gary was soon away to join his friends who picked him up in their car to go to Douglas.

Saturday again, Tegi thought with a sigh as she washed the dishes. There was no doubt in her mind that her mother would do anything that Dorothy demanded, and she decided to go out of the way of any plans they had made.

Gary came dashing in as she was about to go to her room to get ready to go out.

‘Forgot my money,’ he said breathlessly. ‘And
Mrs.
Quale says why not come with us, Tegi. You can sit with her in front. All the boys are in the back of the car.’

Mrs.
Quale had two boys of her own. The other three crowded in the back of the big car were school friends of her sons, including Gary. She was pleased to see Tegi.

‘Glad to see you,’ she said, starting the car and slanting a smile at her. ‘I like someone to talk to on the way. You’re welcome to come with us any time.
As you know, I go to see Mother after dropping the boys off to spend their day in Douglas.’

Tegi pondered on the quiet happiness of Mary Quale. She was a pretty woman in her thirties. Her husband was a rather pale, insignificant little man, very clever with computers. Insignificant or not, he must have had something to make Mary fall in love with him—or had she settled for security?

She thought, does every girl start out like me and then end up taking what was on offer? After all, she was twenty-five now, time she was settling down.

Mrs.
Quale dropped her off on the promenade backing the shops and a chorus of goodbyes rang through the air as the boys shouted to her. A number of
motorcyclists
were in a group, half a dozen in all, standing outside one of the big hotels. They looked across towards Tegi, who was waving them off.

She made her way across the road and saw one of the young men leave the others and come towards her. For a moment she turned her eyes away from the painful familiarity of his face.

The sunlit promenade; the crowds milling by, the rows of motorbikes huddled together in their hundreds at the roadside—all faded into nothing as she looked up into those smiling dark eyes. Against an unseen background his handsome face, the dark-fringed eyes so clear against the tan of his face, stood out like an oil painting she had locked away in her memory.

Tegi had been determined to avoid Tony Mastroni at all costs; but now it dawned on her that all the time, deep down inside her frightened heart, she had
kn
own that it was impossible to fight against fate.

Helplessly, she tried to quell the wild hammering of her heart as her shadowed eyes met his.

‘Hello, Tegi,’ he greeted her. ‘This is my lucky day. Last Saturday we had coffee in Ramsey, today we have it in Douglas.’

‘What makes you think I came to Douglas just to have coffee with you?’ she asked.

‘You did not, of course, since you never expected to meet me, but we have met, and on such a beautiful morning how can you be so churlish as to refuse my offer? Suppose we stroll along the promenade to the Summerland glen for a cup of that excellent coffee they make then return for
l
unch in my hotel?’

The crisp tone in his voice told her it was useless to argue with him. Meekly she allowed him to take her arm to stroll casually along the promenade. Tegi fought down an unexplainable feeling of inner panic as the long-fingered brown hand resting with deceptive gentleness on her arm fell away.

It was not, she assured herself rather too vehemently, that she was afraid of him—rather that she wanted to be rid of him; to make sure that he went out of her life and kept out of it. The little
café
in the very pretty Summerland glen nestled among trees and delightful gardens. They crossed over the little bridge and sat at one of the outdoor tables where the sun filtered through leafy foliage and birds twittered delightfully around them.

Suddenly Tegi’s spirits rose; in such a lovely setting all unpleasant things must surely be shut out. She turned smilingly as Tony came with the coffee.

‘It’s lovely here, isn’t it?’ she said.

He sat down opposite to her at the little table and
took his time looking over her face and her bright hair in that maddeningly lazy way which instinct told her matched an iron will.

‘Enchantingly so. Think what you would have missed if you had not come,’ he drawled.

‘Do you bring all your lady friends here?’

‘What lady friends?’ A dark eyebrow lifted provocatively as he lifted his cup. ‘Here’s to you.’

‘Cheers.’ She said, picking up her drink.

The coffee was excellent. Enjoying it, Tegi was aware of Tony watching her.

‘You intrigue me,’ he remarked suddenly. ‘You admit to having a dull time on the island yet you are reluctant to come out and enjoy yourself. Why?’ His eyes narrowed. ‘Is it because you don’t like me?’

‘Why should you think that?’ Tegi said rather breathlessly. They were skating on thin ice and she did not like it.

‘Because there must be some explanation for your behaviour. I know that you are not promiscuous because you have the look of someone who has never known what it has meant to be in love.’ His sudden smile rocked her heart as he paused, then went on,
‘However, you do have the look of someone who was meant to fall in love and marry.’

‘And you propose to teach me?’ she said. ‘Is that what you mean?’

He laughed. ‘Heaven forbid!’ he answered. ‘You are a breed I keep away from—much too serious for fun.’

‘And games,’ she added with scorn. ‘I’m glad you’re intelligent enough to know I’m not out for some cheap thrill.’ The hand lowering her cup was not quite steady, but her voice sounded normal. ‘How many children are you paying to to date?’

Tony’s nerves narrowed into a gleam. ‘That’s the equivalent of asking you how many men you have slept with.’

Tegi drew in a deep breach of indignation. ‘Of all the nerve! What do you think I am?”

He shrugged his wide shoulders. ‘I have no idea, have I?’

‘Well, you have now. I’m not that kind of person. I’ve never been intimate with any man—and don’t flatter yourself that I fancy you to be the first,’ she said angrily.

Meeting his half insolent, half curious gaze, she was not to know that she had fired his interest at their first meeting, setting off inside him the stirring sense of adventure ahead. He had sensed it before many times; upon entering a strange country, when there was a race to be won, or a woman to make love to.