Bella (8 page)

  
“
How is your relationship going?
”
He asked me in a rather sarcastic tone.  I
ignored him and asked.

  
“
Why were you so rude to Marco the other day?
”
He looked at me and answered.

   
“
Because I don
’
t like him, and I don
’
t trust him. There
’
s something about him that I can
’
t put my finger on.
”
He took a deep breath and continued.
“
I was also shocked to see my baby sister with a
man.
”
 

  
“
Less of the baby, I
’
m eighteen now Simon.
”
He looked at me and said.

  
“
Yes and a very beautiful woman.
”
I felt myself blushing.

  
“
Anyway, I
’
ve come to ask if you and Victoria would like to
meet us for dinner at the restaurant where Marco works.
”

Simon
rubbed his chin.

  
“
OK love, I
’
ll do it for you.
”
We chatted for a while longer then I looked at
my watch.

  
“
Is that the time, I must be going.
”
As I walked to the front door, Victoria was on
her way in; she gave me a kiss on my cheek and I told her about our pending
dinner arrangements.

  
“
That will be lovely, Bella.
”
Victoria looked at me.
“
We have some news for you too, however, it can
wait until we meet up for dinner.
”
I glanced over at Simon who was looking down at his feet.

   
“
Why can
’
t you just tell me now?
”

  
“
Like Victoria said, we
’
ll tell you on the day we meet up for dinner.
”

  
“
Well, I
’
ll let you know the time and date later.
”
I wanted to know what news they had to tell us,
but I knew I
’
d just have to wait.
I left their house and headed home. On the way I started to wonder if Victoria
was pregnant, I couldn
’
t possibly think what
else there could be.

    I
went to see Marco at the restaurant and asked him when he would be free to have
dinner with Simon, Victoria and myself.

Marco
replied.

  
“
Next Saturday? I will be free and can make
arrangements myself. However, I hope I not going to get frosty looks from your
brother again?
”

“
No, I
’
ve been to see him; and he
’
s just worried about me because I
’
m his little sister. He sometimes forgets that I
’
m all grown up now.
“

  
“
Well I understand Bella, you
’
re a beautiful woman, I feel the same way about
my sister.
”

“
Anyway, Simon and
Victoria have some news for us. Ok, I have to go now. I
’
ll let you get back to work.
”

As I
arrived home I was still wondering what the news could be.

    All
week the only thing that was on my mind was Simon, and to make matters worse he
couldn
’
t get any time off
work until our dinner date.

   As I
wasn
’
t due back at college
for another two weeks, I decided to treat myself and booked into a health spa
nearby for a couple of days because I needed time to think.

I
arrived at the health spa and was shown into a beautiful room overlooking a
garden. The owner asked me what I
’
d like; I said I was in need pampering so she booked me in
for the full works.

   After
a restful nights sleep I went down to the restaurant. The only thing on the
menu was carrot juice and tuna salad.

I was
then taken to a small room and was given a heavenly massage. I also had a full
facial, and an Indian head massage. I must admit I started to feel much better
after my detox and treatment. My skin and hair were glowing. I was so pleased
that I
’
d decided to have
those few days away.

   
Tammy greeted me when I got back home but looked a little flustered and asked
me to sit down.

  
“
I
’
ve something to tell you Bella.
”
She said rather awkwardly.

  
“
As long as it
’
s not bad news, you can tell me anything.
”
I said reassuringly.

  
“
Don
’
t worry, it isn
’
t bad news, but you may not approve.
”

Tammy
sighed.
“
You know I loved your
father more than anything, however, I
’
m lonely. I
’
ve met someone; its
early days but I
’
d like your approval.
”

I looked
at Tammy.

  
“
It
’
s about time! I know you loved my father but he
’
s gone now and you have to live your life. I
know you
’
ll never forget him.
”
I told her that I
’
d spoken to Simon and Victoria and they
’
d mentioned they had some news for us. Tammy thought
that maybe Victoria was pregnant and I said that thought had crossed my mind
too.

    Two
days later Tammy introduced me to Roy. I thought he looked a lot older than
Tammy, however, he was very handsome, six feet tall with dark grey wavy hair
and piercing blue eyes like mine and he had a very distinguishing moustache.

  
“
Pleased to meet you Bella.
”
Roy said politely. We shook hands. I was so
glad to see Tammy looking happy for a change because I knew that lately she
’
d been a little down.

  
“
How did you both meet?
”
I asked.

 
“
I was shopping in the high street and I dropped
my handbag.
”

Roy
said.

  
“
I was her knight in shining armour.
”
Then he laughed out loud and had such a
wonderful smile. I could see why Tammy liked him.

 
“
You look so happy together.
”

  
“
We are happy Bella. Roy
’
s a lovely man. After he picked up my handbag,
he asked me if I wanted to go for a coffee. We chatted for a while and found we
had a lot in common. Roy lost his wife in a car crash two years ago.
Unfortunately they weren
’
t able to have any
children.

I looked
at Roy and said

  
“
I
’
m so sorry to hear about your wife, I know what it
’
s like to lose somebody close to you.
”

  
“
I was devastated at the time. I thought I
’
d never get over it. I couldn
’
t eat, sleep or work for quite some months. Then
one day I woke up and somehow I knew I
’
d be ok. I loved my wife very much and I know she would
want me to be happy again and now thankfully I
’
ve met Tammy.
”
He said.  
“
Tammy hasn
’
t had it easy either. I
’
m really happy for the both of you.
”
I replied.

Saturday
finally arrived and we were all met for dinner. Simon and Victoria were going
to meet Roy for the first time.

I
decided to have my hair and nails done, which my sister Lizzie kindly offered
to do. I treated myself to a lovely black lacy dress.

   I got
ready and when Marco picked me up later that evening, he looked me up and down
and said.

  
“
You look stunning Bella.
”

  
“
Mmm, you don
’
t look too bad yourself Marco.
”
  

When we
walked into the restaurant, Simon and Victoria were already seated.  This time
Simon shook hands with Marco and they all sat down.
Hopefully this time they
’
ll get off to a better start.
I thought. The meal was lovely and we all
chatted about Tammy and Roy. Then Roy told them the story of how they
’
d met. Simon stood up and lifted his glass.

  
“
I
’
d like to make a toast to Tammy and Roy
”
. We all raised our glasses, and then he looked
at me.
“
I have something very
important to tell you all.
”
He took a deep
breath.

  
“
I
’
ve been offered a job in New York and after long
consideration I
’
ve decided to take
it. It
’
s an opportunity I
couldn
’
t turn down because
it
’
s something I
’
ve always wanted to do. I
’
ll be teaching classical guitar at a university
in New York. I have to be in New York before the end of the month. But that isn
’
t the only news; Victoria and I are getting
married.
”
He couldn`t bring
himself to look at me.

I felt
like my heart had just been ripped apart, the brother I loved so much and had
always been there for me would now be leaving for pastures new.

Putting
on a brave face I said how happy I was for them. Tammy and Roy gave them both a
hug and wished them good luck for the future. I knew this was an opportunity
too good for him to turn down but it was still hard for me to digest. The worst
announcement was yet to come.

  
“
Because we have to be in New York by the end of
the month, we
’
ve decided to get
married before we go. The registry office has a free opening for next week, so
we went ahead and booked it.
”
 
One week.
I
thought.

  
“
I know its quick but we don
’
t want a fuss, just a quick civil ceremony.
”

I couldn
’
t take all the news in, my head was spinning. I
quickly got up and made my excuses and ran to the toilets, nearly knocking over
a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket. I could hear people
’
s voices in the distance, my head was spinning
and I collapsed to the ground. I could hear a faint voice and tried to open my
eyes. Marco was leaning over me.

   
“
Bella, open your eyes caro.
”
He said gently. I must have passed out.

Marco
and Simon carried me outside and put me in Marco
’
s car and he drove me home.

Marco
was very concerned and asked me to see a doctor, but I knew a doctor couldn
’
t fix a broken heart. I hoped that he wouldn
’
t be able to see the hurt in my face, although I
knew he must have been wondering why I
’
d passed out. I told him that I was just exhausted from
studying too much.

   
After a few days
’
rest it was time for
Simon and Victoria`s wedding.