Secrets (9 page)

Chapter Tw
enty-Two

Janey blinked rapidly and stared at Garth. Was it so obvious she was running away? She couldn’t possibly tell this giant of a man, a total stranger, about her disastrous love affair. But for some strange reason her mouth opened and spewed every last detail. A part of her was horrified, while the other part thought
Oh what the heck. After this holiday, it’s not like you’re ever going to see him again
. By the time she’d finished talking, the turbulence was long over.

‘I’m so sorry,’ Janey apologised to Garth. ‘I must have bored the pants off you.’

‘Not at all,’ Garth assured. ‘Your story, whilst heart-breaking, is also excellent novel fodder.’

‘Novel fodder?’

‘I’m a writer. Don’t look so alarmed. I wouldn’t dream of mentioning your name. I’ll just take the bones of what you’ve told me, give everybody new names, make up a fictitious location,
et voilà
! Another bestseller in the bag.’

Janey looked disconcerted. ‘I’m quite a voracious reader, but I haven’t heard of Garth Davis.’

‘That’s because I write under a different name.’

‘Which is?’

Garth looked sheepish. ‘Promise you won’t laugh?’

Janey made a criss-cross over her heart. ‘Promise.’

‘Nancy Newman.’

Janey’s jaw dropped. ‘
You
are Nancy Newman?’

‘Yep.’

‘But why don’t you write under your own name?’

‘If I could pen thrillers, or murder mysteries, then I would. However, I must be deeply in touch with my feminine side, because the only thing my brain comes up with is full-on girly romance. I don’t think I’d have got off the starting block writing love and passion under my real name.’

Janey was flabbergasted. She’d read several Nancy Newman books. The formula was fairly consistent. Happy couple face crisis which rips them apart before female finds true love elsewhere. ‘Well, I’m still waiting for my happy ending – if it ever happens – so I hope you can think of one to add to your latest
novel fodder
.’

‘Oh I will,’ Garth twinkled. ‘Of that I have no doubt. It’ll come to me. And I’m sure some of the Canadian countryside will be inspirational too.’

At that moment the aircraft’s wing dipped to the left. Janey caught a glimpse of the land mass under the belly of the plane. There it was at last. Montreal. Water, bridges, a network of uniform roads and large patches of green were spread out below. The captain’s voice crackled over the intercom announcing they would shortly be landing and the temperature was a humid thirty degrees. Good. When she’d left Little Cobbleton, it had been chilly and chucking down.

The landing was almost as bumpy as the earlier turbulence.

‘Flippin’ heck,’ Janey muttered as the plane touched down and juddered along the runway. ‘Is flying always like this?’ She began to undo her seatbelt.

Garth laughed. ‘No. And I’d do that seatbelt back up until Captain Kangaroo has bounced us to the terminal.’

When everybody finally stood up to disembark, Janey watched Garth slide out into the aisle. He looked relieved to straighten up. Janey was amazed at the guy’s height. He had to be around six-and-a-half feet tall. Towering over her, he opened the overhead locker and passed Janey her stuff.

‘Thanks.’ Janey took her hand luggage and, for a moment, leant in over her seat to make room for everybody else retrieving their hand luggage. As she stood with her head bowed, she couldn’t help noticing the size of Garth’s feet. Like his hands, they were huge. She wondered if he had his shoes specially made. Shuffling towards the plane’s exit, Janey felt like she’d dropped into a Harry Potter movie and was walking next to Hagrid. The feeling was strangely comforting.

***

An hour later Janey was standing at the check-in desk of the Fairmont Elizabeth. Whilst the Canada Companions’ rep talked to the receptionist and fussed over paperwork, Janey discreetly checked out her group. There were just six of them. Apart from herself and Garth, she spotted the dour woman who’d sat two seats from her on the plane, and also a miserable looking man. The remaining two travellers were a guy who looked like he’d stepped out of a 1980’s commercial, and a tiny bright-eyed woman who reminded Janey of a dormouse. Suddenly Janey experienced a sinking in the pit of her stomach. Her mother had been right. Running away to Canada wasn’t such a great idea after all. Apart from Garth, she knew the others were not remotely on her wavelength. She wondered how conversation would later pan out over dinner.

Dour woman: ‘Hello, I’m Margaret Moody. I’d like to say I’m happy to meet you, but I’m not.’

Miserable man: ‘Hello, everyone. I’m Mark Glum, and I’m not interested in chatting.’

1980’s guy: ‘Hello. I’m an escaped lunatic from another era.’

Dormouse woman: ‘Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak.’

The rep snapped Janey out of her ridiculous reverie.

‘Okay, folks. Here are the card keys for your rooms. Unpack, freshen up, and we’ll reconvene in one hour at the restaurant.’

Janey checked her wristwatch. In Montreal it was a little after seven in the evening. In Little Cobbleton it was gone midnight. She felt overwhelmingly tired as she let herself into her hotel room, but resisted the urge to lie down on the bed’s soft counterpane. Instead she cranked up the air-conditioning and set about unpacking her suitcase. Discarding the jeans and tee she’d been travelling in, she selected a cool cotton floral dress for dinner. She had a quick shower, reapplied her lipstick, and exactly one hour later she was ready to go downstairs. Grabbing her handbag and card key, Janey closed the hotel door behind her and set off along the corridor. The passage opened out into an open area by a bank of elevators. As Janey turned the corner by the lifts, she suddenly felt the breath whoosh out of her. For there, standing directly in front of her and also waiting for the lift, was Jake.

Chapter Twent
y-Three

Janey felt as though somebody was strangling her. She made a spluttering noise and sank to her knees, just as Garth appeared. Suddenly two strong arms were hauling her upright.

‘Whoa there. What’s up with you?’

‘Oh, my head,’ Janey groaned, hands flailing at her temples. ‘It’s full of white noise.’

‘Here,’ Garth effortlessly scooped Janey up and deposited her on a handy chair. ‘Sit. Put your head between your legs. That’s it. Deep breaths.’

The man Janey had thought was Jake turned to watch her with detached interest. Now he was fully facing her, she could see it wasn’t her ex-fiancé at all. Embarrassed, Janey dropped her head down to the ground and sucked in a lungful of air.
You stupid woman
, she berated herself.
You’ve made a complete idiot of yourself
.

A dinging noise announced the arrival of the lift. Metal doors slid open and bore the stranger away.

‘How are you feeling now?’ asked Garth. He was crouched over her, his body almost swamping hers.

‘Better,’ Janey mumbled.

‘Okay, sit up slowly.’ Garth held onto Janey’s hands as she gradually sat upright. ‘What happened? Is the humidity too much for you?’

‘No.’ Janey failed to meet Garth’s gaze. She felt mortified. ‘I thought I saw my ex standing by the lift. It just had a detrimental effect on me.’

‘That’s perfectly understandable.’

‘I suppose so.’ She nodded her head slowly. ‘Have I just given you more novel fodder?’ she smiled ruefully.

Garth threw back his head and laughed. ‘Definitely. It’ll happen around Chapter Twenty-something.’ He held out a hand and helped her up. ‘C’mon. Let’s go and get you a stiff drink. I could do with one myself, if only to prepare me for properly meeting our travel companions.’ Garth looked furtively from left to right before dropping his voice to a stage whisper. ‘I wasn’t too sure what to make of them earlier, and wondered if I’d made a mistake coming away on my own.’

‘Me too,’ Janey confided. She was feeling better now, and somewhat relieved that Garth shared doubts about their companion group.

***

‘Good evening!’ The camp rep addressed the motley bunch of travellers gathered outside the restaurant. ‘I’m Clive and here to make sure you all have a great time exploring Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver with Canada Companions. What a cosy little group we are! I have every confidence the six of you will buddy up and love your time together. So without further ado, follow me.’

A good-looking waiter guided the group of seven to a round table. Clive pulled out a seat and indicated everybody should sit down.

‘
Que désiriez-vous boire?’
asked the waiter.

Clive swooned. ‘That sounded simply divine.’ He batted his eyelashes. ‘Unfortunately we don’t speak the lingo.’

‘What would you all like to drink?’ the waiter smiled.

‘I’m sure we’d all love a drop of your finest wine. Or should I say
vin
,’ Clive simpered.

‘Mais, oui,’ the waiter beamed. ‘For you, anything.’

Garth nudged Janey. ‘I think Clive has just pulled,’ he whispered.

Janey elbowed him back. ‘Behave.’ She was feeling considerably more relaxed after hoovering up a swift double gin and tonic with Garth.

‘Now then,’ Clive clapped his hands limply together. ‘I think it would be a great idea for each of us to introduce ourselves. Give your name and why you’ve come on this
fab
adventure to Canada. I’ll go first. You already know I’m Clive, but you don’t know why I’m here. I’m actually a vicar, but currently taking time out after a stressful funeral. A member of the congregation fell into a grave and landed on top of the deceased. When we pulled her out she was quite hysterical and demanded I marry her daughter – who just happened to be the widow of the deceased. When I refused she reported me to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Let’s just say,’ Clive’s eyes glistened for a moment, ‘it all became rather traumatic. So I’m taking time out from the clerical cloth – just for summer. But rest assured, I haven’t abandoned the big fella.’ He jerked his head upward. ‘So if any of you want private blessings,’ Clive beamed, ‘I’m available!’ He inclined his head and smiled graciously at Mrs Moody. ‘You’re next.’

Mrs Moody looked startled for a moment. Her mouth settled into a thin line. ‘Amanda,’ she nodded curtly. ‘And I’m here on my own because my husband is an old fart who wouldn’t come with me.’

‘Very succinctly put.’ Clive gave her a little round of applause and indicated everybody should join in. ‘And you, Sir?’

Mr Miserable shifted in his seat. ‘I’m James,’ he said nervously. ‘And without sounding like I’m echoing Amanda, I’m pretty much here for the same reason. I’m fed up with annual caravan holidays in Bournemouth. But my wife won’t leave England and miss Coronation Street for anybody – least of all for me. So here I am. Footloose and fancy free,’ he added defiantly.

As everybody dutifully clapped, Garth whispered in Janey’s ear. ‘I predict James and Amanda will shortly be an item.’

‘Hello,’ said the 1980’s guy. ‘My name is Rich and…well…there’s nothing much to tell really. I’m just a bachelor looking for love.’

‘Well I don’t know if you’ll find it with Canada Companions,’ said Clive, ‘but we aim to please. You never know, when we go to the Niagara Falls your Mrs Right might be there waiting for you.’

‘Indeed,’ said Rich optimistically, as everyone clapped.

‘Hello, everybody,’ said the dormouse woman. ‘I’m Ruth. I’ve never married and spent years looking after my parents. Sadly, they both died earlier this year.’ There were murmurs of consolation which Ruth acknowledged gratefully. ‘When my parents passed away, I realised we only have one life and it’s about time I started living it. So in a moment of recklessness, I booked this holiday. My motto now is
make the impossible possible
.’

‘Good for you,’ said Clive approvingly as everybody applauded.

‘Hi, everyone,’ Garth nodded. ‘I’m Garth, and I simply fancied an adventure. So here I am.’

Janey blinked as everyone put their hands together. That had been an economical introduction. He’d given absolutely nothing away about himself. She glanced around the table. ‘Hello. I’m Janey and, um, my decision to come to Canada was off-the-cuff. I was due to get married but…,’ she trailed off. ‘It didn’t happen.’

Sympathetic noises mingled with the group’s clapping.

‘So here we all are,’ said Clive. ‘On our own but,’ he waggled a finger, ‘not alone. For the next fortnight we are here for each other. And look, here’s our wine!’ He beamed at the good-looking waiter. ‘Fill ’em up, Monsieur. We’re all parched.’

Chapter Twenty
-Four

By midnight, the Canada Companions were extremely mellow. Bonding had taken place over several bottles of wine which, mixed with jet lag and a big time difference, had left everybody feeling spaced out. Clive was the first to bid everybody goodnight. Janey spotted the good-looking waiter standing in the shadows.

‘Somebody’s pulled,’ she murmured to Garth.

‘He’s not the only one,’ Garth whispered back. ‘Look to your left.’

Amanda and James were staring at each other as if they’d discovered the Holy Grail.

‘I actually told Muriel she could take her caravan holidays
and
Coronation Street and shove them,’ James was saying. ‘I’ve never spoken to Muriel like that in my
life
. I’ve always been too scared of her. It’s made me wonder if I’m having a mid-life crisis.’

‘Good for you,’ Amanda replied. She was slurring slightly. ‘I certainly can’t be doing with my husband anymore. All Brian is interested in is football and the pub. Once, when his beloved Spurs were playing, I walked naked into the room to see what his reaction would be.’

‘And what did he do?’

‘He told me my backside was blocking his view of the telly.’

‘I can’t bear football,’ said James. ‘If you’d done such a thing while I was being force-fed Coronation Street, it would have made my senses spin.’

Amanda guffawed. ‘Get away. My backside is the size of a bus.’

‘I like a woman with meat on her bones,’ said James huskily.

To her right, Janey could see Ruth and Rich cosying up.

‘I’ve never found love,’ Rich was saying, his face sad.

‘Me neither,’ Ruth murmured. Her body was turned into Rich’s, and she was gazing at him in adoration.

‘But I have a feeling,’ Rich gulped, ‘that things might be about to change.’

‘And I have a feeling you might be right,’ Ruth agreed, her eyes shining.

‘Blimey,’ Janey whispered to Garth. ‘It’s all happening.’

‘Excellent,’ Garth chuckled. ‘I’m taking mental notes. Everywhere you look there’s a story going on.’

Janey suddenly gave an enormous yawn, and no wonder. Back in Little Cobbleton it was nearly five in the morning.

‘I think my bed is calling.’ She stood up, swaying slightly.

‘Mine too.’ Garth pushed his chair back and stood up. He turned to address the others. ‘We’re saying goodnight, folks.’ He put up a hand in farewell.

Janey did likewise. ‘Sleep well,’ she nodded at everyone.

Garth offered Janey his elbow. ‘Allow me to escort you upstairs, Madam.’

‘Don’t mind if I do,’ said Janey, and linked arms with Garth. Now that she wasn’t sitting down, she realised she was quite sloshed. It felt strange holding on to the arm of such a big man. Jake had been tall and reasonably broad, but Garth’s height and build was exceptional. As Janey swayed towards the lifts, she decided that Jake had been like a thoroughbred, whereas Garth was more like one of those big shire horses.

‘Perhaps they’re not such a bad bunch after all, eh?’ Garth winked at her as they waited for a lift.

‘They’re…’ Janey searched for the right word, ‘…different. Not like my normal mix of friends.’ She thought of Susie back in Little Cobbleton. She’d have hooted with laughter at geeky Rich chatting up spinsterish Ruth, and sneered at battle-axe Amanda being wooed by wimpy James. But from what Janey had seen of these people, they were genuine. Unlike Susie who could be extremely two-faced.

‘Well let’s see how everybody gets on with each other tomorrow when we visit Mont Tremblant,’ said Garth. ‘I’ll bet you a Canadian dollar that Amanda saves James a place next to her on the coach, and Ruth and Rich will be sitting next to each other too.’

The lift arrived and they got in.

‘I’m not betting you anything,’ said Janey as the doors slid shut, ‘because I have a funny feeling you’ll be right.’

They stood in companionable silence as the lift creaked upwards. When the doors opened, the little vestibule was empty and the corridor eerily quiet. Janey allowed Garth to walk her to her hotel room.

‘Well, Miss Richardson. You know what this means, don’t you?’

Janey squinted at Garth in confusion. What did what mean? ‘Sorry, you’ve lost me.’

‘With everybody pairing off, it means you and I will have to sit next to each other on the coach tomorrow.’ And with that Garth bent down and dropped a kiss on her cheek. ‘Sleep tight.’

Janey stared after Garth as he padded down the corridor towards his room. Her hand touched the spot where his lips had brushed. She suddenly felt rather out of sorts. It was probably due to too much wine. Yes. That’s what it was. And what a good thing she’d recognised that. Otherwise she would have quite possibly mistaken her sudden sense of elation for something entirely different.