Leaving the shop she had flagged down a taxi to take her to the airport, having planned everything down to the last minute and just making it to the checkout before it closed. This had been a god send to Kelly as she did not have to wait long before she was boarding the plane which would take her back to Scotland, the journey passing in a haze as she had stared out of the window trying hard not to think about Marc and Max, her heart totally broken.
At the airport in arrivals, Kelly’s old school friend Claire was waiting nervously.
“Good God Kelly” she had exclaimed
“What happened? You call at some ungodly hour in the morning in tears” her voice full of concern as she had scanned her friends face
“Please” Kelly had pled
“Not now”
Claire had taken in her tired drawn look and closing her mouth had helped her to the car park, quickly depositing her case into the boot of her car. As they drove off she had known that her friend would tell her everything, but only when she was ready and not before, looking over to see as Kelly had stared unseeing out of the window a mournful look in her eyes.
Marc had spent the entire morning in a meeting, with things moving smoothly as they usually did. Marc De Santo was not a man who could be accused of indecision or lack of focus and he expected nothing less in his employees. Today however he had often during the meeting found his mind wandering to the previous night, so unlike him, but he just could not get her out of his mind, a small smile on his handsome face. When his mobile phone had began vibrating Marc had frowned in concern especially when realising who was calling, and excusing himself he had quickly left the room to take the call
“Yes Beth” he began “Is there anything wrong” his voice full of concern
“I’m sorry Marc” she had blurted out.
“I wasn’t sure if I should call or not”
“What’s wrong?” he had asked sharply “Is Max OK?” a note of panic creeping into his voice
“No, no” she had assured him
“It’s Kelly”
Marc’s heart had sank abruptly into his stomach
“What’s wrong with her?” the worry so evident in his tone
“I went into your room to clean and found a letter for you from her. When I went into her room I found her clothes all gone, and she asked me to look after Max earlier…….I think she’s gone Marc”
There was silence for a few seconds as Marc had tried to take in what she was telling him
“When did she leave Beth” he asked willing his voice to be calmer
“About three hours ago” came the answer
“Could you open the letter and read it to me please”
Beth a little uncomfortable about this, had complied and he could hear the sound of the envelope being opened before she began to read the letter
“Dear Marc
Please understand I can’t stay. It would never work. Please don’t let Max forget me I’ll always love him.
I am leaving the car outside Browns Newsagents and you should be able to pick up the keys from them
Take care
Kelly”
He had ended the call with his housekeeper and cursing under his breath marched quickly into his office much to the surprise of his secretary.
“Get me Browns Newsagents on the phone” he had barked at her
“And make it fast. Also tell everyone the meeting is over” before he had slammed the door of his office behind himself
With her usual efficiency his secretary had picked up the phone and within seconds he was speaking to the bewildered newsagents owner, from whom he discovered that she had left over two hours ago, having already deposited the keys with them. After further probing and discovering nothing more, he had called his detective, making it clear that his number one priority was to find Kelly Brown and after phoning everybody he could think of to no avail, Marc had sat back in his chair his hands covering his face. Why he thought to himself. Why had she left?
For the first time in his life Marc felt real fear – the fear of losing Kelly. Holding up his mobile he had replayed the video he knew to be there, as he watched it often. He watched as Max had taken his first step and Kelly had smiled at him with that wide wonderful smile of hers, before sticking out her tongue, his insides feeling numb.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Kelly sat at her canvas staring at the oil she was working on. For just over two weeks she had remained in Claire’s apartment, leaving only to bring back food. Claire who had only been there for the first couple of days before leaving for her holiday to New Zealand had been kind and patient waiting for her to be able to talk about what had caused her friend so much pain, not even asking where Max was, knowing that the two were connected.