As he was finishing preparing the morning meal the door to the flat had opened.
“Kelly” a woman’s voice shouted
“You up… you want to see the car somebody left outside…”
Claire had stopped in mid stride as Marc had stepped out of the kitchen. From the bedroom Kelly came fleeing out wearing what would have appeared to be his shirt.
“Claire…. I totally forgot” Kelly cried breathlessly
Claire could only stand staring at the two, taking in the radiant happiness shining from Kelly, making her smile
“erm, would I be right in thinking you are Marc” she had asked. The dazzling smile back confirming her thinking. Claire had to agree that she had never seen a man as handsome as Marc De Santo, neither she thought, had she seen one who was so much in love. He had moved over to place an arm around Kelly’s shoulders, an action which made her friend smile even wider.
“We’re getting married” Kelly cried, adding “And you’re the bridesmaid”.
It wasn’t until the plane journey back that Kelly finally asked the question which had been on her lips the moment she had first opened the door to him the previous day
“Marc, how did you find me?”
He had pulled her once more into his arms resting her head on his shoulder.
“Phil” he told her softly, before telling her the whole story
After talking to his detective he had returned home to the villa to see if there were any clues that might help them to track her down, even calling the people who were renting her flat to hear if they had been contacted by her. After pulling her room apart they had found an envelope with a name on it and a letter to Claire.
Kelly had remembered that she had been writing it that night, totally forgetting it in her bid to get away.
“But I hadn’t put the address on” she had gasped in surprise
“No but there was a name” he continued. It was something for the detectives to go on, who had traced her to Scotland, but no further.
“Do you have any idea how many Claire Smiths there are in Scotland “he asked with a groan. So they were directed that they were to check out every single one until they found her, which was exactly what they had been doing for 2 long weeks, during which time he had waited impatiently, each day growing more and more desperate for word.
“Then 2 days ago Phil arrived with a letter from you.” He kissed her head
“That was a lovely card” he said “Just knowing you were OK, God what a relief”.
Continuing he had told her that the envelope had an area stamp which had dramatically cut down on the search.
The detectives had arrived at Claire’s flat the day prior to his appearance at her door, and seen Kelly standing looking out of the window. When informed, he had told them to stay put, not wanting to take the chance that she might take fright and disappear somewhere else, and he had flown straight over on his jet from the villa.
“I would have stayed in Britain for the whole search” he had said, “but Max needed me.”
Kelly had groaned sadly
“How did he take it?”
Marc looked down gently at her choosing not to answer
“He will be fine when he sees you home” was the only answer he gave before pulling her against him for a kiss, before carrying on
“I was going to be so cool” he sighed “beg you to come back, be eloquent. But when I saw you there looking so beautiful I … I…just wanted to make you see it would work”
Kelly had laughed “you were very eloquent” making him laugh also
“I love you so much. I knew that I had done something to drive you away, and I was so scared that you wouldn’t want to come back with me”
Kelly could hear the pain in his voice. Gently, she looked into those tortured eyes.
“I loved you so much too Marc, but I thought you just wanted a fling….. I couldn’t have handled that” she said, sincerity shining from her eyes. “I thought if I got away I might be able to limit the damage…but…” her voice had gently broken. “I felt completely empty inside without you and Max”
Marc gently sat her upright as he reached into his pocket to retrieve a small black box. Suddenly serious he held her hand looking deeply into her eyes
“Kelly, this ring belonged to my mother” he said opening it for her to look inside. She looked down at the ring which lay nestled inside the velvet interior, a large ruby surrounded by diamonds which had made her gasp in wonder
Gently he lifted it from the box and placed it on the index finger of her left hand
“You are the only woman in the world that I could ever bear to see wearing it”
As a small tear of happiness slide down her face Kelly threw her arms around his neck and was held just as tightly in return.