Daryle had by this time left his company to start his own business, a success from the moment his doors had opened. He had also at the same time two years previously met Conner, the two becoming inseparable, Conner while initially confused by the arrangement coming to be a great friend of Grace’s. Soon he had moved into their large apartment, the three living together happily, with Grace often being away.
When after a year together, the two had come to her both so nervous she had instantly known the problem smiling gently at them.
“You want a divorce don’t you Daryle?” he looking so uncomfortable as he had spluttered that he still loved her, but it was time that he and Conner made more of a commitment to each other, as with a smile she had thrown her arms around them both.
“Of course I will divorce you” her happy smile making them all start to cry as she had wished them happiness. The divorce itself had been a mere formality, Grace refusing to take anything from the marriage even though Daryle had wanted to buy her a flat. Hugging him she had repeated that she owed him more than she could ever repay, and that she would not be staying in one place long enough.
After a year of being out of her family home, her mother had reached out, Grace so happy to hear from the one parent she missed. For the next five years the two had contacted each other secretly, Grace’s mother knowing how furious her father would be if he found out. She had been delighted to find how her daughter had excelled in her chosen path, but saddened when hearing of the divorce. Grace had spared her the details, not wanting her to know what a sham the marriage that had torn their family apart had been.#p#分页标题#e#
Often over the years she had followed the meteoric career of the man who would have been her husband, most of which was gleaned from the gossip and social columns. Over the years he had grown even more handsome, Grace giving a half-smile not having realised that it was possible, the memory of the night they had so nearly made love haunting her still.
While many had tried to turn her head, having a wedding ring had been the ultimate deterrent for most and the perfect excuse for the rest. She had kept her divorce quiet, still wearing her gold band and keeping Daryle’s name. With a small content smile she had known that all in all at 25 years old she was content.
Her first solo project had been unexpected and shocking to Grace, her eyes reading the document with horror. Looking warily at her manager she had cleared her throat nervously.
“Damian…is there possibly another project that I could be involved with?”
The man across from her had frowned in surprise
“Sorry Grace…no…I thought that you would be over the moon” as his voice had become more wary and concerned
“This project had funding already…and to be honest it was based on your being the lead given your background and specialty”
Feeling the unease deep within her stomach her eyebrows had been drawn together in concentration.
“I … I see” Grace knowing how vital research money was for the continued work they did.
“Is there a problem?” the kindly man had asked gently, Grace giving him a small smile which had not reached her eyes, shaking her head softly.
“No…no it’s fine” before she had risen and left the room.
With only four hundred breeding pairs of monk seals in existence the sizable grant had been to find out what environmental factors made for a more secure habitat for the endangered species. Grace had known that she and her team would be required to visit all the known spots, her heart sinking with the knowledge of exactly where one of those areas was, her mind once more returning to a cliff-side and the feel of strong arms holding her. Muttering softly under her breath she had wondered why once more these thoughts seemed to be coming to her more often these days.
Over the next couple of months she had spent a considerable time gaining approval for the research team’s visit. Thankful that the areas involved were mostly stable, the only exception being Libya where with some real negotiations she had finally been able to obtain permission to visit the breeding ground. The only privately owned island with the animals had been that of Alexos Manetas and she had sent him a letter requesting permission, signing it Dr G Dionis. When a letter of acceptance welcoming the team had been received she had been filled with both relief and anxiety, not sure if he had realised who she was.
So it was eight months after her initial contact with Alexos, she had once more found herself on the island she had so briefly visited so many years ago. The team of four had rented a boat to live on, the two women and men having to share the basic two bedrooms, all used to ‘roughing it’ as part of the job. The boat also doubled as a base for dives, Grace happy not to have to be on the actual island itself for too long.