Anything but Vanilla(65)

‘You seem to have achieved universal approval,’ Sorrel said as they drove across town.

‘They were easier to impress than you.’

‘I’m a tough businesswoman. You can’t twist me around your little finger with your charm.’

‘What did it take?’

‘That would be telling,’ she said, laughing. ‘Your way with chilli powder, perhaps.’

The phone was ringing as they reached the door of his flat and by the time he unlocked the door, the beep was sounding. ‘Alexander? I’ve been ringing...’

He snatched up the receiver. ‘Ria!’

‘Oh, there you are. I’ve been trying to get hold of you for days. Have you changed your mobile?’

‘I told you I’d lost my old one months ago,’ he said, ‘but I left you messages. Sorrel left you messages.’

‘Oh... Sorry. I’m in the States and I disconnected my phone when I realised how expensive it was and bought a cheap model here.’

‘In the States?’ He switched the phone onto speaker, held out his hand to draw Sorrel closer. ‘What on earth are you doing there?’

‘I told you when I called you.’

‘No, you didn’t...’ Or maybe she had. ‘There was a hurricane, all that came through was that you needed me home immediately.’

‘No, not home. I wanted you to meet me at San Francisco. When you didn’t arrive I called again but your assistant said you’d already left. I’ve been worried—’

‘What about the taxman?’ he interrupted. ‘The unpaid bills?’

‘It’s not important. I’ll sort that out when I get home—’

‘Not important? What about Sorrel?’ he demanded, suddenly furious with her. ‘Don’t you ever think? She had a big event today and you left her high and dry to go swanning off to the States.’

‘Today? No... That’s next week... Isn’t it?’

‘Ria! What are you doing in America?’

‘I... It’s Michael,’ she said. ‘Michael’s here. I’ve found my son, Alex. Your brother...’ And then she burst into tears.

She’d found Michael? For a moment he couldn’t speak and Sorrel took the phone from him, talked quietly to Ria, made some notes, took a number.

‘He’ll call you back with his flight number, Ria.’ There was a pause. ‘No... It’s fine, we managed. Really. But can you email me your recipe for the chocolate chilli ice cream...? That would be brilliant... No, take all the time you need. We’ll talk when you get back.’

He heard her replace the receiver. Then she put her arms around him and held him while the tears poured down his cheeks, soaking into her shoulder.

She was smiling when he raised his head.

‘I’m sorry...’

‘No.’ She put her fingers over his lips when he would have tried to explain. Kissed him. ‘Ria has found your brother.’

‘Look at me. I’m trembling. Suppose he doesn’t want to know me?’

‘He must have been looking for his family, Alexander.’

‘Yes...’

She handed him the phone. ‘Book your flight.’ He held it for a moment, not wanting to leave her. ‘Go on,’ she urged.

He dialled the airline, then looked across at her. ‘Seven forty-five tomorrow morning. You could come with me.’

‘No. This is for you and Ria. And I’ve got things I have to do here. Chocolate ice cream to make. A franchise to launch if I’m going to be a millionaire by the time I’m twenty-five.’ She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ‘Let’s just make the most of tonight.’

* * *

Alexander eased himself out of bed just before five the following morning, dressed quickly and picked up his overnight bag pausing only for one last look at Sorrel.

It was a mistake. Her dark chestnut hair was spread across the pillow, her lips slightly parted in what looked like a smile and he wanted to crawl back in bed with her. Be there when she woke...

She stirred as the driver of the taxi tooted from below. Her eyelids fluttered up and she said, ‘Go or you’ll miss your plane.’

‘Sorrel...’ He was across the room in a stride and he held her for a long moment, imprinting the feel of her arms around him, the taste of her lips, the scent of her hair in his memory.

There was a second, impatient, toot and she leaned back. ‘Your brother is waiting for you.’