Chapter 16 The end of the affair

Back in London, Anna tried to get herself back into her normal routine. She was busy at the hospital, and that kept her mind fully occupied. Everybody kept telling her how well she looked, and younger, too, and that the seaside was obviously good for her.

The routine of her familiar life helped her to calm down.

In the evenings, in the flat alone, she thought about Polreath and Tristan and Stephen, and she gradually began to realise that what had happened was no more than a holiday love affair. A mixture of lots of different things had let it happen - Stephen's work crisis, her need for some sort of change, the fact that Tristan was very attractive and was attracted to her, and the fact that he was so open and easy to talk to - unlike Stephen recently — and of course the magic of the sun and the sea.

But understanding it didn't make her feel any better. She felt guilty that she had started something with Tristan that she knew now she couldn't continue. She had a horrible feeling, however, that it was different for Tristan - but then he wasn't married; he had less to lose.

And she was right. Tristan couldn't get Anna out of his mind. The only time he felt calm was when he went out fishing. And as for talking to Stephen — well, it was getting more and more difficult.

Stephen, however, wanted to get on with the business of buying Dolphin Cottage. They had agreed on the sale price, and he wanted to pay Tristan the deposit before he went back to London at the weekend. So early on

Wednesday morning he went down to the harbour and found Tristan busy on his boat.

'Morning, Tristan,' he said. 'Didn't see you yesterday. Everything OK?'

'Yes, fine, thanks,' Tristan replied as he untied the ropes that held Wave Dancer to the harbour wall. 'I'm just going to pick up the lobster pots I put down yesterday, behind Skellig.'

'Right. Look, can we meet tomorrow evening? I should have the cheque by then,' said Stephen.

'In the Fisherman's about seven?' said Tristan turning

Wave Dancer away from the harbour wall. 'Sorry, Stephen, can't stop to talk now, I've got a lot to do.'

On Thursday morning, Anna woke up with a clear head - as soon as she opened her eyes she knew that they couldn't buy Dolphin Cottage. They couldn't live in Polreath. She knew that seeing Tristan every day would be a constant reminder and, if she was honest, she was afraid that what had happened once could happen again. Was she really strong enough to cut the relationship? Tristan was lovely — too lovely to hurt any more. Surely it was better to end it all now while she still had the choice. Stephen need never know.

Anna stood in the shower, letting the water run over her face. 'Oh Stephen, I'm sorry. You'd never trust me again if you found out, would you?' Anna thought. She realised she didn't want to lose him and the life they had together. True, some of the early excitement had disappeared over the ten years of their married life, and he could be difficult to live with but she knew him so well. She knew what he liked to eat, she knew the way he combed his hair, she knew what he would think about a programme on TV. He was part of her.

The first thing she had to do was stop Stephen buying Dolphin Cottage tonight. He was going to be very confused about why she had changed her mind and horribly disappointed. And he'd have to find a new job somewhere.

Oh God! How was she going to explain her reasons - maybe she could introduce the idea of moving out of London but not going quite so far as Cornwall. It was true she had been thinking about the things she would miss when they moved - her friends, the fun of living in the capital city. What about Brighton! Lots of London people moved to Brighton, and she and Stephen had always enjoyed the weekends they had spent there.

Just as she was walking through to the kitchen, the phone rang. It made her jump. 'Stephen, or Mum,' she thought. 'They're the only people who'd phone so early in the morning. Or maybe it's Tristan.' Whoever it was, she wasn't ready to speak. She picked it up nervously.

It was Stephen. 'Anna, I've just seen Tristan. He's just told me something. We've got to talk.'

Anna's heart froze.

The end.

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 825