The Caretaker by Carol Schoenig

Author:Carol Schoenig
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, spain, love after 50, romantic love, love romance, mature romance, mature sex, love abroad, mature couple, older love
Publisher: Black Velvet Seductions Publishing Company

Chapter Eighteen

Finn had trouble concentrating on what was being said on the conference call. He stared at the picture of Izzy and his wife; the last one before she passed. He thought about Izzy and Luke, how young they were. How uncertain life could be and how tragedies could change your life in an instant. It saddened him to know that Angela wouldn’t be there for Izzy’s wedding. He shook his head. It wasn’t as if they were getting married next week. Luke had said ‘someday’.

“Finn, what do you think. Can you make the day after tomorrow?” his business partner asked.

“I’m sorry, I zoned out for a minute.”

“I was asking if you could go to Italy the day after tomorrow.” Finn glanced at his calendar, hesitating since Luke was there. “I’ll make it work.” He and his partner talked for a few minutes, wrapping up details. When Finn hung up the phone, he opened the French doors that led out to the private veranda and leaned up against them.

The trip to Italy was sooner than he’d anticipated. He hoped Phae would still be interested.

His thoughts rested on Phae. He mulled over some of their conversations and her reactions to various things. She seemed skittish and afraid to be touched intimately, yet other times she gave him that, ‘I want you too’ look.

He walked through the doors and sat down on a chair that gave him a panoramic view of the hills of Spain and the Balearic Sea. A gentle breeze and the sound of the sea relaxed him. This verandah had always had a calming effect on him. He remembered how Angela had teased him about it when they bought the house.

Enjoying the silence for a few seconds, his thoughts circled back to Phae. No two marriages were alike, and everyone had difficulties. But, he was curious about Phae’s marriage to George. From what she had told him, it didn’t seem like it had been a euphoric marriage. She gave the impression their sex life had been more of a duty than a sharing of love and passion.

The way she always stepped in to calm the waters had to be the result of all the years she’d lived with George. The way she put all her efforts into meeting people’s needs, and became contrite if they were not pleased, hinted at mental and probably verbal abuse, but he couldn’t help wondering if there had been physical violence as well. It was clear George had instilled some serious fears in her.

The way she had reacted to his questions by becoming defensive, suggested the actions of someone not used to sharing thoughts and opinions.

He rubbed his forehead with his thumb and forefinger. Had they ever been playful or kidded each other? What had they done for fun? He remembered her saying they had never traveled or gone on a vacation. How stifled this must have been for Phae, who dreamed of flying and had hoped to be an architect. He wanted to give her all the things she’d missed.

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