Opposing Forces (28 page)

“I’ve already changed my plans.  We’re off to the Matterhorn spa in a few hours for forty-eight hours of pampering. I think you could survive missing two days of university.”

Sabina threw her arms around her mother.  “You’re the best.”

She hugged her daughter.  “You are in dire need of repair, my darling daughter.”

A few hours later, the two of them were undergoing the most wonderful hot stone massage in a double treatment room.

“This is just what I needed, Mum,” Sabina sighed. Her body was in heaven right now.

“You need to be well and truly relaxed when you meet with Philippe.”

“I think our relationship is over,” Sabina’s voice was scarcely above a whisper.

“Nonsense, darling. You just had an argument.  I’m sure after a few days of not being able to reach you, he will be desperate to make amends.  From what you’ve told me of him, he’s a decent, well-mannered young man.”

“It still doesn’t solve the problem of him wanting to meet my family.”

“I would love to meet him. When you’ve got your relationship back on track, I’ll pop down to Lausanne for dinner.”

“As long as the name Grundberg doesn’t cross your lips,” Sabina gave a weak smile.

Bettina laughed. “After that wonderful article about your father today in the papers, it’s certainly not a name any of us want to bandy around.”

“What article?” Sabina raised her head.  “Have I missed something juicy?”

“Very,” Bettina chuckled maliciously.

“Mum?” Sabina moaned.

“Your father is being sued for paternity by the intern he’s been screwing the last six months or so.”

“You’re kidding?”

“No.  He apparently dropped her back in December and she turned up on his doorstep a few weeks ago claiming she was pregnant with his child.”

Sabina buried her head under her arms.  “Oh God. This is mortifying.  My sixty-three year old father having a child with a woman not much older than me.”

“It did make quiet compelling reading,” Bettina sniggered.  “And I’ll commend the paper on having the sense not to mention the rest of the Grundberg family.  It’s not wise to upset the Chief of Police, irrespective of which Canton he works for.”

“Have you heard from Steffen?”

“No.  I think he’s too wrapped up with Maisie.”

“I’m pleased they finally got it together again.”  

“When you meet up with Philippe, you really should tell him about your family. If not, it will only cause another row later on.”

“I know. But as soon as he discovers I’m Steffen’s sister, he’ll end the relationship. That’s if it’s not already over.”

“Don’t be silly.  He’s made from better stuff than that. And why would Steffen being your brother have such an impact on the relationship?”

“Because he’s a police officer,” Sabina winced.

“Ah, I can understand your dilemma now.  But perhaps Steffen holds this officer in high regard?” Bettina was forever the optimist.

Sabina hung her head.  “He is the officer Maisie originally mistook for a party guest that kicked off the whole Raiders riot.”

“Or perhaps not,” Bettina sighed.  “Whatever the case, my dear, Philippe will need to know soon.  I’m sure he’s already aware that you come with complications but it’s unfair to keep him in the dark much longer.  It is something he needs to know.”

Philippe caught a lift off James and Marianne back to their apartment in Lausanne.  He had spent the morning snowboarding, or at least attempting to snowboard, but his head was still thumping.  It really was the mother of all hangovers.  The bright sun and artic air did nothing to lift his spirits.  The first thing he did on returning to the chalet was check his phone; no messages from Sabina.

James pulled up outside their apartment to offload Philippe before he carried on to Marianne’s.

Marianne got out the car to talk to him.  “There is something you should know before you see Sabina,” she spoke softly.  “On top of the row you two had, one of your friends tried to assault her as she walked back to the chalet.  That was why she was in such a state when she left.”

Philippe looked at her in shock.  “Don’t be ridiculous. Everyone adores Sabina, they wouldn’t hurt her.”

“Well someone tried to get better acquainted with her.  She was petrified. So don’t be surprised if she doesn’t want to see you again, they’re your friends after all. ”

Philippe walked into his apartment in a daze.  He was filled with repulse and anger at the same time.  The thought that someone close to him could even attempt to hurt his beautiful, trusting girlfriend made him feel quite murderous.  She must really hate him.  He had stomped off in a sulk and left her alone in a strange town.  How could he treat the woman he loved so badly?  If she forgave him, it would be a miracle.

He grabbed his helmet and bike keys and rode over to Sabina’s.  From the street he could see no lights were on.  He drove around the back of the building, her car was missing.  He headed back to his apartment and tried to call her.  It went straight to voicemail so he left a message.  “I’m so sorry, Sabina, for last night.  I love you so very much. Please call me.”

He drove past her apartment early the next morning on his way to work. Still no sign of her or her car.  Late morning he pulled his phone out, nothing again. He sent a text.
It’s difficult to apologise to the woman I love when she won’t speak to me
.

He returned to her apartment after work, she was not there.  Philippe was starting to worry; no-one had seen her since she headed out late on Saturday night.  He called a friend he had in the traffic division. There had been no reported accidents on the roads between Chambery and Lausanne during that time period.

His fears were mounting by the hour.  He sent her another message. 
Please text me to let me know you’re safe before I file a missing person’s report.
  He got a response back quickly, simply saying
I’m safe
.  He was relieved she was fine but devastated she did not feel she could speak to him yet.

He spent a second miserable night without her.  The next day was no different.  He drove by her apartment four times, there was no sign of her.  He parked up outside the University; he was about to abuse his powers, but he didn’t care.  His life at the moment was hell without her.  He had had dealings with the administration team before, so they knew him well enough. They would not ask questions.

“Officer Thevenez,” one of the administrators bounded over to the reception desk.  “Anything I can help you with?” She batted he eyelashes a little too eagerly.

“I’m trying to track down a Sabina Laroque.  Do you know if she is in lectures today?”  He pulled out his notebook to make his enquiry look official.

“Let me see,” the girl looked at the computer screen.  “Laroque?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, she’s in lectures.  Oh no, sorry.  There is a note on her file to say she is absent until tomorrow.”

It meant another lonely night.  Three days he had not seen or talked to her, he missed her more than he could ever have imagined.  The thought that he might have screwed up the entire relationship gnawed continually at him.  He left her one very emotional text, virtually pouring his heart out. He loved her, he would do anything to win her back.

Sabina drove back to Lausanne early Wednesday morning.  Her spirits had been greatly lifted; her mum had been a genius booking the spa, it was exactly what she needed.  She knew Philippe wanted to see her, she had got his messages; his last text had actually made her cry.  But she was not yet ready to talk to him.  He had hurt her badly and left her alone to fend off Ricardo, a situation which could have ended very differently.

She changed quickly and grabbed her Uni books.  She was looking forward to catching up with her friends.  A sudden wave of nausea had her running for the bathroom; she just couldn’t seem to shake that bug.

She emerged from her lectures early afternoon.  “How about coffee at Movenpicks?” one of the girls suggested.

“Sounds good,” Sabina responded.

As they were crossing the plaza, she saw the police car parked at the far end and the very recognisable form of Philippe leaning against it.  Her stomach flipped over. There was no way of evading this meeting.  “I’ll catch up with you guys in a few minutes,” she mumbled and headed over to Philippe.

His soft eyes rested on her. “I apologise for ambushing you but it seems the only way to get hold of you.”

“Well, you’ve found me.” She kept her eyes on the ground.  To look at him would be disastrous.

Philippe stood very close to her.  “Can I see you after my shift this afternoon?  I so desperately need to make amends for my appalling behaviour last weekend. “

“Yes,” Sabina responded, her voice barely above a whisper.

The back of his hand brushed against hers in the smallest of movements but one that spoke volumes.  As his little finger would around hers, she knew there was hope their relationship could be repaired.

“I should be there within the next couple of hours,” he murmured, the look in his eyes making her feel very flustered.

“Unless you get an emergency situation.”

“If it’s a nutcase, I’ll just shoot them myself and save us all a lot of time and effort,” he grunted.  “Nothing is coming between us.”

The corners of her mouth curled up ever so slightly as she hurried over to the café to re-join her friends.

“Was that decidedly dashing officer the boyfriend you mention occasionally?”

“Yes,” Sabina gave a small smile. 

“Well, honey, he can arrest me any time he wants.”

Sabina settled down to a cappuccino before heading back to her apartment and awaiting Philippe’s arrival.   She was nervous; could they really repair the damage done to their relationship?  Would it ever be the same again?

The second he came through the door, he wrapped his arms around her and held her so tight she could barely breathe.  “I’m so sorry for my outrageous behaviour on Saturday.” He kissed the top of her head.  “My insecurities were fuelled by alcohol and I am truly embarrassed how I spoke to you.  You certainly did not deserve the anger which came your way.”

Sabina could feel his heart beating very fast; he was even more nervous than she was.

“I have been out of my mind with worry, concerned over your disappearance and whether or not I have totally screwed up our relationship.”  He tilted her face up to look at him.  “Please tell me I have a chance to repair the damage?”

Her bottom lip started to tremble as she spoke.  “I still love you, Philippe.”

He sank his hands into her thick, soft hair and kissed her as though his life depended on it.  In fact he never wanted to stop.  He loved her, even more so now that she was giving him another chance.  “Oh Sabina,” he sighed.  “Can you forgive me?”

She nodded as a tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. He kissed it away.  “What did you have to feel insecure about?”

“That I am not good enough for you.  You are obviously used to having more than I could ever give you.  The fact that I have not met your family just fuelled my fear that your stay here was only temporary.”

Sabina held his face in her hands.  “You are just perfect to me, Philippe.  And as for my family, my mother would like to meet you.”

He groaned loudly. “I’m not surprised, I hurt her only daughter.  She’s really going to take to me.”