Chapter 41
It was close to midday before there was any stirring in the house. David rolled over in bed and found Baby Girl sleeping on the spare pillow. He had not wanted to go back to the cottage. As he moved to stroke the cat, his head reminded him of what he had consumed the day before. He vaguely remembered seeing several empty bottles of tequila and was hoping that someone other than himself had emptied them. However the pounding in his head and the ache at the back of his eyes suggested that he had drank a considerable amount of the beverage all by himself. He slowly sat on the edge of the bed with his eyes closed willing himself to stand. It was going to take more than a shower to help him feel any better.
Urs was in much worse condition than David. Not used to drinking tequila he had spent a good deal of the night in the bathroom with his head over the toilet. He had only just managed to get to sleep when Nat, far too happily announced it was time to get up. He was amazed at the amount of alcohol his wife could consume with no ill effects what so ever. He buried his head under the pillow. “Oh dear, you’re not feeling to well are you?”
All she got was a muffled grunt. “Come on then, have a shower and you’ll feel better.”
Again the grunt but he did stick his head out from under the pillow. “How can you be so cheery? You drank more than I did and you don’t even have a hang over.”
“Just lucky I guess. Tracey and I have that in common.” Nat bit her lip and a tear appeared in the corner of her eye. “Had in common.”
Urs sat up and hugged her. “It’s ok Nat.”
“She was right, I’m mad at her for leaving.” Nat took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders and stood. She was not going to break down, Tracey wouldn’t so Nat decided neither would she. “I’m having a shower, want to join me?” Urs found he was struggling with much the same side effects as David but he did join Nat in the shower, the water soothing away his aches and pains. But his heart ached when he saw Nat’s face. She was sobbing, he pulled her close and she wrapped her arms around his neck. ‘Oh God Urs, She’s really gone.”
Urs cradled his wife as she sank to the floor and her tears mingled with the water flowing over them. He could not say anything so he held her as she cried.

Carlos was already complaining about how he felt even before he opened his eyes and no amount of gentle persuasion from Gillian was going to get him out of bed. “No I am staying here until it all goes away.”
“But Carlos my sweet, it won’t go away unless you help it along some.”
Like Urs, Carlos grunted. Gillian lent over and kissed him and gave him the same offer that Nat had given Urs. Carlos squinted as he tried to look at her. “Shower, with my sweet. A medicine I think I would like.”
Slowly and with a good deal of groaning Carlos got out of bed and followed his wife into the bathroom. He was very pleased with the outcome.
Reba had been up for sometime but had elected to stay and watch Sebastien sleep rather than leave. She did not want to be alone and had no idea if anyone else was up or indeed in the house. Perched on the window sill she smiled as he slowly began to wake.
Sebastien’s eyes opened and as his gaze fell on his wife he smiled but a slipt second later the smile was replaced with a crumpled up face and a groan as he put his hands to his head and shut his eyes again. “Arrr, Pas mal. What did I do?”
Rene went to the bed and kissed him on the forehead. “You mixed Tequila with red wine and you ate the worm silly boy.”
Sebastien turned onto his side. “I feel horrible.”
With a cheeky look Reba replied. “You look worse.”
Sebastien looked at his wife hoping for some sympathy, he could see there was none in the offering. Sitting up he bowed his head. “Cyclone Tracey strikes again.”
Reba kissed him again. “That she did my hung over pirate.”
The females of the clan seemed to have fared much better than the males, even after they had showered and shaved it was a sight to see. Sue had been busy in the kitchen but Simon and Darrel were nowhere to be seen, They were still sleeping off yesterday. So the rest sat around the table, the men giving each other silent recognition of the pain they felt for each other and a little envious of their wives who seemed to be able to just shake off their hang overs, if they had ever had one to start with.
David’s voice croaked. “So who ate the worm then?”
Quietly and slowly Sebastien put up his hand.
“So did you eat both?”
Sebastien shot a look at David and then to his wife who was nodding her head.”
“I ate two worms? Oh my.”
David smiled . “Seems that way. We have three empty bottles and only one worm.”
Urs and Carlos laughed a little at a very despondent looking Sebastien. “Why didn’t someone stop me? I feel horrible.”
Urs spoke. “You seemed to be enjoying yourself.”
“I don’t even like tequila.”
Carlos patted him a little too hard on the back. “Could have fooled us”
Sue brought some food out for them and eventually they did eat, picking at little bits here and there but mostly they drank coffee, lots of coffee and lots of water and spent a lazy afternoon just talking. Sue had given them a few of the phone and e mail messages from the media all wanting a story. David had decided to let Coleman Enterprises own media department handle it with instructions that none of Il Divo or any of Tracey’s family or close friends were to be disturbed. If the press couldn’t live with that too bad. He felt it was too soon and there was enough archive information about Tracey for them to forage through. But it had stirred him into thinking it was time he went back to work, back to London. Il Divo would not be doing another tour for over twelve months so they could each concentrate on their own projects. David realised it would be the first time he would take the helm of Coleman Enterprises without Tracey. Admittedly she had not been so involved over the past years, but she had always been there to listen to him, to bounce things off, just to be there with a smile at the end of a long day. In his wildest dreams he never thought he would be the CEO of a multi million dollar company. But he was grateful to Tracey, she had found that hidden jewel within him and neutered it until it was fully formed. Not only was he a CEO but he had fulfilled his life’s dream of performing and signing. He had been lucky. Il Divo had given him so much including Tracey.
He smiled as he looked around the table. “I’m going to head back to London in a few days guys. Need to get back to the office. Anyone else got plans?”
Reba spoke. “We hoped to stop in to see my family in Sydney, tell them the news about the baby.”
Sebastien jumped in. “And then to Paris to tell my family.”
David had a big grin on his face. “That’s a brilliant idea.”
It was Urs’ turn. “Nat and I were thinking about going to check on the project we have going in Rwanda. We had planned on doing it after the tour anyway.”
David smiled. “Thanks guys but I can get someone else to check it out if you want.”
They both shook their heads but Nat replied. “No, I need to do this David.”
He did not need to say anything he understood completely.
“David if it is ok with you. Gillian and I would still like to check in on the orphanage in Madrid.” Carlos sighed. “We promised the children we would be back.”
“Tracey really knew what she was doing when she got us all involved didn’t she?”
No one spoke, it was true and all their lives had been better for it.
David stood. “Well better get myself sorted then, see if I can’t wrangle a lift to the airport via Jimmy’s sky taxi.” He wandered out of the guest house and over to Sue’s home to tell her he would be leaving. He found her and Hayden sitting on the steps.
Sue could see it in his eyes. “You’re leaving.”
David nodded. “In a few days. It’s time.”
“Hayden has been talking about the same thing.”
David looked at the young man. “You doing ok?”
Hayden nodded. “Mind if I hitch a ride back with you?”
“Sounds like a plan. I could do with the company on that long flight.”
David hugged Sue. “Thanks for everything Q.” and he walked off down the path. Both Sue and Hayden knew he was going to the cottage, maybe for the last time.

David stood outside the cottage for a long time before he finally went in. He stood in the lounge room with his eyes closed. Listening, feeling, letting the room speak to him. Tracey’s presence was all around him. It was as if she was covering him like a blanket. He could smell her fragrance, with his eyes closed he felt he could just reach out and touch her, expecting to feel her warm lips on his, her gentle touch as she brushed her hands through his hair. David stood so very still just drinking in all he could of her even if he came back to the property he would never come back to the cottage.
As he was about to leave he noticed the small statue on the coffee table. It was the gift that Tracey had given him on their last anniversary. It was a small silver statue of Merlin. David picked it up, put it in his pocket and closed the door.