Chapter 86: Chapter 86

After her shower, Sharon came downstairs. Bryan was already there with Deborah. While she was playing with her toys at the feet of her father, Bryan was scanning a Spanish newspaper, a cup of coffee in front of him.

He looked up as she entered the room, his face revealing nothing of his thoughts. She felt herself trembling as their eyes met but managed to greet him coolly.

'Did you sleep well?' he asked her with cool mockery.

'Yes, thank you', she lied, reaching for the coffee pot and finding it cold.

'Mummy, good morning. I came to your room and wanted to wake you but daddy said to leave you because you needed rest. Have you had enough rest?'

'Yes, darling I have had enough rest for now. And good morning my lovely angel. You are looking so beautiful this morning. Have you already had your bath?' she asked smiling sweetly at her daughter.

'Dad help me to shower and dress up'.

'And did you say thank you?'

'He is my dad, that is what he should do'. she said in confusion.

'Yes but when anyone dies something for you or gives you anything, you should always remember to thank them. That is how to be beautiful and charming'.

'Alright. Dad thanks for the shower'.

'You are welcome, hon', Bryan said watching Sharon with admiring eyes.

As she spoke, Ana appeared as though by silent command, carrying coffee, orange juice and a basket containing sweet rolls.

In the silence that followed her departure, Sharon dipped orange juice. She could not touch any good,the warm smell of the fresh bread making her feel sick.

Bryan glanced at her, his eye brows drawn together frowningly. 'You should eat something, he said putting down the news paper. 'Ana could bring you bacon or an omelette, anything you want'.

'I'm not hungry', she replied, her stomach protesting st the food he mentioned.

'You should think of the child you are carrying', he said coolly.

'I'm forced to think of it everytime', she snapped, green eyes flashing fire. 'I'm sick nearly every morning'.

'Have you seen a doctor?'

'Yes, I have. Which is why I don't need your advice on whether or not I should eat breakfast's. His eyes warned her to stop but her lonely depression spurred her on. 'You're not the one who will get as big as a house, you're not the one who will suffer the pain. So don't tell me what I should be doing'.

'Is that how you really see it? And was that the way you felt about your first child or are you this irritable because you are with me?'

'Is there another way I should see it?'

He was silent but he could feel the probe of his eyes as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

She knew that she looked pale and tired. The dark circles around her eye, a testimony of her sleepless nights. Would he attribute it to her pregnancy? She hoped he would even though nothing could be further from the truth. The tension between them was getting to her. It was like walking a tight rope.

They acted like polite strangers when they were together,never touching, never coming too close. Bryan was kind to her but he was also cool and withdrawn, a remote stranger with whom she had been thrown together in this beautiful house.

It couldn't go on. The waiting, the tension. It was like poison eating away at the both of them. She looked at him covertly and suddenly knew that it was affecting him too. There was a gaunt hollowed look a out his face, the black eyes burning like fire. And there was a tension in the way that he moved, not noticeable to the common observer but noticeable to Sharon who had watched him with the curious hunger of love. There was tension in his shoulders, in his hands, in the way that he held his head despite the cat- like grace of movement that remained unchanged.

She didn't know how long they could continue with this cruel charade but sooner or later, there would be an explosion. And while she waited for it in the uneasy calm before the storm, her nerves were stretched as tight as wires.

Ana brought the mail as they sat in strained silence. Bryan had arranged to have all mail forwarded him from England.

'Anything for me?' Sharon asked, not expecting anything.

Bryan shook his head as he flicked through the envelopes. He picked one, ripped it open impatiently, scanning the contents, his face totally expressionless, before slipping it into the pocket of his shirt. He said nothing and Sharon noticed that the stamp was foreign. A woman perhaps? The thought made her stomach clench with jealousy.

Bryan put the rest of the mail down without opening any of it. 'Let's go sight seeing', he suggested, watching her.

Surprised by the invitation, Sharon was silent for a moment. He spent most of his time shut away in the study working or outside playing with his daughter or out carrying out the survey for the bank which was one of the reasons they came here in the first instance. So the invitation was an attractive proposition, more attractive than she cared to admit. 'Yes, I'd love to', she smiled, her eyes meeting his briefly before veering away again.

They spent the day wandering round the old city. Brian pointed out a lot of places to her, the Giralda Tower which they entered, The Plaza de Espania, the bull ring, Triana, Los Renedios amongst others.

The iron bells above the hour chimed the hour. Sharon laughed exhilarated, surprised when Bryan's dark head swooped, his mouth taking hers in a brief hard kiss.

Dizzily, she reached for his shoulders to steady herself, but he was already moving away and she stared at the huge wooden framed clock, her eyes filling with tears.

They went round seeing everything and Sharon felt that everything seemed old, rich and faded.

Sharon felt alone because of the vast space around her. The place was alive with the history of centuries and she could understand why Bryan found it so fascinating.

They had not brought Deborah because they felt it would be too tiring for her but kept her in charge of And and the other staff.

He found her half an hour later, staring up at the enormous altarpiece.

'Lets build a church in such a way that those who see it will think we are crazy', he quoted, smiling at her.

'Who said that?' she asked, returning his smile shyly.

'One of the members of the Cathedral Counsel in the fifteenth century.', he replied, taking her arm. 'Have you seen the monument of Christopher Columbus?'

Sharon shook her head and allowed him to lead her to the huge coffin, held aloft by four larger than life allegorical figures. 'It's beautiful', she whispered, walking round it, touching it with her fingers.

Bryan watched her face. He had known that she would love it.