Page 39 of What Happens in Paradise

‘Perhaps we can go tomorrow?’

‘That’s really kind of you to ask him, but I think there’s an activity Hortense wants me to try tomorrow.’

‘Depending on the time, we could go afterwards? Or the day after?’

‘We’ll see,’ Jasmine said.

After what happened to my girlfriend, I always tried to avoid delaying going to visit someone important. It was too easy to say you would see them next week or next month, but sometimes that time never came.

‘Vale,’ I said, not wanting to push her.

‘So today, we’re going on a bamboo raft and whilst we enjoy a relaxing ride down the river, apparently they’ll tell us a bit of local history and give us a foot massage using a limestone paste made from the river rocks.’

‘Sounds like torture!’ I laughed.

‘I thought you might say that.’ She smiled and I caught myself looking at her lips for longer than I should.

‘What reggae artists do you like, Bob? Apart from Bob Marley of course,’ I asked, turning away from Jasmine before my thoughts started wandering into unprofessional territory again.

From the rear-view mirror, I saw that Bob’s eyes had widened like he was shocked that I was interested.

I knew he probably played Bob Marley, not just because he loved him like most people did, but also because he thought that was what tourists wanted to hear. But I was also interested in learning more about other reggae artists. I wanted to soak up everything here and improve my knowledge of the culture.

‘Well, mi likeBeres – Beres Hammond, Gregory Issacs, Dennis Brown, Protoje, an wul heap ah people dem.’

‘Can you play us some of their songs?’ I asked.

‘Ya mon!’He pressed some buttons on his car stereo and then a mid-tempo reggae song started playing.

The lyrics were easy to follow. It was about a man being attracted to a woman and how he could not stop thinking of her and how much he wanted her. I would like to say that I did not find it relatable, but I would be lying.

‘I recognise this song!’ Jasmine said. ‘I think my dad used to play it at home.’

‘Dis deh is“Tempted to Touch”byBeres Hammond. Yuh like it?’

‘Sí.’ I nodded. ‘Very much.’

Perhaps too much…

For the rest of the journey, Bob played us lots of different reggae songs I had never heard of before. I was grateful that I had the Shazam app to save them all. I would definitely be listening to them later back at the hotel.

When we arrived at the river, multiple rafts were lined up. Each one had a throne made from bamboo for each couple to sit on which was decorated with palm leaves and bright-red flowers.

Once Jasmine had spoken to the staff, we were shown to our raft and took our seats.

Sailing down the river was calming. Jasmine took photos as the tour guide explained some of the history, then started the massage.

‘So,’ Jasmine turned to face me, ‘is this the first time you’ve had a foot massage?’

‘No. But usually I prefer to give them instead of having them myself.’

‘Really?’ Her eyebrow arched. ‘Are you any good?’

‘Of course,’ I said without hesitation.

‘Wow. Are you this confident abouteverything?’

‘Noteverything. But I do not believe in this false modesty that some British people seem to have. Why pretend that you are not good at something when you are?’

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