Page 12 of An Island Promise

‘The plans I once had, you mean.’

Laurie stepped closer, positioning herself between Belle and Gem. ‘Belle was right before about us all feeling the stress of life in different ways. Even if we think each of us is doingokay, we don’t really know what’s going on beneath the surface, particularly if we’re not honest with each other. I’m guilty of that by keeping my own struggles to myself. And Gem, just because you have children and exactly what I want doesn’t give me the right to shut you down when you’re complaining about your kids being a burden?—’

‘They’re not a burden,’ Gem cut in, ‘I love my kids, it’s just…’

Laurie hooked her arm in Gem’s. ‘I know, life’s not perfect, for any of us. That’s my point.’ She slid her other arm into Belle’s. ‘So I think we should have our reunion holiday and go back to Ibiza as we promised.’

Gem sighed. ‘It’s hardly a reunion holiday when Belle will be flipping living there.’

‘It can be. It will be.’ Belle took Gem’s hand and closed the circle. ‘We don’t want weddings to be the only time we see each other. I’m going to be on Ibiza anyway, working my socks off proving myself in a new job and not knowing anyone. It would be lovely to have you two coming out to look forward to.’

‘As I said before, you can always look up Diego.’ Laurie’s eyes sparkled in the moonlight as she squeezed Belle’s arm. Gem’s hand momentarily tightened in Belle’s too.

‘The thought hadn’t crossed my mind,’ she said smoothly, while absolutely knowing it had consumed her for a lot longer than she cared to admit. ‘But it’s the job I’m moving for and the opportunity to focus on what I want to do. Spending a few months in Ibiza is the bonus. So what do you say?’ She looked between them. ‘We did make a promise. All you need to do is sort out flights; I’ll organise the accommodation.’

‘Someoneisdoing well.’ Gem’s smile didn’t completely hide the underlying animosity. ‘But yeah, I’m in if you are too, Laurie?’

‘If this IVF cycle works and I get pregnant then no, if it doesn’t…’ She shrugged.

‘Then it will be something good to take your mind off things,’ Gem said matter-of-factly.

Belle squeezed Laurie’s arm. ‘There’s every chance it will work because it’s bound to mess up our plans, and my God, will we be happy for you if that happens.’

With Laurie in the middle and their arms still hooked in each other’s, they strolled back towards the lights and music filling the fresh May evening. Unspoken tensions remained, and Belle was certain that all of them were still holding back on their true worries, stresses, desires and dreams, because it was certainly what she was doing. But a week away together in the summer, revisiting happier more carefree times, would allow them the chance to delve deeper and rebuild the friendship that had taken a battering due to distance, commitments, family, work and the ups and downs of everyday life.

Belle squeezed her friends’ arms tighter and thought,Ibiza, here we come!

7

Instead of quaffing gin and tonic on the plane to Ibiza like she’d done ten years before, Belle opted for a black coffee and a bottle of water when the trolley came by. She wanted to keep her head clear, yet the flight filled her with nostalgia. She’d loved everything about Ibiza and had left the island believing her future would be bright and beautiful.

At twenty-one, Belle had taken little notice of the surroundings during the twenty-five-minute transfer from the airport to their hotel in San Antonio. It was different now in the taxi to Santa Eulalia and once they’d bypassed Ibiza Town with buildings, warehouses and occasional building sites cluttering the sides of the dual carriageway, rugged shrubland then great swathes of pine trees eventually took over along the roadside and she began to feel as excited as a child on Christmas morning.

Spirit was located right by the sea with its own stretch of beach in Santa Eulalia, a short walk away from the swanky marina with its lines of gleaming white boats and yachts. Belle’s first impression was how different it seemed to her memory of pulsating and often gaudy San Antonio. There was still a plethora of hotels, restaurants and bars, but its morelaidback vibe and the fact it was considered to be the cultural and gastronomical centre of the island greatly appealed. Even though Spirit was an adults-only hotel, the town itself was more family orientated and sophisticated than San Antonio. It was certainly a more chilled out and classier destination than she’d previously experienced.

Caleb greeted her in the cool of Spirit’s lobby, which was all white walls and pale wood with splashes of green in the leafy palms housed in large rust-coloured pots. He was immediately recognisable from their Zoom calls but more arresting in real life and taller than she’d imagined, ruggedly attractive in jeans and a cream T-shirt. His handshake was warm and welcoming, and there was an energy about him that made her like him immediately.

‘It’s wonderful to finally have you here, Belle.’ Caleb released her hand, organised for one of the staff to take her luggage to her accommodation, then chatted about the hotel as he took her on a tour.

Belle had done her research on Spirit, but the reality was even better. They strolled around, poking their heads into one of the sea-view rooms with crisp white walls offset by warming tones of burnt amber and natural wood. He showed her the shared office and introduced her to Giada and Miguel, a couple of the events and marketing team members. The restaurant and outdoor bars were the beating heart of the place and where Belle’s energy would be focused. The spacious terraces were divided into different areas with plenty of greenery breaking up the predominantly white, wood and stone décor. There was a sunken area with cushioned seating and space to dance, with a DJ booth at the end of the bar.

‘We mainly host weddings and private parties as well as dance nights for the hotel guests,’ Caleb said as they reached the pool, which was located at the centre of the seafront grounds.‘It’s as much an income for us as the hotel side of things, which is why this role is so important, particularly with our new restaurant Serenity down the coast.’

They crossed the pool deck with its beanbag loungers, white umbrellas and swaying palms. Billowing white curtains around double sunbeds were occupied with couples making the most of the pleasant temperature of a fine June day. Elegance and romance oozed in every direction and the beach beyond a treeline of palms and a shady juniper was lined with uniform white umbrellas.

The final stop was the bar where Caleb had interviewed Belle from less than two weeks ago. While he ordered them a drink, she settled herself on a cushioned seat in the sunshine and breathed in the heady scent of the sea.

Caleb returned with sparkling grapefruit and rosemary syrup cocktails and sat opposite her. ‘In an ideal world I would have had you shadow Cara and have a proper hand over but she’s had to drop everything to go back to Australia to help look after her dad – he’s, um, not been given long to live.’

‘Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry to hear that.’

‘Cara’s been with me through the good and bad times. I don’t want to leave her in the lurch, so she has the job to come back to when she’s ready.’

‘Which, like I said, suits me just fine,’ Belle said before taking a sip of the sweet yet refreshing drink. ‘This is the perfect job to bridge the gap and it’s a relief to get away from things in London. Plus Ibiza made quite an impression on me ten years ago.’Both Ibiza and Diego, Belle thought.

‘You weren’t tempted to stay?’ Caleb raised his eyebrows and sipped his drink.

‘There was definitely temptation, but I had a job lined up in London. Big plans, you know. It felt too risky to give that up on a whim back then.’

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