Page 13 of An Island Promise

Caleb smiled. ‘I did exactly that, gave up my life in London for the lure of Ibiza, and you’re right, it was risky with no guarantees of it working out.’

‘But it did for you.’ Belle wafted her hand around the bar.

‘It’s been a long road to get here. A lot of hard work and sacrifices. Sometimes you have to take a chance, but there are also times when being sensible can be the best choice.’

‘I definitely went the sensible route.’

‘But now?’

‘It feels a little riskier, but a risk I was willing to take.’ For the first time in her life she was listening to her heart rather than her head.

‘Something pushed you away, right? People don’t tend to move countries, jobs and take on a lesser role for no reason.’

‘Firstly, I don’t consider this to be a lesser role, a sideways step perhaps, but you’re right about there being a reason.’ She stopped, covering her uncertainty over how to explain with a glug of her drink.

‘One that you don’t have to share with me,’ Caleb said smoothly. ‘I get it. I’ve had many moments in my life like that. I’m just glad this job was a risk you were willing to take, because I’ve been lost without Cara.’ His cheeks were tanned but she noticed the slight flush, as if he’d said more than he’d meant to. ‘I’m about to head over to Serenity. I’d like to show it to you before you get settled back here, if that’s okay?’

‘Yes, of course, I’d love to see it.’

Many of the guests said hello to Caleb as they walked back through the hotel’s grounds and Belle was struck by how involved he seemed. The staff looked the part, slick and professional in off-white shirts, the Spirit logo on the fabric, smart in fitted black trousers or shorts. His ease with them and their genuine smiles confirmed her thought that he was handson and very much involved in the day-to-day running of the hotel.

Outside, Caleb strode over to a black convertible Jeep with white dust splattered up the sides, which made it look like it was actually used off road. He opened the passenger door for her and scooted round to the driver’s side. Of course he’d have a convertible. He lived on Ibiza and owned a luxury hotel.

With salty air buffeting her face and dance tunes playing on the stereo, the ten-minute journey to Serenity certainly beat her London commute on the Tube. It was a different life and she’d have a taste of it for a few months, which would hopefully pave the way to a newfound freedom.

Down the coast from Santa Eulalia, and nestled in a dip of a headland overlooking the sea not far from the small resort of Cala Llonga, Serenity was aptly named.

Belle realised she was holding her breath as she strolled through the bar with Caleb to where the restaurant tables were spaced out in front of floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the bay. The whole design, from the shades of white and sand to the natural materials of wood and stone, drew her eye to the large windows framing the sea and sky. She followed Caleb outside to a wraparound terrace filled with diners on one side and a bar area of comfy seating on the other, with steps leading to another spacious terrace below.

‘It’s magical at this time of day,’ Caleb said.

Belle nodded in reply, having no words to describe the view in front of her. The sea rippled with the burnished red of the setting sun. San Antonio was famed for its breathtaking sunsets, while this side of the island got to enjoy the peace of sunrise. The people snuggled together on the padded wooden sofas had front-row seats to the very magic Caleb was talking about. Conversation was hushed between couples with their hands entwined as they gazed beyond the rocky border planted withcacti, herbs and agave plants to the sea dancing in the fading light.

This was a side to Ibiza she’d completely missed out on the first time: sophisticated and enchanting. The smell of booze and cheap perfume had been replaced by the fresh scent of the ocean and the mouth-watering aroma of seafood paella.

Enclosed by rocky cliffs that formed a private horseshoe bay, it was far removed from the vibrancy and nightlife of Ibiza Town which was a twenty-minute drive away. Belle’s mind was already firing off ideas. The possibilities of how to utilise the space and the events she’d be able to arrange were thrilling. She was used to creating magic in a historic location, whereas here the natural surroundings were the stars; the palm trees edging the sandy terrace and steps that wound down to the pebble beach; and the endless blue reaching towards the hazy island of Formentera just a thirty-minute ferry journey away. Even the restaurant had been designed and built with nature and its surroundings in mind. There were no flashing lights or thumping beats. Inside, the lighting was honey-toned, bringing out the natural colours of the stone and wood, and the music enhanced rather than detracted, while outside, once darkness had descended, candlelight would flicker on the tables, adding to the romanticism of the location.

Caleb stood next to her. ‘We had a soft launch in April so have just focused on the restaurant and nailing excellent food in an awe-inspiring location. We want it to be a destination that people make the effort to come to. There’s the potential to use the space for more than just dining. Cara’s already put plans in motion for an outdoor movie night, and I’m open to ideas. Come, you must be hungry. Let’s get something to eat and you can tell me what you think.’

After a waiter had wafted by with seafood paella, Belle opted for a bowl of her own for dinner. They were joined by Raphael,Serenity’s manager, a Spanish guy in his forties, slight and not much taller than her, calm and friendly, someone Belle could tell was in control and still had an eye on everything while he sat and chatted to them.

Caleb was friendly but reserved, an older and calmer version of the party-animal impression she’d had of someone who’d lived on Ibiza since their late teens. But then she’d changed in the decade since she was last here; she’d much rather enjoy dinner at a place like Serenity than party into the early hours every night.

The paella was one of the best things she’d ever eaten with juicy shrimps, jewelled red pepper, and the delights of cuttlefish and mussels hidden among the tasty rice. Every mouthful was pure joy and the setting only added to the experience as they talked, the number of ideas they discussed leaving her buzzing by the time Caleb drove her back to Spirit and showed her to Cara’s apartment.

‘We’ve put her personal belongings in storage,’ Caleb said. ‘It made more sense for you to be on-site. I’m sure it’s been a long day so I’ll leave you to get settled and we’ll catch up again in the morning.’

They said goodbye and Belle entered the ground-floor apartment. It had been a long day but an optimistic one and she felt relief that it was ending on a positive note. Cara’s apartment was compact but had everything she needed: a double bedroom, bathroom and a living area with a kitchenette and sliding doors that opened onto an enclosed and private courtyard garden. Belle stood on the threshold and soaked up the atmosphere of the distant voices and the gentle clatter from the hotel’s restaurant, a soft doom doom doom from the bar and, if she listened hard, the swoosh of the sea just a short walk away through Spirit’s grounds. The bright whitewashed walls of thecourtyard were offset by the magenta flowers of a rock rose, and a palm tree shaded the beanbag chair below.

At the sound of her phone pinging, she retreated inside to retrieve it.

Been thinking about you all day. Are you there and settled in? Send pics! I need to dream and have something positive to focus on – something else other than having to stick a needle into my stomach on a daily basis! Catch up with you properly in a couple of days? xx

Laurie’s fertility struggles and her tearfulness at the wedding worried Belle, even if she was trying to be upbeat in her message. Belle was well aware how easy it was to put on a brave face and hide your true emotions when inside it felt like you were falling apart. She tried to bury the stab of annoyance that Gem hadn’t messaged at all. She wasn’t someone who forgot things, even if she complained her life was hectic and she had her hands full with the kids. Belle knew it was a conscious choice to not send a message. She sighed, equally annoyed with herself that she felt the need for validation, that she wanted Gem’s approval. She certainly didn’t want to be that needy friend, but she also didn’t want to feel she had to hide her good news because Gem was jealous.

Yet despite those feelings of jealousy, she was still coming. Gem and Laurie’s flights to Ibiza in July were booked. As well as having arranged with Caleb a week off for herself, Belle had reserved a room at Spirit even with the uncertainty of whether Laurie would be able to come. Maybe them all returning and dredging up the past would be a mistake. Belle had written the predictions they’d made for each other in her diary, determined to make Gem and Laurie’s prediction for her ‘having it all’ cometrue. She had an awful lot, but she didn’t have everything. And as for Gem and Laurie…

It would be fine. After less than twenty-four hours in Ibiza, she’d seen a whole different side that actually had outshone her memory of packed pool parties, semi-naked twenty-somethings drinking to excess and dancing till their feet ached – or bled in some cases. Twenty-one-year-old Belle would have scoffed at the idea of one day preferring chatting with friends over a quiet meal to clubbing, but she did – not that she’d say no to a night out at a super club, but time had passed and she’d changed. Ibiza might just be the perfect place for her to figure out where life would take her next.

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