Page 51 of An Island Promise

He traced his fingers across the picture. ‘I’ll always love you and you’ll always have a place in my heart.’

There was a but to that sentence even if he wasn’t able to say it out loud. He switched off the bedside light and rolled onto his back. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Ibiza Town glowed in the bay further along the coast, a view he’d fallen asleep to countless times. Yet he couldn’t sleep and he was afraid to close his eyes because when he did, it wasn’t Paloma on that Zanzibar beach who entered his thoughts but Belle in that dress with her dreamy eyes and uncertain smile. Belle who was lying in bed in a room close by. The distance might as well have been a million miles.

32

JULY 2013, TEN YEARS AGO

After marrying the woman he loved, being enveloped by Paloma’s family was what filled Caleb with the greatest joy on his wedding day. Being embraced by Paloma’s brothers as one of them and being part of that camaraderie and teasing meant everything. He’d never experienced anything quite like it, even with close friends.

The wedding party was getting ready at Maria and Juan’s with the bride and groom separated on either side of the house. Maria flitted between them all, organising everyone and delivering snacks and drinks, being the ultimate host as she made sure everyone had everything they needed. Her excitement at her only daughter getting married was infectious. They’d be joining Caleb’s mum and gran and a handful of his friends at Spirit for the wedding in a couple of hours’ time, but he was more comfortable with the noise and abundant love of his adopted Spanish family. With a hands-off mother busy with her career, he’d resigned himself a long time ago to a functioning albeit distant relationship with her, and although he was incredibly close to his gran he was far happier to be with the Torres Corchado family.

The women were with Paloma in her old bedroom helping her to get ready. Caleb was unconvinced about how much help they’d be, imagining the stress Paloma might be feeling with her aunts taking over, her sisters-in-law weighing in, her mama fussing around. But, as the only girl with five brothers, no doubt she’d accept the fuss in good spirit.

Caleb was having an easier time of it with just his best man Ross from home and Paloma’s brothers to contend with, although Diego hadn’t yet turned up. Calls had been made and Maria was on the war path. The time was ticking by before they’d all be making their way across the island to Santa Eulalia.

‘Perhaps he’s going to meet us there,’ Lluís suggested to his mama when she came in tutting for at least the third time that morning.

‘Perhaps he is still in bed drunk and will miss his sister’s wedding altogether!’ Maria snapped back at her eldest.

Caleb and Lluís gave each other a knowing look. Caleb knew exactly what Diego was like and why he was probably late. His love of the ladies and partying till the early hours had been his main reason for moving out of the family home into a staff apartment in San Antonio, although he’d told Maria it was more for convenience rather than to make his healthy love life more manageable.

And so when Diego did rock up with just minutes to spare, Maria wasn’t reserved about showing her annoyance even though he looked impeccable and enviably fresh in his suit and tie.

‘You’re late,’ Maria growled.

‘Sorry, Mama.’ He kissed her on each cheek. ‘I was working late and slept in.’

Lluís waited until their mother was out of earshot. ‘Working late, huh? Not kept up all night between some woman’s legs?’

Caleb secured his cufflink and shook his head. ‘Seriously, Lluís, it’s my wedding day to your sister. Do we have to talk about this?’

‘Sorry, just happy that my young and single brother is getting some action.’ He grinned at Caleb. ‘You’ll understand once you’ve been married long enough.’

‘Again, we’re talking about your sister.’

‘I had a good night.’ Diego shrugged. ‘That will hopefully be repeated tomorrow,’ he said under his breath to his brother.

Caleb smirked and turned back to the mirror to adjust his tie. Diego was practically a carbon copy of Caleb at the same age: ridiculously confident, assured in his good looks with an eye for the ladies, so he couldn’t really blame him for being late or for the conversation going in that direction. As for Lluís, he’d married young, had two children, a lovely but formidable Spanish wife, supported his parents at their restaurant and worked harder than anyone. He couldn’t be blamed for wanting to live vicariously through Diego and his frequent conquests.

‘Well, I’m glad you got here in time,’ Caleb said, slapping Diego on his back as they made their way to the waiting taxis.

Diego draped his arm across Caleb’s shoulders. ‘I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.’

Somehow they managed to get out of the house and into the taxis without Caleb laying eyes on Paloma, and the groom and the rest of the men set off across the island ahead of the bride and her entourage.

‘Are you nervous?’ Lluís asked as they drove along the main road through Santa Eulalia.

‘No. Why would I be? I want to spend my life with Paloma.’ He glanced at Lluís. ‘Were you nervous marrying Ana?’

‘Yes, but only because I was anxious about being the best possible husband and living up to the expectations of being the eldest son. Of having a marriage as solid as my parents’.’

‘No pressure then.’ Caleb laughed. ‘Maybe I am nervous now.’

It seemed fitting to marry Paloma at Spirit. Since arriving on Ibiza he’d taken chances and made a huge leap of faith leaving everything he knew back in the UK. He’d made money, driven himself, partied hard, had an entrepreneurial spirit – hence the name of his hotel – and was perfectly matched by Paloma with her contrasting gentleness, unassuming beauty and family values. They had met when Caleb and Àngel had worked together and had become friends. She’d tamed his wild ways and had made him think about other people rather than just himself.

Ibiza was the island he’d returned to for a good time, a place where he’d made his fortune. His first few years had been a whirl of parties, women, late nights, hard work, making money, learning, networking and investing, but now his life was shifting into a different gear, one of a work/life balance of love and support, of building a home and future together. All that would come after marrying the woman he loved.

October 2018, Five Years Later

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