Page 72 of An Island Promise

‘Exactly.’

The way she smiled melted his heart and he knew without a doubt that slow was the way to go, to enjoy what they had right now without worrying about the future or picking apart the past.

Belle slid her hand into his and leaned her head in the crook of his shoulder. ‘But ultimately I do want what Laurie and Gem predicted for me ten years ago.’ Her voice was silken in the fading light, Ibiza Town like a beacon in the dusk. He focused on the movement of her feet beneath the water and the feel of her fingers between his. ‘A dream career, dream man, dream life. A family of my own. I want it all, if that’s not too greedy.’

‘Not greedy, it’s hopeful.’

‘But one step at a time, right,’ Belle said with laughter in her voice.

‘Oh, we absolutely shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves.’ Caleb paused but then took strength from her openness. ‘But I still want what I’ve always wanted – to love and be loved. To eventually have a family. To be happy.’ He shrugged and buried his lips in her honey-scented hair. ‘But I’m talking way in the future.’

‘That doesn’t stop you from being happy right now though,’ Belle said gently.

‘Oh, I am happy, more than you could ever know.’

Belle clasped his hand tighter then lifted her head away from his shoulder with a gasp. ‘Where’s your wedding ring?’

Caleb reached beneath his T-shirt and pulled out the ring on a chain around his neck. ‘It’s here, kept close to my heart.’ He brought the ring to his lips and kissed it, then tucked it back against his chest. ‘It felt like the right time.’

Removing his wedding ring but wearing it in a different way was a promise to himself to let go and start anew. It was also his way of showing Belle that whatever this was, it was something he wanted.

Belle rested her hand against his chest, leaned close and kissed him.

‘Would you like to stay the night?’ he asked when they eventually pulled away from each other.

‘More than anything.’

Maria had spoken on many occasions to Caleb about him embracing the possibility of finding someone special in his life again, but he’d been uncertain how she’d actually feel if it everhappened. He could tell Belle was nervous when they arrived at Maria and Juan’s the next day, more so than the first time she’d come over for lunch, but back then they’d just been friends. Caleb kept a tight hold of Belle’s hand as they walked down the path at the side of the house, deciding that action rather than words was the best way to show the change in their relationship. He wasn’t yet sure what she was. Girlfriend? Partner? Lover? None felt quite right. She was Belle, he was Caleb and they were together. That was enough for now.

Everyone was outside, and with most of the family there, the garden was filled with people, conversation and laughter. Gabriela, Ana and Àngel were bringing out bowls of food from the kitchen and the long table on the terrace was already filled with dishes. Delicious smells wafted into the heat of the afternoon from where Juan was grilling meat on the barbecue.

Maria’s smile didn’t waver as she caught sight of them. Her eyes dropped briefly to their entwined hands and back up again to Caleb. She paced over and greeted him with a kiss to each cheek and did the same to Belle, ushering them to the table. The greetings that were called out, and the way Diego clamped his hand firmly on his shoulder, leaned close and whispered in Catalan ‘I am so happy for you, brother’ left Caleb choked up. The love that flooded through him at Paloma’s family’s openness and acceptance blew him away.

He sensed Belle relax too as the children were herded to the table. With Maria’s help, Juan brought over some of the barbecued food: smoked-paprika steaks and pork burgers with piquillo peppers and serrano ham.

Once everyone was settled, Maria stood and raised her glass. Her soulful eyes took in each and every person round the table and lingered on Belle, then rested on Caleb.

‘To family and friends, old and new.’ She looked at Diego, dipped her head and smiled. ‘To those we love and those wemiss with all our hearts.’ Her gaze returned to Caleb. ‘To hope, happiness and love.’

Caleb knew the last part was aimed at him and Belle. He did everything in his power to hold it together, especially when Belle reached beneath the table and clasped his hand.

‘Paloma must have been a wonderful woman, because she comes from a fabulous family,’ Belle said a few hours later as she cast her eyes over the wondrous sight of the big and loud family scattered across the terrace. The food had been demolished, the children were playing and the grown-ups were sitting in various groups drinking and chatting. ‘I understand how they embraced you as a son and held on to you for dear life after you all lost her, but to welcome me into their home, to be genuinely happy for you and open towards me, that takes a special kind of strength and a huge heart. You were all lucky to have Paloma in your lives even if it was for too short a time.’ She turned back to Caleb and her stomach clenched at the sight of the tears streaking down his face and catching in his stubble. ‘Oh God, I’m so sorry. I’ve said too much.’

He shook his head and wiped his face with the back of his hand. ‘No, you haven’t. What you said was beautiful and so true.’

The serious and reflective mood that had filtered round the table with Maria’s touching toast had slowly dispersed over the delicious lunch. As the afternoon rolled into the evening, the wine and beer flowed. Both of them were grateful for Diego and his brothers entertaining everyone with stories before Diego and Tomàs got out their guitars and started to play.

‘You and Diego,’ Caleb said, shaking his head. ‘I still can’t believe it.’

‘What?’ Belle folded her arms and tried to look incredulous. ‘That I managed to pull him?’

Caleb nearly choked on his Coke. ‘No, unfortunately that I believe – can’t get that image out of my head. What I couldn’t believe was how ridiculously jealous I felt when Gem said that stuff about you two. I knew then how much I liked you.’

‘What were you jealous of?’ Belle batted her eyelashes, enjoying teasing him as much as she adored how open he was being with her. After years of shutting down her own emotions when things got serious or uncomfortable, it was refreshing to embrace this newfound freedom of not being frightened by her feelings.

‘I was jealous that he knew you before I did and was confused by how betrayed I felt when Gem asked if you’d slept together again. There was absolutely no reason for me to feel that way when we weren’t together. I had no right to you and yet…’

‘You should know how horrified I was when Gem said that in front of you, not because it was inappropriate with you being my boss and Diego your brother-in-law but because I was ashamed of what you’d think of me when I was so ridiculously drawn to you.’

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