Page 73 of An Island Promise

‘There’s nothing to be ashamed about.’ He gave her a sly smile. ‘I remember perfectly well being twenty-one and enjoying summer in Ibiza.’ He lowered his voice. ‘To be honest, I’d have been more surprised if youhadn’thad sex with him.’

Belle manoeuvred even closer to him on the bench, laid her hands on his thighs and matched his tone. ‘I really don’t think we should be talking about me having had sex with your brother-in-law. It sounds wrong on so many levels.’

‘It really does. Former brother-in-law sounds less problematic.’ He pulled out his wedding ring on the chain round his neck, pressed it to his lips then slipped it back beneath his T-shirt. ‘Because that’s what he is.’ He took her hand and pressedit to his chest. ‘Neither of us has anything to feel ashamed or guilty about.’ He rubbed his thumb up and down hers and leaned so close she could feel his heat and smell the spiced citrus and sandalwood notes of his Tom Ford fragrance. ‘How about we say goodnight to everyone and head home.’

Those words, so meaningful and filled with emotion, were matched by a look that she could only describe as love. This was what it felt like to be loved and to be in love. Of that she was certain.

Maria’s hug goodbye was heartfelt and the gentle nod she gave Belle as she clasped her hands spoke volumes. Diego’s kiss to each cheek, which once would have sent her heart racing, was nothing more than friendly.

‘Good things came out of our holiday ten years ago,’ she said, smiling up at him. ‘You and Gem for one, and now me and Caleb.’

‘You’re perfect for each other. And he’s a lucky man.’ His eyes grazed her face, the hint of the cheeky smile that had stolen her heart a decade ago appearing. ‘He’s also a good man and deserves to find happiness with you, Belle.’

In the heat of the August evening with the wind whipping past and Santa Eulalia glittering in the darkness, Belle and Caleb were both quietly reflective as they drove. The evening was just getting started with people beginning to head out for tapas or a cocktail by the beach. Later on, the night air would pulse with laughter, chatter and the best dance music, but for Belle and Caleb as they whizzed along the dark road there was simply freedom and peace, hope and anticipation.

Belle had expected Caleb to drive straight to Solace, but he turned off towards Cala Llonga as if heading to Serenity. Instead of driving down to the restaurant, he parked on the hill above. ‘I want to show you something.’

Caleb took Belle’s hand and led her along a well-hidden path through the forested hillside. The dense pine trees blocked out the moonlight, so Caleb used the torch on his phone to light the way. The track finished at a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea. Defying gravity, pine trees grew out of the cliff below them. In the curved centre of the horseshoe bay, Serenity’s three terraces were cut into the hillside, their honeyed light contrasting with the white surf of the moonlit sea churning onto the pebbled beach.

‘I’ve never brought anyone here,’ Caleb said as they gazed out together. ‘Before I took over Serenity, I came here on my own to get a better view. I made my decision the moment I laid eyes on it from this angle, and that was without it looking anywhere near as wonderful as it does now.’

Belle realised she was holding her breath. Buttery light pooled into the darkness and the only sound was the swoosh and suck of the sea, distant voices and a faint melody drifting out to the dark horizon.

He didn’t need to say that Paloma had never seen Serenity. She understood that being here together now was special because it was a place that he was sharing with just her.

She breathed deeply and took his hand, wanting to commit this moment and feeling to memory, because it was perfect.

‘I, um, don’t know how to say this…’ Caleb switched his focus from Serenity to her. ‘Maybe I’m trying to attempt to show you my feelings, rather than explain. By bringing you here, by wanting you to stay the night again, by?—’

‘I love you, Caleb.’

His eyes widened and he drew her to his chest. For the first time in her life, Belle had known exactly how to put into words what she was feeling.

With his fingers in her hair and her arms wrapped around him, passion and longing threaded through them.

‘I love you too.’

Caleb kissing her on the cliff overlooking Serenity was everything. Loving him was effortless. Their attraction pulled them together like two magnets, a perfect and satisfying connection. There was no need to think about the past or wonder about the future when gazing at each other with the sea rippling silver in the moonlight was just the beginning of their happy ever after.

EPILOGUE

DECEMBER, FOUR MONTHS LATER – LAURIE

Laurie wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and took her mug of coffee out onto the wooden deck. The trees directly in front of the cabin were bare, their branches frosted and sparkling in the weak December sun. With the hillside dropping away into a sweeping valley of patchwork fields broken up by the darker sections of trees and hedges, the view to the snow-covered Helvellyn mountain range was majestic. The biting wind whipped at her hair and chilled her cheeks, but it also made her feel incredibly alive. Surrounded by peace and nature, her worries and real life felt far away.

She heard the door to the cabin slide open. Ade wrapped his arms around her. ‘Merry Christmas.’

Laurie nestled against him, his warmth welcome as their breath fogged together.

‘Merry Christmas.’ Absolute contentment swept over her. ‘This was the best idea.’

‘I know.’ He squeezed her tighter. ‘I’m full of them.’

A big Italian/Japanese-fusion Christmas, although always joyful, was not what either of them had wanted, nor had a hectic traditional Christmas with Ade’s family appealed either.Neither of them felt able to cope with the reminders of what they were missing out on when this Christmas marked the fourth since trying to start a family of their own. The disappointment was wearing. Space, inspiring views and time to themselves was exactly what they needed.

They retreated to the flickering heat pumping from the wood burner and a breakfast of French toast with crispy smoked bacon. Things had been good between them since Laurie had returned from Ibiza. Although the questions and interest from their families had been unintentionally stressful, the support from Belle and Gem had been heartfelt and had brought her friends closer. Focusing on what she had rather than what she didn’t had improved her mental health and her relationship with Ade. It had allowed her the headspace to switch from constantly thinking about having a baby to ways in which life could be improved right now, instead of putting things on hold because of an uncertain future. They had sex because they wanted to rather than because she was ovulating. They had conversations about things besides fertility treatment, switching their focus to other dreams and not putting off making plans because Lauriemightbe pregnant. Trapped in an exhausting cycle of constantly wishing for something had been unhealthy and detrimental to them as a couple.

Laurie watched Ade as he finished his French toast. His eyes were drawn outside, the morning light on the distant mountains softening the harsh winter lines and the cool colours of frosted green and brown on the lower slopes. He’d recently grown a beard, which suited him.

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