Page 14 of The Island of Hopes and Dreams

They sipped the wine, and the silence stretched between them. This was what he’d been fearful of earlier – being stuck with someone he didn’t know and uncertain what to say. Although they’d spent a good chunk of the evening together and the conversation had flowed. Until now.

But Lola managed to save them from an awkward silence. ‘You make stuff out of wood, right? Mirabel said you’re pretty nifty. Made them a wooden salad bowl and servers for a wedding present.’

‘She told you?’

‘She showed me photos.’ Lola raised her eyebrows. ‘They were stunning. And considering some of their wedding gifts have been eye-wateringly expensive and monstrously flashy, it speaks volumes that your gift is one of Mirabel’s favourites.’

She was good at this, chatting easily when they didn’t really know each other.

‘It’s something I love doing, and I wanted to give them a gift that meant something which they would appreciate.’

‘You nailed that brief.’

‘Woodworking is just a hobby, though.’

‘You’re talented enough to make a business out of it if you wanted to. You’ve not thought about it?’

Rhys sipped his wine. ‘I’ve been busy renovating my house. Hand-built my kitchen and bookshelves in the living room. I wouldn’t have time to do work for someone else, not with teaching. It’s something I do for myself and find relaxing, but I’m currently taking a sabbatical so plan to spend a lot more time on woodworking projects. I spent this summer building a workshop at the bottom of my garden. The idea of turning what I love into a job worries me that it would change the way I feel about it.’

‘Slightly different, I know, but music is my passion and I’ve turned my love for it into a career.’ She slipped off her sandals and tucked her bare feet beneath her on the sofa. ‘And the same with any job, there are times that aren’t so great and I can’t hand on heart say I love every minute, but to be surrounded by music every day, listening to new artists, promoting the ones lucky enough to be signed and helping to shape future music – I can’t stress enough how lucky I am to earn my living doing something I love. It fuels me if that makes sense?’

‘You’ve turned your dream into reality.’ Rhys nodded. ‘That’s something to be envied.’

‘Did you always want to be a teacher?’

‘No, not at all. I studied law but swiftly realised it wasn’t a line of work I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I volunteered at this craft club for disadvantaged children—’ He stopped short and swigged his wine to swallow his sudden discomfort. He was rarely this open or shared so much, but what the hell, there was something about Lola that made him decide to keep talking. ‘Something just clicked. I know how corny it sounds, but working with and supporting those kids who got so much out of something so simple all because they didn’t have the opportunity to be creative at home – it changed my whole outlook. I decided teaching the next generation was more in keeping with what I wanted to do and my values. I saw first-hand the impact I could have on someone’s life. It gave me purpose too.’

He glanced at Lola to find her studying him with an openness and warmth that made him feel seen.

‘That’s quite a U-turn but incredible that it led you to a career that has such an impact on others. Working in the music industry pales in comparison when you’re guiding children to a bright future.’

‘You make me sound far worthier than I am.’

Lola playfully slapped his arm. ‘You’re underselling yourself.’

Rhys shrugged and decided to steer the conversation in a different direction. ‘Obviously you work in the music industry, but are you a musician as well?’

‘I play piano and guitar, and in school I had violin and singing lessons, but it’s listening to music that’s my first love. I never desired to be on stage. I’m not a good enough singer or musician to have pursued it as a career, but it’s a thrill to be in this line of work.’

‘You come across as someone who would excel and be happy on stage.’

Lola laughed and he was struck by just how beautiful she was. ‘I’m not as much of a show-off as you may think.’

‘Oh, I didn’t mean you were a show-off’ – he was mortified – ‘you just exude confidence.’

‘Says the person who stands in front of a classroom of kids on a daily basis – now that to me takes guts and a shedload of confidence.’

‘I’m in my comfort zone teaching children. Swap them with adults and, trust me, I’d clam up.’

‘Woodwork seems like it’s quite a solitary occupation. I’m sensing a theme going on here?’ She teased him with a sly smile.

‘You got me there.’ Rhys returned a grin. He swirled the wine around his glass and relaxed back into the deep sofa. ‘What did you get them? For a wedding present, I mean?’

‘What can you get a couple who have everything and who asked for nothing?’ She smiled warmly. ‘If I was as practical and skilled as you, then something along the lines of your gift would have been perfect, but I’m not blessed in that way creatively. What I do know is music and I know Mirabel. I also know how much Fabs loves her, so I put together their perfect playlist and framed the song list. I commissioned an artist friend to make it look good.’

‘That’s as thoughtful as it gets, Lola.’

Their eyes met and she blushed. ‘Mirabel’s my best friend.’ She shrugged, brushing off the compliment as if it was nothing. She smoothed out the creases in her dress and sat forward. ‘I wonder what time everyone will get back? Perhaps we should make ourselves scarce before they return.’ She drained the rest of her wine. ‘Let’s leave the glasses – we can be cagey about it, but there’s no harm in letting rumours work in our favour.’

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