Page 62 of The Island of Hopes and Dreams

After taking their bags to their rooms and freshening up, their earlier frowns were banished as they settled around the table. They were no longer in those tight-knit friendship groups that they’d started out with nine days ago.

Chef Carlo and his team outdid themselves with a final meal of barbecued pancetta and pork chops with roasted aubergine, slices of courgette and home-cooked chips. The friends laughed, chatted, drank and ate together until the sun disappeared and the candles and lanterns were lit. With the earlier melancholy banished by good food and good company, contentment wound through the laughter and conversation.

When the sky had darkened to pitch-black, the stars shone and the moon cast twinkling silver on the sea beyond the trees, a hush went round the table as Freddie stood up. A knot of tension tightened in Lola’s chest as he raised his glass. She caught Rhys’s eye and he shrugged.

‘Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re all thinking, am I going to misread the mood and make another badly timed announcement.’ He glanced at Zoe, whose cheeks had flushed a deeper pink than the hydrangea flowers. ‘But no, it’s just a toast to Fabs and Mirabel, who are obviously not here, but they brought us all together for what has turned out to be a wonderfully memorable week or two. So I wanted us to toast them – to Fabs and Mirabel and to friends old and new.’

Everyone raised a glass. ‘To Fabs and Mirabel and friends old and new,’ echoed around the table as glasses clinked.

Barnaby stood, holding his own glass aloft as he clamped a hand on Freddie’s shoulder. ‘Hey, I’m sure I speak for everyone here when I say we are incredibly happy about your engagement news. You do understand that, right?’

‘Here, here.’ Rhys stood and glanced between Freddie and Zoe.

A lump formed in Lola’s throat at Rhys’s generosity. His ability to forgive even if he wouldn’t forget was touching. Going by Zoe’s teary-eyed expression, she was equally moved.

‘To Freddie and Zoe!’ Barnaby said with laughter. ‘And Chef Carlo and everyone here who’s looked after us so well.’

‘It’s going to be hell going back to my flat with no cook, no fresh sweet-smelling towels,’ Gareth grumbled. ‘Might have to get myself a cleaner.’

‘Doesn’t your mum still do your washing?’ Freddie jibed next to him.

Lola joined in with the laughter and teasing as Barnaby, Freddie and Rhys sat down and conversations started up again. All those worries she’d arrived in Sardinia with and her anxiety over meeting new people had disappeared, even with the challenges thrown at her. Clutching her wine, she leaned back in her chair and surveyed her friends. Laughter and chatter bounced around the table, enveloping her in contentment; she didn’t want to break the moment and she certainly didn’t want to head home and face reality. She glanced along the table and her heart skipped as she met Rhys’s gaze. The smile he gave her made her ache with longing for this evening to continue forever, although with just her and Rhys so they could see where the night would take them.

Still holding his gaze, she raised her glass in her own silent toast:To Lola and Rhys.

* * *

Lola looked stunning tonight. The soft candlelight accentuated her tan, catching her high cheekbones, and her eyes sparkled as she laughed, a joyous sound that sent warm tingles through Rhys. For a last evening it was perfect. The only way it could have been any better was if Fabs and Mirabel were with them, or if it wasn’t their last night at all. Time with Lola was slipping away and he didn’t want to let go of this happiness. He wasn’t the only one feeling it, he was sure, but he was fearful that he’d be the one who lost the most when they left Sardinia. The minutes were ticking by; the night would be drawing to a close all too soon.

Forgiving Freddie and Zoe was the right thing to do, which was why he’d seconded Barnaby’s toast. There was no point in holding a grudge, when actually, in a roundabout way, they’d done him a favour. That hurt and disappointment caused by Zoe had been erased by Lola, but the actions of his friends this week had forced his feelings out into the open and he’d had to deal with them. During their time on Sardinia, he’d had sharp words with Zoe but also tender ones. Their last conversation overlooking the wedding dance floor had eased the ache in his heart, while a softer, caring side to Zoe had emerged that she usually hid well. She was happy with Freddie and she wanted him to be happy too. Whether that was with Lola or not, only time would tell.

37

Polly was the sort of drunk friend who was a pleasure to be around – her usual quiet demeanour switched to a bit naughty and she’d say things she’d never say when she was sober. Mirabel had always been a weepy drunk, Sarah managed to be even louder and more forthright than normal, while Deni would let go of all her inhibitions. Lola, of course, was the drunk friend who usually caused a scene.

Lola was about to head back outside with her favourite limoncello cocktail when Polly made a beeline for her. It was obvious from the sleepy smile and the shake of her hips as she twirled towards her that her lovely friend was wonderfully tipsy.

‘You’re not heading to bed already, are you?’ Lola asked as she reached her.

‘Already?’ Polly raised an eyebrow. ‘It’s midnight and waaaaay past my bedtime.’ She put her arm around Lola’s waist. ‘But the night is still young for you, so go back out there. Oh, and if you stay in our room tonight just to keep me company, I will make your life hell for the foreseeable future. There’s a gorgeous man out there who is dying to get his hands on you. Please, for the love of God, leave me in peace and have some last-night fun!’ She cocked her head and gave her a sly look. ‘Anyway, I can’t stand your snoring.’

‘I do not snore!’

‘If you say so.’ Polly chuckled. ‘I am perfectly happy having a room to myself away from my husband – who does snore – and my kids who wake me up at some ungodly houreverymorning. So please, go, and you and Rhys get rid of all this sexual tension, then you can give me, Deni and Sarahallthe gossip on the flight home. Deal?’

Laughter bubbled up inside Lola at her friend’s serious expression. It would have been formidable on Deni, but her loveable friend just couldn’t quite pull it off, not after a few glasses of wine. As Polly kissed her cheek and set off towards their bedroom with a wave, Lola wholeheartedly agreed that something needed to happen between her and Rhys, yet there was an unstated pressure, because tonight would be their last chance.

Opportunities had arisen but had been thwarted one way or other. But tonight, Polly was right. What was stopping her? Having feelings for someone left her vulnerable to getting her heart broken, but what she was most fearful of was allowing someone close and risking losing herself again. She reminded herself that Rhys wasn’t Jarek. The truth was she knew that taking things further with Rhys would make it all the harder to say goodbye tomorrow, but did that really mean they shouldn’t?

Lola returned outside to find Deni and Mark, plus Jenny and her husband, saying goodnight, which seemed to give Freddie and Zoe their cue to head to their room as well.

A couple of minutes later, Sarah gave an overdramatic yawn and stood up.

‘Oof, I don’t know about you guys, but I need my beauty sleep.’

‘I’ll walk you to your room.’ Gareth grinned manically at Sarah as he too scraped back his chair and downed the remainder of his beer.

Barnaby stretched. ‘Think I might join you. Not join you, you know what I mean, just it’s time for bed too.’

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