Page 88 of The Summer Island Swap
‘Right. Well there’s a great rum bar by—’
‘We won’t be overdoing it,’ said Steve and he gave a rueful smile. ‘So no need to worry about locking the monkey up.’
‘We all make mistakes,’ I said.
‘How about Nia cooks you all her delicious stewed oxtail, tomorrow night, and I persuade my grandmother to take you through her legendary collection of rums?’ added Rick. ‘Miraculously they were one of the few things not wrecked by the storm. She’s got cherry rum, a chocolate one, lime and black spiced. A reserve blended for Christmas. Another that’s 151 proof.’
The men’s faces brightened immeasurably. ‘That’s decent of you,’ said Jason. ‘It sounds like a plan.’
‘It is a stag holiday after all,’ said Rick, as the men climbed into a nearby taxi in an orderly fashion. ‘They messed up but helped put things right. I can’t ask for more than that.’
I slipped an arm around his waist. Gratefully I escaped the hot, sticky air and entered the shop. I wanted to buy presents for my friends in housekeeping at Best Travel, and my neighbour, Mrs Chips. She and her late husband had taken me under their wing when I’d first bought the flat and was still learning to manage on my own and work out how to turn off the water supply or wire a plug. I decided on a selection of spices and jams that the islands were famous for as she loved cooking.
Shopping meant I didn’t have time to find out about changing my ticket home, when we arrived at Beef Island airport, before meeting Margot.
‘I’ll do it after we’ve met her,’ I said. Side by side Rick and I stood behind the barrier at the arrival gate. His hand slid into mine. I looked up and we kissed.
He took off his Indiana Jones hat and placed it on my head. ‘Suits you, Calamity Jane.’
‘I tell you, it felt like a calamity when I first met you, rostering me to clean the toilets.’
‘But I won you around. Clearly the way to a woman’s heart is to give her housework.’
‘Jeez. There’s no trouble in working out why you’re still single.’
We stood laughing.
‘Now I understand the modern phraseto feel like a third wheel.’
‘Gran!’ said Rick.
In front of us stood a slim woman with a slash of red lipstick and iguana green turban, wearing a loose kaftan.
‘Lovely to meet you,’ I said when she reluctantly extracted herself from Rick’s hug.
We paused for a moment and then she leant forwards and embraced me. Margot was taller than I’d expected – taller than me. I loved her floral perfume. I hadn’t been brave enough to wear scent since arriving in case insects considered it an invitation to bite. Her face bore wrinkles but her supple movements could have belonged to a woman half her age.
‘I’ll take your luggage,’ said Rick and reached for her pull along case.
‘I can manage very well, thank you,’ she said sharply and he shot me a smile.
‘Oh well, if you are that capable, you won’t need a coffee to wake you up after such long flights.’
‘Now you are talking nonsense,’ she said and chuckled.
I looked for a coffee shop but instead we headed to an empty row of chairs and sat down. Rick, in the middle, reached into his rucksack and pulled out a flask. He handed me and Margot a cup each, wedged a third in between his legs which I took and held in my other hand, and he poured three drinks.
‘No one makes coffee like Nia. I’ve been craving this for weeks. She uses my favourite brand of Caribbean Mountain Coffee.’ Margot took a sip and sighed.
‘I thought the coffee tasted different when I was up at the house,’ I said.
She took another sip. ‘If beans are roasted too little, the coffee hasn’t got enough flavour. Too much and it tastes smoky. This drink is made from beans that are just spot on.’
‘You are quite a connoisseur,’ I said. ‘Like your rum – I’ve heard about your collection.’
Margot’s eyes crinkled. ‘Yes. I like specialist products. I find if something is niche more love and care has gone into its production. That’s why, the more I’ve thought about it, I love your idea of naming our home Cacao House and us becoming a boutique chocolate-maker.’
She asked me more about the chocolate-making process. Rick waved to a local bar owner he knew well and went over for a chat.
