Page 17 of The Christmas Holiday
Chapter Five
It was evening by the time we landed and made our way through the large, airy terminal at Delhi.
‘Bit of a difference to how it was before, eh?’ Sandeep made a gesture to Hunter, encompassing the surroundings.
Hunter laughed an easy laugh. ‘Just slightly. God, it was dingy, wasn’t it?’
‘Hardly went along with India’s image of a burgeoning economy.’
Hunter shiftedhis shoulder and moved his rucksack higher, nodding in agreement as he did so. I cast a glance under my lashes at him. I’d always loved travelling, although most of my experiences’ had been of the armchair kind. Truth be told, I was dying to ask Hunter about all of his travels and the work he had done in the time since we’d split up – an event that had been shortly followed by his career goingstratospheric. I’d given in to temptation and done a little more research on him once I’d found out we were going to be working together. I’d always known he was a brilliant photographer but it was like he’d taken it up and beyond everything he’d done before. The photos ranged from stunning to incredible to moving and shocking. His images conveyed beauty and fear, joy and devastation. His work wasvaried but the quality wasn’t. It was easy to see why he was so much in demand, and why my boss was so pleased, and surprised, that he had agreed to do something like this. But it was clear he was very fond of Olivia and Sandeep so, assuming not everything had changed about him, it didn’t surprise me that he’d agreed to it. My mind wandered back to the woman he’d been dating, the one he was supposedlydoing the favour for. From seeing his warmth towards Liv and Sandy, I got the impression they were more the reason he was here, rather from any sense of obligation caused by his break-up with Ilana.
‘You’ve been here before then?’ I asked Hunter as we paused for a moment. Sandeep was giving a quick scan of the many drivers waiting for pick-ups at the arrivals gate, looking for the one fromour hotel.
Hunter shifted the rucksack again. ‘Yeah. Few times.’ He glanced down at me. ‘I think you’ll like it.’
I looked up, not able to keep the excitement off my face. India had been on my wish list for ever but I’d never quite managed it.
‘Really?’
A smile tempted his mouth, and the corners of his eyes crinkled just slightly.
‘Pretty sure. It can be a bit of a cultureshock.’ He tilted his head at me, ‘But you look like you’re ready for it.’
For a moment, I forgot all the tension between us. Right now, I was just excited and practically bouncing to share it with someone.
‘I’m so excited!’ I blurted, before casting a glance up. ‘I know that’s not terribly professional. And yes, I know I’m not on holiday and I should be all calm and acting as if thiswere just another normal day for me, like you are… but I’m sorry, I can’t! I’m in India! And yes, I’m well aware that’s probably another tick on your list as to why I shouldn’t be here, but right now, I don’t care.’
He nodded at Sandeep as he spotted the driver from the hotel.
‘Here we go.’
His comment – or lack thereof – confirmed to me that he agreed with everything I’d just saidabout my excitement probably not being the proper behaviour for a professional travel journalist. I hoisted my laptop bag over my shoulder and grabbed my suitcase. Hunter stood back and indicated for me to go first, as he followed behind.
‘It’s OK. I’ll catch up,’ I said, juggling my hand-luggage bag.
Hunter leant over and took it from me, tossing it over his other shoulder.
‘I’d ratheryou were in front.’
I frowned.
‘Trust me.’
And despite everything, I absolutely did.
I nodded and set off, following Olivia and Sandeep, who were in front of us, Sandeep chatting amiably with the driver who had taken their luggage. He’d tried to take ours too but Hunter had waved him off with a smile. Liv clearly wasn’t one to pack light and the poor man was already strugglingwith a very full luggage trolley. It was hard to see how he would have dealt with trying to push two, but he’d been determined to try until Hunter had put him at his ease, laughing with the others about the amount of luggage they had, but without making it at the expense of Olivia. The driver had relented and, after checking with us several times that we were all right, had led us off towards ourcar.
It was hard not to admire the diplomacy and kindness Hunter had shown. He’d always been good at putting people at their ease – a fact that had sometimes surprised people. His height and build could easily come off as intimidating, but he had always made an effort not to live up to that. Unless the situation warranted it. I imagined both aspects had probably come into play, and had theirusefulness, over the past several years in his work.
Heading out of the cool, air-conditioned atmosphere of the airport, the warmth of the Indian autumnal night surrounded us, as did the sudden noise and insistence of other independent drivers touting for business among all the travellers now spilling out from the clean, sanitised building into the dusty, cacophonous city.
‘Taxi, ma’am?’
‘You want taxi? This way?’
‘Taxi, ma’am?’
Drivers called and questioned from all directions. I shook my head, and kept walking, aware of Hunter close behind me. I could see now why he wanted me in front of him. Their presence and insistence was definitely part of the culture shock he’d mentioned. I wasn’t frightened but it was easy to see how it might feel overwhelming. There was nothingintimidating in their manner – they were in a competitive market and, with families at home to feed, they were doing what they could. It was all part of India, and that was, after all, what I was there to see and record.
