Page 46 of The Christmas Holiday
Chapter Eleven
From the colour and charms of India, our next stop was the slightly less exotic destination of Florida. Sandeep had explained previously that the route for the trip wasn’t exactly the most logical and that we would be going back on ourselves a couple of times, but that it would be necessary in order to experience things like Diwali and also to fit in with a meeting he neededto take later in the trip. The flights were all business class on premier airlines or by private jet, and I had more space and comfort than I’d ever known on any previous method of travel on ground or in the air, so I was more than happy. Flying gave me the chance to catch up on stuff, not to mention the luxury of being unreachable for hours at a time. It seemed a rare opportunity in today’s world,so I never opted to plug in to the available Wi-Fi and instead stayed blissfully disconnected for the entire flight.
When we’d met that morning, ready to head back to the airport, Hunter hadn’t spoken much. In the car, he’d almost immediately rested his head on the back of the seat and closed his eyes. I wasn’t convinced he was asleep but I took the hint. In the airport, he’d spent most ofthe time on the phone, or working on his laptop, and by the time we were on the plane, I’d most definitely got the message.
‘Fine,’ I mumbled to myself, shoving headphones over my ears after we’d levelled out in the air. I reclined my chair right back. ‘Have it your way.’
‘Sorry, madam. Did you say something?’ A stewardess stopped beside me. I looked back at her blankly.
Hunter caughtmy eye and tapped his headphones. I yanked my own off and looked up at the cabin-crew member.
‘I’m sorry. I was just… talking to myself.’
Ugh.
The woman nodded at me. ‘Very good, madam. Please don’t hesitate to call one of the crew if you need anything.’ She smiled and began walking away.
I pulled my headphones back on, making a point of not looking at Hunter, Instead, I scoochedover onto my side, putting my back towards him. I’d slept fitfully last night after he’d left and it was already catching up with me. The comfy full recline of the seat beckoned and I lay back, pulling the warm blanket over me. Hunter didn’t want my concern. He’d been pretty damn clear on that. So I needed to find a way to box it up and put it away, just like I’d done with everything else I’d oncefelt for him. I swapped the headphones for earplugs and burrowed down into the pillow, determined that, when I woke, I’d be back in charge and following his advice of just letting it go. Even if he clearly wasn’t able to do that himself.
***
We’d spent a day settling in to our hotel and taking advantage of the gym (more Hunter) and the buffet (more me), among other aspects. It had a stunningpool and I’d been happily bobbing around in it for the last hour on a lilo chair, chatting to Liv as she sat on an identical one next to me, our feet trailing in the water, our faces and shoulders shaded by hats and sunglasses. Sandeep was sitting under a beach cabana, Kindle propped on his knees, catching up on some reading. Hunter had now joined us – or rather Sandy – and was sitting sidewayson the lounger next to him. He’d glanced towards the pool as he’d wandered up, raising a hand as Liv waved to him. His eyes were hidden by the classic Aviators and, unlike Sandeep, and most of the other guests lounging around the pool, he chose to keep his T-shirt on, even though I would have put money on him having the best body out here. Liv and I sat in our inflatables, drifting around onthe slight breeze that teased the edges of our hats and caused the faintest of ripples on the surface of the water. Occasionally our chairs would bump into each other and at other times one of us would grab the other as she started drifting too far away for a polite level of conversation to take place.
‘So, the dress is all ready? Back home I mean?’ I asked as Liv bumped my lilo and paddledlazily round to face me a little more.
‘Yes. Obviously, there’ll be some last-minute adjustments, just to make sure everything is perfect. The bridesmaids are all going for a fitting this week so I’ve asked to be kept informed as to how that goes. I’m hoping there won’t be anything drastic but I’d rather know now than find out when we get back with only a few days left to the wedding!’
‘That seems a sensible plan. But I’m sure there’ll be nothing to concern you anyway. You said they’d already had some fittings, didn’t you?’
‘Yes. But a couple have gone on diets – I’ve no idea what for. They have great figures as it is, but you know, there’s no telling some people.’
I gave a head bob of concession and took a sip from my mocktail.
‘The venue has been great, keepingme informed of everything, and they just sent me some photos of the most recent wedding they had there, to show they’re still up to scratch, I suppose, or something like that. It’s such a competitive market, I guess. Obviously, the colour scheme was different and we’re having Christmas trees as decoration, and fairy lights and baubles for more of a festive feel, but I thought it was a nice touch forthem to do that.’
‘It was. So, basically, everything is pretty much all ready?’
‘Unless there’s anything horribly vital I’ve forgotten!’
I put my hand on her arm, warm from the sun. ‘There isn’t. I’m sure of it.’
She smiled under the shade of her hat and covered my hand. ‘Thanks.’ She took a sip of her real cocktail. ‘It feels a bit weird talking about snow and Christmas and awinter wedding while we’re sitting in bikinis bobbing about in a pool in the Florida sun, doesn’t it?’
‘It does a bit. But don’t worry. We’ll all be freezing out butts off again soon enough and it will all feel very real indeed!’
Liv grinned. ‘I’m so excited! I don’t want this trip to be over – we’re having such a fabulous time. But I can’t wait for the wedding either.’
‘Perfectlyunderstandable. And just the way it should be, I think.’
‘Sandy’s super-excited too. He’s just a lot better at hiding it in public than me.’
I laughed, bouncing off a corner of Liv’s lilo chair as she lazily stretched out a tanned arm and pulled me back beside her.
As we lounged, talking about this and that and nothing in particular, a woman who’d been sunbathing at the far end ofthe pool stretched elegantly, and very noticeably, before sitting up and slipping on a pair of Manolo heeled mules. She stood, her tanned and toned body grabbing attention from various directions – including mine. The high-cut bikini bottom was then covered by a citrus-yellow sarong, which she tied casually around her hips. I say covered. The sarong was about the same size as a men’s large handkerchiefand pretty much sheer so it was definitely more for show than purpose. But if show was the purpose, it was doing its job spectacularly.
Liv tipped her head towards me. ‘This should be interesting.’
‘What?’
