Chapter 18
18
The first wedding of the summer took place on the first weekend in July, and it had been a hectic week leading up to it. With the wedding party staying at Spirit but the wedding ceremony and reception taking place at Serenity, there had been lots for Belle to organise and co-ordinate. Cara, with a freelance wedding planner, had planned everything meticulously and as Belle had managed much larger-scale events in London, she found there was little to stress about.
Caleb spent most of his time at Spirit or out and about liaising with suppliers and partners, but he was around for Serenity’s first ever wedding. Even on a regular day, with couples having dinner and drinks on the terrace that overlooked the sea, it oozed romance.
The wedding ceremony itself was magical. The natural canvas of the sandy terrace was laid out with rows of wooden chairs. The aisle led to a thatched pergola simply decorated with pink and white roses nestled among fronds of greenery. With the ever-changing blue of the sea just metres below on one side and the rocky cliff and palm trees as the backdrop on the other two sides, nothing more was needed. The bride wore a white lace dress, the groom a powder-blue suit and the bridesmaids were in pink floaty dresses, while the guests wore the colours of summer.
After the photos were taken on the terrace with family and friends, the photographer took the bride and groom down to the beach, while drinks and canapés were served on the restaurant terrace, allowing time for Serenity’s team to set up for the sit-down meal.
Satisfied that all was in hand, Belle wandered down to the beach to take her own photos, managing to get into shot both the bride and groom strolling hand in hand along the pebbles, as well as some of the wedding guests on the jutting terrace above. After posing in front of the vivid blue sea, they headed back up the beach and strolled below the restaurant terrace which was perched on an outcrop of rock.
Belle saw what happened next as if in slow motion. A child up on the terrace leaned over the wooden railing to wave at the bride and groom below just as the glass in his other hand slipped.
Belle’s heart thundered in her chest. ‘Watch out!’
The groom tugged his new wife out of the way. Narrowly missing her head, the glass smashed on the stones, splashing liquid and sending glass flying. The bride, still holding onto the groom, lost her footing as she tumbled backwards, landing with a thump and pulling her new husband down with her.
Swearing under her breath, Belle rushed over and reached them just before the shocked photographer did.
‘God that hurts!’ The bride grimaced with pain as she clutched at her ankle.
‘Don’t move,’ Belle said to the bride as she offered her hand to the groom to haul him back to his feet. She spoke into the radio clipped to the pocket of her dress. ‘Raphael, can you get someone to bring an icepack, first-aid kit and a damp cloth down to the beach ASAP, please.’ She turned back to the bride, whose already delicately pale face was now linen-white, her brow creased like she was on the verge of tears. ‘It’s all going to be okay,’ Belle said with a calmness that she really wasn’t feeling. ‘And your husband made an epic save.’
There was a flicker of a smile at that.
‘You warned us just in time,’ the groom said. ‘It could have been so much worse.’
‘Yes, a concussed bride would not have been ideal,’ Belle said, crouching down to inspect the bride’s ankle. ‘An injured ankle isn’t great either but hopefully it’s just a sprain and this will end up being a memorable moment from an incredibly memorable day.’
From up above Belle could hear the hushed but stern conversation the mum was having with the little boy who’d dropped the glass.
The bride gestured upwards. ‘That’s my cheeky nephew getting the telling off.’
‘And luckily he was only drinking lemonade and it hasn’t stained your dress.’
Caleb arrived armed with the first-aid kit and icepack, the fear in his wide eyes mirroring how she’d felt just moments before.
‘And now we have Serenity’s very own CEO at our beck and call.’ She gave him a nod and slight smile as she took the items from him. Their fingers brushed. She wrapped the icepack and handed it to the groom to hold against his wife’s ankle.
‘It doesn’t look swollen,’ Belle said, ‘and we’ll see if you can stand in a moment.’ She gave the bride a reassuring smile and caught Caleb’s relieved look as he started to clear away the smashed glass. Belle got back on the radio. ‘Can someone bring two glasses of champagne and a couple of cushions to the beach, please.’
Within a couple of minutes, one of the waiters had brought them down. Belle made the bride comfortable with a cushion to sit on and another to support her ankle. Caleb handed them the champagne.
Belle stood back a touch. ‘Do you know what, if you’re happy to sit here for a bit and rest your ankle, this will make a lovely photo.’
With the glasses of champagne placed on a rock next to them and the icepack hidden beneath the lacy, fanned out skirt of the wedding dress, the bride rested back against the groom, his arms encircling her as they gazed into each other’s eyes. The photographer crouched down to take photos. The backdrop was the pebble beach and the palm trees edging the terrace.
After twenty minutes of rest and with their champagne drained and romantically intimate photos taken, Belle strapped the bride’s ankle with a compression bandage. With help from her husband, they made their way back up to the terrace to be greeted by friends and family and a tearful apology and cuddle from the bride’s nephew.
Long palm tree shadows provided patches of shade across the tables covered in white tablecloths with plumes of oyster and mushroom-coloured pampas grass as the centrepieces. The guests enjoyed the sit-down meal of roasted seabass with pumpkin purée and pickled vegetables. The heat of the afternoon turned into a balmy evening, the retreating sun making the sea glitter pink then gold. As darkness took over, lanterns were lit and a jazz band started playing. The sound of a sultry saxophone and a double bass filled the sheltered bay, the music entwining with laughter while conversations flowed and couples danced.
Belle stood on the periphery, watching the waiters seamlessly deliver drinks and clear away empty glasses, while the bride and groom danced together. Their loving smiles erased any lingering worry that the earlier mishap had spoiled their day.
It was only Caleb handing her a champagne cocktail that made her tear her eyes away.
‘Cheers.’ Caleb knocked his glass against hers. ‘To a hell of a day. You were super calm under pressure earlier and dealt with the situation beautifully.’
‘It’s rare for an event to go without a hitch; I mean, a bride injuring herself is a seriously big hitch and incredibly unfortunate, but these things happen.’
‘The way you turned it around and found the positive was incredible, thank you.’
Belle raised her glass and took a sip of the bubbly champagne cocktail with the added tartness of passionfruit, sweetness of strawberry and kick of vodka. ‘I think we should be thankful for an understanding couple and a pretty chilled-out bride.’
Belle followed Caleb to the stone wall that edged the top terrace where they’d sat and talked before the movie night. A couple of the wedding guests were perched further along chatting. Belle and Caleb sat down too, gazing over the terrace that twinkled with lights and swirls of colour as the guests danced.
Belle sighed. ‘You’re in the business of making dreams come true.’
‘I guess I am,’ he said softly.
‘You don’t think of it like that?’
‘Ensuring guests have the best time is what I’ve been striving for ever since I came to Ibiza, even more so since I started Spirit. It doesn’t matter who they are or why they’re here: getting married, celebrating a birthday, someone travelling alone or with friends and family. It is mostly loved-up couples though.’ Caleb looked thoughtful as he watched the scene below filled with life and love.
‘Do you find it hard watching people on the happiest day of their life?’ Belle asked. ‘The reminder of your own wedding must be hard?’
There was a pause and Belle found herself holding her breath, unsure if Caleb would even answer, worry coursing through her that she’d overstepped.
‘We got married at Spirit, although if we’d had Serenity back then I’m certain we’d have chosen to get married here.’ Caleb folded his hands in his lap, his thumb and middle finger turning his wedding band, something she’d noticed him do before. ‘Paloma wasn’t one for being the centre of attention and she wanted a quiet wedding, but her family is big so it was hard for them to not take over. I made up for it with just my mum and gran and only a handful of close friends and extended family from the UK. There are reminders all the time about what I missed out on, but I want my guests to be happy, to have the time of their lives and to want to return. Just because I’m sad doesn’t make me wish for other people to suffer the same way.’
‘Oh goodness, no, of course not. I never meant that.’
‘I know you didn’t, but I also understand how people think I’m torturing myself with Spirit and Serenity by hosting weddings and anniversary parties, but this is my business. It’s my life. It was what I was working towards before I met Paloma. Despite everything, I still can’t think of a better job.’ He gently knocked his arm against her shoulder and smiled. ‘Making people’s dreams come true.’
She swept her hand around. ‘This is actually my dream job.’
‘You mean that?’
Belle nodded. ‘It’s making me re-evaluate what I want from my own events business, what I want to focus on and where. I have lots of experience, but I need to hone it in on a particular area. Plus, there’s a freedom here that’s missing in London. I’m sure it’s probably because I have more responsibilities back there. Here it feels as if I’m on an extended holiday, but perhaps it’s the slower pace of life, the party atmosphere, being surrounded by people celebrating the good things in life. It’s wonderfully refreshing.’
‘Obviously I moved here for the party lifestyle, but the spirit of the island – both sides of it – and its people won me over.’ Caleb folded his hands together, his shoulders bunching forwards as he glanced sideways at her. ‘Talking of a slower pace of life, I’m having lunch with my former in-laws tomorrow and they’ve invited you. Well, I, er, invited you. Cara often came. I thought you might like the company.’
Was he blushing? Or was he just blustering through an invitation because he was trying to make it sound casual?
‘Most of the family will be there. It’s joyful and communal – a lazy lunch that will go on well into the evening, and Maria and Juan are the most incredible cooks.’
Belle considered it for a moment. Diego would probably be there. Was this really a situation she wanted to put herself in? Yet the idea of being enveloped by a loving family, eating delicious food and spending time with Caleb away from work was tempting.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I’d love to come, thank you.’ Because she realised she would, but it was more about Caleb and not saying no to him rather than the opportunity of reconnecting with Diego.
‘Thank you again for everything you did today.’ He swung his legs back over the wall, stood up and surveyed the terrace before turning back to Belle. ‘Cara would be proud as punch.’
‘It’s been a good day.’
‘If you’ve got this, I have paperwork to do so I’m going to head home.’
‘Yes, of course.’ Belle stood up too and walked with him to the corner of the restaurant. ‘They look happy dancing the night away.’
‘I’ll pick you up from Spirit at two tomorrow.’ He leaned close and kissed her on each cheek. His hands on her arms, firm and comforting and wanted all at the same time, made her tingle and flooded her core with warmth. His lips left her cheek but he kept hold of her and he was still so close that if he leaned down slightly their lips would touch. A dusting of dark stubble flecked with grey framed full lips, and the way they were slightly open, sent her heart fluttering. She shifted her gaze upwards and their eyes locked momentarily before his gaze dropped to her lips. He shifted closer and she felt the caress of his breath and then… Something changed. His focus flicked back to her eyes and he dropped his hands from her arms as he stepped back. ‘Tomorrow,’ he mumbled as he strode off, leaving her as confused as she was aroused.
Belle turned back to the wedding party below, the terrace a swirl of summer colour after a day full of love and hope. Yet all she could think about beyond the imprint of Caleb’s lips on her skin was that after making someone else’s day the happiest of their lives, he was heading home alone and not to the woman he still loved.