Chapter 32
32
JULY 2013, TEN YEARS AGO
After marrying the woman he loved, being enveloped by Paloma’s family was what filled Caleb with the greatest joy on his wedding day. Being embraced by Paloma’s brothers as one of them and being part of that camaraderie and teasing meant everything. He’d never experienced anything quite like it, even with close friends.
The wedding party was getting ready at Maria and Juan’s with the bride and groom separated on either side of the house. Maria flitted between them all, organising everyone and delivering snacks and drinks, being the ultimate host as she made sure everyone had everything they needed. Her excitement at her only daughter getting married was infectious. They’d be joining Caleb’s mum and gran and a handful of his friends at Spirit for the wedding in a couple of hours’ time, but he was more comfortable with the noise and abundant love of his adopted Spanish family. With a hands-off mother busy with her career, he’d resigned himself a long time ago to a functioning albeit distant relationship with her, and although he was incredibly close to his gran he was far happier to be with the Torres Corchado family.
The women were with Paloma in her old bedroom helping her to get ready. Caleb was unconvinced about how much help they’d be, imagining the stress Paloma might be feeling with her aunts taking over, her sisters-in-law weighing in, her mama fussing around. But, as the only girl with five brothers, no doubt she’d accept the fuss in good spirit.
Caleb was having an easier time of it with just his best man Ross from home and Paloma’s brothers to contend with, although Diego hadn’t yet turned up. Calls had been made and Maria was on the war path. The time was ticking by before they’d all be making their way across the island to Santa Eulalia.
‘Perhaps he’s going to meet us there,’ Lluís suggested to his mama when she came in tutting for at least the third time that morning.
‘Perhaps he is still in bed drunk and will miss his sister’s wedding altogether!’ Maria snapped back at her eldest.
Caleb and Lluís gave each other a knowing look. Caleb knew exactly what Diego was like and why he was probably late. His love of the ladies and partying till the early hours had been his main reason for moving out of the family home into a staff apartment in San Antonio, although he’d told Maria it was more for convenience rather than to make his healthy love life more manageable.
And so when Diego did rock up with just minutes to spare, Maria wasn’t reserved about showing her annoyance even though he looked impeccable and enviably fresh in his suit and tie.
‘You’re late,’ Maria growled.
‘Sorry, Mama.’ He kissed her on each cheek. ‘I was working late and slept in.’
Lluís waited until their mother was out of earshot. ‘Working late, huh? Not kept up all night between some woman’s legs?’
Caleb secured his cufflink and shook his head. ‘Seriously, Lluís, it’s my wedding day to your sister. Do we have to talk about this?’
‘Sorry, just happy that my young and single brother is getting some action.’ He grinned at Caleb. ‘You’ll understand once you’ve been married long enough.’
‘Again, we’re talking about your sister.’
‘I had a good night.’ Diego shrugged. ‘That will hopefully be repeated tomorrow,’ he said under his breath to his brother.
Caleb smirked and turned back to the mirror to adjust his tie. Diego was practically a carbon copy of Caleb at the same age: ridiculously confident, assured in his good looks with an eye for the ladies, so he couldn’t really blame him for being late or for the conversation going in that direction. As for Lluís, he’d married young, had two children, a lovely but formidable Spanish wife, supported his parents at their restaurant and worked harder than anyone. He couldn’t be blamed for wanting to live vicariously through Diego and his frequent conquests.
‘Well, I’m glad you got here in time,’ Caleb said, slapping Diego on his back as they made their way to the waiting taxis.
Diego draped his arm across Caleb’s shoulders. ‘I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.’
Somehow they managed to get out of the house and into the taxis without Caleb laying eyes on Paloma, and the groom and the rest of the men set off across the island ahead of the bride and her entourage.
‘Are you nervous?’ Lluís asked as they drove along the main road through Santa Eulalia.
‘No. Why would I be? I want to spend my life with Paloma.’ He glanced at Lluís. ‘Were you nervous marrying Ana?’
‘Yes, but only because I was anxious about being the best possible husband and living up to the expectations of being the eldest son. Of having a marriage as solid as my parents’.’
‘No pressure then.’ Caleb laughed. ‘Maybe I am nervous now.’
It seemed fitting to marry Paloma at Spirit. Since arriving on Ibiza he’d taken chances and made a huge leap of faith leaving everything he knew back in the UK. He’d made money, driven himself, partied hard, had an entrepreneurial spirit – hence the name of his hotel – and was perfectly matched by Paloma with her contrasting gentleness, unassuming beauty and family values. They had met when Caleb and àngel had worked together and had become friends. She’d tamed his wild ways and had made him think about other people rather than just himself.
Ibiza was the island he’d returned to for a good time, a place where he’d made his fortune. His first few years had been a whirl of parties, women, late nights, hard work, making money, learning, networking and investing, but now his life was shifting into a different gear, one of a work/life balance of love and support, of building a home and future together. All that would come after marrying the woman he loved.
October 2018, Five Years Later
Caleb had watched Paloma sleeping many times, always a peaceful and joyful experience, but not any longer. Each laboured breath made him fear it was her last. The more he focused on her breathing, the more blurred her features became with tears. The honey-tone of her skin had bleached to alabaster. She looked frail and too delicate to touch. All Caleb wanted to do was scoop her up into his arms and never let go, but he was afraid of hurting her.
Seven years together wasn’t enough; five years was cruelly too short a time to be married. They’d made memories together but that wouldn’t be enough either. It would never be enough. The idea of having to face life without Paloma was incomprehensible.
Over the last few days her lucid moments had become sporadic. Caleb hadn’t left her side, and a tiredness crawled through him that he’d never experienced before. He was fearful of falling asleep in case he woke up to discover he’d lost her. Maria kept him company, although neither of them said much, but they comforted each other as best they could. Maria cared for Caleb as much as her daughter, forcing him to eat and drink, to get a shower while she sat with her daughter and wiped her brow with a cool damp cloth.
Caleb refused to leave Paloma’s side at night, choosing to drift off in the armchair next to her, while Maria and Juan slept in the next room. It was a particularly cool, clear October night, the blanket covering him not enough to keep the chill at bay. Caleb remembered focusing on the moonlight sliding through the gap in the curtains and watching the dust motes swirl together like lovers dancing before he’d drifted off.
‘Caleb?’ Paloma’s voice was little more than a whisper but enough to stir him from his tortured semi-asleep state.
‘I’m here.’ He shot up from the armchair and sat next to her on the bed. He brushed the loose strands of dark hair from the side of her clammy face.
Wide-eyed, she looked up. ‘I thought you’d gone.’
‘No,’ he said, sorrow choking him as he took her cool hand in his. ‘I’m here, I’m not going anywhere.’
Her eyelids fluttered closed and his heart sank. Had she fallen asleep again?
‘Thirsty,’ she said, forcing her eyes open.
He held the cup to her cracked lips and she sipped the water. The shadows circling her eyes were even more prominent than they’d been when he’d kissed her goodnight. He’d slept fitfully, jumping awake numerous times to lean forward and look at her, holding his breath until he’d been able to make out the shallow rise and fall of her chest.
Paloma nodded her thanks and he placed the cup on the bedside table.
She slipped her fingers between his. ‘Promise me you’ll be happy again.’
Caleb’s breath caught in his throat. ‘I’ll never be happy without you.’
A tear slid down her cheek and he wiped it away.
‘Don’t say that,’ she said softly. ‘You have the whole of your life ahead of you. I want you to be happy, to finish our house, to do all the things we talked about. To find someone to love again, the way you’ve loved me.’
Caleb shook his head, unable to bear the thought of life without her, even less so the idea of someone replacing Paloma. Their time together had been too brief. Their hopes and dreams shattered. The family he’d imagined would never exist.
‘How am I supposed to live without you?’ Caleb pressed his head gently into the crook of her neck, which was cool against his own hot skin. His tears dampened the pillow.
‘One day at a time,’ Paloma whispered. ‘I’ll be with you always, wishing you all the happiness you deserve.’