Chapter 38
38
Caleb was an Englishman in Spain making Italian pizza, but it was something he was good at and enjoyed doing, plus it was an easy way to feed a few people. The nerves were still pinging about in the pit of his stomach at the idea of entertaining at Solace, of having more than just a couple of people over at a time. Entertaining friends and family with dinner parties, barbecues and pool parties had been Caleb and Paloma’s dream and he’d shied away from it since her death, afraid of the feelings it would conjure while resolutely refusing to embrace that side of life without her. Belle had instigated this. The idea had popped into his head and he had no good reason to not suggest it.
He cracked open a bottle of beer and took a long swig. Leaning his phone against a utensil pot, he Skyped Cara while stretching out the pizza dough on the kitchen island.
Cara’s beaming face appeared on the screen.
‘You look happy,’ he said, ‘for first thing in the morning.’
‘Yesterday was a good one. Dad was feeling a bit like his old self, so I’m hoping today will be more of the same.’
‘Sorry I didn’t call the other day, it was just…’ He shrugged.
‘Hey.’ Cara leaned right into the screen. ‘Don’t apologise. You had every right to deal with the anniversary how best you could. I’m just glad you let me know you were okay. So Belle came over?’
‘Uh huh.’
‘Anything you want to share?’ Cara’s blue eyes bore into him through the screen. ‘You know you can tell me anything, right?’
‘Yeah, I know.’
‘How about I go first.’
Caleb stopped stretching out the dough and frowned at her.
Cara’s grin was the biggest he’d ever seen. ‘I kinda hooked up with my friend Naomi, you know the one I’ve fancied since I was like nineteen. We went out with mutual friends the other night and just clicked.’
‘And when you say hooked up, you mean…’
‘We kissed. A lot.’ Cara grinned again. ‘And talked so much about everything. Sharing our shitty experiences with our exes, the stress of illness in our families. Just talked and offloaded and it was so good.’
‘So you’re not missing me too much then?’
‘Oh, I still miss you like crazy, knucklehead, but you’re not exactly a friend with benefits, are you?’ She winked.
That put a smile on his face.
‘Now, your turn.’
Caleb focused on kneading the next ball of dough rather than Cara’s intense look. ‘I didn’t kiss Belle if that’s what you’re fishing for, but I wanted to. Oh fuck it, Cara, I wanted to do a whole lot more than kiss her, but shit… My head and my heart were so damn twisted.’
‘It’s okay to feel like that and okay to be conflicted. Obviously the timing was so not right.’ Cara stopped talking and sucked in a breath. ‘It wasn’t so much the idea of being with her, was it, but the feelings you have for her, right? You do have feelings?’
Caleb slapped the dough onto the surface and leaned his hands against the edge of the worktop. He stared towards the picture windows and the darkening sky. The remnants of the sun cast a golden-red glow on the sea.
He sighed. ‘I wish you were here to help me figure this out.’
‘Hey, only you can figure out the way you really feel. Go with your gut, it’s what you’ve always done when it comes to business and it usually pays off. Also, don’t be afraid of taking a chance with Belle.’
That feeling he’d had yesterday morning when he’d hugged Belle goodbye returned, an all-consuming warmth reignited.
‘What are you doing by the way?’ Cara asked.
‘Making pizza. I’ve, um, got a few people coming over tonight.’
‘You have?’
‘Yeah, there’s a whole thing going on with Belle’s friend Gem – you know I told you all about Belle, Gem and Diego?—’
‘Yep, the threesome.’
‘It wasn’t a threesome, Cara.’
‘In my head it was…’
Caleb shook his head and stretched the dough out on a pizza tray. ‘Well, there’s a chance that Gem’s nine-year-old son is actually Diego’s.’
‘Are you freaking kidding me?’ Cara’s eyes widened as her nose nearly hit the screen. ‘I’m missing out on all the gossip and a party at yours.’
‘It’s not a party; it’s a small gathering. Just dinner. A chance for Gem and Diego to talk.’
Cara pursed her lips and looked at him sternly. ‘You so rarely have people over. This is special, Caleb.’ She paused. ‘Wow, you’re really doing this for her. Belle’s properly got under your skin, hasn’t she?’
Caleb didn’t know how to reply to that so he didn’t. When the front gate buzzer went with the arrival of àngel and his wife Gabriela, he said goodbye and prepared himself for everyone’s arrival.
Caleb had forgotten what Solace must look like through other people’s eyes. He knew how lucky he was to call it home, but he’d worked hard for it and had got used to living in a place where he could wake to the view of Ibiza Town bathed in sunshine, dive into the pool whenever he wanted, and sit with a beer watching the sunset from his terrace.
Laurie definitely couldn’t hide her awe as she wandered through the house open-mouthed. She was the quietest of the three friends with a gentle personality that was overshadowed by Gem’s voluptuous in-your-face confidence and Belle’s unfettered magnetism. It didn’t surprise him one bit that Diego had wound up with Belle and Gem, both blonde, both his type, but he was mighty relieved it was Gem who was about to have a difficult conversation with him and not Belle. Things could have been very different.
It felt strange, yet not unwelcome, to see Solace coming alive as people started to arrive. Apart from Belle and her friends and Diego and his brothers, he’d only invited a couple of other friends and their partners. Solace was made for entertaining, the sliding doors giving an effortless transition between inside and out, although everyone radiated to the terrace, which was bathed in the gold-tinged dusk. The candles in the lanterns were lit and the outdoor lights cast palm-tree shadows across the cream walls.
Gabriela helped him finish the pizzas and they took them out to where everyone was sitting around the huge table that dominated the side of the terrace with its view towards a glittering Ibiza Town. With plenty of wine, beer and food, the chatter flowed and happy voices rose into the night. It felt good to have his home filled with friends and laughter, a joy long absent. Caleb dipped in and out, flitting between the kitchen and the terrace, catching snatches of conversation as everyone relaxed and chatted together. His eyes were constantly drawn to Belle, who was sitting with her friends looking radiant in a metallic black playsuit.
What he also noticed was the distance between Gem and Diego at opposite ends of the table, so when he spotted Gem taking her glass of wine over to the outdoor lounge area while Tomàs, Gabriela and Belle were clearing the plates away, he went over to Diego.
‘Hey.’ Caleb clutched Diego’s shoulder and leaned over, keeping his voice low. ‘Why don’t you go have a chat with Gem; there’s something she wants to tell you.’ If Belle’s fears about Gem clamming up proved to be true then this was a risky move, but as Gem didn’t seem keen on veering towards Diego, he decided to instigate it.
Maybe it was something in his tone that made Diego take notice, or perhaps he didn’t need much persuading, but with a nod he grabbed a bottle of Ibizkus White and sauntered over to her.
Laurie, still sitting at the table, caught Caleb’s eye and gave him a smile. She shifted her chair to face the seating area and Gem as Caleb joined her.
‘Hey, they’re talking.’ Belle slid onto the seat between Caleb and Laurie and topped up her wine.
Caleb caught her eye. ‘I gave him a nudge.’
The three of them chatted about Solace and its transformation, and how different it was on the island over winter without the hordes of tourists, although Caleb was well aware they were all trying to subtly keep an eye on Gem and Diego.
‘I think she’s telling him,’ Laurie whispered as she leaned closer to Belle and Caleb.
It certainly looked that way to Caleb too, even though Diego had his back to them. Gem was doing all the talking, her elbows resting on her knees as she leaned forward. Diego’s shoulders were hunched. Gem’s face was flushed and impassioned as she talked. Diego suddenly stood up, shook his head then paced across the terrace.
Belle flinched and Caleb’s stomach muscles tightened. He didn’t know Gem at all but she looked like she was trying her hardest to hold it together. Then Diego turned on his heel and marched back to Gem. He took her hand and led her across the terrace and into the house.
Caleb, Belle and Laurie looked at each other.
‘Do you think one of us should follow, make sure they’re okay?’ Laurie looked between Belle and Caleb.
Belle shook her head. ‘They need to figure things out. Let them.’
Whatever lingering feelings Belle may have had for Diego, she’d certainly put them behind her. Caleb admired her openness and how important friendship was to her – a good person to have on your side or in your life. He surreptitiously watched her as she and Laurie carried on talking, the concern for their friend obvious. Caleb loved her for it.
He froze. The thought had slipped into his head effortlessly. He loved lots of things about her, the things that made her a good friend, a brilliant employee, a generally wonderful person; that must be it.
Oh God.
He downed his beer and glanced to where everyone else was still chatting, empty beer and wine bottles cluttering the table. Replenishing the drinks seemed the perfect excuse to put some distance between himself and Belle. He left them talking and escaped to the kitchen, raiding the fridge for drinks and putting together a plate of ensa?mades , spiral-shaped sweet pastries. The only sound was the chatter and music drifting in from outside, so wherever Gem and Diego had disappeared to, at least they weren’t having an argument.
When Caleb returned outside, Belle and Laurie were still deep in conversation, so he placed the drinks and pastries on the table and joined his friends. It was good to talk and laugh together. Belle and Laurie eventually joined them, he assumed once they realised that Gem and Diego had lots to talk about and would probably be gone a while.
It was a couple of hours later when Gem emerged from the villa and made a beeline for the seating area away from everyone. Belle caught his eye, worry for her friend written all over her face. She and Laurie took their drinks and went and joined Gem.
A few minutes later Diego appeared, his face set in a frown as he headed the opposite way. He took off his shoes, sat by the pool and submerged his feet in the water.
Caleb grabbed two beers and joined him. Kicking off his sneakers, he sat on the stone and dunked his feet in the cool water too. To their left, the vast sea glittered ebony in the moonlight. Across the pool, his friends’ faces were lit by the flickering light from the lanterns.
Caleb handed Diego one of the beers. ‘You doing okay?’
Keeping his eyes fixed ahead, Diego swigged from the bottle. ‘Did you know what Gem was going to tell me?’
‘Yeah, Belle told me.’
‘And that’s why you invited us all here?’
‘Mostly, yes. So are you okay?’
Diego nodded. ‘ Sí .’
Caleb was finding it hard to work out how Diego was feeling; he looked thoughtful – which wasn’t really surprising – but also strangely calm.
‘What happened when you went inside?’
‘I thanked her for being honest with me, took her in my arms and kissed her.’ He turned to Caleb and shrugged his shoulders. ‘I didn’t want to risk my brothers wolf whistling or saying something crude. It was not the right moment to make fun. Then we talked. A lot. I got angry that she hadn’t told me sooner, but she had her reasons. I also realised I wouldn’t have changed my life even if she had said something. I was too selfish. I wouldn’t have been ready or responsible back then. I’m glad she’s told me now.’ He took another sip of beer. ‘His name’s Jack.’
Caleb leaned back on his hands and studied Diego, an immense sense of pride sweeping through him. He’d witnessed his mistakes, had listened to his frustrations and heard all about his conquests over the years. He worked as hard as he played, yet Caleb still thought of him as a lad, single and up for a good time, the younger, carefree, cheeky brother he’d never had but one who’d come into his life when he’d met Paloma. He couldn’t be prouder of the way he’d handled the bombshell Gem had dropped. He was a father of a nine-year-old boy he’d never met and at the age of thirty-four he was acting his age rather than in the way Caleb had feared.
Caleb gripped his shoulder. ‘You have a kid, Diego.’
‘It’s a lot to process. But yes, I have a son.’ Diego’s grin said it all. ‘With Gem.’
The way Diego said her name, Caleb just knew there was something still there. Although the news had come out of the blue, it had brought Gem back into his life. Who knew how they were going to navigate everything, but the spark obviously still flamed.
‘Have you ever wondered if you’ve got a child anywhere?’ Diego asked.
Caleb shot him a look that he hoped conveyed something along the lines of ‘what the hell are you talking about’.
‘Oh come on,’ Diego stressed. ‘You must have considered it. I’m talking years ago when you had a different woman every night.’
‘Not every night and no, because I was always careful.’
Diego grunted.
Caleb clasped his beer on the stone between his thighs and stared down at his toes wiggling in the water. In the darkness, the pool shimmered a midnight blue. He often sat here, his place of contemplation, before diving in for a night-time swim.
‘I always hoped to have children. It was what we’d planned, me and your sister. She’d have made a great mum, the same as you’re going to be a brilliant father.’ He knocked his bottle against Diego’s.
‘This is going to blow Mama’s mind,’ Diego said with a grin.
‘Maria is going to explode – the questions, oh my fucking God Diego, can you imagine the amount of questions she’s going to have!’ Caleb shook his head at the thought of Diego’s wonderful but formidable mother finding out that she had another grandchild. ‘Please let me be there when you tell her.’
The evening couldn’t have gone any better; the bravery Gem had shown in being honest with Diego had been matched by his maturity in how he’d dealt with the news. But as everyone started to leave and a taxi was called to take Belle, Gem and Laurie back to Spirit, he began to realise there was only one way that the night would be absolutely perfect.
He watched Diego say goodbye to Gem and the easy way he slipped his arm round her waist and pulled her to him. His kisses to her cheeks lingered while his hands on her waist drifted slightly lower. He was confident and in full control of his emotions, seemingly knowing what he wanted and on the surface unfazed by all that he’d learned. As Diego let Gem go, her expression spoke volumes – that hard edge Caleb had so far witnessed was softened by a real smile that reached her eyes. There was something else in the way her eyes remained fixed on Diego, her confidence matching his, confirming Caleb’s earlier thought that whatever had been ignited ten years ago was still very much alive.
Caleb sighed, turning away to find Belle also watching Gem with Diego. It was a bizarre situation for her to be in the middle of, her friend and her holiday fling forever tied by the child they’d unintentionally made. Belle’s focus flicked from them to him and he melted, desperately wishing he had the same ease and confidence with Belle that Diego had with Gem.
Belle walked towards him, her short playsuit showing off long tanned legs that made him go giddy with desire.
‘Thank you so much for tonight.’ She took his hand, and he tried not to tense or to worry if anyone was watching them. ‘It went better than I dared hope.’
‘You’re going back in the taxi with Gem and Laurie?’ Caleb knew she was but he asked anyway because he was unable to verbalise ‘please stay the night’.
‘Yes,’ Belle said, her eyes tracing his face in a way that made him wonder if she was thinking the same thing.
She reached up and kissed him on each cheek. Her breath tickled, her perfume was seductively sweet, her hand on his bare arm almost more than he could bear. And yet, once again, he watched her walk away, his head and heart twisted in a power battle that he wasn’t going to come out of unscathed. The whole evening had been about openness and telling the truth, so taking a chance and opening up his heart to the possibility of happiness, wasn’t that a risk worth taking?