Chapter 31
31
SKYE
Skye felt a surge of excitement as she thought about their kiss. She tried to focus on refilling the honesty box with freshly harvested carrots, broad beans, beetroot and bags of Jersey Royals she had picked after leaving Joe grinning in the barn. She felt a warm glow as she recalled how it felt to be in Joe’s arms, his lips against hers. He was a great kisser. She couldn’t wait to kiss him again.
‘I said do you have spring greens yet?’
Shocked to hear an elderly man’s voice, Skye spun round, cheeks flaming from being interrupted as she reminisced about Joe.
‘Sorry, I didn’t see you there. No, I’m afraid not. I think it’ll be a couple of weeks yet before we have any of those to sell.’
‘That’s a shame. My wife loves spring greens.’ He gave her a wave. ‘Never mind, I’ll try again in a few weeks.’
Her thoughts returned to their kiss and how they had almost got carried away. She wasn’t sure whether she should be grateful to the postman who’d arrived with mail, including a postcard addressed to them from Lindy and Gareth from Sint Maarten.
She walked slowly back to the yard.
Joe waved at her, looking as if he wanted to tell her something.
‘What is it?’
He held up his phone. ‘Just had a call from Bruno asking for your number to check if you would like to join him and Carlos for dinner.’
She wondered why she hadn’t thought to ask for Bruno’s number so she could call him herself. ‘Can I see his number and I’ll call him back now.’
‘Here you go.’ Joe brought up his contacts on his phone and held it out so she could see the screen.
She typed Bruno’s contact details into her phone, pressing Save. ‘Thanks.’
His phone rang again. He looked at the screen and scowled. ‘Sorry, I need to take this.’
She hoped nothing was wrong but Joe hadn’t seemed all that happy to get the call. He went to the kitchen and Skye focused on phoning Bruno. Her mind raced. Everything was happening so fast she could barely process all the changes in her life.
‘All good?’ Joe asked when she found him again in the kitchen with the dogs.
‘Yes, I’m meeting them tonight. Bruno suggested booking the table for seven-thirty at a restaurant in St Ouen’s Bay.’
‘Sounds good.’
‘It does,’ she said, feeling excited yet a little nervous. ‘I wonder when I’ll get to meet my other two brothers? Or either Carlos’s or Bruno’s partners.’
‘They probably want to take things slowly,’ Joe suggested. He gave her a hug. ‘You OK?’
‘I’m fine.’
‘I would offer to come with you but I’ve been called in to do a shift this evening.’
‘You have? But I thought you were given time off work.’
‘I was, but staff numbers are low and there have been a few larger emergencies recently and they need to make sure the crews have enough time off between shifts. I don’t mind.’ He shrugged. ‘I could still drop you off later though still if you want?’
She shook her head. ‘No, thanks. Bruno said they would give me a lift.’
He smiled at her. ‘If you’re sure you’re OK, I’ll go and pop in to see my mother and Roger now before getting ready for work. Apparently there’s some issue with my hot water tank they need me to sort out.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Funny how they only call me when something is wrong.’ He laughed. ‘I shouldn’t moan, I’ve been happy enough to let them get on with things while I’ve been here.’
‘I hope it’s not difficult to sort out.’
‘If it is, I’ll call in the professionals.’ Joe pushed his phone into his back pocket and pointed to ominous-looking clouds out to the west of the island. ‘Looks like there’s a nasty storm coming our way this evening.’
Skye wasn’t sure that going to the bay to eat would be the best decision. ‘Will it be OK eating at the restaurant so close to the sea wall, if you think the storm will be bad?’
Joe laughed. ‘It’ll be fine. I always enjoy watching a storm from inside, and the place they suggested going to has large windows so there’ll be a great view as everything rages outside.’
Skye liked the sound of that. ‘All right then. Shall I meet you back here afterwards?’
‘Perfect. I’ll look forward to hearing all about it.’ A message pinged on his phone and Joe sighed. ‘I’d better get going. Have a great time.’
‘I’m sure I will,’ she assured him.
Skye watched him leave, excited to have something to look forward to that evening. She supposed Carlos might be ready for her next load of questions for him and decided to think about the ones she most needed answers to as she worked.
* * *
The storm was already fierce when they ran from the car to the restaurant, getting fairly wet in the short time it took. She asked Carlos more about making this island his home all those years ago, thinking how right Joe had been about the restaurant’s location. She hadn’t realised the restaurant was right up against the promenade on top of the sea wall. It was too dark to see too much thanks to the driving rain and heavy sky but the sound of waves crashing, rain hitting the window next to them and the roar of the wind were dramatic nonetheless.
‘Joe was telling me that many people moved here from Madeira since the sixties and seventies,’ she said. ‘Did you always mean to settle here, or did it just sort of happen?’
Carlos smiled thoughtfully. ‘Initially I only meant to work here for a few seasons. My cousin already worked here. It was he who recommended the Bel Amie to me. After Annie left though I was intending to leave at the end of that season. I did return home to my family in Madeira and my mother talked sense into me, telling me that I had the opportunity to make a good life for myself working in the hotel. So the following season I returned but to a different hotel.’
Skye thought about all the places she had visited and how each made her feel. ‘This is a beautiful place to live. I’m not surprised you changed your mind about leaving.’
‘It was two years later that I met my late wife. She’s from the island.’
Late wife? Hoping she hadn’t upset him by encouraging him to reminisce, Skye knew she had to address his situation.
‘I’m so sorry. I wasn’t sure whether you were still married or not.’
Bruno took a drink from his glass of lager. ‘Mum died ten years ago now,’ he said, glancing at his father. ‘It was a dark time for us all.’
‘It was,’ Carlos agreed.
She could well imagine how he had felt. Unsure whether to ask but believing it mattered, Skye said, ‘Would she have minded about me? Do you think?’
Carlos shrugged. ‘I don’t know for sure, of course, but I believe she would have been happy to meet you, Skye. My Della was a kind person and would never have felt threatened by any women who came into my life before we had met.’
Skye heard sirens in the background but didn’t take any notice. Although she hadn’t heard them much at all since her arrival on the island, she was used to hearing them back at home and presumed there must have been an accident of sorts along the lengthy road behind the restaurant.
‘Della sounds like she was an amazing lady,’ Skye said, turning her attention back to the conversation. She was relieved to hear it that Della would react that way and hoped that if both Carlos and Bruno believed this then her other brothers would also be open to getting to know her. ‘I wish I could have met her too.’
Carlos swallowed, then nodded. ‘I would have liked that very much.’
She noticed Bruno staring at something outside a little way along from the restaurant. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘I’m not sure yet,’ he said, squinting out of the rain-soaked window, his face the picture of concern. He stood and walked to look out of another window, coming back shortly after. She saw him check his phone.
‘What’s happened?’
‘There’s something going on,’ he said. ‘I’ve seen blue lights so the emergency services are already there but I doubt it’s a car accident.’
She stood next to him and leant closer to the windowpane to peer out, but it was almost impossible to make out what was happening. ‘Why don’t you think it’s a car crash?’
‘Because the ambulance is nearer to the sea wall than it would be if the incident was on the road.’
‘Is it a fire?’ she asked, unsure how anything could burn with this amount of rain.
He shook his head. ‘I spotted the RNLI out there. Someone must be in difficulty.’
Skye shuddered, hoping there was a positive outcome for whoever was involved. She felt her appetite subside and wished they hadn’t already ordered. ‘I wonder if there’s something we could do to help?’ she said, unsure in what way.
Bruno frowned. ‘Sorry, Dad, Skye, would you mind very much if I go and have a closer look?’
She could tell there was something on his mind and that he wasn’t simply being nosy. ‘Not at all.’
Carlos shook his head. ‘You go. Try not to be out there too long, and stay back from the sea wall – you don’t want to get hurt.’
As soon as Bruno left, Skye kept Carlos busy by asking more questions about his first season on the island. ‘It must have been quite different here back then.’
He clasped his hands together and gave a wistful smile. ‘It was more different than you would probably imagine. More hotels, the waterfront wasn’t completely developed then and there were many more cafés and bars.’ His gaze slid to the door. ‘I hope he’s not too long out there. This storm is bad.’
They spoke for a little longer when the door opened and Bruno walked in, soaked. He took off his coat and hung the dripping item on a hook with other damp outerwear.
‘What’s happened?’ Carlos asked.
Skye saw Bruno look at her with a strange expression on his face, before replying to his father. She realised he was trying to work out how to tell them something.
‘What is it?’ she asked anxiously, unsure what could concern him when she hardly knew anyone on the island. Then it dawned on her. ‘Joe’s out there, isn’t he?’
He sat down next to her. ‘Try not to worry,’ Bruno said. ‘They’re all professionals out there.’
Skye went to stand but he pressed his hand against her arm. ‘No, there’s nothing you can do. We’re helping far more by staying in here out of the way.’
‘But Joe.’
He sighed. ‘I know but he’s not alone and Joe is tough. I’m sure we’ll soon hear from him.’
What choice did she have but to concede? ‘I suppose so.’
‘He’ll be fine,’ Carlos assured her. ‘These men are well trained.’
Skye forced a smile. ‘I’m sure he will be,’ she said, hoping they were both right.