Chapter 15
The dream holiday was having a rocky start so far.
Naomi’s sisters didn’t seem to be getting along any better, Greg still seemed cranky about the hotel not living up to expectations, and her parents were currently both going over the breakfast menu with a fine-tooth comb, trying to find something they would eat.
Her best friend was about the only one trying. And while Naomi knew she was missing her son and feeling guilty for leaving him behind (plus taking time off from work), she was at least trying to appear enthusiastic.
Naomi hoped that this morning’s island sightseeing tour would help cheer everyone up and get them into holiday mode.
Their tour guide was waiting at reception, ready to collect them all.
She was a tiny thing, barely five feet tall, but her infectious personality made her seem like a giant.
The way she greeted them was so warm and friendly that Naomi found herself relaxing immediately, confident that they were in good hands.
Their group got on the waiting bus out front, but they weren’t alone. This particular tour was a popular one; several fellow hotel guests had already boarded, and they’d evidently picked up others previously from nearby resorts.
The vehicle was packed, but thankfully fully air-conditioned. The outside heat was like a sauna and even in the few minutes they’d been outside, it hadn’t been long before strands of Naomi’s dark hair were sticking to the nape of her neck.
‘Daddy, I wanna sit up front – I can’t see anything from back here,’ a young girl cried out emphatically from somewhere ahead as they boarded. Her dad was standing in the aisle, swinging a large backpack off his shoulder.
‘Holly, this bus was made for everyone to be able to see properly. I promise you’ll be able to see fine back here,’ Naomi heard him utter in an accent that immediately identified him as a fellow compatriot, as he stood back to let her and Greg take the pair of vacant seats behind.
‘No, it won’t. You don’t like the front, it makes you sick,’ she argued.
‘That’s true, so better that you sit back here with me, isn’t it? I need you to make sure I don’t get sick,’ her father countered and Naomi suppressed a laugh.
She didn’t mean to keep listening in, but she couldn’t help it. The little girl sounded so adorable.
‘I always take care of you when you’re sick, Daddy,’ she prattled. ‘Well, I suppose if you really need me to stay with you, I’ll have to, but you need to get some medicine for your movie sickness.’
‘It’s motion sickness, darling, and I’ll be sure to do that.’
As she and Greg got settled alongside one another, Naomi nudged him. ‘Did you hear that?’ she whispered.
‘Who didn’t?’ he replied, rolling his eyes.
‘Aw, she sounds so sweet, though.’
‘Sweet? The girl needs some discipline. Talking back to her father like that. Any child of mine certainly wouldn’t get away with it.’
Naomi’s heart fluttered a little. Greg rarely spoke at all about children, let alone ‘his’. Albeit in a scolding way. He could be such an old curmudgeon sometimes, she thought fondly, guessing that when they did have some of their own he’d be a complete pushover.
Keisha, their cheerful guide, gave information about every street they passed along the way, offering dining tips and insight into where to find the best beaches and beauty spots along the coast.
‘She’s so knowledgeable and engaging, isn’t she?’ Naomi commented as they disembarked at the first stop at a nearby sugar plantation and popular tourist landmark.
‘Uh-huh,’ Greg mumbled as he held out his phone to try and pick up a signal. ‘I need to make a call.’
She studied him with some disappointment.
He’d promised to take time out on the trip, but so far he was still spending the majority of it focused on work.
What he could be doing, she had no idea, but it was disheartening to say the least. Plus, he remained decidedly unimpressed and grumpy about the resort for some reason.
She knew the Wi-Fi reception wasn’t so great, but that surely had more to do with their location than any fault of the hotel.
Or was it perhaps that the older, more rustic surrounds weren’t quite living up to his expectations as a suitable proposal spot?
For her part, Naomi couldn’t care a whit about any elaborate backdrop; he could propose to her right now on the bus for all she cared, but it was disappointing that he seemed so dour not only about the hotel, but the trip in general.
Noticing her tight-lipped expression, he mouthed an apology as he stepped away from the group.
‘Sorry, but the reception’s actually decent here. Just give me a minute, OK?’
‘He’s working – again?’ Sam asked in disbelief as Naomi went ahead and caught up with the others.
‘Yeah.’ She could feel her best friend studying her and guessed the inevitable questions that were on Sam’s mind, though she hoped she wouldn’t utter them out loud. ‘Let’s go ahead anyway. He can follow on when he’s ready.’
The two caught up with the group in time to hear Keisha offer some background on the landmark they were headed to: Devil’s Bridge Canyon.
‘The legend goes that the man who built the bridge made a pact with the devil. He promised the devil that if he helped him build across this sixty-metre-deep ravine, he would let him take the soul of the first being to walk over it. But when the bridge was completed, the man let a dog go before him. The animal reached the other side but vanished and was never seen again. Still, the devil must have been satisfied with the prize as he vanished and was never seen again either. Since then, this bridge to which he gave his name links the two steep sides of the ravine, but those who cross it often can’t help but look back on their steps to check that they’re not being followed … ’
‘Ooh, that’s a bit creepy, isn’t it?’ Janice’s voice from nearby filled her ears and Naomi smiled, delighted to see her parents enjoying themselves at least.
They all followed Keisha along the trail and out onto the bridge one by one, in the manner of children following the Pied Piper.
‘Get the camera out, Dad,’ Naomi instructed once they’d reached the other side, pulling her mother and Sam closer beside her in front of the atmospheric location.
George duly took out his ancient Nikon and snapped a few shots. He steadfastly refused to succumb to phone camera usage, despite his daughter’s profession.
‘Judy, Karen, come on!’ she called back, ushering her sisters in for another photo. They were busy taking their own shots of mango trees nearby but sauntered over to where they were. Despite whatever was going on between them, they were closely chatting away, so maybe they’d patched things up.
‘Where’s Greg?’ her dad asked then, suddenly noticing his absence.
‘Don’t worry about him,’ Naomi stated airily. ‘He’s working but we’re here to have fun.’
George looked a little perplexed but continued to take photos until Keisha announced it was time for them all to move on to their next stop. On their way back to the bus, Naomi noticed someone else who seemed keenly interested in taking photos – the little girl from earlier.
‘Stand there, Daddy,’ she instructed her father as she went to get a shot of him beneath a mango tree.
While he posed self-consciously, Naomi couldn’t help but smile as she watched their interaction.
She wanted that. She wanted to have a family and take her and Greg’s kids on trips like this, recording all those precious little moments for memories, as opposed to stylised images for money and strangers.
‘Daddy, that lady’s staring.’ The girl’s voice interrupted her thoughts then, and Naomi instantly felt a blush rise beneath her cheeks.
‘Sorry, I was wondering if you’d like me to take a picture of the two of you together?’ She stepped forward, embarrassed at being caught spying on them. ‘I’m Naomi. I think we’re on the same bus.’
‘That would be great, thanks. I’m Will and this is my daughter Holly.’ He took her hand and shook it gently, his remaining arm wrapped around his daughter’s shoulders.
‘Hi!’ the girl sang happily.
‘If you’re sure you don’t mind?’ Will offered his phone to her, and then father and daughter both posed beneath the tree. They looked cute together, but Will still seemed stiff and awkward. Luckily, Naomi knew exactly how to loosen up a reluctant subject.
‘Say “horseradish”!’ she urged jokingly, as she brought the phone up to view them through the screen.
‘Horseradish!’ they both sang and then laughed, looking at one another as she clicked away. Much better.
Naomi took a few shots in different poses for good measure and offered to take them in other locations if they wanted also. ‘Maybe your wife would like to get into one?’
Will paused, but Holly was quick to reply. ‘My mummy’s dead.’
Naomi’s heart sank into her shoes as she fumbled for the right words. ‘Oh gosh, I’m so sorry,’ she said, reddening.
‘It’s OK,’ Will assured her. ‘It was a long time ago. Thanks again for the photos, they look amazing; a hell of a lot better than my meagre attempts. Come on, Holly, let’s check out the papayas.’
‘OK,’ his daughter responded, following behind her father. Then she turned back. ‘Wanna come too?’
Naomi was taken aback, but after her embarrassing utterance felt somewhat obligated to make up for it. ‘Sure.’
By the time they returned to board the bus, Naomi had almost forgotten her blunder.
Holly’s precociousness had pretty much completely erased it.
It was clear that the young girl had done her research on the island and seemed to know almost as much about the sites they were going to visit as Keisha did.
‘Holly likes to read. She did about two weeks of research on this place before we came,’ Will advised as they walked back towards the bus. Her daughter was running ahead, eager to be the first to get back on. ‘She’s a curious little thing.’
‘I can see that,’ Naomi replied smiling. ‘How old is she?’
‘Seven, even though she acts older than me sometimes.’ He chuckled.
‘She’s very sweet.’
‘I think so.’
‘Where are you staying?’ she asked as the coach door opened, recalling that the two were already on board when their gang had got on earlier.
She glanced around, but there was still no sign of Greg anywhere. He’d missed the entire stop-off, she realised, her heart dropping.
‘The Palms on the west coast. Holly’s choice, believe it or not.’
‘Oh, so am I!’ Naomi grinned. ‘And it’s a great choice too. Maybe we’ll bump into one other again there.’
Will smiled as he boarded the bus behind his daughter. ‘Hope so.’