Chapter 26
‘I still can’t believe you’re coming to church tomorrow,’ Gabriel tells me.
We’re closely spooned together on the single bed in his room at his mother’s house, and I’m idly running my hand across his bare chest, enjoying the firmness of the pectoral muscles just under his skin.
Over the last few days, we’ve established a little routine, where he picks me up from the resort just after lunch and drives me to his mother’s house, where we can enjoy each other without restriction, as his mother is out pretty much all day every day.
Later in the afternoon, we head back to the Elixir for him to do his stint on the piano, before finishing the evening at Raphael’s bar.
Although the single bed is a little short on space, it’s a lot better than being arrested for public indecency on the beach.
‘Random subject, given the setting!’ I exclaim, glancing down at our naked bodies. ‘Doesn’t the church have views about sex outside marriage?’
‘Interesting question. It does, but the way I see it is this: In Biblical times, women would have been married off as soon as they reached sexual maturity, so sex before marriage wouldn’t have been an issue.
What I think they were more concerned about was sex outside marriage, or adultery.
So, I don’t believe God’s fingers are twitching on the “Smite” button if two consenting, unattached adults have sex, do you? ’
‘And would your pastor agree with that view?’
He smiles guiltily. ‘No. I think it’s fair to say that he wouldn’t, which is why I don’t share it with him.
Anyway, I’m sorry that I can’t pick you up in the morning.
I was going to ask the church minibus to call by for you, but Grace has offered to drive you over there.
She’s got one of those massive seven-seat SUV things so you should all fit in easily. Is that OK?’
‘It’s fine, don’t sweat it. I get that you have to be there early to rehearse with the choir. I’m looking forward to it, actually.’
‘Even though Amy is coming?’
I sigh. ‘I could have done without that, it’s true. I’m still not sure she’s managed to work out the difference between her supposed spirit guide and God.’
‘Hmm. Maybe you should encourage her to ask Pastor Andrew about it. He loves nothing more than getting stuck into discussions like that, although it might make her very late for lunch, which wouldn’t endear her to Mum.’
‘Are you sure your mother doesn’t mind us gatecrashing her family lunch?’
‘Gatecrashing?’ He laughs again. ‘As soon as I told her you were coming to church, she insisted. She’d never forgive herself if she let you go back to the hotel without offering you hospitality.’
‘She does know they feed us there, right?’
‘She does, but she doesn’t have a very high opinion of hotel food especially when, to use her words, “it’s been rotting on a buffet counter for goodness knows how long”.’
‘I bet Grace loves that.’
‘Grace is used to her. There aren’t many things my mother doesn’t have a strong opinion about, even if it’s patently wrong. But we’ve all learned that life is generally quieter if you don’t contradict her.’
‘And we’re bringing Amy into this mix,’ I remind him.
‘That could be challenging, I agree, but, from what you’ve told me, it’ll be entertaining if nothing else. You’ll be glad to know that Mum’s doing a milder version of her jerk chicken for you. It’ll still be lively, but won’t take your head off in the way that Aaron’s did.’
‘I bet she thinks we’re pathetic, doesn’t she.’
‘No. She’s lived in London, remember. “No wonder the English are so depressed,” she used to say. “They don’t get no sunshine and their food has no flavour.”’
‘I think that’s a little unfair.’
‘Like I told you, Mum didn’t really get on with London. Anyway, we’d better think about getting up and dressed. I’ve been preparing another little mashup for your friend Martin. What did he think of the first one?’
‘I had to send it via Priya because I don’t have his number, but she said he didn’t know whether to be appalled at you vandalising Liszt like that, or blown away by the virtuosity of the way you did it.’
He grins. ‘And Priya? What did she think?’
‘Priya was less interested in the music than the fact that you kissed me at the end,’ I admit.
‘What did you tell her?’
‘I just said things had moved on and I was happy.’ To my surprise, his face turns serious. ‘What?’ I ask nervously. ‘Have I said the wrong thing?’
‘Not at all,’ he reassures me. ‘It’s just that my real world is about to come crashing back in and I’m nervous about what effect it might have on you.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You know I’m heading to the USA for a couple of weeks after this?’
‘The concerts in New York and Boston,’ I reply. ‘I have been listening to you.’
‘Yeah, but my manager has thrown in an extra one here, before I leave.’
‘When?’
‘Tuesday, at the Shell Bandstand.’
I can feel my face falling. ‘That’s my last night here.’
‘I know, and I’m sorry. I tried to change his mind, but he’s already started the publicity drive. He wants to use it as a warm-up before I head to the States. I’d love you to come, but there’s no pressure.’
‘Of course I’ll come.’
‘Really? I know you’re not completely sold on classical music.’
I smile at him before placing a gentle kiss on his lips. ‘I’ve heard the pianist is amazing, and at least it’s not jazz.’
‘I can safely guarantee no jazz,’ he replies with a grin. ‘Do you want to come to the party afterwards? There will be lots of boring pressing of flesh, but it will be a lot better if you’re there.’
‘Yes.’
He sighs happily and pulls me close. OK, so it’s not ideal because I’d been hoping our last night together would involve just the two of us, rather than a whole concert audience, but at least I’ll get the opportunity to see him in his other life. After a while, he sits up again.
‘What?’ I ask him.
‘Can I see you when I get back to London?’
‘What is this, a Jane Austen novel? If you don’t see me when you get back, I’ll find out where you are and send the boys round.’
His expression changes to one of relief. ‘I wasn’t sure if this was just a holiday thing for you. I didn’t want to assume.’
‘Let me ask you a question,’ I tell him. ‘What kind of woman would go to Jamaica, meet an incredible man like you who just happens to live in the same city as her, and think “no, I definitely wouldn’t want to meet up with him when I get home”?’
‘What if this doesn’t translate to the UK?’
‘Why wouldn’t it? I mean, the weather isn’t as nice, but what better way to spend a drizzly February afternoon than doing exactly what we’re doing now?’
He grins. ‘Good point, well made. Right, come on. The piano stool is calling.’
‘Umm, Amy?’ I say, taking in her shorts, T-shirt and flip-flops as we congregate for breakfast the next morning. ‘Are you planning to wear that to church?’
‘Yes, why?’
‘Didn’t you see the dress code I posted on the group chat?’
‘Too long,’ she says dismissively. ‘Didn’t read it.’
I see what this is, and I’m not falling for it. She’s determinedly trying to get her revenge by doing everything she thinks I’ve done to her.
‘OK,’ I say. ‘It’s up to you, but I would suggest you change into something more modest. Have you got a dress or skirt that covers your knees?’
‘What’s wrong with my knees?’ she asks aggressively. ‘I’m hardly waving my tits at them.’
‘They like you to cover most of your body,’ I explain. ‘Long trousers for men, covered legs and arms for women.’
‘That’s ridiculous. I should be able to wear whatever I like.’
‘You don’t have to come.’ Please, I think, let her decide not to come.
‘No, it’s fine. Stewie and I will get changed after breakfast.’
‘It’s Grace’s turn to drive Mum,’ Raphael observes happily as he stands aside to let Gabriel and me clamber into the back of his Jeep after the service. Lily, Dan, Amy and Stuart are getting into Grace’s SUV, along with the formidable Mrs Campbell.
‘Mum has never learned to drive,’ Gabriel explains quietly as Raphael starts the engine and Uriel fiddles around connecting his phone to the radio. ‘But that doesn’t stop her telling us all how we should be doing it. Anyway, what did you make of the service?’
‘The choir was superb,’ I tell him. ‘And the guest pianist was incredibly handsome. I’ll confess to finding him a little distracting.’
‘Interesting. There was a very attractive woman in the congregation, and I was captivated by her dress.’
‘My dress?’ I ask, confused. ‘What about it?’
‘It’s just a nice dress. You look good in it,’ he says, evidently for Uriel and Raphael’s benefit as he then leans over to whisper in my ear. ‘It’s the same one you were wearing on the beach. It, umm, brought back some very pleasant memories.’
I can feel my face heating as the memory comes back to me too. ‘Pastor Andrew seems nice,’ I say in an attempt to change the subject. ‘I was surprised how short his sermon was though. I was expecting to be there for hours.’
‘It varies from pastor to pastor and church to church. Pastor Andrew’s are on the shorter side. His view is that he only wants to get one or two key points across each week, so the congregation has a fighting chance of remembering them.’
We lapse into silence as Raphael makes the turns that have become so familiar to me over the last few days. ‘Here we are,’ he says as he drives through the gates and pulls up next to Grace’s SUV and another car I don’t recognise. ‘Casa Campbell.’
I’m just about to tell him I know, before I realise that, although he’s aware that Gabriel and I have been seeing each other, he doesn’t know I’ve been here before.
‘It’s lovely,’ I say instead. ‘Quite a lot grander than a lot of the other houses here.’
‘Welcome to the life of a high-ranking government official,’ Uriel says with a grin as we climb out.
‘Who does the other car belong to?’ I ask Gabriel quietly.
‘Grace’s husband, Leonard. He’s not a churchgoer so he just comes straight here for lunch.’
‘And your mother is OK with that?’
‘Not really, but she loves everything else about him, and she tells him every week that she’s praying for him to find salvation.’
‘Boys, is that you?’ Mrs Campbell’s voice calls from the sitting room as we walk through the door.
‘Who else would it be, Mum?’ Raphael asks. ‘You literally saw us getting into the car to come here five minutes ago.’
‘Don’t get smart with me, son,’ she says, striding out into the hallway. ‘You’re the last to arrive.’
I can see Raphael trying to come up with a riposte, before thinking better of it. ‘Tori,’ Mrs Campbell continues, turning to me. ‘I know we met briefly before the service, but I’m so looking forward to getting to know you a little bit. My Gabriel seems quite smitten with you.’
‘Smitten?’ I repeat, looking at Gabriel with a smile.
‘I’m not sure—’ is as far as he gets before Mrs Campbell cuts him off.
‘Absolutely. He’s talked of little else since he met you,’ she tells me. ‘Now come in and say hello to everyone. Lunch will be ready in a little while. I hope you’re hungry.’
‘Mum’s a feeder,’ Gabriel warns me as we follow her into the sitting room. ‘I put on at least half a stone each time I visit.’
The scene in the sitting room is interesting. While Lily and Dan are chatting comfortably with Grace and her husband, Amy and Stuart are standing on their own to one side, looking a little awkward. Mrs Campbell sits regally on one of the large sofas.
‘Come and sit next to me so we can chat,’ she commands me. ‘Gabriel, you can sit too. Raphael and Uriel will fetch the drinks. We’ve got Sorrel drink, Ting or Ginger beer. What would you like, Tori?’
‘Sorrel drink is kind of Christmassy,’ Raphael explains. ‘It has Christmas spices in it, like cloves and allspice, but Mum breaks it out every week because she loves it. Ting is a refreshing grapefruit soda, and I’m sure you know what ginger beer is.’
‘I think I’ll try the Ting,’ I tell him.
‘Good choice.’
‘So, Tori, I want to learn all about you,’ Mrs Campbell says, once Raphael and Uriel have taken everyone’s drinks orders and disappeared off to the kitchen. ‘Gabriel tells me you’re in recruitment, is that right?’
‘That’s correct, Mrs Campbell.’
‘Oh, honey. Call me Constance. I get the feeling you and I are going to be seeing quite a lot of each other.’
Her sharp eyes are fixed on my face and I can tell she’s assessing me. This is a test, I realise, and I have no idea what criteria she’s looking for. What’s more surprising is how much I care about passing.