Chapter Twenty-Five
Ant
I’m grateful for the Hawaiian shirt Lil bought me. It’s a loose fit, and the hem hits the top of my thighs, effectively hiding the situation she’s caused in my trousers by wearing that dress. By kissing me. By making promises for later.
If I were wearing a tucked-in shirt, her mother and grandmother would probably have me thrown off the boat for indecent exposure. And as much as I wouldn’t miss most of the company, I wouldn’t want to cause a scene and embarrass Lil.
Dinner—another formal, three-course extravaganza—is served inside.
But the wide windows allow a clear view of the beautiful coastline we’re sailing past, which is bathed in the pink and gold of the setting sun.
Unlike last night, tonight we’re at a table with Marion, Warren, Mrs Cooper and Emily’s parents, Caroline and Ross.
Oh, and Emily’s sister Sarah and her husband, whose name escapes me. That’s how memorable he is.
It feels a little like getting a table at the Inquisition. Monty Python was wrong. I did expect the Spanish Inquisition. And my tablemates didn’t disappoint.
Warren, who looks like he’s trying to explode my brain with his mind, lobs the first grenade.
“It appears your boyfriend lied to us, Lili,” he says with a poorly concealed sneer.
Fuck. My heart stops. He’s finally googled me and is about to out me in front of the whole table.
“It turns out he’s a very good golfer.” Warren turns to me.
“Are we going to find out you’re also a pro tennis player tomorrow afternoon?
” It takes a moment for my heart to start again.
All eyes at the table are fixed on me. Probably wondering why I’m suddenly sweating. Thank God for the heat in here.
“No. I’m not bad with a racquet. But Lilavati and I won’t be playing tomorrow. We’re going horseriding for the day.”
Lil turns to me, mouth agape.
“We are?”
“Well, that’s very inconsiderate,” mutters Caroline with a glare at her husband as though he might have had something to do with my deviation from the plan. “What about the trip to the cacao plantation?” I’d somehow forgotten about the scheduled activity for the morning.
“Nope. Horseriding. All day,” I direct at Caroline, before I lift Lil’s hand from the table and kiss her knuckles. “Yes, we are. I have a whole romantic day planned for us,” I respond to her question.
While I was waiting for Lil this afternoon, I not only had time to get the snorkel gear together, but to talk to the concierge and arrange a day I think Lilavati will love.
One that will be infinitely more enjoyable than wandering through a muddy plantation or playing doubles with Marion and Warren at the Kapalua Bay Country Club.
Lil’s eyes are wide as though it hadn’t even occurred to her that we don’t have to spend every minute of every day this week doing as we’re told.
“You’re a very bold young man,” Mrs Cooper says in a tone that makes it clear this is not a compliment.
“Thank you,” I respond before stuffing a large bite of lobster into my mouth. To my surprise, Mrs Cooper’s mouth twitches as though she’s suppressing a smile.
“Lili said you took her snorkelling. You seem to know your way around Maui. Have you been here before?” Marion asks, clearly wondering where a bum like me would get the money for that. As though there’s no budget accommodation available on the island.
“You’d be amazed at what you can learn from Google.” I fall back on the response I used with Lilavati. Which isn’t not true.
Mrs Cooper puts her knife and fork down on her plate and pushes back her chair with no sign of the difficulty you might expect from a woman her age. “I’ve had enough to eat. Anthony and I are going to go for a stroll,” she announces.
Damn. I was enjoying that lobster. The company might be atrocious, but the food and wine almost make up for it.
“Grandie, Ant and I haven’t finished our dinner,” Lil says with alarm, putting her hand on my arm to stop me standing.
“I don’t recall inviting you, young lady. Carry on eating.” Mrs Cooper waves a dismissive hand at Lil, who looks terrified.
I pat Lil’s hand and lean down to whisper in her ear. “Don’t let them take my plate.” I pop one last piece of the delicious crustacean in my mouth and follow Mrs Cooper out the doors onto the rear deck of the boat.
I find us each a glass of champagne, and we settle onto a padded bench. I consider correcting her mispronunciation of my name but decide to let it go when she drops a bomb.
“Now, Anthony, I’d like you to explain to me why you’re lying to my granddaughter.” Her eyes never leave my face as she speaks.
No beating around the bush with this woman. I need to tread carefully because I have no idea what she knows, or thinks she knows, about my relationship with Lilavati.
“I beg your pardon?” Yep. That’s me stalling for time while my mind races with potential answers and outcomes.
Mrs Cooper snorts in a way that reminds me very much of Lil, and I have to take a sip of my champagne to hide the smile.
“I may be old but my fingers are not so arthritic I can’t do a Google search, young man.
” She holds up a hand, wiggling thin fingers slightly bent with age and laden with enormous clusters of diamonds.
“Why is Lili under the impression you’re a barista when, in fact, you own the chain of cafés?
And a successful surfboard-making business. ”
It’s obvious that lying to this woman will get me nowhere, other than possibly thrown out. So I tell her the truth. Well, most of it.
“I never told her I was a barista. She made that assumption herself when she saw me helping out because we were short-staffed.”
“Why didn’t you set her straight?”
“Lilavati is dating me because she thinks the family won’t approve of her dating a beach bum.”
“She’d be correct,” Mrs Cooper interjects with a purse of her lips.
“So, I let her believe it because I really wanted a chance to get to know her.”
“And you thought she wouldn’t give you a second look if the family wouldn’t object?”
I squirm, uncomfortable with the conversation as opposed to the wildly plush cushion I’m sitting on.
“In part. But I also think Lilavati has pretty strong ideas about the kind of man she should want to be with. I suspected that if she thought I might be that man, she’d run a mile.”
“Hmm.” Mrs Cooper stares off across the dark water. “And now you’re finding it difficult to come clean?”
I shrug. It’s clearly a rhetorical question. “Does Warren know?”
I’m not so deluded I think owning a small business will be enough to turn Warren’s attitude to me around. Especially since I rinsed him at golf.
I’m treated to another one of Mrs Cooper’s Lilavati-esque snorts.
“That puffed-up, arrogant toad thinks far too highly of his own opinion to bother taking a second look. He’s decided you’re not suitable, and that’s that. But my granddaughter seems quite smitten with you, so what are your intentions?”
If I had false teeth, they would have fallen out during that statement. Take your pick over which part. Her opinion of Warren, her willingness to express it to me, of all people, or her audacity at asking about my intentions. I decide to leave the Warren situation well alone.
“With respect, Mrs Cooper, my relationship with Lilavati is between me and her. If there’s going to be talk about intentions, I feel that should be between us first.”
That gets a slow, silent nod—I’m hoping of approval—from her.
“What is it about Lili that attracts you?” In other circumstances, I’d be tempted to shock her and say her amazing tits. But this conversation is going better than I could have hoped, so I opt not to spoil it with my usual sass.
“She’s smart. And funny. And strong. Not to mention beautiful.”
“I’m sure you’ve noticed she also has a … shall we say acerbic … wit.” Mrs Cooper’s gaze holds mine as though she’s daring me to deny it.
I laugh. “Yes, she does. I’ve felt it more than once. Why do you think I call her Sparky? But the thing with Lilavati is, all that sass is a cover. Once you prove she can trust you and she feels safe, you see a side of her that’s, well, that’s irresistible.”
“So you’re earning her trust whilst lying to her?”
Bullseye. There’s no response to that. She’s right. I’m in the wrong.
We’re both silent for a long time. Sipping champagne and watching the rising moon sparkle on the wake behind the boat. And in that silence, I begin to realise how deep I’m in here.
Mrs Cooper clears her throat.
“You’re a smart young man. I’m sure you’ve worked out Lili’s parents don’t approve of you and they’re humouring her in the hope she’ll realise you’re not the man for her and she’ll break things off.”
“I’m aware.”
“You don’t seem too concerned.”
“The only person I’m concerned with is Lil. As long as she’s happy, I don’t much care what her parents think. Although it’s sad that they don’t prioritise her happiness over their own prejudices.”
“I’m afraid I’ve had more than a small part to play there.
I don’t know how much you know about Lili’s background, but suffice to say, when she was younger, I pushed Marion in a direction I’ve come to regret.
I’m beginning to realise marriage, especially one without real love, doesn’t necessarily make one happy.
I admit, I want to see Lili settled with a nice boy.
But more than that, I want her to be happy.
You see, even a snob of my advanced years can change her age spots.
” Grinning, she holds up a hand again, and I notice the dark spots on the back of her hand.
I’m stunned speechless. Lilavati has alluded to the fact that her grandmother pushed her mother into marrying Warren. That she’d admit as much to me is astounding. I’m not sure what to say, so I take another gulp of champagne and venture an opinion that may or may not get me shot down.
“You need to tell Lil that. She thinks she’s a disappointment.”
“Oh, no. Never that. It’s just taken me a long time to understand her, I suppose.”
“You’re right in one thing, though. She’d never admit it, but Lilavati isn’t entirely happy. She’s lonely. Or she has been up till now. She hasn’t prioritised her personal life. At all. I’m hoping to change that.”
Mrs Cooper nods. “Just as I need to tell her I’m proud of her, you need to tell her, sooner rather than later, that you’re not what you appear to be. If you’re looking to gain her trust, lying to her is not the way to go about it.”
She’s absolutely right.
“I know. I’ve just been trying to find the right time.” I go to take a sip of champagne, more to stall for time—like I have been with Lil—than because I’m thirsty, and find my glass empty.
“The right time won’t be found, young man; it will be made. And soon.” I hear the unspoken subtext. If I don’t do it, she will. And that would, without question, break Lilavati’s trust.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Marion and Warren have underestimated you, Ant. You might not be what we’d consider a nice boy, but you’re very much more than the beach bum they made you out to be.” I don’t miss the change in how she addresses me.
“Thank you. And may I say, I think Lil is a lot like you. She’s tough on the outside, but soft on the inside. And I think you are too.”
Mrs Cooper smiles sadly, pats my hand and stands.
“Don’t let that get around. This lot will be impossible to control if they think I’ve got a soft spot.”
“Fair enough.” I stand too.
“I like you, young Ant. Don’t let Marion and Warren chase you off. Lili needs someone in her corner.”
That mirrors my sentiments so closely I’m lost for words for a moment.
“I’m team Lilavati all the way, Mrs Cooper. She can rely on me.”
“Call me Grandie,” she says over her shoulder as she makes her way back inside.
Well. That didn’t go as I expected.