Page 32 of Journey to You

The kids frowned in unison and she shrugged in apology, intent on smoothing her side of the castle, wishing she could smooth over her gaff with Ethan as easily.

She’d picked a fine time to rediscover her assertiveness and while it had felt great standing up for herself and verbalising exactly how she felt, she’d chosen the wrong place, the wrong time, the wrong man.

He hadn’t deserved her outpouring of anger any more than she’d deserved any of Richard’s callous putdowns.

Shame she wouldn’t get the chance to tell Ethan, because she was under no illusions that once they returned to Melbourne he’d move onto his next challenge, relegating her to…friend?

Considering they hadn’t been anything remotely resembling friends before this trip, she should be grateful. Instead, she couldn’t help but wish she’d had a chance to rediscover another part of her identity: that of a desirable woman with needs.

Dusting off her hands, she stood, surveying their creation. The kids imitated her and she pointed at the lopsided castle and applauded, charmed by their guileless giggles and high-fives.

Everything was so simple for these kids: they had little, lived by the sea in makeshift shanties, shared a room with many siblings, had few toys, yet were happier than any kid she’d seen rollerblading or skate-boarding in Melbourne.

Another lesson to be learned: keep things simple. She had once, content to curl up with a good romance novel, soft jazz in the background, a bowl of popcorn. Living the high-life, living a lie, with Richard had changed all that but it was time to get back to the basics. Her few days in Goa had taught her that if nothing else.

Waving goodbye to the kids, she set off for the shade of a nearby tree before throwing down her towel, smoothing it out, and laying down, watching a couple stroll hand in hand along the beach.

She wanted to warn them the first flush of love didn’t last, that it soured and faded no matter how committed the other person.

She wanted to caution the beautiful young woman against giving too much of herself in the name of love, wanted to alert her against loving too much to the point you risked losing yourself.

She wanted to rant at the injustice of being a loyal, loving wife, only to have it flung back in her face in the form of a six foot, Dutch, ex-model with legs up to her neck and a dazzling smile.

But she didn’t do any of that.

Instead, Tamara slapped on her sun hat, flipped open her book, and buried her nose in it. A much safer pastime than scaring young lovers and wasting time wishing she could change the past.

Fourteen

Ethan had enough business meetings to keep him busy for the next month.

This trip had been a success: he’d secured the chef he wanted and had put out feelers for a new flagship restaurant in Mumbai. He’d flown the length and breadth of India over the last two days, from Delhi to Mumbai to Chennai.

However, as he sat in the plush surrounds of the International Hotel in Chennai, he couldn’t concentrate on business. Thoughts of Tam consumed him, as they had since she’d walked away from him in New Delhi.

He’d reached for his phone numerous times, desperate to call her, to see how she was doing, to simply hear her voice. But he’d stopped each time, all too aware calling her would prove what he’d suspected for a while now; his legendary control had slipped.

During their journey on the Palace of Wheels, he’d dreamed of surprising her in Goa, of spending a leisurely week getting to know each other.

So much for that dream.

“Ethan, my boy, good to see you.”

Dilip Kumar, his Indian representative in business matters, appeared out of nowhere and slapped him on the back as he stood. “This is Sunil Bachnan, the investor we discussed on the phone last week.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Ethan shook Sunil’s hand, a giant of a man with a rounded belly protruding over his trousers, testament to a lifetime’s worth ofchappatisanddosa, the crispy rice pancakes filled with spicy potato he’d become addicted to.

“Likewise. I hear you’re looking to open a restaurant here?”

Ethan nodded and resumed his seat along with the other men, grateful to be back doing what he knew best. Business. This, he could manage. Unlike the rest of his life, which had spiralled dangerously out of control since he’d landed in this mystical country.

“Actually, I was thinking Mumbai would be the perfect city for my next restaurant. The growth there is staggering.”

Sunil gestured to a waiter for menus, and nodded. “The entire country is an economic boom. Pick a city, any city, and your famousAmbrosiawill do big business.” Patting his ample gut, he chortled. “We love our food here in India.”

“You and me, both.”

Though his appetite had vanished the last few days, a shame considering the array of amazing food on offer everywhere he went. For a guy who made his life out of food, he’d landed smack-bang in foodie paradise.

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