Page 59 of An Island in the Sun

Raff’s words filled her with joy, because he was right. However much it had hurt at the time, she hadn’t needed Ollie. She’d carved a career in a difficult and often cut-throat industry through hard work, perseverance and talent, without stomping on anyone else. She could hold her head high and be proud of what she’d achieved.

Raff took the dogs out for a walk later in the cool of the evening, just as the sun was beginning to descend, and Tabitha took the opportunity to call Elspeth.

The phone rang for ages before Elspeth answered with a tired, ‘Hey, I was just about to call you.’

‘You sound exhausted,’ Tabitha said, curling her legs beneath her on the sofa. This was her favourite spot at this time of the day, sitting on the comfy sofa with the doors open, looking out at the garden which was bathed in the golden light of dusk, the ocean sparkling, the sun beginning to pool onto the horizon.

‘I am.’ Elspeth sighed. ‘Even with Mum and Dad here, there’s been a ridiculous amount to do, plus Olivia has been so clingy and will only let me put her to bed. It’s been hard. I think she’s worried about being at school all day next week – it’s a long time for a four-year-old. Plus tiredness and excitement with Granny and Grandad being here and her birthday coming up is not the best combination. Anyway, enough about me, for the first time this week Olivia has actually gone to sleep without too much fuss, Mum and Dad are making dinner and Gethin’s still out in the barn ensuring everything is 100 per cent ready for tomorrow. I’ve poured myself a large glass of much-needed wine and want to hear how the party went with OllieandRaff. You’re one lucky, lucky lady.’

‘Ollie and I, as you well know, are just friends.’

‘Did you talk more?’

‘Yeah,’ Tabitha said, smoothing out a crease in her maxi skirt. ‘As much as you can talk to anyone in a club while drunk. But yeah, we cleared the air; we’re talking again.’ Elspeth made encouraging ‘uh-huh’ sounds, allowing her to continue. ‘So much has changed for both of us. His fame is off the scale – it’s nothing like I’ve ever experienced. We can never recapture the friendship we once had, but I think I’m okay with that.’

‘The main thing is you’ve reconnected – you must feel better not having the weirdness hanging over you any longer? I know you’ve struggled with it.’

‘Yes, that’s true. It wasn’t healthy to hold on to so much anger for so long.’

‘No, it wasn’t, although understandable. As Olivia would tell you – or rather Elsa – let it go… Talking about letting go, what do you think about Ollie and his girlfriend splitting up?’

Tabitha frowned. ‘What do you mean? He told me they were separated but keeping it quiet.’

‘Well, it’s all over social media this evening, so definitely not a secret any more.’

Tabitha swallowed the fluttering feeling in her throat as she thought back to the note that had arrived with the flowers from Ollie, along with Raff’s comment about Ollie wanting to be more than just friends. That was the last thing she wanted to focus on, so she decided not to comment. The warm embrace of her family, even this far away, was what felt important.

‘I tell you what I am thinking about – as long as you’re sure it’s still okay for me to come and stay with you in October, then I—’

‘Yes!’ Elspeth practically screamed down the phone. ‘I couldn’t think of anything better. We’d love to see you. So you’re actually saying you’re going to come here after Madeira?’

‘It’ll depend on a few things as I was planning on staying in Lisbon for a bit, but I miss you guys.’

‘We miss you too, Tabs, but I expect you’re going to miss Madeira as well, or rather a certain someone.’ She chuckled. ‘So you made up with Ollie at the party, please tell me you made out with Raff?’

Not that time, Tabitha thought, her mind drifting to that first drunken night. ‘No, we didn’t, but we did have a good evening together. We talked loads. He was good company and confident, totally fine about going off and chatting to other people, relaxed and up for a good time. The perfect person to go to a party with.’

‘So, the opposite of Lewis then…’

‘That’s not exactly fair, E.’

‘No, I know. I’m sorry. It’s not that he wasn’t fun, it’s just he held you back. It happened slowly over time so it wasn’t obvious. Hindsight helps, doesn’t it?’

‘It certainly does.’ Tabitha stared wistfully out at the garden, the edges tinged with darkness. The remnants of the sun had sunk below the hedge and only a wash of burnt orange and fiery red remained.

‘So, you had a good night and the two of you went back to the villa and…’

‘And I told him he could stay in the guest room. It was crazy him sleeping out in the office.’

‘Huh, in the guest room. And the owners are still unaware of him being there?’

‘Yep, and I plan to keep it that way.’ Even after yesterday’s events with the cleaner. ‘Although I feel guilty, because I’m betraying their trust…’

‘It’s a difficult one, particularly if they discover he’s been there and you haven’t said anything…’ Elspeth trailed off. ‘Sorry, I know you’re worried. But what’s worse? Being upfront and telling them the truth or them finding out that you lied to them?’

‘I know you’re right. It’s just Raff…’

‘Like I said, a dilemma. Sorry I can’t be more help. But, talking about Raff, what have you two been doing since you invited him to stay in the house?’ Her words were loaded. Tabitha imagined her curled up in an armchair with her glass of wine, anticipating Tabitha divulging juicy gossip.

---