Page 6 of An Island in the Sun

A taxi was waiting and, while the driver loaded the suitcases and Rufus and Cordelia got in with a wave, Tabitha bristled with excitement at her returning freedom. She understood how difficult it must be to entrust their house and beloved pets to a stranger, but she hoped she’d put them at ease. She was certain that they would return to happy pets and a well-looked after home.

Tabitha watched the taxi until it was out of sight. Silence. She breathed easy. She closed the gate – one of the many clear instructions from Cordelia – and turned back to the house. Bailey and Fudge were sitting patiently looking out of the front door’s glass panel. Tabitha was looking forward to having their company for the next three weeks.

* * *

After finishing the unpacking from the night before, Tabitha wandered down the sloping lawn with a coffee. The garden was bathed in sunshine and the peace was absolute. The ocean view was framed by palm trees and the only sound besides birdsong was the hush of the breeze through the trees.

It was quite easy to lose track of time while house sitting. The routine of her day changed depending on the country she was in and the animals she was looking after. Generally it didn’t matter what day it was, unless she had a Zoom call planned. Each change of location usually meant she had to take a couple of days off – easy enough to do when she was freelance and able to organise her own schedule – plus the change of scene and inspiration was worth it. She had no doubt that it would be the same here.

After a refreshing swim in the pool and updating her social media – a selfie with the tropical garden and the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop – Tabitha planned out her work for the following week, messaged friends, posted the selfie in the Callahan family group chat and phoned her parents in Devon before grabbing an early lunch.

At least being on Madeira there was no time difference with the UK, but a Friday afternoon for Elspeth with two young children to look after was not a good time to call, so Tabitha went shopping in the local village to stock up on the few extra things she needed. She took the dogs for a walk before making a simple dinner of tuna salad and curling up on the sofa with the bifold doors wide open, Bailey lying on the rug and Fudge curled up next to her. A sense of utter contentment swept through her as she stroked Fudge and gazed out past the pool to the birds fluttering between the trees.

She called Elspeth and, as the phone rang, Tabitha couldn’t help but compare the peace and ease of her current life with the madness of Elspeth and her husband juggling two young children alongside a relatively new business.

‘Hey, there.’ Elspeth sounded flustered as she answered.

‘Is now a good time?’

‘Yes, the girls are finally in bed,’ she said with a sigh. Tabitha imagined her flopping down on the sofa.

‘They’ve been difficult?’

‘It’s the end of a long week, and Nancy, well, let’s just say three can be the most adorable age, but three-year-olds can be right little shits too. Pardon my French.’

‘I hope you’re having a large glass of wine tonight.’

‘Already poured.’ Tabitha could hear the smile in Elspeth’s voice. ‘Now, tell me what blissful place you’re staying in this time.’

Tabitha described the villa and its location, trying not to lay it on too thick about how luxurious and perfect it was with its pool and ocean view. Not that Elspeth’s life wasn’t idyllic too. They lived in the foothills of the Brecon Beacons running a glamping retreat for eight months of the year. Although a new business venture and lifestyle move from chaotic Camberwell to the Welsh countryside hadn’t been easy with young children, the girls now had wildflower meadows to run wild in, fresh air and space. They also had stability and a permanent home.

Tabitha tuned back into what her sister was saying.

‘What are the pets like this time?’

‘The two Cavaliers are just scrumptious; the cat’s shy but has her moments of being friendly and lovable.’

‘I’m trying my hardest not to be jealous…’

‘Fudge is with me now. He’s been following me around like a shadow.’ She took her hand away to scratch her knee and Fudge batted it back with his paw. ‘Bless him, every time I stop stroking him he whacks my hand.’

‘Getting a dog is all the girls talk about at the moment. They’re always asking “why can’t we look after dogs like Auntie Tabitha?”’

‘Sorry.’

‘Ah, don’t be. If it wasn’t tantrums about not getting a dog, it would be a tantrum about something else. It’s never ending.’ She sighed.

‘Hey, are you sure you’re okay?’

‘Just tired, that’s all. Secretly I want a dog as much as them, Gethin too. This place is perfect for one, but the girls need to be a little bit older to appreciate it and to understand they take up a lot of time and can be hard work. With the glamping being so new, plus the first wedding in two weeks in the barn we’ve not yet finished, well, there’s too much going on to add a dog into the mix.’

‘You can always do a pet sit. Before you say anything,’ Tabitha rushed on, imagining her sister rolling her eyes, ‘I don’t mean travelling all over the place like I do, just combining a holiday while looking after someone’s house and pet. There are loads of sits in the UK. I’m sure you’d find something.’

‘Perhaps, but I’m worried that would fuel their desire even more. I’m fed up of them asking and having to say no. So, for the time being, we’ll continue to enjoy the pics you send of the animals you’re looking after. Talking of which, I’m losing track of where you’ve been and where you’re going next.’

‘I’m here until 26 September, then I might stay in Lisbon for a few days. After that, I’m not sure. I love moving around, but after a summer of travelling loads, it’s nice to be in one place for a bit.’

‘And you’re on Madeira too…’ There was a pause. Tabitha pre-empted Elspeth’s next question, but didn’t try and interject. ‘Are you going to see Ollie while you’re there?’

---