Page 79 of An Island in the Sun

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Tabitha was heartbroken to say goodbye to Bailey, Fudge and Misty. The dogs knew something was up as she dragged her luggage outside before crouching down to give them one last stroke and tickle beneath their chins.

Cordelia and Rufus came out with her, shutting the dogs safely inside. Julie was waiting in her car on the lane.

Tabitha turned to Rufus and Cordelia. ‘I don’t quite know what to say. I guess sorry and thank you seem appropriate.’

Cordelia nodded. ‘This pet sit will certainly be a memorable one for you.’

You don’t know the half of it, Tabitha thought.

The coldness from last night had gone from Cordelia’s voice. She looked smaller somehow, washed out, the events of the past few days having taken their toll. It certainly wasn’t how Tabitha had imagined her time on Madeira would end, but at least the animosity had gone. The smile Cordelia gave as they shook hands seemed genuine.

Rufus clamped his hand on Tabitha’s shoulder. He looked far more refreshed than his wife did, having had a restful night while missing out on all the commotion. ‘You take care and have a safe flight.’

‘I will, thank you.’ She glanced down at Bailey and Fudge sitting by the window, their big eyes looking at her lovingly. She swallowed back the lump in her throat; this was the worst part, leaving the pets, yet here her emotions were amplified more than anywhere else she’d been.

She adjusted the guitar strap where it was digging into her shoulder and, with one last glance at the dogs, she walked across the driveway, giving Cordelia and Rufus a wave just as a taxi pulled up outside the gate. For a second, she thought it had been booked by mistake until a door opened and a tall figure emerged.

Tabitha squinted in the mid-morning sun. ‘Raff?’

Hoisting his rucksack on his back, he opened the gate and strode towards her, a determined look on his face.

A mix of surprise and joy twisted through her. ‘What are you doing back?’

‘I made a mistake walking out yesterday the way I did,’ he said as he reached her, his blue eyes focused on her and only her, ignoring his parents hovering by the front door. ‘It wasn’t fair on you. However much I don’t want to face up to things and have a difficult conversation with my parents, it was completely wrong to let you deal with them on your own.’

As they stood together in the blissful September heat, a flood of warmth seeped through her. ‘To be fair, after a shaky start and a bit of a thing at Julie’s last night with your mum, they’ve been really decent. It’s you they want to bollock.’ She allowed herself a slight smile. ‘But they were also devastated that you weren’t here. Whatever’s happened in the past, it’s not too late for you all to make amends.’

‘I kinda realised that when I got to Funchal. I was killing time, trying to get my head straight and couldn’t figure out what the hell to do, but I knew I couldn’t leave, so I didn’t get on the plane. You were totally right; I do need to talk my shit through with them. They need to hear me out and perhaps it’s about time I gave them a chance to explain their side of things. I’ve made assumptions for years, driven by anger, and they’ve only ever seen a side to me that they don’t like – a side that, to be honest, I don’t like either. It’s no wonder they’ve thought badly of me. You faced up to Ollie and had a difficult conversation, I figured why the hell can’t I.’

‘I’m glad you’re doing this.’

‘And I’m glad you told them.’ Raff’s cheeks clenched as if he was fighting his emotions. ‘You’re leaving now?’

Tabitha swallowed back tears and nodded. Despite how hard it was to walk away from him, she felt better knowing that he had the chance to make peace with his parents and begin to heal his long held hurt.

‘Where are you headed?’

‘Um, Funchal. To see Ollie. He, er, wants us to write and possibly tour together.’

Raff frowned. ‘I thought you were planning on going to Lisbon and then your sister’s?’

‘That’s what I thought too.’ She shrugged and held his gaze. ‘Things never work out quite the way I hope.’ She glanced away from him. ‘I don’t know. I have lots to think about and decisions to make.’

Raff glanced towards the villa. Cordelia and Rufus were standing on the shadowed porch together, their arms around each other’s waists, waiting and watching.

Raff turned back to Tabitha, closed the distance between them and took her in his arms. She remained rigid for a moment, her hand clamped on the suitcase handle, before she melted into him, sliding her arms around his waist, not wanting to let go. He kissed her deeply and she kissed him back, not caring that his parents were watching, Julie too from the car.

He pulled away, his eyes damp.

‘You understand Ollie wants more than just to write with you.’ His jaw clenched, his eyes steely as if trying to stop his own emotions from wavering.

Tabitha sighed. ‘That’s really not the case.’

‘You’ll see I’m right.’ His eyes roved across her face. ‘But you need to do whatever makes you happy.’

Tabitha swallowed and placed a hand on his chest. ‘Go make peace with your parents. And, um, perhaps I’ll see you around.’ She echoed the words she’d uttered with anger the day before, but she meant them this time, desperately hoping that this wouldn’t be the last time they’d see each other.

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