Page 82 of An Island in the Sun

The girls’ chatter was at a hundred miles an hour as they led her towards the cottage.

Gethin stood in the doorway, an amused smile on his face as Olivia and Nancy clung to her, squealing and laughing. ‘Leave the luggage,’ Gethin said in his lilting Welsh accent. ‘I’ll bring it in in a bit. Dinner’s ready and the girls arestarving.’ He raised his eyebrows and hugged Tabitha. ‘They’ve only told me a million times already.’

As they tucked into Gethin’s homemade chilli con carne, the laughter and love flying around the kitchen table was effortless. Although she’d often felt like an outsider, even around her own family, Tabitha couldn’t help but be drawn into their undiluted happiness. Her nieces’ chatter was joyous, with Olivia talking about school – lots of which she hadn’t even told her mum and dad – while Nancy explained in great detail about the bug hotel she was building in the garden.

Tabitha was aware that everything in Elspeth and Gethin’s life wasn’t as perfect as it seemed on the outside; there had been plenty of tears and stress over the years, from Elspeth’s heartache at not being able to get pregnant, their joy of finally conceiving, followed by their surprise at getting pregnant with Nancy not long after having Olivia, to the hard work of recent years moving to Wales and building their glamping business while raising two young children. They’d argued, they’d made up, then argued some more while getting the Hideaway up and running, and yet their love for each other had seen them through the highs and lows. Ultimately, what Elspeth and Gethin had was what Tabitha strived for. Was a love like that written in the stars? For her, she hoped so,

After dinner, and before it got dark, Olivia and Nancy gave her a tour of the Hideaway. Elspeth came with them, hooking her arm in Tabitha’s as they walked away from the cottage along a grassy path. The girls ran ahead in their wellies, skirts and jumpers, their wavy hair flying behind them.

Despite Olivia’s and Nancy’s giggles and chatter, Tabitha couldn’t help but notice the peace and stillness as they strolled in the cool of the September evening, with just the coo coo of a woodpigeon hidden in the trees. Tabitha imagined the wildflower meadows would be stunning in spring, but in early autumn and with a breeze billowing across the landscape, the long grass rippled green in the silvery light of dusk. Woodland clustered at the edges, while the view to the Black Mountains was uninterrupted, the blue-grey sky still bright on the horizon, pale sunlight just reaching the mountaintops. After all the vistas she’d seen on her travels, this was as idyllic as any.

The girls chatted together, yet Elspeth allowed Tabitha to soak up the beauty of their surroundings in peace, only occasionally breaking the quiet to point out the barn and the glamping places tucked away in their own private areas, each with their own hot tub, firepit and veranda that made the most of the view.

‘The woodland cabin will be free from next week,’ Elspeth said as they neared a wood-clad building half hidden in a clearing beyond the trees. It reminded Tabitha a little of the garden office in Madeira. ‘I’ve booked it out for you so you have somewhere private to stay and work.’

Tabitha squeezed her sister’s arm tighter, overwhelmed by the sense of peace and love flooding through her. The endless space was soothing and it felt a little like home after moving from housesit to housesit for months on end. She’d absolutely made the right decision saying no to Ollie, of that she was sure, yet she couldn’t help but think just how much she’d like to share this place with Raff.

A bat, dark against the clear midnight-blue sky, flew between the shadowed trees as they started to head back. Pools of light from the treehouse, the woodland cabin and the streamside lodge pierced the dusk, and although there were other people staying, it didn’t feel as if there was anyone else for miles.

When it got dark, they retreated into the warmth of the cottage and Tabitha helped Elspeth get the girls to bed. They crashed on the sofa in the snug with Gethin for an hour, drinking wine and chatting effortlessly, as they always did.

It was later, when she was alone in bed in the spare room, exhausted after a long day travelling and the emotion of being enveloped in the love of her family, that Tabitha messaged Raff. Even here, miles from Madeira and in a place that she knew for the time being was right for her, he still consumed her thoughts and her heart ached. She didn’t want to let the silence between them grow, so she decided to reach out.

Hey there, you were right about Ollie. He definitely thought about that kiss differently than I did. Decided not to stay and headed to my sister’s in Wales instead. Hope things have gone okay with your parents. Miss you. Tabs, xx

She spent twenty minutes reading, rewriting, then rereading the message, deleting ‘miss you’ three or four times before she got the courage to leave it in. After all, that was honestly how she felt and she wanted him to know that.

Of course she hoped for a reply, but after hearing nothing back despite him having seen the message, she realised whatever it was they’d had on Madeira was over. Pushing her upset away, she allowed herself to be swept up in family life. With Olivia at school and Elspeth and Gethin juggling looking after Nancy, the glampers, the acres of woodland and meadows during the day, Tabitha took the opportunity to work. The late afternoon and early evenings were spent playing with the girls, exploring the woods and building dams in the stream before dinner and adult conversation took over once the girls were asleep.

It was a few days later, early on the Sunday evening as Tabitha had popped up to her room to charge her laptop, when a message pinged on to her phone.

Her heart skipped when she realised it was from Raff.

Hey, don’t suppose you fancy some pastéis de maracuja? I remember how much you like them…

Tabitha stared at the message, confusion crawling through her, while her heart fluttered at the crazy thought of what she hoped it meant. She held the phone in her lap, debating how to respond when she heard muffled voices downstairs and a door slam shut.

Footsteps clattered up the stairs and Elspeth appeared in the doorway out of breath.

‘You have a visitor,’ she said as the biggest grin spread across her face. ‘And he’s even hotter in real life.’

EPILOGUE

EIGHT MONTHS LATER

Porto glittered in the sunshine with the wide meandering river flowing to the ocean, its northern bank lined with restaurants and cafes, while on the other side of the Douro, the port houses clustered. Tabitha sat at an outside table in Ribeira Square, her hands clasped around a coffee, relishing a peaceful start to the spring day. Behind her, the stone buildings with their wrought-iron balconies and walls painted either a red wine, peach or lavender colour led deeper into the old town. It was a myriad of winding lanes and beautiful old buildings, many with crumbling plasterwork, looming over narrow streets.

This spot, with its uninterrupted view to the river, had fast become her favourite during the two-week pet sit looking after a friendly tortoiseshell cat. From her table, she could see the Dom Luís I Bridge spanning the wide river to the cream, white and grey buildings on the south bank. Interspersed with pockets of trees and washed by watery sunlight, they studded the hillside. Tabitha sipped her coffee with a satisfied smile.

A tall figure striding along the wide riverside pavement caught her eye, pulling her attention from the view. Catching sight of Raff walking towards her always reminded her of their first shock meeting nearly nine months before. So much had changed since then, but her heart still skipped when she laid eyes on him, although for different reasons now.

‘Morning.’ Raff leaned down and kissed her. He settled himself opposite and ran a hand through his hair. He looked as if he hadn’t long been awake and was deliciously sexy with it.

‘You saw my note then.’ Tabitha smiled.

‘Sorry, yeah, I was dead to the world this morning.’

‘You managed to meet your deadline?’

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