Page 16 of An Island Promise

‘I miss you.’ Belle snuggled back on the sofa, tucking in her feet. ‘I miss Hannah as well and my work colleagues – well, not all of them,’ she said wryly. ‘I underestimated how strange it would be being here on my own not knowing anyone. I like my new colleagues and I couldn’t ask for a better, more chilled-out boss in Caleb, but it’s not the same without friends. And, becauseIreallywant you to get good news in two weeks, it’ll mean I won’t get to see you next month either, but that will be a small price to pay for your happiness.’

10

‘Sunday is my chill-out time.’ Caleb gave Belle a shy smile as one of the bar staff handed them their drinks. ‘You’d like to join me?’ He gestured towards a cushioned love seat on the edge of Serenity’s terrace.

Belle picked up her gin, strawberry and passionfruit cocktail and followed him over. They sat in silence for a moment, taking in the dusk-streaked sky. Belle inhaled the salty breeze and the mouth-watering waft of grilled seafood, still not quite believing after more than three weeks that this was her current reality. The vibe at Serenity was different than at Spirit and both places were aptly named. While she wasn’t yet sure which she preferred, there was something incredibly special about Serenity’s location.

‘This is my go-to place for a Sunday evening nightcap,’ Caleb said, raising his bottle of beer. ‘It used to be the bar at Spirit where Cara and I would sit on the wall overlooking the sea, but here there’s, well, this.’ He gestured in front of them.

‘Peace,’ Belle said quietly. Even the chatter from the restaurant and the terrace packed with guests enjoying dinner and the view was muted, accompanied by a gentle beat, musicthat soothed rather than got the heart pumping. ‘You really miss Cara?’

‘Yeah, she’s my sounding board as much as a friend. Actually more like a sister really, with both of us living far from family. We just clicked. She’s damn good at her job too; helped me to succeed with Spirit far beyond what I hoped for.’

Belle pointed to herself. ‘Big shoes to fill.’

‘You’re doing just fine.’

‘Good to know, ’cos I’m loving it. And the way Cara’s been running things has made it easy to pick up the reins.’

‘Our social media followers have increased in the time you’ve been here – you understand how to showcase our places in the best possible way.’

‘It’s not exactly hard.’ Belle swept her hand around and gave Caleb a knowing look.

A smile flickered over his face. ‘I mean this as a compliment despite it probably not sounding like one, but my worry was your lack of experience with social media, because it’s a big part of the job as well as running the events. You were honest that it wasn’t a part of your previous job and that you don’t personally use it.’

‘For me, social media is fine when it comes to the aesthetics, showcasing and selling an idea or experience. It’s creative and inspiring when you have something beautiful to work with. What I don’t like is the intrusion into people’s lives even if it’s a personal choice. So just don’t ask me to tackle TikTok.’

‘No worries there.’ Caleb laughed. ‘We’re selling a dream, a luxury lifestyle, even if most people only get to experience it for a week or two. Slick, sophisticated and sexy is the vibe I’m after.’ He swigged his drink and clasped his hands round the bottle. ‘I also don’t mean to offend you by implying you’re unusual staying off social media.’

‘I don’t avoid it completely; personally it’s not for me, but it has its place and for events and marketing it’s necessary.’

‘A necessary evil I’m guessing…’ Caleb looked at her pointedly.

Belle shrugged. ‘When I was researching you and Spirit I noticed that you don’t exactly plaster your life over social media either. Slick and professional accounts for Spirit and Serenity, but not for yourself.’

‘Touché,’ he said smoothly.

Worried she’d overstepped the mark, she blustered on. ‘I find social media can be toxic. At least the way some people behave isn’t healthy. Even if you don’t intend to, it’s hard not to compare yourself to other people.’

‘You do understand that what most people post is a lie a lot of the time?’ Caleb shifted in the seat and rested his foot on his knee.

‘Oh, I get that but it’s hard to separate reality from fantasy, at least I found it was, particularly if you’re feeling low or vulnerable. In my first job I used it a lot, but I didn’t want it spilling over into my personal life. You know how people share everything. I didn’t want friends, or to be honest people I barely knew, to have a window into my life, even a false one.’

‘A refreshing attitude to have.’

‘I’ve seen it with my friend Gem in particular. She’s a social media queen and is big into interior design and the aesthetics of everything. But she showcases a false reality, taking photos from an angle that doesn’t include the clutter on the other side of the room.’

‘Everyone does that.’

‘Of course, but being constantly shown what’s perceived as perfection isn’t helpful.’ Belle was acutely aware of what a snapshot of this moment would look like, her and Caleb looking snug together, with a backdrop of the golden-red light of sunset and the unrealistic impression it would give. ‘If you only knew Gem through what she posts on Instagram you would see aglamorous mum of two, in control with perfectly behaved kids, a house to die for; you’d think her life was perfect.’

‘When I’m guessing it’s not.’

‘Not that she’d ever admit it, but it’s impossible for her to hide the reality from her friends who know her well. Although as time goes by I feel like I understand her less and less.’

‘And you don’t want to post on social media because your life isn’t perfect either?’ Caleb asked slowly.

‘Is anyone’s? Honestly, who can hold their hands up and say they wouldn’t want to change something?’

---