Page 9 of Another Lucky Number

‘So, where to?’ Cat asks, while we wander through the luscious resort gardens and circle the enormous lagoon-style swimming pool which is glowing invitingly. ‘Cocktail bar? Beach bar? Bed?’

‘Bed?Are you freakin’ kidding me?’ Amber shoots Cat a judgy look. ‘We’re on holiday, grandma.’

‘I was offeringa rangeof suggestions.’

‘Let’s go to the resort club. They’ve got a throwback night on.’

Cat’s face falls. It’s clear that she would have been quite happy to turn in for the evening.

‘Why don’t we leave that for another night, Amber?’ I say. ‘Thanks to you, I’ve had enough excitement for one day. What about the wine bar? We haven’t tried that yet.’

‘Ooh, great idea,’ says Cat.

‘Amber? You up for that?’ I nudge her with my elbow.

‘Suppose,’ she huffs.

‘We’ll go to the club another night, I promise.’ I slide my arm around her shoulders and she shrugs me off as she always does, not one for shows of affection.

We head along the pathway in the direction of the wine bar, eventually reaching a building that has the appearance of being an enormous rock. There’s a metal sign above the entrance introducing it asThe Cave. We walk inside and find ourselves in a small reception area where we’re greeted by a young hostess.

‘Good evening, ladies. Have you made a booking this evening?’

‘No, did we need to?’ says Cat.

‘Not at all.’ The hostess smiles warmly at us. ‘But some of our guests prefer to do so to specify their table. Is it a table for three, or do you have others joining you? And would you like to sit inside or outside?’

‘It’s just us,’ I say. ‘And outside if possible.’

‘Follow me, please,’ she says.

We traipse behind her through the bar to an outdoor terrace, which is more secluded and intimate than the terrace of the cocktail bar. It has high tables, pretty feature lighting and a faux canopy roof that creates the cave-like ambience. Light jazz music floats seductively through the air at a low volume, and little more than twenty or so feet away from us, cloaked in darkness, is the vast, calm sea.

‘Ooh, I love the twinkling lights,’ I say, marvelling at our surroundings. ‘And it really is cave-like, even though we’re outside. Genius.’

We thank the hostess, who melts into the background and another staff member takes over.

‘Welcome to The Cave.’ The man hands us each a drinks menu while we make ourselvescomfortable. ‘Please take your time and I will return for your order soon.’

After some toing and froing, we order a bottle of champagne and a dish of fresh chocolate-dipped fruit, which Cat claims is necessary because we didn’t have dessert earlier.

‘Look.’ My attention is suddenly drawn to another feature of our environment. ‘There are even those rock formations you find in real caves. The ones that point up and down. What do you call them again… salamites and salactites?’

Amber makes a face. ‘Stalagmitesandstalactites, dipshit. Think you need to go back to school and re-learn the basics.’

There’s a stifled chuckle from the table behind me. I glance round self-consciously, but I can’t make out much more than the silhouette of a man sitting alone at a candlelit table.

‘Yeah, well, I think being able to pronounce the words of rock formations is less important than being able to read a room, Miss Mosher,’ I throw back.

Before Amber can retaliate, the waiter reappears with our champagne and discreetly releases the cork from the bottle. We watch silently, almost spellbound, as he pours us each a glass.

‘Enjoy yourself, ladies. I will check with you again shortly to see if you need anything.’

We thank him and he places the bottle in the chiller and disappears.

Enchanted by our surroundings, we silently clink glasses. It’s a moment that needs no words; only to immerse ourselves in the experience. But, as ever, the silence doesn’t last long.

‘So…’ Amber fixes her gaze on me, her face almost ominous in the half-light. ‘Any more thoughts about what’s next for you, Emma? Your choice of career is only one part of it.’

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