It was in these moments that she felt most alive, most present, as if the world had shrunk to a pinprick of light while she and Alex floated freely amongst the stars, entwined and in tune, as nature had intended all along. He’d left her, but he’d come back; had overcome his instinct to hide the parts of himself he found lacking and instead share them with her. That was enough for now; the rest of her questions could wait for another day.
‘Shall we go to the boat?’ she whispered, but as Alex let go of her, his phone rang.
‘It’s Bram Van Dijk,’ he said.
‘Ignore it?’ she suggested hopefully.
Alex picked up her hand and kissed it. ‘I’d better see what he wants.’
After exchanging pleasantries, however, he passed the ancient Nokia to Kate. ‘He wants to talk to you.’
‘Hello?’ she said, rather cautiously.
‘Katy! Are you well? It is Bram Van Dijk.’
‘I’m fine, thanks. How are y—’
‘Good, good. So, I’m having a look at your Instagram and I’m impressed. Alex showed it to me because the other guy I hired . . . well, we’re not seeing eye to eye.’
‘Oh . . .’ Kate looked at Alex and pulled a ‘what the hell?’ face, to which he grinned and made a show of lifting his shoulders.
‘You have some ideas for interior of my hotel, yes?’
‘Well, I—’
‘Good. In that case, you must show me. How soon can you come to Brač?’
‘I’ve a week or so left on a project here in Hvar, but once that’s complete, I could get the boat across and—’
‘Good. Send me a message and I’ll make some time. Thank you, Katy.’
‘It’s Kate.’
‘Kate. OK. Goodbye.’
‘Er, bye – and thank you,’ she garbled, but Bram Van Dijk had already hung up.
‘Blooming heck,’ she breathed, giving the phone back to Alex. ‘He wants me to show him some design ideas for the hotel.’
‘Is that right? Well, that is good news.’
‘You did this,’ she exclaimed delightedly. ‘He said you showed him my Instagram.’
‘I may have reminded him about it, but you’re the one who impressed him.’
‘A whole hotel,’ she said, wonderment rapidly turning to trepidation. ‘I don’t know if I have what it takes to work on a place as huge as that – what if it’s too much?’
‘If you don’t try, you’ll never know,’ he said. ‘And you don’t strike me as the quitting sort.’
‘No, usually I’m more of the “gets sacked a lot from jobs” sort.’
Alex gave her a look that was more affectionate than stern.
‘Do you really believe I can do this? Like, really?’
Alex pulled her towards him, his lips seeking hers. ‘What I believe in,’ he said, ‘is you.’
Chapter 45
‘Does this mean you’ll be staying past the summer?’
Kate was relieved to note that her brother was not horrified by the prospect. Both he and Filippo were beaming at her with undisguised pride.
‘I guess so,’ she said. ‘Although if you’re sick of me taking up the room, I can move?’
‘I imagine this Van Dijk bloke will offer you space at the hotel once the work starts,’ said Toby, bending to help himself to a bottle of Ožujsko from the Tiki Bar fridge. ‘Although it goes without saying that you’re welcome to stay here for as long as you like.’
‘Thanks,’ Kate replied. ‘But I really should start paying rent or something.’
‘Silenzio, bambina,’ chided Filippo, folding himself onto the stool next to hers. ‘We are the ones who should be paying you after everything you have done for us and this place.’
‘I still can’t believe it,’ Kate said. ‘A whole hotel. I’ve got so much research to do.’
There was a lot to consider, she knew, mostly boring tax-related and visa issues, but for tonight at least, all this would have to wait. Alex had kissed her lingeringly when she left him down by the water with a promise that she’d be back as soon as she’d washed off that day’s paint splatters. He was going to take her out on his boat so they could enjoy an uninterrupted view of the sunset, after which Kate was planning to drag him into the cabin so she could indulge in an uninterrupted view of his beautiful naked body. The thought alone was enough to make her smile.
‘I think we should open a bottle of the good stuff to celebrate,’ said Toby, who had made short work of his beer.
Filippo applauded with a ‘bravo’.
‘Put one on ice for me,’ she said, hopping off her stool just as Siva stalked menacingly along the bar top. ‘I need a shower.’
Once downstairs, she set about beautifying herself, washing and blow-drying her hair, rubbing in scented body lotion and applying a subtle-yet-flattering amount of make-up. Alex would not care whether she turned up in a ballgown or a bin liner, but she wanted to make an effort for herself as much as him, and so carefully chose a floor-length olive-green dress that gathered favourably around her waist and selected a pair of plain gold hoop earrings.
‘Swit-swoo,’ whistled Toby, as Filippo lifted a snarling Siva off Kate’s seat. ‘I was about to send out a search party,’ he added. ‘The champagne has been on ice so long that it’s basically a slushy.’
‘I haven’t got long,’ she said, glancing up at a sky that was already powder pink. ‘I . . . er, thought I’d go down to the water to watch the sunset.’
Toby and Filippo exchanged a glance, but neither said anything.
It was quiet up on the roof terrace, with only a few guests milling around sipping Toby’s floor-stripper cocktails, and Kate let out a sigh of contentment as she sat down. Feeling her phone vibrate inside her bag, she extracted it expecting to see a teasing summons from Alex, but it was a message from Robyn.
Can you talk?
Short, sharp and perplexing. Kate pressed call.
‘I did a bad thing,’ was how Robyn answered.
Kate tutted good-naturedly. ‘You haven’t gone back on Tinder, have you?’
‘I wish. No, this is something way worse.’
Her friend had not so much as sniggered; whatever this was, it must be serious. Kate accepted a flute of champagne from Toby and watched the tiny bubbles scurrying up to the surface.
‘What could be worse than Tinder? Did you sign up for Uniform Dating dot com?’
‘I saw James.’
Kate lowered her glass. ‘And?’
‘It was weird actually, almost as if he was waiting for me. I left my patient – you know, the one who lives down the road from your old house – and there he was, just standing by my car.’
‘I spoke to him a few days ago,’ said Kate. ‘He called me demanding to know where I was, saying he wanted to see me. Sorry,’ she added, when Robyn said nothing. ‘I should have thought to warn you that he’d be on the warpath. He got nowhere with my mum and you’re the obvious second choice.’
‘He didn’t even mention that he’d seen your folks,’ said a mystified Robyn. ‘He made out that him being there was pure coincidence, which threw me, and then he started asking after my family and stuff, which threw me even more. I mean, he’s never been the most solicitous man, has he? But suddenly, it was all, “How’s your mum been since her hip op?” and, “Your hair looks nice like that – have you have it cut?”. Mental.’
‘I don’t see how any of this is particularly bad,’ said Kate, who was itching to finish her drink and get going. ‘As long as you didn’t discuss me.’
There was silence at the other end of the line.
‘Robyn?’
‘Yes?’
‘You didn’t tell him where I am, did you?’
‘I’m so sorry, Kate – he pulled some sort of Jedi mind trick on me with all the flattery. He even said he was happy that you were doing so well, and so I agreed naturally, and told him how proud I was of you for finally working out what it was you were good at, and how you were making a real go of it and
getting hired for interior design jobs. He didn’t so much as flinch, so I assumed he knew. And then he complimented me on my tan and asked how hot it had been over in Spain, so I laughed and corrected him. Now, I realise the devious little toad was fishing for information.’
Toby was waving a slow hand in front of Kate’s face. ‘Nims . . .’
‘In a minute. When did this conversation take place, Robyn – how long ago?’
‘A few days – the morning after I got back.’
Kate imagined her best friend cringing with regret.
‘I should have told you sooner, but I was worried that you’d be cross.’
‘I’m not cross. He was bound to find out where I am sooner or later and—’
‘Nims—’
‘In a minute.’
‘No, Kate, seriously.’ Toby reached over the bar and put his hands on her shoulders, turning her slowly around until she could see who was standing on the opposite side of the terrace.
Assuming that her friend’s sudden silence was due to delayed annoyance, Robyn began to prattle out apologies in earnest, but Kate barely heard them. A long moment passed during which none of them said anything. Siva, picking up on the tension, let out a low hiss from her position on Filippo’s lap.
‘Kate?’ Robyn sounded upset. ‘Are you still there?’
‘Yes,’ Kate told her, watching as if in slow motion as the new arrival lifted an uncertain hand of greeting. James looked different; his face was fuller as if he’d gained weight, and there were untidy tufts of blond stubble on his cheeks. No matter how hard she stared at him, Kate could not fathom the fact that he was here, the man she knew so well yet not at all. He’d become a stranger in the time she’d been away, a player in the game of her former life and now an unwelcome pawn in the new one.
‘I’m still here,’ she said, cradling the phone as James began to make his way towards her. ‘And I’m not the only one.’
Chapter 46
There was music playing on the terrace, but Kate barely heard it. The faces of the guests had become little more than a blur. She couldn’t feel the warmth of the early evening sun or smell the smoke wafting over from the barbecue. All she was aware of was James.
What was he doing here? How could this be happening?
When he got within a few feet of the bar, James raised his hands as if to embrace her only to lower them again rapidly when he clocked the expression on her face. Part of her wanted to leap out of her seat and run to him, but a larger part yearned to run away; she wanted to both hug and punch him, did not know if the sensation building inside her chest was laughter or anger. She was scared to find out.
‘Hi, Kate,’ he said.
‘James.’
‘The guy on reception told me you’d probably be up here. I left my case down there; I didn’t know if . . .’ He attempted a smile that Kate did not return. ‘Well, what I mean is, I can always find somewhere else to stay.’
‘You might have a job at this time of year,’ she said coldly. ‘It’s peak holiday season.’
‘I’m sure we can find a space—’ began Toby but was silenced by a thunderous glare.
Kate took a deep, steadying breath.
‘Well,’ said Toby lightly. ‘This is a bit awkward, isn’t it? Nims, why don’t you and James pop over the road to the apartment, where you can talk in peace?’
‘No.’ Kate got down from her stool, her forgotten glass of bubbly abandoned on the bar. ‘Here will be fine.’
Leaving the three men staring after her, she stalked across the terrace to the low outer wall and perched on the edge. The sea far below was a carpet of sparkles, the distant hills misshapen stacks of furniture draped with sheets, while the birds that dipped and dived rippled carelessly on the breeze. Watching them, she experienced a stab of envy. How blissful it would be to take off into the sunset.
‘Nice view from up here,’ said James. He’d brought her champagne across with him, but Kate could no more face drinking it than she could join the birds in flight.
‘The whole place is pretty impressive. I haven’t seen all the rooms yet, obviously, but what I did see looks great. You’ve done a good job.’
‘We,’ she corrected. ‘It wasn’t just me.’
‘I saw your new Instagram account,’ he went on, fussing with the upturned collar of his white polo shirt. Kate could see a paler area of skin below his hairline – the tell of a recent cut, one done after a weekend in the sunshine of a pub garden. She hadn’t missed the summer rituals of home – the picnics on Hampstead Heath, the jingle of the ice-cream van, or lazy strolls along Regent’s Canal punctuated by cold pints of cider. She’d been far too busy creating new ones.
‘I can’t believe you have over thirty thousand followers,’ he went on. ‘I bet that’s earning you some decent money?’
He’d posed it as a question, which irritated her. There was a slew of messages in her inbox offering products in exchange for endorsement, but so far, Kate had ignored all of them.
‘What’s the matter?’ she said, her tone flat. ‘Worried I’ll make my first million before you?’
James accepted the dig, his mouth set as he tore at the label on his beer bottle. So often in the past, Kate had picked up on these displays of agitation and been quick to offer comfort; had hated the idea of him being in distress and did whatever she could to rally him. Now, however, that door had closed. She didn’t care that he was on edge.
‘What are you doing here, James? I don’t believe you flew all the way to Croatia just to ask me about my Instagram account.’
‘No.’ James looked her placatingly. ‘I came to see you, obviously. I told you on the phone that I needed to talk.’
Kate met his gaze. ‘So, now you’ve seen me. Is that it?’
‘Why are you being like this – so cold all of a sudden? A few weeks ago, you were begging me to reconsider, telling me that you still loved me.’
‘That was then,’ she said. ‘Things have changed.’
‘I can see that,’ he said. ‘And I understand why you might be angry with me.’
‘Oh, you do, do you?’
James looked at her in bewilderment, his hand going up to self-consciously stroke his Prince William patch.
‘You’re making out like this whole thing was my fault,’ he said, in the injured tone of a toddler that’s had their ball taken away after kicking it through a window.
‘You’re right,’ she said, lifting her glass and downing half the contents. ‘But that is my right, given that I’m the one who was dumped, ridiculed and publicly shamed. You seem to have come away from this whole thing with barely a scratch on you.’
‘Barely a scratch?’ he exclaimed. ‘You think breaking up with you was easy? You think I haven’t suffered too? That I haven’t missed you? That I haven’t got any regrets?’
Kate’s determination not to become upset was starting to crumble.
‘What exactly are you saying?’ she demanded. ‘That you’ve had a miraculous change of heart all of a sudden and want me back?’
‘I never wanted to lose you,’ he beseeched, trying to reach for her.
Kate shuffled along the wall away from him and saw the hurt in his eyes.
‘I honestly thought that splitting up was the right thing. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.’
‘Then what happened to change your mind so absolutely?’ she said wearily. ‘And why now?’
James sat down, letting out a sigh that seemed to deflate him.
‘I missed you,’ he said, looking at her now with such fierce intensity that Kate felt compelled to meet his eyes. They were dark and deep-set, the opposite of the pale-blue pair she should be looking into now.
Alex would be wondering where she was; waiting for her with no clue as to why she was so late. Kate had left the handbag containing her phone over at the bar, but as she went to stand, James grabbed her hand.
‘Did you hear me, Kate? I said, I missed you. I do miss you. I was stupid. I made a
stupid mistake. I took you for granted – I know that now. I won’t ever do it again.’
He was saying the words she had dreamt of hearing ever since that fateful night in April, but they were ineffectual, pebbles off a thick stone wall. James must have been able to sense her resistance because as she leant away, he gripped her more tightly, pulling her towards him until their knees touched.
‘This is you and me, Kate – we belong together.’
‘That’s not what you said on my birthday,’ she reminded him. ‘If I remember rightly, back then it was all about you and what you wanted. There was no “us” left, according to you.’
‘I was being selfish,’ he said, knotting his fingers through hers. She could smell the lemony scent of his cologne and see a nick on his throat where he’d cut himself shaving.
‘I still can’t give you what you want, though, James,’ she said, staring down at their entwined fingers. ‘I’m still the same person with exactly the same limitations.’
‘But you aren’t the same at all,’ he implored. ‘Look at you, Kate – you’re so much more together and confident. When I walked through that door and saw this gorgeous woman sitting there, with her hair spilling all over her shoulders and her tanned body in this green dress, I thought, “Wow – who is this vision that I see before me?” And it was you, Kate. You are more beautiful now than you’ve ever been.’
‘It’s a tan, a dress and a blow-dry,’ she countered lightly. ‘I’m still the same reproductively challenged idiot underneath it all, even if the packaging looks different.’
‘An idiot with her own design career and tens of thousands of followers on social media. Your success is . . . well, really bloody sexy, to be honest. I feel as nervous around you now as I did on our first date.’
Kate smiled for the first time as she pictured the two of them sitting across from each other at Pizza Hut. Their first date had been on Valentine’s Day and every other restaurant table in their north London borough had been fully booked. They had shared a bottomless salad bowl and agreed to choose an extra topping each for their pizza, only to both select prawns.
The Getaway: A holiday romance for 2021 - perfect summer escapism! Page 27
