They both looked up at her, wiping their eyes. ‘Oh yes, kidda. We’re back. And we’re gonna be bigger and better than before, aren’t we, Danny, mate?’
‘We most definitely are, Cal. Bon Voyage – back for good. You better believe it!’
9:45
‘Now, you girls keep in touch, do you hear?’ Barbara said, hugging Aimee and Jemma as they waited in the Show Lounge for their coach to be called. Bob and Barbara’s flight wasn’t until early afternoon so they had a couple more hours on the boat yet. ‘It’s Bob’s 60th birthday party next month and I expect to see you both there, you can stay the night at ours. I insist. It’ll give me the chance to spoil the pair of you. Oh, come here,’ she cried, pulling them both in for another hug. ‘You’re like the daughter’s I never had.’
‘Come on, woman. You’re suffocating the poor lasses. Put them down,’ Bob said, taking over where Barbara had left off, handing out hugs like they were going out of fashion. ‘You girls be happy now, you hear?’ he winked, smiling at Aimee and Jemma, and that was all Bob had to say. A man of few words most of the time, but when he did speak he spoke more sense than anyone Aimee had ever had the pleasure of talking to. She still couldn’t thank him enough for guiding her in the right direction.
‘I hate goodbyes,’ Barbara sniffed, shaking out a handkerchief she’d pulled out of her handbag. ‘I find them so upsetting.’
‘For heaven’s sake, woman! They’re only going back to Newcastle, and we only live in Barnsley – it’s hardly the other side of the chuffing world! It’s a couple of hours away by car. Come on, let’s go and get a nice cup of tea out on the Lido Deck. That’ll calm you down.’
He looked at Aimee and Jemma, throwing them another wink and a smile and they smiled back, mouthing that they’d call Barbara that evening and he nodded, leading a snivelling Barbara out of the Show Lounge.
‘I hate goodbyes too,’ Aimee said, looking at her watch. ‘But I’ve got to go and say one now.’
‘You okay?’ Jemma asked, squeezing her friend’s arm.
‘Yeah. Of course I am,’ Aimee smiled. ‘I mean, it’s not like it’s goodbye forever, is it? It’s only until tomorrow. It just feels like a long time away, that’s all. And with Davina still on the ship…’
‘Oh, come on, Aimee. You heard Cal. Davina and Andy are in the middle of planning their rise to fame as the hottest new Z-List celebrity couple – she isn’t going back to Danny. And anyway, he wouldn’t have her. Would he?’
Aimee smiled again. ‘No. He wouldn’t.’
‘Okay. So get out there and say goodbye. You’ve got to be back here in ten minutes, so get a shift on.’
Aimee practically ran up onto the very top deck, finding Danny by the shuffleboard court, staring out over the Mediterranean, the city of Palma away in the distance.
‘You know that dream you said you had? The one you told me about in Barcelona?’ He turned to look at Aimee as she stood next to him. ‘The one about living in Spain in a little finca with dogs and chickens? The one where you wake up every morning with sky this blue and the sun beating down?’
‘What about it?’ Aimee asked, looking deep into those ice-blue eyes of his, her heart beating wildly against her ribs.
‘Well, you never did tell me whether you had a man in mind to share that dream with. And it’s such a lovely dream. Almost idyllic. It seems a shame to experience it all on your own.’
‘Have you got anyone in mind?’ she asked, her heart now beating so fast it was making her breathless.
‘Well, we once had chickens when I was a kid, when we lived out in the country so, I kind of have some experience in collecting eggs.’
Aimee smiled, reaching out to touch his face, his chin rough as she stroked it. ‘That’s a start then, I suppose.’
He took her hand, looking right into her eyes as he spoke, his face suddenly serious. ‘I want to share that dream with you, Aimee.’
She frowned slightly, wondering if she was getting this right. ‘What – what do you mean, Danny? I don’t understand…’
‘Me, you, and our very own Spanish dream. Here, on this island. I met you here, and I want to live with you here, Aimee. A whole new start – you, me, a couple of dogs and a handful of chickens. What do you say?’
‘Are you serious?’ Aimee asked, a ridiculous feeling of happiness sweeping over her, those butterflies breaking loose again.
‘I’m deadly serious, Aimee. I’ve never been more serious.’
‘Then I’d love you to share my dream,’ she whispered, her mouth moving closer to his as she spoke. ‘Our dream.’
Because, sometimes, dreams really did come true, didn’t they?
THE END.
Praise for Michelle Betham’s previous novels.
No Matter What
“An epic, epic read - NOT TO BE MISSED!”
“A brilliant read and I would thoroughly recommend it”
“I loved Michelle's insight into the glamorous Hollywood/Vegas lifestyle which provided much-needed escapism from everyday existence.”
“Wow, what a debut!”
“What a cracker!!”
Too Much Trouble in Paradise
“I loved this book, the characters are so real I felt as if I knew them and laughed and cried along with them.”
“This book is very definitely worth a read!”
“Fun, exciting and couldn't put it down…”
“You can’t help but love the characters & who knew the world of darts could be so glam!
A feel good book, it made me laugh & reminded me how fun Chick lit can be!”
“I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end.”
“This book made me laugh out loud, but don't be fooled by all the humour there is a real struggle of the heart going on here. The characters are very real and believable. Living in the Canary's myself I could relate to all the references to Tenerife. A five star read.”
“Great characters and absolutely brilliant dialogue which flows throughout.”
“Well...all I can say is....make sure you have plenty of time to read this.....cos you won't be putting it down!!!”
“… this laugh a minute, light-hearted, fun tale is perfect summer holiday reading and will leave you wanting to board a plane and head for Tenerife with the girls asap!”
“I thoroughly enjoyed this book, great Chick lit that will relax you, make you smile and dream of sunny islands, cocktails...and darts!”
See You At The Show
“Leave your worries behind and escape to a glamorous world of rock bands, politics and passion.”
“Edgy Romance with Attitude.”
“It had a Jackie Collins feel about it! Was quite racy and very sexy! I'd recommend it!”
”Rock stars, biker Chicks and sexy politicians - it's got it all and I devoured it.”
“The story that unfolds is dramatically addicting, and although the book ended differently than what I wanted, this light read had my attention from beginning to end. “
Follow Michelle Betham on Twitter @michellebetham
Find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/michellebetham.romanceauthor
Follow her blog www.michellebethamwriter.blogspot.co.uk
Bon Voyage Page 33
