The Island

by Mary Grand

  Juliet looked over at her mother. ‘I’m just popping out for a walk then.’

  ‘Okay, be careful.’ Her mother replied.

  ‘I won’t be long. Shall I take the front door key?’

  ‘No, I’ll be up for a while yet, and I don’t lock the patio doors until I go to bed. But don’t go hanging about. There are all sorts around now, make sure you have your phone.’

  Juliet closed her eyes in frustration. Thirty years old, she had lived in China for two years, and yet her mother was talking to her as if she were thirteen. Did mothers ever stop worrying?

  Juliet ran into her bedroom, grabbed something from her case, went back downstairs and then took her bag from the dresser. Without speaking to her sisters, she left the house.

  After closing the garden gate, she was surprised to see Anwen still talking to Rhys. She’d expected him to be in the church by now. He certainly looked uncomfortable, and he was backing away as Anwen shouted and jabbed her finger at him, but their confrontation appeared to be coming to an end.

  ‘Keep the hell out of my life… I’m warning you…’ Juliet heard Anwen shout, and then she saw her throw her hands up, walk away from Rhys, and come back down the road.

  Juliet, unsure what she should do, waited.

  ‘Are you okay?’ she asked Anwen when she was close enough to hear.

  ‘I’m fine, and he can’t say I haven’t warned him. He’s not going to ruin this.’

  Juliet went to open the gate for her, but Anwen said, ‘I’m not going in, I’m late already.’ She pushed past Juliet and ran down the road, swinging a carrier bag before disappearing around the corner.

  Juliet had been shocked at the level of threat and anger in Anwen’s voice when she had been speaking to Rhys and glanced up the road. She was surprised to see Rhys still there. He stood as if in a daze, and then, shaking his head he continued his walk up the road to the church, disappearing into the darkness. He looked very vulnerable and alone, a saint walking into the flames. Juliet shook her head, she had to stop her mind racing away like this. Tomorrow Rhys would explain everything, no more mysteries or secrets. She just had to be patient and wait.

  Juliet turned away, marched quickly down the road. Ahead of her lights flickered, voices, laughter, even shouting echoed in the distance. It was not the constant background noise of a bustling seaside town, but for a place normally deserted and silent, it felt busy.

  As she walked along, Juliet started to focus on her meeting with Gabriel and realised she was actually quite nervous. She’d handled bumping into Gabriel at the funeral quite well, but this was different. Whatever she had said to Rosalind, she knew this was a lot more than just old friends catching up.

  Juliet went to the car park. She saw several campervans and vans parked up, youngsters drinking.

  At the top of the path leading to the beach, she saw Gabriel. There were the new downlighting lamps that only lit a small area of ground and Gabriel was stood directly under the light so she could see him quite clearly. She felt the warmth of familiarity flood over her. This was Gabriel as she remembered him. Relaxed in his sports trousers and T-shirt, although of course the beard was new.

  ‘I’m glad you came.’ His voice was soft, caressing. He held out his arms and she walked into them, felt the stress and pressure of the evening start to slip away. Eventually she stood back and smiled.

  Gabriel lifted up the canvas bag in his hand. ‘I brought a picnic. Well, a drink anyway. There’s a lovely breeze down on the beach. What do you think?’

  She smiled in reply. Glancing over to a fence, she saw a bike chained to it. ‘You’ve still got the same bike?’

  ‘Yup. Have you still got your car?’

  ‘It’s sitting in the field waiting for me.’

  ‘And have you brought my heart?’ he said softly.

  ‘Of course.’ Her hands shook as she opened her bag, unzipped the pocket, and showed him the key ring.

  ‘You still have it,’ he said, and she was surprised but touched that it meant so much to him.

  ‘I’m keeping it safe,’ she said, zipping it back into the pocket again and closing her bag.

  They turned to go down the path. ‘Let’s use my torch,’ said Gabriel, switching it on.

  He gently held her arm, but once on the beach, he turned off his torch and slowly their eyes adjusted to the darkness. To their left, they could make out a small group of people sat around a small fire and so they walked to the right which was completely deserted.

  Juliet felt the sand and pebbles dig through her sandals. The tiny pinprick stars were the only thing that distinguished the blue-black sea from the sky. Eventually they stopped. Gabriel opened the bag, took out a blanket, a bottle of wine and two picnic glasses. Without speaking, he opened the wine, and she held the glasses as he poured.

  ‘You seem quiet, are you okay?’ he asked. ‘I suppose the meal was bound to be difficult without your dad there.’

  ‘Actually, it was terrible. And far worse than anything I imagined, and not just because we were missing Dad.’

  He took his glass and touched the edge of hers; it felt very close, intimate. They both sipped their drinks and, as they did, she started to tell him about the evening. Her words were coated by the sound of waves kissing the shore, as if the island was listening.

  ‘Do you remember how Rhys was at the funeral?’

  ‘I do; very intense.’

  ‘Well, he was talking about his conversation with Dad in the hospital again.’

  ‘That seems a strange thing to bring up at Rosalind’s meal.’

  ‘I know but it’s really playing on his mind. He’s decided he wants to tell us all what Dad said.’

  ‘Gosh, what did he say?’

  ‘Nothing in the end. Mum got really upset and he stopped, went off to his Saturday night prayers at the church – he stays up there till one in the morning apparently.’

  ‘I heard he does that. Maddie said he’s invited members of the congregation to join him, but I don’t think anyone has yet.’

  ‘I’m not surprised. Anyway, he told us we had to bare our souls to each other and then he would talk to us all tomorrow. Of course, after he left, no one wanted to talk.’

  ‘Not much of a celebration for poor Rosalind then.’

  ‘Certainly not. The atmosphere was awful. I’ll be relieved tomorrow when everything is out in the open. I was glad to get away and come out here to be honest.’

  He put his arm around her. ‘It will all be okay. You’ll see. Rhys is a sensible man, he is a good vicar, very caring.’

  ‘So, everyone tells me. Mira said he came to see Maddie today?’

  ‘Yes, he always sees her on the anniversary of Harry’s death; he never forgets.’

  ‘Oh Gabriel, I’m so sorry. I should have remembered the date with it being Rosalind’s meal as well.’

  ‘That’s okay. You must have all missed your dad this evening?’

  ‘It still doesn’t feel completely real, but it was lovely hearing your memories of him after the funeral, to be reminded that Dad was loved by so many people outside of the family.’

  ‘Well, he helped me a lot. Our special thing was having hot chocolate together. Do you remember that I always bought him a special brand on his birthday? It was my way of saying thank you.’

  ‘Yes, I think it’s lovely.’

  ‘I’ve always thought how lucky you are to be such a close family, don’t ever forget that.’

  ‘I don’t feel as close now; they’ve all changed a lot since I’ve been away.’

  ‘I don’t expect it’s as much as you think. I’m sure they missed you. I know I did.’

  She heard the intensity in his voice, her heart raced. ‘Did you? You never came to see me.’

  ‘I’m sorry, I really wanted to, you know that. I had everything planned and then, as I told you, things got so complicated with the lodges, I had to stay and supervise them.’

  ‘I was thinking about that. Surely Maddie had t
aken on people to do that, and it’s not like it’s that many lodges is it?’

  ‘I know, but Maddie depends on me and, I really felt I needed to keep an eye on it all. You know how important this place is to me. My future is here, and…’ he smiled, ‘I hope yours is as well.’

  ‘I’ll be staying, for a while at least,’ she said shyly.

  ‘That’s great. So, are you looking for a teaching post? You’ll need to get on, term will start soon.’

  ‘Actually, I’m not going back to teaching.’ Juliet told him about the drawing commission.

  ‘Surely you could do that as a side-line; you need a proper job.’

  Juliet swallowed the annoyance she felt at her plans being dismissed. ‘No, I think I can make a proper living out of it, this is something I really want to do.’ Aware of the strain building up between them she decided to change the subject. ‘Anyway, let’s not worry about that tonight. I’ve just remembered something.’ Juliet took a small parcel from her pocket and handed it to him.

  He opened it and inside was a bright red velvet fish, covered in sequins and with a loop at the top.

  ‘They sell them everywhere in China; they are meant to guarantee wealth. You should hang them at the doorway to your house.’

  ‘I shall do that. It’s very sweet, thank you. It will have to go next to my bed for now until I put a hook up, but I am sure it will be just as effective.’ He laughed. ‘So anyway, you know what I’ve been doing. Tell me about China and I can travel vicariously through you.’ He sat back.

  ‘I don’t quite know where to start.’

  ‘Well, for example, is there anyone special in China who is going to miss you?’

  ‘No, definitely not.’

  His face relaxed. ‘That’s all I need to know.’ He looked down at the frothy shallows of the sea. ‘Fancy a paddle?’

  Juliet hesitated. Paddling at night seemed so much more daring than in daylight. The sea seemed less friendly somehow. However, she took off her sandals and walked down to the water’s edge with Gabriel and she noticed a sliver of moon escape from behind a cloud. Its brightness glistened on the tar black surface of the sea.

  It was wonderful to feel the cold water on her feet and legs, the cool breeze on her face, not to be hot and sticky.

  ‘Hang on,’ said Gabriel. ‘Let me take a photo.’

  He ran back up the beach to get his phone, while Juliet threw pebbles, hearing the satisfying plop as they landed in the water.

  Gabriel returned and held the camera to take a selfie of them. Their faces were very close, and she could feel his cheek on hers, warm, soft. He lowered the phone, and it was the most natural thing in the world for him to kiss her. At first, she relaxed into it, but then she pulled away.

  ‘Listen, come and have breakfast with me tomorrow. It’s lovely up at the lodges first thing, and I can grab a quiet few minutes before the day kicks in,’ Gabriel suggested.

  She smiled. ‘I’d like to, yes, thanks.’

  He held up his phone. ‘Have you got WhatsApp?’

  ‘I have. I put it on a few days ago because, of course, I couldn’t use it in China.’

  ‘Great. Hang on, I’m forming a WhatsApp group, just me and you. Phone signal up at the lodges can be a bit iffy.’ He typed away on his phone and then said, ‘Done. I have invited you to join me in “Gabriel and Juliet”!’ He grinned. ‘Sounds good, doesn’t it?’ He sighed and then said, ‘I could stay here all night, but I ought to get back. I’m on duty, it’s not fair to leave it all to Joe, our new chap.’

  When they’d collected their stuff, they walked up the path from the beach. Gabriel had started to walk across the road with her when she stopped. ‘What about your bike?’

  ‘Oh, I’ll come back for it.’

  Slowly they walked back to the house, his arm automatically falling around her shoulder, and when he kissed her at the gate, she didn’t pull away.

  ‘You know I have my own lodge. One night you must come back with me; we can eat under the stars. It’s amazing. I can stare out and all I see is the sea. I can leave the world behind.’

  ‘Sounds heavenly. So, you’re not living up at the house with Maddie?’

  ‘The lodge is my slice of independence. Right, I really have to tear myself away. I’ll come and pick you up in the morning.’

  ‘Oh, I can walk.’

  ‘But I’ve not said what time I have breakfast. I’ll need to come for you about half six.’

  ‘Half six?’

  ‘Please.’

  She smiled and he grinned. He knew he’d won.

  10

  After Gabriel had left her, Juliet pushed open the gate, went back into the house through the patio doors and found her mother sitting drinking coffee in the kitchen.

  ‘Ah good.’ Her mother got up from the kitchen table where she’d been flicking through a magazine.

  ‘You’ve not been waiting up for me I hope?’

  ‘Of course not.’ But her mother didn’t sound very convincing.

  Juliet saw Lola lying in her bed. ‘I thought she’d go up with Mira.’

  ‘She does usually head upstairs, but she seems content to be down here at the moment. Right, I’m ready for bed. Now that everyone’s in, I can lock up properly.’

  Juliet smiled. So her mother had been waiting up for her.

  ‘Is Anwen back?’ Juliet asked.

  ‘I’d assumed she was, but actually I haven’t seen her since the meal. I’ll check.’

  Juliet’s mother went upstairs and she heard her knock gently on Cassie’s door.

  She came back down, pushed the old bolt across the front door, then came back to the kitchen.

  ‘Cassie said not to go in. Apparently Anwen is asleep, so I must have missed her coming in. Anyway, it means I can definitely shut up the house now. There’s only one door key to these patio doors by the way, and I hang it here in case you ever need it. I must ring the company and get some spares some time.’

  Juliet could see her mother’s hands were shaking. ‘Thanks, Mum. It was a difficult meal this evening wasn’t it, so I hope you’re okay.’

  ‘You’d think Rhys would have learned to be more careful in what he said by now.’

  Juliet saw her mother double-checking the locks. ‘It’s okay, you did it already.’

  ‘Silly me, I just feel more on edge at night now without your dad. I know it’s stupid, it’s not as if he’d have been any good chasing off burglars.’ Her mother looked out into the darkness of the garden. ‘I can’t remember the last time I slept here without him before he died, he was always here…’

  ‘We’re here for you now, Mum.’

  ‘Thank you, love, but I know you all have your own lives. I don’t want to be one of those mothers who everyone feels responsible for, you know – are you going to do Mum this Christmas or is it my turn? I’d hate that.’

  ‘When we spend Christmas with you, it will be because we want to. We do love you, Mum.’

  ‘And I am very lucky to have my four girls.’ Her mother seemed to shake herself. ‘Right, I’d better get on up.’

  ‘I’ll make myself a drink and follow you up.’

  ‘I hope you sleep well; everything will be better in the morning.’

  Her mother left her, and Juliet poured herself a long, cold drink of water, adding ice cubes from the fridge. She was about to leave the kitchen when Mira came in still wearing the dress she’d worn to the meal.

  ‘I came down for Lola,’ she said. Mira sat down next to Lola, but didn’t move, instead she sat there staring.

  Juliet went over to her and sat next to her. ‘It’s been an awful evening, hasn’t it?’ she signed. ‘Are you okay?’

  Mira shook her head.

  Juliet saw the anguish in her eyes. ‘How are things with you and Rhys?’

  ‘Not good; we had a row last night. I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen.’

  ‘Tell me about it.’

  ‘Not now, Juliet. I need time to think. I’l
l go up to bed. Today has been long enough already.’

  ‘Okay, well talk to me when you are ready. Sleep well.’

  Mira left the kitchen with Lola and went upstairs.

  Juliet took her phone out of her handbag and, after turning off the lights in the kitchen, went upstairs to her own room. Once she’d got ready for bed, she took out a novel; she needed to escape, go somewhere else in her head. But she found it impossible to concentrate.

  Her heart was racing with so many emotions from the evening. The meal had been so stressful, with Cassie talking about some kind of business venture with Anwen, and Rhys anxious about the things her father had told him. What on earth was he going to come out with tomorrow? If only her mother would talk to them – what was she so afraid of? What secrets was she keeping from her? And not only her, what about Rhys, Cassie, Rosalind, Anwen and even Mira? They all had secrets, but then everyone kept secrets, didn’t they? What was different here was the intensity that surrounded them, the sense of desperation to keep things hidden.

  Juliet lay listening to the strange sounds a summer night let into her room: the crickets, the snuffling of nocturnal wildlife, and felt the breeze, the breath of the sea. It was impossible to know if she was hearing or imagining the sound of waves, the smell of sand and wet pebbles. Then, she heard a creaking sound. But it wasn’t outside, no, it was the top step on the landing. Someone going downstairs, probably one of her sisters needing a drink. Normally she wouldn’t have taken any notice but after such a stressful evening, Juliet was on edge and felt the need to check what was happening. She went out onto the landing, peered down the stairs, heard rustling from the dark kitchen, the shush of the patio door opening. That surprised her, why would someone be going outside? She pushed away the feeling of apprehension, there would be some simple explanation. It was late, she needed to go back to bed.

  However, back in her room she decided to check out of her window, see who was out there. Down below, she could see a shadowy figure pulling the gate open, but there were no streetlights by the gate, and she couldn’t make out who it was. The person was moving quickly, and soon they were out of sight. It was only then she noticed there was a light coming from the workshop, she could see shadows, someone was in there… Why would anyone be there at this time?