Kitabı oku: «Her Holiday Miracle»

CHAPTER ONE

AT LAST. REBECCA GAVE a soft sigh of relief as a sixty-foot-long catamaran smoothly eased into position alongside the dock. The sound of calypso music came from on board, floating on the air waves towards her, and her spirits lifted in an instant. She’d been patiently standing in the queue for some time, wilting in the heat despite her light camisole top and loose cotton skirt, but now there was an end in sight. She would soon be on the last part of her journey to the beautiful Caribbean island of St Marie-Rose.

Just up ahead of her a man straightened as the boat approached. She’d noticed him earlier—in fact there was no way she could have missed him. He had midnight-black hair and sculpted, lightly tanned features, and he stood out from the crowd—tall, muscular, supremely fit-looking, wearing pale chinos and a white T-shirt that outlined broad shoulders and well-muscled biceps. He’d been looking around, taking in his surroundings. Presently, though, he seemed preoccupied, deep in thought, not at all like the others who lined the quayside.

Perhaps he felt her glance resting on him just then, because he half turned towards her and looked directly at her, his dark gaze meshing with hers for a heart-stopping instant. His eyes widened and his glance moved over her, taking in her slender yet curvaceous figure, the long copper-coloured hair that tumbled past her shoulders in a mass of unruly curls. All at once he seemed stunned, as though he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Heat swept along her cheekbones and she looked away, embarrassed for her own part to have been caught staring. Somehow she hadn’t seemed able to help herself … there was just something about him … He probably wasn’t a tourist, she decided. There was nothing of the loose-limbed, laid-back sunseeker about him.

Actually, much the same could be said of her right now. She didn’t feel at all touristy. After being cooped up in an aeroplane for almost a dozen hours, followed by a short taxi ride to this port, she was more than ready for the last leg of her journey. At least she hoped this was the last leg. It was already late afternoon, and she really wanted to arrive at the house before nightfall. With any luck her sister, Emma, would be there to greet her. She smiled, a thrill of excitement running through her at the prospect—it would be so good to see Emma again.

Up to now, though, nothing had gone quite to plan—instead of flying directly to the island she’d found herself stranded here, on the verdant, equally lovely tropical island of Martinique, waiting for a ferry to take her across the sparkling blue sea to her final destination.

The people in the queue began to move slowly forward. ‘Ah, looks like we’re boarding at last,’ someone said behind her. ‘Finally!’

It was a male voice. She turned to glance at him. He was a young man—in his mid-twenties, she guessed, much the same as herself. She was twenty-six. He had blond hair and blue eyes, and a ready smile. Dressed for the heat, he wore three-quarter-length shorts and a T-shirt. Clearly he was in a good mood—most likely returning with his friends from a day trip to Martinique. The three young men with him were chatting to one another, lively and exuberant.

He returned her gaze and waved a hand towards the boat. ‘Shall we? I’m William, by the way. William Tempest.’

He looked at her questioningly and she responded in a soft voice, ‘Rebecca … Rebecca Flynn … most people call me Becky.’

‘Hi, Becky. We should be able to get some refreshments on board. Perhaps I could buy you a drink? I’m not hitting on you,’ he hastened to explain. ‘Well, maybe I would in different circumstances. It’s just that I noticed earlier you were looking a bit fed up and I thought maybe you could do with something to cool you down and perk you up—perhaps an iced juice of some sort—they do a good orange and mango mix?’

‘Do they?’ So he’d noticed her wilting. What was it that had given her away? Was it her hot cheeks or the way her curls clung damply to her temples? She should have taken the time to pin her hair back while she was on the plane.

She’d no experience of the facilities on board ferries in the Caribbean, but now she moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue in anticipation.

‘A cold drink sounds wonderful. I’d like that.’ She added as an afterthought, ‘This whole thing is a bit of an adventure for me.’

‘Are you here on holiday?’

‘Sort of. More of an extended break, shall we say? Things were getting me down back home and I needed to get away.’

‘Really? I’m sorry. I feel a bit that way, too. I’ve had a break-up with my girlfriend … it was really hard to take. It was a while ago, and I keep trying to put it all behind me, but it’s difficult.’

‘Yes. I know how that feels.’

Together, chatting amiably, they walked the short distance along the quay to the boarding ramp and stepped on to the deck of the boat.

It was strange … She didn’t know him from Adam, but she liked him instantly, in a platonic, unthreatening kind of way. All her usual English reserve seemed to be disappearing fast—melting away in the tropical sunshine.

Perhaps it was the heady atmosphere of the Caribbean beginning to exert its hold on her—or maybe the energetic beat of the music coming from the boat was serving to loosen her up. Whatever the reason, she’d throw all her inhibitions away right now for the chance of downing a long, cold glass of something. Anything.

William looked around. ‘Where do you want to sit? Would you like to be under cover, or do you want to look out over the sea?’

‘Both, I think.’ She smiled. ‘I’ve been stuck on a plane for several hours, so it will be great to move around and feel the fresh air for a bit.’

He nodded, his mouth curving. ‘Sounds great. We can get to know one another—it’ll take about an hour to get to St Marie-Rose.’

He was friendly and open with her, and as they chatted Rebecca was startled to find herself responding readily, a bit like a flower opening up to the sun. Why did she feel so at odds with herself about that? He’d already told her that he was getting over a broken relationship. Would it hurt to talk some more and maybe confide in him in return? He was easygoing and sociable and that was what she needed right now.

‘So what’s been getting you down?’ he asked.

‘Oh, a few things … I was ill, and my boyfriend decided that he couldn’t handle it.’

‘Ouch! That’s a tough one. It must have been difficult for you.’

‘Yes …’

It had been a few months since her relationship with Drew had disintegrated, and what had happened over that time had certainly taken its toll of her … Complications after her appendicitis had added to her problems and left her feeling low, and Drew had been less than supportive. After her appendix had burst, peritonitis had almost killed her, with the poisons in her bloodstream keeping her in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit for a couple of weeks.

But her problems hadn’t ended there. The doctors told her she might be infertile because of the scar tissue from those complications, and that was when Drew had decided to bow out. She had been devastated, overwhelmed by everything that had happened to her. How could she cope with the possibility of never having children? That question haunted her still.

It had all been a bit of a struggle. She desperately needed a change of scene—a chance to put herself back together again. Wasn’t it time she tried to relax and let her hair down? It could hardly matter what happened here, what she decided to tell William—he was only going to be around for a short time, after all.

She found a seat on one of the benches under the awning and put her bags down on the floor by her feet while he went to fetch the drinks. Padded bench seats were arranged along the deck, facing a central four-sided counter where dusky-skinned youths were busy cutting up all manner of fruits—oranges, melons, passion fruit, limes. There were a couple of urns available for hot drinks, along with juice dispensers and water coolers. She glanced around. There were even potted palms placed at discreet intervals on deck, all adding to the holiday atmosphere.

The man she’d seen earlier had gone to stand by the rail, looking out over the sea. He braced himself, leaning back against a stanchion, as the boat’s engine started up. He glanced her way, watching as William came towards her with a tall glass of iced juice. She couldn’t tell what the man was thinking. His gaze was smoke-dark—brooding, almost. As though he was disturbed to see her with another man. That couldn’t be so, though, could it?

For some reason he bothered her. Perhaps it was because in some way—maybe in the way he stood apart from the others—he reminded her of Drew. Though her ex had never possessed those bone-melting good looks, or that way of looking at the world as if it was his to command.

‘Don’t worry about him.’ William must have seen her cautious glance, and now, as she accepted the drink he handed her, she looked at him quizzically.

‘I won’t. Do you know him?’

He nodded. ‘He’s my cousin. He’s been over to Martinique on business—I think he probably wants some space to mull things over.’

‘Oh, I see … I think.’ She frowned and tried to put the man out of her mind, turning her attention to William and chatting to him about nothing in particular.

He was good company. He was fun and he made her chuckle, and at one point he even pulled her to her feet and had her dancing with him to the hot, rhythmic music that spilled out from the loudspeakers overhead.

Other passengers were already moving to the beat, and from time to time William’s friends came to join them. She laughed with them and exchanged banter, simply enjoying the freedom of letting herself go for a while. Her hair tumbled this way and that over her bare shoulders and her skirt gently swirled around her thighs as she sashayed to the beat of steel drums. She hadn’t felt this unrestrained in a long time.

The music stopped for a moment as the latest song came to an end and she stood still, attuning herself to the rhythm of the boat as it crested the waves.

‘Shall we go and stand by the deck rail for a while?’ William suggested, and she nodded, going with him and turning her face to the cooling breeze as the boat ploughed through the waves.

Standing with her by the rail, he put an arm around her shoulders to point out dolphins in the distance, playing in the clear, crystal water.

She felt a prickling at the back of her neck and looked around, suddenly distracted. The man at the rail flicked a glance in her direction, inclining his head in acknowledgement, his eyes narrowed against the glare of the sun. Was he still intent on watching her? Or was it William he was keeping an eye on?

William spoke to her, cutting into her thoughts. ‘Perhaps we might see each other again—hang around together from time to time? Don’t get me wrong—I know you’re not looking for a relationship and neither am I—but we do have something in common. We’ve both been hurt and we could be friends, maybe?’

‘Yes, I’d like that.’ It would be good to have a friend out here.

She looked out over the blue water once more. The island of St Marie-Rose was drawing closer, its green-clad mountains beckoning, while picturesque white-painted houses nestled among the trees on the hillsides—a perfect invitation to visit.

‘Whereabouts are you staying?’ he asked.

‘Tamarind Bay. My sister’s renting a house there … well, nothing quite so grand as a house—it’s more of a cabin, really. She was lucky to get it—it’s quite secluded, apparently, near to a small private marina. The owner of the property is a friend.’

He frowned. ‘That’s the opposite direction from me. We’re all staying at a rental place in the north of the island. Still …’ He brightened. ‘It’s not too far away. It’s not that big an island. You could go from one end to the other in two or three hours.’ He smiled. ‘There aren’t that many bars and nightclubs in Tamarind Bay. I’m sure I’ll manage to find you again. Maybe I could have your phone number? I could help cheer you up.’ He made a wry face. ‘Heck—we could cheer each other up.’

She nodded and smiled in response, but she wasn’t about to commit to anything. She wasn’t averse to having fun—in fact it would be great—but above all she’d come out here to spend time with Emma.

The catamaran moved into place alongside the dock at St Marie-Rose just a few minutes later and they readied themselves to disembark. Ahead of them, William’s cousin was among the first to leave the boat.

William helped her with her bags as they negotiated the steps to the quay. She paused for a moment to look around, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction as she took in the curve of the bay, with its wide strip of golden sand and palms that tilted towards the sun, their green fronds drifting gently in the light breeze.

‘Are you going to be okay getting to your sister’s place?’ William asked as they stood among the melee of disembarking passengers. ‘Tamarind Bay’s about an hour’s drive south from here.’ He seemed concerned, anxious to stay with her, but also aware of his friends waiting for him a short distance away. ‘I could find you a taxi. Better still, I could ask my cousin—’

‘No, please don’t do that,’ she said hurriedly. ‘Don’t worry about me. I’ll be absolutely fine. Go and join your mates. Enjoy the rest of your holiday.’

‘Okay …’ He frowned. ‘I suppose so … if you’re sure?’

‘I am.’

Reluctantly he walked away, and she looked around to see if there were any cabs left for hire. A man thrust a leaflet into her hands—an advertisement for sea trips to the local islands—and she glanced at it briefly. In the meantime passengers were still getting off the ferry, descending upon every waiting vehicle.

‘I help you, lady—yes?’ A dark-skinned, athletic-looking young man came to stand beside Becky on the dock. ‘You need help with your bags?’

‘No … no, thank you.’ Becky gave him a tentative smile. She’d been warned by the tour company about hustlers, and though he seemed innocent enough she was cautious. Perhaps he had a car somewhere, but from his manner she seriously doubted he was a legitimate cab driver. ‘I’ll be fine. I’m sure I can manage.’

Unfortunately, her suitcase was still back at the airport, but she had her hand luggage with her—a holdall and a roomy bag.

He shook his head. ‘You give me money—I take your bags for you.’ He bent down and started to grasp the handles of her overnight bag.

‘No, no … please don’t do that … I can manage,’ she said again, but he wasn’t listening.

‘I take care of it for you,’ he said.

‘No—I’d rather you didn’t do that.’

She tried to reach for her bag but he was too quick for her, deftly swinging it away from her into the air. She sucked in a sharp breath. How on earth was she going to deal with him? Should she kick up a fuss? Call Security? Where was Security around here?

Even as the thoughts darted through her head the man she’d seen earlier stepped forward. He moved so fast she blinked in surprise, watching as he came up to the stranger, gripped the handles of her bag firmly and wrenched them from him. Rebecca was stunned. He was lithe and supple, his body honed to perfection. It was simply amazing to watch him in action.

His steel-grey gaze cut through the young man like a lance. ‘She told you that she didn’t want your help. Now I’m telling you—leave her alone.’

It was clear he meant business. It was there in the clipped tone of his voice and in the firm thrust of his taut, angular jaw. Even Rebecca was in awe of him, and she was an innocent bystander.

‘Okay. Okay.’ The young man held up his hands in submission, backing off. ‘I didn’t mean any harm. I’m going.’ He looked wary, taken completely aback by the opposition that seemed to have erupted out of nowhere.

Her rescuer watched him leave. ‘He won’t bother you any more,’ he said.

‘No. I see that.’ She sent him a grateful glance, her green eyes drinking him in. The youth was hurrying away along the quayside, anxious to stay out of trouble. ‘Thank you. I wasn’t sure whether there were any security people around here. They didn’t seem necessary. Everything looked so peaceful.’

His mouth made a wry curve. ‘It is—usually. But anywhere you go you might find people who want to supplement their income any way they can.’

‘I suppose so.’ She used the leaflet to fan her cheeks against the heat. How did he manage to look so cool and in control? He must be used to the conditions out here.

‘I’m Cade, by the way,’ he said. ‘I’m William’s cousin. He may have mentioned me.’

He held out a hand to her and she slipped her palm briefly into his. His grasp was firm and reassuringly strong.

‘Rebecca,’ she answered. ‘Yes, he did. Thanks again for your help.’

‘You’re welcome.’ He gave her a thoughtful look. ‘I couldn’t help overhearing some of your conversation with William on board. You said you were staying at Tamarind Bay—that’s roughly where I’m headed. Near there, anyway. I have a place in the hills above the bay. I could give you a lift, if you like?’

‘Um … that’s okay, thanks. I don’t mind waiting for a taxi. I don’t want to put you out.’ She didn’t know him, after all, so why would she trust her safety to him?

‘You could be in for a long wait …’ His glance shifted over her. ‘To be frank, a woman on her own—a beautiful young woman at that—could invite unwanted attention … as you’ve already discovered.’ He reached into the pocket of his chinos and showed her a business card. ‘Perhaps this will help to put your mind at ease.’

Dr Cade Byfield, she read. Emergency Medicine Physician, Mountview Hospital, St Marie-Rose.

‘People know me around here,’ he said. ‘I make the trip to and from Martinique on a regular basis. Ask the officials at the end of the dock if you need reassurance.’

That sounded reasonable enough. She’d seen one of them acknowledge him with a nod a short time ago. ‘A doctor?’ she said quietly. ‘So you live out here?’

He nodded. ‘I have done for the last few years, anyway. I’m from Florida, originally, but my parents settled on the island some years ago.’ He glanced at her questioningly. ‘And you?’

‘I’m English—from a busy town in Hertfordshire.’

‘Ah, I thought I recognised the accent.’ He smiled fleetingly and waved a hand in the direction of the harbour wall. ‘My car’s parked over there. Shall we go? I promise you, you’ll be safe with me.’

‘Okay.’ As she nodded he placed the palm of his hand in the small of her back, sending small whorls of sensation eddying through her spine. She tried not to think about the touch of his warm, strong fingers on her body as she walked with him.

‘We could have done with your help as a doctor on the plane coming over here,’ she murmured as they set off along the quayside.

‘Really? Why is that?’

‘We had to divert to Martinique to drop off a man who was taken ill. He was sitting in the seat across the aisle from me when he collapsed. He looked dreadful—pale and waxy. The pilot had to radio for help and they made sure they had an ambulance waiting for him at the airport.’

He frowned. ‘It must have been serious if they had to do that. What was wrong with him? Do you know?’

She nodded. ‘He complained of chest pain radiating to his ears and gums, and then he lost consciousness. I felt for a pulse but there wasn’t one.’

He sent her a quick, concerned look. ‘Sounds like a heart attack. What happened?’

She pulled a face. ‘There was general panic all around me for a moment or two. Then I started chest compressions while a flight attendant rushed to get a portable defibrillator. We managed to shock his heart and establish a rhythm and restored blood flow to his vital organs.’ Her mouth flattened. ‘I thought he was going to be all right, but then things went wrong again and his heart went into an irregular rhythm and stopped for a second time.’

Cade sucked in his breath. ‘He was obviously in a very bad way—that must have been scary for you.’

‘It was worrying,’ she admitted. ‘But I’m a doctor, too, so I suppose the training kicked in. They had adrenaline on board in the aircraft’s medical kit, so I gave him intravenous doses until he started to recover.’

His eyes widened with interest. ‘Are you an emergency doctor?’

‘No. My specialty’s paediatrics.’

‘So, do you work in a hospital or general practice?’

By now they were approaching his car—a dark metallic red sports utility vehicle. It managed to look both sleek and sturdy at the same time, and she guessed it would be capable of managing most types of terrain.

She said quietly, ‘I was working in a neonatal unit, but actually I’m taking a break from medicine right now.’ How could she bear to go into work every day and be surrounded by babies, knowing she might never hold one of her own? It was like a pain deep inside her. ‘At least I thought I was taking a break until I stepped on the plane. My plans certainly went wrong after that.’

He opened the passenger door for her and ushered her inside. He was frowning again. ‘Obviously you weren’t heading for Martinique at the outset. Wouldn’t it have been easier to fly the rest of the way from there instead of getting the ferry?’

‘Probably.’ She was thankful he hadn’t asked about her reasons for having a break from her career, but maybe he assumed she was just taking a holiday. ‘There wasn’t another flight until tomorrow morning,’ she explained. ‘Once we stopped at Martinique the flight crew had worked their allotted hours, apparently. I didn’t want to mess about. I wanted to get here on time to be with my sister—and my luggage had already been taken off the plane.’ She pulled a face. ‘I’m not quite sure where it is at the moment … en route to Barbados, I think. I’ve filled in all the appropriate forms, so hopefully I’ll be reunited with it at some point.’

‘You’ve had an eventful journey.’ He slid into the driver’s seat and switched on the engine. ‘Let’s hope things go smoothly for you from now on.’

‘Yes, we should look on the bright side, shouldn’t we?’ She leaned back against the luxurious upholstery and felt the cool waft of a delicate breeze fan her cheeks as the air-conditioning kicked in. ‘Oh, that feels good.’

He gave her a sideways glance. ‘How long are you planning on staying over here?’

‘Three months to begin with—maybe longer, but if so I might need to find work of some sort. I’m not in a hurry to do that yet—I suppose I’m looking for a change of direction. I may even decide to go home when the three months is up. I just want to spend time with Emma—my sister. She’s over here on a temporary contract with the nursing directorate.’ She frowned. ‘She messaged me a short time ago when I was on the boat, to say she’d been called out on a job—some last-minute thing that cropped up. I’m just hoping she’ll be back before too long.’

His cool, thoughtful gaze swept over her before he turned his attention back to the road ahead. ‘Talking of jobs, it seems a bit strange for you to be taking time out so early in your career. You’re very fortunate if you can afford to do that. A lot of people would envy you.’

She winced inwardly. Was that a veiled criticism? After seeing her on the boat, getting on so well with his cousin, he probably thought she was a bored rich girl looking for thrills.

‘Perhaps they might. You’re right—it’s good to have enough money to be able to choose—but I don’t see myself as “fortunate”, really,’ she countered. ‘My parents died when I was twelve. They left money in trust for me and my sister, so we’re both comfortably off, but I’d much rather they were still around. We were brought up by an aunt and uncle. They’ve been good to us, but they had their own two little girls to care for. It can’t have been easy for them.’

‘No, I expect not. I’m sorry.’ He studied her briefly. ‘Does it bother you, leaving them behind to come here?’

‘Oh, yes—I’ll miss them all … especially my cousins. But we’re all older now, going our separate ways.’ She was pensive for a moment or two, lost in thought. ‘I suppose we were lucky that there was no rivalry or resentment bubbling away in the background because we were taking up the love and attention that should have been reserved for family. In fact we get on very well with one another. My aunt and uncle did a good job.’

‘Four youngsters must have made for quite a lively household?’

‘Yes, it was a bit rumbustious at times. We had a lot of fun … holidays and family picnics and generally hanging out together.’

‘I never had that experience.’ There was a slight thread of regret in his voice. ‘I was an only child—that’s probably what makes me value my cousin’s friendship all the more. We’re very close—a bit like brothers.’

She sent him a curious glance. ‘Really? I didn’t get that impression. You kept to yourself on the ferry and didn’t really have any contact with him—he said you’d been to Martinique on business and needed some space.’

‘That’s right. I had to go over there to talk to some clients—I have a plantation in the hills, a few miles from Tamarind Bay, so I make the journey to Martinique on a fairly regular basis to see people about supplies and exports and so on.’

‘Wow!’ She smiled. ‘I’m impressed … a plantation owner … that’s inspiring.’

‘Not so much.’ His mouth made a wry twist. ‘I took it over a couple of years ago, when it was completely run down, and I’m learning a few lessons on the way. It’s taking a lot of effort to get it going once more, but we’ve made a reasonable start, I think.’

‘It sounds as though you have a busy life.’ She wanted to know more about the plantation, but he hadn’t yet commented about leaving his cousin to his own devices. Why had he done that if they were so close? ‘You said, “We’ve made a reasonable start”—is William part of that? Where does he fit in? If you’re so close, I don’t understand why you didn’t want to talk to him on the boat?’