Freya smiled and put her hand on top of Drew’s. ‘Don’t worry, you haven’t. And you’re right, I don’t blame myself for her death, but I’ve gone through all the stages of feeling helpless and that I should have done more, and I’ve certainly blamed myself for not seeing just how desperate she must have been.’
‘Oh Freya, I’m so sorry. How long ago did it happen?’
‘Nearly two years ago.’ Freya nodded slowly. ‘And you’re right about coming here to escape. I needed a change. I needed to leave London despite loving my job. There was this loneliness that had just consumed me...’
‘You said about man trouble. So there wasn’t a boyfriend to help you through things?’
‘Oh, there was. But he couldn’t deal with it. Deal with me, when all he wanted to do was go out and have fun.’ Freya stood up, knocking back the stool. She caught it just before it clattered to the floor. The sun had disappeared beyond the horizon and darkness had enveloped everything outside. The spa felt like a safe haven cocooned among the trees with only the glint of moonlight on the ocean to suggest there was anything beyond where they were.
‘Are you okay?’ Concern coated Drew’s voice.
‘I’m fine, really I am. I just realise how much I’m not yet ready to revisit the past and deal with my emotions.’
Drew slid off her stool. ‘It’s funny, isn’t it. We have different reasons for being here. I’ve got roots back in the UK, a home to go to that I’m welcome to live in for as long as I want, and yet I was desperate to escape...’
‘While I have no one in the UK; no family at least, not any longer, yet I was desperate to escape too.’
‘Let’s walk back and do something to take your mind off everything. Most guests will be having dinner, it’ll be quiet now.’
Although it wasn’t late, darkness shrouded the forest interior of the island, but on the beach, their way was lit by moonlight. Lanterns spilt warm light on to the undergrowth and the hidden paths to the beach villas, welcoming beacons behind a screen of trees and bushes. The sand was cool. She could still smell the sweet, spiced scent of the massage oil and her shoulders were relaxed from their pummelling. The gentle sound of the ocean was soothing after the bustle of life back home. She was glad she’d left all of that behind for a time at least.
‘Do you ever miss home?’ Freya asked. ‘I mean the place, not just friends and family?’
‘Sometimes the heat gets too much and I, like, long to be freezing cold in the middle of winter, but I soon snap out of that. And I love standing out in the rain here – when it does rain it’s torrential and warm, the best feeling. I missed being back in the UK last Christmas but I guess I was missing family and my sisters getting all excited. And my birthday out here. I missed being able to go clubbing. My twenty-third was a quiet one.’
‘It’s my thirtieth coming up.’
‘Oh my goodness, really?’
‘I’m sort of glad it’ll happen here. I don’t think I would cope back home – too many memories of past birthdays with...’ Freya breathed deeply.
Drew took Freya’s hand and squeezed it. ‘You don’t need to explain. I get it. So, we’ll have to do something special here instead then. It can’t pass by uncelebrated.’
They paced through the soft sand together, Drew swinging their arms as they went. She giggled. ‘I totally feel like we’re a loved-up couple having a romantic stroll.’
Freya laughed. ‘I certainly wouldn’t mind heading back to one of those villas.’
‘Although I’m sure you’d rather be with Aaron than me...’
‘Drew!’
‘What?’ She laughed. ‘I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. Don’t tell me there’s nothing there.’
Freya smiled but remained silent. She knew Drew was right. She couldn’t deny there was something between them, even if it was only flirtation. She was enjoying it, much the same way as she was enjoying getting to know her new-found friend.
Chapter Fifteen
‘Drew told me it’s your birthday on Thursday. You kept that quiet.’ Aaron slipped his arm across her shoulder as they sat together eating breakfast. Drew winked at her across the table. ‘We’ll have to have a party on the beach to celebrate.’
Freya raised an eyebrow. ‘A party?’
‘Well, not exactly,’ Aaron said. ‘Drinks round the fire pit, how does that sound?’
‘Sounds good to me.’
‘Drew, will you be free in the evening?’ he asked, turning to look at her.
‘I’ve got a massage at seven but will be finished by about half eight.’ She gathered up her empty plate and glass. ‘I can meet you down on the beach.’ She looked at Freya. ‘You don’t have any events at the bookshop to keep you there?’
‘Not on Thursday, no.’
Aaron smiled. ‘It’s a plan then.’
It filled Freya’s heart that she’d made friends. Not that they were replacing anyone back home. A wave of sadness washed over her at how much Amber would have loved to have heard about her adventures in the Maldives. She’d have been cheering her on, envious and thrilled for her. Long emails filled with gossip. She’d have wanted all the juicy details about Aaron. Tall, dark, handsome, fit as anything – she’d have been egging her on to make a move. Her vivacious full of life friend.
‘You okay, Freya?’ Aaron’s hand was on her shoulder, a look of concern across his handsome face.
‘Yes, sorry. Miles away. Party Thursday. I’m looking forward to it.’
~
Freya knocked on the door of the forest hideaway office and went in. ‘You wanted to see me?’
Meena was sitting at a desk facing the window which looked into the tree tops.
‘Ah Freya, brilliant, yes. Zander said you’re organising your first bookshop
