‘Of course, Mamma.’
Aaron took Freya’s hand and they escaped from the kitchen to the beach.
‘Should we not have stayed to help?’ Freya asked as they ploughed into warm, soft sand.
‘God no, that’s her domain. Trust me, we leave her to it.’
They reached the edge of the shore and the awkwardness she’d been feeling sitting round the kitchen table being judged by Aaron’s mum was erased by the sound of the bubbling surf.
‘Does she know? About last night?’
‘I think she probably heard.’
Freya covered her face with her hands. ‘Oh God.’
‘I did tell you to keep it down...’
‘Hey!’ Freya playfully whacked his arm. ‘I wasn’t the only one enjoying myself.’
‘Yeah, you got me there.’ He wrapped his strong arms around her and she relaxed into him, enjoying the feeling of being held, of being safe and in that first flush of a new relationship, when everything was perfect, exciting and happy, before things had a chance to go wrong... She forced herself to stop thinking so negatively. Just because Owen had treated her badly, wouldn’t mean that Aaron would be the same, or anyone else for that matter.
They spent the rest of the morning wandering along the quiet beach. There were few people about, mostly fishermen on boats bobbing further out where the water changed to a midnight blue. They sat together in the shade of a tree and chatted and kissed, and kissed some more, enjoying the freedom of being able to be together without restriction. Wrapped in Aaron’s arms, Freya leant back against his firm chest, mesmerised by the ocean sliding on to the shore and his hands gliding across her skin. Like last night, she didn’t want the moment to end. His mum was getting lunch ready and then they’d be heading back to Loabi Fushi, a dream island and a dream job, and it made her wonder how they could build on the last couple of days. The excitement and spark of attraction she felt with Aaron, thrilled and scared her at the same time.
The morning slipped away and soon enough they were heading hand-in-hand back along the beach. The sunshine yellow of Aaron’s mum’s house was a welcoming sight through the trees and Freya had a stab of envy that Aaron had a place he could call home and return to that wasn’t thousands of miles away. Even if his mum was a bit of a dragon, she obviously loved and cared for him. Freya fought back tears. Since when had she pined for her parents? But she knew deep down it wasn’t them she was yearning for. They were nearly back at the house so there was no time to dwell. Voices drifted over the garden wall, along with children’s laughter and shrieks.
Aaron’s hand briefly tensed in hers and a frown crossed his face. They went through the archway and rounded the corner. The courtyard garden was filled with people. Four young children were running after each other, weaving round the trees and the adults standing in their way. There was a young man and an older one, along with two young women, one a taller, slimmer, younger version of Aaron’s mum. She saw them and immediately walked over.
‘Hello, Aaron.’
They nodded to each other and it felt rather formal and awkward.
The woman turned to her. ‘And you must be Freya.’ She smiled warmly but there was no offer of a handshake. ‘I’m Aaron’s sister, Tasha.’
Aaron stalked over to his mum.
‘Mamma, why didn’t you tell me they were coming?’
‘Because if I had, I knew you wouldn’t stay.’
Aaron’s face said it all. His jaw clenched, his teeth gritted and Freya noticed his fists. She frowned. His happy and relaxed way had disappeared and tension had rooted in his shoulders.
‘We’ve heard a little bit about you from Mamma,’ Tasha continued, forcing Freya to concentrate on what she was saying rather than on Aaron and his mum. ‘I didn’t realise Aaron had a new girlfriend.’
‘Oh well, we’re not really...’ An image of Aaron naked in her bed last night flashed through her mind. ‘We work together and have become good friends. It’s been nice to get to know someone out here.’
Tasha’s arms were folded across her chest and she nodded but it was obvious that she didn’t believe her. Freya had no idea what she’d done to upset her, but the tension that ebbed through the garden was unsettling.
Freya decided to change tack. ‘Are these your children?’
They were still racing around, the oldest no more than about seven or eight, all of them oblivious to either the tension or her and Aaron.
‘Three of them are. The little boy in the pale blue T-shirt, he’s Aaron’s son.’
‘He’s what?’
A look of realisation crossed Tasha’s face. ‘He hasn’t told you, has he?’
‘That he has a son. No.’ Freya caught sight of the little boy darting behind a tree and out again, giggling at his older cousin. He couldn’t be more than two or three. He was dark-skinned with gorgeous chubby cheeks and a mop of dark-brown hair.
‘And if you’re wondering, that’s his mum.’ Tasha pointed to the young Maldivian woman standing by a table that had been set up along the shaded back wall. She was slender and had long black hair tied neatly on one shoulder. She hadn’t once looked in their direction. ‘It’s all been a bit of a scandal,’ Tasha continued. ‘As you can imagine, Mamma was less than happy about Aaron not doing the decent thing and marrying Zahida when he got her pregnant.’
Anger wrapped itself around Tasha’s words. Freya had no idea what to say.
‘Was this your idea or Mamma’s?’ Aaron was by Freya’s side again, his venom aimed at his sister.
After such a ridiculously happy couple of days, Freya wanted to be anywhere but here. She didn’t know what to say or think.
Aaron took Freya’s hand and manoeuvred her away from Tasha and everyone else to the far side of the garden. The palm leaves cast long shadows
