Sunset Beach was empty. They walked across the picturesque expanse of sand. The amber sun melted into the dusky pink horizon ahead of them. Palm trees loomed against the silver-tinged sky. It was that magical time of day and there was no one else to witness it, not even guests enjoying a sunset dinner, not tonight, not when they’d have to walk past the burnt out bookshop to reach the beach. Apart from a grey heron padding along the edge of the shore, they had it all to themselves.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Zander’s villa glowed with lamplight spilling out on to the deck, a welcome sight with the dark backdrop of trees in the gloomy light of dusk. Freya could only imagine how wonderful it would be not only to live somewhere like this but to have a housekeeper to keep the place homely and welcoming. And it did feel like a home. Even her brief stay had shown her that the villa had a lived-in feel amidst the luxury and awe-inspiring view.
As they reached the deck, Freya could see the luminous blue lights glowing beneath the surface of the pool, cool and inviting. Maryam was in the kitchen and as soon as she caught sight of them, she walked over.
‘Evening, Zander, Freya.’ Maryam gave the smallest of nods in her direction. ‘Can I fix you something to eat?’
‘You can phone through to Reef, please,’ Zander said.
‘Of course.’
She retreated to the villa and Zander motioned to the chairs out on the deck.
‘Take a seat; I’ll get us drinks.’
Freya sat in a chair while Zander went inside. The knot of tension had returned. She suddenly felt foolish being here, about to have dinner with Zander. Did it mean something? Was he just being nice? She’d sat in the same spot earlier that day with the sun beating down; now a light breeze had taken the edge off the sultry night. Moonlight and stars shone beyond the shadowed beach. Last night after the shock of the fire, she’d had a valid reason for being here, but now... It had been far from a normal day, and that was saying something when living and working on a tropical island. She was beginning to wish that she’d gone back to the staff village and was sitting in the courtyard with Drew. That was simple; this felt complicated.
Zander returned with a couple of bottles of Coke, a bottle of wine and a glass. ‘Wine or a soft drink?’
‘Wine please, if you don’t mind.’
‘Of course I don’t.’ He poured her wine and popped the cap off a bottle of Coke. He knocked it against her glass. ‘I won’t subject you to my cooking this evening.’
Freya laughed, relaxing a little. ‘You do cook then?’
‘Occasionally, mostly if I have friends staying. I’ll cook a chilli and we’ll eat out here on the deck.’
‘That’s your signature dish?’ She sipped the wine, deliciously fruity with a sweet edge, and wondered how expensive it was.
‘You could call it that.’ He nodded and stared across the dark beach, a wistful look on his face. ‘I know how lucky I am. I have Maryam who looks after me and takes good care of this place. If she’s not cooked or if I don’t fancy cooking, I order food from one of the restaurants.’ He turned to her. ‘I hope you like pizza?’
‘I certainly do.’
‘We have a wood fired oven and an Italian chef in Reef. The pizzas rival the ones I’ve had in Italy.’
Zander was easier to talk to than during that first awkward dinner on Makumathi. Back then he’d seemed guarded, while she was thrown by how much she knew about him and the opinions she’d formed. Online pictures that told a story of an excessive lifestyle, partying, women, drink and drugs... Not quite the Zander she was sitting with now, even if they were relaxing on the deck of his luxury villa on his own private tropical beach. The wine helped her to relax a little more and their conversation flowed naturally from the aftermath of last night, to how Zander had come to build the villa – the culmination of years of planning and a desire to put down roots after decades of travelling.
The time flew by and soon Maryam appeared from the villa with a tray. She placed a wooden board with a pizza and a leafy green salad on the table. ‘I thought you might like something to go with it.’
‘You’re the best,’ Zander said. ‘Have you eaten?’
‘I had something earlier, thank you,’ she said. ‘There’s another pizza in the kitchen if you want more. I’ll grab a slice later, but I’ll be in my room if you need me.’ She gave them a smile and quietly left.
Zander turned to Freya. ‘Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without her.’
‘I think everyone needs a Maryam in their lives.’
~
Freya had only seen a small part of the villa, the stunning guest room and the vast open-plan downstairs with the whole front that opened out on to the deck, but she imagined the rest was just as impressive. She thought about Zander eating his dinner on his own, the same as she’d often done back in the UK. It was a vastly different situation she knew; he got to sit on the deck with the beach, lagoon, and a star-filled sky, while she perched on the sofa watching TV. She imagined him waking in the morning to the smell of freshly brewed coffee, which Maryam had put on for him. He’d pad downstairs and take a dip in his private swimming pool, while she’d get a quick shower, grab a mug of instant coffee and battle the rush hour crowds into central London. Nothing about their lives was remotely similar, and yet she sensed the same quiet melancholy ebbing off him as she’d had over
