An Island Promise by Kate Frost

Author:Kate Frost [Frost, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Published: 2024-08-07T00:00:00+00:00

24

‘I don’t know what to say,’ Laurie said after Gem had disappeared from sight. ‘I am beyond shocked.’ She put her hand on Belle’s arm. Her nails were neatly trimmed with just clear polish, her black hair sleek and pulled away from her face in a low ponytail. If she was wearing any make-up it was subtle. It was strange how unlike each other they were; Laurie and Gem, the two extremes. Perhaps Belle fitted in somewhere in the middle and that was what united them, all three individuals with differing personalities but a friendship that had bound them tight since they were children, weathered all the ups and downs. Could it continue to do so?

Belle felt hemmed in, sitting in a public bar surrounded mostly by couples, although there were a few groups of friends scattered about. She was acutely aware that even though she worked in a background capacity running the events, the bar and waiting staff were familiar. Even with lowered voices, she and Gem must have made a bit of a scene if anyone had paid them much attention.

‘Do you mind if we take a walk?’

The sun loungers still had a few people camped out on them, but Belle and Laurie walked down the beach away from the busier stretch, the buttery yellow sand soft beneath Belle’s feet. She carried her flip-flops in her hand and relished the salt breeze blowing away the heat and the aftermath of that conversation.

‘Why didn’t you say anything to Gem before now?’ Laurie asked as they left their footprints in the damp sand along the shoreline and cut past a couple smooching on a lilo.

‘Because it was easier not to and I didn’t know how to broach it. I guess I was hoping for her to come clean, but then why would she when she’s held on to this secret for ten years? Diego only told me the weekend before last.’

‘He just admitted it?’

‘I suspected because of something he said.’

‘But Caleb didn’t know about the two of you?’

‘Nope.’

‘And you do like Caleb,’ Laurie said tentatively. ‘I saw your face crumple when Gem asked if you’d slept with Diego again.’ They stopped and sat down on the sand. It was far enough away from Spirit for the sounds of the hotel to merge into the background while the lap of the waves folding onto the beach took over. ‘And also by his reaction, he really likes you too.’

‘He said nothing.’

‘Exactly. He seemed shocked and hurt. That speaks volumes about the way he feels, Belle. Trust me, from someone who’s found my soulmate.’

‘Although you and Ade aren’t having an easy time of it at the moment, are you?’

‘No, we’re not. Going through IVF has put a pressure on our relationship that I hope won’t prove to be too much. But what else do we have if we don’t try again for a family?’

‘Each other. You have each other, Laurie. And even if you don’t want to think about it right now, there are other ways of having a family.

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