Daisy, feeling much better now that Sebastian was on his way back and that he and Gabriel weren’t too worried, relaxed slightly.
They rounded a corner and Gabriel pulled at her hand, making her run with him into the mouth of a cave.
‘Where are we?’ she giggled, surprised.
‘We’re alone and now I can tell you something.’
‘Go on,’ she said, barely able to contain herself. ‘What is so important that you couldn’t tell me earlier?’
He took out a folded piece of paper from his back pocket. ‘This is a certificate,’ he said, unfolding it and handing it to her.
She studied it, frowning in confusion when she read his and Bella’s names. She didn’t want to read it but he’d been so good to listen to her and to speak to Sebastian that she thought it was the least she could do for him.
‘But this looks like a… well, a marriage certificate. Why are you showing this to me?’ She scowled at him and handed the certificate back.
‘It’s divorce papers. Bella and I managed to get a divorce,’ he said, smiling widely at her. His handsome face seemed to be lit from inside somehow and it took Daisy a few seconds to register what he was telling her.
‘But I thought you told me that you had to be marriedfor three years in Jersey before getting a divorce.’
‘That’s right,’ he grinned.
‘So what’s changed?’ She was getting a little annoyed by his cheerfulness. ‘They can’t have updated the law to suit us in the last few weeks.’
He shook his head. ‘No, but my lawyer reminded me that we weren’t married here, but in South Africa. So when I went back to the project, I stopped over in Durban with Bella, and we saw a lawyer who set the papers in motion, and now we’re officially divorced.’
‘Seriously?’ she asked, snatching back the certificate to have a better look at what it said. Gabriel and Bella were divorced. ‘You’re a single man?’
He laughed and pulled her into his arms. ‘Yes, I am. So, Daisy Woods, can you now agree to come out with me, so that we can rekindle the amazing relationship we shared in Vietnam?’
She couldn’t help smiling up at him. Daisy reached up and pulled his head down so that she could kiss him. ‘Abso-bloody-lutely,’ she said, kissing him again, astounded that he’d gone to such lengths to make her happy.
When they stopped to take a breath, Gabriel said, ‘I’ve missed you so much. It’s nearly driven me mad being so close to you but not being able to be with you.’
‘Me too,’ she admitted, stunned that her day had gone from one extreme to the other.
‘Bella’s coming to the hotel this evening to speak to you,’ he said, as they held each other.
‘Why?’ She didn’t have anything against Bella, but didn’t see why they should meet for a chat.
‘I asked her to, in case you didn’t believe what I was telling you now.’
She loved that he wanted to make sure she understood how things could now stand between them. ‘Fine, I’ll see her,’ she said.
They began walking back along the beach, hand in hand. She opened her mouth to tell him how happy she was when she spotted Aaron waiting for them by the rock where they’d left their shoes. She could see he had picked up hers.
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked, her happiness evaporating as he grinned at them. ‘Haven’t you caused enough trouble for one day?’
‘Who’s this?’ Aaron asked rudely, standing up to sneer at Gabriel.
Gabriel let go of Daisy’s hand and put an arm protectively around her shoulders. ‘I’m Gabriel, Daisy’s boyfriend.’
Any pretence at friendliness vanished from Aaron’s face. ‘How come I haven’t seen you around then?’
Gabriel frowned. ‘Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve been away. However, I’m back now and I’m not going anywhere, so if you’ve got an issue with that, or with Daisy, then speak to me. Daisy’s told me all about you and your… fascination with her. Things have changed now and you can move on.’
‘Don’t you come all high and mighty with me.’ Aaron hesitated. ‘I don’t suppose Daisy told you about our incident earlier today. She made a bit of a fool of herself over me at Fi’s home.’
Daisy went to argue, but Gabriel tightened his hold slightly. Comforted, she relaxed a little.
