The reflection of the evening sun drew a rippling line on the water and cast the bay in shades of gold. The angle somehowmade the crystal water even more startlingly blue. The rugged hills of the island rose on the right, stretching west.
‘How tall is the wedding arch, Gabri?’
Dropping the stack of chairs he was carrying, he headed for the water’s edge and gestured to show the size of the floral arch he would assemble in time for the ceremony in two days. ‘About so.’
‘And we have the frame with gauze curtains from Donatella as well,’ Toni added. ‘We’re going to need to tie all the curtains down, since we’re expecting a westerly wind, unfortunately. The ponente,’ she couldn’t resist adding, with a self-conscious glance at Gabri. He was already looking back at her with half a smile.
‘We’ll need the chairs on this angle then,’ Reshma said. ‘I want to take some test shots to send to the photographer so we can make adjustments as necessary, but let’s get these chairs out so we’re ready for the rehearsal. Just a minute.’ She held up a hand, peering critically at where Gabri was standing with his hands in his pockets by the water.
He was barefoot, the wind picking up his hair, looking every inch the carefree charmer. Toni wished she still believed that was all he was, but she had the fresh memories of their conversation in the workshop. He’d been through his own traumas and clawed his way back.
Reshma held up her phone, as though she appreciated the picture he made just as much as Toni did, but of course she was framing a test shot for the wedding photographer.
‘Toni, go stand with him?’
Opening her mouth, she couldn’t think of a decent defence, so she joined him without protest, taking up a position that felt far enough away for her dignity but close enough to suggest a wedding ceremony for the photos.
Coming in for a closer shot, Reshma called out, ‘Both of you, a step in, and turn slightly towards me. Toni, look up. This is a stunning shot, but not if you’re staring at your feet.’
Lifting her chin, she found Gabri close enough that her throat tightened. His look was wary, as always, but for these few heartbeats, it also felt searching. But this was a mock-up, empty sentimentality for someone else’s wedding, not a sunset moment on the beach with a man who turned her upside down and made her question who she was and what she wanted in life – made her wonder whether she really was as content as she insisted.
Wrenching her gaze from his, she found Reshma regarding them with an amused, doubtful look. Taking a deep breath, Toni stomped away to put more chairs in place, refusing to look back for Gabri’s reaction.
‘I took some great pictures,’ her boss said in a low voice when Gabri went to get the last few chairs. ‘Do you want to see?’
‘No,’ she replied without hesitation. Pinning Reshma with a look, she said, ‘You did that on purpose.’
‘Not… entirely. I did need those test shots and now we know the best place for the bride and groom to stand.’
‘You’re not supposed to matchmake your employees, you know. Is that what you did for Sophie and Andreas? Kira? I hate to tell you, but I’ve already had my turn in front of a marriage celebrant. And besides, this is Alison and Nathaniel’s dream, not mine. My dreams were upended on a mountain nine years ago. I don’t want sunsets and promises and flowers.’
That last word made her stomach clench. Movement in her peripheral vision made her look behind her to find Gabri within earshot, frozen with a stack of chairs in his hands. The day kept getting wilder. As soon as she noticed him, he continued moving and she heard that tuneless whistle that took her back to the day she’d met him. He didn’t look at them.
A light squeeze on Toni’s arm brought her attention back to her boss, the person she’d just accused of inappropriate matchmaking, she remembered with a wince.
‘While I appreciate that you have experienced the worst of any of us when it comes to love,’ she began, not at all gently, ‘for all of us, at some point in our lives, our dreams change.’
She was preparing to say more, but Toni was done with today, fed up with people sticking their noses in and telling her to just be better.
‘I can’t imagine that I’ll stop dreaming that Miro never died,’ she replied grimly.
26
This sunset wedding was going to be beautiful and Toni would have to find a way to endure it, to pretend she wasn’t moved.
She was relieved Reshma was there to lead the practical part of the rehearsal, showing the bride how to walk at the right pace, where they would stand, and timing everything against the rapid descent of the sun. Alison Falkirk laughed and joked, pretending to be wearing her gown, while Nathaniel choked up and the bridesmaids looked on indulgently.
Gabri had disappeared and Toni was trying not to wonder what he thought about what he’d overheard. Their week together had been an even greater aberration than she’d thought. He would never survive the complexities of her life, even if he had unexpectedly tolerated her son.
By the time she trudged back up the path to the little cabin, her feet were anvils – as heavy as her heart – and she just wanted to hug Cillian and remind herself of the important things in life, but he was already fast asleep. Daphne sat alone at the table under the hanging lamp with her crossword magazine.
‘Why did you let him spend so much time with Gabri today?’ Toni blurted out instead of a greeting.
Daphne’s smile died. ‘I didn’t think it would be a problem.’
‘Gabri doesn’t like kids,’ she explained with a huff.
Her mother’s indignant expression would have been amusing at any other time. ‘Why not?’
