‘Yeah. Okay. Full disclosure, because I don’t want to begin our relationship with any secrets.’ He smiles at me and I frown. Secrets? ‘After he warned me off you on New Year’s Day, he then at the weekend told me that I was a complete idiot with my idea that I can’t do a relationship. Which chimed with what you’d said. That basically all people have failed relationships until they begin their forever one.’
‘Wow.’ I should be very grateful to Vinny.
I suddenly think about Jed and that break-up. That was difficult but survivable. Dominic, though. I couldn’t bear to break up with him in that kind of way.
‘Do you want kids?’ I ask.
Dominic looks a little shellshocked. Maybe I’ve scared him off immediately.
‘I’m not saying I want to try for kids right now,’ I clarify. ‘It’s more that I just wondered.’ I suddenly realise that I love Dominic so much he would be enough for me without kids. Unlike Jed. ‘You know what? Ignore that question. I don’t care.’
Dominic tugs me to a halt and reaches his arms round me and holds me against him for a moment before starting to walk again. ‘Don’t want you to get cold. I would like kids with you. I never thought I wanted kids but I realise right here, right now that I wouldloveyou to be the mother of my children in due course, if we’re able.’
‘Wow.’ I’m smiling. And possibly laughing. And also crying again. ‘Please don’t ever feel pushed by me into trying for a baby.’
‘I’d like to one day. I mean it. There’s no adventure I wouldn’t like to try as long as we do it together.’
Dominic draws me into his arms again, and I raise my face to his, and then – even though it’s still very cold – I forget about everything except him, and instead of going to the café we go back to my flat and he stays for the rest of the day.
EPILOGUE
DOMINIC – THREE YEARS LATER
‘This view is perfect.’ Flavia stands at the window of the room we first had three years ago, when we came on the safari.
It’s New Year and we’re back in Cape Town for our first wedding anniversary, accompanied by Flavia’s mum and brothers and their families.
Flavia’s mum has recently started to date again. She’s been to the cinema three times with the village vicar, a widower a couple of years younger than her, and after their third date told Flavia that she’d successfully tempted him into a little swearing (the S-word), and once she’d done that she’d been happy to kiss him. Flavia said she was surprised by how okay she was about hearing all of that, because she just wants her mum to be happy, and Sofia doeshaveto live her life rather than mourning Flavia’s dad forever.
Once Sofia had started to date, she decided that she was ready to visit Cape Town, the trip that she of course planned with her late husband. So here we all are.
The others have all been off on safari, for two nights, while Flavia and I spent some time alone, and are now back for us all to do some sightseeing together tomorrow. We’re about to meet them for dinner in a waterfront steak restaurant, before taking a wander along the beach to welcome in the new year at midnight.
‘The sceneryisperfect,’ I agree. You can’t argue with mountainsandthe ocean in one fell swoop, plus a lot of pretty buildings. ‘But not as perfect as the viewIhave right now.’ I move closer to her. ‘Iloveyour back.’ It’s elegant, it’s graceful, it curves in a very, very nice way at her waist, and it’s basically just gorgeous.
Flavia obligingly does a little wiggle for me and I go over and wrap my arms around her, before kissing the nape of her neck. She leans back into me for a moment, and I turn her round and kiss her on her lips.
She responds immediately to the kiss, and I begin to pull her towards the bed.
Very,verydisappointingly, she draws out of our kiss and shakes her head.
‘We have to be downstairs basicallynow,’ she says.
‘Seriously.’ I tut. ‘Whynowfor you to become strict on punctuality? I thought we agreed that I should loosen up on being on time.’ I kiss her again. ‘I amsoready to be late on this occasion.’
She laughs and kisses me back, but then again says, ‘No, we can’t be late. Mum’s really looking forward to this dinner.’
I draw back immediately. ‘You’re right. Let’s go.’
The restaurant is buzzing with New Year’s Eve party vibes. We order shared starters and the local sparkling wine. The wine arrives quickly, along with some bread. Flavia orders some sparkling water too. Very wise. She hates hangovers even more than your average person does.
We’ve seated ourselves so that no-one’s next to their partner, so Flavia’s at the opposite side of the table, but, as always, we often catch each other’s eyes for shared smiles and glances. I’m enjoying this meal – Flavia’s family are great, and Vinny and Antonio both make great brothers-in-law – but I’m also very much looking forward to returning to our room and continuing where we had to leave off for dinner.
Our first year of marriage has been perfect in all except the regard that we both have very busy independent lives, with work and friends (although we do now know each other’s friends well), so when we manage to get away on holiday, it’s wonderful to be able to spend time alone together.
The starters are amazing, as is the main course. I notice Flavia’s choice of the fish of the day rather than the rare steak that the rest of us are having, and am very surprised: we have this thing when we go to restaurants where we each try to guess what the other’s going to choose (we have very different tastes in food) and I’ve got pretty good at it and Ireallywould not have predicted she’d go for fish here. Steak and soft French cheeses are pretty much the only two things we both love food-wise.
Desserts done (again Flavia surprises me, when she turns down my offer of some of my cheese after she’s finished her slice of plum and pistachio cake), we all opt for coffees. Well, apart from Flavia, who goes for a lemon and ginger tea, which is also odd. Shehatesherbal teas. I wonder if she’s feeling ill.
