* * *
The storm was already fierce when they ran from the car to the restaurant, getting fairly wet in the short time it took. She asked Carlos more about making this island his home all those years ago, thinking how right Joe had been about the restaurant’s location. She hadn’t realised the restaurant was right up against the promenade on top of the sea wall. It was too dark to see too much thanks to the driving rain and heavy sky but the sound of waves crashing, rain hitting the window next to them and the roar of the wind were dramatic nonetheless.
‘Joe was telling me that many people moved here from Madeira since the sixties and seventies,’ she said. ‘Did you always mean to settle here, or did it just sort of happen?’
Carlos smiled thoughtfully. ‘Initially I only meant to work here for a few seasons. My cousin already worked here. It was he who recommended the Bel Amie to me. After Annie left though I was intending to leave at the end of that season. I did return home to my family in Madeira and my mother talked sense into me, telling me that I had the opportunity to make a good life for myself working in the hotel. So the following season I returned but to a different hotel.’
Skye thought about all the places she had visited and how each made her feel. ‘This is a beautiful place to live. I’m not surprised you changed your mind about leaving.’
‘It was two years later that I met my late wife. She’s from the island.’
Late wife? Hoping she hadn’t upset him by encouraging him to reminisce, Skye knew she had to address his situation.
‘I’m so sorry. I wasn’t sure whether you were still married or not.’
Bruno took a drink from his glass of lager. ‘Mum died ten years ago now,’ he said, glancing at his father. ‘It was a dark time for us all.’
‘It was,’ Carlos agreed.
She could well imagine how he had felt. Unsure whether to ask but believing it mattered, Skye said, ‘Would she have minded about me? Do you think?’
Carlos shrugged. ‘I don’t know for sure, of course, but I believe she would have been happy to meet you, Skye. My Della was a kind person and would never have felt threatened by any women who came into my life before we had met.’
Skye heard sirens in the background but didn’t take any notice. Although she hadn’t heard them much at all since her arrival on the island, she was used to hearing them back at home and presumed there must have been an accident of sorts along the lengthy road behind the restaurant.
‘Della sounds like she was an amazing lady,’ Skye said, turning her attention back to the conversation. She was relieved to hear it that Della would react that way and hoped that if both Carlos and Bruno believed this then her other brothers would also be open to getting to know her. ‘I wish I could have met her too.’
Carlos swallowed, then nodded. ‘I would have liked that very much.’
She noticed Bruno staring at something outside a little way along from the restaurant. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘I’m not sure yet,’ he said, squinting out of the rain-soaked window, his face the picture of concern. He stood and walked to look out of another window, coming back shortly after. She saw him check his phone.
‘What’s happened?’
‘There’s something going on,’ he said. ‘I’ve seen blue lights so the emergency services are already there but I doubt it’s a car accident.’
She stood next to him and leant closer to the windowpane to peer out, but it was almost impossible to make out what was happening. ‘Why don’t you think it’s a car crash?’
‘Because the ambulance is nearer to the sea wall than it would be if the incident was on the road.’
‘Is it a fire?’ she asked, unsure how anything could burn with this amount of rain.
He shook his head. ‘I spotted the RNLI out there. Someone must be in difficulty.’
Skye shuddered, hoping there was a positive outcome for whoever was involved. She felt her appetite subside and wished they hadn’t already ordered. ‘I wonder if there’s something we could do to help?’ she said, unsure in what way.
Bruno frowned. ‘Sorry, Dad, Skye, would you mind very much if I go and have a closer look?’
She could tell there was something on his mind and that he wasn’t simply being nosy. ‘Not at all.’
Carlos shook his head. ‘You go. Try not to be out there too long, and stay back from the sea wall – you don’t want to get hurt.’
As soon as Bruno left, Skye kept Carlos busy by asking more questions about his first season on the island. ‘It must have been quite different here back then.’
He clasped his hands together and gave a wistful smile. ‘It was more different than you would probably imagine. More hotels, the waterfront wasn’t completely developed then and there were many more cafés and bars.’ His gaze slid to the door. ‘I hope he’s not too long out there. This storm is bad.’
They spoke for a little longer when the door opened and Bruno walked in, soaked. He took off his coat and hung the dripping item on a hook with other damp outerwear.
