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14
The next morning, I spot Ed already on his sunbed as I walk across the beach. He looks up as I approach and smiles.
‘Mrs Wells, I presume?’
‘Ha ha. May I?’ I indicate the sunbed next to his.
‘Of course!’
The previous evening went much better than I’d feared. I warned Mum and Dad against trying to set us up, and they (mostly) behaved. Ed was there waiting for us when we arrived at the bar. He was dressed in a plain blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, chinos, and boat shoes. As I sat down next to him, I got a whiff of his aftershave, which was woody and a bit spicy. He looked and smelled, well,expensive.
Mum and Dad had never heard ofMarried Before We Met, but were fascinated by it. ‘Maybe we should enter you, Charlotte!’ Dad had exclaimed at one point. I could see Mum watching us closely, looking for any hints that there might be a spark between Ed and me but, to her credit, she managed not to say anything inappropriate. Ed was attentive to both of them, asking my father about his business and being generally charming to Mum. The food was delicious, and we all drank slightly more than we ought to have done. At the end of the evening, as we tipsily made our way back to our rooms, Ed held me back at the point where his route parted from ours.
‘I had a really lovely day today, Charley. Thank you so much.’
I smiled at him. ‘I did too. See you tomorrow.’ Without thinking I wrapped my arms around him in a quick hug and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. As I continued back to my room, I caught the faintest whiff of his aftershave on me that I must have picked up when I hugged him.
It was only when I’d got back, brushed my teeth and had a long drink of water to stave off any potential hangover that I realised I’d completely forgotten to buy any earplugs. Thankfully there had been no dawn chorus from my parents this morning.
‘I had a thought when I woke up, and I’ve got a proposal for you if you’re up to it?’ Ed says to me, after I’ve laid out my towel and got myself settled.
I try, and fail, to look stern. ‘Look, mate. You might be into all this marrying people you’ve never met malarkey, but I’m an old-fashioned sort of girl. I only met you yesterday and you’re wanting to propose already? Shouldn’t you be wining and dining me a lot more first?’
‘Not that sort of proposal!’ He laughs. ‘Here’s the thing. As part of the whole honeymoon experience, Sarah and I were supposed to choose some activities from a list that the production company provided. I haven’t done any of them as there didn’t seem to be much point on my own, but I wondered whether you might like to have a go at some of them with me?’
I consider it for a moment. ‘Have you got the list?’
He hands it over and I scan it:
Water sports including water-skiing, kayaking and windsurfing
A private 4x4 tour of the island with guide
A boat trip including snorkelling and kayaking through the mangrove swamps
A couple’s massage at the hotel spa
Parasailing
A romantic picnic with a breathtaking view (strongly recommended)
‘The water sports sound fun,’ I say to Ed, ‘and the tour of the island might be interesting.’
‘Yes, I liked the sound of them,’ he agrees.
‘I’m not convinced by the boat trip though. Sounds like it’s probably a booze cruise. The couple’s massage is definitely out. Mum and Dad had one of those yesterday and told me that you pretty much have to strip off in front of each other before you lie down under the towels. Way too intimate.’
‘Ah, damn,’ says Ed with a wink, ‘you’ve seen through my plan.’
‘Behave! I’m not sure whether I’d enjoy parasailing, but how can I resist the romantic picnic with a breathtaking view?’
‘I will have to let you down on that one, I’m afraid,’ Ed replies. ‘The fact is that the picnic is the only activity on that list that is organised by the production company directly and not through the hotel. As I’m not officially on honeymoon, they haven’t arranged anything, so that one is not available. Leave it with me and I’ll see if I can come up with something else though.’
I knew it. Of course the grooms don’t organise it!
‘Fair enough. Where do you want to start?’
By lunchtime we’re organised. Incredibly, we’ve managed to get a water-skiing lesson booked for this afternoon as there was a cancellation. Tomorrow we’re windsurfing in the morning and kayaking in the afternoon, then we have a day off before we go on the 4x4 tour of the island on Ed’s last day before he flies home.
