“Well, it’s not exactly hardship.” Luke looks at me wryly. “We’re hardly roughing it, are we?”
I feel a slight flush come to my cheeks. When we set off on this trip, I told Luke I was determined we were going to be real travelers, like in The Beach, and sleep only in little huts.
That was before I’d spent a night in a little hut.
“So when we say ‘back’ ”—Luke pauses—“we are talking London?”
He looks at me questioningly.
Oh God. Finally, it’s decision time.
We’ve been talking for ten months about where we should live after the honeymoon. Before we got married, Luke and I were living in New York. And I loved it. But I kind of missed home, too. And now Luke’s U.K. business is expanding into more of Europe, and that’s where all the excitement is. So he’d like to go back to London, at least for a while.
Which is fine… except I won’t have a job. My old job was as a personal shopper at Barneys New York. And I adored it.
But never mind. I’m bound to find a new job. An even better one!
“London,” I say decisively, and look up. “So… can we be back in time for the christening?”
“If you like.” Luke smiles, and I feel a sudden leap of exhilaration. We’re going to the christening! I’m going to see Suze again! And my mum and dad! After nearly a year! They’ll all be so excited to see us. We’ll have so many stories to tell them!
I have a sudden vision of myself presiding over candlelit supper parties with all my friends gathered round, listening avidly to tales of faraway lands and exotic adventures. I’ll be just like Marco Polo or someone! Then I’ll open my trunk to reveal rare and precious treasures… everyone will gasp in admiration—
“We’d better let them know,” says Luke, getting up.
“No, wait,” I say, grabbing his trousers. “I’ve had an idea. Let’s surprise them! Let’s surprise everybody!”
“Surprise everybody?” Luke looks doubtful. “Becky, are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“It’s a brilliant idea! Everyone loves a surprise!”
“But…”
“Everyone loves a surprise,” I repeat confidently. “Trust me.”
We walk back through the gardens to the main hotel — and I do feel a slight twinge at the thought of leaving. It’s so beautiful here. All teak bungalows and amazing birds everywhere, and if you follow the stream through the grounds, there’s a real waterfall! We pass the wood-carving center, where you can watch craftsmen at work, and I pause for a moment, inhaling the delicious scent of wood.
“Mrs. Brandon!” The head craftsman, Vijay, has appeared at the entrance.
Damn. I didn’t know he’d be around.
“Sorry, Vijay!” I say quickly. “I’m in a bit of a hurry. I’ll see you later… Come on, Luke!”
“No problem!” Vijay beams and wipes his hands on his apron. “I just wanted to tell you that your table is ready.”
Shit.
Slowly Luke turns to look at me.
“Table?” he says.
“Your dining table,” says Vijay in happy tones. “And ten chairs. I show you! We display the work!” He snaps his fingers and barks some orders and suddenly, to my dismay, about eight men troop out, carrying a huge carved teak table on their shoulders.
Wow. It’s a tad bigger than I remembered.
Luke looks absolutely stunned.
“Bring the chairs!” Vijay is bossing the men. “Set it up properly!”
“Isn’t it lovely?” I say in superbright tones.
“You ordered a dining table and ten chairs… without telling me?” says Luke, goggling as the chairs arrive.
OK. I don’t have many options here.
“It’s… my wedding present to you!” I say with sudden inspiration. “It’s a surprise! Happy wedding, darling!” I plant a kiss on his cheek and smile hopefully up at him.
“Becky, you already gave me a wedding present,” says Luke, folding his arms. “And our wedding was a fairly long time ago now.”
“I’ve been… saving it up!” I lower my voice so Vijay can’t hear. “And honestly, it isn’t that expensive…”
“Becky, it’s not the money. It’s the space! This thing’s a monstrosity!”
“It’s not that big. And anyway,” I quickly add before he can reply, “we need a good table! Every marriage needs a good table.” I spread my arms widely. “After all, what is marriage about if not sitting down at the table at the end of the day and sharing all our problems? What is marriage, if not sitting together at a solid wooden table and… and eating a bowl of hearty stew?”