Page 60 of A Taste of Paradise

‘What isn’t?’

‘Doing it all yourself. Parenting, I mean.’

A weary look spread across his face. ‘No. No, it isn’t, to be honest.’ Will sighed deeply. ‘Especially when you never thought you’d be doing it alone. Christine and I had great intentions for how we were going to raise our brood. We wanted them to experience the world, learn about new people and cultures and teach them the value of what they had. Give them perspective in the hope they’d make good choices for their future. Like I said, great intentions. We honestly never figured one of us would have to fulfil them all on our own.’

Naomi’s heart almost broke at this admission. ‘How do you do it?’

‘I have to. Holly is my whole world now. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. Nothing I wouldn’t forgo. Sleeping in late or going out early. Missing a football match to paint by numbers. It doesn’t matter. Raising her well is all that does.’

‘I wish everyone saw things the way you do. Some people see kids as a nuisance, an impediment to their happiness, even.’ At this, Greg immediately popped into her mind. Thinking about it, he’d never been great around children.

‘Then those people aren’t as fortunate as me,’ Will quickly countered.

He was so earnest that Naomi’s heart melted and she smiled. ‘I agree.’

The conversation paused momentarily as they both got caught up in the stillness of the night and the cool of the breeze off the water.

‘Naomi?’ Will said suddenly. ‘May I ask you something?’

‘Sure, go ahead.’

‘I’ve seen you around the resort several times since we arrived and you’re often by yourself or with your parents and your friend. Your mum mentioned you were here with your boyfriend, but I’ve never actually seen him, or you with him. I suppose I was wondering if everything was OK?’ She looked at him quickly and sensing her surprise, he quickly backtracked. ‘I’m sorry, that was none of my business. Forget I asked.’

‘No, it’s fine actually. I’ve pretty much been asking the same question,’ she admitted, as a swell of inexplicable sadness began to take hold. She sat up a little, tucking her legs in front of her. ‘I’d decided for some stupid reason that this trip was going to change everything,’ she divulged. ‘After the pandemic, and maybe because of my age, I was starting to feel that I’ve wasted way too much of my life.’

‘Erm … you’re not exactly old. And I think that time forced a lot of us to re-examine our priorities.’

‘You think so?’ It was strange to hear Will say this because all throughout Greg behaved as if that major world event was a mere inconvenience, a nuisance even. Whereas for Naomi, it sometimes felt like the end of the world, especially being separated from everyone she loved. And all she could think about was how little she had done with her life and how much she wanted, or rather needed, to do.

This trip was supposed to mark the beginning of all that. Goodbye to the old Naomi, and in with the new.

‘Maybe it made me realise that I need to better focus on what I want from life.’

‘And what do you want?’ Will asked.

She didn’t have to think too deeply about that. ‘I want someone who loves me for me, and sees a future for us together. I want someone who, when we come on holiday, isn’t going to spend every minute focused on work and be completely inflexible, unwilling to deviate from some rigid life plan. I want someone who makes me not only part of, but central, to that plan.’ Now that she’d started to articulate how she was truly feeling, Naomi was on a roll and it was as if there was nobody else present, she could just as easily have been talking to herself. ‘I want someone who is a true partner, someone to support and encourage me to be myself, and do what I want to do, not be a slave to some stupid algorithm.’

‘You mean your social media presence?’

‘Yes, I know what you’re thinking. It’s stupid and vacuous and I actually think I hate it now. Granted it served a purpose – an important one – at the start, but once it became all about making money it seemed … wrong.’

‘I don’t know much about this stuff so I wasn’t thinking anything actually. But if you no longer enjoy it, why don’t you give it up?’ Will asked. ‘You mentioned before that you’re a teacher by profession.’

‘Yes, and I love that. But Greg thinks my online profile is far too lucrative and going back to being a boring old teacher would significantly hamper our financial goals.’ She made a face.

‘Your Greg is sounding like a very … special kind of guy,’ Will remarked with heavy derision and Naomi immediately felt guilty.

‘Sorry, I’m probably being a bit unfair to him too. Especially when he’s the one who turned it into the success it is; he had all the knowledge and the business contacts. I was just some idiot with a phone.’

‘Hmm, I may not know you all that well, Naomi, but as you know my daughter is a keen social media connoisseur,’ he joked. ‘Holly looked you up and seems to think you have excellent fashion sense.’

She laughed. ‘I knew she’d do that.’

‘She doesn’t have a phone yet though. I’m holding out on that for as long as I can.’

‘I think you’re right.’

‘But, hey, try not to worry. Sounds to me like you know better than anyone what’s right for you and what you want. Don’t let money confuse that. Life is short, as I know too well.’