Page 68 of Never Gonna Happen

‘Emily,’ said Mr Hunter. ‘Can you go back to the house and get some things for James? You’ll know what he needs. Also let Madeleine know what’s happened, she’ll be worried. I’ll get a taxi to the clinic and make sure James gets the best care.’

‘I will take you,’ said Jessie, gathering up her belongings.

‘Thank you, Jessie,’ said Mr Hunter, putting his hand up to stop her for a moment. ‘I have one last favour to ask.’

‘Of course, Mr Charles,’ said Jessie. ‘Anything.’

‘Can you find the fishermen who rescued him? And a man called Joseph, he is a gardener at . . .?’ He looked at Emily with his eyebrows raised.

‘The Coral Reef Hotel,’ said Emily.

Jessie processed the request for a second, then nodded. ‘Yes, I’m sure I can find them all.’

‘Will you speak to them, find out what they need? Money, new boats, something for their community. Whatever will best express our gratitude.’

Jessie nodded, her eyes filling with tears. ‘I’m glad Mr James is going to be OK.’

‘You’ve been such a help,’ said Mr Hunter. ‘We can’t thank you enough.’

‘You keep looking after my brother,’ said Jessie. ‘That is thanks enough. And come to Delphine’s wedding in June.’

‘I will, I promise,’ said Mr Hunter. ‘We’ll come with Sam and Gabrielle and the children.’

Jessie’s smile faltered. ‘Ayo, I don’t think they are all coming.’ Emily heard the unspoken words on her lips – it’s too expensive.

Mr Hunter shook his head and patted Jessie on the arm. ‘Don’t worry, Jessie. We will all be there.’

Chapter Thirty-Three

Jamie stayed at the clinic for a week, during which Emily juggled work for Mr Hunter with daily visits to the hospital. Mr Hunter had secured the best room available, which had an en-suite bathroom and a separate area where Emily and Mr Hunter could work so they’d be there when Jamie woke up. The surgery had been declared a success, and Jamie’s right leg and ankle were now a bionic limb of metal rods and plates, immobilised with a plaster cast from his toes to above his knee. His broken ribs and various cuts and scrapes were left to heal on their own, and even the smallest movement prompted a wince of pain.

Once Jamie was taken back to the beach house, his physiotherapist came every day to help him mobilise and get used to walking around on crutches, but the polished floors in the beach house were treacherous, and he got tired quickly with all the painkillers and antibiotics. He spent a lot of time in a wheelchair with his leg elevated, which meant he could manoeuvre around the house on his own, mostly getting under Madeleine’s feet.

Emily had taken to getting up early and going swimming before work, giving herself a much-needed hour of headspace before the day started. Mr Hunter insisted that his driver Paul went with her for safety, so he waited in the car at the edge of the beach, sipping a coffee and watching the mad English girl swim. The water was calm and safe inside the reef, but Emily bought some rubber rock shoes to protect her from sea urchins. She soon became a familiar sight with the locals as she ploughed back and forth across the lagoon at sunrise, emptying her mind of everything but the water and the rhythm of her arms and legs.

A few days after Jamie returned to the beach house, Emily got back from her swim to hear him having a lively conversation with Mr Hunter on the terrace. She hung back in the kitchen to avoid interrupting and made herself a coffee.

‘Please, Dad, tell them not to come. I’m begging you.’

‘I can’t, I’m sorry. They’re both on their way. Adam called me from the plane. He’ll be here after lunch.’

Emily’s heart sank. It sounded like Adam and his wife were coming to Mauritius, which was pretty much her worst nightmare.

‘But why?’ said Jamie, clearly frustrated.

‘To see you and keep you company, apparently,’ said Mr Hunter. ‘They’re both worried about you.’

‘No, I’m sorry,’ raged Jamie. ‘I’m not buying it. Neither of them gives a damn about me.’

Emily raised her eyebrows as she poured milk into her coffee. She could understand Jamie being furious about Adam, but it felt a bit harsh on Victoria.

‘Catherine was very shaken by the news, according to Adam. You could have died.’

Emily nearly dropped the milk on the kitchen floor. There was definitely a worse nightmare than Adam and his wife, and it was Adam and his sister. Oh, dear God, please no.

‘OK, fine, Adam’s coming. But please, can you at least stop Catherine?’

‘She’s on her way too, via Dubai. Absolutely hellish flight from LA, she’ll be here later tonight.’