A little bit later On the island…
They had come back to their camp in silence, each one holding a canteen full of fresh water. After the events that had taken place at the waterfall, Sybil was mortified. She wished she was a mouse so she could hide in a little hole. Her reputation of an independent woman had been manhandled: first the pig and then the snake. Two situations she couldn't tackle with the calm that could be expected from her, and she was feeling a little bit ashamed, all the more that she had lost her temper in front of Tom. And, once more, he had to come to her rescue.
Hidden behind a bush of exotic plants, she was now trying to take off her wet clothes to put on her bikini. The sky was a bit cloudy but the warmth was still stifling and they could see the sun trying to peek from behind the clouds. As she was rolling a pareo around her hips, she looked over to Tom. From her hiding place, she could watch him like she wanted and she didn't deprive herself to do so. He was cutting branches of palm trees, for what she didn't know, and she admired, without any restraint, the muscles of his arms, contracting as the hatchet flew through the air and came in contact with the tree.
She sighed.
Two years had gone by and she had to admit that he had not lost his handsomeness. It was, as if like a good wine, he was improving with age. Her eyes then looked down to her left third finger and to the ring on it and she sighed again. She had moved on a long time ago and today wasn't the day to look back.
She quickly hung her wet clothes on the bushes, reached for her sun lotion and went to sit on the beach, near the plane.
As she was applying her lotion, despite the clouds, (she recalled Daisy's advice prior to her departure to still apply lotion as UV rays can penetrate the clouds), she saw Tom walking past her, whistling and dressed in a funny way. He had covered himself with the branches he had cut earlier and was holding what looked like a handmade spear.
"Oh, are you going to a party?" she exclaimed.
He stopped in front of her and turned around on himself like a model.
"Do you like it?"
"Why this branched outfit?" asked Sybil, getting up.
"I'm gonna hunt."
"Ah? Hunt what?"
With his spear, he pointed to two peacocks that were quietly wandering on the beach in the distance.
"Oh no…" moaned Sybil. "You're kidding! They are beautiful creatures!" she yelled at him as he was walking away toward the birds.
"Yes, and I've heard they taste just like chicken," replied Tom.
"Chicken?" repeated Sybil, suddenly interested.
On the island, the same night…The night was now fully black and all around them they could only hear the singing of the crickets and the crackling of the fire that Tom just started. The sea was calm, the air sweet and the sky above them full of stars. Seated in front of the flames, Sybil sighed; all was reunited for a perfect romantic evening. Only the circumstances reminded her that it wasn't the case. Tom came closer and poured an orange liquid on the peacock that was roasting before spreading it with his fingers.
She started to ask him what it was but the scent that reached her nose was far from unpleasant, even more so because she hadn't eaten a thing since the night before.
"Maybe I should taste it?" she asked, watching Tom lick his fingers.
He looked up at her. She was wearing a pareo around her hips that was showing her flat belly, her shapely legs and the top of her bikini was highlighting her beautiful breasts. The flames were lighting her figure in a flattering way and Tom couldn't stop himself to find her beautiful and desirable.
"This way," she continued unaware of his examination, "if one day I'm asked: 'Have you ever eaten peacock?' I can answer: 'Yes, of course.'"
"You won't be disappointed," Tom simply answered.
He pulled the meat back from the fire and put it on a big leaf. With his knife, he cut a leg and gave it to Sybil who was sitting with her legs crossed facing him.
"Here you go. It is cooked to perfection."
"Thank you," she said, reaching for the bit of meat.
She blew on it to cool it down a little and finally bit on it.
" Holy crap," she said with her mouth full. "Waouh…"
Tom looked at her, amused, and bit into his own portion. He lifted an eyebrow to her.
"Yes, it tastes like chicken," she admitted.
They went on eating in silence, looking at each other on the sly before Sybil really stared at him. She had a thousand questions to ask him about his departure but she didn't know where to start nor if she still had the right to do so. Tom was a stranger to her now. Feeling her eyes upon him, he looked up to her.
"What?" he asked.
"You really like it, right?"
Tom frowned, unsure about what she was referring to.
"The life you have now…you really like it."
It was more of an observation than a question.
"Yes, I like it. It's like a new life for me."
"You don't regret Downton?" dared Sybil.
Tom took a few seconds before answering.
"Sometimes…but there was nothing left for me over there and now, I have the opportunity to have a second life. There's my old life…and the one I'm currently writing. The two are separated."
"I see," answered Sybil.
She understood his last words perfectly: she wasn't a part of this new life.
"But why did you come here? London could have offered you a lot of professional possibilities."
"I had too many memories over there," he said, looking everywhere but at her. "I wanted to change my life, have my own firm. I chose a better way of living, more fun and pleasant. I came here and it was love at first sight. I now have my own home on a beautiful beach, I have a plane…"
He made a face.
"I had one…"
Sybil looked at the plane standing in the sand.
"Yeah."
"I do what I want," Tom continued. "I have peace and quiet, I have the life that all men want…"
"Yes, well until they're twelve! You had so many dreams, so many ambitions!"
An uncomfortable silence took place and Sybil looked up at him. She saw his wounded look.
"Oh sorry, it was a stupid thing to say. It's just that it doesn't sound like you at all."
"Things change, Sybil. People too."
"I know," she said softly with something like regret in her voice. "I'm sorry."
"It's not a big deal…"
"It makes me grumpy to be…shipwrecked."
Tom smiled frankly at her for the first time that night and she smiled back at him. They stared at each other a moment and, before the situation could become uncomfortable, Sybil reached for the half coconut Tom had cut for them as a glass and lifted it to him.
"Cheers," she said, smiling.
"Cheers," answered Tom, hitting his half against hers.
"To our reunion."
"To our reunion."
They finished their meal in silence before going to the sea to wash their hands and clean up a bit.
"Look at the sky!" exclaimed Tom pointing at it. "You don't have one like this in London!"
"True. It's a beautiful sky."
They were both looking at the celestial vault, heads up and Sybil stumbled in a sand hole formed by the little waves crashing on the beach.
"Ohhh…" she breathed, feeling herself fall backward.
Tom caught her just before her bottom hit the water and she crashed against his firm chest. An electric shock went through their bodies and Sybil gulped. She looked up at him and met his pained eyes. She could feel against her breasts Tom's heart beating fast and only one question went through her mind: Why? Time seemed to stop but Tom ended the moment by clearing his throat. Sybil took a step back.
"Sorry…I think I'm exhausted. I can't stand up anymore."
Tom didn't say anything and just walked her back on the dry sand, a hand on her back.
"Good night, Tom," she said to him once they were back near the fire.
"Good night," he answered, looking at her as she was heading to the plane for the night.
He waited until she was in the plane and then, reached for a bottle of rum before sitting down on one of the boxes of their camp. He took a mouthful and looked back to the plane.
"Cheers, Syb," he sighed. "Pleasant dreams."
He already knew that his would be full of a smile and the blue eyes of a certain Lady who was returning completely in his heart, although he knew deep inside that she never really left it. The night would be long…very long…
To be continued