Chapter 6
‘I’ve got a bad feeling about all this. I wish we hadn’t come.’
A tear trickled down Edie’s cheek and Ralph went into the bathroom to fetch some tissues.
She was sitting on the end of their bed. The shutters were wide open and the turquoise Libyan Sea seemed to be winking at them mischievously in the distance.
‘It’s such a gorgeous place,’ she went on, wiping her eyes and sniffing. ‘It’s hard to imagine not having a wonderful time. But Hannah and Mac are horribly snappy and I get the feeling Mac already hates Jessica and vice versa.
‘It was a stupid idea to invite her. In fact, we shouldn’t have invited any of them; we should have gone somewhere on our own. I can’t think why we didn’t.’
Ralph sat down beside her and put an arm round her shoulders.
‘Don’t beat yourself up, Edie,’ he said gently, giving her a rare, reassuring squeeze. ‘Inviting Jessica was Hannah’s idea, remember? She was the one who suggested it.’
Edie sniffed again. ‘I know but?—’
‘Look,’ he interrupted. ‘It’s done now so let’s make the best of it.
It’s a stunning place, as you say, and we can still enjoy ourselves.
If Hannah, Mac and Jessica are at each other’s throats, let’s leave them to it.
We can push off on our own and they can bicker and row as much as they like.
At least we’re miles from the nearest house so no one will hear them. ’
Edie giggled; she couldn’t help it. He sounded like the old Ralph, the one with a sense of humour.
‘You couldn’t make it up, could you?’ she said. ‘That comment Jessica made about voyeurism was weird . I think she’s got it in for Mac and he knows it. It feels like we’re on the brink of war.’
Ralph inhaled deeply. ‘Maybe it’s a good thing if she calls him to account.
It might make him reflect on his behaviour.
Personally, I don’t think there’s anything sinister going on between him and Hannah, but they’re certainly not love’s young dream.
Not like us,’ he added, giving Edie another squeeze.
She glanced up to see if he was being sarcastic, but his expression seemed genuine. Straightening up, she turned to peck him on the cheek. It was a bit scratchy as he hadn’t shaved, but she didn’t mind.
‘And what about Katerina?’ she asked suddenly, with a jolt. ‘What on earth was she on about?’ Edie had been so busy filling Ralph in on Mac’s tense exchange with Jessica, she’d put the housekeeper’s odd comments before she left to one side.
‘Oh, she’s just a funny old lady,’ Ralph replied dismissively. ‘A bit fey. She probably spends too much time up the mountain on her own.’
Edie gave a big sigh and he swivelled round, pressing her face between his palms.
‘Don’t worry,’ he said, gazing steadily into her eyes.
He hadn’t done that in a long time and his breath seemed to fill her with warmth and newfound strength. She scarcely dared move, in case his mood suddenly changed.
‘Thank you,’ she said, when he finally lowered his hands. ‘I feel a lot better now. Let’s have a swim, then I’ll investigate supper.’
The sun was just beginning to set when they entered the garden in their bathing suits and flip-flops and made their way to the pool area, through the trellis arch, covered in vine leaves and climbing roses.
The air was still balmy and they stood for quite a while with their elbows resting on the stone balustrade, watching the sky and sea turn through a kaleidoscope of colours, from greenish-blue to orangey pink, streaked with lilac and indigo.
Now and again a goat further down the mountain would bleat out a solo. Soon, the others would join in, accompanying their piteous cries with a jangling of bells.
Meanwhile, the cicadas struck up sporadic choruses of clicking and chirping. It was nature’s cantata, specially composed, Ralph and Edie decided, for the two of them.
Just before the sun dipped below the horizon, when the sky was now crimson red, Ralph nudged Edie in the ribs.
‘Come on, let’s swim.’
Reluctantly, she turned her back on the magnificent spectacle unfolding before her very eyes, and watched her husband dive into the darkening water with a loud splash, before resurfacing.
‘It’s the perfect temperature,’ he called. His wet hair was slicked back and the droplets of water in his eyes made them gleam bright.
Bracing herself, she stood on the edge of the pool, pinched her nose between finger and thumb, closed her eyes – and jumped.
The cold water whooshed into her sage green swimsuit and up her body, instantly making her blood rush and her heart pound with exhilaration.
She went down far enough to touch the bottom with her tiptoes before pushing herself off and resurfacing with a pop, like a cork and the bubbles from a champagne bottle.
‘Wow! Bracing!’ She smiled at Ralph with water streaming down her face.
‘Fancy a race?’ he asked, starting to swim towards the shallow end. ‘I don’t know why I’m asking. You always win!’
‘Ready, Steady, Go!’ she shouted, and soon they were crashing through the water using their best front crawl, as if their lives depended on finishing first.
For a few strokes, she was aware of Ralph alongside her, but she soon started to pull ahead.
Just before reaching the end, she stretched out an arm as far as she could, preparing herself for victory. But before she could touch the edge, Ralph swerved sideways, bumping into her, and they ended up in a tangle of arms and legs.
‘Cheater!’ Edie screamed, coming up and gasping for air. ‘You did that on purpose!’
‘Sorry,’ he replied, panting and grinning at the same time. ‘I didn’t want you to get all cocky.’
By now the sun had completely disappeared and long shadows were creating strange, other-worldly shapes round the garden. A sound of clinking, coming from somewhere near the house, alerted them to the fact they weren’t alone.
‘Shall we get out?’ Ralph asked, and Edie nodded.
‘We’d better find out what the others are up to.’
Wrapped in towels, they padded back to the villa just as Jessica was leaving the kitchen with a pile of plates. The patio table was already half laid with placemats, napkins, glasses and cutlery.
‘Oh gosh!’ Edie stopped to hug her towel round her while a puddle of water collected at her feet. ‘You shouldn’t have to do that on your own. I’ll get some clothes on quickly and come and help.’
‘No worries!’ Jessica smiled. She’d changed out of her black jeans and sweatshirt into a pair of skimpy white shorts and a pale blue, sleeveless top.
Edie had never seen her friend’s bare legs before and they were long, thin and pale but strong-looking.
‘What time shall we eat?’ Jessica asked, putting down the pile of plates and checking the fitness watch with a pink strap she always wore. ‘It’s eight thirty now. Shall we say nine o’clock?’
‘Goodness!’ Edie replied. ‘Is it really that late? It was only seven the last time I looked.’
‘We’re on holiday,’ Ralph commented. ‘Time’s more elastic. It’s nice not to be tied to a routine.’
Edie loosened her towel and rubbed her hair dry with one end.
‘Agreed. Still, I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry. I’ll tell the others to come down for nine. Don’t do anything more, Jessica. It won’t take me long to get changed.’
She felt a little apprehensive about knocking on Mac and Hannah’s door, in case they were asleep or having a row. It was Mac who opened up and when Edie peeped inside, she saw Hannah looking perfectly relaxed, sitting on the bed and combing her damp hair.
She must have showered and was fresh-faced and make-up-free. She’d changed, too, into a white cotton dress with short sleeves.
‘Is it chilly outside? Will I need a jumper?’ she asked, when Edie told her about supper.
‘Not really. I’m cold now because I’ve had a swim. Maybe bring an extra layer just in case.’
It was impossible not to feel content, sitting round the wooden patio table, surrounded by lemon and olive trees, with plates of delicious-looking food in front of them.
Jessica had found three white pillar candles in giant glass hurricane jars and had placed one in the centre of the table and the others on a nearby wall.
As soon as she lit them, the garden was transformed into a sort of fairy land and everyone’s face glowed mysteriously in the flickering flames.
Katerina had prepared a big bowl of Greek salad, with tangy feta cheese; crunchy cucumber; sweet, vine-ripe tomatoes; earthy green bell peppers; strong, salty kalamata olives; fresh oregano and red onion.
In addition, there was a dish of cold pulled pork flavoured with honey and fresh herbs, including sage, rosemary, thyme and coriander.
They ate this with rice flavoured with onion, garlic, lemon juice, parsley and fresh dill, washed down with a chilled local white wine, also kindly left in the fridge for them by Katerina.
‘My! This is so good! I didn’t realise I was quite so ravenous.’
After popping a forkful of the cold meat into her mouth, Edie reached out while she was still chewing and spooned some more onto her plate. Only then did she push the dish towards Mac, who’d been eyeing it greedily.
They talked a bit about plans for tomorrow and Edie said she’d like to stroll into town in the morning to have a browse.
‘Typical!’ Ralph said with a laugh. ‘You just can’t keep away from shops, can you? I swear they’ve got some sort of magnetic power over you. I think I’ll stay here and chill, if you don’t mind. I’m looking forward to doing absolutely nothing.’
‘I’m not going clothes shopping, if that’s what you’re thinking,’ Edie replied tetchily.
‘We’ll need some supplies from that mini-market, unless we decide to eat out tomorrow.
Also, I want to get the lie of the land.
I noticed there are ferries to quite a few different places, including the Samaria Gorge and Gavdos.
That’s the southernmost island in Greece.
It might be worth a visit. I’ll try and get a timetable. ’
‘I’ll come too,’ Jessica said, before lowering her eyes. ‘That’s if you don’t mind.’