Chapter Thirty-Five
Friday, 12 th January
‘Cheers! To your first visit to Lakeside as an engaged couple!’ Stacy clinked with first Emily, then Alan. They were in the kitchen, where she was making spaghetti carbonara for dinner. Rico had taken Ralph, who was up for the party at the weekend, to visit their cousins, so the three of them were home alone.
Alan squeezed Emily’s hand on the table. ‘Little did I know when I took that summer job here that I’d end up meeting my future wife!’
Emily giggled. ‘And little did I know when Stace and I came for a week’s holiday that I’d end up engaged to the dashing young barman who served us. It was fate, wasn’t it!’
Stacy joined in. ‘And little did I know that I’d end up working here!’
‘What’s the plan for the open day tomorrow?’ Emily sipped her wine.
‘In the morning, we do a last whizz round in the spa, making sure the tubs are working and everything’s as perfect as possible. The open afternoon’s from two o’clock onwards, invited guests only, so it isn’t an open day in the true sense. It won’t be a huge affair; we’re expecting around twenty people. I’ll be keeping an eye out in the spa, and Rico will mingle and speechify, and coffee and cakes will be served in the restaurant. Then dinner’s at seven, and a few more people are coming then.’
And thank goodness it wouldn’t be a huge affair. Stacy began to serve the meal. It was awful; all she wanted to do was take Rico in her arms and cuddle some of her own health into him, but he’d retreated into an artificially cheerful caricature of himself, chatting about this and that but never saying what he felt. He wasn’t letting her anywhere near him, and it was ironic, after keeping him at arm’s length for so long, that was where she really, really wanted to be. Near him. Why, oh why hadn’t she grabbed him with both hands right at the start? How dim she’d been back then, and now he was the one who was sticking like glue to being friends and colleagues. Every time she opened her mouth to talk about something personal, he was there with a remark about the weather.
She sighed. Nothing like a potentially fatal illness to make you aware of what you wanted in life. The antibiotics were finished and Rico felt fine, but they wouldn’t know for sure that everything was okay until he had another scan. Hosting a party was the last thing he needed, never mind opening a hotel.
‘Is everything okay, Stace? You’re a bit quiet.’ Emily finished her second portion of spaghetti and reached for her glass. ‘Fab meal, by the way.’
‘I’m fine. I’ll be happier when the weekend’s behind me and I’ve seen what it’s like having a full house in the spa room.’ Stacy made herself smile. She couldn’t even tell Emily what was wrong without breaking her promise to Rico.
‘You ladies take your wine through to the other room. I’ll clear up here.’ Alan started to gather the plates.
‘Is it really okay?’ Emily’s voice was low as she lowered herself onto the sofa.
Tears rushed into Stacy’s eyes. Emily had always been able to see right through her. ‘Not quite, but it’s not my problem and I’ve promised not to tell anyone.’
‘All right. Will Kim be at the party on Saturday?’
Oops. By Emily’s tone of voice, the other girl had assumed that the problem was something to do with Kim, not unreasonable given that Kim was Stacy’s closest friend here. But it was safer to say nothing more.
‘Yes, she and her husband are coming in the evening. You’ll like them.’
Emily looked disappointed. ‘Not her children? They always sound so sweet.’
Stacy laughed. ‘It’s a grown-up party! You’ll meet them another time.’
Rico and Ralph returned and Alan reappeared from the kitchen, and conversation became general. Outwardly, Rico was in great form, joking and laughing, and insisting on opening a bottle of champagne to toast the spa. Stacy accepted her glass unhappily, saying nothing. A bottle of bubbly between five wasn’t much, and she didn’t want to sound like a goody two-shoes. But the thought that over-indulgence in alcohol could result in cancer was no consolation. Stacy shook herself – she was being a worrywart as well as a goody two-shoes now; not her best look. She should lighten up.
Open Day tomorrow, then it was another week until the opening. And one and a half weeks until the new scan.