Chapter 3 #2
Sex happened once a week, max, and often less than that. To her, it felt they were both doing it more out of duty than genuine desire.
‘We’ll be able to see the sea from our bedroom, just like last time,’ she commented, keen to keep the romantic theme bubbling.
‘I hope Mac and Hannah don’t squabble,’ Ralph replied. ‘I can’t stand listening to their rows.’
Edie shivered, as if she’d walked into a cold shower. Ralph certainly knew how to spoil the moment.
Laying down her fork, she stared out of the window at the blackened garden. She’d done quite a bit of work out there last spring and summer, planting new shrubs and adding colour to the borders. But you wouldn’t know it now.
‘I think those two have got worse, don’t you?’ she said, turning back to her half-eaten food with little enthusiasm. ‘I’m a bit worried about them, to be honest. Mac’s always snapping at Hannah and putting her down. I don’t think he appreciates her.
‘It’s her income that keeps that family afloat but you’d never know it from the way he behaves. He doesn’t earn enough to feed them, let alone pay the mortgage.’
Ralph finished his mouthful and laid down his fork as well. ‘That’s a bit strong.’
He ran a hand through his longish, straight hair. It used to be honey blond but had faded to a sort of pale, brownish grey.
‘She can be pretty sharp with him, too, I’ve noticed. She’s more restrained in company, but I bet she gives as good as she gets when no one’s looking.’
Edie snorted. ‘Rubbish. Hannah hates conflict. She wouldn’t say boo to a goose.’
‘I wouldn’t be so sure.’ Ralph raised an eyebrow. ‘You don’t get to her position without being tough.’
The mobile rang in Edie’s bag and she fished it out to check the number.
‘Unknown caller,’ she said, replacing the phone. ‘I’ll deal with it later.’
Remembering how she’d made a mental note to check on Jessica later, she decided now to recount the story of Ernest, the sick dog.
‘Jessica was heading straight to the vet’s after school to have him put down, poor thing. She was so upset. I offered to go with her but she refused. I hope she’s OK.’
‘Didn’t she have anyone else to go with?’ Ralph asked.
‘No.’
‘Is she single, then?’
‘Yes.’
Edie realised she hadn’t talked to him much about Jessica, even though the two women had been out together a couple of times. Perhaps she’d thought he wouldn’t be interested.
‘She’s an amazing person,’ she said now. ‘You’d like her. She’s very intelligent and she’s got loads of interests, including running. She does marathons and triathlons and things.’
‘Impressive.’
Edie had had an inkling this would draw him in, and she was right. He ran, too, but only round the local woods and parks; he’d never entered a race, though he’d recently talked about attempting a half-marathon.
When she’d first set eyes on him, she’d thought he must be an athlete because he was so slim and tanned, with ripped muscles showing through his tight white T-shirt.
Later, he explained he’d been working in New Zealand all summer, cutting logs for a family friend’s forestry business. He’d had bulging biceps but they were nothing, he’d insisted, compared with those of the local men he worked with, who were built like tanks.
Edie wasn’t the only one who’d found him irresistible and she’d had to fight off several rivals to win his affections. His six-pack had long since gone, but he was still in pretty good shape.
‘How old is Jessica?’ he asked now, picking up his glass and sipping his wine.
‘About my age, maybe a little younger. Late forties?’
He nodded, putting the glass down. ‘Has she ever been married?’
‘No. I’m not sure why. I guess the right person never came along. She’s attractive – tall and slim, with long brown hair and these amazing blue eyes. She can seem a bit intimidating at first but once you get to know her, she’s really interesting to talk to.
‘I get the impression she’s happy being on her own. She’s always busy. I’ve never picked up on any regrets about not having a partner or children.’
‘Good for her.’ Ralph wiped his mouth with a blue napkin. ‘Maybe I should have a chat with her about marathon training. Sounds like she’d be good person to ask.’
‘I’m sure she’d be delighted.’
Edie glanced at his food, which was three-quarters gone.
‘Finished?’
He nodded.
‘There’s fruit and ice cream for pudding, if you fancy.’
After gathering their plates, she walked over to the dishwasher.
‘I might ask Jessica here sometime, actually. For lunch, maybe. I do feel sorry for her. She adored that dog.’
While Ralph chopped up a banana, which he ate with vanilla ice cream, Edie loaded the dishwasher and put on the kettle. She was convinced her husband would make some excuse and disappear into his office again the moment he’d finished, but he suggested watching TV with her instead.
‘Later,’ she replied, shaking her head. She needed to decompress. ‘I’d better call Jessica. I don’t want to leave it too late in case she goes to sleep.’
‘Fair enough.’
Ralph slunk off to the sitting room, while she took a mug of tea upstairs and sat on their bed, sinking back against a pile of soft pillows and cushions.
The buff-coloured walls and carpet, the thick, earthy-coloured curtains and the fluffy cream throw had a soothing effect on her.
She must try to relax more. Picking holes in her marriage wasn’t the right way to bring them closer.
She resolved not to raise the thorny issue of their relationship again.
Her mind drifted back to Katerina’s strange email: ‘I hope you and your husband and friends will reap the benefits from all that Villa Ariadne has to offer. It is a most unusual and very special place…’
She’d just have to hope the villa – and indeed, the holiday in general – would live up to her expectations and help her and her husband remember why they got together in the first place. If a week in glorious Crete didn’t do the trick, nothing would.
* * *
‘It was a good death, the best, really, under the circumstances. He died in my arms; I sort of stroked him off to sleep. It was all over quickly and he wasn’t in any pain.
Everyone was so kind. They let me sit with him for as long as I wanted.
All the staff were in tears, too, even the vet.
Ernest would have been chuffed; he loved being the centre of attention. ’
Just listening to Jessica’s description of her pet’s demise made Edie’s eyes fill up. She could hear the heartache in her friend’s voice, though Jessica was trying really hard to be brave.
‘Do you want me to pop over?’ Edie offered. ‘I can – it’s no problem. I’m not doing anything tonight. I’ve got some delicious hot chocolate in the cupboard. I bought it in France and it’s so good, much better than anything I’ve found here. I could bring it with me? Unless you’d prefer wine?’
She hated to think of Jessica being all by herself. Even lone wolves needed company sometimes.
‘No, thank you.’
Jessica’s voice wobbled and Edie wished she could give her a big hug.
‘I need to hide away tonight and lick my wounds. I’ll be better tomorrow, honestly. I bounce back pretty quickly; luckily, I’m fairly resilient. I really appreciate your concern, though.’
‘OK, if you’re sure,’ Edie replied doubtfully. ‘How about lunch here tomorrow – or Sunday if you prefer? Ralph said he’d be interested to meet you. He’s thinking about signing up for a half-marathon. He’d appreciate some tips.’
The offer proved irresistible. Jessica loved dispensing advice. Many of the school staff found this habit of hers infuriating, especially as she usually knew more than anyone else and was almost always right.
Edie, though, couldn’t see the problem. She liked being able to tap Jessica’s brains and was constantly impressed by her knowledge of almost any subject you cared to mention. It was like being friends with an encyclopaedia.
‘Sunday would be great, thanks,’ Jessica said, after a short pause. ‘I look forward to it.’
Edie’s spirits lifted. ‘Fab, see you around midday.’
Her mind immediately flitted to what to cook and whether to invite anyone else to join them. Mac and Hannah, perhaps? They hadn’t been over for a while and it would be fun to discuss the holiday.
She hurried downstairs to run the idea past Ralph, who was surprisingly receptive.
‘Let’s have a big joint of beef. I’ll get it tomorrow from the village butcher. His meat’s always better than the supermarket stuff.’
Happily, Hannah and Mac weren’t busy and as soon as Edie came off the phone, she returned to the kitchen and pulled out her favourite cookery books.
There was a recipe for roasted vegetables with olive oil, garlic and crushed coriander, which always went down well, and she’d do sticky toffee pudding for afters. Pure comfort food for wintry days.
After lunch, they could do a circular walk round the common and through the woods – the snowdrops were still out – then home for cups of tea and cake. She’d make a lemon drizzle. Hannah was particularly partial to it.
A damp cloud appeared from nowhere and seemed to settle just above her head. What if Jessica didn’t like Hannah or Mac and vice versa? The couple weren’t exactly academic; in fact Mac sometimes joked the only book he ever read these days was The Gardeners’ Almanac .
Edie liked a bit of gardening talk, but Jessica might find it dull. And Hannah knew nothing about ancient history; she’d done Accounts and Marketing at university and probably hadn’t even heard of Socrates or Plato.
There again, Jessica had only just lost her beloved pet and would no doubt be feeling fragile. It might be a relief not to have to deep-dive into some intellectual discussion or other. She could just sit back, relax and let the chit-chat wash over her.
Whatever the outcome, why was Edie even fussing? She was only trying to be nice. Jessica wasn’t exactly a close mate and Hannah and Mac were such dear old friends, Edie could throw anyone into the mix and they’d do their best to get on with him or her.