Chapter 4
When the snowdrops faded at last and yellow, cream and orange daffodils started to pop up in gardens and along roadsides, Edie began to sense that the holiday wasn’t so far away now at all.
As it turned out, she needn’t have worried about the lunch with Jessica. It had been a big success, so much so, in fact, that Jessica had been invited on the Crete holiday, too.
She and Hannah had got on extremely well, and when Jessica had left, it was Hannah who’d suggested asking her along.
‘I mean, she obviously loves Crete and wants to go again,’ Hannah had said. ‘She’s good company and we’d get lots of history lessons. She said she’s free that week and I read somewhere the villa can sleep up to five. I guess if she comes it would cost us all a bit less. What do you think?’
She’d scanned the others’ faces for clues.
There had been a pause while everyone pondered the question. Edie had been taken aback, because it was so unexpected, and she’d initially felt slightly offended. Wasn’t her and Ralph’s company enough? And maybe an extra person would ruin the vibe.
But she’d quickly berated herself for being childish and mean.
Jessica was on her own, had told them she’d nothing arranged for May half-term and had just lost her beloved pet.
She’d said she badly wanted to go to Crete again and it would help Hannah and Mac if they didn’t have to pay quite as much for the villa. It would help them all, in fact.
It wasn’t as if Edie didn’t like Jessica, either. She thoroughly enjoyed her company. And Jessica was so independent, she’d probably push off on her own quite a bit. What’s more, if Edie and Ralph wanted time alone, they could say so. They didn’t have to do things together all the time.
Ralph didn’t have a problem with the idea, but Mac hadn’t seemed all that keen.
‘She’d change the atmosphere,’ he’d said, slightly sullenly.
Sensing he and Hannah were about to have a row, Edie had pretended to misunderstand.
‘So, we’re all in agreement then,’ she’d said, fake-innocently. ‘Excellent. I’ll invite Jessica and let you know what she says.’
At school the next day, Jessica had seemed delighted with the proposal, and so it had all been settled.
With big exams coming up soon, Edie didn’t mention the impending trip to her GCSE or A-level students, knowing the poor things would be mired in revision throughout half-term.
However, the day before she left, she did tell her ex-pupil, Amina, who was still helping out in the IT department.
‘I hope you have a wonderful time, Mrs Lovell,’ she said, watching Edie stuffing books and items of clothing from the staffroom locker into a big carrier bag.
The school bell had just rung and they could already hear pupils pouring out of classrooms and thundering down the corridor, excited to be having a week off.
‘Thanks, Amina. I hope you have a nice break, too,’ Edie said. ‘What are you up to?’
Amina looked down at her feet. She was wearing a white hijab over loose black trousers, black shoes and a purple tunic top.
‘I need to look after my little brothers while my mum’s at work.’
Edie felt a rush of sympathy. Amina had so many responsibilities for a girl her age, but never complained.
‘Let’s hope it’s good weather and you can take them to the park,’ Edie replied brightly. She knew the brothers were about eight and ten.
Amina nodded. ‘They’re a bit too old for the swings but they like playing football.’
‘Or what about Frensham Ponds?’
‘What’s that?’
‘It’s a wildlife sanctuary and there are two ponds, surrounded by lovely woods. You’re allowed to swim in the big pond. It’s quite safe and the water’s tested regularly. There’s a sort of beach – and a café where you can get ice creams and things. You could catch a bus. The boys would love it.’
Amina’s eyes lit up. ‘That sounds great. Thanks. I’ll take a look at it.’
Edie was pleased. She knew the family was hard up and Amina and her brothers didn’t have many treats. This could be a fun activity for them all and it wouldn’t cost much more than their bus fares.
As she slung her bag over her shoulder and headed down the corridor towards the stairs, she found herself thinking how different Amina’s life was from Maisie’s.
There was Maisie, earning a handsome salary and working hard but having the time of her life with her boyfriend and pals in central London, while Amina struggled to fit her job around helping her parents and caring for her younger siblings. And all because of an accident of birth.
It wasn’t fair, but then nor was life itself. At least Edie could be a listening ear for Amina and give her a little of her time. It wasn’t much, but it had to be better than nothing.
Jessica was just coming out of her classroom on the ground floor when Edie passed. She was wearing a smart tan trench coat, belted at the waist, with her black handbag slung over one shoulder and a heavy-looking brown holdall over the other.
‘Are you packed?’ Edie asked with a grin. She was already dreaming of boarding the plane tomorrow morning and arriving in Crete to bright blue skies.
‘Almost.’
Jessica turned to check she hadn’t left anything behind before switching off the lights and closing the heavy wooden door. Then they walked, side by side, towards the car park.
‘Are you sure you don’t mind picking me up?’ Jessica asked, her black court shoes clip-clopping on the tarmac. ‘It’s a bit of a detour.’
‘It’s fine,’ Edie assured her. ‘The taxi driver knows already; he’s got your address. We should be with you by six thirty, but don’t worry if we’re a few minutes late. Ralph usually forgets something and has to run back.’
In actual fact, it was normally Edie who forgot something, like her sunglasses, phone charger or book, but she didn’t say so.
They stopped by Jessica’s car – a newish-looking, electric blue Mini – and she fished the keys out of her bag.
‘How are the others getting to the airport?’ she asked.
‘I think one of the children is taking them. It’s useful when your kids can drive. Unfortunately, mine are both otherwise engaged.’ Edie raised her eyebrows. ‘Typical.’
‘I hear that all the time from people with children,’ Jessica replied with a sniff. ‘It’s all take and no give. I can’t think why anyone has them. Most of them are spoiled brats.’
Edie was so taken aback, for a moment she couldn’t speak.
‘Oh! I wouldn’t go that far,’ she said at last, pulling herself together. ‘They’re not all bad. Maisie even brings me a cup of tea occasionally when she’s around.’
‘You’re one of the lucky ones, then.’
Jessica opened the car door and plonked her bags on the passenger seat. ‘From what I see, given half a chance, most of them would have the coats off their parents’ backs.’
Edie found herself blinking rapidly, thinking she must have misheard. Surely Jessica didn’t disapprove of Edie’s choice – or anyone’s choice, for that matter – to have children. That couldn’t be what she meant.
She was a teacher, after all. You had to like young people in their job. It was just one of those silly, throwaway comments folk make when they’re overwrought.
‘I’ve got such a lot to do,’ Jessica said, as if to confirm Edie’s hunch. ‘I’d better get home. See you at crack of dawn tomorrow.’
She climbed into the car and drove off with a quick wave, leaving Edie standing in the darkened car park, staring after her.
* * *
After Edie had dropped Dilly at the dog sitter’s, she popped upstairs to check on Ralph. He was lying on their bed watching TV, his open suitcase beside him. It was full but on closer inspection, he’d packed only one pair of shorts and forgotten his swimming trunks.
‘I can wash the shorts if they get dirty,’ he insisted, when Edie queried him. ‘We’re only going for a week and it’s not as if Crete’s the back of beyond. There’ll be a washing machine at the villa.’
Ignoring him, she dug out two more pairs of shorts and two pairs of trunks before fetching her own case from the top of the cupboard.
She’d never found packing easy and dithered over which summer dresses to take. She had several, some short, others below the knee or ankle-length.
Then there was the tricky issue of cardigans and sweaters. One warm layer mightn’t be enough and besides, she’d like to have a choice, but sweaters were so bulky.
In the end, she opted for a grey sweatshirt, which she’d wear on the plane, and a dressier cream cardigan, plus a pale blue, woollen wrap, which had accompanied her on almost every trip.
When Ralph wasn’t watching, she slipped in some new sexy black lacy knickers with a matching bra, all wrapped in pale pink, scented tissue paper.
There was a posh lingerie shop in the neighbouring village, which she’d popped into one weekend. She’d never been there before and the wide choice of styles and colours had been a revelation.
For one wild moment she’d almost opted for scarlet, but decided it might be a step too far. If the black was a success, she could always go back for another set. Perhaps she’d end up buying the whole colour spectrum. Even if it did cost her a month’s wages, it might be worth it.
Ollie called while she and Ralph were having supper and wished them a great trip. He was driving a group of friends to a house party in the countryside. They were waiting till the traffic died down before setting off.
‘Drive carefully,’ Edie said. She always worried, even though her son was pretty sensible behind the wheel. ‘And don’t drink too much.’
‘I won’t,’ he replied, with a sigh.
They both knew he was lying but for some reason, it made her feel better.
Neither she nor Ralph slept particularly well that night and they were ready and waiting for the taxi when it arrived five minutes early at 6.15a.m.
Edie felt a tickle of excitement after locking the front door and climbing in beside Ralph.
‘Got your passport, phone and wallet?’ she asked and he patted his jacket pockets.
‘Yes.’