Chapter 31
Thirty-One
I loved aeroplanes. When Alfie and I had first met, he’d been astounded that I’d never been on a plane before but in the last two years, I’d travelled by plane twice.
The first time to Ireland when Natalie took Ryan home to visit her Mother, and the second time to Greece to check out Keira’s parents place.
While other passengers looked nauseous and nervous, my toes tapped in excitement. Adventure. I loved adventure. I loved that these metal machines could transport me to anywhere in the world I wanted to go to.
We zoomed out of Heathrow airport and four hours later, we landed in Corfu. Keira, Maia and I took a collective breath as we left the London gloom behind and stepped into the bright grecian sun.
We stood outside the airport, the three of us hustling into a small stretch of shade. “So, your parents are meeting us here?” Maia asked, she spoke so rarely it always startled me.
“Yeah, Dad said he was picking us up.” Keira checked her phone but from the way her teeth gnawed on her bottom lip I could tell there was no message from her Dad. We were late landing, he should be here already.
I leaned my luggage against the wall and sat on it, uncapped my water bottle and took a long sip. Keira’s parents weren’t known for their time-keeping skills so I was settling in for a long wait.
Two hours later, my water bottle was empty and our patience was thin. Keira stood, spine rigid and arms folded, the cloud of tension around her growing with every passing minute.
“Are you sure you gave him the right flight information?” Maia asked for the second time and I winced.
“She already said she did,” I said gently before Keira could bite her head off. Maia seemed to get the hint.
“Maybe he’s just stuck in traffic,” she suggested.
I stood and slipped my hand into Keira’s. “Maybe we need to get a taxi.”
She wouldn’t look at me, her eyes were fixed on the road waiting for a car that we both knew wasn’t coming. Her parents had forgotten about her. Again. In front of an audience it hurt twice as much as usual.
“I guess so.” Grabbing her bag she stormed towards the small collection of taxis. I hurried after her, catching up and slipping my hand into hers again. She squeezed it and I squeezed back.
The taxi was claustrophobic, music blared over the speakers and the heat was oppressive, even in October. Last time I’d been in Greece it had been August and the heat had boiled my Irish/English blood.
We rode in silence, the driver chatting with Maia as he wound us expertly through the busy streets. Keira’s parents' property was situated along the coastline, their home and the small villa they rented out were nestled safely in a private bay.
The further we drove, the quieter it got until the ocean came into view.
I cried the first time I saw it. I’d never seen the ocean in person before, never felt the sand under my feet.
It had been incredible but not having Alfie there to experience it with me for the first time had hurt.
I wondered what it would be like to lay with him on the beach, to swim with him in the ocean.
I felt Keira’s grip on my hand tighten as her parents' house came into view. A large white wash property with pacific blue shutters situated right on the cliff edge with nothing but ocean beyond.
“We can go stay in a hotel, if you’d rather.”
“Yeah? You wanna hit Moneybags up for the hotel bill? It’s not like we can afford it.
” She gave me a wry smile. “I’ll be fine.
” She cleansed her face of any hurt, a routine I’d seen a thousand times growing up together, and stepped out of the car.
Maia paid the driver and together, the three of us stood outside the house as the taxi left us in its dust.
Keira stared up at the house, the gentle lapping of the ocean and a faint bird call were the only things daring to break her silence.
“We should probably ring the doorbell at some point,” I murmured, nudging her.
“I’m working on it.” She took a breath and stepped to the door, only to have it flung open to reveal Laura Larson standing on the other side, an apron around her waist and a light cotton dress on her tan skin.
“Keira! We were expecting you tomorrow!”
“Flight came in today, mum,” Keira said, her voice a little stiff.
“No, tomorrow,” her mum frowned, “you said Friday.”
“I said Thursday.”
“No, Friday.” She folded her arms. “Unless you’re implying that I just left you at the airport on purpose, is that what you’re saying?” Laura Larson eyed her daughter, a stern expression on her face. I waited, hoping as I always did that my friend would finally stand up for herself.
“No, I’m sorry. It’s my mistake.”
I wasn’t sure who Keira’s apology hurt more, me or her.
“Well, good.” Laura gave her a brief nod before turning to me, her face breaking out into a wide smile. “Lola! It’s so good to have you here, we missed you!”
“Mrs Larson, thank you for having us.” I accepted her hug, giving her a light pat on the back.
“You’re welcome and this must be Maia?” She smiled at our friend and they shook hands. “Well, come on in.” She ushered us into the house and we followed like ducklings, pulling our luggage behind us. “Richard, our guests are here!”
I winced at her calling her daughter a guest.
Richard, a man with dirty blond hair, a smooth jaw and a physique that always reminded me of pudding, appeared in the kitchen, a bright smile on his face that fell slightly when he saw us.
“Oh. I thought they were coming tomorrow?” He looked at his wife.
“Apparently, they decided to come a day early.”
“Actually, we were supposed to be arriving today,” I cut in. “I sent you the information myself.” That was a lie, but I didn’t want Keira going through this again.
“Oh, then it must have been our mistake.” He reached for me, kissing me on both cheeks. “How are you, Lola?”
“I’m great, this is Maia.” I introduced our roommate and they shook hands.
“Sit, sit.” Laura waved us over to the dining table and set about placing ice water and home made Koulouri in front of us.
I picked at one, splitting the bread ring and handed half to Maia. I took a bite, relishing the warm sesame seed bread. I’d eaten a hundred of these during my last visit, sometimes with honey, sometimes with butter. Keira, not being a fan of sesame seeds, left them untouched.
“So, how have you been?” Laura asked, her dark eyes fixing on me. “Keira told us a little while ago that you were being mentored by…what was her name?”
“Imani Kishi. It’s going fine, thanks. Did Keira tell you about her showcase? It was incredible, wasn’t it Maia?”
“Yes, I enjoyed the show very much,” Maia nodded, “her designs were very impressive.”
“How lovely.” Laura smiled again but it didn’t quite meet her eyes, eyes that were the perfect mirror of her daughters, with none of the brightness. “Well, seeing as you’re a day early I’m afraid your rooms aren’t quite ready.”
“That’s fine, we can do it,” Keira said.
“Wonderful, we’re heading into town to do a spot of shopping. Lola, would you like to come with us? Keira you could come too but I know shopping isn’t really your cup of tea.” She gave me an expectant smile and I tried not to wince again as another wave of tension settled over us.
“Another time?” I offered. “I’m pretty tired from the flight.”
“Oh, of course! Alright girls, well, make yourselves at home.”
They left us alone in the kitchen and we sat in silence as we listened to their car roll out of the driveway. Without a word, Keira grabbed her bag and headed out the door.
Maia and I followed suit, grabbing our own cases.
“Keira loves shopping more than any person I’ve ever met,” she whispered as we followed Keira to the villa.
“I know,” I muttered back, wondering if coming here had maybe not been the best idea.
The small villa was situated fairly close to the main house, separated by a thin veil of olive trees.
Inside was a small kitchen and sitting room, and upstairs two double bedrooms and a smaller room that Maia offered to take.
It only had a single bed but the balcony with the ocean view made up for it.
Keira rustled up bedsheets and once I’d made up my bed, I went to find her.
Her sheets were in a crumpled pile on her bed, rejected as she went through her case, which was three times the size of mine.
Yeah, Keira definitely loved shopping more than anyone else I knew.
I set about making up her bed for her as she unpacked her favourite Chloe dress in pale pink.
“So, I’m thinking that time with your parents maybe wasn’t the best idea when you were already in a funk.”
“I’m fine, we’ll hardly see them anyway.
” That was true. Laura and Richard Larson were the most self-absorbed people I had ever met.
They would hardly notice us. “Well, I’ll hardly see them.
Mum will probably be all over you.” She placed the dress on a hanger to let the creases drop out and hung it in the closet.
“I don’t know why they’re like that,” I muttered.
It was true. Their behaviour had always been a mystery to both of us.
True, Keira had gotten into some trouble growing up but nothing too outrageous.
It made no sense that they would prefer me over their own daughter.
Over the years, we’d learned to try to laugh about it but I knew it was a source of pain for my best friend.
“I guess they just really like redheads.” She shrugged, the glint of humour in her eyes telling me she didn’t blame me for her parents being idiots.
“You’re funny.” I fastened the last button on the ultra light duvet and flipped it till it rested like a soft cloud on the mattress. “So, eat, sleep or swim?” I asked her.
“Swim, eat, sleep?”
“Sounds good to me.”
Keira grabbed a shoe from her case and threw it at the wall. “Maia?” She called out.
“Uh…yes?” Maia’s voice came through the wall. I stifled a laugh. Watching Keira and Maia interact was like watching separate species try to communicate.
“Get your bikini on!” Keira yelled.
Maia didn’t own a bikini. She owned a one piece swimsuit that I thought was lovely. Keira, who read vogue like it was the bible, grimaced at the costume as Maia stepped into her bedroom, a towel in hand, her curls shining and pulled back into one long braid.
“Stop it.” I nudged her.
“What? I think it’s nice.” She turned those wide eyes back to Maia. “It must be really convenient that you can go from the beach straight to church without having to get changed.”
Maia stared at her for a long moment before giving her a sarcastic smile and flipping her the bird.
I burst out laughing. “Good for you, Maia!”
“Finally!” Keira laughed, “I’ve been waiting over a year for you to tell me to go fuck myself. You look awesome. Blue is a great colour on you.”
Keira turned, eyeing herself in the mirror.
She grinned as she turned this way and that, admiring her full breasts in the red bikini, her soft tummy and plush thighs not bothering her in the least. Happy with her appearance, she grabbed her beach bag and headed out the door.
I followed, but not before giving my yellow two piece a tweak in the mirror.
There was an almost hidden path from the villa down to the beach, the half mile walk was worth it to reach our own private cove.
Once we hit the sand, Keira and I ran for the water, screaming as it hit us.
It was cooler than my last visit, but I loved it just the same.
I hadn’t known how much of a water baby I was until I’d stepped foot in the ocean.
I ducked my head under, relishing the feel of tranquility, before popping back up.
I’d expected to be terrified the first time I went in the ocean, overwhelmed by memories of the night my mum died, but instead I’d found it freeing. I wasn’t trapped in a car. I found power in my ability to break the surface any time I wanted.
Maia hovered at the shore, looking uncertain.
“Are you okay?” I called out as Keira resurfaced next to me.
“Come on! Live a little!” She giggled, sending a splash in Maia’s direction.
Maia hesitated for just a moment before running into the clear blue sea.
She broke out in a laugh before she disappeared under the water, bouncing up a moment later.
She was breathtaking as fine droplets rested on her dark skin, her hair cascading into the water like a sun kissed mermaid.
I wondered if she knew how effortlessly beautiful she was.
Later, after we’d swum our fill and ate Moussaka until we couldn’t move, I fell into my bed, exhausted.
Alfie came to me, like he always did, rushing me to a dark sleep. I both dreaded and desired my dreams, my nightmares, my dark fantasies where I got to be with him again.
Each night I tortured myself with visions of Alfie in my bed, Alfie eating, driving, talking, dancing, touching, kissing, Alfie working, speaking Italian or French. Alfie breathing. Just the way he breathed. I missed him so deeply I ached, yet I couldn’t stop this relentless torture.
The fact that it was within my power to find relief any time now made it harder. I stared at my phone lying innocently on my bedside table. I picked it up and sent a text.
Goodnight, Alfie.
His response came a moment later. Goodnight, Lo.