Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
T he day after our excursion to Spinalonga, we had planned to have another trip to the beach. Zack and I were going to take a picnic and our own deckchairs so we could spend the day there again, but the weather had different ideas. The beautiful blue sky had disappeared completely. Clouds in a multitude of colours covered the sky, threatening to unleash the fiery wrath of Zeus, so all four of us decided to stay indoors where it was safe. By late afternoon, the sky was almost black.
“The storms here are something else,” Zack said as we stood right by the open sliding doors, gazing out. It was still quite warm, but I suspected the rain would descend very soon and cool things down. “Dad, when was it that we lost power for days after that huge storm?”
“Oh, a few years ago now. You were just a teen, I think.” He joined us to look outside. “Lightning struck just up there, on that hill where the powerline is. Knocked it off for three days. Some holidayers packed up and went home early.”
“Wow,” I said. “Could that happen again?”
“No,” Alistair assured me. “After that happened, they installed a backup system. They don’t want holidaymakers being put off by the thought of no electricity. If it ever does go out now, it’s not for long. Oh, wait, did you hear that?”
We fell silent. There was another rumble in the distance.
“You might want to close those doors,” Miranda said. “It won’t be long now.”
As though the mighty god Zeus could hear her, the clouds finally unleashed the rain and I had never seen or heard anything like it. I jumped back as Alistair and Zack quickly slid the doors shut and the rain battered down on the patio.
I never thought anywhere could rain harder than back home in the north of England. But I was mistaken. The swimming pool was no longer visible as rainwater splashed everywhere. Having the doors closed helped with the noise, but we could still hear it hitting the canopy with force.
“I hope everyone is hungry,” Miranda said. “I’ve made a pasta bake, and there’s more than I thought there would be. I’m terrible with measurements. Should we invite Stan and Bev over?”
“I think we can let them look after themselves tonight,” Alistair quickly responded.
“Good idea,” Miranda agreed. “Jenny, I don’t think I can apologise enough for Beverley’s behaviour the other night. That poor Chloe, the things she puts up with.”
The pasta bake smelled amazing. Miranda was right, it was large. Probably enough food to feed a family of ten. She carried it over to the dining table, and I picked up the plates and followed her.
I jumped as thunder cracked above us as I was setting out the plates, grateful I didn’t drop any on the floor. Although, when in Greece…
“That was close,” Miranda said, glancing up to check the doors were firmly shut.
“Fairly.” Alistair was still standing by the door, looking out onto the hills. “Few miles away, but I think it’s heading over to us now. I should have pulled the furniture in. It’ll be everywhere if the wind picks up.”
“Well, hopefully it passes quickly. Come on, everyone. Let’s sit down and eat. You kids can tell us what you’ve been up to.”
Miranda proudly placed the food in the centre of the table. Zack laid out the cutlery beside each plate, sneakily kissing my cheek as he passed me when his parents weren’t looking. Alistair pulled out a bowl of salad from the fridge and we all sat together. The food was so delicious that I couldn’t resist a second helping.
“So, Jenny,” Miranda had finished her own second helping of pasta, “I was thinking, if you and Zack didn’t have plans tomorrow, how about you and I go shopping then?”
“I’d love to.” I looked to Zack. “Is that okay with you?”
“Of course it is.” He smiled and put his arm around me. “We have plenty of time left to do our beach day. I think I might need a day in bed after eating this much pasta anyway. That was good though, Mum. Thank you.”
“Yes, thank you. I’d eat another portion if I thought I wouldn’t burst.” My stomach was solid. I probably shouldn’t have had all that bread with it. If Zack wanted sex tonight, there was no chance of me going on top. I doubted I could even make it up the stairs, let alone trying anything more athletic.
“I’m so pleased you enjoyed it. And I’m so excited to shop with you, too. There are some really nice–”
We all jumped as thunder and lightning clapped above us. It sounded like a bomb had blasted into the ceiling. Unfortunately, it knocked off the electrics, leaving us sitting in darkness.
“Oh, the torches, Alistair. Where did we put them?”
“Under the sink.” Alistair slid his seat back. “Wait there, everyone.”
“Here, Dad, take this.” Zack switched on the torch on his phone and handed it to Alistair so he could see where he was going.
“Thanks, I’ll get some candles too.”
We sat in almost pitch black, straining to see Alistair as he wandered into the kitchen and fumbled under the sink. Eventually, two giant orbs of light emerged from the darkness. He handed Zack one of the torches and placed two smaller ones on the table.
“I could only find these,” he said, placing a small tub on the table, which contained a bag of tea-lights and a lighter.
“We can use this.” Miranda brushed the breadcrumbs from her side plate and pulled a few of the candles from the tub. Once lit, they created a really nice ambiance. “There we go, much better.” She smiled. It really was lovely.
“Oh, I forgot to say,” Zack began, “we saw Steffan and his dad yesterday. They’re working on the tourist boats over at Spinalonga.”
“Really? I don’t suppose his dad was hospitable?” Alistair asked.
“No, not really. He…”
Another loud crack of thunder interrupted Zack, and then there was a chaotic mixture of screams and calling out in panic as the flash of lightning revealed a silhouette of a person at the sliding doors, banging to get inside.
“Oh my goodness, let her in!” Miranda said, as Zack recovered from having screamed in such a high-pitched way, and I tried not to laugh at him in front of his parents. Alistair rushed to the door to let in a soaking-wet Chloe.
“Thank you, oh, thank you so much.” She wiped the rain from her face. “Isn’t it horrible outside?” She was wearing an oversized white T-shirt, and evidently little else. It was clinging to her cold, wet skin.
“What an earth were you doing out there?” Zack asked, as she pulled out a chair and sat down next to him.
“I had to get away.” She shook her head. “Dad’s somehow sleeping through this noise so Mum has been nagging me and then she started shouting. I’m pretty sure Dad is faking it just for some peace.”
She looked like she’d been crying. I was starting to feel sorry for her, and was just about to offer to lend her some of my dry clothes, maybe even a conservative dressing gown, but then she leaned across and put her head on Zack’s shoulder.
“It’s so hard being here sometimes. I just need a hug.”
“You poor love,” Miranda said. “Don’t you worry, stay here tonight. The room next to Zack and Jenny is empty, so you can stay in there.”
“That would be amazing. Thank you, guys. You’re the best. Is that the room we all crashed in the other year?” She directed the question to Zack.
“Yes, it is.” He shuffled awkwardly in his seat.
They all crashed together? All who? Why didn’t Zack crash in his own room? Who else was there? Was it just the two of them?
“I’ll be back in a minute,” I said, grateful that the dim glow of the candles was hiding my burning cheeks.
“Everything okay?” Zack asked.
“Yes, I just want to check my phone. I left it on charge earlier. I won’t be long.”
I picked up the torch and found my way upstairs to the bedroom, closing the door behind me. I tried to compose myself for a few minutes, fighting the images of Zack and Chloe crashing on a bed together during previous summer vacations here.
My phone pinged from the bedside table, pulling me out of my panic. I followed the glow of the screen and picked it up to read the message.
Hey, haven’t heard from you and was getting worried… How’s it going? Call me if you need to (conversation still paused) (still love you) (you were right about Bing, he’s a knob) Xxx
I couldn’t help but laugh at the last part and wondered what on earth he had done now.
Hey, can’t call but can give a quick update… I’m so bothered by the twenty-something, she’s here now dressed like a competitor in a wet T-shirt competition, cuddling up to Zack and talking about how they all used to crash together in bed!!! ?? xxx
She’s got a nerve!!! What is she thinking?? How’s he reacting? And wet T-shirt? Xx
We’ve got a ridiculous storm going on at the moment and she was out in it… TBF he isn’t exactly encouraging her. He looked a bit awkward.
Well, it sounds innocent on his side. Are you okay? Xx
I will be, just needed a moment to myself. What has Bing done?
I moved his litter box from the kitchen to the bathroom, but he didn’t like that and when I got home from work he had pooped in the kitchen sink!! I thoroughly bleached it, but now can’t bring myself to wash up in there… I’ve got a dishwasher on order. Xx
My final message to her was just a few dozen laughing emojis. That cat’s got my back.
The storm eventually passed through the night and by morning, the blue sky I had come to know and love had returned. Although it felt chillier than usual, Alistair assured me it was forecast to be hot again by noon.
“What are you getting up to this morning while I’m out with your mum?” I asked Zack as we sat and had breakfast together out on the patio. The outdoor furniture was still too wet to sit on, so we took two of the dining chairs out.
“Not much, probably chill with my dad.” There was no mention of Chloe, which was a relief. She’d disappeared first thing before we got up. “Are you sure you’re all right? You look pale.” He leaned close and put his arm around me. “If you’re not feeling up to it, my mum won’t mind. She won’t be offended if you just want to hang out here for the day. There’s plenty of time to shop.”
“I’m fine, honestly. Don’t worry.”
He pulled my face towards his and placed a kiss on my non-responsive lips.
“You’d tell me though, right? If something was wrong, if something was bothering you?”
“Of course, it’s all good. I must just be tired from all the heat. Not used to it. I just need some retail therapy and I’ll be fine this afternoon.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” I smiled, possibly unconvincingly.
“Good morning, campers!” Miranda came out to the patio. In her white shorts, blue blouse and straw hat, she was ready for a girls’ day out. “Zacky, don’t let your father sit inside watching the telly with Stan all day. He needs some vitamin D. Make sure he sits outside for a while. In fact, get them both cleaning up, the storm has caused a bit of a mess.” The pool was full of floating leaves and the cushions from the loungers had scattered.
“Will do, Mum.”
“Are you all right, Jenny? You look quite pale.”
“She doesn’t look right, does she? I’m worried. Are you sure you’re up for it today?” Zack looked really concerned, but I didn’t feel up to talking about it just now. It would have to be tonight.
“I promise I’m okay.” I stood up, brushing the crumbs from my breakfast onto my plate. “It was a rough night, what with the noise of the storm on the roof, but a girly day is what the doctor ordered.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” She genuinely looked happy to be heading out with me. I guess with having only a son, she missed out on these things.
“I thought we were going to Elounda?” I asked as we took the short trip in a taxi down the road to Agios Nikolaos instead, winding around the compact roads and over the little bridge.
“Oh, I changed my mind, is that all right? There are more shops here, so I thought it’d be more fun for us.”
“That’s fine.” I could finally look in all the little shops and spend some money. That would take my mind off things. “I love looking at all the handmade jewellery.”
“Well, let’s see what we can buy to fill up our suitcases. We have all day. Zack will be busy getting things ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“Oh, didn’t he tell you? He’s useless sometimes, that boy.” She laughed, shaking her head. “It’s our thirty-fifth wedding anniversary today.”
“Oh wow, congratulations!” I beamed. They’d been married for longer than I’d been alive. What a crazy thought that was.
“Yes, we thought we’d have a special dinner tonight. We planned it last night, while you were upstairs. Very last minute.” My stomach flipped. Another dinner with Beverley the drunken witch, and Chloe her trampy daughter, and the husband who sits quietly and lets it all happen. Just what I needed. “It’ll only be the four of us, so a little bit more intimate.”
Phew.
“That sounds lovely. Well, if it is a special occasion, we have a lot of shopping to do.”
We got out of the taxi and linked arms as we set off on our trip. It was already brightening my mood, and once again, I was doubting myself. Was Zack really being that inappropriate? Was it all actually only one-sided? Was I getting paranoid because I had finally found a guy I loved and wanted to spend my life with, and I was worried I might have chosen badly, just like my best friend did?
Two hours into our shopping trip, I had bought myself some gorgeous Greek jewellery, a mini statue of a minotaur, a new handheld fan (which I couldn’t wait to show Zack) and I even got Sarah a little gift as a thank you. Even if our relationship was on the rocks, she had been looking after my cat, although I suspected this would be the last time she ever offered to cat-sit the demon feline.
“I just want to go back into that boutique before we eat, is that all right?” Miranda asked.
“Of course, go ahead. I’ll wait outside.” I sprung open my fan and began cooling myself. Alistair had been right about the heat returning. The boutique had no air conditioning and I couldn’t face going back inside.
“Okay, I’ll be two minutes. I might buy that dress after all.”
I watched as she went in and was welcomed back by the shop assistant who spoke perfect English. I pulled out my phone. There were no further messages from Sarah, so I decided to see what was happening in the world of social media. Curiosity got the better of me so I searched for my new favourite twenty-something.
Her Instagram profile was public, as she was clearly a budding influencer, so it was easy to find her. I just went into Zack’s list of followers and chose the only one whose username contained anything close to ‘Chloe’. I scrolled through her recent posts, most of which were of her in suggestive poses, wearing a barely-there bikini. Each photo had nearly a hundred likes.
I did a double take and scrolled back up to the top. The latest post, from today, twenty minutes ago, was a selfie of Chloe and my boyfriend. The same boyfriend who clearly lied to me and told me he would be at the villa all day, with his dad. My mouth went dry and I felt a ringing in my ears as I looked at their faces, grinning and pressed together, and read the caption.
Day out with Z, exciting things to come. x
What the… is he spending the day with her? Where are they? What are they doing? Why wouldn’t he have told me about it? He actively lied! Why did he even bring me on holiday if he was just wanting to spend the days with her? Was he splitting his time between us?
I was fuming. My new fan almost crumpled under my rageful wafting. I didn’t know whether I wanted to scream or cry.
And then I saw them.
As I looked up from my phone, there they were, linking arms, walking down the road, totally oblivious. But, of course, Zack had no idea we were going to be coming here today. Even I’d thought we were going to Elounda, which was in the opposite direction. They would have thought they’d be free from being discovered here. No girlfriend, no judgemental parents, they could do what they liked.
I watched from behind my fan as they walked into one of the shops. Zack held the door open for her, always a gentleman, and she stepped inside.
With my phone still in my hand, I wanted to call him, but instinct sent me somewhere else. I typed a message to Sarah.
It’s over. He’s with her now, I’ve just seen them together. I’m with his mum, shopping. He lied to me so he could spend the day with her.
She replied almost instantly.
OMG! Wanker! Can I call you? Xx
If I talk about it, I’ll cry, and I don’t want his mum to see me upset. Can you see if there are any flights out for me tonight? The wifi here isn’t great and I’m running low on data.
I’ll have a look, but please TALK to him tonight. He has no idea you’re feeling like this. Promise me you’ll talk to him. Then call me and, if you still want to, I will make sure you can get home Xx
I agreed with Sarah that I would hold off on making a dramatic exit until I had spoken to Zack. I would wait until after the anniversary dinner so I wouldn’t ruin the night. But my heart was breaking. Having what should have been a fun lunch with Miranda, followed by celebrating a thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, was the last thing I needed right now.