Chapter Fifteen
Dan is sitting under a sunshade by the infinity pool, a water and a peach beside him, when India joins him.
She sits on the lounger opposite him with her Diet Coke.
‘Are you doing OK?’ she asks tentatively. ‘I’m not prying – it’s just, that was hard. Going first too. And I’m so sorry about Julia. Talking about it must be difficult.’
‘Thanks,’ he says. He looks white-faced with stress. ‘I’m not used to this sort of thing.’
‘Me neither,’ she says, ‘but it’s going to help us, right?’
Dan’s wearing sunglasses, so she can’t see his eyes. She’s not sure if he’s agreeing with her or if he thinks she’s an interfering idiot, but he finally nods.
‘I guess so,’ he says grudgingly, ‘although it doesn’t feel like it right now. It’s like Rose is saying this is all my fault and that’s why my sister wanted me to come here. Who made you come?’
‘Oh, nobody,’ says India lightly. ‘I came for myself, although I stupidly thought it was going to be more yoga and healing ceremonies than hard questions on the terrace,’ she adds ruefully.
Unexpectedly, Dan laughs and India feels a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
‘I was hoping for Ayurvedic massage and possibly something to bring me inner peace,’ she continues.
‘It did not say that on the tin,’ Dan points out.
‘Yeah,’ says India in mock amazement. ‘Now I find out …’
This time, they laugh together.
India finds that she likes making Dan laugh.
‘I used to love The Talisman Effect when I was young,’ says India. ‘Did you watch it?’
He probably didn’t, she thinks.
‘Never heard of it until Sunday night,’ Dan replies.
‘Oh.’ India’s surprised. ‘It was huge. The earlier seasons were better, really, because then it got very speedy and they used to have two groups of people on each show – you know, fix two families?’
Dan shakes his head. ‘My sister made me come here. I’d never heard of Rose. There was some tragedy – someone got shot?’
India nods slowly. ‘Poor Rose. A guy came on screaming saying that she’d told his girlfriend to break up with him. He had a gun – no idea how he got that past security but he did. He wanted to shoot someone because he said Rose had ruined his life. The show just ended after that.’
‘He didn’t shoot anyone?’
‘Nope. Fired but just aimed wildly, I think. I’m not really sure what happened after that but it destroyed Rose’s career.
That’s why this is special,’ says India, a hand moving out to encompass the pool and the terrace area behind them.
‘This is the first therapy thing she’s done for five years. So we’re really lucky.’
Dan laughs again.
‘Lucky? You’re a riot, India. I am so not feeling lucky,’ he says good-humouredly.
In reply, India touches him affectionately on the arm.
‘Let’s see how we feel at the end of the week.’