Chapter 55
Olivia drags a comb through her hair and attempts to construct her trademark updo but, like the rest of her, it just can’t seem to hold itself together.
She still feels terrible about what happened on Saturday night, can’t bear to think how close she came to losing one of her children.
Perhaps it is just as well that she wasn’t there to witness the scene with Drew, the fact he very nearly drowned, as she’s not sure she could bear to have such horrific images ingrained on her memory for the rest of her life.
Her imagination is bad enough. And, moreover, she’s aware Tobias and Bella are playing it down somehow, not telling her the whole story. Patronising her as they always do.
After an update from the hospital, she and Tobias went to collect Drew once he had been given the final all-clear and was discharged.
He had been quiet and withdrawn on the drive back to the hotel; so unlike her usually chatty, effusive son, it had been painful to see.
But he had colour in his cheeks and no serious side-effects according to the doctors and nurses.
He had gone straight up to the suite and has remained in his room ever since, despite this being one of the last days of the holiday and the weather achingly beautiful yet again.
It is now lunchtime and Tobias has insisted everyone — including Marcus – should come down to the restaurant and share a meal together.
It feels unnecessarily bullish of him, after everything they’ve been through over the last forty-eight hours.
As if he is punishing them all, though she’s sure he doesn’t know the truth of it, about her and Marcus.
How could he? But then, she concedes, they all still have to eat.
So she complies and makes her way downstairs to join the others.
They have ordered a variety of pizzas and, significantly, are all on soft drinks.
Olivia herself is sipping at a sparkling water and trying not to look at Marcus.
Bella and Drew are tearing away at their pizzas, appetites remarkably recovered, but their voices are low, heads drawn together, almost conspiratorially.
Tobias seems to be making a valiant attempt at cheerfulness, though he is fooling no one, she decides.
How long before he orders a proper drink to chase away the reality of the renovation property – all their hopes, dreams and money up in smoke, quite literally?
She had been numb when he told her, disbelieving.
Already blindsided by the shock of what happened to Drew, she had found the house fire a mere detail in comparison.
Olivia had only room in her heart for one tragedy at a time and all her focus has been on her son, his safety, his recovery.
Of course, she was appalled to hear about the couple who were dragged from the fire and hopes they will both be okay.
She does not even want to contemplate the idea of arson or who could consider doing such a thing and why.
Hates to imagine that anyone could be so vile, so full of hate or pain.
No, in fact she wonders if this wasn’t all just some terrible mistake.
Perhaps it was the foreign couple who started the fire by accident.
If, as everyone seems to say, they were trespassing, even sleeping rough at the building site, it wouldn’t have taken much for a fire to start.
An unattended cigarette, an ember, even, from the many fireworks and bonfires that night, a kid with a sparkler or a drunken adult – who knows?
In any case, one thing is for sure. Her idea of living down here and starting again seems to have crumbled before her eyes; all her dreams curling like paper in a flame.
Now, she sits here wondering what the future holds.
A small, selfish part of her brain whispers that this doesn’t have to mean her plans must completely change.
After all, she still has her nest egg – the money her parents left to her – and she is determined to find a way to be more independent, to start her own business.
Besides, they still have the London home.
Perhaps that could be remortgaged or rented.
If, at some point, she and Tobias reach the likely decision to divorce, the house will have to be sold and the assets divided anyway.
She and Marcus don’t have to give up entirely on their dreams to be together one day.
Although, since the night of the fire something feels to have shifted between them as well.
All the mystery and allure that she had once enjoyed has transmuted into an uneasy, uncomfortable sensation.
She no longer craves its excitement but fears its potential dangers.
Everything about that night now feels tainted with guilt, shame and loss.
Tobias knocks back his glass of water and looks around the dining room with an air of dissatisfaction.
Despite his profusion of freckles, the sun-burned nose, his face has a clammy, greyish pallor and he does not look well.
He flags down a passing waiter and orders a double gin and tonic without asking anyone else around the table if they would like a drink.
‘So, Marcus,’ he begins. ‘What’s the story?’
Marcus coughs, choking slightly on a mouthful of the calzone which he has been labouring away at. He swiftly regains composure, Olivia notices, but not before she sees a look of alarm in his eyes.
‘Story?’ he asks, buying for time and clearing his mouth with a sip of water.
‘I asked you to look into the small print for me. The situation with the build, of course. Where do we stand in terms of the insurance, depending on whether this turns out to be a definite case of arson or not? Are we covered?’
‘Oh yes, well, it wasn’t the most comprehensive of covers, I must say,’ says Marcus.
‘It will all depend on the final police report and whether your insurer plays ball. But I should warn you that some fire claims are often denied due to policy exclusions. Damage caused by negligence, intentional acts; fires occurring in unoccupied properties. That sort of thing.’
There is a pregnant pause as everyone around the table silently acknowledges the fact that all of this could apply to their renovation.
‘Well that’s just great, isn’t it?’ says Tobias finally. ‘Fucking marvellous.’
‘Please don’t swear, darling,’ says Olivia.
Tobias gives an exasperated sigh.
‘In case you hadn’t realised, darling,’ he says in a sardonic tone, ‘that means we’re probably scuppered either way.
If it turns out this thing was an accident, some dodgy oversight or other, then it will be our responsibility.
Personally, I still suspect foul play. And my money’s on that young couple next door,’ he adds.
‘Oh no, surely not,’ replies Olivia. ‘They seem like such a nice ordinary little family. I’m sure there’s some perfectly rational explanation for all this. Let’s not start raking it all up now, Tobias, please.’
She wants to nudge the conversation away from the events of Saturday, aware that neither she nor Marcus have really given a full account of themselves for that night.
It’s still possible that someone from the hotel, one of the guests or even an employee, might have seen them together.
But then a brazen part of herself no longer cares.
She almost wishes the truth was out, that she and Marcus could be free and finally open together.
Yet she recognises the time is not right.
It’s too soon, too raw. Not after what happened to Drew and Bella, not to mention the situation with the house fire.
She hates all this suspicion and intrigue.
To be involved in an ongoing police investigation …
it’s like a sword of Damocles hanging over them.
The thought that their property might have been targeted, that she and her family might have enemies in the local community.
No, she would much rather believe that this was all just a terrible accident and the fire started naturally.
‘Yes, well, I’d love to think the same too, Livvy,’ says Tobias, swallowing half of his G & T in one slug. ‘But my camera footage seems to have captured some suspicious activity.’
‘Camera? What camera footage?’ asks Marcus, suddenly alert. Both Drew and Bella’s heads come up at the same time too.
‘I didn’t know you’d installed cameras, Tobias,’ says Olivia. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘What would be the point of telling everyone about cameras that were intended to be hidden? First rule of surveillance: keep it secret. Tell no one.’
He looks around the table then. Four other sets of eyes meet his as he takes another deep drink before tapping his glass to order the same again.
Marcus clears his throat.
‘And? What does it show?’
‘Well, it shows you for one, Marcus. Entering the property briefly, earlier in the evening.’
‘I was checking everything was securely locked up. As you asked me to,’ he responds.
Olivia tries to catch his eye, to give him an encouraging smile, but he is not looking her way.
‘Quite so,’ says Tobias. ‘Although, sadly I didn’t get around to installing any internal cameras so we’ll never know what you actually did while you were inside.’
Marcus directs a look of cold steel towards Tobias across the table.
‘Are you accusing me of something?’
Tobias laughs, accepting another drink from the waiter. ‘Oh, calm down old chap. I’m only joshing with you!’
Marcus squares his shoulders at this.
‘I don’t think it’s a laughing matter. Innocent people have been hurt.’
‘Yes, well, myself included. I’m an injured party too, y’know. Anyway, serves them bloody right for hanging about late at night on private property. Did you see either of them at the time?’