Ginny turned away from the mirror. She leaned her back against the sink and placed a hand against it, feeling the cool smooth ceramic. Several weeks ago, she would have jumped through a burning hoop to have him back. But now? She wasn’t so sure.
By walking out on her, Adrian had opened a door in their marriage, allowing her to peek through into a different world she hadn’t known existed. It was one full of color and possibility. Ginny felt like she was hovering on a threshold, scared though intrigued to step over it. “This isn’t about you and what you want any longer, Adrian,” she said. “I need to think about whatIwant.”
“I didn’t really mean some of the things I’ve said to you. I haven’t been thinking straight.”
“You’ve allowed me to picture my life without you, and it looks okay. Pretty good, in fact.”
Adrian’s breathing grew hoarse. “You’ve been calling me and texting...”
“Yes, and you haven’t replied for weeks. You even wanted to take someone else on holiday.”
“I didn’t mean it,” he mumbled.
Ginny walked back into her bedroom and all the thoughts in her brain were too big and too confusing to contemplate. They spun around as if caught in a whirlwind.
At this moment in time, she didn’t want to think about her future at all. She wanted to ignore Adrian and their personal circumstances, and to take her mind and body somewhere else.
“I don’t want to talk about any of this right now,” she said. “I’m going to hang up.”
All Ginny really wanted to do was dance away her heartache.
26
Cocktails
Ginny felt sassy in her new zebra print dress, heels and her hair piled on top of her head, as she waited for the others in the courtyard. She refused to think about her conversation with Adrian and couldn’t wait to sip cocktails, dance and laugh in Rimini.
The evening was sultry and Splendido took on a dusky, magical quality, like an Edward Hopper painting, as the sun fell. The air was rich and sweet from the smell of garlic and olive oil from Nico’s kitchen, complemented by the flowers and fruit trees surrounding her. She could hear Nico singing inside the hotel and imagined him whirling around, using a pan as his dance partner.
Curtis came out of the hotel with Eric and let out a long whistle when he saw Ginny. “Mamma mia,” he said with a grin.
Ginny cast him a chastising look, while simultaneously concealing a smile. “Really?”
“I meant that comment for Edna, not you,” Curtis said, full of mock innocence. He nodded toward the doorstep where Edna and Heather had just appeared. “See, she looks pure class.”
Edna had handstitched a simple waistcoat out of the vintage handkerchiefs she’d bought and wore it over her black clothes. At the bottom of the garment was a piece of fabric that didn’t match the rest, gray cotton with a white daisy print. “Your flattery means nothing to me,” she said, but the flush of her cheeks revealed that it did.
“What about my outfit?” Eric asked. He lifted one leg and then the other to show off his cream cargo trousers. He’d trimmed his beard and wore his hair down so it flowed over his shoulders.
“You look fine, too,” Curtis said. “Like Thor having an off day.”
“At least I don’t look like a reject from the Beastie Boys,” Eric fired back.
Ginny and Edna laughed. The men’s blossoming bromance was bringing Eric further out of his shell.
Only Heather appeared subdued. Her curls were mussy and she was the only one who hadn’t bothered to dress up, still wearing her yoga pants and a T-shirt. “I’ve just taken a call from the care home,” she said. “Mum’s been asking for me and I feel guilty going out while she’s stuck in there.”
Ginny’s eyes softened with sympathy. “Is she okay?”
“Yes, apparently she’s fine. But...” Heather let out a sigh.
“There are only a few days of our holiday left,” Ginny said. “I bet your mum wouldn’t want you to miss out on anything.”
Heather took a moment to rally herself. “She probably doesn’t even remember I’m on holiday, although I’ve told her many times. I suppose I just have to get on with my own life,” she said, not sounding convinced.
“You don’t have to put on any kind of act with us. Just like you said, we’re all friends here.”
Heather closed her eyes and nodded, taking a moment to think. “Thank you. Idowant to go to the beach bar tonight to support Curtis. Have I got time to change my clothes?”
