Refreshments arrived and they sat sipping Bahama Mamas, a local favourite according to Jessica King –damn it, Jessica! –a hearty punch of dark rum, coconut liqueur and grenadine, topped with fresh pineapple, orange and lime juice.
The conversation flowed over and around them like the breeze from the veranda, but Alex remained largely silent. His mother made up for his lack of conversation by going through the wedding plans in great detail: who was flying in and when, what still needed to be arranged for the wedding. It sounded a lot. There was an array of stylists, designers, and not one, but two wedding planners were mentioned several times. It sounded like a secret army were actually the ones beavering away in the background. Ellie felt as if she were in a bubble of luxury, so far from the comfort of the East End it may as well have been a different planet.
Several gold food carts were wheeled in, filled with an assortment of sandwiches, salads, pastries and cakes.
‘Just a light meal tonight, as we’ve the big rehearsal dinner tomorrow,’ explained Jessica, as if the idea of two big meals in as many days was unheard of – it probably was to this family.
Ellie kept her head down as she waited for everyone else to move first. Thankfully, Alex was the first to grab himself a plate.
‘How about a tennis tournament tomorrow? Bride’s team against groom’s – although, let’s split Jessica and Robert so it’s fair,’ chirped Holly. She began to count on her fingers. ‘So that’ll be Savannah, me, Keira, Caitlyn and say Jessica on team bride, and Robert, Liam, Tony, Alex and Ellie on team groom. You must play tennis, Ellie, what with Wimbledon being on your doorstep.’
Ellie swallowed her bite of smoked salmon bagel carefully, hoping she wouldn’t choke. ‘Well, I don’t know if you’d want me to play, I—’
‘Count me out,’ interrupted Alex, and the group flinched from the frostbite in his tone.
‘Oh, but that’s such a pain!’ cried Holly petulantly. ‘The numbers are so nice and even. Look, even if Ellie’s not very good, it doesn’t matter – it’s just for fun. Come on, Ellie, say you’llplay!’ Holly stared at Ellie bad-temperedly, as if she had single-handedly ruined her plans, even though it had been Alex who had said he didn’t want to play.
She shrugged, uncertain. ‘I don’t mind either way.’
‘Good,’ said Holly. ‘Now you have to play, Alex, otherwise our numbers will be out.’
Savannah rolled her eyes. ‘Leave them be, Holly, they’ve only just arrived. And, honestly, I don’t know if smashing tennis balls around only days before my wedding is a good idea.’
Holly pouted. ‘Then, if anyone should sit it out, it’s you and Liam.’
There was an awkward silence before Jessica brightly asked Tony about his latest project. He was a film director – Ellie had seen some of his films, all action-packed disaster movies. Holly in particular seemed keen to know about the different parts and storyline. Ellie couldn’t help but notice that no one had asked Alex once about his play.
The food, cocktails and gentle hum of conversation as the sun began to set made Ellie sleepy. The hours of travel and the jet lag were finally catching up with her, and she had to cover a yawn more than once.
Alex jumped at the chance when he saw her try to hide it for the third time. ‘Ellie’s exhausted. Good night.’ He grabbed her arm to half-help, half-drag her out of her seat and then frog-marched them out into the corridor before Ellie had time to mutter anything more than a vague, ‘Bye,’ and they made their escape upstairs.
They entered Alex’s usual room, which was more of a suite in Ellie’s mind. There was a living area with a desk, chair, sofaand coffee table. Two full-length shutter windows were open and letting in the sun and cool ocean breeze, making the room pleasantly balmy. There was nothing personal in it except for Alex’s laptop placed neatly on the desk… and was that her e-reader on top?
Through an archway was the bedroom, with a four-poster bed wreathed in an artfully draped mosquito net that honestly looked more like it was for style than functionality.
As if it called to her, she walked into the bedroom, while Alex downed some of the bottled water left on the coffee table. She should probably have done the same, but she was too tired, and the bed looked too inviting. The en suite beyond was all coastal elegance, with white wooden furnishings and gleaming double sinks. Her toiletries were on one side, and – presumably – Alex’s on the other, as well as a glorious free-standing bath and separate shower.
She noticed that her make-up bags were set out carefully on the dressing table, and her manky old bunny-eared slippers had been placed carefully beneath her fluffy dressing gown hung on the back of the ensuite door. She opened the wardrobe and sure enough her clothes were all hung up or folded neatly on shelves, some of them looking in better condition than when she’d packed them.
‘Erm… Someone unpacked our stuff… and ironed it.’
Alex kicked off his shoes and flopped on the bed. ‘That sounds like Eddie. He takes his job very seriously. I think he’d be offended if we didn’t let him do it.’
‘Not sure how I feel about it to be honest.’ She looked pointedly at the three shelves of her neatly folded underwear, her bras and swimwear hung on scented silk hangers.
Thank God it was all brand-new stuff.
‘You’ll get used to it.’
‘Hmm.’ She wasn’t entirely convinced on that front. She was sure Eddie was a lovely man and all, but it was a bit weird to think of a stranger folding her knickers. There was living in luxury, and there was also something called personal boundaries.
‘Your suitcase is in the top of the wardrobe. Anything you don’t want him to clean, put straight in there. Otherwise, he’ll be searching the room when we’re out for stuff to launder.’
Yep, that was where she’d be stashing her smalls from now on. Sorry, Eddie.
She removed her earrings and, out of habit, opened the drawer on the bedside table, thinking to place them somewhere safe. Staring back at her was an extra-large pack of condoms. She picked it up dumbly and stared at Alex. Suddenly, she realised something that should have been obvious from the start; she’d been too distracted by Eddie the secret knicker elf to notice.
The bed.
