‘Is it because of your conversation earlier?’ she asked, dropping her voice even further.
My gaze shot towards her, then I quickly looked at the others. Minh had left the table to photograph the olive grove, Niki was chatting with Giorgios and Michalis, and Tommy seemed lost in thought.About me?I pondered.
Assured that no one was listening to us, I slid closer to Trudy until we were shoulder to shoulder.
‘Which conversation?’
‘Well, all of them – on the helipad, during the helicopter ride, on the yacht…’
‘Fuck,’ I whispered to myself breathlessly.
‘Ally, do you and Tom have some sort ofhistory?’
I dropped my gaze to the tabletop. So much for being discreet.Do I tell her the truth or fob her off with a lie?
I met her eye. She stared back, her openness inviting me in and slicing straight through my defences. She wasn’t going to let this drop – I could tell. And even if our friendship was limited to our time on Aetheria, it might feel good to confide in someone.
I scooched even closer and whispered into her ear, ‘He’s my ex-husband.’
Trudy’s sharp inhale was so extreme, it setheroff on a coughing fit.
11
Thought of the day…
If it costs you your peace, it’s too bloody expensive.
(Buy yourself some nice shoes instead.)
Trudy was unusually quiet after I told her about Tommy, her eyes darting between us as if she couldn’t quite believe it, bewilderment practically stamped on her face. I regretted saying anything; there was every chance Tommy would cotton on, and I wasn’t sure how he’d feel about her knowing.
This is a farce, I thought. The whole bloody thing – Julian, Tommy… having to pretend…
I suppose I could have embraced it, sat everyone down in front of a whiteboard and mapped it all out, like onOnly Murders in the Building.
Only Husbands on the Island.
By this stage, itwouldn’thave surprised me if Rick rocked up (pun intended).
Lost in thought, I barely ate anything else, although I did finish my wine. It was delicious, but mostly I was chasing some Dutch courage. I was going to need it.
After giving us enough time to taste the wares and soak up the atmosphere, Michalis directed us to the museum’s shop where I stocked up on gifts for Mum and Dad, Claude, and Maya and Ruby. Olive oil for everyone!
‘Would you like to see inside the church?’ he asked us when we’d finished shopping. ‘We have some time.’
‘Oh, that would be wonderful,’ Trudy replied, and Niki seemed keen as well.
‘But, Ally,’ Michalis continued, ‘you will need, uh…’ He mimed draping something around his shoulders. ‘To show respect.’
‘Oh, of course,’ I said, suddenly remembering. I’d have to cover my shoulders to enter the church, but I didn’t have anything with me. The others were dressed appropriately, and I didn’t want to be the reason they missed out, so I told them to go on ahead.
‘Are you sure, hun?’ asked Trudy.
‘Yes, yes, go ahead,’ I said with a smile, waving them off.
Tommy shot a quick look over his shoulder as he followed the others into the church, but I pretended not to notice. Instead, I walked away from the entrance, following the rough whitewashed wall. While I drank in the view, I took deep gulps of the fresh, earthy air.
Part of me wished Tommy would come and find me, press me against that wall, and kiss me.
