He laughs again. ‘I’d be a rubbish pastor, but thank you for the compliment. Another Coke?’
‘Why not.’ Although I don’t share his beliefs, I do feel lighter, like I’ve shed a heavy load. There’s something calm and peaceful about him that I find very attractive, particularly afterthe emotional turmoil of this morning. I tilt my head up towards the sun and breathe deeply, feeling myself unwind. Coming here was one of the best ideas I’ve had in a long time.
17
‘I’ve been looking for you,’ Lily says as she sits down on the sun lounger next to mine. My conversation with Gabriel has done wonders for my mood and, after managing to avoid the rest of the group at lunchtime, I’ve been focused on doing some of the things I’ve wanted to do since I got here. My drink at the pool bar was a little disappointing, because I’d have preferred it to be one of Raphael’s rum punches rather than the virgin mojito that was the closest I could get, but I’ve swum in the sea and I’m back in the zone with my book.
‘Hi, Lily,’ I say, setting my Kindle aside and looking at her. ‘What’s up?’ I really hope this isn’t going to be another dressing down, as I’m feeling remarkably peaceful at the moment, and my new emotional support person won’t be at the piano for another three hours.
‘I just wanted to check in on you. Amy said she had a bit of a run-in with you this morning, and I know the whole room sharing situation isn’t ideal, so I wondered if you were OK.’
‘I’m fine, thanks, Lily. I guess I just find Amy a bit overwhelming sometimes, particularly as she seems convinced that my only reason for existing is to try to prise Stuart off her.’
Lily smiles. ‘I sometimes forget how full-on Amy can be, because we’ve known each other forever and I’m used to her. She means well, but she can be a bit overbearing and she’s not always terribly good at accepting opinions that differ from hers.’
It takes me a moment to frame my next question, as I want to ask it without offending her. ‘You certainly seem very different from her,’ I observe. ‘I’m not sure I’d naturally put you together as best friends.’
Lily laughs softly. ‘Oh, very good, Tori. A masterclass in tact and diplomacy. Alan would be proud. We are very different, you’re right, but that’s partly why it works. For example, Amy is a brilliant organiser, where I find that kind of stuff quite stressful. As soon as I told her I was getting married, she was all over it, and I barely had to do anything beyond turn up to the appointments she’d made and, obviously, be there on the day. Same with this holiday. I know she’s not everybody’s cup of tea, and she’s very obviously not yours, but she’s been a good friend to me.’
‘The thing I don’t understand is why she’s so convinced all I want is to steal Stuart off her.’ This is a dangerous topic, I know, but I’m keen to get Lily’s opinion on the subject.
Another soft laugh. ‘Before we get on to that, isn’t it the weirdest example of it being a small world that you once dated my brother-in-law? I just can’t get my head round that at all.’
‘Is that the weird thing, do you suppose, or is it the fact that I’ve worked with you for all this time and reckon I know you reasonably well, but neither of us ever figured it out? I mean, what are the chances of that? I thought I was going to have a heart attack when I saw him at the airport.’ This is true, but not for the reasons that Lily suspects. I don’t think I can tell her about New Year’s Eve. Although I’m uncomfortable about concealing things from her, I think she’d find it very difficultnot to share my revelations with Amy, and then we’d be in the disaster scenario that Stuart outlined so succinctly this morning.
‘That is weird, I agree,’ Lily says gently. ‘The thing about Stuart is that he’s a little – how do I put this kindly – immature. Would you agree?’
She looks at me expectantly, but there’s no way I can tell her my true feelings about Stuart either. He may be the lowest form of humanity in my eyes, but he’s still her husband’s brother, and she might feel obliged to defend him. I have enough enemies on this holiday already; I don’t want to risk falling out with Lily as well.
‘I think that’s a nice way of putting it,’ I tell her instead.
Lily smiles. ‘You are on fire in the tact department this afternoon. So, although she loves him and he loves her, Amy does find Stuart’s immaturity a little trying at times, particularly his’ – again she pauses while she searches for the right word – ‘wandering eyes.’
That’s not the only part of him that wanders, I think, but manage to keep my mouth shut for a change.
‘Stuart’s always been a bit of a ladies’ man,’ Lily continues. ‘In fact, he propositioned my sister Poppy a few times in the week leading up to the wedding, even though she’s over ten years older than him. She’s a sex therapist and I think that was like catnip to him. Don’t tell Amy. They weren’t together then, but I’m not sure she knows, and she is a little insecure about his past, as you’ve found out.’
‘Do you think,’ I begin, pleased with my ability to turn my previous thought into a question, ‘that he’s ever gone further than just looking?’
‘What, actual cheating? I’d like to think not. Why, do you know something?’
‘No, absolutely not. I mean, he was a bit more flirtatious with a couple of my friends than I liked when we were going out,but I know for a fact that nothing happened.’ This conversation is exhausting, because I’m literally walking a tightrope, trying to find out as much as I can from Lily without giving anything incriminating away.
‘Anyway,’ I continue, deciding that it’s probably a good idea to change the subject before I accidentally say something I shouldn’t. ‘How are you enjoying the holiday?’
She sighs happily. ‘It’s lovely here, isn’t it? I had this idea in my head about what the Caribbean would be like, but this is even better than I dreamed.’
‘And the pregnancy thing?’
‘Nothing like a holiday to get Dan in the mood, and that’s all I’m telling you. What about Robert? How are you getting on with him? I’m so sorry about the mix-up.’
‘It wasn’t your fault, and he’s fine, actually. He’s started trying to talk to Fliss, but she’s not being very receptive at the moment.’
‘I can’t say I blame her, can you? She was so looking forward to this holiday.’
‘I think Robert understands that it wasn’t his finest hour. The question now is whether he’ll be able to win her back or whether it’s too late.’
We lapse into silence, and I’m just about to pick up my book again when Lily speaks.
