Oh God. Here it comes. ‘Er … yes.’ I nod, waiting for it to follow. He knows, I realise, as we make our way towards Suki’s cabin. He knows the whole Lyla-and-Eddie thing is a lie.
‘But,’ he starts, ‘Suki said they’ve been together for—’
‘Yes, I know,’ I say quickly. Her cabin is in view now, fairy lights twinkling in the dusk. ‘It’s what Lyla wants her mum to think,’ I explain, my cheeks burning as if I’m the one who concocted the lie. ‘Eddie told us that’s the story, and that we had to go along with it. But actually …’ I look at him, grimacing. ‘They just had a fling – a one-night thing, I think. And that was that.’
Oliver holds my gaze for a moment. ‘I kind of wondered,’ he says gently.
‘It’s crazy really,’ I add. ‘I don’t know why they’re lying and it’s bound to come out. I mean, they’re not even together. It’s all an act. But would you please not say anything to Suki? I’d hate it all to come out, and for her to be upset, especially this weekend—’
‘Hey,’ he says, touching my arm. ‘Of course I won’t say anything.’
‘Thank you. It seems really important—’ I break off as Suki appears on the deck.
‘Back at last!’ She grins, welcoming us into the cabin and pressing glasses of wine into our hands.
‘Hey, let me get my jacket off,’ Oliver says, laughing, and glances at me. Perhaps it will be okay, I reassure myself, as Suki spins off, a blur of tousled blonde hair in her pink cotton dress, to put the finishing touches to dinner.Dinah has yet to appear. I think about everything Oliver and I have seen today – the beavers and the dragonflies dancing on the still water, not to mention the castle and the gleaming loch. She’s missed so much. Frankly, I can’t understand why she came here. Yet my spirits remain high, even when Dinah finally emerges from her room to join us at the dinner table.
Of course Oliver won’t tell. I justknowthat. And who cares if our resident psychotherapist seems intent on putting the damper on the weekend? Employing the bombard-with-enthusiasm approach, I tell her all about our day.
‘Sounds great,’ she says noncommittally.
‘Did you have a nice time?’ I ask.
‘Yes, very nice,’ she says. ‘Though I’m not really a hot-tub person.’
‘You could’ve fooled me,’ Suki teases. ‘We were in there for hours, shrivelling away.’
Dinner is more relaxed tonight, and when we’re finished Suki looks around at all of us, eyes sparkling. ‘Maybe we can all come up here when the baby’s born,’ she announces.
‘Oh. That would be lovely,’ I manage.
‘Lyla loves it here,’ she adds. ‘She’s a nature girl really, like me.’ I catch Dinah studying me and take a big swig of wine. It’s as if sheknows, I realise. As if she’s well aware that Lyla is spinning her mother a yarn. And that I – bringer of substandard wines – am in on it too.
‘So, Carly,’ she starts, spearing me with a look across the table, ‘howdidEddie and Lyla meet?’
Sweat beads on my forehead as all eyes are on me.What do I do now? Feign illness? Conjure up the sciatica I’ve never had and stagger off, groaning in ‘pain’? I glance at Oliver as if he might be able to help me wriggle out of this. ‘I, er …’ I start. Then something happens and I can only think of it as adoublemiracle.
One, my phone must have come within signal range because –two!– it starts ringing in my pocket. Someone’s calling me! It’s probably a scam call, but I’m already dispensing silent thanks to the scammer as I leap up and snatch it from my pocket. ‘Sorry, I’d better take this …’
Striding away from the table, I blink down at name that’s displayed. Dad? Why would he be calling? I step out of the cabin and onto the deck.
‘Dad, is everything okay?’
‘Carly …’ His breathing sounds ragged and my heart rate accelerates in panic.
‘Dad! Whatisit?’
‘I – I’m probably making a fuss about nothing. But I’m feeling bad. Really bad. And I don’t know what to do. Sorry. I didn’t want to call and spoil your trip.’
‘What’s happening? What are you feeling, Dad—’
‘Please, just come and help me, Carly.Pleasehelp.’
Chapter Twenty-seven
May
Kenny
