‘Now you’re the grown-up cousin,’ she’d said.
And Savannah had wanted to hug Indy at that moment for being so kind. Savannah couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened at school during the week. She knew, intellectually, that whenever Calum got very angry about something, it took her a few days to get over it.
After perhaps a week, things would somehow have slipped back into normality. Their normality. He would be fine and calm and she would finally begin to unclench her body and let some of the stress out. But that week was always hell, and now they were right in the middle of it.
She’d gone earlier to the hotel with Clary and it had been lovely because they’d played music along the way and sung. But now she could see Calum had just arrived and he was walking in with Anthony and Philip, of all people. Anthony and Philip were beautifully dressed. Anthony had the most exquisite taste. And today he was wearing a lilac shirt that showed off his Mediterranean dark, good looks.
‘Must have been the window cleaner, darling,’ he’d often said laughingly to Savannah. ‘My dad’s a redhead,’ and they’d both giggled.
She thought that Anthony quite liked Calum, which was both good and bad and the three of them seemed to be joking and laughing as they walked in. And then she could see it, that infinitesimal change in her husband’s face as he heard something he didn’t like. It was so subtle but she recognised it: his expression would change, just a tiny fraction. Only she and probably Clary would be able to recognise it. To everyone else he’d still be the smiling, charming Calum. But she knew better. What had Anthony said to him? Against her better judgement she rushed over to find out, because it was better to know now and then maybe she could try to fix it. If she fixed it, it would be OK and then he wouldn’t be angry with her. Because she couldn’t cope with his anger on this important day. She could feel her heart racing. She knew that thoughts were spiralling around her head at speed.
She raced up to Anthony, Philip and Calum, said, ‘Hello, hello, Anthony, Philip, you look wonderful. Darling.’ She laid a hand on Calum’s arm and he jerked his arm away.
Nobody else would have seen it, but she felt it and she knew what it meant. He was angry, ragingly angry. He shot her a look, rich in fury, and she quailed, felt herself move backwards until she was banging into the wall.
‘Oh, sorry, sorry.’
She moved again and nearly toppled over some flowers, ones she had put there herself only yesterday.
‘We were just talking about the new packaging,’ Anthony said. ‘It’s stunning. Savannah is a genius, isn’t she?’
‘Of course,’ agreed Philip, smiling down at his partner. Philip was very tall, something Anthony loved.
Normally, Calum did not like to stand near tall men, but he had no option at this exact moment. He’d move away soon, naturally.
Savannah knew Calum hated being five foot eight, which is why she didn’t wear heels anymore.
‘This place is absolutely beautiful,’ said Philip, looking around, ‘I’ve always wanted to see inside it.’
‘It’s a bit run down now, though,’ Savannah said sadly, looking around. She almost wasn’t sure what she was saying, she was rattling the words out.
‘Yes, you’d need millions to make this liveable,’ commented Calum, looking around with contempt in his eyes and in his voice. ‘Savannah, a word.’
She thought she was going to pass out.
Sometimes, when he was angry, he waited until they were at home before he said anything. But today, clearly, he was going to say it here and she didn’t know how she was going to cope.
‘This way,’ she said. ‘Everything is all right, isn’t it, darling? I mean, the old place looks lovely.’ She was overtalking, she knew: compensating. Trying to make him forget.
He walked along behind her.
‘The bloody packaging, they’re allstilltalking about it.’ His voice was menacing and low. ‘Nothing about what I do. No, it’s all “Isn’t Savannah brilliant”—’
Savannah led him into a small hall off the breakfast room. It was a little room where she and her sisters, as waitresses, used to keep cutlery and fresh glasses when they were helping out in the hotel. It was a little hidey-hole where nobody could see you, but you had to keep your voice down. Savannah didn’t know why she’d led him in there. It wasn’t the most private place, they wouldn’t be seen but they might be heard.
‘Anthony was telling me how they all think you’re a creative genius. That humiliates me,’ hissed Calum.
He couldn’t bear people to think that she had talent – it had to be all him, the focus must remain on him. ‘You’ve made me look stupid, you bitch.’
Eden came out of the library, the decision made. She would not keep this secret anymore. She felt freer for having made the decision.
Idly, she wondered if they’d done the right thing in delivering her father to the wedding. Had it been a massive mistake? But her mother seemed happy enough with it as a concept. The way she’d put her arms around Pops had made something in Eden sigh with happiness. They loved each other and her mother was prepared to marry her father in spite of everything. Eden could not argue with her, not now, not today when her mother was determined. Weddings brought out heightened emotions in everyone, and even though Indy, Steve, Ralphie and herself had calmly pointed out that there was a certain risk involved, Mum wanted to go ahead.
Who was Eden to stop her?
She arrived in the ballroom, which was steps off the breakfast room, and looked around. It was nearly time for the wedding to begin and where was everyone? The guests weren’t all here, which was typical for people going to the Sorrento. Everything started late – they probably thought the wedding would be Robicheaux-style late too.
The musicians were playing, there were drinks being circulated, fabulous smells were emerging from the kitchen and the old place looked pretty amazing, she had to admit it. All the flower arranging yesterday and the hanging of bits of muslin and Vonnie’s lovely silk flowers, and even those bonkers fake feathers that Vonnie had come up with – it all looked fabulous. There were probably enough tea lights spread around the place to constitute a fire hazard, but whatever. And then she saw Savannah with Calum in the small hall. He looked furious, his face a mask of rage.
