‘Is there a family part of the therapy?’ India asks innocently now. ‘Is that why you’re both here?’
Bobbi nods gloomily but Julia narrows her eyes.
‘No, I don’t do stupid therapy. It’s all a con,’ she says, assessing India.
India sips her cocktail.
‘Are you here with your family?’ demands Julia.
‘No, no husband or boyfriend. It’s a me-time holiday,’ India answers, then steals her stepmother’s career for her own. ‘I work in interior design and needed a break after doing a big job in Hackney. How about you?’ she asks slyly.
‘I’m a trust-fund girl,’ says Julia smugly. ‘I’m terribly lucky. But Iknowhow lucky I am,’ she coos with a fake smile. ‘That’s key,’ she adds.
India hides how shocked she is with all the lies.
Dan had never mentioned the fantasy-creating side of his former girlfriend. But clearly Julia has a very tenuous relationship with the truth.
Also, she must have had therapy in hospital, surely?
Is she embarrassed at what happened? India can understand that.
Making up a fantasy to cover up the pain about her suicide attempt would make sense in some ways. India wants to feel sympathy for the other woman.
Except Julia is not exactly sympathetic.
‘Your fiancé …’ India says, unable to let it go. She has to find out what sort of person Julia truly is. ‘What does he look like? I may have seen him …’
‘Tall, handsome,’ says Julia airily. ‘He asked me to fly out. Can’t bear to be without me!’
She turns to Stacy and waggles her fingers at the bartender, signalling a request for another cocktail.
India thinks she might just explode with rage.
What a cow!
Alexei intervenes: ‘I thought there was a message for you up at reception,’ he says to India. His expressive eyes say that he wants her gone before it all falls apart.
With Julia and Bobbi both looking elsewhere, India sticks her tongue out at him.
‘When are you getting married?’ she asks Julia.
She can’t help herself.
She is convinced that Dan is not lying about him and Julia being on a break, which means that Julia is the most barefaced liar India has ever met.
‘And have you got a dress?’ India adds.
Julia drinks at least half of her new cocktail in one fell swoop without even flinching.
‘I’ll probably wear one of Mummy’s couture dresses,’ she says, twirling some of her long blonde hair. ‘October. That’s when we’re getting married. October. Daddy will just book somewhere lovely when the time comes. I’m feeling Venice …’
India is finally rendered speechless. She knows she’s been working on her own wedding dress looks without having a spouse-to-be but at least she wasn’t lying about it.
She glares at Alexei who’s still staring at her.
‘I must go and get that message,’ she tells him grimly. ‘Bye all,’ she says and leaves the bar.
India is supercharged with temper.
