Julia bites her lip and finally, Keera sees behind the façade to the fragile woman underneath.
‘Julia, why don’t we go inside and have some calming tea? Rose has some Magic Tea that will help with everything. Even hangovers.’
‘I do have a bit of a headache,’ Julia admits.
She stares at Dan.
‘You’ll still be my friend,’ she says.
Dan hugs her.
‘We’ve known each other since we were seventeen,’ he says.
‘He was such a nerd,’ Julia says, laughing.
‘I think he still is,’ says Keera.
India and Dan stand at the water’s edge on the Kri Kri beach feeling the sea lap luxuriously around their ankles. India’s still holding Dan’s hand.
If he lets go, it’s a sign.
If he stays holding her hand, that’s another sign.
‘I’m sorry I abandoned you,’ says Dan. ‘Can you forgive me?’
India looks at him. ‘That depends,’ she says. ‘I’m a different person from the woman who came here at first,’ she adds.
‘I fancied that woman,’ says Dan.
‘No you didn’t!’
‘I did.’
‘You were in pain talking about Julia,’ says India.
‘Didn’t mean I was dead,’ Dan says.
‘Why did you run?’ she asks.
‘I realised I’d fallen for you. It felt a huge deal given that I’d been so upset about Julia. It seemed hypocritical. I thought if I got away from Xanthe …’
‘Never hurt me like that again,’ commands India.
‘Promise,’ he says. ‘I also promise I’ll never bring you to a sporting event or make you miss a date with your girlfriends,’ he vows.
‘I’ll never hold you to ransom,’ vows India.
‘Guess we’re sorted then,’ he says and kisses her as the water rises and laps higher and higher.
He lets her hand go but only because he’s wrapping his arms around her.
The remaining group eat a barbecue lunch on the beach, one last time. Taxis are coming soon to take people to the airport and everyone wants to spend more time in Rose’s calm company.
When Christos has finished cooking, he lies on the cushions under the beach umbrellas and pretends to go to sleep.
‘He’s joking,’ says Adriana, poking him with a bare foot.
‘I’m not,’ says Christos, eyes still closed. ‘It was a hard week.’
