She’sthought about wicked stepmothers too, it seems. But Rose doesn’t think India’s problem is with hers.
‘It pitted women against women, too, which was a neat patriarchal trick,’ interjects Dianne abruptly.
‘I never thought of it that way,’ says India, interested.
Grazia smiles back at Rose with a very chilly smile.
‘Sometimes people believe fairy stories,’ she says.
‘Do your stepchildren believe that about you?’ Rose inquires. ‘Blended families can be tricky.’
Grazia shrugs at this open-ended question. This time,she grabs the Dior handbag, pulls it onto her lap and opens it, long fingers stretching inside.
‘You want to smoke?’ Rose says quietly.
‘Yes. It is good for stress.’
‘I’ll tell you what,’ Rose says. ‘Let’s have a little break, you can have your cigarette and, when we’re back, we’ll talk about your stepchildren in a short session before lunch.’
Grazia beams at her.
‘I like this plan.’
In the kitchen, Christos is working on prep for tonight’s barbecue on the beach with Alzina, his sous-chef.
He has already been down to the quay in Xanthe to buy fish and he’s now examining plump aubergines with gleaming skin.
Alzina’s cousin, Lydia, is busy helping Adriana with the hotel’s beautiful white towels. Together, they’ve cleaned most of the rooms, and the industrial washing machine that Adriana loves is working overtime.
‘How’s it going?’ asks Adriana, pausing briefly.
‘Excellent,’ Rose replies.
‘That rich guest wiped up some red wine with the hand towels,’ Lydia complains to Rose. ‘They will never be properly white again.’
‘Bernard?’ asks Rose.
‘The old one who watches me walk past,’ Lydia says with revulsion. ‘I hate the way he looks at me.’ She’s in her early twenties, working for a year after college and saving to pay for her master’s.
‘He looks at every woman,’ agrees Adriana. ‘Like he’s awarding marks out of ten. He’s certainly demanding.’
‘Should I say something?’ queries Rose.
Adriana shakes her head. Working alongside Christos in some of the top hotels in Europe has given her much experience of hotel life.
‘No. I’ll handle their room in future. He knows I’m a manager. He won’t try anything with me.’
‘Does he need to know that I’m your husband?’ says Christos, looming over her.
The three women laugh.
‘Absolutely,’ says Rose, grinning.
Dianne has wandered off to the edge of the infinity pool and is staring at her mobile phone. Still nothing. No more messages from Ellie.
She can understand Lauren not talking to her: Lauren has a very black-and-white world view. She simply wants her mother to be the way she used to be.
Until that happens, she’s removing herself from the conversation.
