‘Char?’
‘Well, I’m not starving yet, but I’m sure I will be by the time we get there.’
Maddie studied the way Sofia was tapping her fingers on the little side table.
‘Are you nervous?’
‘Of course not. Why are you saying that?’
‘You seem a bit… strung out.’
‘OK, I suppose I am a little. I don’t usually get to meet the families as you know. But this is Greece. You can’t get away without meeting the family. But it doesn’t mean anything.’
Like hell it didn’t. She was well aware that this was a test that she’d need to pass. Not the ultimate showdown with the family matriarch, but a test nevertheless. Why hadn’t she picked someone who was constantly on the move, like a pilot or a ship’s captain? Not someone firmly anchored to his family and his job on a small Greek island.
Maddie and Charlotte exchanged a glance.
‘I know what you’re doing.’
Maddie reached over to touch her friend’s leg.
‘I don’t want to put a downer on the proceedings, but have you thought about what you’re going to do when you go back to England in precisely… three days’ time?’
‘Stop it!’
As well as not having instant access to Adonis, the great big gaping hole where her work had been was something Sofia couldn’t think about right now. Being away with her friends had been just the tonic she needed after being unceremoniously dumped. But it wasn’t real life. It was a sun-drenched fantasy, but she was determined not to let it end before it had to.
‘As you rightly say, we still have three days left to enjoy ourselves. Let’s not talk about what happens back in England until we get there. Can we all make a pact, please?’
Charlotte sat up on her sunlounger.
‘Fine by me.’
The idea of facing Doug again and having to rake over everything in person wasn’t a pleasant one either. It would decide the future of their marriage. Being so far away from her husband and his mistress had been refreshing. She wasn’t going to bump into Natalie over the pastries in the local mini market on a tiny Greek island, the way she very well might in their upmarket village deli back in Surrey. In fact, she had even met the woman there for coffee a few times in a gesture of friendship towards Doug’s colleagues. Just the memory made her feel sick.
If she did stay with Doug, and it was a big if, either they’d have to move, or Natalie would. The house had got too big for just the two of them anyway. And realistically the boys lived near enough that they didn’t need to stay the night when they visited. What was the point of having unused bedrooms that needed regular cleaning? The holiday really had given her the freedom to step away from her life and think a bit more deeply about her situation rather than just blindly carrying on.
Maddie sighed.
‘Sorry, that was my fault for bringing it up. OK, I agree, no more talk about what’s waiting for any of us back home until we get on that plane.’
Sofia grabbed her sun hat and phone.
‘Agreed. It’s a casual do at the brother’s house, but we’d better all jump in the shower now and get ready. The car will be here in forty minutes.
Maddie lay back on the sunlounger again.
‘Not sure I need that long to beautify myself…’
‘Well, as long as you’re ready on time.’
‘Of course. I wouldn’t want to be late for your future in-laws…’
Sofia batted her on the leg with the hat.
‘You’re going to pay for that. I’ll get you back, don’t you worry.’
The drive into the hills with the sea at their side was stunning as the heat of the day started to fade a little. They were right on the edge of the narrow roads that wound their way up and round, never losing sight of the sun sparkling on the turquoise water below as the houses petered out and the odd goat occasionally appeared in their path.
