‘Don’t worry, she will,’ Cynthia assured her.
‘You will,’ Rosie confirmed to Cristy. Then, speaking from behind one hand, she shout-whispered, ‘Dad’s going to ask you to marry him.’
As Cristy blinked, Anna leapt up from her chair and planted a hand over her sister’s mouth.
Cristy was so stunned that she couldn’t even smile. David was going to propose? In front of everyone? And they already knew? She was too shocked to even work out how she felt about that.
Anna was furiously shaking her head while keeping atight hold on Rosie. ‘It’s what we told her,’ she confessed, ‘to make her stop asking. Sorry, it’s not true … I mean, it might be, for all I know, but it’s not part of the plan.’
Rosie turned to her sister. ‘Did you tell me lies?’ she asked accusingly.
‘Not really,’ Anna answered, throwing a pleading look her grandmother’s way. ‘Just a little one …’
‘You’ve just proved you can’t keep a secret,’ Cynthia scolded. ‘And now look what you’ve done – got everyone into a state of confusion over nothing.’
Rosie looked upset now. ‘But I want Dad to propose,’ she grumbled. ‘I thought he was going to.’
‘Oh God,’ Anna groaned. ‘He’s going to kill me for this.’
Finally managing to laugh, Cristy said, ‘Rosie, why don’t you show me your dress for tomorrow night? I’m sure Hayley would like to see it too.’
‘Dying to,’ Hayley agreed, going to slip an arm around Rosie’s plump shoulders. ‘What colour is it?’
‘Blue,’ Rosie replied, and allowing herself to be led out of the room, she chattered on about ribbons and pearls and matching shoes …
‘Sorry again,’ Anna said quietly to Cristy. ‘I hope you didn’t … I mean … Oh God, what a disaster.Pleasedon’t say anything to Dad …’
‘Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me,’ Cristy assured her with an ironic smile, and helping herself to a chocolate, she went off to see the dress, thankful that David – or Matthew, come to that – hadn’t been in the room for Rosie’s big reveal.
‘You looked totally shocked,’ Hayley told Cristy when they were alone in the villa’s master suite a little while later.
It was dark outside now, so the heavy silk drapes wereclosed, and the room was lit by soft creamy lights and the warming glow of a touch-button faux-log fire. This was David’s private space (tell that to Rosie) where he came to read newspapers, watch sport on TV or make phone calls he’d rather weren’t overheard. It was a sumptuous suite dominated by an enormous bed, with twin sofas flanking the fire and a small bar set up in one of the armoires. Naturally, he had an office downstairs for when he was working at home, but up here, he could properly relax and, when she was here, be alone with Cristy.
‘What would you have said if it had turned out to be real?’ Hayley asked, stretching out on the bed as Cristy sank into one of the sofas with a gin and tonic.
‘I’m not sure,’ Cristy replied, feeling suddenly edgy and way too hot. ‘I mean, being married again isn’t on my agenda.’
‘Not even to David? I thought you were nuts about him.’
‘I am, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready for that sort of commitment.’
‘You’re fifty tomorrow – not getting any younger.’
‘Only someone your age would think fifty was past it.’
‘Teasing!’ Hayley laughed. ‘You’re definitely great for your age. You don’t look much over forty, but you can’t want to grow old on your own. I mean, obviously me and Aiden will be around, but that’s not the same. And we won’t mind – you know we love David. And imagine being here all the time, in this gorgeous place …’
‘Will you stop? If you knew what was really going on in my life, you wouldn’t be writing me off quite so soon.’
Immediately fascinated, Hayley said, ‘Oh! Do tell.’
‘Not now …’
‘Hang on, you haven’t met someone else, have you? Is that why …’
‘I have not met someone else.’
‘So what’s going on?’
