‘Ah, for goodness’ sake, Charlie!’ Annie yelled then, as her son dive-bombed into the pool, sending a huge spray of water in their direction. Kim jumped back just in time for it to miss her but Colette and Annie, who were both sitting poolside, got soaked. ‘What the hell were you playing at?’ she scolded.
Colette laughed it off. ‘Ah, don’t worry, Annie. He was just doing exactly that – playing. It’s what kids do.’
‘Thanks for the advice, Colette, but maybe save it for your own child,’ she snapped, brushing water off her clothes.
Kim’s stomach twisted at the statement. She knew Annie hadn’t meant anything callous by it, but still the words had been uttered, and while Colette tried to hide the effect they had on her, Kim had seen the hurt flash in her eyes.
‘Excuse me a moment,’ she mumbled. ‘In all the excitement, I forgot to call Ed when I got in. I’ll be back in a bit.’
Kim watched as she hurried off into the hotel building, wondering if she should go after her to check if she was OK. But then she saw her raise her mobile phone to her ear and figured there was little point in interrupting her conversation with Ed.
‘Why did you say that?’ she whispered harshly to Annie, who looked duly pained.
‘It just came out, I didn’t mean it. You know I wouldn’t hurt Colette, it’s just … she doesn’t really understand what it is to be a parent. She’s used to having children that she can give back when they misbehave, but you can’t give back your own child, you know that.’
‘Still, it was a bit mean, considering.’
‘I know. I’ll apologise when she comes back. I was just a bit frustrated, and tired after the journey, maybe,’ Annie admitted.
‘What’s really going on?’
‘Nothing.’ But her eyes turned to her and Kim could see the conflict in them. She waited for her friend to explain as the sound of Charlie splashing continued in the background.
‘Things are a little … stressful just now,’ Annie admitted finally. She gave a dispirited grin. ‘For starters, it not always easy being a single mother.’
‘I can imagine. But I still don’t know why you refused to ask his father for help. It could’ve made life so much easier.’
‘I doubt that. Anyway, Charlie and I are just fine on our own.’
‘It’s not just Charlie, though, is it? Something else is on your mind.’
Annie shook her head. ‘I’d almost forgotten who I’m talking to. Always Miss Perceptive.’
‘And you’re always Miss Stubborn. What gives?’
‘It’s nothing – honestly.’ Whatever was going on, Annie clearly wasn’t ready to tell her. Or maybe she never would be. ‘Anyway, I am who I am.’
‘I know, and that’s why I don’t understand this attitude.’
‘Hey, Kim, give it a rest, OK? You have always got whatever you wanted. Always. You’ve never had to struggle with anything a day in your life. You have a super successful business, a gorgeous husband and a beautiful daughter, with your big California house, millions in the bank, and now the villa, your crowning glory. What exactly is it about your life that could possibly equip you to understand mine?’
With that, Annie stood up and stormed off to the other side of the pool, where she grabbed a towel and urged Charlie to get out of the water.
What the hell was that?Kim thought, reeling as she sat alone, three abandoned, half-finished cocktails on the table in front of her, debating whether she should try to rescue the situation with Annie, who seemed to have flown off the handle for no apparent reason.Clearly something was going on with her, but in time-honoured Annie fashion, she was insistent on rowing her own boat. And she had already said she was tired after the flight, so perhaps Kim would only worsen things by pushing it and making her even more irritable.
And it wasn’t as if she didn’t have enough problems to deal with.
She sighed heavily. This reunion was supposed to be a happy time, reliving fond memories of the summer the three of them had shared, and reaffirming their friendship.
Yet another example of Kim’s grand plans going awry.
Chapter 51
Now
Later that evening the three friends and Charlie reconvened at La Cambusa in Positano. The streets were bustling and the lights of the town were bright, reflecting like stars on a dark ocean. Located by the water’s edge, the restaurant had been one of their old haunts and a lively local favourite.
Charlie ordered marinara pizza while the others enjoyed freshly caught seafood. The conversation was lively, and the discomfort of earlier seemed to dissipate with the change of venue.
