‘I miss Jocelyn,’ I admit. ‘I barely knew her, but I liked her a lot.’
‘She’s still trying to get me to go to that music group,’ he reveals.
I wish I could be there to see his face if he does.
‘I’ve finally agreed to take Mum up on her offers to help out a bit more with April,’ he continues. ‘Maybe I should ask her to do Wednesday mornings so she can take her.’
‘You’re missing out,’ I warn.
‘Yeah, yeah,’ he replies with a smile.
Later, I wait by the pool while Charlie introduces April to the sitter, who is indeed a lovely, friendly lady. April seems to like her, but Charlie wants to make sure she’s asleep before we leave, and he instructs the sitter to call us if she wakes up.
The resort’s Thai restaurant is situated further along the beach near the towering limestone cliffs. We’re taken to a table for two outside on the balcony facing the water, and we order a bottle of wine before perusing the menu.
‘Is it wrong that I just really fancy a pad Thai?’ I ask Charlie.
‘No, why?’ he replies with a laugh.
‘It’s so predictable and boring.’
‘You should have whatever you feel like,’ he states. ‘Anyway, it comes with lobster. That’s hardly predictable.’
‘True,’ I say, my mind made up.
The sunset that evening is even more breathtaking than the last. The pale-green water is so still tonight – it barely laps against the white sandy shore. As the light dims, our faces are lit by the candle on the table and the fairy lights in the nearby trees.
‘Is that a couple swimming?’ I peer further down the beach.
‘I think so,’ Charlie replies. ‘That’ll be us later.’
‘Shall we?’ I ask eagerly. Night swimming!
He shrugs and returns his smile to me. ‘Could do.’
The waiter comes over with our food.
‘Are you going to see Isak again?’ Charlie asks after we’ve tried each other’s dish. This is seriously the best pad Thai I have ever had in my entire life. Charlie’s beef curry is bloody good, too.
‘Nah, don’t think I’ll need to,’ I reply.
Ladies and gentlemen, that is therightanswer!The relief on his face is palpable.
‘How did you cope reading Nicki’s novel?’ I’m perplexed. It’s obvious he hasn’t come to terms with what happened years ago.
‘In what way?’ he asks, leaning back in his seat and staring at me.
‘Well, if you know that Isak inspired Timo, how did that make you feel?’
‘Truthfully?’ He raises one eyebrow.
I nod.
‘Like absolute shit.’
I start with surprise.
‘Nicki didn’t tell me she was writing a book about cheating.’
