Ralph had kept schtum, too, but now launched into a slow hand clap.
‘Bravo!’ he said, staring coldly at Jessica. ‘You crack on and enjoy your splendid isolation. But if you don’t mind, Edie and I will still look out for each other and try to support the people we love and care about. If everyone did the same, the world would be a better place.’
Jessica shrugged. ‘Do what you like. I don’t care.’
‘Cheers,’ Ralph replied, deadpan. ‘We will.’
When the police officers got up to leave, the others rose, too, and Edie noticed Hannah sidle up to Mac. She tried to hook her hand under his arm but he shook her off and stepped away, out of reach.
He glanced back at Edie, who was standing just behind, and she gave him a subtle nod of approval. It was a good start, she thought.
* * *
Now that Ralph and Edie were no longer sick with worry about Jessica, the last few days of their holiday took a wholly different turn. They were both tired, and spent most of their time with Mac on the local beach, reading their books, chatting quietly and soaking up the sun.
They had no idea what Hannah or Jessica were up to, and they chose to eat out each night in one of the little restaurants in Porto Liakáda. They were afraid of bumping into either of the women at the villa and perhaps getting dragged into an argument.
On their final morning, they popped into the supermarket to say farewell to April.
‘It’s not been very relaxing for you,’ April said, shaking her head. ‘You’ll have to come back next year.’
Edie promised they’d try, and gave April a hug. ‘It’s not been easy,’ she admitted, ‘But we’ve had some really good moments, haven’t we, Ralph?’
She turned to her husband with shining eyes and felt a shudder of pleasure, remembering the night before. They’d finally made love, and she could swear it had been the best ever.
He put an arm round her shoulders, bringing her back to the present, and pulled her into his side.
‘Porto Liakáda’s a wonderful place,’ he said warmly. ‘And the people are wonderful, too.’
April’s cheeks and the tips of her ears went pink with pleasure and embarrassment, and she stared down at her bright-blue-painted nails.
Edie, Ralph and Mac were in a café drinking coffee when they saw Marina and Katerina walking, arm in arm, towards them.
The women looked very relaxed and comfortable in each other’s company, like mother and daughter. Marina was considerably taller and she was stooping slightly, listening intently to something Katerina was saying.
Once or twice, the older woman waved an arm around, in an expressive gesture, and Edie heard Marina’s tinkling laugh, like wind chimes blowing in the breeze. She wondered what they were talking about and wished she could ask.
It was very hot, and she and the men were sitting at a table overlooking the harbour. They’d been watching the sun’s reflection on the surface of the water, making it twinkle like diamonds.
Mac had been quiet and looked fragile and a bit lost, but he hadn’t listened to Hannah’s pleas and seemed determined to break from her at last.
As soon as Marina and Katerina were close enough, Edie got up to say hello and invited them to join her and the others for a coffee, but Katerina shook her head.
‘Thank you, but it is too late in the morning for coffee for us locals,’ she said with a smile. ‘And too early for an aperitif. We are creatures of habit, you see.’
‘Indeed,’ Marina agreed. ‘I’ve become terribly stuck in my ways. I can’t cope with any changes to my routine.’
Edie laughed. ‘Well, at least come and say hello and goodbye to everyone.’
She pointed towards their table.
Slightly reluctantly, it seemed, both women followed her across the terrace to the water’s edge, and Ralph drew up a couple more chairs.
‘I guess you two have known each other forever,’ Edie commented, noticing how synchronised their movements were.
When Katerina crossed her legs, Marina did the same. And when Marina frowned or wrinkled her nose, the older woman copied.
They didn’t seem aware of what they were doing; it was quite subconscious. And they even looked a little alike, though Edie understood they weren’t related by blood.
