One of the Girls(47)

It was a dismissive, old-fashioned turn of phrase, and Lexi felt a flare of protectiveness towards Eleanor. ‘I admire her for coming. It must be hard being out here, celebrating someone else’s wedding so soon after losing Sam.’

‘You’re right. It’ll do her a world of good. Some sunshine. A few drinks. Company. You’re not missing much here – it’s rained for two days straight.’

‘Has it?’

‘God, I miss you, Lex. I was thinking I could pick you up from the airport on Sunday night. Maybe reschedule my Monday morning appointments so we can catch up properly?’

‘Sounds lovely,’ she said, feeling pleased.

‘Lexi Lowe!’

She startled. Bella was coming towards her, a hand on her hip. ‘Talking to the groom! You are in breach of hen party rule number two.’ She plucked the phone from Lexi’s grip. ‘Hello, Edward,’ she waved into the camera. ‘You know you’re aiding and abetting?’

‘Guilty as charged.’

‘And what have you two lovebirds been talking about?’ Bella asked, gaze sliding to Lexi, an eyebrow arched.

Lexi shot her a panicked look.

‘I was just telling Lexi how much I missed her,’ Ed said.

‘If you’re infiltrating the hen,’ Bella said, ‘I suppose you may as well get the full tour. Come,’ she said, carrying the phone. ‘I am hobbling, by the way.’ She angled the video towards her foot. ‘A scorpion stung me. It was jealous of my exquisite taste in footwear.’ She tottered across the square, mouthing to Lexi: See? Me and Ed: BFFs! To Ed she said, ‘We’ve just finished dinner at the best taverna in Greece. I daren’t pan to my stomach, else you may think I’m expecting.’

Lexi fired another warning glance. Bloody Bella.

‘Right, here we go,’ she said, panning the camera. ‘No one can stand. We’ve eaten our body weight in tzatziki. I think you know most of us. You’ve not met Fen yet, my incredibly hot girlfriend.’

‘Hey,’ she said, lifting a hand.

‘Hello!’ Ed called cheerfully from the screen.

Bella swung the camera around. ‘There’s Robyn. Robyn is very sunburned, aren’t you, Robyn?’

‘Lots of liquids!’ Ed advised.

Robyn lifted her wine glass. ‘That’s the part I’m managing.’

Bella moved on, angling the phone towards Eleanor, saying, ‘You obviously know this face.’

‘Hello, little sis.’

Lexi saw the way Eleanor pasted on a big smile, lifting her drink to toast the screen. ‘Edward.’

Bella hollered to Ana, who was making her way inside the taverna. She was wearing her new jade dress, paired with a simple black headscarf knotted in a funky side bow. Lexi watched her turn, waving vaguely in Bella’s direction, calling, ‘Off to the loo!’

‘There. Now you know Ana needs a piss! Well, that’s everyone. But I’m afraid you can’t speak to the bride again. She’s off limits.’

Lexi rolled her eyes. ‘Give me the phone.’

‘No can do,’ Bella said, holding it out of reach. ‘That’s all for now, lovebirds. You’ll see each other on Sunday. Wave goodbye.’ She held up the phone for Lexi to wave.

As Lexi raised a hand, she saw Ed’s image on screen. He looked strange, eyes narrowed, brows pulling close, a hand reaching to the back of his neck.

‘Ed?’ Bella said. ‘Aren’t you going to say goodbye to wifey?’





38

Eleanor

The waitress set down the extra dish of saganaki Eleanor had ordered.

Thanking her, Eleanor drew the small plate directly in front of her. It was her favourite – graviera cheese fried in olive oil, brought straight to the table with just a squeeze of lemon. It was so freshly prepared that the golden crust still gently sizzled.

Using the edge of her fork, she sliced into the crisp saganaki, which oozed melted cheese. She dropped a corner into her mouth, closed her eyes, chewed. Salty, lightly zested, a hint of a crust. Utter perfection.

Melted cheese was the closest thing to happiness Eleanor experienced these days. It was to be savoured. She popped a second piece into her mouth.

Her mobile trilled, startling her.

No one called Eleanor except her family, and they knew she was in Greece. It would be some ridiculous PPI call interrupting her cheese moment. She’d enjoy telling them to go fuck themselves because: cheese. That was the sort of person she was these days, someone who quietly enjoyed swearing at strangers.

Her phone was tucked into her new handbag, which hung from the back of her chair. Reluctantly, she set down her fork, wiped her hands on a napkin, then searched for the phone.

She was surprised to see Ed’s name on-screen. ‘Why are you calling?’ she said warily.

‘Where are you?’ he whispered.

‘Greece,’ she whispered back.

‘I mean, where are you right now? Are you with everyone?’

‘Yes.’ The other hens were finishing their meals, chatting as they passed around the last plate of calamari.

‘I need to speak to you on your own.’

‘You are being strange.’

‘Yes. I am. But please … I need to talk to you …’