One of the Girls(59)

She wondered why she’d not confided in Bella about Nico. Perhaps it was because she’d thought she wouldn’t understand: if a man had said those cruel things to Bella, pressed her up against a wall, Bella would’ve kneed him in the balls and got on with her day.

Bella was a beautiful whirlwind of vibrant, infectious energy, and God, Fen loved spending time with her, she really did. Yet deep down, she also knew that their relationship wasn’t working. Doubts had been building for a while, but this hen weekend had solidified them. A leaden feeling settled in her middle: once they were home, they’d need to talk.

‘I was just coming to join you! I even put my bikini on damp,’ Bella said, plucking at a wet strap. ‘Do you want to go back in the sea?’

‘Oh, sorry – I’ve finished,’ she said, picking up a towel and knotting it around her waist. Seeing Bella’s disappointment, she added, ‘Later, though.’

As they climbed the steps to the terrace, Bella slipped her small, warm hand into Fen’s – as if sensing that she would need to hold on tightly.





52

Robyn

Robyn scooped rounds of deep-green kiwi, sweet oranges, and jewelled pomegranate seeds into her bowl. My God, the joy of being able to sit and eat breakfast at leisure, not needing to negotiate with a toddler, or reach for a lobbed beaker, or wipe smeared banana from a high-chair tray.

‘Thank you,’ she said to Eleanor, who was sitting adjacent to her, hair neat beneath a white cotton sun hat. ‘This is such a treat.’

Eleanor smiled, pleased.

Fen and Bella emerged on the terrace, taking seats together on the opposite side of the table. Fen looked lighter this morning, the tension smoothed from her brow. She caught Robyn’s eye and smiled.

A burst of warmth moved through her chest.

‘Anyone seen Ana this morning?’ Lexi asked.

‘I think she went walking on the cliff path. Probably ringing Luca,’ Robyn said.

Pouring a mug of coffee, Bella asked, ‘Who’s looking after him while she’s on holiday? His father?’

Eleanor looked up sharply.

‘No, he’s not in the picture,’ Lexi explained easily. ‘Luca’s staying with Ana’s sister.’

‘I see,’ Bella said with a strange arch of her brow.

Had Robyn missed something? Growing up, her parents rarely argued, so she’d learned to read tension in its more subtle manifestations: the clenching of a jaw, the stiffening of a spine, a mug set down to punctuate a sentence. It put her on edge, scanning for the first hint of unease. No, she’d rather an argument, get it over and done with and clear the air.

‘How was the rest of your night out?’ she asked Lexi. ‘Sorry to leave early. I was whacked. Too much sun.’

‘We went to a couple of bars in the Old Town. Did you get back okay? How are you feeling?’

‘Fine. Just needed a good night’s sleep.’

‘Went straight to bed, then?’ Bella asked.

Robyn looked up. Bella was staring at her from behind her sunglasses. ‘We had a drink first, then yes, called it a night.’

‘A second wind,’ Bella said.

‘Guess so.’

Bella plucked a piece of fruit from the serving bowl and dropped it into her mouth.

Eleanor glared at her across the table.

What is with everyone?

‘How was Ed when you spoke last night?’ Robyn asked Lexi brightly. ‘I bet you’re missing each other.’

Lexi’s expression was remote, her thoughts somewhere else. As the sun hit the side of her face, Robyn noticed her skin looked sallow despite the holiday, purplish shadows settled into the sockets of her eyes.

‘Lex?’

She glanced at Robyn. Blinked. ‘Missing each other? Yes.’

Robyn was reminded of an earlier conversation, Lexi confiding that she wasn’t sleeping well, felt anxious. Was it about the pregnancy, or the wedding? She couldn’t recall whether Lexi had said. She made a mental note to find a moment to check in with her.

‘Still in the mood for a beach fire tonight?’ Robyn asked the others enthusiastically, trying to shake the strange atmosphere. ‘I was thinking we could take lanterns and blankets down to the bay, plus there’s a big cooler in the pantry we could stock with drinks.’

‘Sounds great,’ Fen said. ‘There’s plenty of wood set to burn. It’ll be blazing all night.’

Bella’s gaze travelled to the cove below, eyes glittering. ‘Let’s make sure it’s a memorable end to the hen weekend.’





53

Lexi

After breakfast was finished, Lexi found Eleanor in the narrow courtyard at the back of the villa, hanging tea towels on the washing line. Her movements were careful and precise, strong hands smoothing each towel, straightening the edges. She wondered if it was agony to be out here, forced to celebrate someone else’s upcoming wedding.

‘Hey,’ Lexi said, stepping forward.

Eleanor startled. She adjusted her hat, keeping the glare from her eyes.

Lexi said, ‘I was thinking of taking out the rowing boat this morning. Exploring the next bay along. Fancy coming?’

She saw Eleanor’s hesitation, the way her eyes slid to the side as if searching for an excuse to refuse. ‘I was going to prepare lunch …’