The Retreat(21)

She drove off, leaving me squinting into the sun and wondering. Was she right? Did I have an ulterior motive? Zara was correct about one thing: Julia was attractive – but it was despite the mask of pain she wore, not because of it. And I didn’t fancy her.

I felt uncomfortable, though, as I walked back to the house, and I made up my mind. I would give Zara another twenty-four hours. If she didn’t find out anything interesting – and it seemed unlikely that she would – I’d give up, put my head down and finish my book without any further distractions.





Chapter 10

Julia was in the garden, talking to Rhodri, who was showing her the mended fence panel. He took his tools over to the shed and Julia waved at me as I walked up the driveway towards her. She was wearing an old-looking top and gardening gloves, hair scraped back, glasses on.

She looked lovely.

I mentally kicked myself. Yes, she was attractive, but I didn’t fancy her. It was Zara’s fault for putting the idea in my head.

‘Been for a stroll?’ she asked.

I had the horrible sense she could read my mind. Flustered, I said, ‘Yeah. Just trying to get the mental cogs turning.’

‘Where did you go?’

I hesitated.

‘It’s all right,’ she said. ‘I can hear the word “river” without having a meltdown.’

Rhodri came over, nodding at me. ‘Gorgeous day, isn’t it? Julia told me you come from round these parts. What are your parents’ names?’

‘Carol and David Radcliffe.’

‘You’re joking. David Radcliffe, the solicitor?’

‘That’s right. You knew him?’

He seemed slightly stunned. ‘I know everyone around here. It’s been a bloody long time, though. What are they up to these days?’

‘They retired to Spain,’ I replied.

He whistled. ‘All right for some. Well, give them my regards when you speak to them.’ He pointed at the flowerbeds. ‘What are you planning to do here, Julia?’

‘Weeding mainly. And I was thinking of moving those peonies.’

‘What? You can’t do that!’ He acted as if she’d said she was going to pour petrol on the earth and set it aflame.

‘Why not?’

‘It’s bad luck,’ he replied. ‘If you move peonies, a woodpecker will come and peck out your eyes.’

Julia laughed, but Rhodri looked deadly serious. ‘Please don’t move them, Julia.’

‘Okay.’

He nodded, satisfied, and headed off to the shed.

Julia and I exchanged an amused look. ‘Well, I guess the peonies do look all right where they are.’

‘I should probably tell him my dad passed away,’ I said.

‘Oh. I’m sorry. Did it happen recently?’ I must have cringed because she added, ‘Don’t worry, if you’d rather not talk about it.’

‘No, it’s fine. It’s healthy to talk about it, isn’t it? It was five years ago now. Pancreatic cancer. He died three weeks after getting the diagnosis.’

‘How awful.’

I scraped at the ground with the toe of my shoe. ‘Apparently, with pancreatic cancer there are no symptoms until it’s too late. The good thing is that he didn’t suffer for long.’

‘How’s your mum?’ Julia asked.

‘She’s okay. She lives in Spain, so I don’t see her much. She’s fine, though. She’s one of those women who just gets on with it, whatever shit life throws at her. She’s always been like that.’

I could tell Julia was thinking about herself, the shit life had thrown at her and her reaction. I was about to change the subject when Karen emerged from the house, carrying her laptop. She saw us and came over.

‘I was just going to the cottage to do some work,’ she said.

We exchanged a few pleasantries about the weather, then she said, ‘I saw the new guest earlier. So now there are five of us.’

Julia looked puzzled. ‘Another guest?’

‘Yeah. I got up at six, and when I came down to make coffee I saw them in the dining room.’

‘We don’t have any other guests,’ Julia said. ‘Just you and Lucas, Max and Suzi.’

Karen opened her mouth, then closed it again. ‘Oh.’

‘Were they male or female?’ I asked.

‘Female. I think. They had their back to me and I only got a brief glimpse. But I thought it was a woman.’

‘You must have imagined it,’ Julia said.

Karen seemed troubled by this. ‘That’s really strange. I’m sure I saw someone.’

‘Perhaps it was Suzi,’ I offered.

‘No, I’m pretty certain she was still in bed.’ She chewed a thumbnail. ‘I suppose I must have still been a little . . .’

She stopped herself, but Julia laughed.

‘Stoned? I’m not completely wet behind the ears, Karen. I can smell it in your room. I was going to ask you to do it outside. There are certain boring regulations I have to follow. Sorry to be a massive killjoy.’

‘No, I’m sorry.’ Karen cringed. ‘So now I feel like a naughty schoolgirl who’s been caught smoking out the window. I’d better get on.’ She headed over to the cottage.