For a moment, she wondered if she were about to faint. Maybe the heat had got to her, combined with the difficult conversation she’d had with Louise and shock from the fall. There was a bottle of water on the ground at her feet, which she reached for groggily, and took a few sips.
She heard her daughter squeal in excitement and plunge in the pool, but her brain couldn’t seem to focus. If she waited a while, with luck, the sensation would pass.
‘Stella, what’s the matter?’
Louise’s voice brought her back to the here and now.
Stella glanced over and her friend was propped up on an elbow, staring at her. She’d thought she was asleep.
‘Sorry, I felt dizzy all of a sudden. I think I’m all right now.’
‘You should lie down somewhere cool.’ Louise sounded very firm. ‘Go to your bedroom for a bit. I’ll bring you up a cup of that mountain tea, made from dried leaves and flowers. It’s supposed to be very good for you.’
‘I’ll be fine, honestly.’ The last thing Stella wanted was to be alone right now.
Louise’s gaze fell on the phone, still resting on Stella’s stomach, and she raised her eyebrows. Stella pretended not to notice.
She didn’t want to talk about Al or Hector or Jon, for that matter. Al was perfectly entitled to a break, if that’s what he was having.
He was probably there now, wherevertherewas. She didn’t need to know. She hoped he was enjoying himself, alone or with someone else. It didn’t matter either way; it was none of her business.
Lily might know, but Stella wouldn’t quiz her. She’d asked Al to leave her be and he was doing exactly that.
Her mind flitted to the single lady who lived in the flat above his. She was a makeup artist called Sasha. Lily had mentioned her.
‘She’s worked on loads of different films and TV series, Mum,’ she’d said. ‘She did the makeup forSex Education! She even offered to show me how to do my makeup sometime.’
‘That’s kind of her. Remember to say thank you from me.’
Having finished his cigarette, Hector sloped off indoors. Stella guessed they wouldn’t see him again till supper. Will and the girls were still splashing around in the pool.
‘I’ll stroll into town at two-ish tomorrow to meet Jon off the ferry.’
Louise frowned.
‘What about your knee?’
‘It’ll be okay by tomorrow. I’ll take it slowly and leave plenty of time.’
She lifted her leg to examine the sterile dressing on her open cut. Both women had brought essentials like ibuprofen, plasters and antiseptic cream, but only Louise had thought of adhesive bandages.
Some blood had soaked through the gauzy fabric but it had dried now. A cut knee wasn’t going to hold her back.
Jon’s imminent arrival suddenly seemed more appealing. Looking after him might take her mind off her own worries.
Maybe he’d know where Al was; she was aware the two kept in touch by phone. It seemed strange not having any idea even which country her husband was in. He’d mentioned the weak phone signal, so it had to be somewhere remote. Perhaps he was hiking in the mountains, or renting a cottage in the middle of nowhere.
He liked company, though. He was very sociable. Maybe he’d gone with his best mate, Danny, but he rarely took time off work. Al had told her he wasn’t dating anyone; he said he wasn’t interested. But perhaps that had changed since she’d insisted they stop speaking so often. He loved women and surely couldn’t survive without female company for too long.
‘I’m going to check on Jon’s room,’ she said, starting to rise. ‘I can’t remember if the bed’s made up.’
It was a fib. She’d already checked and the room was immaculate, but she felt as if ants were crawling over her body and she couldn’t sit still any longer.
‘I’ll do it; you stay where you are.’
‘No, I need the loo anyway.’
Louise gave in and lay down again.
