Stella tried to reassure her there was no threat.
‘He’s got this idea in his head I’ll change my mind. I’ve told him I won’t. He’s stubborn but he’ll see sense eventually.’
‘I wish Hector would punch him,’ Lily said savagely. ‘He’d love to. He hates his guts.’
‘Oh no,’ Stella said quickly. ‘That wouldn’t help at all.’
After some while, the steep descent started to level off and the path became less rocky. Bit by bit, the sliver of light, where the rocky walls came to an end, expanded into a wide gash. Then all of a sudden, there, in front of them, was the sparkling sea.
Stella’s heart skipped. ‘We’ve almost made it!’
In fact, there was still some way to walk but in what seemed like no time, they were standing on shingly sand, staring at the wide, welcoming, blue-green water.
‘I need a swimnow,’ said Stella, whipping off her backpack and clothes and pulling on her swimsuit.
There weren’t many others on the beach but Lily was shy and took longer to change, hiding behind her small towel. Once she was ready, they left their things and gingerly made their way, hand in hand, over the pebbles and into the swell, giggling as the waves splashed up and around them.
After such a long, strenuous hike, the water felt cool, soothing and delicious. Stella floated on her back for a few moments, staring up at the deep blue sky.
Turning her head slightly to the left, she saw the tavern she’d read about, with a grass roof, perched high on a hill overlooking the bay.
The wooden tables were shaded by scrubby olive trees and there were steps down to the turquoise water. It really was an idyllic location and she hoped they’d manage to get a table.
Gazing up at the sky once more, she breathed in and out deeply, imagining she could see Harriet’s beautiful familiar features in the wispy white clouds. She was smiling, which made Stella smile, too, until she noticed her friend’s happiness gradually change to hollow-eyed despair.
Stella’s heart suddenly hurt and her limbs felt heavy, as if someone had attached weights to them.
‘I miss you so much,’ she whispered, quickly closing her eyes to block out the vision. ‘I’m so sorry you got cancer. I wish you were still here.’
‘Look, they’ve arrived!’
Lily’s voice cut through the air, scattering Stella’s thoughts. She righted herself and found she could just about touch the bottom on tiptoes.
Amelia, Will and Louise were on the shoreline, blinking in the bright sunshine, while Jon remained near the cavern’s exit, lurking in the shadows.
‘Come in!’ cried Lily. ‘It’s gorgeous!’
Amelia and Will stripped off straightaway and rushed in to join her, but Louise turned and stepped a few paces away from the shoreline.
After choosing a spot, she dropped her backpack on the shingle, sat down, shielding her eyes from the sun, and stared glumly at the horizon.
Meanwhile, Jon plonked himself on the place where he’d been standing, his back against some rocks near the mouth of the canyon and his legs stretched in front.
He seemed to be firmly fixed on Stella, who could sense his accusing gaze boring into her, even when she looked away.
All the pleasure she’d felt earlier had now gone. She left the water quickly and collected her things, before taking them over to where Louise was.
‘Are you going in?’ she asked, wrapping the towel round her shoulders and settling down. ‘That was an amazing walk.’
Louise, unmoved by the attempt to break the ice, remained stony faced.
‘I’ll see if I can get a table in the taverna,’ Louise said dully, rising and brushing the shingle off the backs of her thighs. ‘Tell the others to join me, unless I have to come back because it’s fully booked.’
‘Okay.’ Stella lowered her head and hugged her knees. It was bad enough having to deal with Jon and Hector. Losing Louise’s support now, too, felt almost unbearable.
Overcome with emotion all of a sudden, she wanted to stamp her feet and scream. She was trying to do her best in a very difficult situation. Why had everything gone so wrong?
Tears stung her eyes and she clenched her fists to stop them coming, digging her nails into the palms of her hands.
