11
‘I heard about Hector,’ Louise said coldly when Stella came down for breakfast the next morning.
The two women hadn’t seen each other since last night, before Stella left the villa to find Hector. By the time they’d returned, Louise had already gone to bed and Jon was in his room, too.
‘Yes. I was so relieved when I saw him on the beach,’ Stella replied, settling down at the garden table, which was covered with a yellow linen cloth, and helping herself to a mug of coffee from the cafetière.
She glanced round at all the empty places. ‘Where are the others? No sign yet?’
‘Still asleep.’ Louise took a sip of her own coffee before removing her big, round sunglasses and eyeing Stella strangely.
‘It’s lucky you found him. Anything could have happened.’
‘What do you mean?’
The accusing tone wasn’t lost on Stella, who slapped down her mug harder than she’d intended, slopping coffee on the surface. Yesterday, her friend wasn’t speaking to her. Today, resuming conversation with her could prove to be even worse.
‘I was afraid something like this would happen,’ Louise went on through narrowed eyes. ‘He’s so unhappy and confused and Jon’s made it considerably harder for him.’
That old chestnut. Blood rose to Stella’s cheeks. Who was this icy woman with pursed lips sitting in judgement opposite her? She felt she didn’t know her any more. Perhaps she never really had.
Jerking back in her chair, Stella glared at Louise, crossing her arms defensively. ‘We had a really good talk, actually. We cleared up lots of things.’
‘Great.’ She didn’t sound convinced.
‘He was worried we wouldn’t be able to afford for him to go to university. I explained it wasn’t the case at all.’
‘Poor Hector.’ Louise shook her head, making Stella’s chest tighten and her neck tense.
‘His world’s turned upside down and he probably feels he’s got no control over you guys.’
‘Over me and Jon, or me and Al? Which one are you referring to?’
‘Both.’
Stella felt herself grow larger; she was expanding with rage and upset. Unable to take any more, she leaped from her seat.
‘I thought you supported me,’ she said in a loud, high-pitched tone. ‘I’m incredibly hurt by your criticism. I don’t think I deserve it. You don’t understand Hector, either. I know I’ve made mistakes, but I’m doing the best I can. It’s not been easy, you know, without Al?—’
Louise didn’t let her finish. ‘I was waiting for you to bring him into it.Youwanted him to leave, remember? You can’t turn round now and complain he’s not there to help you with Hector.’
Stella saw red. ‘Actually, he is there for me, especially when it comes to the children. We’ve got a very good relationship in that sense. Not like you and Josh, who’s so unreliable, he won’t even commit to a holiday with you, let alone move in with you. You run round after him all the time and bend over backwards but as far as I can see, you get nothing in return. It’s sad.’
The words tumbled out with such ferocity, Stella shocked herself. Louise’s face crumpled and she lowered her gaze and seemed to focus hard on some crumbs on the table.
‘That’s so unkind.’
Her shoulders drooped and she had an uncharacteristic air of defeat. Stella felt a stab of guilt, but it quickly passed. ‘Well, you’ve been incredibly unkind to me.’
Glancing up again, Louise caught Stella’s eye and her own eyes seemed to plead for a truce. She reached an arm across the table. ‘Stella, I?—’
But Stella wasn’t listening. With a burning face and throbbing head, she marched indoors to find her bag, water bottle and shoes.
She was wearing a short, pink sundress, which didn’t really go with walking boots, but she pulled them on anyway. Then she took out her phone and texted Hector and Lily.
Gone for a hike. Be back later xx
With that, she left through the front entrance, so she wouldn’t bump into Louise, and banged the door shut behind her.
