12
Stella’s mind was in turmoil as she left the cottage and started to make her way back down the mountain. Just when she thought she’d conquered her fear of Marina and her creepy predictions, here was fresh information and cause for worry.
She trusted Katerina far more than the artist, whom she’d only met briefly a couple of times, but should she really pay any heed to the old woman’s psychic nonsense?
It was most likely pure coincidence that Katerina’s husband had drowned soon after the lady of the house’s prophecy. In fact, Stella was surprised a woman of Katerina’s evident intelligence set any store at all by someone’s supposed ability to see into the future.
But then again, was it worth the risk to dismiss it all as rubbish and ignore Marina’s warning? If something terrible did happen, Stella would blame herself forever.
She was busy pondering all this when she walked through the gates of the villa to see Lily hurrying towards her, brandishing a mobile.
‘I saw you through the window,’ she said, thrusting the phone in Stella’s hand. ‘It’s Dad. He wants to speak to you.’
The blood drained from Stella’s face and she started to shake, remembering the husband and wife rule she and Al had put in place:No contact unless it’s an emergency.
‘What’s happened?’ she asked, staring at her daughter, icy with fear.
Lily’s eyebrows shot up.
‘Mu-um! Calm down! He just wants a word about Hector.’
Relief washed over Stella and she exhaled loudly before glancing at her daughter, who gave a small, exasperated smile before turning tail.
Stella finally put the phone to her ear, feeling little bubbles of hope start to fizz in her stomach. Now the panic was over, it occurred to her that Al was the only person in the world who’d truly understand her dilemma and tell her what to do.
‘Hello!’ she said eagerly. ‘How are you?’
Walking swiftly over to a patch of grass in the shade under an olive tree, she sat down, with her things on the ground beside her, so she could fully focus on the conversation.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to give you a fright—’ he began.
‘Oh! No problem at all,’ she interrupted, unable to disguise the keenness in her voice.
‘I’m okay,’ he went on. ‘You?’
He sounded a bit stilted, but that was understandable, given the circumstances. Stella hesitated, wondering where to begin, and before she could reply, he jumped back in.
‘As Lily said, I wanted a quick word about Hector. She mentioned he wandered off somewhere yesterday and you had to look for him. Is he all right?’
‘He’s absolutely fine.’ Stella was anxious to get this over with as quickly as possible, so she could tell Al what was really troubling her. ‘He was on the beach. We had a good, helpful chat, actually. Listen, I’ve got something?—’
They were disturbed by a woman’s voice in the background.
‘No thanks,’ she heard Al reply crisply. ‘I’ll be with you in a sec.’
Stella’s pulse quickened and anxiety nibbled at her insides.
‘Where are you?’ The question escaped from her lips before she could catch it.
‘Still in Cornwall. Like I said, the signal’s terrible here so if I suddenly?—’
‘Who with?’ She wanted to sound nonchalant, but the crackle in her voice gave her away.
Al cleared his throat. ‘With, um, my neighbour. Sasha. She lives in the flat above mine. We’ve become quite good friends. She needed a break, too…’
‘How nice!’ A feeling of dread descended on Stella and she could hardly breathe. But she was determined to seem in control and forced herself to sit up straight, jutting her chin. ‘I hope the weather’s being kind to you?’
It took a great deal of effort to free the words.
