Even more surprising, at Lily’s command, he leaped into the pool, spraying water everywhere. Then he bobbed down, headfirst, and raised his legs and feet skywards.
He was even worse than his sister, flapping his skinny, white, hairy limbs wildly and lurching clumsily to one side before keeling over.
The other three shrieked with laughter.
‘Five seconds!’ Will roared delightedly. ‘Team Johnston’s a complete flop. Amelia, show them how it’s done!’
Stella laughed, too, despite herself, when Amelia jump bombed into the pool and started a water fight with Hector and Lily. They were like little kids.
‘Hi, Mum!’ Hector said when he noticed Stella at last. He moved away from the girls and came to the edge of the pool, resting his elbows on the side. ‘I didn’t realise you were back.’
‘I haven’t been for long.’
‘Good walk?’ He looked and sounded so normal, he was like a different person. For a few delicious seconds, Stella completely forgot her misery as warmth spread through her body and her eyes lit up.
‘Yes thanks. I bumped into Katerina and went back to her house for a cup of tea.’
‘Nice.’ Hector looked doubtful. ‘I think?’
Stella nodded. ‘It was, actually. She’s got this funny old place in the middle of nowhere.’
All of a sudden, a vision of Al with Sasha in a remote part of Cornwall popped into her head, and blackness descended again.
‘I’m just going to get some water,’ she said quickly, her bottom lip trembling. ‘I’m really thirsty.’
She could feel her face crumpling as she left the garden. It would have been a big relief to let the tears flow uncontrollably, but as she approached the kitchen door, she spotted Jon, reaching for something in the fridge.
Her stomach churned and she was about to dart to the left, out of sight, but he must have heard her because he turned his head.
On seeing her, his face brightened then almost immediately fell again when he clocked her expression.
‘Hi,’ he said flatly, his body tense and rigid. ‘Where have you been? I haven’t seen you for ages.’
‘I went for a walk.’
He moved aside while she fetched a glass from one of the cupboards and poured herself some water from a bottle on the worktop. She wasn’t going to tell him about Katerina or try to make small talk. She just wanted to get away.
The safest place would have been her bedroom, but she didn’t fancy being alone with her thoughts. Better to re-join the children and try to blend into the background.
The heavy silence that followed when she picked up her glass and walked back to the door made her feel panicky and claustrophobic.
‘I’m sorry I’ve upset you so much,’ he said suddenly, forcing her to pause. ‘I know I shouldn’t have spoken to you about my feelings. I regret it now.’
At that moment, she hated him with a passion, not for what he’d said but because he’d picked the worst time for another weighty conversation. She didn’t want to hear his apology, welcome as it was. She could barely hold herself together.
‘Thanks,’ she managed to reply numbly. ‘Can we talk about this another time?’
The crack in her voice had returned and it was lucky she had her back to him, so he couldn’t see her eyes brimming over.
‘Of course.’ He inhaled sharply. ‘I-I think it would be better if I left, don’t you?’
Her skin prickled and her palms felt sweaty. If she turned to face him, he’d see her tears and then she’d have to explain.
‘Yes… Maybe. I don’t know.’
It wasn’t the response he wished for and he made a deep-throated groan, which made her insides curdle. She felt cruel, but didn’t have the strength to offer words of comfort; she needed comforting herself.
Still clutching her glass of water, she left the room without speaking, sensing him staring after her, shrouded in a cold mist of abandoned hope.
