‘We should probably go,’ she told Hector, who was beside her now, while Lily was near the water, covering Meaty in sand.
‘It’s been a great day, Mum,’ Hector said warmly. Stella reached out, put her hand on his, and squeezed.
By the time they’d packed up, waited for the taxi boat and got back to Porto Liakáda, the heat of the day was over and the sun was beginning to cast longish shadows.
‘I’ll drop Meaty off and pick up a few things for supper,’ Stella told Hector and Lily. ‘You head back now. I know you’re tired.’
‘Are you sure? We can help with the shopping?’ Lily offered, but Stella shook her head.
‘It’s fine. I can manage. We don’t need much.’
April had the baby on her boob and was serving a male customer at the same time when Stella and Meaty entered the mini-market.
Meaty immediately started telling his mum all about his day in short, animated sentences, which were quite hard to follow as he spoke so fast.
It seemed April had already forgotten about his naughty disappearance and as soon as the customer left with his purchases, she turned to Stella with a big grin.
‘Thanks, love,’ she said, unlatching the baby and deftly plugging him onto the other boob. ‘He’s obviously had the best time ever.’
They talked for a little while and April insisted on fetching a Coke from one of the giant coolers and presenting it to Stella as a thank you.
‘You can have a beer or a little bottle of wine instead, if you prefer?’ she offered, but Stella shook her head, pulling back the tab on the can, which made a pop, and taking a grateful swig.
She didn’t realise how long they’d been talking until her phone rang. It was Hector, and he and Lily were already back at the villa.
‘The front door was unlocked,’ Hector said uncertainly. ‘We thought Jon was in, but Lily went past his room and the door was open and it was a real mess in there. He’d thrown a load of clothes and stuff on his bed. There’s an envelope addressed to you on the side table. It’s sealed. Do you want me to open it?’
Stella’s legs felt wobbly and her mouth went dry.
‘No, don’t do that,’ she said quickly, anxious to protect her son from anything unpleasant that Jon might have written. ‘I’m still in Porto Liakáda. I’ll come back now. Have you checked everywhere – the garden, the pool?’
‘Yeah. He’s definitely not here unless he’s hiding up a tree or something.’
‘Okay, I won’t be long,’ Stella added shakily.
After saying goodbye to April, she hurried towards the steps, almost knocking over an elderly gentleman with a stick, which he waved crossly at her.
‘I’m sorry,’ she cried, pausing only to check he was all right before rushing on.
To her dismay, she noticed Marina on the quayside, in the spot where they’d first met. It would be hard to miss her in her bright-orange dress and jangly silver bracelets, her long, dark hair blowing gently in the breeze.
Luckily, she was sitting at her easel facing the water, but before Stella could dash up the steps out of sight, Marina swung round, as if she’d been startled by something.
Though the two women were some distance from each other, their eyes met. Stella felt her gaze locking and found she couldn’t look away.
She walked slowly, almost robotically, towards the artist, sensing herself being dragged, as if by a magnetic force.
When she was standing in front of Marina, she realised the artist had a peculiar glazed look, as if she were focused on something far away.
‘What is it?’ Stella asked fearfully.
‘Stay close to the sea tonight,’ Marina replied darkly, still staring into space. ‘I see danger. Don’t leave the water’s edge.’
For a moment, Stella couldn’t speak. Shock had destroyed her vocal cords.
‘What do you mean?’ she asked at last in a shrill voice. ‘Which sea? This sea? What danger?’
In an instant, Marina’s glazed look vanished, as if a switch had been flicked, and she concentrated fully on Stella.
‘I’m sorry, I can’t tell you that,’ she said softly. ‘I wish I knew. All I can say is, you must not go back up the mountain now.’
All of a sudden, Stella saw the ridiculousness of it all and gave a cynical laugh. ‘Your advice changes all the time. Can’t you see how you contradict yourself? Only a few days ago, you were warning me to be wary of the water; now you’re telling me to not leave the waterside. Why should I listen to you at all?’
Marina shrugged, which only maddened and confused Stella all the more.
‘You don’t have to listen. You can walk away right now and return to the villa without ever looking back. The choice is yours.’
