Too weary to object, she did as she was told and started to drift off. But her eyelids soon sprang open again.
‘What about Sasha? Where is she?’
She glanced nervously round the white hospital room, half expecting to see the other woman walk through the door.
Al frowned. ‘She’s in London. She went back when I left.’
Stella nodded dumbly.
‘So is she?—?’
The words had hardly left her lips before her husband interrupted.
‘Hush. Don’t think about that now.’
He put a finger gently on her mouth to close it and before long, darkness descended and she was whisked away by sleep.
* * *
Returning to Villa Ariadne felt, to Stella, like coming home. She’d been gone less than twenty-four hours, yet the place felt quite different with Al there and both her children fussing round.
She and Jon went to their rooms, where the others brought them fresh vegetable soup, cooked by Louise, and delicious soft bread.
Lily sat on the end of the bed and wanted to hear every last detail of what had happened.
‘You could’ve died,’ she said with tears in her eyes. ‘I couldn’t bear it if you’d gone. I’d want to die, too.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ Stella replied gently, reaching out to hold her daughter’s hand. ‘You’re strong. You’d be okay. Luckily, I’m still very much here, though.’
Later, Louise came to collect the tray and empty dishes. Stella noticed she’d removed all her gold earrings. Perhaps she felt they weren’t appropriate after the events of yesterday. She seemed humbler somehow, lowering her eyes when she spoke to Stella.
‘I’m sorry I was such a cow,’ she said, fiddling with the frayed edge of her denim shorts. ‘I know you were really worried about Jon; that’s why you invited him. I should’ve been supportive. Instead, I made things much more difficult for you.
‘I, I guess I always was a bit jealous of Harriet, as you said in the garden that night. I’m not proud to admit it, but it’s true. You two were so close. I never had someone like that in my life, not even you. I wanted to be your best friend in the world, but I knew with Harriet around, I couldn’t be.
‘Then, when she died, I suppose deep down I thought I stood a chance. But you talked about her all the time and you were so bereft, it was obvious no one would ever take her place. I tried to accept it, but I felt resentful and a bit left out, like I could never live up to her standards. I know that sounds incredibly childish.’
She spoke from the heart and was so humble and remorseful, Stella couldn’t help but accept her apology.
‘Thanks for being so honest,’ she said with a smile. ‘It can’t have been easy. I’m grateful.
‘I need to apologise too,’ she went on with a sigh. ‘I know I’ve behaved really badly over the past eighteen months. I’ve felt sorry for myself and I pushed Al away when he was only trying to support me. I also demanded far too much of you and others, expecting you to be there for me all the time when you had your own stuff going on. I’m sorry I said those dreadful things about Josh, too. I wanted to hurt you and it was spiteful and mean. You’re also right about Hector and Lily. I have neglected them, and I’m sure that contributed to Hector’s meltdown. I’m going to do my best to put that right from now on.’
Louise nodded. ‘That’s great to hear. They’ll really appreciate it and I know everything will be all right with Hector. The other thing is, I didn’t understand Jon was in quite such a bad state.’ She shuddered. ‘I didn’t think he was going to do something like that.’
‘No one did,’ replied Stella. ‘Well, only Marina, maybe.’
Louise’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Her?’
‘Yes. I mean, she was right about telling me to stay near the sea, wasn’t she? Otherwise, Jon mightn’t be with us any more.’
Louise frowned. ‘I suppose so. I’m still inclined to think it’s just coincidence she saw danger in the water, then he tried to drown himself, but we’ll never know. I guess there are some things in life you can’t explain. The main thing is, thank God you’re alive to tell the tale.’
Stella smiled again, before knitting her brows. ‘How is he?’
‘Okay. Very apologetic. We’re taking it in turns to sit with him. Don’t worry, we won’t leave him alone for a minute. I don’t think he’s going to do anything silly again, though. He said it was a moment of madness and he seems really regretful, especially about putting you in such danger. He says he just wants to get home and sort himself out.’
‘He needs to see someone – an expert. I’ll make some enquiries when I’m feeling better.’
