‘She’s an amazing person,’ she said now. ‘You’d like her. She’s very intelligent and she’s got loads of interests, including running. She does marathons and triathlons and things.’
‘Impressive.’
Edie had had an inkling this would draw him in, and she was right. He ran, too, but only round the local woods and parks; he’d never entered a race, though he’d recently talked about attempting a half-marathon.
When she’d first set eyes on him, she’d thought he must be an athlete because he was so slim and tanned, with ripped muscles showing through his tight white T-shirt.
Later, he explained he’d been working in New Zealand all summer, cutting logs for a family friend’s forestry business. He’d had bulging biceps but they were nothing, he’d insisted, compared with those of the local men he worked with, who were built like tanks.
Edie wasn’t the only one who’d found him irresistible and she’d had to fight off several rivals to win his affections. His six-pack had long since gone, but he was still in pretty good shape.
‘How old is Jessica?’ he asked now, picking up his glass and sipping his wine.
‘About my age, maybe a little younger. Late forties?’
He nodded, putting the glass down. ‘Has she ever been married?’
‘No. I’m not sure why. I guess the right person never came along. She’s attractive – tall and slim, with long brown hair and these amazing blue eyes. She can seem a bit intimidating at first but once you get to know her, she’s really interesting to talk to.
‘I get the impression she’s happy being on her own. She’s always busy. I’ve never picked up on any regrets about not having a partner or children.’
‘Good for her.’ Ralph wiped his mouth with a blue napkin. ‘Maybe I should have a chat with her about marathon training. Sounds like she’d be good person to ask.’
‘I’m sure she’d be delighted.’
Edie glanced at his food, which was three-quarters gone.
‘Finished?’
He nodded.
‘There’s fruit and ice cream for pudding, if you fancy.’
After gathering their plates, she walked over to the dishwasher.
‘I might ask Jessica here sometime, actually. For lunch, maybe. I do feel sorry for her. She adored that dog.’
While Ralph chopped up a banana, which he ate with vanilla ice cream, Edie loaded the dishwasher and put on the kettle. She was convinced her husband would make some excuse and disappear into his office again the moment he’d finished, but he suggested watching TV with her instead.
‘Later,’ she replied, shaking her head. She needed to decompress. ‘I’d better call Jessica. I don’t want to leave it too late in case she goes to sleep.’
‘Fair enough.’
Ralph slunk off to the sitting room, while she took a mug of tea upstairs and sat on their bed, sinking back against a pile of soft pillows and cushions.
The buff-coloured walls and carpet, the thick, earthy-coloured curtains and the fluffy cream throw had a soothing effect on her. She must try to relax more. Picking holes in her marriage wasn’t the right way to bring them closer. She resolved not to raise the thorny issue of their relationship again.
Her mind drifted back to Katerina’s strange email:‘I hope you and your husband and friends will reap the benefits from all that Villa Ariadne has to offer. It is a most unusual and very special place…’
She’d just have to hope the villa – and indeed, the holiday in general – would live up to her expectations and help her and her husband remember why they got together in the first place. If a week in glorious Crete didn’t do the trick, nothing would.
* * *
‘It was a good death, the best, really, under the circumstances. He died in my arms; I sort of stroked him off to sleep. It was all over quickly and he wasn’t in any pain. Everyone was so kind. They let me sit with him for as long as I wanted. All the staff were in tears, too, even the vet. Ernest would have been chuffed; he loved being the centre of attention.’
Just listening to Jessica’s description of her pet’s demise made Edie’s eyes fill up. She could hear the heartache in her friend’s voice, though Jessica was trying really hard to be brave.
‘Do you want me to pop over?’ Edie offered. ‘I can – it’s no problem. I’m not doing anything tonight. I’ve got some delicious hot chocolate in the cupboard. I bought it in France and it’s so good, much better than anything I’ve found here. I could bring it with me? Unless you’d prefer wine?’
