‘I think one of the children is taking them. It’s useful when your kids can drive. Unfortunately, mine are both otherwise engaged.’ Edie raised her eyebrows. ‘Typical.’
‘I hear that all the time from people with children,’ Jessica replied with a sniff. ‘It’s all take and no give. I can’t think why anyone has them. Most of them are spoiled brats.’
Edie was so taken aback, for a moment she couldn’t speak.
‘Oh! I wouldn’t go that far,’ she said at last, pulling herself together. ‘They’re not all bad. Maisie even brings me a cup of tea occasionally when she’s around.’
‘You’re one of the lucky ones, then.’
Jessica opened the car door and plonked her bags on the passenger seat. ‘From what I see, given half a chance, most of them would have the coats off their parents’ backs.’
Edie found herself blinking rapidly, thinking she must have misheard. Surely Jessica didn’t disapprove of Edie’s choice – or anyone’s choice, for that matter – to have children. That couldn’t be what she meant.
She was a teacher, after all. You had to like young people in their job. It was just one of those silly, throwaway comments folk make when they’re overwrought.
‘I’ve got such a lot to do,’ Jessica said, as if to confirm Edie’s hunch. ‘I’d better get home. See you at crack of dawn tomorrow.’
She climbed into the car and drove off with a quick wave, leaving Edie standing in the darkened car park, staring after her.
* * *
After Edie had dropped Dilly at the dog sitter’s, she popped upstairs to check on Ralph. He was lying on their bed watching TV, his open suitcase beside him. It was full but on closer inspection, he’d packed only one pair of shorts and forgotten his swimming trunks.
‘I can wash the shorts if they get dirty,’ he insisted, when Edie queried him. ‘We’re only going for a week and it’s not as if Crete’s the back of beyond. There’ll be a washing machine at the villa.’
Ignoring him, she dug out two more pairs of shorts and two pairs of trunks before fetching her own case from the top of the cupboard.
She’d never found packing easy and dithered over which summer dresses to take. She had several, some short, others below the knee or ankle-length.
Then there was the tricky issue of cardigans and sweaters. One warm layer mightn’t be enough and besides, she’d like to have a choice, but sweaters were so bulky.
In the end, she opted for a grey sweatshirt, which she’d wear on the plane, and a dressier cream cardigan, plus a pale blue, woollen wrap, which had accompanied her on almost every trip.
When Ralph wasn’t watching, she slipped in some new sexy black lacy knickers with a matching bra, all wrapped in pale pink, scented tissue paper.
There was a posh lingerie shop in the neighbouring village, which she’d popped into one weekend. She’d never been there before and the wide choice of styles and colours had been a revelation.
For one wild moment she’d almost opted for scarlet, but decided it might be a step too far. If the black was a success, she could always go back for another set. Perhaps she’d end up buying the whole colour spectrum. Even if it did cost her a month’s wages, it might be worth it.
Ollie called while she and Ralph were having supper and wished them a great trip. He was driving a group of friends to a house party in the countryside. They were waiting till the traffic died down before setting off.
‘Drive carefully,’ Edie said. She always worried, even though her son was pretty sensible behind the wheel. ‘And don’t drink too much.’
‘I won’t,’ he replied, with a sigh.
They both knew he was lying but for some reason, it made her feel better.
Neither she nor Ralph slept particularly well that night and they were ready and waiting for the taxi when it arrived five minutes early at 6.15a.m.
Edie felt a tickle of excitement after locking the front door and climbing in beside Ralph.
‘Got your passport, phone and wallet?’ she asked and he patted his jacket pockets.
‘Yes.’
She opened the bag on her lap to check for her own things and was relieved to find everything there. No turning round and running back this time.
Jessica was waiting on the pavement when the taxi pulled up, with one small suitcase and an even smaller rucksack.
