The sun was just beginning to set when they entered the garden in their bathing suits and flip-flops and made their way to the pool area, through the trellis arch, covered in vine leaves and climbing roses.
The air was still balmy and they stood for quite a while with their elbows resting on the stone balustrade, watching the sky and sea turn through a kaleidoscope of colours, from greenish-blue to orangey pink, streaked with lilac and indigo.
Now and again a goat further down the mountain would bleat out a solo. Soon, the others would join in, accompanying their piteous cries with a jangling of bells.
Meanwhile, the cicadas struck up sporadic choruses of clicking and chirping. It was nature’s cantata, specially composed, Ralph and Edie decided, for the two of them.
Just before the sun dipped below the horizon, when the sky was now crimson red, Ralph nudged Edie in the ribs.
‘Come on, let’s swim.’
Reluctantly, she turned her back on the magnificent spectacle unfolding before her very eyes, and watched her husband dive into the darkening water with a loud splash, before resurfacing.
‘It’s the perfect temperature,’ he called. His wet hair was slicked back and the droplets of water in his eyes made them gleam bright.
Bracing herself, she stood on the edge of the pool, pinched her nose between finger and thumb, closed her eyes – and jumped.
The cold water whooshed into her sage green swimsuit and up her body, instantly making her blood rush and her heart pound with exhilaration.
She went down far enough to touch the bottom with her tiptoes before pushing herself off and resurfacing with a pop, like a cork and the bubbles from a champagne bottle.
‘Wow! Bracing!’ She smiled at Ralph with water streaming down her face.
‘Fancy a race?’ he asked, starting to swim towards the shallow end. ‘I don’t know why I’m asking. You always win!’
‘Ready, Steady, Go!’ she shouted, and soon they were crashing through the water using their best front crawl, as if their lives depended on finishing first.
For a few strokes, she was aware of Ralph alongside her, but she soon started to pull ahead.
Just before reaching the end, she stretched out an arm as far as she could, preparing herself for victory. But before she could touch the edge, Ralph swerved sideways, bumping into her, and they ended up in a tangle of arms and legs.
‘Cheater!’ Edie screamed, coming up and gasping for air. ‘You did that on purpose!’
‘Sorry,’ he replied, panting and grinning at the same time. ‘I didn’t want you to get all cocky.’
By now the sun had completely disappeared and long shadows were creating strange, other-worldly shapes round the garden. A sound of clinking, coming from somewhere near the house, alerted them to the fact they weren’t alone.
‘Shall we get out?’ Ralph asked, and Edie nodded.
‘We’d better find out what the others are up to.’
Wrapped in towels, they padded back to the villa just as Jessica was leaving the kitchen with a pile of plates. The patio table was already half laid with placemats, napkins, glasses and cutlery.
‘Oh gosh!’ Edie stopped to hug her towel round her while a puddle of water collected at her feet. ‘You shouldn’t have to do that on your own. I’ll get some clothes on quickly and come and help.’
‘No worries!’ Jessica smiled. She’d changed out of her black jeans and sweatshirt into a pair of skimpy white shorts and a pale blue, sleeveless top.
Edie had never seen her friend’s bare legs before and they were long, thin and pale but strong-looking.
‘What time shall we eat?’ Jessica asked, putting down the pile of plates and checking the fitness watch with a pink strap she always wore. ‘It’s eight thirty now. Shall we say nine o’clock?’
‘Goodness!’ Edie replied. ‘Is it really that late? It was only seven the last time I looked.’
‘We’re on holiday,’ Ralph commented. ‘Time’s more elastic. It’s nice not to be tied to a routine.’
Edie loosened her towel and rubbed her hair dry with one end.
‘Agreed. Still, I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry. I’ll tell the others to come down for nine. Don’t do anything more, Jessica. It won’t take me long to get changed.’
