Mac’s eyes glittered dangerously and even Edie felt a shiver of dislike. Jessica seemed smug and self-satisfied, sitting there in these beautiful surroundings, with a delicious plate of food in front of her and no one to think about but herself.
Edie’s other single friend, Marianne, who also had no kids, was the complete opposite. She had numerous godchildren and even paid for ballet classes for one of them, because the parents were hard up. She also had a voluntary job, mentoring troubled teenagers, and often sang the praises of the NHS. Edie had rarely met anyone more community-minded.
‘It’s the kids who are in schools now who’ll be paying for your pension,’ Mac snapped. ‘And funding your healthcare needs when you get old.’
Jessica sniffed. ‘I’m not saying education’s not important. Of course it is. I work in it, for heaven’s sake. But having children is a choice. No one forces you to have more than you can afford. Why should I have to pay through the roof for other people’s irresponsible decisions? And for your information, I have private healthcare. I barely use the NHS.’
Mac’s face puffed up and he turned so red, he looked as if he might explode. The first supper of the trip was supposed to be a relaxing affair, but it was turning into a battle zone and Edie could feel the blood pounding in her temples.
Hannah, who’d been quiet up to now, made a half-hearted attempt to defuse the situation.
‘I do see your point,’ she said evenly to Jessica. ‘But most people can’t afford private healthcare. Surely everyone should have access to good doctors and hospitals, regardless of income or the number of children they have? But equally, of course, you can’t have people abusing the system. It’s not fair on everyone else.’
Jessica was about to respond when Edie abruptly rose from her seat.
‘Enough politics!’ she said in a loud, stern voice, which surprised even her. ‘I’m on holiday. I haven’t come here to listen to you lot arguing.’
‘Quite right!’ Ralph raised his glass. ‘Hear, hear!’
Edie shot him a small smile; she was grateful for the support.
Mac looked daggers at Jessica on the opposite side of the table, but she ignored him, smiling graciously at Edie, Hannah and Ralph instead.
‘I totally agree,’ Jessica said, rising like Edie and raising her glass, too. ‘This is the most perfect place. I think we should give a toast to Edie, who was so clever to find it for us!’
‘Here’s to Edie,’ they all said, even Mac, though he looked as if he’d eaten a lemon from one of the nearby trees.
All of a sudden, a gust of wind blew out the candle in the centre of the table, plunging them into semi-blackness.
Edie squealed, ‘Help!’ and instinctively went to Ralph’s side, while Mac howled like a werewolf: ‘Ow ow oww!’
‘Shut up!’ Hannah hissed.
It was Jessica who marched over to the wall to fetch a box of long matches before swiftly relighting the candle.
‘There!’ she said, her pale face glowing once more while her bright blue eyes had turned a strange shade of purple. ‘No cause for panic. Now, you all stay there and chat. I’ll fetch the pudding.’
* * *
Hope flight was OK. How’s the villa? And the weird woman you invited too?! Have fun! Your favourite daughter xx
Edie was pleased to see Maisie’s message when she and Ralph returned to their bedroom, but she wasn’t quite sure how to respond.
‘What shall I say?’ she asked her husband, who was standing naked at the washbasin, cleaning his teeth. She’d been watching him through the open bathroom door.
‘I can’t really tell her the truth, can I?“The villa’s great but Mac and Jessica want to kill each other”.’
Ralph took the toothbrush out of his mouth and turned, giving her an eyeful.
‘I’d leave out the last bit,’ he replied, scratching his side unselfconsciously. ‘No need to involve her.’
Edie nodded, but she wasn’t really listening. It was a long time since she’d looked – really looked – at her husband in the nude. At home, it seemed they were always rushing to get somewhere, barking orders at each other and making arrangements on the hoof.
Either that or they were too tired even to notice whether or not they were naked before diving into bed.
Now, though, they were in no hurry to go anywhere or do anything and Edie liked what she saw.
She was about to send a quick message to say everything was fine when the phone rang. Maisie had always been impatient; she clearly couldn’t wait.
