‘Are you all right, Hannah?’ she’d asked seriously. ‘You and Mac, I mean?’
Hannah had caught her breath and there was a pause before she’d replied. ‘Yes,’ she’d said at last, breathing out. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘I just wanted to make sure, that’s all.’
‘You know what he’s like – Mr Grumpy. But we’re not about to get divorced, if that’s what you’re implying.’ She’d laughed again.
‘Good. You would tell me, though, wouldn’t you, if you were in any trouble?’
‘Yes.’
‘Promise?’
‘I promise.’
But still, Edie didn’t entirely believe her.
An uneasy feeling in her stomach made her wriggle restlessly and she applied some lavender-scented hand cream before turning to switch out her light. Ralph was still totally absorbed in reading and didn’t notice.
Lying there with her eyes closed, Edie thought, not for the first time, that it was strange the way Jessica had pressed her on Hannah and Mac’s relationship sometime after the holiday invitation.
Jessica had been about to eat her lunch at her usual table in the staffroom when Edie had beckoned her to come and join her on the sofa.
‘You wouldn’t put Hannah and Mac together, would you?’ Jessica had commented, opening up her brown bread sandwiches, neatly wrapped in tinfoil. ‘They’re such different people. She’s so laid-back whereas he seems, well, he seemsangry.’
Edie had nodded. ‘I know what you mean. He hasn’t always been like that. He was funny, a real character when we first met. I’m not sure what’s happened.
‘It’s interesting you’ve raised it, though. I’m a bit worried about Hannah, to be honest. She was fine at that Sunday lunch you came to, in good spirits, but I sometimes think she seems quite down. I don’t like the way Mac picks on her?—’
Jessica had fixed her small, clever, bright blue eyes on Edie, making her stop in her tracks.
‘Do you think he’s a bully?’
Edie swallowed. ‘I… I don’t know.’
Jessica’s eyes had narrowed. ‘My father was a bully. I can’t stand them. Mac had better watch himself in Crete.’
At the time, Edie hadn’t paid much attention to Jessica’s words. Her mind had been too focused on finishing lunch and leaving plenty of time to think about what she needed for her afternoon lessons.
Now, though, as she lay on the cool bed, feeling the tension in her body drift away, she recalled again the sense of relief she’d experienced sometime later.
Hannah’s relationship with Mac had been at the back of her mind more than she’d realised and Jessica’s blunt question had brought these concerns to the fore.
If Mac did bully Hannah in secret, she’d mused, Jessica would sniff him out, for sure. She was sharp as a tack and fierce as hell when she wanted to be, as she’d already demonstrated.
Edie just hoped her ferocity wouldn’t spiral out of control and spoil the holiday for everyone. She was someone you’d definitely want in your platoon, but woe betide you if you got on her wrong side.
Edie was so far away, she jumped when Ralph snapped his book shut and plonked it on the floor beside him. His skin was still slightly pink after his shower and he smelled delicious.
‘Mm! Herbs!’ Edie said, sniffing his shoulder. ‘It’s the body wash. The shampoo and soap smell the same. Have you noticed?’
‘Um, yes.’
She nudged him playfully in the ribs. ‘Liar! I expect it’s made locally. The washing stuff, I mean,’ she added, lying on her side and snuggling right up close.
Now, she could run a fingertip across his chest, down to his tummy button, round his abdomen and up again, drawing little circles and figures of eight.
He closed his eyes and breathed in and out slowly while the corners of his mouth curled into a small, contented smile. Edie imagined she could hear him purring.
