Hannah seemed to need and want the attention, so Edie had taken a back seat and left them to it.
Instead, she’d prepared the meal and laid the table on the patio. Just before they ate, she’d asked Hannah if she’d like to talk in private, but Hannah had said no.
‘It’ll blow over, honestly. I’m sorry you and Jessica got caught up in it.’
Edie frowned. ‘This is serious, Hannah. You do know that, don’t you? Mac can’t go on behaving like this.’
‘I’ll talk to him – I really will. He’ll have calmed down by the time he gets back.’
They’d just finished their main course and started on the sweet pastries Jessica and Edie had bought when Mac reappeared. He stood uncomfortably in the kitchen doorway, illuminated by the light behind, with his arms crossed and his head lowered.
‘Hello,’ he said hoarsely.
He was met with absolute silence; no one knew what to say.
‘I’m sorry about the argument,’ he went on, hesitantly. ‘Not what you want to hear on holiday.’ He gave a humourless laugh. ‘I lost my temper. I was a prat.’
Edie nervously cleared her throat.
‘Look, mate—’ Ralph started to say, rising, but Jessica interrupted.
‘DON’T try and make light of it.’ Her teeth were half clenched. ‘You tried to assault Hannah with that mirror. She could have been seriously injured.’
Mac’s eyes opened wide. ‘I didn’t?—’
In a flash, Hannah abruptly stood up and pushed back her chair. ‘Mac and I will sort this, won’t we, Mac? The rest of you shouldn’t have to get involved.’
Mac nodded.
Jessica started to protest but Hannah, who was next to her, put a hand on her arm.
‘Don’t,’ she said. ‘It’s all right?—’
‘No, it bloody well isn’t! He’s a bully and a bastard. I can’t stand by and watch you get hurt.’
Ignoring her, Hannah started to move away but Jessica followed.
‘Leave them!’ Ralph said suddenly, stopping Jessica in her tracks.
She turned to him with a deep frown and eyes that looked hot enough to scorch his pupils, but he didn’t flinch.
‘Let them try and sort this out themselves,’ he went on. ‘They don’t need our interference.’
He looked at Mac and Hannah, who was now hovering nervously by her husband’s side.
‘Mac, mate,’ he said, carrying on where he’d left off a few minutes earlier. ‘Listen, stop the shouting and stuff, OK? Talk to each other sensibly. If you want a mediator or a third opinion, I’m here.’
Mac nodded. ‘Thanks.’
As soon as he and Hannah turned their backs and disappeared into the villa, Jessica glared at Ralph, looking for all the world as if she wanted to kill him.
‘I can’t believe you just did that. Why would you? You sent her back into the lion’s den.’
Ralph squared his shoulders and held Jessica’s gaze, with his hands on his hips and both feet firmly planted on the ground.
Edie stared at him in wonder; she couldn’t remember when she last saw him so angry yet, at the same time, completely in control.
‘With respect,’ he said quietly, carefully enunciating every word, ‘to my knowledge, you’re not a marriage counsellor. And you hardly know either of them. Do us all a favour, will you? Stop meddling and give them some space.’
