‘It’s rather nice, not having Jessica here,’ Edie said eventually, before waiting tentatively for an answer.
‘Do you think so?’ Hannah said.
Edie’s eyes sprang open. ‘Well, yes. I mean, it’s nice to be just the four of us for a bit, don’t you think? I hope she has a good time in Knossos,’ she added quickly.
Mac started to rise. ‘Shall we go back?’ he asked Ralph. ‘Race you to the beach.’
Ralph started to protest, knowing Mac was the stronger swimmer, but it was too late.
Mac was already launching himself off the rocks and was soon slicing through the water, using his best front crawl. Ralph would have to be quick to have any hope at all of catching him up.
While the women watched from their rock, Hannah drew up her legs and hugged her knees.
‘I think Jessica’s amazing. She’s such a strong woman. I wish I was more like her,’ she commented.
‘She’s certainly very independent,’ Edie replied carefully. In truth, her opinion had shifted and she’d begun to think Jessica was really quite selfish. But Hannah viewed things differently.
‘She told me she never wanted to get married or have children,’ Hannah went on. ‘She’s an individualist. It’s important to her not to have to rely on anyone for anything.’
‘I can see that, but some of us want and need support from others. If everyone was like her, the world would be rather a lonely, disconnected place.’
‘I disagree.’
Edie sat up and brushed the dirt and stones off her hands. ‘Really?’ She swallowed, wondering what was coming next.
‘Yes. For example, I’m sick of bending over backwards for my family and getting nothing in return. It’s all take and no give, as far as I’m concerned. I could do with being a bit more self-centred.’
Edie frowned. ‘I know you work incredibly hard, and Mac’s work is so irregular. I wish you could share the load more.’
‘You don’t know the half of it,’ Hannah said darkly.
The comment worried Edie, but she didn’t get the chance to question her friend any further.
‘Come on,’ Hannah said, standing up and preparing to launch herself off the rock. ‘We’ll get left behind.’
She and Edie adopted a more leisurely pace as they made their way towards the shore and as she swam, Edie made a mental note not to mention Jessica to Hannah again for the time being. Clearly, Hannah wouldn’t have a word said against her and it would only cause friction.
They sunbathed for a while longer on the beach before gathering their things together. Edie suggested they could perhaps hang round the village for a while and have supper out. However, Hannah wanted to get changed and as no one could face the prospect of walking to and from the villa twice in one day, the idea was vetoed.
They were on their way to April’s shop to buy provisions for dinner together instead when Edie spotted Jean-Luc in dark glasses, sitting on the harbour wall sipping something from a can.
She shuddered, remembering Mac’s behaviour yesterday, and quickly looked in the other direction, but not fast enough.
‘Bonjour, tout le monde!’Jean-Luc called, getting up and strolling towards the group. ‘How are you today?’
Edie, who was behind Mac, noticed his body stiffen and his fists clench, and she could swear his pace quickened, as if he intended to push on past.
‘Oh God, it’s the Frenchman,’ she whispered to Ralph, beside her. ‘I hope Mac doesn’t punch him.’
Just then, Hannah stopped, forcing her husband to do likewise.
Edie and Ralph came to a halt beside them and, without a word, Ralph stepped forward and shook Jean-Luc by the hand.
‘I’m Ralph, Edie’s husband,’ he said. ‘Edie told me she’d met you and your sister, the artist. I’d be interested to see her work sometime.’
The intervention was timely. Mac’s shoulders relaxed a little and his fists unclenched.
Jean-Luc bowed his head graciously. Barefoot and wearing a khaki T-shirt over bright blue swimming shorts, he looked more handsome than ever.
