Cleo sighed.
‘Oh, because, apparently, I wasn’t supportive enough. I didn’t appreciate how hard he worked for us all. He claims now I neglected him and our marriage, but I don’t think that’s true. I adored him and thought we were a good team, but for some reason, Erica’s chosen to believe his narrative rather than mine. I understand she’s hurting, and she’d much rather we’d stayed together. I guess all kids want that, whatever their age. But I don’t understand why she’s demonised me to the point where she can’t even bear to be in my presence. It’s incredibly hurtful.’
A loud splash made them both turn their heads. Ingrid had just jumped into the water. Frida, usually ready for anything, was teetering on the steps in a bright green bikini, clutching onto the rail and watching her friend.
‘Come on!’ Ingrid shouted. ‘It’s lovely once you’re in.’
Frida bent over and started feebly wetting her arms and chest with water, presumably to get used to the temperature.
‘It’s worse if you do that!’ Ingrid called cheerfully, lying on her back and kicking hard, obviously hoping to spray her friend. ‘Just go for it. It’s the only way!’
‘Don’t you dare splash me!’ Frida yelled back. ‘I’ll get out! I’m not good in cold water, you know that. I’ll do it in my own time or not at all.’
Tash turned back to Cleo with a smile and crossed her legs.
‘It’s not fair to blame you for everything,’ she commented, resuming their conversation. ‘It takes two to end a marriage. Have you tried sitting down with Erica face to face and talking things through?’
Cleo frowned. ‘Countless times, but it always ends in disaster. The last time, she stormed off and said she never wanted to see me again. I cried off and on for two weeks until she relented – kind of. She said she just needed a break to sort things out in her own head, then we could meet. But that was six months ago. I’ve suggested coffee or a walk or whatever, but she’s always got some excuse or other. And now she’s sent these texts which tell me she’s just as furious as ever, if not more so. I don’t know what to do.’
‘Does she see Danny?’ Tash persisted. ‘Could he help?’
Cleo sat up straight and stared at her lap, fiddling with the white rubber strap on her watch.
‘They see each other occasionally when he’s home from uni; they get on OK. But he says he doesn’t want to get involved in our quarrel. It’s for us to sort out.’
‘Fair enough, I suppose,’ Tash replied with a nod. ‘I’m really sorry you’re going through this.’
Cleo smiled gratefully. ‘Thanks. I feel such a failure. I always prided myself on being a good mother; it was one of the few things I thought I’d done well.’
‘Youarea good mum,’ Tash said warmly. ‘I can tell, the way you speak about your children. I’m sure Erica will see sense eventually.’
Cleo pulled a face. ‘I wish you could be right, but I’m not convinced. I feel like I’ve been divorced twice – first by my husband and now by my daughter, too.’
5
Sunset Pilates in the garden seemed like the ideal way to round off the day. Despite everything, Cleo felt her body relaxing into the moment and for a while, she almost forgot about Erica and the texts.
She realised she was starting to get into the ‘clean eating’ routine, too, and was rather looking forward to another healthy supper bursting with nutritious ingredients she rarely used at home.
On the company website she’d seen fresh figs on the menu, plus vegetable spaghettini, dried cranberries, quinoa, sea bream, edamame beans, sunflower seeds, tahini and many more unusual foods besides.
Already, Mark had also treated the guests to two delicious dressings Cleo had never tried before: spicy red pepper made with cashew nuts, and lime and sesame. She must ask him for the recipes to take back home.
If a glass or two of wine had been on offer, she’d have found it hard to say no, but in truth, she wasn’t missing alcohol or coffee as much as she’d thought she would.
The herbal teas were surprisingly flavoursome and soothing and she was certain her body, at least, was thanking her for the temporary respite from processed foods and everything else she knew was bad for her but consumed anyway.
She sat near Frida and Ingrid at supper and quite decided she’d been born in the wrong generation. The women seemed so strong and independent, as well as intelligent, ambitious and engaging. She couldn’t imagine either of them pining for a man; they didn’t appear to need one.
Perhaps they were gay, but Cleo thought it more likely they were just so busy and focused on their jobs and having fun, romantic relationships weren’t a priority right now. Neither struck her as remotely broody or maternal, but they were young and that could easily change.
After supper, Cleo stayed chatting with Tash, the Norwegians and Noreen for a while. When they peeled off to their rooms, Cleo and Tash decided to grab some blankets from a big basket in the hallway and ‘star-bathe’ for a while in the garden.
As they were leaving, Cleo noticed Maya, in an elegant, dark green top, talking to Henrietta by the French doors. It looked as if they were about to go upstairs as well, and neither turned when Cleo and Tash noisily pushed their chairs back under the table.
They padded in bare feet across the slightly damp grass and spread out their blankets in the middle of the lawn. Then, without another word, they both lay down and gazed up at the night sky, scattered with a myriad, jewel-like stars.
Basking in the beauty and wonder of it all, they didn’t hear footsteps heading in their direction.
