As instructed, Christine retrieved the bright blue box, while Alex took out the large bag of ice.
‘You look like you got a little sun today,’ Alex remarked as she began to shake out the cubes. ‘It suits you.’
‘Hmm,’ she replied. ‘I did have quite a lengthy run earlier. It was busier than expected.’
‘Really?’ Alex replied, shaking the last of the bag in. ‘Think that should do it. It’ll be heavy, but let me just grab the spoons and—’
‘You know, I was sure I saw a certain American at the beach on my way back,’ Christine recounted, her voice almost taunting Alex. ‘Such a shame he’ll no longer be joining us.’
Alex swallowed hard. ‘Really? Maybe you saw him heading towards his hotel.’ She quickly turned to pick up her spoons, heart thumping.
‘No,’ Christine continued. ‘I didn’t see any luggage. I wasn’t really paying attention to that though.’
‘Thought you might need a hand with the cooler!’
Alex had never been so pleased to see Paul in her life. ‘Definitely,’ she replied. ‘I’ll be down in a sec if you want to give Christine a hand.’
They both took a handle each and left the kitchen, leaving Alex to quietly hyperventilate.
She saw us, she thought.Oh, this is bad. This is very bad.
By the time Alex returned to the beach, she felt sick. She was sure that at any moment Christine would whisper something to Becky, Becky would shriek in horror and it would be game over. However, everything appeared to be normal. Tara was picking at the salad, Beth and Paul sat chatting near the firepit and Becky was with Christine, who didn’t appear to be whispering anything; in fact she looked like she was enjoying herself.
Did I get this wrong?she thought, placing the serving spoons on the table.Maybe she saw Aiden while he was waiting for me, before I got there. I hope that regardless she keeps it to herself.
