Page 64 of The House Swap

‘He’s just reserved, love. Not everyone needs to talk the hindlegs off a donkey.’

There was a certain irony to Sue’s words, but she didn’t appear to notice.

She held up her wine glass for Ian to refill and he topped her up, then did the same to Poppy before she could protest. It was a habit he seemed to do every time her glass dipped below half full, almost like an automatic reaction. And each time, she told herself she could stop drinking whenever she wanted. But then she’d take another sip anyway, because refusing felt rude, and because the warmth of the alcohol was smoothing the stresses inside her.

They were about halfway through the main course when Sue and Ian’s questions began to become more personal. Not dramatically. It was just the nature of them that started to make Poppy feel uncomfortable again.

‘So, Tom is just a friend, is he?’

Poppy had a mouthful when she asked, so nodded.

‘Just checking our Jeremiah has nothing to be jealous of.’

‘No, of course not,’ she managed, almost choking on her food. She quickly took another gulp of wine. Her cheeks reddening.

Sue burst out laughing. ‘Relax. I’m only teasing you, darling. You can have as many partners as you like. Ian and I won’t tell. We’re not fuddy-duddies.’

‘Nothing’s even happened with Jem anyway,’ Poppy pointed out.

‘But you’d like it to,’ Ian said, waggling his eyebrows and looking a little smug. ‘Good-looking lad like Jeremiah.’

Their sudden questioning of her love life had Poppy spluttering. Her personal life was none of their business. ‘Can we please change the subject?’ she asked a little stiffly.

‘You’re embarrassing her, Ian.’

Poppy glared at Sue. ‘I’m not embarrassed,’ she snapped. ‘I just don’t want to talk about it.’

Her sudden outburst had the table falling silent.

Sue was the first to speak. ‘Okay, my darling, calm down. We were only trying to have a little bit of friendly banter.’

Was she overdramatising the moment again?

‘I’m sorry,’ she apologised, her cheeks flaming. ‘I shouldn’t have snapped. I’ve been a bit stressed since Keira flew home,’ she added, feeling she owed them an explanation.

Sue and Ian exchanged another cautious glance.

‘It’s okay, Poppy. No harm done,’ Ian told her.

‘I expect it’s lonely in that big place all alone,’ Sue added.

‘I’m okay.’ Poppy shrugged, remembering Ian had said something similar on the ride over. ‘It’s just very quiet. Too much time to think.’

‘Now, that’s never good.’ Ian laughed. ‘Sue’s never liked the quiet, have you, love? It drives her mad.’

Sue ignored him. Her focus stayed on Poppy. ‘Do you feel safe?’

Poppy’s stomach dipped.

‘Yes,’ she lied. Because she didn’t want to open that door and consider that the little things that had been happening were down to anything sinister. ‘Of course.’

‘Good,’ Sue said, but she didn’t sound convinced. ‘Ian and I do worry about you. You’re a young woman on your own in a remote place and a big house. Crete is mostly safe, but…’ She trailed off, leaving Poppy to wonder what she had been about to say.

She forced a laugh. ‘You don’t need to worry about me. I’m fine.’

‘Us Brits, we stick together and look out for one another.’

Sue patted the back of Poppy’s hand. Her touch lingering a fraction too long.