Page 47 of The Only Way Is Up

‘I loved it.’ Melanie’s eyes were sparkling in a way that Daisy had never seen before. She’d borrowed a navy swimsuit from a box in the clothing store, revealing a body that women fifteen years her junior would kill for. Daisy couldn’t help but wonder why she’d kept it hidden for so long.

‘I wasn’t sure I would, but it was amazing,’ she continued. ‘And I thought I’d be rubbish at it, but I did OK. I can’t wait to go again.’

They sat in contented silence for a minute, watching the snow fall into the hot water as the moon rose behind the mountains. The hot tub could fit eight, so there was plenty of room for them to stretch their aching limbs and sink down so only their heads were above the water line. It made Daisy think of those Japanese monkeys in hot springs that she’d seen on an Attenborough documentary. Ruby closed her eyes and floated on her back, her long hair spreading out into the water. Like Millais’ painting of Ophelia, thought Daisy, although thankfully a little less morbid.

‘Rubes, I have bad news,’ Daisy announced.

Ruby sat up with a splash, her tranquillity broken. ‘What?’

‘I’m afraid you and Will have to get out and make dinner. It’s your turn tonight; Melanie and me tomorrow.’

As Will and Ruby clattered around in the kitchen, Daisy and Melanie stayed where they were, wallowing silently in the hot tub. After a few minutes Will brought them both a glass of wine – well trained, thought Daisy – so they sat in the steaming water, each lost in their own thoughts as the snow settled on the deck around them.

‘We’ll get out soon,’ Melanie yawned.

‘Definitely,’ mumbled Daisy. She caught her friend’s eye and they both snorted with laughter.

‘This place is amazing,’ said Melanie. ‘I still can’t quite believe I’m here. It’s a shame Gerald . . .’

Daisy was silent for a few seconds, then placed her wine glass on the side of the hot tub. ‘What are you going to do, Melanie?’

Melanie turned to look at her. ‘About Gerald?’

Daisy nodded. ‘You seem like a different person here. More relaxed, happy.’

Melanie gave a tight smile. ‘I know.’ She turned her head towards the house and the sound of Will and Ruby laughing. ‘I think things will have to be very different when we get home. I just haven’t worked out how.’

After dinner Melanie and Will both headed for bed, exhausted after their first day on the slopes. Daisy and Ruby cleaned up the kitchen, then took a couple of mugs of peppermint tea back out to the hot tub. The snow had stopped and the stars were out, and the air felt crisp and icy.

Daisy had been thinking about whether she should tell Ruby about Christian. On the one hand she didn’t want him to intrude on their holiday any more than he had already; but on the other, it didn’t seem fair or respectful to keep Ruby in the dark. And Daisy couldn’t discount the possibility that those photos might appear in the press. Tom drifted into her thoughts and induced a flicker of anxiety, but she pushed it aside.

‘I saw Christian today,’ Daisy said in what she hoped was a casual tone.

‘What?!’ demanded Ruby, her head snapping upright from recumbent stargazing. ‘What’s HE doing here?’

‘It’s fine,’ said Daisy, ‘he’s going home tomorrow. He came to see me, to talk about our relationship.’

‘What about it?’ asked Ruby, her eyes narrowing.

Daisy took a deep breath. ‘We’ve split up. It wasn’t working out.’

Ruby’s eyes widened. ‘Really? Like, properly broken up? You won’t get back together?’

‘No,’ Daisy shook her head. Not in this lifetime.

‘Wow,’ said Ruby. ‘Just when I thought today couldn’t possibly get any better, you throw in a final glitter bomb. I could sing!’

Daisy shook her head, hiding a smile. There was no pretence with Ruby. ‘Actually, please don’t. You’re tone deaf like me.’ She gave Ruby her serious face. ‘But listen, Rubes, nobody knows yet. We haven’t made a statement to the press or anything, so you need to keep it to yourself.’

‘Why?’ asked Ruby, looking confused.

Daisy sighed. ‘Because I’m trying to keep out of the news for a while. And I don’t want it to spoil our time here.’ She dismissed the photographer for now. It might never happen, and if it did, Katie would deal with it.

Ruby nodded, then looked at her mother shrewdly. ‘Are you going to tell me what he did?’

‘No,’ said Daisy, sipping her peppermint tea. ‘But I’m fine. Although I suspect Christian would have won today’s bruise competition.’

Ruby sat up, her eyes glittering. ‘Oh my God, did you deck him?’