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Katerina stared at her; her coffee cup paused at her lips.
‘I could be wrong, but I think he was taking photographs of my balcony, and not just that; he looked like one of the yacht guys who were at the taverna last night.’
‘Really? Maybe they’re renting the villa.’
‘But they told us they were living on the boat.’
‘Mmm, yes, that is strange. I think…’ She broke off as her phone rang and she checked the screen. ‘Oh, it’s Heidi calling. Did you see her dancing with Nathan last night? I think those two make a great couple, don’t you?’
Suzie smiled, pleased to see that Katerina’s mood had lifted. ‘Maybe.’
‘Yassou, Heidi, how are you…. Hey, slow down, slow down, I can’t understand what you’re saying.’ Katerina met Suzie’s gaze; her dark brown eyes filled with concern. ‘Stay there, we’ll be right over.’
Katerina jumped up from her seat, smoothed down the hem of her ivory shift dress with strips of gold ribbon sewn around the hem and the neckline – her despondency was clearly not being permitted to interfere with her sartorial stylishness – grabbed her quilted handbag and coffee cup, and headed towards the door.
‘Come on. Heidi needs us.’
‘What about the gallery?’
‘Put the “Back in ten minutes” sign on the door.’
Suzie did so and then hurried in Katerina’s Chanel N°5-infused wake through the cobbled streets of Oia to Heidi’s apartment, where they found her sobbing into the arms of her flatmate, Ana. Suzie dashed forward, crouched down in front of Heidi, and took hold of her hands, her heart filled with dismay at the sight of her friend looking so young and vulnerable.
‘What’s happened?’
Heidi met her gaze, her makeup-free eyes swimming with tears. However, when she opened her mouth to speak, no words ensued, so she simply passed her phone over to Katerina and pointed to an image.
‘Who is it?’ asked Suzie, peering over Katerina’s shoulder.
‘It’s Miranda.’
‘What? Why is her face bright orange?’
‘I have no idea,’ said Heidi, her voice barely a squeak as tears trickled down her pale cheeks. ‘She sent me that selfie this morning after looking at herself in the bathroom mirror. The only thing she can think of is that it was somehow caused by the skincare products I used on her yesterday.’
‘But how can that be?’
‘It can’t, it absolutely can’t! There’s nothing in any of the ingredients that could possibly make anyone looked like that! Look at you, Suzie, look at Katerina, you’re both absolutely fine.’
‘Maybe she had an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients?’
‘I suppose it’s possible, but if she had, wouldn’t her skin be red and blotchy, swollen even?’
‘Yes, that’s…’
‘And I only ever use natural ingredients, don’t I, Ana?’ Heidi looked imploringly at her flatmate. ‘Aloe vera, sea salt, honey, yoghurt, cucumber, poppy seeds, seaweed, a few drops of essential oil. Who’s allergic to those?’
‘So what’s Miranda going to do?’
‘Well, because she has to open the bookshop, she put on an extra-thick layer of foundation and asked her friend Cynthia to cover the cash desk and deliver their customers their morning coffees. She’s assured me that she doesn’t feel any ill-effects, but she’s planning on staying “behind the scenes” until the colour wears off a bit. But what’s even worse, and much more upsetting, is that she’s threatening to cancel her date with Giorgos tonight.’
‘She’s going on a date with Giorgos?’
‘I wasn’t supposed to say anything, but when they were strolling through the olive grove last night, he asked her to join him for a boat trip around the island and she said yes. Oh, I feel awful, my careless mistake could just have cost them both a second chance at happiness. How can I ever forgive myself!’
‘Come on, I think we need to go over to the taverna for a restorative coffee,’ said Ana.
‘No,’ said Suzie quickly, earning herself a look of surprise from Heidi.
