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‘Why?’ Merryn demanded.
Sensing the conversation was in danger of going in an interesting direction, Avril asked where Honor’s parents had gone on holiday. It was inconsequential talk, but it steered the women’s thoughts away from their men out in the towering black seas and kept Merryn’s mind off impossible conceptions.
Honor told them her parents’ itinerary and promised to show Merryn the route on the computer later.
‘If they’re cruising from Southampton they might be delayed by the storm,’ Avril observed.
They ate silently for a moment dwelling on the horrors that might be happening. It seemed, no matter how hard they tried to avoid it, the conversation returned to the thing most on their mind. When Honor’s phone pinged, they all jumped a foot.
A tense, expectant hush fell over the room. ‘Sorry,’ Honor said, once she’d read the text. ‘It’s just my parents. You were right, Avril, they’ve delayed sailing until tomorrow morning.’
Lucie cleared her throat. ‘What are they doing now?’ she asked in an over-bright voice.
‘Eating dinner.’
‘Oh, go on, tell us what they’re eating.’
Honor knew no one really wanted to know what her parents were having for dinner on their first night of cruising but dutifully texted them back the question. ‘Lobster Bisque, pheasant, and mango and papaya with poached pear,’ she reeled off.
‘Fabby.’ Lucie looked at the plate of sandwiches. Except for Merryn, they’d hardly touched them. Even Lucie, with her legendary appetite, hadn’t been able to eat much. ‘Jamie and I ate up at the Henville Hotel once. You know, the big posh place just out of Berecombe? It was brilliant. So were the cocktails.’ Her voice quavered.
They gazed at the mountain of turkey sandwiches in front of them. It had been a good idea and had kept them busy for twenty minutes but, somehow, no one had the stomach to eat anything.
‘I’ll put them in the fridge for when Jago and Jamie return,’ Avril said.
It was weird how they were all using high-pitched, overly cheerful voices.
Merryn looked suddenly stricken. ‘He’s been ages. Heiscoming back, isn’t he?’
Avril gave her a hug. ‘Of course he is! After all, I’ve got to give him a piece of my mind when he does.’
‘Don’t think he’ll want one,’ the girl answered, looking puzzled. ‘He’s got enough mind of his own.’
‘It’s a saying, Merryn,’ Honor explained. ‘Your mum means she’s going to tell him off.’
‘An idiom!’
‘That’s right. An idiom. You’re so clever.’
‘She’s too sharp for the knife drawer my mum would say,’ Avril said but there were tears in her eyes. ‘What time is it, Lucie?’
‘Just gone seven.’
‘You’ll stay on with us until, well, you know.’
Lucie nodded. ‘Yes please, if you don’t mind. I usually wait in the flat for Jamie. I can see the station from there, but it’s nicer being with people, people who understand.’
Avril reached out a hand. ‘Then please stay.’ She stood up. ‘And now, while Honor and I do the washing up, what about you and Merryn decorate that tree? It’s not going to do it by itself. And we’ll have the lights switched on and looking pretty for when Jamie and Jago get back.’ Her voice broke.
Lucie took one look at her distressed face and propelled Merryn towards the sitting room saying, ‘It’s my favourite thing ever, decorating the tree. Oh look, Ivy’s come to help,’ she added, as the dog danced at their feet.
A gust of wind shook the house, wailing down the chimney. It almost drowned out Lucie and Merryn’s conversation as they went.
‘Blow winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow!’ Merryn sang out.
‘Hey, that’s cool, kid. King Lear,’ Lucie said admiringly.
‘I don’t know, is it? It’s Shakespeare. How doyouknow it’s Shakespeare?’
