‘What? No! It’s yours. Take it back.’
‘You keep it.’
‘I don’t want it,’ insisted Ellie, brandishing the book, but Abby was already halfway out the door.
‘I just came up to see if you wanted coffee or tea,’ she said.
‘Coffee. Please,’ said Ellie.
Abby nodded, then left. Ellie looked at the book in her hand, her precious childhood book that was now hers, and suddenly felt as if she’d never quite love it in the same way again.
The day had an awkwardness to it after that, even as Matteo joined them, and the three women decided to postpone their trip to the beach. The sun made them lazy, they said, which wasn’t altogether untrue, and they spent the afternoon alternately on the terrace and the swim platform. After a simple supper, both Ellie and Susanna claimed an early night.
ELEVEN
Ellie lay in bed the next morning, dozing as she heard her sister get up. When she finally surfaced, as she shut her bedroom door, her mother came out of her own room just behind her. Something about the timing made Ellie think that Susanna had been waiting for her to leave her room.
Everyone was on best behaviour over breakfast: polite requests were made to pass the butter, attention paid as to who needed their coffee topping up. It was decided they’d make the trip to the beach. Matteo was unable to join them as he’d promised a friend he’d help him fix his boat.
The drive and the excitement of the destination temporarily pushed the tension into the background; everyone had a veneer of optimism to hide behind. The front of good feeling continued as they gasped at the turquoise and gold beauty of the beach and settled onto sunbeds.
The sun bore down on them as they dozed and read their books. After a while, Abby sat up.
‘Anyone for a swim?’ she asked.
Ellie was in the shade, under a palm tree, and was content to stay there. She looked across at her mother who was in direct heat and was turning a little pink and perspiring.
‘Maybe in a minute,’ said Susanna, pulling her longing eyes from the water.
Ellie frowned; it seemed obvious her mother would benefit from cooling off but Ellie had the distinct impression she hadn’t wanted to go with Abby. Ellie watched Abby get up from her sunbed and wade out into the crystal-clear water, shades of aquamarine flecked with patches of darker blue where small rocks lay on the seabed. On the back of Abby’s right shoulder was a scar about two inches long. Ellie had noticed it the day before, when they’d swum at the house, but hadn’t asked about it, as Abby had seemed self-conscious.
Susanna leaned up on one elbow. ‘Shall we get some lunch in a bit? We could try one of the restaurants along the beach.’
Ellie nodded but felt a flurry of disquiet. She had to be careful on this trip and not eat out too often. Funds were tight; in fact, she was trying to manage a substantial debt on her credit cards. Nearly eighteen thousand pounds, as it happened. She tried to pay off a little every month but the interest was greedy, eating into her deposits. It was something that made her feel sick if she dwelled on it too much, so she didn’t.
After Abby’s swim, they packed up their things and wandered along the seafront, checking out the restaurant menus.
‘This one looks nice,’ said Abby, stopping outside a cafe. Ellie wasn’t so sure – it seemed a little basic and had plastic tables and chairs, and she knew in the heat those chairs would be sticking to the backs of her thighs.
‘Or the next one along?’ she suggested. Ellie walked on a few metres and looked at the menu board. A little more expensive but you’d get thequalityand the whole experience would be so much more enjoyable. She’d be able to relax, to let go of some of the tension in her shoulders, and wasn’t that the whole point of this holiday? Life was for enjoying – you could get run over by a bus tomorrow. Also, she noted with pleasure, this one had fabric cushions on the chair seats.
They ordered and sat back, gazing out at the sea. Then Susanna rummaged in her bag, pulled out her phone. She held it up to Abby and Ellie.
‘Smile!’
‘Mum!’ protested Ellie lightly, but it was no good and Susanna got her picture.
‘Oh, I could stay here forever,’ said Susanna, sighing and taking a long drink from a glass of iced water.
Ellie saw Abby rip off a piece of bread and dip it in olive oil, her face expressionless.
‘Think you might cramp Abby’s style, Mum,’ she said. ‘She is a newly-wed after all.’
‘Of course. It’s been so nice to finally meet Matteo. I can understand why you wanted to keep him to yourself for so long.’ She put down her glass. ‘Isn’t this lovely? The three of us being here. Getting on. It’s important, you know, that we make the most of the good times.’
‘What are you going on about?’ asked Ellie.
‘Nothing. Just being sentimental. Enjoying seeing my children spend some time together. Nothing should get between two sisters, you must always remember that.’
