“Does it?”
“Of course. Otherwise, she’d be leaving on the first plane out.” They watched as the pool boy methodically scooped out some leaves, moving the net slowly through the water.
“There’s something really calming about him, don’t you think?” said Isabella. “His movements. Like some kind of tai chi.”
“Is he new?”
“Madame Baudin’s son.” Isabella smiled naughtily. “He’s come of age.”
Laura lowered her sunglasses, both horrified and amused. “Isabella, you are not . . .”
“Oh, darling, relax. I just like to look.” She turned back to Laura. “I quite liked Cherry actually. Despite my earlier misgivings. She seemed quite charming. Happy to pitch in. Anyway, I thought it’s what you wanted. One big happy family.”
“Well, yes . . . except I get the feeling she doesn’t want to let me in.... In fact”—Laura laughed uncomfortably—“I’d go as far as to say she wishes I weren’t there.”
“Really? Why?”
“I don’t know. Just a feeling. She doesn’t talk to me much. Open up.”
“Darling, give her a chance. She’s only just met you. Probably terrified of you.”
Laura looked astonished. “Whatever for?”
“You’re the mother of her new boyfriend. And you always were very protective of him.”
Laura laughed. “What on earth are you talking about?”
“Come on, you were always the territorial one at the playgroups. A real tiger mother. Do you remember the time you pinched that little boy? He was only about two.”
“He bit Daniel on the leg. Drew blood. There was a row of teeth marks on him for days.”
“And wasn’t there some incident with a kid in Daniel’s class? I seem to remember a cricket bat . . . and did the boy not end up crying or something and then . . . leave the school?”
Laura’s gaze turned to the pool boy. “Do you remember being young? Late teens . . . early twenties?”
“I seem to remember a lot of parties, at least going to them, but, funnily enough, not a lot of detail.”
“I wonder what Rose would’ve been like.”
“Beautiful and talented, probably. Like her mother.”
Laura smiled. “It’s funny with Cherry. I was hoping . . .”
“Oh no, darling,” said Isabella quickly. “Don’t hope that.”
“I know. Silly,” said Laura. “Fanciful, really.”
They sat, both enjoying the measured, slow movements of the pool boy, the regular whoosh of the water, and the drip-drip-drip as he lifted his net.
* * *
When Laura got back to the house, Cherry and Daniel were still out. She made herself a bit of lunch, but picked at it. Then suddenly impatient, she knew this was an opportunity she should be making the most of. After all, she had the place to herself andcould enjoy the peace. Could swim in the pool without feeling like a third wheel.
She went to her room and changed into a bikini. On the way back, as she passed Daniel and Cherry’s room, she noticed the door was ajar. She stopped and was about to close it, but then, propelled by a longing to be closer to her houseguest, peeked through the gap. She stood with her feet safely on the neutral flooring of the landing and cast her eyes about the room.
Two suitcases were stacked neatly against the wall, the clothes hung up in wardrobes. A wayward sleeve jutted through the gap between the doors. Some clothes were cast on the chair, some shorts of Daniel’s and a T-shirt of Cherry’s she’d seen her in the night before. The bed was roughly made, the summer duvet pulled up to reach the pillows.
On the dresser were receipts, boarding pass coupons, their passports and some books. Laura recognized one of her own favorites and, without realizing she was doing so, walked into the room and picked it up. Flicked it open to the folded-down corner and smiled, recalling the passage in the story. Was it Cherry’s? She instantly warmed toward her; there was a reassurance to actually knowing something about her, even something as innocuous as the books she liked to read. See, they had things in common! And there was certainly no need for Cherry to be anxious around her.
