Eleanor cut across her, saying, ‘Let’s get her back on land. Warm her up, shall we?’
Robyn nodded quickly. ‘Sorry. Yes. Here.’ She guided the boat towards the beach, the hull grinding along the pebbled seabed.
Robyn bore most of Bella’s weight, helping her climb from the boat. She was shivering violently as she limped through the shallows. Reaching the shoreline, Bella stumbled to her knees, digging her fingers into the pebble beach. Her head hung down, the curve of her spine prominent through the wet fabric of her dress.
After a few moments, Bella took a deep breath, then rose, releasing the pebbles. She turned. Faced Eleanor.
The two women looked at one another for a long moment, something passing between them. ‘I won’t forget,’ Bella said, a fierceness in her tone that caused goosebumps to rise across Robyn’s neck.
Eleanor nodded once. After a beat, she turned to Robyn, instructing, ‘Help me with the boat.’
Together they heaved it from the water, dragging it onto the shoreline. Eleanor retrieved the sodden red wrap Bella had been wearing. She wrung the water from it, then draped it over her arm, linking the other through Bella’s. ‘Come,’ she said. ‘Let’s get you warm.’
Robyn’s gaze swung to the cliff line. Fen was still out there, searching. They shouldn’t have separated. Fen shouldn’t be alone in the darkness. She’d help Bella back to the villa, fetch a torch, then go after her.
A drift of wood smoke curled from the fire as the three of them crossed the beach in silence. Eleanor’s step faltered. Robyn glanced at her and saw her gaze was lifted towards the villa. ‘What?’
The three of them were silent, listening.
‘Voices,’ Eleanor said.
Robyn heard them, too. First, a woman’s voice – sharpened and rising – then cut across by the strong blow of a man’s shout.
76
Lexi
On the terrace a few lanterns were still lit. The scent of chlorine rose from the swimming pool, chemical and sharp.
Lexi stopped beneath the pergola, placing her fingertips on the table where empty glasses and a bottle of wine waited to be cleared. The bronze statue stood at its centre and she found herself reaching for it, feeling something grounding in the cool weight of the bronze, the rasp of metal against her skin.
Ed’s gaze followed hers. ‘Is this you?’
She nodded, turning the bronzed body towards the light of the candle, the flame catching her curves, her expression of rapture.
A dancer, once.
And now? Who was she now?
Carefully, she set down the sculpture, suddenly feeling overwhelmingly tired. She didn’t have the energy to deal with this. She wanted to unknow everything she’d heard about Ana, about Luca.
She wanted Ed to still be the man she thought he was, not this new, shadowed version of himself.
Ed pulled out a chair for her, and she lowered herself down.
A petal, loosened from her floral crown, fluttered into her lap. She stared at it for a moment, then lifted it lightly between her fingertips. Slowly, she pressed her fingernail into its delicate velvet texture, until she felt it tear. Then she pushed a hand into her hairline and tugged out the remaining flowers, letting them scatter to the floor.
‘Lex,’ he said, sitting close, elbows on his knees. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, exposing his tanned, strong forearms. ‘I needed to see you. I was hoping to be the one to tell you. But you already know, don’t you?’
She held his eye. ‘You have a son.’
He hung his head. ‘Yes.’
Lexi felt the blow of his admission.
‘I’m so, so sorry,’ he said, and she could hear the emotion thickening his voice. When he lifted his gaze, she was surprised to see his eyes shining with tears. ‘I should’ve been the one to tell you. I’m devastated that you’ve found out like this – out here. Lex, I should have told you months ago, I know that.’
‘Why didn’t you?’
He swallowed. ‘I was ashamed. Not that I have a son – but that I have no contact with him. I’ve heard the way you talk about your dad. You can’t forgive him for abandoning his other daughter. You’ve barely got a relationship with him because of it.’
That was true.
‘I wanted to be honest – tell you about Luca – I really did, but it felt impossible. I didn’t want to risk losing you. I love you, Lexi Lowe.’
She could smell his aftershave warmed on his skin. She felt a softening. This was Ed. Her Ed. Who brought her breakfast in bed; who loved to wash her hair in the bath; who called during his lunch break because he missed her. When she was with him, she felt valued. Treasured. She wanted to lean into him and feel his arms wrapped around her.