He was worried about me saying that when he’d practically just announced to the kids that Ella was a thief. Violet was tenacious to say the least and if she decided to investigate, it was only a matter of time before all the kids held their own impromptu kangaroo court, probably during Joy’s gin hour that evening.
I turned back to Dan to continue talking under our breaths if necessary, but he’d closed his eyes, making it very clear that the conversation was over.
Later, in the car, as the kids slept, I continued the conversation, keen to share this with someone; I’d held it inside too long.
‘When I said before that I think Ella’s a thief – I wasn’t just making wild accusations,’ I said quietly. ‘I saw her, Dan… she took your mum’s earrings from the jewellery roll on her dressing table.’
‘You’re kidding me?’ He kept his eyes on the road, but I could hear the surprise in his voice.
‘No, I saw her do it.’
‘Why didn’t you say anything?’
‘I didn’t know what to say. I was going to mention it to your mum but I don’t want to cause a big drama and ruin everyone’s holiday. If your mum says they’re missing, then I’ll tell her…’
‘So we don’t know they’re missing?’
‘I saw her take them, I’m sure of it.’
‘Which earrings?’ He was beginning to sound sceptical.
‘The diamond drops that your dad bought her for their wedding anniversary. Surely she’d notice if they were missing? They’re her favourites.’
‘Yeah, probably.
‘But even if she does know, I guess she wouldn’t want to rock the boat, like you– not on holiday anyway.’
I was relieved that Dan believed me after all. I’d been concerned he thought I was mistaken, or even that I’d exaggerated what I’d seen.
‘Thing is, after seeing her do that, I’m not comfortable with Ella being around the kids,’ I said.
‘Oh don’t be silly, they don’t have any jewellery,’ he joked. ‘And she’s hardly likely to steal Freddie’s Tonka Toy, is she?’
‘You know what I mean, she’s dishonest and we don’t know what she’s capable of – and I’m NOT being silly,’ I snapped.
‘Well, if what you say is true, it’s a worry, but I’m sure the kids are quite safe – and there might be a perfectly good explanation. Why don’t you suggest Mum wears them one evening, then if Mum finds out they’re gone, that will bring everything to a head.’
I agreed, but given the circumstances, I couldn’t be the one to call her out, not now. She’d threatened me. Then again, if she retaliated and told them about what I’d been hiding, I’d just say she was lying. I’d point out that she was lashing out, desperately making things up to get back at me. I suddenly felt like I could see the light at the end of the tunnel – first though, I had to find the proof. Where the hell had she put those earrings?
We continued to drive back to the villa, but I wasn’t in a rush to return. I’d enjoyed my Ella-free day, so when I saw a small white van by the roadside with a homemade sign saying ‘lemon granitas’， I insisted we stop and buy some. We were all hot, the kids were thirsty and Dan agreed, pulling over and parking up behind it. It was a shabby old van, the back doors wide open, revealing a plethora of dried chillies in a million shades of red turning to rust, and it was such a wonderful sight I couldn’t help but think it would look good on my own Instagram. Contrary to what Ella suggested, my own photos were mostly family times, the children, friends – and not pouting selfies, what I had for dinner or that week’s weight loss, and this felt like a moment I wanted to remember. So I got out and started snapping with my phone, when the owner appeared from the front of the vehicle. She’d been sitting under the shade of an old PVC tablecloth like my granny used to have; it triggered memories of childhood, and the only time I was happy – at my grandmother’s house.
She stood, by the van doors. ‘Senora, senorita?’ she enquired, with a toothless smile, her long gnarled fingers gesturing towards the chillies.
‘Granitas, please… er two, grazie,’ Dan tried, holding up two fingers. ‘Oh, and three bottles of water? Agua?’
She nodded and went back to the front of the van, where she bent down to a cool box and eventually came up with two plastic cups with straws and three bottles of water. While Dan paid, I took the opportunity to gaze at the chillies, wondering if I’d got the sea in the distance in my shot.