I couldn’t resist saying something. ‘Joy, do you like her?’
‘Who, Barbara Taylor Bradford…？’
I knew she was being deliberately obtuse. ‘No, Ella.’
She finally put down the book and took off her reading glasses to consider the question for a few seconds, then turned to me and said quietly, ‘I don’t always approve of my sons’ choices, but one has to let them make their own lives. In the meantime, I just wait.’
‘You mean wait for the relationship to end?’ I asked.
‘Perhaps.’ Joy seemed overly vague.
‘Do you think this will last?’
‘Who knows?’ she said, putting on her glasses and returning to her book. I felt now that Joy, along with Dan, was beginning to see what I saw. Perhaps when everyone was together it was time to tell them all about the earrings? Once Joy knew this, she’d stop being discreet, and her real feelings would come flooding out. I never thought I’d say it, but I missed the indiscreet, gossipy Joy who said what she thought. That Joy would have banished Ella from her kingdom, but she was just being careful for Jamie. She didn’t want to be the one to criticise Ella and lose her son in the process – I understood, I would probably be the same if Alfie or Freddie brought a girl home that I didn’t like one day. I wouldn’t be able to hide my feelings as well as Joy could hide hers though.
‘Shall we start dinner soon?’ I asked, feeling like things were returning to normal in Ella’s absence.
Joy nodded, and for a moment I was happy, back in my place, the children playing quietly, Dan and Bob watching them – and no drama.
Joy and I changed out of our swimming things, freshened up and met back in the kitchen about forty-five minutes later.
‘Ella told everyone we’d be eating about nine, which is a little late for the children, not to mention the rest of us,’ I said.
‘Well, Ella isn’t here, is she?’ Joy said mischievously.
‘So, seven thirty to eight then?’ I suggested.
We both smiled, and I felt that finally I had the real Joy back. I was so relieved to have everything back to normal and so convinced we were singing from the same hymn book, I was dying to tell Joy about her earrings. Several times as we opened cupboards and took out the pots and pans, I almost started to tell her, but something stopped me. I had to reveal this at the right time with everyone there, which wouldn’t be easy. I knew Joy would believe me, but there was still the small matter of loyalty to her son. And Jamie didn’t want to hear anything negative about Ella, he adored her and resented anyone who said something against her – even if they were right. If Joy sided with me over the accusation, then she would know she might lose Jamie, or at the very least have a big family rift. I needed the earrings to be discovered in Ella’s jewellery box, I needed a witness and I then had to step back.
‘I wasn’t sure about that restaurant last night,’ I started.
‘Really?’ Joy said. ‘I liked it.’
‘My penne was cold,’ I said, ‘and it wasn’t that tasty. The kids hardly ate anything.’
‘The kids were too busy climbing over the back of the chairs to eat anything,’ Joy said, softening her dig with a laugh.
I bristled slightly, but didn’t react – she had a point, the kids were being slightly feral – but they were overtired after a day on the beach.
‘Thing is, Joy, I was quite prepared to stay behind at the villa with the children, it just wasn’t suitable for them. They didn’t want to be strapped to their seats in some fancy restaurant – the food was for adults and the table was booked too late for the little ones.’
‘Yes, I know, but it was kind of Ella to take us.’
‘It was, but because Ella doesn’t have kids,’ I continued, ‘she doesn’t seem to realise that a “chi chi” restaurant isn’t somewhere you take children on holiday… bit selfish of her, if you ask me.’ I’d barely finished my sentence when I became aware of someone standing in the doorway.
‘Oh, I’m sorry, Clare, I thought the way you were scarfing down that penne you enjoyed it. But it sounds like you had a horrible time last night, I wish you’d said,’ came Ella’s voice, dripping with sarcasm.
Shit! I looked up to see her smile laced with fake hurt. I didn’t know what to say.
‘No, I’m sorry, Ella, it’s my fault. We’d had a lovely day on the beach and we were all tired, I should have stayed here with the children. And, as I said, it wasn’t the sort of restaurant for children.’ I shrugged awkwardly. I didn’t like her, but I didn’t want to deliberately hurt her.