Page 47 of The Island of Hopes and Dreams

While the dressing-up accessories were being cleared away to make room for wine and nibbles, Polly caught hold of Lola and whisked her inside to the library-come-snug where Rhys had slept the night before. It was a cosy, book-lined space that Lola coveted for herself. One day when she had a spare room that could fit more than just a bed and wardrobe in, she’d create a haven like this.

They sat together on the sofa, their legs tucked beneath them. Lola’s fingers brushed the smooth velvet, her thoughts turning to Rhys lying in this spot the night before.

‘Deni and Sarah have caught me up on alotof stuff this evening.’ Polly looked at her knowingly, her pale, freckled cheeks flushed, a glass of wine clasped in her hand. ‘Sexy Welsh teachers and psycho ex-boyfriends. You couldn’t make it up if you tried, not to mention a full-out war between the in-laws-to-be and a not-so-romantic night away in an Airbnb.’

Lola shrugged. ‘Yeah, it’s been a lot.’

‘And you don’t have to talk about any of it. I get why you kept stuff about Jarek to yourself, even if I also know how unhealthy that likely was.’ She flashed her a no-nonsense motherly look, one Lola knew she’d perfected on her children. ‘I’m not sure we helped with things though, pushing you to hook up with various blokes, teasing you about that incident with Dax. If we’d known – ifI’dknown – we would have gone easy on you. I understand now why you weren’t ready for another relationship, even if we only meant it as a bit of fun.’ She cleared her throat. ‘Obviously I’ve only just met him, but I am surprised about you and Rhys from the bits and pieces Deni and Sarah have said. Mirabel seemed surprised as well?—’

‘It’s all been a lie, Polly.’ Lola loosed a long breath and ran her fingers down the back of the velvet sofa, wondering if it had taken Rhys as long to fall asleep last night as it had for her. ‘At least it started that way, now it feels messy and confusing.’

‘What do you mean?’

For the second time that day, Lola found herself spilling secrets, this time about the love pact she’d made with Rhys.

Polly took her hand and studied her. ‘So you’re telling me you and Rhys were pretending to be together to get Deni and everyone off your back about setting you up with some hot Italian guy, but you’ve actually fallen for him for real?’

‘Fallen is too strong a word.’ Lola pursed her lips and met Polly’s knowing gaze. ‘But, yes, something like that.’

Polly grinned. ‘I think I need to get to know this Rhys properly.’

They talked a little more and by the time they returned to the terrace, the table had been laid with extra bottles of wine and an array of fresh seafood. Any remaining animosity between the matriarchs had been washed away with wine and laughter, while Mirabel glowed, finally looking blissfully happy and at ease on the night before her wedding. The whole evening was joyful and lively, occasionally verging on raucous, with Deni and Sarah leading the conversation with great hilarity as wine was poured and grilled octopus and juicy prawns were consumed.

With her jaw aching from laughing so much, Lola nipped inside to freshen up and down a glass of water. The last thing she wanted to be was hungover for her best friend’s wedding, while Mirabel had stayed off the wine completely. Her married life with Fabs was in touching distance. Lola was happy for her, she really was, but her happiness was tempered with sadness.

As Lola went the long way round to get back to the terrace, she considered if it was the time of year that was making her sad. In the moonlit garden, there was a freshness in the air that signalled the end of summer.

Bathed in shadows, she stood on the edge of the terrace and watched the women laughing together. It was only late September, but the terrace was lit up like a Christmas tree. Lights adorned the vine-covered pergola, and storm lanterns cast amber, purple and cerise light over the paving. The team of manicurists that had been earlier had given everyone gel nails in a colour to complement their wedding outfits. While Mirabel had opted for a classy French manicure, Lola’s own nails were rose gold. Mirabel’s only request for the evening had been for a colourful dress code, so everyone was adorned in dresses the colour of summer: bold prints and bright patterns. Lola’s own maxi-dress was a vibrant plum and white colour block one. Only Deni had opted for trousers, but she’d swapped her blouse for a hot-pink animal-print top. It suited her, as did the joy she exuded, her cheeks flushing as she laughed with Sarah and Polly. Lola was certain her husband was in for a treat when they eventually returned to the villa.

Lola tore her eyes away and turned towards the sea; the endless black made her shiver. The moonlight was bright enough to make out the jetty, the slosh of water against the wood foaming silver. She felt like escaping there again, but for a different reason this time; although what would be the point without Rhys to talk to? She couldn’t stop thinking about him, but there’d been little opportunity to spend time with him at the villa earlier. She could have made an effort to find him, yet he hadn’t sought her out either. Did he regret what had happened last night? Did he believe them doing more than kissing had been a mistake or, like her, was he hoping that yet more could happen?

It had been good to confide in Polly, the sensible friend who truly listened – more than Deni and Sarah ever did. Lola loved them all, but it had always been easier to talk to Polly, and considering she didn’t want to talk to Mirabel about anything that had happened since they’d been on Sardinia, Polly being here was a huge relief. And yet she felt lost without Rhys’s steadying presence.

Since Jarek, all she’d desired was to be on her own, to not rely on anyone but herself, yet Rhys made her feel wanted and safe, desired and loved. She wouldn’t let Jarek get his claws into Rhys; she wouldn’t allow him to ruin any part of her life, not any more.

Lola retreated further into the garden, past a border carpeted with fragrant yellow flowers and dotted with olive trees up-lit by solar lights. She skirted the neat lawn and headed towards the shadowed seating area next to the gate that led to the sea; it was as if there was an invisible pull towards the jetty. But she halted, not wanting to leave the safety of the garden and her friends, while knowing that sitting on the dock without Rhys would just make her heart ache all the more.

She was about to return to the colour and love radiating from the terrace when footsteps padded up behind her.

‘It’s quite a view,’ a voice with a touch of a Mancunian accent said softly.

Lola turned and met Zoe’s considered gaze. Rhys’s ex-girlfriend was the last person she thought would seek her out, particularly when Lola had purposefully avoided Zoe, even while her own friends had tried to include her this evening.

‘It certainly is,’ Lola replied. She didn’t quite know what to say to Zoe.

Zoe cleared her throat. ‘I overheard Sarah and Deni talking, caught some bits about your ex.’

Lola silently cursed Sarah’s big mouth.

‘You doing okay?’ Zoe asked.

‘Do you really care?’

Zoe shuffled awkwardly and turned her gaze to the dark expanse of rippling sea. ‘I care that my friend is getting married tomorrow and nothing mucks that up.’

‘I care about that too, which is why, until tonight, I had kept things to myself.’

‘Does Rhys know about him?’

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