Page 48 of Someone in the Water
‘Most things in life are beyond our control – you’ll find that out soon enough. But now I need to get Patrick into bed.’
I nod, take a step backwards.
‘Look after yourself, Frankie.’
Then she closes the door, and I’m left wondering why her words land on me like a heavy blanket of dread.
Frankie
31st July
‘I just think we should go for a drink,’ Izzy says, shrugging and looking towards the window. ‘Say goodbye to Archie properly.’
We’ve all gathered in Izzy’s and my bedroom. The water sports reopened today – apparently one day of mourning was enough – and we’re all exhausted after eight hours of smiling at guests, pretending everything is fine. Izzy is on her bed, and I’m on mine. Dom and Harriet are sprawled on the floor between us and Jack is leaning against the door, his fingers curled around the handle as though he might leg it at any moment.
‘I don’t know,’ Harriet says, biting her fingernails. ‘Is it wrong to have a few drinks when Archie’s body is cold on a mortuary slab?’
‘Harriet,’ Dom warns, dipping his head in Jack’s direction. ‘Easy on the imagery.’
‘Sorry,’ Harriet mumbles. ‘You know, maybe you’re right. I could do with a drink.’
‘What do you think, Jack?’ Dom asks with a kindness that makes my skin crawl. If he only knew what Jack had done, how undeserving of sympathy he is. But I can’t blame Dom. This is my fault for being too spineless, too scared of the possible fallout, to tell anyone what I know.
Jack knocks the back of his head against the wooden door, like he needs it to think. ‘Yeah, let’s get fucked.’
‘Uh, okay great,’ Dom stutters.
I thought Archie’s death might put our issues in perspective for Dom, and that the thaw he hinted at high up on that rock might continue. But things almost seem to be more tense. Except maybe this is me shrinking into myself. Too tired, too frazzled by losing Archie, and last night’s dream, to see clearly.
‘But shall we go to Henri’s?’ Dom continues as he pushes to standing. ‘I can’t face seeing hotel guests this evening.’
‘Now that is a very good point,’ Harriet says, uncrossing her legs and standing up. ‘But I need a shower first, so can we meet outside in half an hour?’
Thirty minutes later, I take one last look in the mirror – dark circles; sad, bloodshot eyes – and pull the room door closed behind us. Izzy looks stunning tonight – too dressed up for a makeshift wake really. Her curly blonde hair is hanging loose over her shoulders and she’s wearing a new dress – long sleeves and lacey, but super short with a steep neckline – and against her tanned legs, it looks incredible. I usually love the pale blue beach dress that I’m wearing with my Vans, but compared to Izzy, it looks plain and childish.
The others are already outside, and we walk down the beach in silence. Henri’s is a busy locals’ bar with live music and shabby decor. It serves beer, wine, spirits, and mixers if you’re lucky – if you ask for a cocktail, Henri will show you the door. But we’ve been down a few times after the hotel bar has shut for the evening, and as gossip seems to spread fast around here, I’m hoping Henri will know not to ask where Archie is.
‘Francesca?’
Shit. I stop, turn. Salvo is walking up the beach behind us, his hands clasped in front of his chest, like he’s praying. ‘We’re going to Henri’s,’ I blurt out. I want to keep walking, but everyone else slows to a stop.
Salvo nods, eyes the others. ‘Patrick told me that you helped get him home last night. I wanted to say thank you.’
‘Oh, yes.’ My shoulders relax slightly. ‘No problem.’ I turn to go, but Salvo reaches for my arm, takes two steps towards me.
‘Patrick said that it was very late,’ he whispers into my ear. ‘I wondered why you were on the beach in the middle of the night?’
Acid forms in my mouth.
‘Did you have another mazzeri dream, perhaps?’
‘Hey, old man, let her go.’ Izzy pushes Salvo’s hand off my forearm, then wraps her arm around my shoulders. ‘Come on,’ she says. There’s strength in her voice, but I can tell she’s shaking. ‘Are you okay?’ she asks quietly. ‘I hate that creepy old guy.’
I nod, but Izzy doesn’t relax her grip on me until we arrive at Henri’s.
Frankie
31st July
