Growing up with two moms, it’s ingrained in me not to assume – like she did.
‘My husband,’ she says, breaking into a huge grin. ‘It’s our thirtieth-fifth wedding anniversary.’
‘Oh, wow, congratulations.’
‘Aww, thank you, honey. Capri was number one on my bucket list, and Marcus surprised me with this trip only last week. And we were so lucky with the timing – a day later and we wouldn’t have made it before everything shut down.’
‘We were lucky too,’ I agree.
‘Oops, forgive me – where are my manners?’ she asks, holding out her hand. ‘I’m Cherie.’
‘I’m Delaney,’ I reply, shaking it.
‘Oh, what a pretty name.’
‘Thanks – it’s a family name,’ I say, not wanting to explain that it was Mama’s last name before she took Mom’s. They’re legally married now – I was the maid of honour – but back in the 90s, when Mama was pregnant with me, they did the official name-change thing at the courthouse.
‘Delaney,’ she says with a tip of her head – and it’s only now that I detect she’s a little tipsy too, ‘would you and your husband care to join us for an after-dinner drink? We can raise a glass to Capri.’
‘He’s getting the cheque, but I’ll ask him. Just need to listen to my messages first,’ I say, holding up my phone.
‘Okay, honey,’ she says with a wink. ‘See you out there.’
She leaves, and I decide Iwouldlike to have a celebratory drink with Cherie and Marcus (if Nick does too), but first I want to hear what Nicholas has to say. I tapplay.
‘Hiya, it’s me. I’ve been thinking… How about when flights resume, you come visit me in London? I figure you won’t have alotof time – you’ll have to jet off to somewhere exotic a day or two later, like always – but Idomiss you and it would be nice to see you. All right, let me know. Bye for n— Oh, sorry – meant to say that the bride-to-be… turns out she’s areallynice girl. We chatted earlier and she asked me to join her and her family for dinner. So don’t worry about me on my last night in Iceland. I’m not a total Nigel No-Mates. All right, bye!’
I catch sight of myself in the mirror and I look like Jamie Lee Curtis inHalloweenwhen Michael Myers is on approach, butcher’s knife poised to kill.
What the actual fuck?
The low-level anger I’ve been lugging around for months ratchets up a thousand notches and now I’m super pissed. Why always his turf and never mine? Why isn’t he offering to fly to LA? And what did he mean byI do miss you? – like it’s a surprise to him. Andniceto see me?Nice?What the hell’s that about?
I stare so intently at my reflection, I could summon a demon from the other side of the mirror. Great, now I’m mixing my horror-movie metaphors.
And why’s he getting chummy with Pippa? Or more to the point, why does that bother me? Especially when I’m fantasising about Nick throwing me over his shoulder, taking me to the hotel, and having his way with me. That’swayworse than Nicholas having dinner with Pippa and her family.
‘Get your shit together, woman,’ I tell myself. ‘Geez!’
Then I go back out to the restaurant to find Nick. We’re celebrating the thirty-fifth wedding anniversary of Marcus and Cherie from frigging Georgia. Or one of the Carolinas –whatever!
18
NICK
‘So, how did you two love birds meet?’
When Delaney returned, she told me there was a change of plans and now we’re having drinks with a lovely African American couple from South Carolina.
Apparently, Cherie assumed Delaney and I were married and Delaney didn’t correct her. I haven’t bothered correcting her either, but now one of us will have to lie about our meet-cute.
‘Babe, why don’t you tell them,’ says Delaney with a smile and a head tilt.Note to self: give her a bollocking later.
‘Well…’ I begin, hoping like hell we don’tactuallybefriend this couple beyond tonight, leading to a lifetime of lies.
‘Oh, he’s always so modest,’ Delaney cuts in. ‘Herescuedme – right here on Capri, in fact. We were both travelling solo and I noticed him on the hydrofoil on the way over. He was practically turning green – the poor guy – so I talked to him… you know, to distract him from the seasickness. So we get to the marina, and I’ve got thishugesuitcase – I always bring a big one, so I can take home lots of souvenirs. Anyway, I’m getting off the boat and the damned thing gets all caught up and I give it a good yank and I’m all’ – she wildly waves her arms around – ‘and a second – and I meanonesecond – before I’m about to fall into the water, my suitcase landing on top of me, this guy’ – she hooks her thumb at me – ‘grabs my arm with one hand and my suitcase with the other. And suddenly – I mean, I havenoidea what’s even happening – I’m, like… face to chest with this big muscly guy and I look up and…’ She sighs, then looks at me adoringly. ‘You saved me, babe.’ She leans across to rest her hand on my forearm, really selling it.
‘Oh, that issoromantic,’ says Cherie.