Page 6 of One Bed

Reena’s steel-grey eyes were overshadowed by strong, bushy black-and-white eyebrows. Her snow-white hair was cut close to her head, mostly because she couldn’t be arsed to brush her hair every day. She wore her usual outfit of a polo shirt over jodhpurs and riding boots.

Reena smelt of hay, horse and summer. ‘Have you just come in from a ride?’ Bea asked.

‘I went to a neighbouring farm and exercised their nags for them. There’s no one to ride them and they are getting fat and lazy.’

Bea helped herself to a sip of Golly’s G&T, her eyes widening. There couldn’t be more than a splash of tonic in her glass. ‘Has the electrician arrived?’ she asked, darting another look at the Jeep.

Reena answered her. ‘It’s Sunday, Bea. He said he’d be here either Wednesday or Thursday.’

That wasn’t an issue because the lights only needed to be up by the next weekend. They had plenty of time. ‘OK, not a problem.’

Golly looked at Reena, who shook her head, seemingly unmoved by her beseeching expression. ‘No,youinvited them, I had nothing to do with it. If you want lights, you tell her.’

Invited who? Tell her what? ‘What have you done?’ Bea asked Golly, narrowing her eyes.

Golly’s eyes slithered away, a sure sign that she knew she was skating on thin ice. Then she attempted to look innocent, and Bea winced. Oh, this was going to be bad. ‘I’ve invited some people around for a cocktail party Tuesday night … you know, just the early arrivals. I would like the lights up before then.’

Bea looked at Reena, who lifted her hands in resignation. ‘Not my idea.’

Bea’d hoped for a few quiet nights to gather her energy, to soak in the calming atmosphere of the island, to pull herself towards herself. ‘How many people did you invite?’ she asked through gritted teeth.

Golly hummed, a sure sign she was about to lie. ‘I’m not quite sure… Ten? Twenty?’

Bea knew her well enough to know the number would be, at least, double that. ‘Be a dear and organise some more champagne and canapés, Bea-darling.’ Golly’s request was accompanied by a charming smile. ‘I want to have it on the esplanade, but it would be lovely to have the lights up in the courtyard.’

Sure. Now where did she leave her wand? She could argue, but nothing she said would change Golly’s mind. Bea bit the inside of her lip, thinking hard. What Golly called the esplanade was a long, open, level area a little way from the house, overlooking Oia and the caldera. A waist-high low concrete wall stopped guests from tumbling down the hill, and a vine-covered pergola stood over the outside bar, pizza oven and outdoor kitchen. The ‘esplanade’ had the best views of the caldera on the property. It was the perfect place for a cocktail party on a warm summer or still warm autumn evening.

Champagne was easy enough to source, but getting someone to provide canapés for forty would be tricky. Did Golly think she was a miracle worker? Honestly, she was impossible!

‘I need to speak to Cass,’ Bea said, pushing her hair behind her ears. She could walk to the villa and find her, but calling her was quicker. While she waited for Cass to answer, she poked two fingers at her eyes, and then pointed them at her godmother. Golly just grinned, unrepentant.

She darted a glance at the Jeep, her curiosity growing. Who was he and what was he doing here?

Cass answered and, because this wasn’t the first time they’d spoken today, didn’t bother with a greeting.

‘What does Golly want this time?’ she asked, in her always cheerful tone. Cass was a ‘can do’ person, and very little fazed her. Thank God, because Golly changed her mind often, and arranging her birthday/retirement weekend was like trying to wrestle a twelve-legged octopus. ‘A merry-go-round? A Mexican death ritual? The merry-go-roundmightbe a possibility, the death ritual difficult.’

Bea laughed. ‘Neither. She’s hosting a cocktail party and wants champagne and canapés on the esplanade at sunset.’

‘Tonight?’ Cass squeaked.

‘No, Tuesday night,’ Bea hastily assured her.

‘Oh, that’s doable,’ Cass replied, sounding relieved. ‘But I saw her an hour ago, why didn’t she ask me then?’

Bea relayed the question to Golly.

Golly shrugged. ‘I only started making calls about twenty minutes ago.’

Good God. ‘Number of guests, Bea?’ Cass asked, ridiculously calm.

‘No idea. She mentioned twenty, but it could be a lot more.’

Cass was silent for a minute. ‘Nadia can whip up a selection of simple canapés. I ordered tons of champagne on consignment, we can spare a few cases. There’s enough liquor to float several battleships. If Golly can keep it to under forty, it shouldn’t be a problem.’

Nadia was Cass’s wife, and together they could pull purple-spotted rabbits out of hats.

‘I’ll tell her. And have I told you how unbelievably amazing you are and that I am going to organise a fat bonus for you when we’re done?’

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