Page 10 of After the Accident
Liz:Did you already ask Dan that question? I agree with whatever he told you.
Emma:It was almost as if they hadn’t heard me. Then Daniel looked sideways to Liz and pushed himself up so that he was sitting properly. He said he was sorry for the argument we had the night before and that he hadn’t meant anything he said.
Daniel:That girl should have been the one apologising, but I wanted to be the bigger man. I didn’t want her bringing me down to her level and spoiling Liz’s holiday.
Emma:It was obvious he didn’t mean a word of it. He didn’t take off his sunglasses and I doubted he could even remember what he’d said to me the night before, let alone when he’d toasted me with that glass. I remember his exact words at the end. He coughed and then said: ‘When I said “Have a drink”, I didn’t mean…’ before he tailed off.
He never finished the sentence, so I did it for him. I told him: ‘I know exactly what you meant.’
He lifted his sunglasses and looked at me properly and there was this sort of surprise there. It’s obvious that we don’t like each other, but I really think he believed this non-apology would do the trick. That you can say and do whatever you like and then wave it away afterwards. He was shocked that I wasn’t accepting it.
Julius:It’s not like Emma and I are best mates – but even I know that wasn’t an apology.
Daniel:I had nothing to say sorry for. I only did it for Liz. I’m still waiting formyapology. Look at what I’ve done with my life and what she’s done with hers and tell me who you believe.
Emma:I didn’t want to be there any longer and knew we’d end up having another argument if I didn’t leave. I noticed that Claire and Victor were set up on the other side of the pool, so I left Julius with the girls and went around to them.
Daniel:She stomped off. Don’t know what her problem was.
Emma:Claire and Victor were on sunbeds right next to each other – but they were angling in opposite directions. They were like two pieces from different puzzles.
I told them what happened to Dad the night before and got more of a normal reaction from them. Claire said something like ‘Oh my goodness’, while Vic said that Dad was a chuffing good bloke and a right, jeffing inspiration to him.
Claire:I had to tell Vic to mind his language because there were kids right in front of us. He was always oblivious to things like that.
Emma:Claire immediately asked if there was anything she could do. I told her she could probably talk to Julius because he might need a bit of help with the girls if we all had to visit the hospital. She said that wouldn’t be a problem.
I kind of wished Vic wasn’t there because I think Claire and I might have had a proper conversation. From the meal the night before, I’d seen that she was a lot freer without him. Whenever they were together, it was like she was guarding herself. I thought about sitting down by her anyway – but I suppose if I’d done that, I wouldn’t have noticed what happened next.
Daniel:The pool thing? Are you joking?
Emma:I was on my way back to the cottage, but I had to pass Daniel and Liz on the way. Julius had disappeared by this point. There was this guy walking around the pool wearing a suit – and it was obvious he wasn’t a tourist. He said something about a ‘best deal’ and then passed me a card, like people sometimes do when you’re outside a supermarket, or wherever. It’s usually a coupon, or some sort of advert. This was for a car rental place a few streets away from the hotel. I was probably going to bin it – but I didn’t want to do it in front of him, so I ended up thanking him and holding onto it.
I didn’t know his name at the time, although I learned later it was Barak. He carried on for a few steps and then stopped in front of Daniel. He held his hands wide and goes: ‘Good to see you again, Mr Dorsey.’
Daniel:It was all a misunderstanding. That’s what happens when people can’t speak proper English.
Emma:Barak’s English was really good, but he definitely had an accent. That didn’t stop me hearing what he said.
Daniel isn’t one of those men who can hide his feelings. If he’s angry, his chest starts heaving and his face goes red. That’s exactly what happened when he looked back to Barak and replied: ‘I think you’re mistaken. We’ve never met. I’ve never been to this island.’ It was all through gritted teeth.
Daniel:I’d never met that man before in my life and I’d certainly never visited Galanikos before that trip.
Emma:Barak looked so confused, as if he was a puppy whose owner had left him outside a shop. This mix of hurt and bemusement.
Daniel snatched away a card and then Barak moved onto the other side of the pool. I watched him as he went and he kept looking back towards Daniel, wondering what had just happened.
Daniel:That girl’s deluded if she told you that.
Emma:I was wondering what had just happened – then Daniel leapt up and pulled a cigar from his back pocket. He didn’t say anything, just marched away towards the smoking area.
Liz:It was all a big misunderstanding. I think I’d know if my husband had gone on holiday.
Emma:Misunderstanding, my arse.
Chapter Five
THE SINGLE TRAFFIC CONE
