A Handful of Pebbles by Sara Alexi Page A

visits have been so brief and he has so many friends to catch up with on the island that she sees little of him even when he is home. It was the same when they went to visit him in London to meet Helena for the first time, snatching pockets of time in between clients he had to see. But then , what he is doing is so new and cutting edge, apparently. He needs to keep on top of things. Sarah hardly understands his work anyway. He explained it to her of course—something like ‘selling media space for shares in new companies that are cash poor.’ But it didn’t explain exactly what he does, how he finds these companies, what sort of media space, and how he knows about that. He has outgrown her by miles and lives in a world she can only look into from the outside. Well, good for him. At least he knows what he is doing with his life and has a passion for it.
    Damianos, the man Stella tapped on the shoulder, nods as Sarah makes her return journey, as does Mitsos. The man serving has a halo of frizzy greying hair , and he also grins broadly at her and nods in recognition.
    Her tread is lighter as she leaves the square. She takes the clip from her hair and lets it swing.
    Sarah slows to admire the flowers in the garden up the lane that leads to Michelle’s. The lady who was tending the garden is no longer there, but there is a smell of herbs from the house. Something is cooking.
    Pushing her own gate open , Sarah swings the bags as she hops onto the porch. A Spanish omelette with salad and fresh bread drizzled with olive oil and oregano, perfect.
    ‘ Oh my God, where have you been?’ Laurence strides around the end of the house, frowning.
    ‘ To get eggs.’ Her smiles fades.
    ‘ Ah, there you are. We were so worried.’ Neville comes out of the house. Sarah shifts her weight towards Laurence.
    ‘ I was only five minutes.’
    ‘ But we didn’t know where you were,’ Laurence accuses. She shifts back towards Neville.
    ‘ I’m fine. I’d better start or it will never be cooked.’ She manoeuvres around Neville to find Liz in the kitchen pouring a large drink.
    ‘ I swear your leash gets tighter every time I see you.’
    ‘ Liz!’ she whispers in warning and takes the glass offered.
    ‘ Can I make a toast, then? To longer leashes and loving husbands.’ She raises her glass, finishes her drink, and pours herself a fresh one. ‘Come on, we can cook together.’ Liz’s words slur ever so slightly.
    ‘ I saw Helena in the village. I am going up to her house tomorrow to meet everyone.’
    ‘ Oh that will be fun.’ The emphasis lands on the word will .
    ‘ No, I think it will be fine.’ But now Sarah is home, it doesn’t feel as fine as it did when she was out. Trying to convince herself, she adds, ‘She seemed more mellow somehow, as if the village has relaxed her.’
    ‘ You said yesterday she was as chatty as ever, so it can’t be the village because didn’t you say she had been a week here already?’
    ‘ Yes, I did, so I suppose not.’
    ‘ Well I am going to discover a beach tomorrow, so if you can get away, call me.’
    ‘ On your own?’
    ‘ Well I doubt Neville will want to come. Can you see him out of his suit, in swimming trunks, doing nothing on a beach? No, he has some plans to go and see some ancient pile of stones and a museum.’
    ‘ With Laurence?’
    ‘ No idea.’

Chapter 9

    Sarah arrives hot from the walk. There was no persuading Laurence to come with her.
    ‘Laurence, we cannot meet them for the first time at the wedding, and besides, they have invited us to their house. Not to go would just be plain rude,’ Sarah argued.
    ‘Finn is marrying Helena, and whether the rest of us get on or not is immaterial and I, for one, have no desire to spend my time pretending it is any other way.’
    ‘ But you socialise all the time with work.’ Using his work as a levy was risky; he might turn on her.
    ‘ Exactly—work.’ Laurence replied calmly.
    ‘ Then for Finn’s sake come.’
    ‘