Page 71 of The Wife
‘Why should I mind?’ She takes a sip of tea.
‘What about the others? Won’t they be expecting me to show my face? What are they going to do today?’
‘Let me see…’ She counts off the others on her fingers. ‘Malcolm’s playing snooker in the bar with another of the guests; Madeline’s like you – in her room, a little worse for wear; I sent Nick and Toby for a walk. And you said your dad’s gone for a walk too.’
‘Yes.’
‘Well, there you go! I’m going to find a quiet spot by the fire in one of the lounges and settle down with my novel.’ She reaches into her bag and takes out a small enamel pot. ‘Now, have a couple of these headache tabs and climb into bed. We can meet later when you’re feeling better.’
I take the tablets from my mother-in-law and wash them down with the rest of my tea. Celia draws the curtains, but I find I’m too distracted to even take off my clothes and get into my pyjamas. I had hoped that talking to my mother-in-law would have helped to set my mind at rest. But as I lie on top of the covers, I can’t help scratching at my hazy memories, trying to sharpen them into something clearer. I remember seeing my sister’s lifeless body. I remember a smashed vase, water everywhere, winter roses. And Dina shouting something.What was she shouting?
After closing the curtains, Celia walks away across the darkened room. ‘Get some sleep,’ she says softly, opening the door. A shaft of light from the corridor illuminates her, and washes into the room, casting strange shadows.
I’m too enmeshed in my thoughts to say a proper goodbye. Instead, I mumble something vague and exhale with relief as Celia closes the door behind her, plunging the room into darkness once more and leaving me alone. For a moment, I wonder what the hell I’m still doing here. In this room. In this hotel. Where it happened. Where I…
I sit bolt upright, my eyes wide, my body frozen as an avalanche of memories cascades into my brain like a pack of playing cards being dealt too fast. My whole body shudders as though I have the flu, my skin going alternately hot and then ice cold.
I can remember.
I can remembereverything.
Twenty-Nine
THE DAY OF THE WEDDING
I turn one way and then the other, gazing at my reflection in the full-length mirror. It doesn’t even look like me. My hair normally hangs in a dark curtain down my back. Today it’s been softly curled and held back off my face by the pearl comb and veil which my mother wore at her wedding. My ivory lace dress is fitted, flaring out slightly at the hem, its tiny seed pearls catching the winter light that streams through the huge sash windows. I’ll wait until Celia comes back before attempting to attach the billowing tulle train. There’s still over an hour to go before the ceremony starts and I don’t want to be tripping over it.
The door opens with a click. ‘Wow, Zoe, look at you!’
I turn at the sound of a familiar voice, not daring to believe she actually made it. ‘Dina!’ Standing before me is my sister, windswept and red-cheeked. Her hair is longer than I’ve ever seen it before, cascading over her shoulders – a rich brown mane with reddish highlights – either dyed, or maybe lightened by years of sunshine. ‘You came! I thought you were in Thailand. You said you couldn’t get away… It’s been so long I hardly recognise you!’
The door closes behind her and she stares at me, her eyes glittering, her mouth slightly open. I shouldn’t be this happy to see her – not after the last conversation we had. But the fact that she’s here must mean she wants to patch things up.
‘I know we left things on a weird note, but I’m so glad you changed your mind. It just didn’t feel right, getting married without my little sister here.’ I find that I really mean it. Despite what’s gone on between us, I’m desperate to move on and forgive the past. I take a step towards her to give her a hug, but my sister recoils, stopping me in my tracks.
‘Save it, Zoe,’ she sneers. ‘I know you don’t want me here any more than I want to be here.’ Her words hit me in the gut. She’s not here to make amends after all.
I shake my head. ‘Why are you being like this, Dee? Is it because of the money?’ If she still has a problem with me, why did she have to choose today of all days to come back into my life? Maybe she planned it on purpose to ruin my big day. Well, she’s succeeding… unless I can shrug her off and not rise to the bait. ‘How did you even get into my room?’
‘Told them I was your sister. They gave me a key.’
‘Well they shouldn’t have. You could have been lying for all they know.’
‘It was Mandy on reception. You know, with the big boobs and glasses. I was in her year at school.’
‘She still shouldn’t have given you the—’
‘Are we really going to stand here talking about what Mandy should or shouldn’t have done?’ There’s a slight drawl to her voice which I first take as heavy sarcasm, but she might be slurring her words.
‘Have you been drinking?’
She snorts out a laugh. ‘You could say that.’
‘Look, I realise we’ve got lots to discuss, but as you can see it’s my wedding day. Surely this can wait for another time. Why don’t we sit down, have a quick catch-up?’ I gesture to the seating area. ‘We haven’t seen one another for almost ten years. Not since you were sixteen. The least we could do is—’
‘I’m not here to catch up,’ she snaps. ‘I’m not even here to see you.’
‘Okay. Well, Dad’s downstairs in the bar getting a coffee with Cassie and her family. We can surprise him.’
