‘I doubt he is playing games, Sky,’ Beatrice said softly, gently brushing my heavy fringe away from my hot forehead. Her hands were cool and soothing.
‘I just don’t know what to do.’
‘Let’s tackle the immediate future,’ Beatrice said. ‘First a shower to wash off the travel dust and then a long siesta. Bushara is preparing an evening meal so tonight you will stay at the riad, tomorrow is time enough to explore.’
‘Sleep and I are rather fickle friends at the moment.’
‘You will sleep here, everyone sleeps here.’ She stood up and, leaning over, unexpectedly kissed the top of my head.
Beatrice smiled at the sight of Sonny stretched out on the ground face to face with the tortoise. They were in earnest conversation.
‘I see he has a new friend.’
‘He certainly has, I can’t prise him away.’ Gail laughed.
‘Is your room alright?’
‘Oh, Beatrice, it’s more than alright, it’s wonderful. As soon as Sonny has stopped talking to the tortoise we will go for a much-needed nap.’
‘Do you have any pets at home?’
‘I’ve managed to resist so far but I may have to surrender on my return. He was stroking an old goat outside, he loves your cat and now he’s obsessed with the tortoise.’
Beatrice laughed and bent down to the little lad. ‘Sonny, why don’t you ask Monsieur Tortoise where his two friends are?’
‘What friends?’ Sonny was instantly alert and looked around expectantly.
‘There are another two tortoises in the garden, maybe you will see them after your sleep.’
Sonny could not have been happier, his dark brown eyes sparkled, his smile was wide and again Beatrice couldn’t shake off the feeling that he reminded her of someone. Without stopping to think she turned to Gail. ‘Is his father Moroccan?’
Gail gasped and Beatrice watched the colour drain from her face. ‘Yes he is,’ she whispered. ‘Sonny, get up, it’s time to go.’
‘I’m so sorry, Gail, I did not mean to pry, I’ve clearly upset you.’ Beatrice was mortified. ‘Please forgive me.’
‘No not at all, it’s just that, um…’ Sonny was by her side. ‘It’s OK, really.’ Gail smiled a bit too brightly. ‘We’ll see you later, thanks for everything.’
What can of worms had she opened there, Beatrice wondered. This was turning into a very interesting group. Philippe was right, there certainly seemed to be intrigue and mystery at Riad Fontaine this week.
Nick emerged from the shadows in his swimming shorts.
‘I thought I might take a quick dip if that’s OK?’
‘Nick, of course it’s OK, that is what the pool is here for.’ She smiled. ‘Is everything alright with your room?’
‘It’s perfect. Thank you so much for fitting me in.’ He hesitated. ‘It was a sort of last-minute decision.’
‘So I gathered.’
He paused. ‘Do I take it then that Sky has told you of our circumstances?’
‘She has given me an idea,’ Beatrice replied carefully.
‘I can’t imagine what you must think of me.’
‘I think that you’re brave to have come here.’
‘Do you? I was thinking the opposite, I was thinking what a fool I was to have come charging in like the proverbial bull and that maybe I should go home tomorrow.’
‘Don’t make any rash decisions just now,’ Beatrice advised. ‘Don’t do anything you will regret.’
‘I already have.’
‘Do you really regret it?’ she asked, and then seeing the look of surprise on Nick’s face began to apologise. ‘That’s the second time today I’ve probed too far. I’m not sure what has come over me. Forgive me, you don’t have to answer, you are on holiday not in therapy.’
‘I think that being on holiday is probably more beneficial than being in therapy, especially with you at the helm.’ He smiled at her. ‘It’s OK, Beatrice, I’m happy to talk about it, frankly it’s a relief to get it out in the open. Back home no one knows, we can’t tell anyone of course before Sky is ready to talk.’
‘That can’t be easy.’
‘Half of me wants to yell from the rooftops that I’m in love while the other half wants to hide in the corner in shame. I’ve no idea what to do. If I stay with Miles I will lose Sky, but if I hold on to Sky then I’ll lose Miles, either way I’m buggered.’ He grinned ruefully. ‘No pun intended.’
‘Even if you gave up Miles you couldn’t go back to the way it was before. You cannot turn back time, the damage has been done.’
‘I feel like we’re all living in a terrible sort of limbo. I hate what I’ve done to Sky, if I could change things then I would, but it just crept up on us and we can’t pretend otherwise.’
‘You will move on eventually, you need Sky to forgive you and then you need to forgive yourselves.’
‘I know. That’s why I came, but we’ve committed such an unforgivable crime that I’m not sure she’s going to be able to.’
‘You haven’t murdered anyone, Nick,’ Beatrice observed drily. ‘You have merely fallen in love.’
‘It feels like I have murdered someone.’ He ran his hands through his copper curls.
‘Her world has been shattered. It will take time.’
Beatrice was used to people telling her things, she was a good listener and it came with the territory. Everyone was more relaxed on holiday, and they tended to let down their guard. But she made it a rule never to pry and never to offer unsolicited advice. She had broken both these rules with this group on their very first day and she didn’t really know why.
She watched as Nick executed a perfect dive. His body was lean and toned and he sliced through the water with ease.
‘Toy boy material?’ Philippe appeared by her side.
‘Oh most definitely.’ She grinned. ‘But for you rather than for me.’
Philippe raised his eyebrows. ‘So not a replacement for the ill husband then?’
‘No, quite the opposite in fact, he has replaced the wife.’ She laughed at the expression on his face. ‘All will be revealed over a glass of rosé.’
‘Well, I was going to do my physio exercises in the pool, but rosé sounds infinitely more appealing.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
The muezzin began at around six o’clock the following morning. I lay in my bed entranced by the mystical sound of the call to prayer. Wrapping a blanket around myself I padded on to the little terrace and leant over the balcony, thrilled by the intensity of the deep sounds resonating across the city.
I’d been obsessed with Marrakech ever since I was a child. My parents had honeymooned here and I’d loved hearing their tales of the souks, the spices, the market acrobats, the magicians and storytellers who gathered in the large square every night. It had sounded so exotic and fascinating, a million miles away from the Scottish border town where I grew up. I had imagined being here a thousand times, I’d always secretly dreamed about coming here on my honeymoon but when the time came I hadn’t been quick enough to tell Miles and he’d booked Paris. It hadn’t really mattered, I knew I’d come here one day but never in a million years had I thought it would be under these circumstances.
I shook my head and, wrapping my blanket tighter, desperately tried to wrench my mind away from the current nightmare, focusing instead on watching this magical city come to life as the sun rose above it.
For a short while I succeeded. I was lost in the sights and sounds around me. Tomorrow, I promised myself, I would paint it but, for today, I was content to sit, breathe in the air and absorb everything.
I was exhausted, mentally and physically. I’d spent every waking hour, of which there had been many, with my mind in absolute turmoil. How on earth had this nightmare happened? How could I not have had an inkling? What had I done wrong?
The suddenness with which my world had started spinning out of control left me reeling. I’d spent the last two weeks examining every part of our marriage, going ov
er every detail, wondering if I could have been a better wife, wracking my brains for any clues I might have missed, wondering if there was anything I could have done to prevent Miles from taking this step, but nothing came to mind.
I just couldn’t see a way out and I didn’t know which way to turn. I had no one to talk to, there was no way I wanted to spoil my sister’s trip and I certainly wasn’t yet ready to face my father and grandmother. So here I was in Marrakech, city of my dreams, trapped in this terrible three-way tangle from which there seemed to be no escape.
The tantalising aroma of fresh coffee permeated my thoughts. My mouth watered, I was a coffee addict. Glancing at my watch I saw that is was still very early, but someone else was obviously up and about. I’d have a quick shower and then follow my nose to the caffeine.
I stretched and took several deep breaths, letting the cool morning air fill my lungs. And slowly a small but steely determination took hold. To hell with it, I was going to try to enjoy my time here. I would try and keep the demons at bay for the next few days.
I was shattered and I needed to regroup. Nonna would say I was like a hot water bottle without the hot water. My grandmother was full of these odd phrases, inaccurately translated from Italian. They made us all roar with laughter but were always strangely appropriate.
As I went downstairs I heard the murmur of conversation and recognised Nick’s low laugh. I wasn’t surprised to hear him up. I knew he would be asking the way to the nearest food market, it was the first thing he would check out in any new city. Automatically I turned and was about to retrace my steps before I remembered my earlier resolve. Straightening my shoulders I resolutely marched forward. I had done nothing wrong, so why should I be the one skulking in my room? And besides which, I needed coffee. Much as I wanted to, I couldn’t spend the rest of the week avoiding Nick, that was clear, and once again I was filled with fury that he had followed me. I paused on the step to let the anger and panic abate. I would try and be dignified, I would be cool, polite and distant.
The four of them, Ibrahim, Bushara, Beatrice and Nick, were in the courtyard drinking coffee.
Beatrice greeted me with a warm smile. ‘Ah, we have another early bird.’
‘She’s probably been painting the sunrise,’ Nick said, smiling uncertainly at me.
‘Not painting, just observing,’ I answered Nick but looked at Beatrice.
‘Are you an artist, Sky?’ she enquired.
‘Well, I’m an illustrator, that’s what pays the bills.’ I smiled.
‘She’s a brilliant illustrator,’ Nick butted in. ‘But she’s also an exceptionally talented artist.’ I didn’t respond and his bright smile faded.
‘How interesting, I had a feeling you were creative. I would love to see some of your work.’ Beatrice seemed genuinely interested.
‘Oh, I’ve not really got anything with me, just my sketch pad.’
‘But she has a website, a new one which showcases all her work.’ Nick interrupted once again. ‘Very innovative and it’s, um, well it’s very good, you should take a look.’ I watched him struggle as he remembered that it had been Miles who designed my site. I remained silent. He paused and then said rather quietly, ‘Bushara has trusted me with her shopping list. I’m off to do battle with the market.’
‘Good for you,’ I replied sharply before turning away.
That came out wrong. I was cross with myself. That didn’t sound dignified and polite, it sounded petty and childish.
‘Ibrahim must be checking everything you buy.’ Bushara was handing several large baskets to Nick. ‘Make sure they are knowing he is with you otherwise these thieves, they will be robbing you.’
‘Don’t you worry, I’m Scottish, haggling is our national pastime.’ Nick grinned but then seeing her stern face added quickly, ‘But obviously Ibrahim has the last word.’ He hesitated for a moment before turning briefly to me. ‘Do you want me to take photos for you?’
I was taken by surprise and simply shrugged my shoulders. I saw the flash of pain in his eyes but he was gone before I could reply properly.
He always took photos for me of the various markets he visited, or indeed of anywhere he thought may be useful to my work. He knew the things I liked, he knew that the vibrant colours of the food market in Marrakech would appeal to me. It wouldn’t have hurt me to say yes, he was trying so desperately hard to reach me, but I felt incapable of responding. I was just hurting so much.
I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder and realised that Beatrice was speaking to me.
‘Sky, would you like a coffee or a tea?’
‘Very much indeed, I’d love a coffee, thank you.’
‘How do you take it?’
‘Black, no sugar and very strong.’
‘A woman after my own heart.’ Beatrice grinned at me and I tried to smile back.
‘They are both in a terrible mess,’ Beatrice said to Bushara in the kitchen a few moments later.
‘She is fighting very hard to be staying angry with him,’ Bushara replied.
‘She’s like that poor wounded bird in the garden last week, turning in circles, not knowing which way to go and who to trust.’
‘I am hoping she meets a better fate.’ Bushara grimaced.
‘Well, the cat is hardly likely to eat her,is she?’ Beatrice laughed.
CHAPTER NINE
‘Mummy, hurry up.’ Sonny was impatiently hopping up and down by the bedroom door.
‘I’m just looking for my glasses, darling.’
‘But you don’t need glasses to eat breakfast.’
Gail looked at him with mock surprise. ‘Of course I do, I need to see what I’m eating, otherwise how will I be able to tell the difference between cornflakes and camel tail?’
He threw himself onto the bed in a fit of giggles and Gail thought that she had rarely seen him so happy. He had snuck into her bed in the early hours, wrapping his arms around her, his little body like a hot water bottle.
‘Mummy, I’m just so excited,’ he had whispered in her ear. ‘Can we get up now?’
She had persuaded him to stay in bed a while longer but now he was itching to go downstairs.
‘It’s still very early, poppet,’ she said. ‘It’s not even eight o’clock, we may be too early for breakfast.’
‘But what if Tortoss and Cat are hungry?’ He stared up at her, his huge brown eyes full of concern. ‘Buttress said that I could feed them, they might be waiting,’
‘Beatrice,Sonny, not buttress,’ Gail giggled.
‘And we have to go exploring, you promised.’ He jumped off the bed and ran to the door.
‘OK, I’m coming.’ She threw her hands up in surrender. ‘But first help me find my glasses.’
She had decided that they would have a day exploring Marrakech, it was only fair on Sonny. He was so eager to see the city and surely another day wouldn’t make any difference.
Tomorrow, she promised herself, tomorrow she would go and seek him out. Her heart sank at the thought. Perhaps she could ask Sky to come with her but Gail knew she was being cowardly. This was something that she had to do alone, it wouldn’t be fair to drag someone else into it.
‘Here they are, Mummy.’ Sonny was triumphantly holding up her glasses. ‘They were in the bathroom.’ He was grinning from ear to ear, delighted to have helped her.
Gail gazed at him in horror. What was she going to do about Sonny? Why hadn’t she thought of that before? She certainly couldn’t take him with her. She could ask Sky to look after him but that seemed like a huge imposition.
She shivered in shock as the enormity of what she had done took hold of her once more. What had she done? She cursed herself at her stupidity in not thinking it through.
‘Mummy?’ He tugged at her hand. ‘Mummy, are you alright?’
She gazed down into his earnest face, the joy of a moment ago replaced by anxiety. She bent down and scooped him into her arms, kissing and tickling him. He screeched with laughter and struggled to free himself
.
I was delighted to see Gail come into the courtyard and waved her over. She smiled and made a beeline for me, while Sonny made a beeline towards the tortoise.
‘I’m so relieved to see someone else up.’ She sat down beside me. ‘I thought I was too early but Sonny has been champing at the bit for the last hour.’ We watched her son scampering around the pool desperately trying to locate the other two tortoises. ‘Beatrice promised that he could help feed the animals and it has been like Christmas morning today.’ She laughed. ‘Have you been up for long?’
‘Yes I was woken by the muezzin, weren’t you?’ I doubted it was possible for anyone to sleep through it.
‘Yes, but I was trying to keep a restless Sonny in bed.’
‘It’s a rather wonderful way to wake up, better than any alarm clock.’ I paused. ‘In fact, I wonder if they sell alarm clocks that sound like the muezzin.’
‘Did you sleep OK?’
‘Surprisingly, the best night’s sleep I’ve had since it all happened,’ I replied. ‘And you?’
‘Like a baby. The Moroccan wine must be stronger than I thought, but I am feeling rather jittery this morning.’
‘Are you going to try and find him today?’ I was very intrigued. I couldn’t wait to see how this story would pan out and I was in awe of Gail’s courage.
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