The Guests by Nikki Smith

Author:Nikki Smith [Smith, Nikki]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780241607855
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2024-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

43. 1 day left

‘Looking forward to reeling in something big later?’

Cara watches Marc pat Zach on the shoulder as they eat lunch in Murika. The outdoor tables overlooking the beach are covered in long white linen tablecloths that brush against the sand. Her husband turns around in his wicker chair, a forkful of champakali nimki halfway to his mouth.

‘Can’t wait,’ he replies.

‘Great.’ Marc points at Zach’s face. ‘You hit your head on something?’

Zach touches the still-swollen lump with his fingertips.

‘Bathroom door. Walked into it in the dark. Looks worse than it is.’

Marc raises his eyebrows. ‘Ouch. I’ll meet you on the jetty at four. No need to bring anything, I’ll make sure the staff have everything ready.’

Cara waits for Marc to walk away, takes a sip of her sparkling water, wishes it was something stronger as she leans back against the taupe cushions. She fiddles with a strand of coir that has unravelled on the edge of her coaster.

‘You’re still going, then?’ she asks.

Zach’s plate is almost empty and she’s barely touched her turbot. Zach seems to inhale his food, always desperate to move on to the next thing.

‘I promised Marc,’ he says.

‘I’ve hardly seen you today. You disappeared early for a run and you’ve been at the pool all morning. We aren’t exactly spending much time together.’

‘Sorry.’ He pushes his knife and fork together on his plate. Cara winces at the scraping sound. ‘I thought you wanted to be on your own today,’ he adds. ‘Catch up on some sleep.’

The mineral water fizzes uncomfortably on her tongue.

‘I’m not ill, Zach.’

He hesitates, changes the subject. ‘I’ll be back for dinner at seven thirty. And tomorrow we’ve got our private-island picnic so we’ll get to spend the whole day together. I asked Marc to sort us out a table at the teppanyaki place for dinner tonight. Will Alexa want to come?’

Cara shrugs. ‘I don’t know. I’ll ask her when I see her. She’s been out all morning, but I told her not to go snorkelling unless she had someone with her. Didn’t you see her when you were at the pool?’

Zach shakes his head. Cara takes another mouthful and then signals to the waiter that she’s finished, despite leaving half of her lunch untouched. The thought of having to ask Zach for money has killed her appetite.

‘She’s probably with Skye.’ Zach blots a couple of drops of sesame oil off the tablecloth with his napkin. ‘I’m glad they’ve been spending time together. I’m hoping some of Skye’s ambition and work ethic rubs off on her.’

Cara inwardly raises her eyebrows. They’re supposed to be here to relax. Not for Alexa to plan her future career. Sometimes she wonders how she and Zach have stayed married for so long when they no longer seem to want the same things. At least he hasn’t mentioned what happened last night. She feels terrible, but Zach’s way of dealing with anything difficult has always been to sweep it under the carpet and pretend it never happened.

She swallows.

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