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people?’
    ‘Well, I don’t know, but there must be some reason they’re not staying.’
    ‘Yes, because it’s becoming well known that it’s full of old, fat, unstylish people. Oh, Abigail, I’m so disappointed.’ Anne-Marie felt as if she was about to crumble.
    ‘I understand. So, what are we to do?’ Abigail violently stubbed her cigarette out.
    ‘Well, I’ve already done it. I’ve run a competition.’ Anne-Marie cheered up as she told Abigail all about it. ‘And also, this is a miracle, but you’ll never guess what I’ve pulled off.’ Anne-Marie’s face filled with childlike excitement.
    ‘Well, don’t keep me in suspense, I can’t bear it,’ Abigail said, without a flicker of emotion.
    *
    ‘Darling, I’ve said it before, you’re a genius. How on earth did you swing it?’ Abigail looked genuinely interested after Anne-Marie finished telling her about Todd and Katie.
    ‘Oh, I have my ways,’ she replied mysteriously. ‘Anyway, I’d better get going. I’m sure you’d like to shower and change.’ Anne-Marie looked at Abigail dripping with sweat, and tried not to grimace. ‘I thought we’d have dinner at the house tonight. I’ll get someone to escort you up. I’ve decided to send Ed away—he can dine with the staff or with Lily—and we’ll be alone together to have a delicious gossip. Does eight sound OK?’
    ‘Yes, I’ll be ready and waiting.’
    *
    ‘That young man you sent to bring me up here—André?’ Abigail said as they dined on Anne-Marie’s terrace.
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘He’s very attractive.’
    ‘Oh, I know. All the staff are. I’ll take you on a tour tomorrow and you’ll see.’
    ‘Anne-Marie, if the staff are so beautiful, and the resort certainly is, can’t you base your book around that, and ignore the guests?’
    ‘No, impossible. You see, they’re everywhere and just as I imagine André walking out of the crystal-clear sea, his hair sparkling like a crown with droplets of water, his chest shimmering in the sun, as he makes his way slowly up the beach...this fat grey-haired woman in a gold lamé swimming costume makes an appearance and it’s all ruined.
    ‘Well, let’s hope that the competition winners and Todd and Katie solve the problem.’ Abigail’s voice was sharp and Anne-Marie was slightly puzzled.
    ‘Oh, I am sure that they will. I’m utterly convinced of it.’
    ‘Philip sends his love.’
    ‘It was such a shame he couldn’t come with you.’ Anne-Marie was glad that Abigail’s husband and business partner wasn’t there. She had always found him a bit creepy, not like dear Abigail.
    ‘Well, you know when you work together it’s hard to take holidays at the same time. I’m sure it’s the same with you and Ed. Anyway, Philip’s really looking forward to hearing about the resort from me and he can’t wait for your next book.’
    ‘Of course he can’t.’ Anne-Marie’s eyes glistened. ‘It’s going to be my best book ever.’
    ‘Sure it is. When you do think you’ll be writing it?’
    Anne-Marie looked at Abigail. Was that impatience in her voice or had she imagined it? No, she was just being paranoid with everything that was going on.
    ‘Oh, very, very soon, and there’ll be no stopping me, you’ll see.’
    *
    ‘When should we leave?’ Ed asked, as he and Lily lay in bed.
    ‘Where would we go?’
    ‘To England, or America if you prefer—I don’t mind as long as we’re together.’
    ‘That would be nice. What would we do?’
    ‘I’d find work as an accountant, and you’d get a job in publicity. Of course, we wouldn’t have as much money as I’d like...’
    ‘But we’d have each other.’ They giggled like love-sick teenagers. Lily made Ed feel so young.
    ‘We wouldn’t be that hard up.’
    ‘Can we leave her?’ Lily asked uncertainly.
    ‘Yes. Yes, we can.’ Ed scowled, and then smiled. Anne-Marie had given him a lot, materially, but he’d sacrificed everything for her. He had given up his career to