“You’ve really caught the spirit of surfing, Caroline,” she said. “And that’s a super photograph. Oh, look: Sebastian still had his long hair there. I wonder why he cut it? I suspect that his father had something to do with that.”
Shirley returned wearing a purple and orange tankini.
“What are you suspecting?” she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
“Oh, we were just talking about Sebastian’s buzz-cut.”
“Oh, that,” said Shirley darkly. “He wouldn’t say anything to Ches, but we definitely got the impression it wasn’t voluntary. All the girls at school were crazy about Sebastian, according to Ches. I think if they weren’t such good friends he would have been a little jealous – well, more than a little. There was even something in the yearbook about Sebastian’s long hair, if you can imagine that.” She frowned. “And did you see that bruise he had on his cheek last week?”
She sucked her teeth.
“Hey, mom!”
Ches was walking towards us in his shorts and polo-shirt uniform. He grinned at his mother and gave her an affectionate kiss on the cheek.
“Chester, honey! Just in time: Donna and I are about to expire from thirst.”
“Hi Donna, Caroline,” he smiled, but whatever he saw behind us made his smile falter. “Hello, Mrs. Hunter.”
Sebastian’s mother weaved her way towards us: it was clear she’d spent some quality time at the bar.
“Donna,” she slurred. “And friends.” She looked at me, “the won-der-ful Caroline Wilson. I almost expected you to be walking across the water in the swimming pool, not lying next to it.”
“You’ve been drinking, Estelle,” said Donna sharply. “Perhaps you should rest on the veranda where it’s cooler.”
“Yes, let’s put the embarrassing drunk where she won’t bother anyone; let’s hide her out of the way,” sneered Estelle. “You sound just like Donald.”
Donna turned to Ches and spoke in a quiet voice. “Is Sebastian here? Can you get him, please.”
Ches nodded and walked away quickly.
Estelle picked up my copy of City Beat and tried to focus her eyes on the photograph. Suddenly she tossed the newspaper into the pool.
“You don’t fool me, Mrs. Wilson,” she snarled. “You were a stuck up bitch nine years ago and you haven’t changed, have you? You’ve just polished up your act. But you don’t fool me.”
“Estelle! Keep your voice down,” ordered Donna, as other people around the pool began to stare. I was frozen on my sun lounger, terrified of what Estelle might say next.
She scowled at me then turned her glazed eyes to Donna.
“You don’t tell me what to do, Donna. I don’t even know why you like her. She pretends to be so sweet and pure – but she isn’t. Flaunting herself everywhere, ingratiating herself. Well, she doesn’t fool me. She’s nothing but a…”
“Mom!” Sebastian’s voice was tight with anger as he walked towards us. “What are you doing?”
Ches stood behind him, one hand on his shoulder, seeming to restrain him.
“Mom, you’re embarrassing yourself,” he said coldly. “I’ll drive you home.”
Estelle whirled around and slapped him hard. I couldn’t help gasping as my hand flew to my mouth and I started to stand up.
Sebastian’s eyes were almost black with fury. Ches gripped his arm and tugged him backwards.
“Come on, buddy, walk away.”
A sudden silence descended, horrified eyes staring at Estelle.
Slowly she came to her senses and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she took in the faces turned in her direction to look at her. She straightened her purse over her shoulder and staggered off.
“What the hell was that about?” whispered Shirley.
Donna sighed. “I don’t know: but her drinking is getting worse. Donald will have to do something.”
Shirley scoffed at the idea. “Donald doesn’t give a shit about her: word is that he’s been seeing some young civilian nurse. Seeing to her, probably.”
Donna shook her head slowly. “God knows those two should have divorced years ago. It would have been better for Sebastian if they had. Poor boy; I hope he’s okay.”