“I don’t know.” I’m torn. Would it just be easier if we apologised after all, even if we still think it was a bit of fun that ended up going too far?
We head for the destination of the final item, which seems to be in the main lodge itself, where Poppy is staying. As we walk back out of and across the rocks, the harshness of the sun hurts my eyes for a second. It’s amazing how dark and damp that cave was in comparison.
“Deadman’s Bay was a bit of a giveaway,” Chloe says as we walk down the beach. “Do you think she chose it deliberately?”
“She’s hardly going to make us dead men.”
Chloe laughs. “Relax, Esther. We need to enjoy this for what it is—a game. And if Poppy wants to play one, we’ll show her she messed with the wrong women.”
I think about Poppy now. She’s changed so much. Strong and sure of herself, words I never would have used to describe her in the past. After everything we put her through, I don’t think any of us have appreciated just how brave she is to see us all again, all by herself, in this isolated location. Of course she’s been odd; how could she not be?
“I’m tired of playing games,” I say, and for once I’m telling the truth.
Chloe notes the seriousness of my tone and raises an eyebrow. “What’s going on with you, anyway? You refused to tell me earlier.”
I’m not as good an actress as I thought. Not as good as Tanya, anyway. “Nothing really.”
“Well, that’s not true,” Chloe says, blunt as ever. “You’ve been acting odd since we got here. No, since before we got here. You barely talk to any of us anymore, and don’t say it’s because of work, because you’ve managed just fine without your phone today and yesterday.”
I can’t breathe properly. “It’s nothing.”
Chloe rounds on me, stopping me in my tracks. For once, her expression is concerned. “You know, you can talk to me about it. I won’t tell the others.”
I’m almost about to tell her. Something about getting it all off my chest seems so relieving. But then I see it, the hint of excitement behind her eyes, the idea that she might know something the others don’t.
She sees this as gossip, pure and simple.
I close up again. “Leave it, Chloe. We need to get moving and find this last thing.”
The contrast in temperature after being in the cave is starting to take its toll. Sweat sticks to my upper lip no matter how many times I wipe it away. Poppy is nowhere to be seen as we hurry across the lawn, but she’s decorated the place for tonight. More banners are up, balloons are littered everywhere, and the table is set up with drinks and canapes. The prize for the winners of the scavenger hunt, the bottle of gin, is in pride of place at the centre of the table. The CD player is also on, old nineties tunes adding some home comforts to the island.
The door to the lodge is already ajar, so we think we’ve been beat, but when we get inside the final item is still sitting on the kitchen table, untouched.
It’s huge. So big, in fact, a sinking feeling hits my stomach and I can hear my heart in my throat.
“Jesus, that looks like . . .” Chloe can’t finish.
“Get it over with.”
Tanya’s voice startles us both from behind. She and Annabel walk through the door and shut it behind them. All four of us are in the kitchen now. I realise that ahead, Poppy’s bedroom door is closed, and wonder if she’s in there right now, listening to us.
“Poppy is round by the cliff,” Annabel says, as if reading my mind. “We bumped into her on our way back.”
“What’s she doing out there?” Chloe asks, frowning.
“Does it matter? Look at this thing.” Tanya folds her arms. “What did you two get on your little scavenger hunt? We had a birthday party hat and red lipstick.”
Shit. So there was lipstick. Chloe widens her eyes at me.
“A Capri-Sun wrapper and a broken hand mirror.”
Annabel sighs. “I knew it. This is all about what we did to her.”
We all stare at the box in front of us.
“So this has to be—well.” I start undoing the bow, aware of my trembling hands. “I think we all know what it is.”
Tanya makes a groaning sound. “God, just get it over with.”
I open it up, and we have our fears confirmed.
It’s a canvas. There’s a painting on it, but it’s hard to see what exactly. It almost looks like the four of us—there are definitely four distinct figures with similar hair.
But it has been destroyed. Someone has thrown black paint over the top of it, and punched holes in the fabric.
I think I’m going to be sick.
“Dredging up the past is so unnecessary.” Annabel waves her hand. “She thinks she’s being clever here, but it’s just pathetic.”
She sounds confident enough, but there’s a shake to her voice that betrays her act. I cover the canvas with its wrapping again and we stand awkwardly, not sure what to do next.
“I guess we’ll go find her now,” I say.
Chloe shrugs. “We could just sack this all off and head to the beach. Grab some of the alcohol and food along the way and have our own party.”
“That’s a bit awkward.” Tanya rubs the back of her neck again and again, a stress response. “Maybe we should just talk about it. She wants to.”
“She wants to fuck with us,” Chloe says. “This isn’t how you start a conversation. It’s how you start a war.”
Typical Chloe, always heading for the nuclear option. She’s always been the most reckless of the four of us, never one to plan ahead. Back in school she was the one who’d do the most impulsive things to Poppy, like tripping her up in the corridor, offering to hand out work from the teacher and then making sure Poppy’s was dropped, or scrunched up, or lost. She didn’t have the brains, or the energy, for anything more thought-out. Even in her adulthood she still makes stupid decisions.
The others surprise me though. Tanya grins, as if she agrees, and even Annabel has perked up. I’m the only one who sees this as what it probably is—a callout, but nothing too dramatic. We’re just getting a taste of what we did to her, a reminder of our actions.
“Let’s calm down a bit,” I say. “It’s a game at the end of the day.”
“What’s that saying?” Annabel says. “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”
“Whatever happens, we’ll stick together,” Chloe says. “It’s four against one. As it’s always been.”
Annabel nods. “Right. We’re a team.”
Are we? Even standing together right now, we’re not quite united. Annabel is keeping secrets from Chloe and Tanya. Tanya is keeping secrets from Annabel and Chloe. I’m keeping secrets from them all. And I’m damn sure there are more secrets I’m not even aware of. We claim to be best friends, but I’m not sure that’s true anymore. If it ever was.
In reality, we all stick together because we know no one else would ever understand what we did in the past. And the trouble is, we’ve all become so convinced that what we did was alright that we’ve accepted an invitation from the very woman we did it to.
“Esther?” Chloe presses. “You’re with us, right?”
“Of course,” I say.
I might not be a good actress, but I am an accomplished liar. I wouldn’t trust these women with anything, and I don’t trust them to have my back if it all goes south.
“Oh, brilliant!”
Poppy’s warm voice makes us all jump. She’s standing in the doorway; none of us heard her come in.
“You’ve found all the items.” She claps her hands together. “Shall we quibble about who got here first? I think you’re all winners.”
“Poppy,” I say. “You know what these items mean. What are you playing at?”
She smiles, unperturbed. “All will be explained soon enough. Come on, it’s time to start the party. I want us all looking our best!”
“But, the painting . . .”
“I said you’re going to have to wait.” Poppy puts up a hand to stop me from saying anything else. “It’s been ten years, after all. You can wait a short while longer.”
Annabel chews her lip. “So this is all going to mean something?”
“Obviously.” Poppy looks at her as if she’s stupid. “I wouldn’t have gone to all that effort otherwise.”
“Why can’t you just tell us now?” Chloe says. “This is all becoming a bit uncomfortable. I thought we were here for a good time.” Her bravado from before has dampened somewhat. I don’t know what it is, but Poppy seems to have a strange effect on us all. It’s as if we’re in awe of her, despite everything. Like we can’t believe she’s standing in front of us telling us what to do, and because of that we have to obey.
“And we are! That’s why I want us to focus on partying tonight. We’re going to give my hen party the celebration it deserves. There’s alcohol of every variety for us to enjoy. Not to mention all the party food.”
“If we’re all winners, who decides what we’ll do tonight?” Tanya asks.
“I think I’ve already decided what we’re going to do tonight. And because I’m the bride, none of you can say no.”
“We’ve figured that out already,” Chloe mutters.