Lily located Brittany in a ward attached to the emergency department. She was sitting, pale and disconsolate, in a room where she was the only occupant. Her face was bruised and her wrist was in plaster and she had a smear of mud on her cheek.
Putting aside her own misery, Lily gave a murmur of sympathy. ‘Can I hug you?’
‘No, because I’m dangerous. I’m in a filthy mood. It’s my right hand, Lil! The hand I dig with, type with, write with, feed myself with, punch with— Ugh. I’m so mad with myself. And I’m mad with Spy.’
‘Why? What did he do?’
‘He made me laugh! I was laughing so hard I wasn’t looking where I was putting my feet. I tripped and fell down the damn hole, put my hand out to save myself and smashed my head on a pot we’d dug up earlier. It would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic.’
‘Why isn’t Spy here with you?’
‘He was. I sent him away.’ Brittany slumped. ‘I’m not good company and I couldn’t exactly send him to pack my underwear.’
‘What’s going to happen? Are they keeping you in?’
‘Yes, because I banged my head and they’re worried my brain might be damaged.’ Brittany looked so frustrated Lily almost felt like smiling.
‘Your brain seems fine to me, but I’m glad they’re treating you with care.’
‘I want to go home!’
‘To our cramped, airless apartment? Brittany, it will be horribly uncomfortable.’
‘I don’t mean home to the apartment. I mean home to Puffin Island. There is no point in being here now I can’t dig. If I’ve got to sit and brood somewhere, I’d rather do it at Castaway Cottage.’
‘I thought you said a friend was using the cottage.’
‘Emily is there, but there’s room for two. In fact it will be three, because—’ She broke off and shook her head dismissively, as if realising she’d said something she shouldn’t. ‘Long story. My friends and I lurch from one crisis to another and it looks as if it’s my turn. Can you do me a favour, Lil?’
‘Anything.’
‘Can you book me a flight to Boston? I’ll sort out the transfer from there, but if you could get me back home, that would be great. The doctor said I can fly tomorrow if I feel well enough. My credit card is back in the apartment.’ She lay back and closed her eyes, her cheeks pale against the polished oak of her hair.
‘Have they given you something for the pain?’
‘Yes, but it didn’t do much. I don’t suppose you have a bottle of tequila on your person? That would do it. Crap, I am so selfish—I haven’t even asked about you.’ She opened her eyes. ‘You look terrible. What happened? How was the wedding?’
‘It was great.’ She made a huge effort to be cheerful. ‘I had a wonderful time.’
Brittany’s eyes narrowed. ‘How wonderful?’
‘Blissful. Mind-blowing.’ She told herself that all the damage was internal. No one was going to guess that she was stumbling round with a haemorrhaging wound inside her.
‘I want details. Lots of them.’ Brittany’s eyes widened as she saw the necklace at Lily’s throat. ‘Wow. That’s—’
‘It’s one of Skylar’s, from her Mediterranean Sky collection.’
‘I know. I’m drooling with envy. He bought you that?’
‘Yes.’ She touched her fingers to the smooth stone, knowing she’d always remember the night he’d given it to her. ‘He had one of her pots in his villa—do you remember the large blue one? She called it Modern Minoan I think. I recognised it and when he found out I knew Skylar, he thought I might like this.’
‘So just like that he bought it for you? How the other half lives. That necklace you’re wearing cost—’
‘Don’t tell me,’ Lily said quickly, ‘or I’ll feel I have to give it back.’ She’d intended to, but it was all she had to remind her of her time with him.
‘Don’t you dare give it back. You’re supporting Sky. Her business is really taking off. It’s thrilling for her. In my opinion she needs to ditch the guy she’s dating because he can’t handle her success, but apart from that she has a glittering future. That is one serious gift you’re wearing, Lily. So when are you seeing him again?’
‘I’m not. This was rebound sex, remember?’ She said it in a light-hearted tone but Brittany’s smile turned to a scowl.