Nim stood up and said, I’m going to get more fruit, anybody want anything else? I shook my head and proceeded to drink my coffee. Sumi moved over and sat next to me. She looked well rested and gave me a hug.

You okay? I asked.

Uh huh… she said, and gestured to Fairman. He’s not so good though.

Hey, you guys should get a massage or something. Unclog your pores. Sit in a sauna…

No, the key is to keep on drinking, Del, hair of the dog, you know, Imran said. We got one more night, so let’s make the most of it, huh? Or—he looked at Nim—you could fuck my brains out…

Nim rolled her eyes and sat down. She picked up a piece of pineapple and inserted it in her mouth rather suggestively and Imran groaned.

Jesus, you guys. Get a room. Sumi threw her napkin at Imran.

Right, we’re off then. Come, Imran ordered. Woman!

Nim giggled and allowed Imran to lead her off. She turned and said. See y’all later.

What a bimbo, I said under my breath, but Fairman heard me.

Now now, be nice, Del.

I got up, grabbed my plate and headed to the breakfast bar. The coffee was making my stomach churn and I needed food. I heaped on scrambled eggs, bacon, baked beans and sautéed mushrooms. This was the kind of breakfast I liked but had no time to prepare any more. The kind that Omar and I had most weekends before Alba.

When I got back to the table, Sumi and Fairman had gone, leaving me alone to eat in peace and quiet. I looked around the dining room and saw an older Caucasian couple in a corner facing the sea, and a younger couple who had their legs entwined under the table. Probably on their honeymoon, I thought. The scrambled eggs were creamy and buttery and the bacon, crispy enough. I ate until the plate was almost empty and sighed in content. A quiet breakfast, a rare treat.

I looked at my watch, which showed 10.45am. I had about five hours before Alba’s tea party, so I sent Omar an SMS. The short stubby antenna had bite marks and looked like Alba had been trying to chew through the rubber exterior. Time to get a new phone, I thought.

A few seconds later, he replied. We r in the office. Come come. x

I drank the last of my coffee, wiped my mouth and walked out the dining room. I was assailed by piercing sunlight as soon as I walked out. Overhead, fluffy clouds gathered, the sea seemed calm and the pine trees swayed. It was the perfect day for a party. I walked through the lobby, nodded at the staff who said, Good morning, madam, and found my way into the hotel office where I found Omar and Alba sitting opposite a friendly-looking lady who said, Hi, I’m Fernie, madam.