Installment 32

I slipped the pendant round my neck.

The woman looked expectantly at the others. The man looked quite pleased, but the girl just looked confused.
"But it's just a story, right? I mean, the pendant doesn't really exist, does it?"
"No, love. It's just a story. In the old days, folk stories were thought of as true, and many men spent their lives looking for the pendant, but they never found it. It's just a myth, sweetheart."
The girl smiled, "You should write a book, gran. Welsh folk stories as told by a Welsh grandmother."
She woman smiled and laughed slightly, "Ah, I don't think so, cerriad. I'm too old for that nonsense. I'm happy if you enjoy the stories. Maybe when you're older, you could write them for me."
She looked up, right at me and smiled. I half smiled back, wondering how she could see me. The man didn't seem to notice, but the girl turned round to follow her grandmother's gaze. Her face turned quizzical, and I retreated back to the dining room, pulling the pendant from my neck and stashing it back in my pocket.

The soup bowls had been replaced by plates of pasta with spinach and cheese. I sat down and silently spooned some into my mouth, chewing slowly. It was the typical concession to vegetarians by people who think it's not a meal if no part of it bled at some stage - bland, overcooked and, I suspected, overpriced. Janet picked at her food, moving it around her plate more than eating it.

"Not hungry either?" I asked.
She shrugged, "Not sure I ever have been."
"Oh... right... yeah."
I refilled both our wine glasses and knocked half of mine back in one go.
"Careful, love. You're getting through a lot of that."
"So?"
"We have to leave pretty early tomorrow. Don't want you too hungover."
"Guess not."
"Do you want dessert?"
"Not hugely. I think I might just go to bed."
"It's only 8."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"It's ok. I'm going to take the rest of this bottle through to the lounge. I'll be up in a bit."
I tried not to look alarmed. I didn't want her to run into the people who'd been in the lounge, but I couldn't explain why, so I said nothing.
She sensed something was wrong, "I can come up now if you want."
"No, it's ok. I'm... I'm ok."
"Alright then. See you in a bit."
I nodded and walked slowly through the lounge to reception. The seats where the family had previously sat were now vacant. I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Enjoy your wine."
Janet smiled back, "Thanks, love."

I walked up the stairs slowly, keeping an eye out for the family I had seen in the lounge, but there was no sign of them. I really wanted to hear the full story. I was certain it was about my pendant and I felt that if I knew more, perhaps I could protect myself from the Elena and the man.