‘The company probably helps, right?’
The pair turned to look over to the group of bodies making their way towards them down the beach: a collection of people Olivia had never anticipated seeing all together, let alone halfway across the world in India. The trip had taken so much planning and countless hours of organization that at times Olivia was tempted to pack it all in and ship everyoneoff to Scarborough for the week. The logistics alone were a nightmare, and on top of that, trying to take time off work when she’d just started her own business was insane. But standing here, she knew it was worth every second.
‘Yeah, it’s been good for us to get away. I mean, don’t get me wrong’ – she dropped her voice – ‘there have been some challenges.’
‘Going on holiday with family is never easy.’
‘No, and I’m not sure my mum knows what to make of Tracey and her parenting style.’
‘Going out with your daughters until 4 a.m. drinking fishbowls isn’t what you and your mum like to do together?’
Olivia burst out laughing; the memory of seeing Tracey and her girls at breakfast that morning, heads hung low, eyes red-raw from lack of sleep, was something she wouldn’t forget in a while.
‘No, strangely not.’
‘And how are you doing?’ Cece nudged her gently, her tanned, inked skin so soft to the touch.
‘I’m OK.’ Olivia watched as the motley crew drew closer.
Her mum and dad arm in arm, glimmers of happiness finally breaking through their walls of grief. Kate chatting animatedly to Tracey and her daughters, who appeared to have made a miraculous recovery from their earlier hangovers. And then there was Kyle and Helen, one either side, supporting Jacob as he limped gingerly towards them.
Unfortunately, it hadn’t just been one operation that Jacob had had to endure. They were now on number four, each one taking a little more out of him and making the recovery that much more challenging. Yet after months of painstaking rehab and physical therapy, there was one thing theyhadn’t managed to take from him. One thing that Olivia knew they never would. And that was hope.
‘It’s obviously been tough, but we’re getting there. Day by day, living in the here and now, and all that crap.’
‘Ha!’ Cece threw her head back. ‘Still not a believer in the universe then, I take it?’
‘I don’t know.’ She looked at Jacob, his jet-black eyes narrowed in determination. ‘It did give me one good thing, I suppose.’
‘Yeah.’ Cece squeezed her hand. ‘It looks that way to me.’
‘Right, ladies!’ Tracey bellowed, causing the other holidaymakers to practically jump out of their crispy red skins. ‘Enough chatting – are we going in that ocean or what?’
‘Yes!’ Jacob cried. ‘A woman whofinallyspeaks my language.’
‘No!’ Olivia and Helen replied in unison, as the group finally came together. ‘There is no way you’re going in there, Jacob,’ Olivia stated firmly.
‘Comeon. It’s either that or the motorbike: you choose.’
‘Motorbike?’ Kyle’s face lit up.
‘Don’t youdare,’ Kate hissed, glowering at him with a look worse than death.
‘Well, I don’t know about you kids, but I reckon saltwater is the perfect thing to blow my cobwebs away.’ Tracey ripped off her T-shirt and threw it over her head. ‘Suze, Dave?’ She draped her arms across Olivia’s parents’ shoulders. ‘What do you say?’
‘I’m not sure …’ Olivia’s mum faltered. ‘Someone will need to stay here with the stuff.’
‘Mum, I’ll do that. You go.’ Olivia took the beach bag from her mother’s shoulders and shooed her parents away. ‘Go! Have fun!’
‘You don’t need to tell me twice.’ Kyle swept Kate up into his arms and charged towards the water, her legs kicking wildly and mouth screaming every step of the way.
‘Helen, you fancy a dip?’ Cece held out her arm for Jacob’s mum to take.
‘Why not? These legs haven’t seen daylight in about thirty years – I might as well make the most of it.’
The pair walked off to join the others at the water’s edge, leaving Olivia and Jacob to watch on from the shore.
‘Well, it looks like you’re stuck on dry land with me.’ Jacob sighed, allowing Olivia to take the weight of him.
