Ben is the first to break the silence.
‘Look, this is all really nice, but lying here like this is really making me need a piss.’
‘I’m weeing right now!’ declares Maude. Laughter ripples around the group.
‘Maybe it’s time to get out.’ Phoebe rolls onto her front.
‘I’d like to try that rope swing first,’ comes a voice that Phoebe is very surprised to realise belongs to Arabella. She looks a little like a panda, with her eyeliner and mascara smeared around her eyes. But she looks about ten years younger too. ‘Who’s with me?’
They all line up to have a go, taking turns to grab hold of the swing, pushing themselves off and then letting go in mid-air, splashing down into the water.
‘You have to do it too, Phoebe,’ says Ben once he, Arabella, Maude and Camilla have all had a go, yelping and roaring in turn. ‘You’re the reason we’re all here.’
‘Oh, all right then. Here goes.’
She grabs hold of the swing and pushes herself firmly off the bank. As she whizzes into the air, her stomach lifts to her chest. There’s a brief moment of sheer terror as she lets go and is suspended in the air before she crashes down into the water. Then she bobs up again, grinning.
All thoughts of professionalism go out the window as she cries, ‘That was bloody fantastic!’
‘Hurrah!’ says Camilla.
‘Um, hi,’ comes a quiet voice. Everyone turns to the bank and there is Tara, arms wrapped around herself and biting her lip nervously. ‘I’m late, I know.’
‘Tara!’ says Phoebe warmly. ‘It’s so good to see you and don’t worry about that. I’m just so pleased you made it. Do you want to join us?’
‘I’m not sure …’ She glances at the river and bites her lip harder.
‘Well, we were just about to get out and have some tea and cake,’ says Sandra. ‘You could join for that bit instead?’
She pauses and then nods slowly. ‘That sounds good.’
They all make their way out of the water, chatting as they get changed. Once Sandra is dressed, she takes Rosie so that Kate can go for a quick dip too and, after encouragement from the others, she enters the water from the rope swing.
‘Look, Mama’s in the river!’ says Sandra, lifting Rosie’s hand so it looks as though she is waving. Kate waves back, a huge smile on her face.
Once they are all dressed and mostly dry, they queue up outside the Kingfisher, towels draped over their shoulders.
‘Hello, everyone,’ says Hamish, today wearing a checked shirt and green waistcoat. ‘Lovely day!’
Phoebe looks up at the sky. It is still grey and overcast. ‘You’re quite right, Hamish.’
He takes their orders and the others chat among themselves as he prepares them. The group has become all mixed up, so it isn’t at all clear who is here for the mental health swimming group and who is part of the original morning swimming club. They’re all just here for the river. And the cake. Obviously.
Phoebe notices that Maude is standing a little apart from the rest of the group, her eyes trained fixedly on the top of Hamish’s riverboat.
‘Are those beehives?’ she says, her voice bursting with excitement.
Hamish glances up, following Maude’s gaze, and Phoebe does the same. And there they are, the wooden hives sitting on the top of the riverboat’s roof alongside the flowerpots. Yes! How had she not thought of it before?
‘Ah yes, my little hives,’ says Hamish. ‘Although I must admit, I’m only a beginner. I haven’t managed to gather much honey yet.’
‘I could help you,’ Maude says, practically jumping on the spot. ‘I haven’t done it for years, but I used to be pretty in tune with the bees.’
‘Wow, that sounds brilliant, but only if you don’t mind.’
‘Mind? I’d fucking love to.’
The riverbank buzzes with conversation as stories are shared and new friendships are made. They spot Bert the kingfisherwhizzing by and Sandra launches into a lilting rendition of ‘Morning has Broken’.
