‘Sorry,’ Sean says as we get to the roundabout and head out of the estate. ‘I didn’t mean for you to be involved.’ He’s swinging the van as fast as possible round the roundabout and heading for the coast.
My mind is whirring. He’s got the money but how on earth is he going to repay it? And what on earth did he have to do to get it? Sean looks very pale and his face is set with tension. I’m sure I can actually see his temples throbbing. He’s obviously taking a big risk here, and it’s not like the money’s even going to go that far. By the time he’s paid for the licence he’ll only be able to buy baby spat and that will take at least three years to grow. This is my fault, I keep thinking, over and over again.
We drive the rest of the way back to Dooleybridge in silence. When we pass the town I have this strange feeling of familiarity, and I like it. It’s probably that I’m just glad to be away from that estate. We pass Frank and John Joe going into the bookies. The café sign has blown over in the wind and rain. Margaret is pushing Grandad along the prom in a plastic cape. She waves cheerily, despite the rain and the fact she’s not wearing a coat. I wave back. Sean doesn’t. His face is set. He’s thinking hard, but I can’t tell what about.
Finally I ask the question. ‘I don’t get it.’ I look out of the window at the ocean, feeling like we’re racing the white horses home. ‘How on earth are you going to be able to repay that amount of money in three months? Either you’re crazier than I thought or there’s something you’re not telling me.’
We turn off the main road, and I’m thrown from side to side as we head down Sean’s track. I can see him visibly relaxing. His cheeks aren’t twitching and there’s a tiny smile in the corner of his mouth. He pulls on the handbrake with a crunch and turns to me.
‘I really hope you have a plan,’ I say, because I don’t want to be around when Jimmy Power comes to call in the debt. And I hope for Sean’s sake it doesn’t come to that.
‘Of course I’ve got a plan,’ he says with his usual gruffness.
‘Well, what is it?’
‘Trust me, I know what I’m doing,’ he says, this time looking straight at me. A shiverruns up and down my spine.
‘Why do I get the feeling there’s something you’re not telling me?’ I give him a sideways glance.
He looks out to sea and for a moment says nothing.
‘I told you. I know what I’m doing.’ He taps the dashboard impatiently.
‘You’re mad! There’s nothing else here that can make you any money. Not unless you’re planning to sell up.’
‘I’m not!’
‘Well, what then?’
This time it’s his turn to give me a sideways glance, and then he suddenly breaks into a broad grin, a slightly crazy one.
‘I’ll show you.’
He’s out of the van and marching over to the sheds. Grace is greeting her master like he’s been away for a month. He comes back out of the shed carrying two lifejackets, and hands me one.
‘Put this on,’ he instructs.
I stare at it and then back at him in horror. ‘I can’t!’
‘Just put it on.’ He holds it out further towards me. ‘And then follow me.’
I put the lifejacket over my head. ‘There’s no way I’m going out on that boat.’
‘Do you want to help get me out of this mess or don’t you?’
I sort of waggle my head from side to side.
‘You’ll be fine, I promise. I’m a sailing instructor, for feck’s sake!’
‘Is there any other way?’ I ask pathetically.
‘No. Now get in the boat!’
Right now I’m not sure what or who I’m more scared of, the water or Sean.
Chapter Twenty-two
‘Come on,’ he beckons. But I can’t. I’m rooted to the spot, shivering. I shake my head. He rolls his eyes and shrugs his shoulders in exasperation.
