‘In the lifeboat station. Did you see the rescue during the dip?’
My stomach lurched. ‘That wasn’t Aaron in trouble?’
‘No. He was the one in first place who turned back to help. It was a bloke in his mid-twenties in trouble – really bad case of cramp. He panicked and kept going under the water so Aaron held him up until the lifeboat arrived. Proud grandad moment or what?’
Pride surged through me too. ‘That’s pretty impressive.’ But that feeling was soon tinged with sadness as I added, ‘I didn’t realise he was such a strong swimmer,’ and was hit with the realisation that I didn’t know anything about Aaron anymore.
‘He swims competitively,’ Billy said, with an apologetic shrug.
Aaron had been a water baby right from the outset – all threeof them had been – but, when Ingrid and I separated, Erin and Lucy had stopped going to their swimming club so I’d assumed Aaron had too.
‘He’s okay after what happened?’ I asked, concerned by the ambulance.
‘Yeah. They both are. Just getting warmed up. It was a bit crowded in there with the lifeboat crew, paramedics and the bloke’s family wanting to thank Aaron so I said I’d wait outside while he got showered and dressed. He should be out in a few minutes.’
I pictured Aaron’s angry expression when he confronted me in the restaurant and again when I found him outside and my stomach lurched. I might want to see him, but I couldn’t imagine he wanted to see me again.
‘In that case, I should go.’
‘You don’t have to do that, Jed. Stay and say hello.’
‘It’s fine. I don’t think he’d want me to and Ingrid certainly wouldn’t.’
‘Leave Ingrid to me. You know how I feel about this whole sorry state of affairs and I have no qualms about telling her that time and time again.’
Billy and Pam had both been disgusted with the way Ingrid had handled the entire situation and they’d told her so on several occasions, but it hadn’t made a jot of difference. Ingrid had always done exactly what she wanted. That fiery spirit was one of the things that I’d loved about her when we first met, but now repeatedly frustrated me.
‘Grandad!’
We all turned in the direction of the voice. My heart began pounding as Aaron sauntered towards us but my stomach lurched as his smile faded.
‘What are you doing here?’ he snapped,glowering at me.
‘I spotted your grandad and wanted to say hello. He told me it was you who helped the swimmer in trouble. That’s amazing.’
‘Like I care what you think.’
And with a withering look, Aaron pushed past me and strode off down the seafront.
Billy shook his head, his expression pained. ‘I’m sorry, Jed. I’ll talk to him.’ He patted me on the arm before hurrying after Aaron.
‘I’m so sorry,’ Tara said, slipping her arm round my waist and resting her head against my shoulder. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Not really but it’s the reaction I expected and I totally get it. If I was him and I’d been told what he’d been told, I’d be livid with me too.’
‘He’s young, angry and confused. He just needs time.’
‘I know, but that’s something we don’t have. Another week or so and he’ll be back in Aus.’ I released a heavy sigh but there was no point letting it get to me and putting a dampener on my day out with Tara. ‘How about we grab a coffee then bag ourselves a decent spot for watching the raft race?’
‘Sounds good. But are you sure you’re okay?’
‘I’m fine. It could have gone a lot worse and I’m glad it’s done now so I can relax and not be keeping half an eye out for them.’
‘You played the “glad game”,’ Tara said, smiling at me.
‘So I did.’
Tara’s nickname as a child had been Pollyanna and she’d told me how she’d often played ‘the glad game’ like the young girl in the book to try and find a positive spin on all the upsetting and difficult situations she’d faced growing up. She still played it as an adult and I had to admit I liked it myself. I was generally a positive individual but, every so often, life could deal some cruel blows and it was good to try to find something positive even in the toughest situation.
