As Diesel flops over onto his back and puts his legs in the air Millie’s at my side, whispering in my ear. ‘Clemmie’s wearing her favourite orange dress with the white stars on. I think that’s a good sign.’
As Charlie stands up I stare into both their faces searching for a clue, but I can’t bring myself to say the words. And then their faces relax into smiles, and without even asking I know it’s all right. The tears are rolling down my cheeks as I fling myself at Charlie.
‘It’s okay – it is okay, isn’t it?’
Then I step back and look at them again, and Charlie nods. ‘It’s very, very early days. But for now it’s all good.’
I pull Clemmie into a tiny, gentle air kiss, because that’s all I dare do. ‘Well done. I’m so happy for you.’
Then I rush back and hurl myself at Ross, and sob into his chest, because suddenly all the aching and hoping and willing I’ve done for Clemmie and Charlie is over. And when I eventually pull away he hands me a bundle of serviettes and waits until my nose is wiped and my face is dry again. Then I stare at him, and say, ‘Did you know about this?’
Ross’s smile says he’s guilty as charged. ‘They wanted to surprise you.’
I sniff and rub my nose again. ‘For one time only, I’ll let you off. The surprise was lovely.’
Clemmie’s next to me, her hand on my arm. ‘We hear you’ve got together too? How great is that?’
I shake my head at Ross. ‘Who said men didn’t talk?’
Then Charlie is rubbing his hands, saying, ‘Hey, where’s the end of the queue? We need to buy some books before they all go.’
Sophie’s hissing at me behind her hand. ‘The printers are delivering more tomorrow, we’re going to need them!’
Plum’s sitting back in her chair, visible again now the book piles have gone. ‘Okay, Cressy, Maudie Maudie have had their money’s worth of exposure now, it’s time for you to change to match the rest of us.’
‘It is?’ My mouth is open.
There’s a victorious note in Plum’s voice. ‘Iknewit would be worth making you a tail. Just think of the wear you’re going to get out of this now you and Ross are going to be here full-time.’
It’s obvious the green and turquoise flowers on my dress aren’t cutting it as much as I thought they were.
Millie’s tugging my arm. ‘It’s in Jen’s office. Come on, Luce and I will help you into it.’
I send a final pleading look to my new helper and protector, but he shrugs. ‘This is mermaid business, I’m not sure a vet should intervene.’
I hiss in his ear as I pass, ‘I’ll deal with you later.’
He just laughs. ‘That’s exactly what I was hoping.’
I have to be honest, I’m playing for time here. If I do this really slowly, most people will have gone home anyway. So when Millie wants to fluff up my hair and put electric blue and pink spray in and plait shells and ribbons through it, I let her. She gives me one of Sophie’s over-sized watery blue T-shirts, which fits me like a glove, and when they take at least twenty minutes gluing sequins to my eyelids, I’m happy to comply. Then I stand up while they spend another quarter of an hour wrapping me up in sacking and gauze, which is the nearest I’ve been yet to being trussed in a fishing net. And then they step back and nod.
I stare down at myself. ‘So what’s the verdict?’
Millie’s grinning. ‘You look awesome.’
I have to be honest. ‘I had no idea it took so long to become a mermaid. Maybe that’s why we see so few around.’ If we’re making time comparisons, it’s more like I used to be when I was getting ready when I was in London, which feels really strange somehow.
Millie nods. ‘So what are we waiting for? Let’s go and show you off.’
My ankles are fully tied together. ‘You’re expecting me to walk?’
Millie lets out a peal of laughter. ‘Shuffle for now, you’ll soon get the hang of it.’
Which is why I swear it takes another twenty minutes for us to get along Ocean Boulevard and back to the lounge. As a measure of how long we’ve been away, by the time we get there, there’s only staff, residents and mermaid families left. And Charlie and Clemmie too.
As I inch into the lounge there’s a cheer. And everyone claps me until I make it to a very nice chaise longue they’ve saved specially so I can lie with my tail horizontal, then Ross perches next to me, his hip next to mine.
Nell clears her throat as I finally ease into place. ‘We all wanted to say a private and special thank you for everything you’ve done to help everyone at Kittiwake.’
