As I push the scones into Kit’s hands Rye gives a cough. ‘To show how much we appreciate Florence’s baking, we’ve come with gifts.’
Kit shuffles. ‘A few hotel freebies, they’re nothing much.’
Milla’s eyes open wider when she spots the fan of cards in Rye’s hand. ‘Vouchers for a High Tides Spa session. How awesome will that be! Thanks, guys!’
Rye turns to Milla. ‘I’m afraid these are midweek evenings, for over-eighteens only, although we do offer facilities for babies and nursing mums.’
Milla gives him her best Disgusted-of-St-Aidan snort. ‘I hope you realise you’re being extremely discriminatory there, Rye?’
Kit smiles at her. ‘High Tides is very much a sanctuary, the guests don’t want to be disturbed by rowdy teenagers.’
Milla’s nostrils flare. ‘Adolescents being noisy is a complete myth perpetuated by fun-sucking adults who can’t bear to see young people enjoying themselves.’
The rest of us are so taken aback by that, for a moment we all stand there with our mouths open. But as we do the silence is broken by a series of piercing shrieks from the beach.
Kit puts his hand behind his ear. ‘As the screams in the distance don’t appear to be coming from pensioners, I rest my case.’
Ever the diplomat, my mum reaches across and takes the cards from Rye. ‘Thank you, this is very kind.’ She narrows her eyes, as she always does when she tries to read without using her close-work glasses. ‘Complimentary spa treatments, including hot stone massage, facials, mud wraps and pedis, and a hot tub for twelve with fizz! There’s a lot to like about this!’
Kit nods. ‘The hope is to trial the hen party package, if you and your friends wouldn’t mind helping?’
Mum is purring. ‘Bring it on! Reporting for duty and ready to be pampered!’
I can’t quite believe what I’m hearing, or how fast she’s changed her tune. Before this gets any more out of hand I take the cards from Mum, stack them into a neat pile and push them back at Kit. ‘Thanks for thinking of us, but I’ll be severing ties with the hotel from now on. I’m sure you won’t have any problem finding other volunteers.’ I give a sniff because I may as well make myself clear while I’m here. ‘That includes baking orders too. I won’t be doing those either.’
Kit’s brow wrinkles and his voice is full of concern. ‘What’s happened, Floss? Is something wrong?’
As his hand falls on my arm I twist away. ‘Icame here for sanctuary too. I’d rather not compromise that.’
Kit pulls away. ‘Absolutely, it’s your call. In that case, we’ll say thanks for the scones, and leave you and your guests to your…’ he hesitates for a second ‘…quiet afternoon.’
I’m shouting over the yells from the beach. ‘Great! Goodbye, then.’
As they make their way back onto the sand, Mum watches them all the way down the steps. Then she turns back to me. ‘Well, those two were nice!’
I let out a wail. ‘No they weren’t! They’re the enemy, remember? Not that I’m paranoid, but anyone as determined to get what he wants as Mr Byron may well attack on several fronts. Kit and Rye could well be the sneaky team, wriggling in with the freebies.’
Mum pulls a face. ‘Fine, thanks for reminding me. But if lovely Rye comes round offering free smoke alarms, Iamgoing to take them. Is that okay?’
I can’t believe she just called him lovely. ‘So long as he calls round in his capacity as a fireman…’ I stop to grin at her for how incorrigible she is ‘…knock yourself out.’
Milla chimes in. ‘Mum would like Kit’s bum, it’s a dead ringer for Bruce Springsteen’s.’ Her face breaks into a grin. ‘I was actually checking him out for you, Aunty Flo. Did you notice he was looking at you like he wanted to eat you?’
I’m not taking this lying down. ‘The man was ravenous for sultana scones!’ I need to move this on, and fast. ‘Talking of being hungry, as soon as you’re ready for tea, we’ll put your pizza order in. How does that sound?’
Milla nods. ‘Weareordering from the place with the hand-stretched dough, wood-fired oven and vegan options, not the rubbish one down by the harbour?’
I can tell she’s Sophie’s daughter. ‘Absolutely.’
Her face breaks into a smile. ‘There you go, Kit said that too! One of the biggest giveaways of attraction is accidental mimicking of language.’
I let out a squeak. ‘Where on earth did you get that from?’ I could do with knowing so I can keep one step ahead of her.
She shrugs. ‘I think we read that inGrazia. Tallulah gets it when her older sister’s finished with it. It’s great for sex tips too.’
‘Sex tips?’I’m mouthing the words, and nothing’s coming out. I make my smile very bright and thank my lucky stars they’re only here for another couple of hours. ‘I was thinking we could make mocktails later?’
Milla smiles. ‘The girls will love that. But you do know they’re called alcohol-free craft-beverages now?’
