And just like that I’ve committed myself.
25
The spa night, High Tides Hotel, St Aidan
Clam shells and falling pennies
Tuesday
‘Okay, one more shot to show me you’re all having a splashing time!’
Clemmie’s skirting around the hot tub with Arnie still asleep in his sling. She finally steps back, skims through the pictures on her phone and nods. ‘Great, that’s a wrap!’
There’s a clatter as Nell puts her plate down on the side table and struggles to her feet. ‘Excuse me, but I’m not even in any of them yet. I might as well dip my toe in, now I’ve finished my salad.’
Plum laughs. ‘“My salad” are two words we never thought we’d hear you say together, Nell.’
‘If they had pork sandwiches with crackling they might have more guests,’ Nell jokes.
I smile. ‘If they ask for feedback that’s one for the suggestions box.’
Clemmie’s watching as Nell goes up a step at a time. ‘Do you need a hand there?’
Nell shakes her head. ‘No, but I’m so wide, you might want to switch the camera to panoramic.’
Sophie looks up at Nell. ‘Sit on the top step and dangle your feet in.’ She frowns as Nell hesitates. ‘Everything okay up there?’
Nell’s paused, standing still with her legs apart, leaning slightly forward. ‘Stuff me! I might have accidentally peed!’ She’s staring down at her legs in bafflement. ‘There’s definitely something, it’s still coming out, I can feel it!’
Nell’s shaking her head as she drops back down to the ground. ‘I know I’m broadminded because I grew up on a farm, but peeing on the High Tides pool deck? Some of it went in the water too! I don’t think I’ll ever live this down.’
Clemmie’s still holding her phone. ‘I’ll just grab a couple more photos, then you might all want to come out onto dry land.’
Sophie climbs out of the hot tub and puts her arm around Nell’s shoulder. ‘Don’t worry, Nelly-melon, I don’t think it’s wee, I think your waters may have broken.’
Nell’s shaking her head. ‘Why didn’t they warn us about this at antenatal class?’
Sophie smiles. ‘The good news is, once this happens, the baby won’t be too far behind.’ She takes in Nell’s wide eyes. ‘If you haven’t got any pain yet, it’ll probably be tomorrow rather than today.’
Plum stops at the top of the hot tub steps and waves towards the bay. ‘Perfect timing! Kit and Rye are just arriving now.’ Her shout is so loud they can’t possibly miss it. ‘G-u-ys! Come and join us!’
Back down on the ground, I’m handing out towels and passing round the robes. I’ve got as far as throwing a wrap around my shoulders when Kit and Rye bounce up the hill, hop over the last box hedge and come striding onto the terrace.
Kit gives me a grin. ‘You don’t mind us crashing the party?’
Unlike Plum, I’d rather not be caught with my nipples on show in a soaking wet swimsuit, with my hair in rat’s tails, but I’m not going to say that. ‘It’s as much your party as ours.’
Rye hitches up his surf trousers. ‘We’d have been here to see you earlier, but I was called away to the fire station.’
In my head I’m reliving the flames, roaring towards the beach hut. ‘Nothing serious, I hope?’
Rye laughs. ‘St Aidan’s usual. A cat trapped in a bedroom with a broken door handle, obligatory tea and cake afterwards.’
Plum leaps down the steps and lands next to Rye. ‘We were very well looked after by the staff on reception.’ Her hands are on her hips, and she’s in no hurry to cover up her goosebumps.
I shoot Mum a look. ‘David Byron was very attentive too – wasn’t he, Mum?’ I stop short of saying the phrasehitting on guests, because even though that’s technically what he did, I don’t want to wreck the evening.
Rye smiles. ‘I’m pleased you all felt the warmth of a High Tides welcome.’
