Sophie coughs. ‘And Floss is very keen to sponsor some singles club events too! You could even join forces!’
‘Thanks for that, Soph!’ I thought I’d placated her earlier, but barbs like that mean I’m not completely forgiven.
I hear a snuffle from Clemmie’s arms, so I dash across the deck. ‘So sorry, Kit, we’re going to have to get the baby home, he’s already had a very long first outing.’
Nell gets up from her armchair. ‘Very true. Come on, Clemmie!’
And a second later we’re all trooping off over the dunes towards the track and their cars.
And the moral to that story is: however far downhill an afternoon has gone – it can always go further.
I’m going to have to put in a lot more effort than I imagined if I’m going to get a quiet life!
4
The Hideaway, St Aidan
House parties and writing in the sand
Wednesday
St Aidan may not be as tranquil or trouble-free as I’d imagined, but I’m hopeful it will soon calm down. I won’t be rushing into anything either. It hit me as I waved the mermaids off along the track behind the dunes that however kind Clemmie’s offer, there have to be better work options to hide behind than parading myself as an outpost of her events venue and tea garden. So this afternoon, as I set off along the sands with Shadow, I’m determined to use our walk to come up with a more appropriate solution.
Unfortunately, the tide is running high up the beach and Shadow, who’s still not completely at home with the sea, takes each rush of water as a personal affront. By the time we get back half an hour later my ears are ringing from his non-stop barks, but I’m no nearer to finding the brainwave I need. Then, as we make our way up the dunes, what I see in front of The Hideaway ends all hope of a change.
‘Plum and Nell! We’ve only been gone thirty minutes! You’ve been very – er – busy!’
They’re waving at us from the main deck, and the three unfolded café tables and stack of chairs beside them suggest they’re a long way ahead of me here.
Nell’s standing with her hands on her hips. ‘We must just have missed you! How’s this for a surprise?’ Her beam is so wide as she nods at the crowded deck, all I can do is to pretend I’m delighted too.
‘Wonderful! I hope you’re not overdoing it, Nell?’
She laughs. ‘Plum’s done the work, I’m under strict orders to keep my hands in my pockets.’ She frowns down at her bump. ‘To be honest, I’m pleased to take my mind off the waiting, these last few weeks are taking for ever.’
I go in and give her a hug. ‘Not long now.’ It must be hard for Nell to see Clemmie already home with Arnie when they were originally due around the same time.
She looks down at Shadow as she scratches his head. ‘How’s this guy settling in?’
At least I can be honest about this. ‘You’d think miles of empty sand would be a treat, but he sees ghosts behind every pebble. Some days he’s so nervous I get the feeling he preferred the city.’
‘We definitely heard you coming!’ Plum shuffles the chairs into position and stands back to assess. ‘Will six seats be enough for starters?’
‘So many?’I stifle my choke.However cute and pretty they are, I can’t imagine them withstrangers sitting on them.
Plum turns to me, her hand on my shoulder. ‘Is that still the same cough you had at New Year?’
Nell lets out a chortle. ‘With a voice that low and husky, no wonder they can’t get enough of you for those love stories you read.’
Little does Nell know, but she couldn’t be more wrong. My mum’s the only person with any idea about my recent difficulties, and as I’d hate Dillon to find out, I need to be careful with my answers.
It was a huge surprise to me when the partner of one of Dillon’s colleagues who worked at a studio suggested I should try out for the audio-books as I recovered from one of my later rounds of chemo, and an even bigger surprise to find I could do the work. Accents have always come easily to me, my part-finished drama diploma meant I can read without stumbling, and it turned out that my voice had the resonance and range that meant it recorded well. Best of all, the listeners found my cosy tone easy to listen to, and their positive feedback meant my bookings built quickly for a beginner. The trouble now is that my voice gives out. One minute I’m croaking, the next it’s a whisper, then I’m squeaking. When the listeners need consistency, I’m no use at all as I am.
I’ve worked out an official version. ‘I’m taking a break from the reading work. It isn’t fair to leave Shadow until he feels more confident.’ I smile up at them both. ‘It’ll give me a chance to sort this place out too.’
That’s another porkie. Everyone keeps saying how much there is to do here, but when it comes to homes I’m low-intervention; with a location this perfect there’s very little I want to add.
Plum’s smile widens. ‘I may have another surprise to help with that.’ She pulls a folding blackboard from behind a table. ‘Ta-da!’
