On Friday, in a spare hour between appointments, I drive over to Rose Hill where the free chairs turn out to be dusty and in need of a coat of paint, but otherwise usable. Then Thom offers to collect them on Sunday so he can check on the beach hut’s potential when he drops them off.
On Sunday lunchtime, Nemmie, Dale, Zara, Tia, Angel and I make our way out towards the beach armed with slices of last night’s pizza to start our preparations while we wait for Thom and the chairs.
As we pass the cottages at the top of the harbour, Tia murmurs to me. ‘No sign of you-know-who yet?’
I tense my shoulders. ‘This could be the last time I walk this way without having to worry he’s here. I’ve been planning other routes to the beach hut.’
Tia wrinkles her nose. ‘That’s never going to work. It’s a major detour, and everyone and their aunt will see you’re making it.’
I look at the clouds racing across the sky above us. ‘Every time I think about it, it’s like my mouth is full of vinegar.’
Nemmie runs up behind us as we skirt past the Sardine Club. ‘Who’s you-know-who?’
Before I can answer Dale comes to join us. ‘It’s all Uncle Salvador’s fault. They have to talk in code so they don’t drop people in it.’
‘You’re right. Data protection and discretion are top priorities when there’s a scandal rocking the town.’ When I’m satisfied they’re too baffled to reply I carry on. ‘First person to the beach hut gets a sour worm?’
And the next moment they’re racing off along the sand, with Angel barking along beside them.
Tia laughs. ‘Too easy.’
I hitch the picnic rucksack further onto my shoulder. ‘If only the rest of my life were that simple to fix. The more I go over my options, the more of a minefield it becomes.’ I sigh. ‘The only acceptable scenario I can think of is the one where I turn the clock back two weeks and none of this ever happened.’
Tia looks at me. ‘And in the real world?’
I bite my lip. ‘I like things as they are.’ I watch Nemmie grab Dale’s sleeve and hurl herself past him, and sigh again. ‘I mean, look at Nemmie. She’s bright and happy and she loves me and I don’t want anything to change that.’
‘The second you say something, it will.’
I frown. ‘Lando and I are from very different backgrounds, but the way he’s buying up swathes of local land has compounded that. And it’s all very public too.’
Tia purses her lips. ‘St Aidan’s like a goldfish bowl.’
I take a breath. ‘If I’d told him years ago, the knowledge would just have been absorbed into our history by this stage. But there’s also a lot more at stake for Nemmie now she’s older and can think for herself.’
Tia stares at me. ‘So what are you going to do?’
I bite my lip. ‘I’m going to protect Nemmie by keeping it from her for as long as I can, but the next chance I get, I’ll tell him.’
Tia’s fingers close around mine. ‘Well done. That can’t have been easy.’
I squeeze her hand back. ‘I haven’t done it yet.’
Nemmie comes storming back towards us, her burnished gold curls and tulle skirt streaming behind her. ‘I got there first. I beat Dale, even though he’s eleven, I get the sour worm.’
I laugh. ‘How are you so competitive, when I’m so laid back?’
She shrugs. ‘We’ve been talking about genes at school. It probably came from my other parent.’
I walked into that.
She frowns at me. ‘I mean, everyone must want to work with polar bears. My dad must be well pushy to get to do that.’
‘I guess anyone who risks their lives to protect wildlife will be highly motivated.’ I point over my shoulder. ‘The Haribos are in the backpack pocket.’
She pulls out the bag. ‘Everyone can have one, can’t they? You only made us run so you could talk without us hearing.’ There’s barely a pause and she turns to Tia. ‘If you and Thom get married at the beach hut, can I be your bridesmaid?’
I laugh. ‘Tia still has lots to decide.’
