I coax Angel off my skirt, and as I ease myself away from Lando’s warmth and the shade of his umbrella, it feels like I’m leaving our own private bubble and stepping back into the real world again.
I watch Nemmie and Dale crawl out from under their boat, and a second later a multicoloured beach ball comes hurtling towards us.
Lando lunges sideways across the sand and shouts, ‘This one’s mine!’
A few moments later he’s off along the beach at a run, showing the kids how to do drop kicks.
I’m not sure what shifted there, but something definitely has. With this rollercoaster of a ride we’re on, who knows what will come next? For so long our life has been stable and even, and now the only certainty is that we’ll be having chocolate muffins at the Surf Shack.
36
Climbing Rose Cottage, St Aidan, Cornwall
A soft spot for scones
Monday
It’s a sign of what my life is coming to. By the time we reached the Surf Shack they’d run out of muffins and we had to make do with squares of Mars bar brownie. Far from being a consolation prize, this turned out to be sticky, dark, and so delectable that on Monday afternoon, when we get back from school, I’m at the kitchen island trying to recreate it.
Mum and the little ones are on the outside patio with the French windows wide open, and Nemmie and Zara are kneeling at the coffee table by the sofa, chomping on scrounged mini Mars bars, discussing bridesmaid dress designs.
I’ve got the recipe up on my phone, and I’m trying so hard not to forget anything that when Nemmie finishes saying that large pockets are completely essential and starts talking about something else, at first I don’t hear her.
By the time I get that the comment was meant for me, she’s standing next to me waving her hand in front of my face. ‘Are you not answering because you’re concentrating, or because you don’t like what I’m saying?’
I pause my Mars bar chopping. ‘What was the question again?’
She grins at me. ‘It’s more of a statement. We think it’s time you looked for a husband.’
I’m so shocked I drop my knife and it slides across the floor. I pick it up and play for time. ‘First things first, who’s “we”?’
‘Me, Dale and Zara. But mostly me.’
I frown. ‘Is this about you wishing you had a father?’
Nemmie looks scornful. ‘Of course not! This is about you.’
I knew I was asking for trouble taking them along yesterday. I’m hoping it’s not too late to put the whole misjudged day into context for a nine-year-old. ‘I only walked around town dressed as a bride because it was part of my job. It wasn’t an affirmation, or in any way what I’m wishing for.’
Nemmie twitches her mouth. ‘Maybe it should be.’
My voice rises. ‘Thank you for caring, but I’ve never wanted a husband. I can’t think of anything worse!’
Nemmie purses her lips. ‘You’re fine now, because we’re all here to keep you company. But what about when Zara’s in London dancing onStrictly, and Dale’s doing his cartoon voice-overs and I’m on my space station, and Granny and Paul are off in their camper van?’
I pull her up. ‘I thought Dale wanted to be a heating engineer like George’s dad?’
She rolls her eyes. ‘Keep up, Mum! Since Granny got that Facebook friend who does the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, he’s had a rethink.’ She starts again. ‘It’s best to find you someone now while we’re all here to help.’
I’m shaking my head at how far they’ve come with this. ‘Do I have any choice?’
She frowns as she thinks. ‘You can have input on what you do on the dates. But we’re very set that it’s happening.’
I know if they get an idea in their heads the fastest way to get to the other side is to run with it. It’s not like there are hundreds of suitable guys around who’ll agree to go out with me. I can’t actually think of anyone.
I glance at the instructions on my phone, pile the Mars bar pieces into the bowl, and smile as I stir them into the gooey brown mixture. ‘With the beach hut, the shop and you lot to look after, there’s no time left for going out.’
Nemmie laughs. ‘We’ve already thought of that; we’ll be there too.’
