“Something wrong?” Saskia said.
“The booking’s gone down the pan. The whole lot of them have cancelled. They were here for a wedding, and the bride cheated with the best man, or something ridiculous like that. Anyway, the wedding’s off, and they’re kicking off on the phone with Eva because we won’t give them the money back. It’s in the bloody terms and conditions. All money is taken forty-eight hoursbefore arrival, and no money is returned. It’sinthere. In black and white, in plain print, and now they’re talking about suing us…” She covered her mouth with her hand, staring up at Saskia, utterly distraught.
Saskia was stuck. Frozen. Kivi had hugged her before, several times, but Saskia had never instigated one with her. It wasn’t really something she did, with anyone. She was too prickly a person. But this was her girlfriend – she was still getting used to that word – and her girlfriend needed her. She stepped forward hesitantly, and as if Kivi had been waiting for a sign, she stepped forward too, and into Saskia’s arms. The height difference meant that Saskia could just about rest her chin on Kivi’s head as she wrapped her arms around her. Kivi sobbed quietly into the lapel of her gilet, and right on cue, the wind started to pick up, whirling sand through the air. Saskia felt her lip curl.What is this, some sort of pathetic fallacy?
“Come on,” she murmured after a minute or two. “We should get back. See what we can do to sort this out.”
“I can’t face another legal battle,” Kivi said as if she hadn’t heard her. “Not after the last one. With Gareth and Drew’s family. If I never see a solicitor again it’ll be too soon.”
“You don’t know that they’ll sue you,” Saskia said. “They’re probably just blowing a whole load of hot air. They’re angry at the situation and they’re taking it out on you. What if that’s all it is? Hmm?”
Kivi didn’t say anything.
“Hmmm?”
“I suppose it’s possible,” Kivi admitted, wiping her eyes. “God, I hope so.”
“Only one way to find out,” Saskia said, brazenly holding her hand out. “Let’s go and talk to them.”
“Okay,” Kivi sighed, and took it. Toto came the instant she called him – Saskia exchanged a look with him that promised a rematch of their wrestling adventure – and she clipped his lead onto his harness, then handed it to Saskia.
“Me?” Saskia said, looking at the leash in her hand, then at Kivi.
“He needs to learn to accept orders from you,” she said. “If… if you’re going to be sticking around.”
Saskia’s words caught in her throat. This was the first time they’d really talked of the future other than the night they’d first kissed, and it was at the most emotional of times. And what did ‘sticking around’ mean? Long-term, or just until she went home, or…?
“Come on,” she croaked eventually, non-committal. “We have bigger fish to fry right now.”
Andfrywas probably the right word. Because if some pathetic man upset her girlfriend, she would be personally responsible for putting his balls in a deep-fat fryer.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Kivi
By some miracle, Saskia was right. When they got home, having stowed Toto away in the annex, Eva was just finishing another phone call with the formerly-aggrieved man. He had read the terms and conditions in the email Sandy Dunes had sent him when he booked, and had rung back to apologise and tell them that he had no intention of suing them after all. Kivi had broken down in tears again on hearing this, resulting in a slightly awkward group hug between herself, Saskia, and Eva.
Then, the reality had set in. Their last guest had just departed, and the guest house was now empty, bar Saskia. For the whole weekend.
“I’d best get on the mailing list,” Kivi said. “And the social media. See if anyone’s interested in a super-last-minute weekend break by the sea.”
“Or,”Saskia said, “youcould have a weekend break. Have a weekend off. It’s not like your takings are going to be down, and perhaps we could… spend some quality time together.” She wiggled her eyebrows again and gave a tiny wink. “You know, get to know each other a bit more.”
Eva made a gagging sound, and Kivi turned to give her a thump, making all three of them laugh.
“Seriously though, she does have a point,” Eva shrugged. “When was the last time you had a lie-in? Or any sort of time off? You’realwaysworking.”
“I’m doing what I love,” Kivi said. “It doesn’t feel like work. But I suppose I could use this time to sort stuff out for the wedding. And to catch up on some baking and cooking… get some stuff in the freezer…”
“Oryou could come to the fete with me,” Saskia said emphatically. “Point out all the local residents and tell me all the gossip. And have some fun.”
“Aren’t you intending on writing about the fete, though?” Kivi said. “Won’t I distract you?”
“You can distract me any time you like,” Saskia smirked, and Kivi rolled her eyes at the insinuation. “But I can only think of how much more three-dimensional it’ll be if I see it through a resident’s eyes.”
“And if you really want to get some batch-cooking done, you can do it together,” Eva said. “You can show Saskia how to make your famous chickpea and cauliflower curry. You’ve not made that in a while.”
Would that trigger Saskia?Kivi thought, and shot a quick look over at Saskia as if in question. But Saskia gave an approving, even encouraging nod, and Kivi pursed her lips.
