When I got back to the mobile home, Mum and Dad were rushing around like mad, packing up our whole holiday ready to leave tomorrow. Rue and Wren were sitting at the table eating breakfast. There was stuff everywhere. My heart sank. I sat down beside them as Dad paced around us. And I could tell by his fake cheery voice that he was really stressed.
‘Just think, girls, soon we’ll all be staying at the Ronald McDonald house. Burgers all around,’ he said.
Usually Rue and Wren got ridiculously excited about the prospect of McDonald’s, but they didn’t say anything.
Antoine’s face flashed in my head. His wet hair and how his T-shirt clung to his skin yesterday. How he’d held me as I cried.
How I longed to be back on the beach with him.
I had a shower and put on Antoine’s rash vest again. I don’t know why I did it, maybe because I was so reluctant to let go – of any of it.
When I stepped out, Rue spotted me first.
‘You’re going surfing?’ she asked, with the first smile I’d seen since we’d been told we were leaving.
I shook my head. ‘No, I just like the shirt.’
‘But what about that competition in September?’ Rue asked, and Wren looked at her, remembering that I’d made them promise not to tell Mum and Dad. Not like it mattered any more.
‘What competition?’ Dad asked, conveniently coming in from outside holding a croissant.
Rue looked at me. ‘Oops,’ she said.
‘It’s fine.’ I waved away her apologetic look and turned to Dad. ‘It was just a surf competition that Delphine thought I should enter.’ I shrugged and picked up a phone charger, desperate for something to fidget with.
‘Oh, Delphine thought, did she? What did she think about you almost drowning? Was that just a rite of passage?’ Dad was fuming and trying desperately not to explode completely.
‘No, Dad. It doesn’t matter. It’s not happening, we’re going home tomorrow,’ I said, my voice wavering, betraying me.
‘Hold on a minute. Rue said September?’ Dad stared at me, demanding an answer.
‘It was just a thought. There was a qualifier tomorrow, and if you do well enough you can compete inLa Vague d’Or.That’s the name of the competition. And yes, it’s in September.’ My voice got quieter and quieter. And so did the room.
‘So what was your plan, that we would just leave you here in France?’ Dad shook his head in disbelief. ‘With these people you barely know? To do something that almostkilledyou?’
‘Dan.’ Mum came in and put her hand on Dad’s arm. But he was still staring at me like he genuinely could not believe what was happening.
‘Sweetheart, I understand that you’ve loved learning to surf, but a competition? After what happened in the water?’
And I don’t know what it was, but the way Mum said it lit something inside me. Something that made me adamant that they had to understand where I was coming from. Because from where I was standing, they still didn’t understand anything at all.
‘I don’t justenjoyit. I’m good at it.Reallygood. And Delphine saying I could qualify forLa Vague d’Or? It’s a big deal. A really big deal,’ I said, my jaw tense and my eyes fixed on Dad when I said it. ‘And yeah, I wanted to stay in France until September, but I decided to come home with all of you.’
‘You’re talking like it was ever up for discussion, Margot …’
‘Dad, I’meighteen.I don’t have to ask your permission for everything any more, but your support would be nice.’
Dad just stared at me – less angry, more shocked.
I stormed into my bedroom and tried to distract myself by watching TikToks. Everyone left me alone, and I didn’t emerge until it was time for the girls’ surf lesson.
‘Wren, grab your shoes. Rue, put your splints on.’ I looked at my sisters and nodded for them to get up off the sofa.
‘Where are you going?’ Mum asked.
‘I’m taking them to the beach for their last surf lesson. They deserve that much.’ Rue and Wren went outside, past Dad, who didn’t try to stop them.
‘Let them go, Dan,’ Mum said gently.
