Chapter 32
32
Nell’s house, St Aidan
All the pie
Monday
M y first attempt at spontaneous, uninvited making out, and it ends with me standing poolside in my soaking underwear, while the unfortunate hero in question guides my admittedly very cute but very wet pet through the waves to safety.
I’ve learned from the experience – I won’t ever try it again.
Okay, I admit I took a video of them both – they looked too hilarious for me not to. Shadow, his black nose breaking the water surface, legs paddling as doggedly as if he were running through treacle, tail straight out behind him like a rudder, puffing bubbles from the side of his whiskers as he panted his way up the pool. Kit, also very cute, emerging from the shallow end in his underpants, as he coaxed Shadow towards where I was calling from the steps.
I’ve showed the video to all the gang, and they see the funny side too. And me viewing it a thousand times is due to the comedy, and nothing to do with Kit and how ripped his shiny wet torso is.
That wasn’t the end of the evening’s drama either. As we were making our way back along the dune, we finally caught sight of Mum and David down by the water’s edge, making their way back to High Tides for a nightcap at the hotel before Mum went home. A slight change of plan there then. At least Rye was around to confirm she’d left later.
So it wasn’t a total waste of time, and we know more now than we did. First, that however hard you screw up your eyes you can’t tell too much about people from a hundred yards away. Second, that people are spontaneously unpredictable – they rarely do what you expect, and they stick to their own plans even less than that. (I try not to put that down to new lovers being all over the place.) And third, if we’re going to do this regularly, we’ll need to invest in a pair of binoculars or some night vision equipment.
As for the detail, my immediate agonies after what happened in the pool were eclipsed by drying a dripping dog. By the time he was fit to walk back to reception, we’d all moved on. Since then I’ve done three mornings at the studio and the same number of afternoon teas on the deck with Kit’s clients, and as neither of us has mentioned it again I’m assuming we never will.
Clemmie and I are at Nell’s house the following Monday afternoon, and I’ve been filling them in on all the developments, except for my own blunder.
Nell’s on the sofa tucking into the third sausage sandwich from the bag that Clemmie brought round while small-George snoozes on her knee. She hands Shadow the last tiny piece and ruffles his ears. ‘Well done, boy! We’ve both made tidal waves at the High Tides hotel now.’ Her smile widens. ‘So are you going to spill the beans about the rest, Flossie?’
My blood runs cold, and I know I have to tough this out. ‘There are beans? ’
This is St Aidan, everyone knows about everything, mostly before it happens, so more fool me for thinking it could be any other way. Me jumping Kit will have spread across the whole of the county, if not the world, and now it’s out there, I’m never going to live it down.
Nell’s staring hard at me. ‘We all saw the video, but what kind of undies was he wearing? ’
Clemmie laughs. ‘Pants can speak volumes about a man. Is Kit an organic bamboo guy, does he shop at Primark, or was there a label? ’
Nell chortles. ‘Tesco ones are a great sign they know what a supermarket is.’
My accelerating heartbeats subside. As it sinks in that this is all they’re asking about, I can’t believe I’ve got away with it. ‘I may have spotted the words “Calvin Klein” on the waistband…’
Nell nods. ‘Stylish, yet not quite as up himself as a Ralph Lauren Polo wearer.’
Clemmie smiles. ‘Charlie likes Calvin Kleins too.’
Nell rolls her eyes. ‘Before grown-up George and I got together, his mum used to buy him his for Christmas and there’s no changing him now. M he’s still working from upstairs!’ She pulls a face. ‘At least I’m dressed. He’s still in his pyjamas with a shirt on top for Zoom calls.’
There’s a tap on the living room door and a face appears.
I swallow my surprise. ‘Milla! What are you doing here? And Tallulah, too!’
Milla swings her rucksack off her shoulders, and they each pull up a pouffe. ‘We pop in most days after school to check Nell’s okay.’ She puts a large box down on the coffee table. ‘We’ve come via the doughnut stall today. Six iced, six sugared, six jam. I hope that won’t be too many?’
Nell laughs. ‘I’m eating for two and George is eating for three, so we’ll soon blast through those.’
Milla purses her lips. ‘I couldn’t help hearing what you were saying as we came in.’ She leans towards Nell and squeezes her hand. ‘The first few weeks with a newborn are very full-on. It will get better.’
It’s not lost on me. However rebellious Milla’s being with Sophie, she’s still amazingly empathetic with everyone else.
Clemmie picks up on what she’s saying and adds, ‘Don’t worry, Nell, it gets easier as they grow.’
Milla pushes a strand of dark hair off her forehead. ‘Even my superwoman mother stayed at home with her babies! When she had Marcus and Tilly, and Maisie, Nate took me to places for ages.’
Nell’s still clinging to her fingers. ‘Thanks for reminding me, Milla. Somehow I thought I’d be straight back out there.’
Milla’s eyes flash. ‘I seriously hope Mum didn’t tell you that! She’s so full of crap at times, it’s very irresponsible!’
I have to call her out on this. ‘Milla! Let’s try to be nice.’
Milla rolls her eyes. ‘You asked her to meet me halfway, Aunty Flo, and she’s still dressing like a mint mousse.’ Milla’s voice rises to a shriek. ‘She pretends she’ll change, then doesn’t. That’s what’s so frustrating !’ She drops her voice again. ‘Sorry, George and Arnie, I didn’t mean to disturb you.’
I’ve been pondering this a lot lately. ‘We’re going to have to step in!’ I’m pretty happy with what I’ve come up with. How Sophie will feel about it is something else entirely. ‘ I’m going to re-style her wardrobe!’
Milla’s clapping her hands. ‘Brilliant!’
Clemmie’s smiling. ‘Inspired! All we’ve got to do now is to persuade her to join in!’
I still have to put my mind to that one. ‘That’s settled then. We’re all agreed we’ll give it a try?’
‘Totally!’ Milla’s frowning. ‘I’ve got one other question…’
I’m hoping it’s less exacting than Milla’s usual ones, because I’m still very hazy on the detail, but I make my smile enthusiastic. ‘Yes?’
Milla gives a cough. ‘If the rumours are true that you and Kit went for a midnight swim at High Tides in your underwear – how did you keep your hands off him, Aunty Flo?’
The only way to deal with that is to go out to get the lemon meringue pie.