Would You Rather

Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

Sophie could hear the girls laughing all through the house. Tamar had shyly asked if it would be okay for her to invite a couple of her friends down from London for Rey’s beach party, to thank them for allowing her to sleep on their sofas when she’d been desperate. Two young women had arrived that morning and as far as Sophie could tell, the three of them hadn’t stopped giggling since. It was making her smile as she stood in the kitchen, packing up the food she’d prepared for the barbecue.

Beau was at the beach already, helping Rey set up, and Sophie was going to head over shortly. She texted Tamar – with three floors, it was easier than shouting. Will you and the girls be ready to go shortly?

The answer was a loud shriek, then the sound of feet pounding down the stairs. Tamar arrived first, followed by her friends, Yewande and Niamh.

‘How do we look?’ asked Tamar and the three of them struck poses, she and Yewande were wearing long dresses in boldly printed fabrics.

‘You all look fabulous!’ said Sophie. ‘I love those dresses. Where are they from?’

‘I make them,’ said Yewande. ‘It’s my label.’

‘Mine is a skirt and a top,’ said Tamar, throwing her arms in the air to reveal an expanse of flat stomach.

‘They’re so great, I wouldn’t mind something like that myself,’ said Sophie.

‘I will measure you before I go home,’ said Yewande.

‘What about me?’ asked Niamh, doing a twirl. She had an extraordinary thing on her head, like the hair from several different-coloured troll dolls – pink, turquoise, yellow, lime green. The rest of her outfit was a pair of tartan pyjama bottoms, an old band tour t-shirt and fluffy slippers on her feet.

‘You look amazing too,’ said Sophie. ‘Did you make that, er, headpiece?’

‘Yes,’ said Niamh. ‘I found the wigs stuffed into a bag in a charity shop and I sewed them onto a beanie.’ She pulled it off to reveal a shock of bleached blonde hair.

‘You might find it a bit hot on a beach in August,’ said Sophie, ‘but I can guarantee that Rey will love it.’

When they got to the beach Rey was catering on a grand scale, as Sophie had known he would. He had three barbecues set up, with stacks of cool boxes full of food in the shade to the side of the beach hut and a row of plastic tubs full of ice and bottles.

‘If anyone wants to drink red wine today, they can bring their own,’ he said, mixing a large tub of Pimm’s for good measure.

‘No one is going to go thirsty – or hungry – that’s for sure,’ said Sophie.

‘Or fungry,’ said Tippy, who was wearing a full-length psychedelic print halter-neck dress. ‘That’s when you’re starving for funnnnn...’

As soon as they’d arrived, Beau took the car straight back to West Hill Road to pick up Olive and Agata without really saying hello to the girls. Sophie wondered if he was regretting shaving all his hair off. Olive had done it when they’d smoke-fired the pots for Tamar’s book in an old dustbin in her back garden. He’d said it was a declaration to mark a new phase in his life – which was so like something Matt would have said and done, it had given Sophie a wobble.

But she wasn’t thinking about any of that today. She paused to take in the setting. A perfect August afternoon, the sky a dense blue, as though you could cut it with a knife and it would be that colour all the way through, the beach hut looking lovely with its doors open wide to reveal the bright-orange painted interior, strings of polyester marigolds festooned all around. There were various rugs and mats spread out on the shingle in front of the hut, dotted with cushions and groups of folding chairs and stools.

‘How many are we expecting?’ she asked Rey.

‘I’m not sure. Tippy and I have invited our new friends from the Fountain, and Beau and Tamar have both asked people they know down here, so I don’t know... thirty? Forty?’

‘Gosh,’ said Sophie, noticing an alarmingly large speaker set up at the side of the hut. ‘Have you told the neighbours?’

‘A card under every door. I think quite a few of them are going to join us.’

People started to arrive and a merry hum of chat and laughter built up around the hut. Sophie didn’t know any of the guests and when they asked what had made her decide to move from London to Hastings, she just said the kids were grown up and it was time for the next stage – which was the original reason. She didn’t have to elaborate.

Next to arrive were Olive and Agata, who was wearing a bright blue hat with a huge brim, large dark glasses and even more costume jewellery than usual. She looked like a tiny film star. Rey sprang into action, installing her in a comfortable chair with a stool beside it for her drink and Tamar introduced her friends, who were immediately enchanted.

Sophie smiled at the happy little crew and looked round for Beau. She couldn’t see him, although he had to be there because he’d just dropped the neighbours off.

When there was still no sign of him fifteen minutes later, she went over to Olive.

‘What did Beau do after he brought you over?’

‘Ah,’ said Olive, looking a bit uncomfortable. ‘He’s gone back to the house. He said he just wasn’t “feeling it” and if you asked, I was to tell you sorry. So – sorry.’

‘That’s weird. Beau loves a party. Everyone can fall in love with him and he can show off. Do you think it’s the hair? Lack of.’

Olive laughed. ‘I asked him that, and he said – I quote – that his virgin scalp made him feel pure and free and he wanted to be alone to commune with it.’

Sophie rolled her eyes. More Matt-osity.

She looked back towards the beach hut. The crowd seemed to have doubled in size. The young ones were already dancing, Tippy leading them in a routine to whatever song was blaring out. It was an adorable sight, but Sophie couldn’t help feeling disappointed. She’d been really looking forward to having a swim and a dance with Beau and generally sharing the joy together.

She was wondering what to do when Olive grasped her shoulder.

‘Come on, Soph,’ she said. ‘Let’s go and have a boogie.’

Sophie was just taking a rest between numbers, when she noticed that Charlie had arrived. He was down the side of the hut, stashing cans of his fizz into Rey’s ice buckets, and she was surprised to see he had a woman with him. Rather beautiful, with natural grey hair cut quite short, a little younger than him. Sophie didn’t know he had a partner, but then she’d never thought to ask. He’d always been on his own when she’d seen him and he’d said he lived alone, so maybe this lady was more of a girlfriend. Now she felt bad she hadn’t asked him if he’d wanted to bring someone when he’d come for supper. Oh, well, she knew now. And they did look right together, these two.

She went over to talk to them.

‘Sophie,’ said Charlie, smiling warmly and opening his arms wide.

She kissed him lightly on the cheek – sensitive to the other woman’s feelings – and put out her hand to her. ‘Hello, I’m Sophie,’ she said to the woman. ‘My brother-in-law introduced me to Charlie and he very kindly supplied his wonderful fizz for my housewarming party.’ I’m not hitting on him.

‘Cicely,’ she said, kissing Sophie on the cheek. ‘Charlie has told me about you. It’s lovely to meet you.’

Perhaps it was quite a casual relationship or early days, Sophie thought. She’d be sure to give them plenty of space.

Heading back out to the party throng, she still couldn’t help wishing Beau was there. She’d texted and called, but he hadn’t answered and it was turning into one of those niggling mother worries.

She’d just got out her phone to try again when she saw him walking along the path that led to the beach huts. There was another man with him and even at a distance, something about him was familiar, but it wasn’t until they got closer that she suddenly realised it was Sebastian. What on earth was he doing there?

Sophie rushed over to greet them.

‘Seb!’ she said. ‘What a lovely surprise. I had no idea you were coming.’

‘No one knew I was coming,’ said Sebastian. ‘Except Rey. He rang and invited me and we decided to keep it secret for laughs. I dropped by your house on my way to leave my car – and found this one there. We got a taxi over together.’

Beau looked sheepish. Sophie chucked his cheeks and kissed him. She wasn’t going to lay on a guilt trip, she was just happy he was there.

‘Sorry, Mumpty,’ he said, whispering in her ear. ‘I was having a wobble, didn’t feel up to it, but I’m here now and I’m sure I’m going to love it.’

‘Go and have fun,’ Sophie said to him. ‘There are loads of lovely people your age. Get stuck in. We all need this.’

She turned back to Sebastian. ‘Welcome to Paradise-on-Sea,’ she said. ‘Have you got your trunks on?’

He patted his hip. ‘Beau lent me his. I hadn’t really thought we’d be going in, but it does look pretty appealing now I’m here. He’s going to wear his underpants, of course, which I’m sure he will enjoy, knowing our Beausie.’

Sophie laughed. It was so great having someone else there who really knew them, not just Rey. It was odd when everyone around you had only known you since you were middle-aged. She’d been nineteen when she met Sebastian.

‘No Freya?’ she asked.

‘She’s in Washington. She’s doing a hands-across-theocean exchange thing with her equivalent from the Washington Post . She’s there for a month.’

‘Gosh, that sounds impressive. Will you go out and spend some time with her? You could do some guest cartooning for them, be a Washington power couple.’

‘No way. I think it’s the most boring place in the world. I did suggest meeting in New York, but she doesn’t want to miss a minute of Capitol Hill fun times. She loves it there.’

‘Well, I think you’re going to love it here,’ said Sophie, taking his arm and leading him to the Pimm’s bucket.

Relieved his mother didn’t seem upset with him, Beau went to find a beer, but after fishing one out of a tub of melting ice, he still didn’t feel like breaking into the party proper.

He was sitting on an upturned bucket at the back of the hut when Rey came round the corner.

‘There you are,’ he said. ‘Princess Party Pooper. Where on earth have you been? Does your mum know you’re here?’

Beau nodded, but couldn’t bring himself to say anything. He didn’t want to start blubbing.

‘Hey,’ said Rey, sinking to his knees in front of him. ‘Your hair doesn’t look that bad.’ He chuckled, clearly hoping Beau would laugh too.

But Beau still couldn’t speak.

Rey took his hands in his. ‘I know, big boy. It’s crap. You’re much too young to lose your dad and it’s not just that either. I can so clearly remember the stage of life you’re in. Everyone thinks it’s wonderful because you’re young and beautiful and carefree – well, you are. I was a fat boy who couldn’t come out to his Indian parents – but it’s actually tough, because you’re still finding your way and everything is so uncertain. You have adult responsibilities, but you don’t quite know who you are yet. I was training to be an accountant when I really wanted to be RuPaul, or at the very least Alan Carr.’

That got a small smile out of Beau.

‘And I know about the poster thing, Beausie...’

Beau’s head shot up to look at him.

‘I saw it in the Standard ,’ said Rey. ‘It was horrible. I haven’t mentioned it to anyone and I didn’t tell you I’d seen it, because I thought if you wanted to talk about it, you would.’

‘Thanks,’ said Beau, quietly. Rey had always had his back.

‘Do you want to talk about it?’

Yes – no , thought Beau.

‘It was just so humiliating,’ he said. ‘The whole idea of the ring thing was not to be a disrespectful bastard, but it seems I was. I thought it was nice.’

‘But it’s not one size fits all, is it? What is a casual hook-up to one person is a big deal to another. You meant well, but that young woman was offended by your “ring thing”, as you call it. Quite an unfortunate turn of phrase actually, in the context.’ He burst out laughing and this time Beau joined in. ‘So, she was hurt by you leaving the ring and disappearing, for reasons of her own that you couldn’t possibly have known about, because you didn’t know her as a person. She was just someone you had sex with.’

Beau took in what Rey was saying and the laughter left him as quickly as it had arrived. It confirmed everything that was making him feel so bad.

I am a sleaze , he thought. There I was thinking I was cool and modern and a feminist, ha bloody ha, but actually I’m just a heinous sleaze. Like my dad. Everyone has always told me I’m just like him and it turns out I am. Right down to the way I treat women .

‘I’ve met someone.’ It was like he could hear his father’s voice saying it. He shuddered.

‘Are you cold?’ said Rey. ‘We need to get you out of this shade and onto the bloody beach – it’s going off down there. You’ll love it. Just try and put all that crap to the back of your mind and enjoy the party. Your mum really needs this – we all do. Okay?’

Beau nodded. He would do his best. And if it all went pear-shaped, no one could say he hadn’t tried to avert it.

When he emerged from the side of the beach hut, he saw Tamar waving at him. As she stood up and ran over to greet him, he felt a smile spread across his face, even while the dread deepened in his belly with every step he got closer to the happy crowd on the beach.

‘Beausie!’ she said. ‘Where have you been, you freak? I’ve rung you a million times. So rude.’

‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t feeling well. Anyway, I’m here now and we’re going to have a good time.’

‘We already are, but it will be even better now you’re here. I want you to meet my friends, you were helping Rey when they arrived. You’re going to love them.’ She grabbed his hand, but he gently pulled away.

‘Let me just get a drink,’ he said, hiding the unopened bottle he already had behind his back, ‘and then I’ll come and find you. Okay?’

‘Well, don’t be long,’ said Tamar.

Pretending to take a fresh beer from one of the many icy tubs, he scanned the crowd to locate the person he was worried about seeing. There she was, sitting in the group Tamar had gone back to, with some people they’d met together at the Printworks bar and some others he didn’t know. The challenge was how to get her on her own.

Just then Olive appeared, actually looking for a beer.

‘Hey, baldie,’ she said. ‘You okay, mate?’

‘Yeah, sorry about that. I was having a bit of a weird one.’

‘No worries. It’s a good party, it would have been a shame to miss it.’

‘Ols, could you do me a small favour?’

‘I’m not shaving your arse,’ said Olive, laughing.

‘Oh, you’re no fun. Actually, it’s about a girl.’

‘I thought the whole point of your egg head was to keep you off that for a while.’

‘It is,’ he said, ‘and I am still committed to the temporary celibacy thing, but there’s a girl here I need to sort something out with about that, retrospectively.’

‘Okay. Retrospective pork fork business?’

‘Well, if you will put it so delicately. It’s that one talking to Tamar now. Cool blonde hair. Very pretty.’

‘Niamh?’

Was that her name? ‘Um, yeah. Can you ask her – nicely – if she would come and speak to me, here, in the beach hut? I’ll wait.’

‘So is that one of your pillow rings she’s wearing?’

Beau stared at her. ‘How do you know about that?’

‘It was in the paper,’ said Olive. ‘I went up to London, happened to see that issue of the Standard .’

‘Why didn’t you say anything?’

‘Because your dad died and you’d already told me you were jacking in the one-night-stands gig when we did the head shave.’

‘Wow,’ said Beau. ‘Thank you. Did you tell my mum?’

‘Of course I bloody didn’t,’ said Olive. ‘Right, I’m going to get Niamh for you. Get your speech ready.’

So Olive had known and Rey had known and they’d said nothing, which was great, but it did also make it more likely that other people knew. People like Tamar. As a former East End dweller who was totally across social media, he didn’t see how she could not have heard about it – and now here was her friend, wearing a Mojobo ring. One of the ‘victims’. Tamar hadn’t said anything or been weird with him, but still, he was the new Beau now. He had to do the right thing.

He’d just sat down on a chair at the back of the hut when she walked in. He sprang up again. She really was very pretty.

‘Hi, Niamh,’ he said. ‘Sorry, this is all a bit peculiar, but we’ve met before.’

She was looking at him with a puzzled expression, but when Beau put both his hands on his head, trying to think what to say next, her face broke into a smile.

‘Oh, it’s you!’ she said, holding up her hand to show the ring with its big yellow stone. ‘I didn’t recognise you without your hair. You left me this fabulous ring.’

‘I’m Beau,’ he said, tentatively. ‘I’m not sure we swapped names that night...’

‘No, we didn’t,’ said Niamh. ‘No names, no numbers. I prefer it like that. Thanks for the ring, it was a lovely surprise.’

‘Really?’ said Beau. ‘You weren’t offended?’

‘No. We had a good night and you weren’t there when I woke up, which was a top result as far as I was concerned, and you left me this. I love it. I wear it all the time.’

‘So did Tamar tell you I was here?’

Niamh looked puzzled. ‘She told me the lady she was working with had a really hot son and there are lots of other smokin’ guys down here, so Yewande and I broke the land speed record getting to the station and here I am.’

‘She didn’t say I was the “ring guy”?’

‘No. Why would she? She doesn’t know who I got this ring from.’

‘I’m so relieved you’re not upset with me. Somebody was recently and it’s been rather difficult.’

‘Oh, yeah,’ said Niamh. ‘I saw those stupid posters. What a bunny boiler. Anyway, there’s a great party happening out there – and don’t worry, I won’t say anything to anyone. If someone recognises the ring as one of yours, I’ll just say I bought it. Where could I have done that?’

‘There’s a shop on Borough Market that sells them,’ he said.

‘There you are, we have our story. Come on then, let’s party down.’

Beau threw back his head and howled like a wolf, then ran out of the hut.

Now Beau was there – and looking like he was having a good time – Sophie really started to enjoy herself. And it was so lovely having Sebastian there too, the perfect alternative wing man to Rey, who was, quite rightly, having his own seriously good time. Sebastian remembered Charlie from the housewarming and they’d formed a little group, sitting on one of the blankets with him and Cicely.

‘Sophie has discovered the joys of saltmarsh hogget,’ said Cicely, when Charlie re-joined them with fresh tins of his chilled fizz.

‘Ah, yes, salty coastal living, you’ve got to love it,’ said Charlie.

‘There are so many good local producers around here,’ said Sophie. ‘I’m having a great time discovering them all – and I still haven’t seen your setup, Charlie.’

‘Oh, that’s a treat,’ said Cicely. ‘It’s so great to see the land being used so well. Before Charlie decided to make the big move, we had a tenant farmer and we weren’t happy with the way it was going with him, so it’s a great thing all round.’

There was a lot of ‘we’ in that statement, Sophie noted, for people who weren’t living together. Perhaps she could ask Thomas what the scenario was. Not that it mattered, but it would be good to know.

‘It must have been a big deal to start something like that from scratch,’ Sebastian was saying.

‘It was,’ said Charlie. ‘But I needed a challenge at that point in my life and it gave me an excuse to go and do a course in Champagne, so that was a bonus.’

‘I wouldn’t mind that homework,’ said Sebastian, raising his can, and they all laughed.

‘We’re going to start picking soon,’ said Charlie. ‘You can both come and help if you like. It’s great fun.’

Sophie was about to ask Charlie about his production methods when a great cheer went up and they turned round to see a group of young men in swimming trunks – Beau in his undies – holding something aloft and heading towards the shoreline.

It took Sophie a moment to realise their cargo was a person. Rey. ‘Put me down, you horrible little bullies!’ he was shrieking.

‘I’ll swap places with you,’ shouted Tippy, bringing up the rear as they passed Sophie and co at some speed.

‘I’ve got to see this,’ said Sophie, jumping to her feet. ‘Rey has never swum in the sea before.’

‘I think we should all go in,’ said Charlie, taking off his shirt and pulling down his trousers to reveal board shorts with a bright sunflower print.

Sebastian did the same, and after a shared girly giggle, Sophie and Cicely shrugged off their dresses and they chased after the group, along with what seemed like most of the party.

Charlie ran ahead – clearly pretty fit for his age – and into the sea, so he was in before anyone else, with Sebastian following close behind, in what Sophie suspected was the usual spirit of Crommelin competitiveness. She arrived at the water’s edge just as the boys slowed down and started to wade in, still holding Rey high. She was really hoping they weren’t planning to dump him from a great height.

‘Just a bit further, Rey,’ said Beau. ‘It’s not cold at all, nothing worse than your average gin and tonic, three ice cubes. Maybe four. We’re going to submerge you gently, like a baptism. Not of fire, of lovely sea water.’

‘Get me out of here this minute!’ screamed Rey.

‘Okay, team,’ said Beau – it would be him, thought Sophie, clearly fully recovered from his wobble. ‘On three. One... two... three.’

And then they lowered Rey, fully clothed apart from his shoes, into the water.

Sophie watched in horror as his body seemed to go rigid as it hit the water, rather than bending into it to stand up again or to start swimming or floating – and his head went right under.

That was when she realised: Rey couldn’t swim. That’s why he didn’t go in the sea. He just pottered about in the shallow end of swimming pools and got out again.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, she ran into the water towards her friend, but before she could get to him, she saw somebody was already there, holding Rey in a gentle but reassuring grip with his head above the water.

It was Charlie.

‘There,’ he was saying. ‘We’re all good. Do you want to get out?’

Rey spluttered and wiped the hair out of his eyes.

‘You little fucker,’ he said, pointing at Beau, who was looking a little abashed. ‘You nearly drowned me. All these years I’ve been your devoted uncle and that’s the thanks I get. Murdered!’

But he didn’t look as though he minded as much as he was saying. In fact, Sophie could see he was thoroughly enjoying the attention. He turned back to look at Charlie, who was still holding on to him loosely.

‘And hello to you, Silver Fox Baywatch Charlie. The last time we met you were fully clothed. I think I like you better like this.’

‘Do you want to get out of the water now?’ said Charlie.

‘Not if you stay in to look after me,’ said Rey.

‘Okay,’ said Charlie. ‘Want a swimming lesson?’

‘Does that mean you’ll let go of me?’

‘No. I’ll just hold you in different places.’

‘Ooh!’ said Rey. ‘Hold me anywhere, Charlie. I’m liking this party more all the time.’

Sophie looked round for Cicely and swam over to her. ‘Do you think Charlie minds?’ she asked her. ‘Rey is flirting outrageously with him. I can practically feel the breeze from his eyelash batting over here.’

‘Of course not,’ said Cicely. ‘I’m sure he’s loving it. Charlie’s secretly quite vain about his physique.’

‘Do you mind?’

‘Why on earth would I mind?’

‘Well, some women don’t like gay men hitting on their partners, even in jest.’

Cicely threw back her head and hooted with laughter. ‘Did you think Charlie was my husband?’

‘Well, I didn’t know...’ That’s why she had carefully said ‘partner’. Boyfriend?

‘He’s my brother!’

‘Oh,’ said Sophie, her hands flying up to her mouth, feeling like a prize idiot. ‘I’m so sorry. I just thought, actually I don’t know what I thought.’

‘Well, we didn’t tell you, so how could you have known?’ said Cicely, laughing. ‘It was very rude of us, sorry, then we were talking about “our” land, so I can see why you thought that, but it’s the family property, not ours as a couple.’

‘I see,’ said Sophie. ‘That is a relief. I’ve been feeling really bad that I didn’t invite you when Charlie came for supper.’

Cicely laughed. ‘Well, I was at home in Hampshire with my actual husband. But I did hear about the dinner. He had a great time.’ She paused. ‘I think he’s really enjoying getting to know some different people down here,’ she continued, sounding as though she were picking her words carefully.

‘Charlie was very vulnerable when he made the big decision to came back to the house. He’d had a tough time and was pretty chewed up. It’s been great for him, working on the land, creating something amazing, but most of the people he knows here are from our parents’ social world or old work contacts – so the same old, same old. He really needs a fresh milieu for the new man he is and these –’ she gestured around them, lots of guests fooling about in the water, the distinctive sound of reggae beats drifting down from the beach hut, laughter filling the air ‘– look like exactly the people he needs.’

Charlie suddenly appeared, popping up like a seal after swimming over to them underwater. ‘That was fun,’ he said, shaking his head to get the water off and then slicking his hair back with his hands.

Sophie blinked. It suited him. Showed off his tanned face and blue eyes. He looked like a man who worked outside, in a good way.

‘Thank God, you were there, Charlie,’ she said. ‘I only realised as he hit the water like a plank that he couldn’t swim. In thirty years of friendship and many joint holidays, he’s never confessed that to me.’

‘Well,’ said Charlie. ‘That is why I raced to get in the water first. They’ve all had a few relaxing beverages and the most well-intentioned pranks can go horribly wrong in those circs.’

Sophie thought she saw something in his expression change as he said it, but just for a fleeting moment and then his smile returned.

‘Now I can see the family likeness,’ she said, looking from one to the other.

‘Sophie thought we were married,’ said Cicely.

Charlie laughed. ‘Oh, that’s a good one,’ he said, ‘but I should have introduced you properly, I do apologise. Cicely is happily married to my dear brother-in-law.’

‘Did someone say brother-in-law?’ said Sebastian, swimming up. ‘Sophie has four of us, which I hope is a blessing rather than a curse, but she’s had plenty of time to get used to our funny little ways.’

Then he disappeared under the water, popping up again suddenly between her legs and standing up so she was sitting on his shoulders. She shrieked and grabbed his head for balance while Charlie did the same thing with Cicely. The two men ran through the water, the women squealing happily above them.

All around, people did the same thing – Beau scooped up Tippy – play fighting and jumping up and down, until the sea was a white foam of splashing as the shoulder-riders fell off, only to be scooped up again by someone else.

Sophie was breathless from laughing as she climbed back onto Sebastian’s shoulders to do further battle with Beau and Tippy, thinking nothing, just being in the joyous moment, surrounded by people she loved.

She wanted it to last forever.