Chapter 17
This is a bad idea , thought Kitty as she climbed the hill towards Alice’s house.
She was meant to be keeping her head down in Saffron Bay, not plonking herself right in the middle of an existing friendship group.
Before she could change her mind and walk home, someone called her name.
She turned to see Emily barrelling along the road towards her.
Kitty crouched down, and Emily skidded to a stop in front of her, breathless and smiling.
‘Nick didn’t say you’d be here.’ The little girl gulped back breaths in between huge smiles.
‘I’m not sure he knew I would be.’ Kitty crouched down and murmured, ‘I don’t know anyone else who’ll be here, so maybe we could stick together?’
‘Yes, please.’
Kitty stood, smiling. ‘Have you enjoyed your first day in Saffron Bay?’
Emily chewed her bottom lip as she thought about the question. ‘I had a milkshake and cake, and did some colouring.’
‘That sounds like a lovely day.’
Emily glanced behind her to check Nick was a safe distance away. She leaned forward and whispered in Kitty’s ear, ‘I don’t think Nick can cook. He burned my cheese on toast at lunchtime.’
‘Oh dear.’ Kitty tried hard not to laugh. ‘Did you eat it?’
‘I had to,’ said Emily, her eyes wide. ‘I didn’t want to upset him, although it was disgusting.’
Kitty chuckled. ‘I’m sure the food tonight will be better.’
‘I hope so.’
‘Hi,’ said Nick, catching them up.
‘Hi.’ Kitty racked her brain for something to say and drew a blank. Nick seemed to have shrunk since the last time she saw him, his broad shoulders curled forwards, his eyes devoid of their cocky sparkle.
‘You’re heading to Alice’s too?’ he asked.
‘Yes.’
‘We’d better go or we’ll be late.’
His voice was monotone. Kitty wondered what could have precipitated the change in mood.
‘How’s everything going?’ asked Kitty as they walked up to the front door of Seashell Cottage.
Nick shrugged. ‘Alright.’
‘That good, hey?’ Before Kitty could say more, the door opened, Alice beaming at them.
Kitty handed over a bottle of red wine, and Nick shoved his hands in his pockets, embarrassed to have turned up empty-handed.
‘Oh, that’s so kind of you,’ said Alice, reading the wine label. ‘Wow, this isn’t the usual cheap plonk I buy. Come on through. We’ve got more guests than we originally intended. Hopefully, it won’t be too much of a squeeze.’
As they walked along the hall, a small hand slipped into Kitty’s.
She looked down to see Emily with round hazel eyes as raucous laughter reached them.
Kitty tilted her head towards the sound, rolled her eyes, and winked.
Emily smiled, but the closer they drew to the closed door, the tighter she gripped Kitty’s hand.
Kitty could relate. With every step, the hallway seemed too narrow and the air thicker.
She wasn’t sure she could do this. Behind them, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nick slouching along the corridor.
His support of Emily was non-existent, and it was hard to feel any sympathy for his hangdog expression when he wasn’t making any effort.
‘Everyone, they’re here,’ said Alice, opening the door.
The chatter and laughter stilled. Kitty was greeted by a sea of expectant faces.
Emily slid behind her legs, a thumb stuck in her mouth.
Kitty bent down, opened her arms and Emily climbed into them, wrapping her legs around Kitty’s waist as she straightened up, and burying her head in her neck.
Kitty swallowed the lump in her throat as the memory of cuddling a different little girl surfaced.
‘Is this alright?’ Kitty mouthed to Nick, jerking her head in Emily’s direction.
He shrugged in response, and she turned to the room of spectators.
‘Right, I think you’ve met most of the people here,’ said Alice. ‘Solly and Sylvie you definitely know, and Luke, my partner, May, my sister, Steve and Sam who run the general store, and their nephew, Tom.’
‘Hi, everyone,’ said Kitty, forcing a smile on her face.
Behind her, Nick grunted. What a selfish git.
It wasn’t only Emily who needed support.
Kitty hadn’t been in a social gathering this big for years, or any social gathering for that matter, and it was hard to ignore the sensation that she was leading a party of unwilling followers into a lion’s den.
She cast her mind back to the old Kitty, who had held her own in busy Irish pubs, and been the life and soul of the party.
If there was even a trace of old Kitty left, she needed it to surface now.
‘Hi, I’m May.’ A young woman stepped towards them.
‘I’m sorry there are so many of us. It must be quite overwhelming.
’ She smiled at Emily. ‘Would you like to come and see my bedroom? It’s much quieter in there, and I still have a few toys you can play with.
’ May’s cheeks turned rosy, and she added, ‘I’m far too old for toys.
’ She giggled. ‘I just can’t bear to part with my favourites. ’
‘You’re never too old for toys,’ said Kitty, grateful for the thoughtful young woman offering a way out. She turned to Nick. ‘Do you want to come and help me settle Emily in May’s room?’
‘No, I’ll stay here,’ said Nick, crossing the room and picking up a beer.
Kitty’s scowl failed to hit its mark because he avoided looking at her.
What was wrong with that man? May led them through to a double bedroom with the most extraordinary sea views.
It was a room that spoke of a girl on the edge of womanhood, and Kitty remembered Alice telling her May was studying for her A-levels.
‘I love your room,’ said Kitty, sitting on the bed, Emily still clinging on like a limpet.
‘Thanks. Alice made sure it was nice for me. I didn’t want to move here at first, but now I love it. Are you pleased to have landed in Saffron Bay?’
‘Yes,’ said Kitty truthfully.
‘And what about you, Emily? Have you been to the beach yet?’
Emily’s head nodded against Kitty’s shoulder. ‘We made a sandcastle yesterday, didn’t we, Emily?’
‘Yes.’
‘I took a picture on my phone. Shall we show May?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’ll need you to sit beside me so I can get to my phone. Is that OK?’
Emily climbed off Kitty and sat next to her, shuffling into her side and keeping her head down.
‘Here we go.’ Kitty pulled her phone from her pocket. ‘Look, May, this was all Emily’s work.’
‘Wow,’ said May, crouching down to view the photo. ‘I’m sorry, Kitty.’ May winked. ‘I don’t believe Emily made that sandcastle. It’s far too good. Only an artist could have made something as beautiful as that.’
‘It was me.’ Emily lifted her face and gave May a defiant glare.
May laughed and sat down on the bed beside a collection of teddies propped up against the pillows.
‘Emily, I wonder if you could help me. See all these teddies? I’m getting a bit old for them, and they think I’m too boring because I don’t play with them anymore.
Would you like to choose one to look after? ’
Emily grinned. ‘You mean to keep?’
May grinned. ‘Yes, to keep.’
Emily crawled on her knees and began systematically laying out the teddy bears. She looked from one to the other, finally picking up the scruffiest-looking bear, missing an eye and with stuffing spilling out of one leg. ‘Can I have this one, please?’
‘You’d like Edward? Are you sure? He’s a bit old and frail, poor guy.’
‘I can look after him.’
‘Alright then, he’s yours. Will you bring him here sometimes for a visit?’
Emily nodded and hugged the teddy tight to her chest.
‘That’s very generous of you,’ said Kitty. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind parting with him?’
‘Certain,’ said May. ‘I was planning to take this lot to the charity shop. Much better to see them go to good homes.’ Then, lowering her voice, she added, ‘Emily seems like she could do with a friend.’
‘You’re right,’ said Kitty, looking at the little girl who was staring out at the view from the window. ‘I think she’ll be ready to go next door soon, but it was kind of you to spot that she needed time to acclimatise.’
‘I remember what it’s like to be the new girl,’ said May, with a shrug of her shoulders. ‘It’s no big deal.’
Kitty smiled, wondering if May’s powers of perception extended to her, too. Hiding out in May’s bedroom for Emily’s sake gave her breathing space, a chance to straighten her thoughts and gather her strength before joining the others next door. She was grateful to May for that.