Chapter 4
The Truth Remains Hidden
Holly:
Morning Owen
Sorry about how the lesson ended
Can we have a fresh start for my next one?
Maybe call lesson two, my first lesson?
Owen:
No Problem
It wasn’t even the worst first lesson I’ve taught
Holly:
But you usually teach kids, right?
Owen:
Yes…
Holly:
So that doesn’t make me feel much better
Owen:
…
…
…
Holly could picture Owen trying to dig himself out of the hole he hadn’t even really dug himself into.
She’d taken faux offence to his attempt to placate her - she knew her behaviour poolside was akin to a child who was scared of the water.
On seeing all those dots appearing and disappearing, she decided to put him out of his misery.
Holly:
I’m only joking
Thanks for trying to make me feel better though
Owen:
I’ve been told I’m good at making people feel better in person
Holly spat out the tea she’d just sipped at Owen’s blatant innuendo.
Holly:
Owen!
Owen:
OK, shit, that sounded different in my head
I meant
…
…
I can’t reword it so it doesn’t sound like a corny pick up line
Holly:
?? Are you sure it wasn’t a corny pick up line?
And because it was easier to talk to him like this over her phone, she added:
And FYI, I’m not usually averse to pick up lines
I just wasn’t expecting one so early in the day
Owen:
So how about the dinner I suggested?
As Holly tried to process what was happening on her phone, another message appeared.
Owen:
Come on, you know you want to. Are you free on Thursday night?
She could do Thursday. Dinner on a Thursday felt like less pressure than a Friday.
But Rose’s words from their chat on that chilly beach came back to her.
She’d been right. Dating Owen whilst she had all their lessons scheduled was not a good idea.
Part of her wanted to sack off the lessons and date him.
But something had clicked into place on the side of the pool with him on Sunday.
She’d had enough of her phobia ruining the water for her - ruining her shared experiences with Natalie.
And something about Owen was whispering to her that he was the one who could help her with this; he could teach her to not be afraid of the water.
She grabbed the battered grey plastic cube from her bedside table and gently pressed the rubber button beneath the screen, asking the powers within what they thought.
‘Is it a good idea to go on this date with Owen?’ she asked out loud in her quiet bedroom. She opened her eyes and focussed on the small words as they flickered on the plastic screen. The Truth Remains Hidden stared back, which was good enough for her.
Holly:
As much as I’d love to, can we put a pin in it?
Owen:
***
Holly:
I mean, can we focus on the lessons for now?
And the mammoth task you’ve got in teaching me to swim?
Maybe we can go for dinner to celebrate you doing the impossible?
After we’ve finished our lessons?
Owen:
Mr Fincham really did a number on you
Holly shuddered as she thought back to her primary school teacher.
Holly:
I can still picture his wiry face
His scruffy moustache scowling at me
She grimaced as a vision of his pasty face and oily hair filled her head.
A memory sparked to life of the flat cap he wore to and from school.
Each morning he’d place it on his desk. Sloane once dared Holly to wear it.
Usually, Holly was so scared of getting into trouble she’d never risk breaking the rules.
But emboldened for some reason, she took the bait this time.
When she’d snatched up the hat, a folded square of oily kitchen towel had slipped out onto his chair.
She’d baulked then as she did now at the memory.
That oily square had squashed any thoughts of putting his hat on her head.
Sloane had laughed at her, crowing that she knew Holly wouldn’t be able to complete the dare.
It had been Seb who had come to her rescue, scooping up the hat and wearing it with a flourish just as Mr Fincham had strode back in from the staffroom.
Seb had received a lunchtime detention and a phone call home for his chivalrous behaviour.
When he’d taken the hat from her hand, Holly and Seb’s friendship had been cemented.
Her phone buzzed, bringing her back to the present with a welcomed nudge.
Owen:
It’s a deal
I teach you to swim
Then we go out - somewhere nice
Holly:
Deal
Owen:
And it might not be after the 10 lessons
Holly:
***
Owen:
Nine more weeks is a long time, Hols
I’m feeling motivated to teach you in record time
I know you can swim
I remember you being able to before Mr Fincham
Holly wasn’t used to being the focus of someone’s attention like this. She liked it. She’d been missing it, she realised.
Holly:
Work your magic Owen
And because she couldn’t quite believe she’d said that to him, she dropped her phone on the couch and left it there whilst she went to get dressed.
She showered quickly letting the water wash away her embarrassment.
She wasn’t used to flirting with people and it brought back all the comments and memories of not feeling good enough.
Of not being someone who could be desired.
When she came back to her phone, 15 minutes later, she winced as she unlocked it, preparing herself for Owen’s reply.
But a smile pushed away her trepidation as she saw his message.
It was a selfie with him holding what looked like a magician’s wand - the kind children’s entertainers used.
Why he had one of those could be their first topic of conversation at their next lesson, Holly decided.
*
Holly’s second lesson came round sooner than she was ready for.
But wearing her new swimsuit helped more than she had anticipated.
During a shopping trip with Rose, they’d come close to giving up on finding anything Holly felt good in.
When they were about to head home, Rose spotted a pretty blue floral one piece in a cute independent shop.
Throughout that morning, Holly must have tried on five different swimsuits and each one had left her feeling a little more defeated.
She hadn’t been able to contend with taking her clothes off again, to face even more disappointment in the mirrors that would wrap around her.
She was done with feeling like that, so she’d bought this costume on a whim and a prayer.
When she’d first put it on in the solace of her bedroom, relief had swept through her body like a tidal wave.
Not only did it fit, it looked good. This time, as she zipped up her robe in the changing rooms, and made her way out to the pool, she was able to push open the door without hesitation.
Owen greeted her from the side of the pool today and she smiled at him as he dropped himself down by the edge and sat with his legs in the water, looking up at her with his fresh blue eyes.
‘How does this sound for today?’ he asked as he swished his feet in the water, ‘Just feet in to start, and then up to your calves.’
Holly stepped closer to the edge and let out a long breath in one fluid motion through tight lips.
Before she could give herself time to panic, she nodded.
Owen smiled and held up a hand to help her join him.
She used his firm grip to ease herself down next to him and sat back with her legs tucked in under her arms. As they settled next to each other, their hands at their sides rested millimetres from each other.
‘We won’t go any further,’ he assured her, his voice calm and soothing.
Holly nodded at him. And then, because the poolside temperature was starting to get unbearably warm, she shucked off her robe, letting it fall to the tiled ground.
‘If I wasn’t technically your teacher right now, I’d be telling you how good you look, Hols.’ Owen smiled at her with wide, appreciative eyes. And then his left hand encased her right in an embrace that made her heart flutter.
‘I don’t think compliments breach any professional conduct edicts, Owen,’ she teased.
‘What I’m thinking most definitely does though,’ he winked and then added ‘just keeping it professional, like you requested.’
Holly looked at the water below her and slowly inched her toes towards it.
Remembering her frustrations with herself she tutted and thrust her feet into the water in one fluid movement.
Holding her breath, she waited for the panic to take root.
But it didn’t. Instead, her head focussed on the warm water as it ebbed around her feet, and the comforting tightness of Owen’s hand that still held hers. The warmth and contact was nice.
‘Well done. This is a great first step,’ Owen congratulated her. His words felt heavy with meaning. So often people would offer baseless praise, that would feel hollow. But Holly knew Owen was proud of her.
‘Now what?’
‘Now, we sit for a bit and chat. How has your week been?’
Holly let her breathing relax as her feet gently sat in the water, being softly buffeted left to right as Owen’s legs moved next to hers.
‘My week has been fine. Went shopping,’ she said nodding down to her swimsuit, ‘but what has been on my mind all week is… why do you own a wand?’
The question caught him off guard, and Holly could see him working through his confusion to get on the same page as her.
‘Oh yeah. I sent you that photo.’ He let out a quiet laugh before relaxing again.
‘And?’
‘And… I might do a bit of magic in my spare time.’ He shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal.
‘Owen Harrison, are you a secret magician?’ Holly whispered, her eyes wide in anticipation. The excitement at this potential discovery had her loosening his hold on her hand so she could clap her hands together with delight.
His laugh rumbled through him and if their hands had still been connected, the vibrations would have travelled to her too. She was a little disappointed she didn’t get to experience that.
‘Well, I’m not a member of the Magic Circle or anything, but I can do a few tricks.’
‘Natalie would love to see some tricks.’