Chapter 12
‘Are we late?’ Cora asked breathlessly as they swung into the busy car park.
‘Only two minutes. We’re here, everything’s fine.’ In a rush, they all leapt out of the car. Peering around like a meerkat, Cora exclaimed, ‘There they are! I can see them!’
Cal handed her the silver gift bag containing the multicoloured bangles they’d picked up in Accessorize, and the card she’d written in the car. ‘Have fun. We’ll be on the terrace outside the café.’
‘All right, but you have to promise not to watch me.’
‘Sweetie, there are hundreds of people here. Everyone’s going to be watching you.’
Cora clutched her rolled-up beach towel. ‘Well promise not to laugh if I fall over. And definitely don’t cheer either.’ As she raced off to join her friends she called over her shoulder, ‘And don’t take any photos!’
Cal shook his head. ‘Something else you aren’t warned about, how embarrassing you suddenly become. Well,’ he amended, ‘you do get warned, but you don’t realise how it feels until it starts happening. Look, sorry about dragging you here like this. Can you bear to put up with me for another couple of hours? Because if you’re desperate to get home, I can drop you and come back.’
‘I’ll put up with you,’ said Mimi as they made their way over to the café’s terrace. ‘It’s just a shame you couldn’t have brought me somewhere half decent.’
He smiled, because the view was spectacular. ‘Have you been here before?’
‘Only once, and that was a couple of weeks after the accident. Marcus drove me out here to see it. It was March and freezing cold; the ducks were sliding all over the ice. It was still nice, but this is just so different. It’s incredible.’
Last time the sky had been steel grey, the trees had been bare and her eyes had been so swollen from crying that it had been hard to appreciate the stark wintry beauty of the water park.
But today . . . well, it just seemed surreal that such a glorious place could exist in the middle of the countryside. Altogether, there were one hundred and fifty lakes occupying an area of over forty square miles, with a range of activities for everyone to enjoy. People came here for swimming, kayaking, rowing and picnicking. On the larger lakes you could go speedboating, wakeboarding, jet-skiing and para-skiing. Others were for fishing, sailing or paddleboarding. On dry land there were adventure playgrounds, cycle tracks and crazy golf.
And on this particular stunning lake, which had the largest inland beach in the country, were the water zorbs.
Cal found them a table and went to buy a couple of coffees. Mimi settled into her chair and surveyed the scene – a cloudless blue sky, clear turquoise water as smooth as glass glittering in the sunshine, and a crescent of silvery sand. Families sunbathed and young children played on the beach, whilst others splashed in the shallow section of the lake. Green trees lined the distant shoreline on the other side, birds swooped and sang overhead, and in the water, lined up alongside a wooden jetty, bobbed the transparent zorbs.
What a place to spend a summer’s afternoon. Just beautiful. Mimi took out her phone and switched it on out of habit, saw the stacked-up messages from Rob and Kendra and hastily turned it off again before memories of her old life could ambush her. It was easier not to think about everything that had happened; such a gorgeous setting didn’t deserve to be sullied.
Oh God, though. Kendra. To lose a boyfriend was one thing, but losing your best friend was worse.
At that moment a burst of laughter went up from a group of women at a nearby table and Mimi’s heart gave a jolt because the woman sitting with her back to her was wearing a flowery yellow jacket identical to the one Kendra had bought a few weeks ago and worn practically non-stop ever since.
Apart from when she was ripping off all her clothes in order to have sex with Rob.
‘Everything OK?’ Cal was back with a loaded tray. ‘You look . . . unsettled.’
‘I’m fine.’ Mimi nodded in the direction of the woman. ‘I just saw someone wearing the same jacket as Kendra and for a split second I thought it was her.’
He turned to look. ‘The yellow flowery thing?’
‘That’s the one. It’s from Topshop, though, so that means there are thousands of . . .’ Her voice trailed off, because the owner of the jacket had swivelled around to glare at them.
‘Excuse me?’ Her eyes wide with outrage, she pointed an accusing finger at Cal. ‘How dare you call my jacket a flowery thing? It’s not a thing, I’ll have you know, and I demand a full apology.’
God, was she serious? How terrifying. Mimi held her breath.
‘What can I say? I’m a fashion philistine.’ With a grin, Cal raised his hands in defeat. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Apology accepted, I suppose,’ the woman said. ‘But I should warn you, I may have to come up with a suitable punishment.’ And now she was unfurling herself from her chair, approaching their table. ‘Hello, Cal, how are you doing? Haven’t seen you for a couple of weeks.’ She kissed him on both cheeks and gave his arm an affectionate stroke. ‘You’re looking so well.’
‘I’m good, thanks. Della, this is Mimi Huish. Mimi, this is Della Day-Johnson, Charlotte’s mum.’
Ah, right. So that was the connection. ‘Hi!’
‘Hello, so nice to meet you!’ Della’s smile was like car headlights on full beam as she did a lightning up-and-down sweep. ‘Do you have a daughter here at the party too?’
‘She doesn’t,’ Cal explained. ‘Mimi’s a friend of mine.’
‘I see. How lovely! Well, here we all are.’ Della gestured behind her to the large table around which the other mothers were gathered. ‘You’re very welcome to join us. The more the merrier, that’s what I say!’
‘Thanks,’ said Cal, ‘but we’ll stay where we are. I have to . . . um . . .’
‘We have some private business we need to discuss,’ Mimi cut in when he paused in search of a plausible excuse. ‘Cal’s helping me out with something.’
‘Of course, of course. Well if you change your mind, you know where we are. And don’t forget what I’ve told you before.’ Della waggled an index finger at Cal. ‘If you ever fancy a drink or a bit of company, it’s open house over at our place. And Cora’s always welcome for a sleepover.’
She returned to her friends and Cal sat down with his back to them. Amused, he murmured, ‘What are they doing now?’
‘All leaning across the table, whispering like crazy to each other. About you, I should think.’
‘And you too. They’ll be wondering where you’ve come from and what’s going on.’
‘They’re going to be disappointed when they discover the truth. Actually,’ Mimi amended, ‘they won’t, will they? Because right now they think I’m your girlfriend. They’ll be delighted when they find out I’m not.’
‘We should hold hands.’ His eyes danced. ‘Don’t worry, we won’t. I wouldn’t embarrass you.’
‘I’m guessing you’re quite the centre of attention at the school gates.’ Of course he would be, given his looks, charm and availability. He was by any standards a catch.
‘I generally pretend to be busy on my phone,’ Cal admitted. ‘It’s easier.’
‘And is Della single?’
‘Divorced. Keen to move on to husband number two.’
‘She likes you.’
‘I know.’ He sighed. ‘I know she does.’
Mimi marvelled at how easy it was for them to discuss their personal issues. ‘Has there been anyone else since the accident?’
See? Like that! The words just came out as if it were the most natural question in the world.
‘No.’ Cal paused. ‘And I know it’s been over four years. I know everyone thinks I should have got over it and found someone by now. But it just isn’t happening. Every time I meet someone new, I compare them to Stacey and . . . well, they don’t measure up. And that’s when I feel myself losing interest, because why would I want someone who isn’t as good as her?’ He sat back and watched as an ant crawled over the back of his hand. ‘It all seems a bit pointless and I’d rather not bother. Shit, listen to me. This is cheery stuff, isn’t it? Bet you’re glad you came out with us now.’
Mimi said, ‘I am glad. I love it here.’
‘Dad! DAD! Look at me, watch me!’ Down on the jetty, the group of girls were all in their swimsuits, ready to climb inside the floating zorbs. Cora was bouncing up and down, waving madly to attract Cal’s attention.
‘You told me not to watch,’ he shouted back.
‘I’ve changed my mind! Watch me and take lots of photos! This is going to be great.’
For the next forty minutes there was much photograph-taking and videoing of the overexcited group of girls shrieking with laughter as they flung themselves around inside the zorbs and raced each other across the shallow water.
‘Looks like they’re having fun,’ remarked a male voice behind Mimi while Cal was down on the beach videoing Cora and her friends. Turning in surprise, she found herself gazing up into the distinctive electric-blue eyes of Paddy Fratelli.
‘They are. Hello, fancy seeing you here!’
‘Not that much of a coincidence.’ He grinned and she realised he was wearing a sea-green polo shirt bearing the logo of a water-skier on it. ‘This is where I work.’
Of course. With his wiry, athletic build and deeply tanned skin, he looked completely at home. Mimi said, ‘I should have realised. What is it you do here?’
‘I’m a water sports instructor over on one of the other lakes. Water-skiing, wakeboarding, parasailing . . . basically, anything you want to learn, I’ll teach it.’ There it was, the playful twinkle in his eye as he said the words, designed to win over every female who crossed his path. He raised a hand in greeting at the tableful of mothers who’d spotted him, and said to Mimi, ‘Heard you were back. So is this a flying visit or are you planning to stay for a while?’
‘Staying for a bit, I think, while I decide what to do next.’
‘Well for what it’s worth, the guy was an idiot and you’re better off without him.’
So word was spreading fast on the mean streets of Goosebrook; Lois must have told him about her situation. Mimi said, ‘Thanks,’ and marvelled at the irony of his remark, seeing as sleeping with other men’s girlfriends was apparently one of Paddy’s hobbies.
His mouth twitched. ‘And if you ever need any help getting over your heartbreak, you only have to ask.’
‘That’s very kind of you. But I’m not heartbroken.’
‘OK, but if you change your mind . . .’ Breaking off, Paddy nodded cheerfully as Cal returned to the table. ‘Hey, how’s Cora doing? Enjoying herself?’
‘Having the best time,’ said Cal.
‘Well, I need to drop off these keys and get back to work. I’ll see you guys around.’ He jangled the keys and left via Della’s table, saying, ‘Bye now, ladies, enjoy the rest of your day.’
‘Paddy, could I squeeze in an extra water-ski lesson next week, or are you completely booked up?’ This came from one of the glamorous mothers sitting with Della, sipping pale pink Prosecco from a mini bottle through a straw.
‘Text me and we’ll fix something up.’ Paddy briefly rested a hand on her bare shoulder. ‘I’ll always make time for you.’
All eyes were on him as he left the terrace. The glamorous mother fanned herself with a menu. ‘I can’t imagine why I keep having these lessons.’
‘Especially when your husband’s away working in Dundee.’ Della smirked.
Cal caught Mimi’s eye. ‘He hasn’t changed.’
‘I noticed.’
‘What was he saying to you?’
‘Oh, just offering to mend my broken heart.’
‘So noble of him. And do you think you might take him up on that?’
‘I don’t know. I’ll probably give it a miss.’
‘Good, glad to hear it.’ After a moment, Cal added hastily, ‘OK, that doesn’t sound right. I meant I’m glad for your sake. I didn’t say it because I meant . . . Oh shit, sorry . . .’
Amused by just how out of the flirting loop he was, Mimi said, ‘Don’t worry, I know what you meant.’
‘Dad, did you see me? I loved it. Zorbs are so cool!’ Cora came hurtling up to them, dripping water and with her beach towel flying behind her like a Superman cape.
‘And we loved watching you.’ Cal gave her a wet hug.
‘We’re having a picnic down on the beach now. Then everyone goes home after that.’
‘We’ll wait here and have something to eat,’ said Cal.
‘This is a brilliant day.’ Cora beamed at them both and raced back to rejoin her friends.
‘It has been pretty good.’ Cal nodded in agreement and asked a passing waitress for a couple of menus. ‘Are you hungry?’
And miraculously, after the traumas of yesterday, Mimi discovered that her appetite had returned. ‘D’you know what? I could murder some chips.’
Once the food had arrived, she said, ‘I’ve decided, by the way. I’m going to stay down here for a while. And before you ask, no, it has nothing to do with Paddy Fratelli.’
Cal nodded. ‘I think that’s the right decision to make. You could do with a break, and it’ll take a while to get over what’s happened.’ He squeezed mayonnaise onto the side of his plate. ‘If you can bear to sit for me, I’d love to paint you at some stage.’
‘I’d like that.’ A kernel of warmth began to unfurl inside Mimi’s chest. ‘We could do it next week if you want.’
‘Ah well, that’s not—’
‘Dad, Dad, Katy just invited me for a sleepover at her house in three weeks but I said I had to ask you because I don’t know when we get back from holiday.’
Cal shook his head. ‘We’ll still be away then. We won’t be home until the end of August. Say sorry to Katy but you can’t make it.’
‘OK, but I won’t say sorry because I’d rather be on holiday anyway!’
The kernel of warmth faded in Mimi’s chest. When Cora had skipped off once more, she said, ‘When are you off on holiday?’
‘Monday.’ Cal popped a chip loaded with mayonnaise into his mouth.
‘Oh nice!’ Not nice at all. ‘So you’re away for a month? Wow.’ She spoke extra brightly to conceal her dismay.
‘I know, and my company builds summer houses for a living. Hardly ideal workwise.’ He shrugged. ‘But it’s something we started doing after Cora was born, and it became a tradition we didn’t want to break. Sometimes you just have to go with what feels right, you know? My sister lives on the Gower coast in Wales, so we spend every August there with her family. Cora gets to run wild with her cousins and she adores her aunt and uncle, so it’s great for all of us. And Otto gets to race around with his dog cousins too. We all love it.’
Mimi nodded, although she didn’t love it one bit. Ridiculous though it seemed, she would miss him while he was gone. Her brain was still in a state of flux over the Rob and Kendra bombshell, but being in Cal’s company had been making everything so much easier to bear. Their friendship was effortless and just what she needed right now. And yes, of course it was selfish to be thinking about her own needs, but you couldn’t help the thoughts hidden away in your mind.
At least he didn’t know she was having them.
‘It sounds perfect,’ she told him with a relaxed smile. ‘Just what you need. You’ll have an amazing time.’
Oh well.
He’d only be gone for a month.