by CJ Morrow
‘Nothing?’ he asked.
Lily shook her head. She was feeling idiotic, foolish; she’d nearly drowned in a metre of water and now she was shoeless.
‘Never mind,’ he said, grabbing her hand as though she were a child and pacing back up the beach towards the surf shack. ‘Let’s see if we can find you something.’
Lily trailed up the beach behind him, feeling the warmth of his hand around hers, feeling how smooth and strong it was.
At the surf shack he was greeted with a leery grin by the guy who had hardly moved from earlier. He was still polishing a surf board, the same one as earlier, Lily thought.
‘You still got those old shoes?’ Jackson asked, bustling past and disappearing into the back of the shack.
‘Yep.’
‘Have a look through here.’ Jackson put a grey wooden crate onto the sand in front of Lily; it was filled with assorted shoes, trainers and flip flops.
She bent down to look through them, the smell of decaying rubber and mouldy cheese catapulted up to her nose. She recoiled and made a face.
‘Bit ripe?’ The guy laughed.
‘Where did you get them?’
‘People leave ‘em behind on the beach.’ The guy shrugged. ‘Some I fish out the sea.’ He carried on polishing the board as he spoke, in fact, Lily thought he was still polishing the same small area; it was as though he were stroking a pet.
‘Let me,’ Jackson said, bending down and rifling through the crate. ‘Try these,’ he said, holding up a pair of murky brown trainers. They looked enormous. Lily made a face and Jackson dropped them on the sand. ‘Foot,’ he said, caressing her ankle and urging it up. ‘Let me gauge your size.’
‘Five,’ Lily said balancing precariously on one foot. The sand was giving way and she grabbed Jackson’s shoulder to steady herself. ‘Sorry,’ she said as he looked up and smiled. It was a knowing, cheeky smile. She let go immediately and regained her balance.
‘These might be better,’ he said, pulling out a pair of black trainers; they looked enormous. He slipped one onto her foot. ‘Not too bad,’ he said.
‘But they’re slopping about.’
‘They’re the smallest I can find. Best we can do.’
‘Okay, thank you,’ Lily said, feeling sheepish and putting the other trainer on when Jackson had let go of her foot. ‘I suppose they’re better than nothing.’
‘They were once good ones,’ surfer guy said. ‘Designer, I’d guess.’
‘Do I owe you anything for them?’ She felt obliged to ask, even though they were only one step up from disgusting.
For a moment Lily could see that he was considering asking for money – she could see the glint in his eye. Out of the corner of her own eye she saw Jackson shake his head.
‘No, you have ‘em. Gift from me,’ he added, grinning.
‘Thank you.’ Lily turned away and looked towards the lane Jackson had shown her. ‘I’d better go now.’
She started to walk away but Jackson kept pace with her. At the start of the lane Lily stopped and held out her hand to Jackson. ‘Thank you for everything,’ she said. ‘For saving me from drowning and for lunch, I can’t thank you enough. Oh, and for the shoes.’
Jackson took her hand and shook it, smiling all the while. ‘Well, I’m here most days if you need saving again.’
‘Okay,’ she said, feeling herself start to blush. ‘Thanks again.’
Only when she reached a bend in the lane did she dare look back. He was still standing there, still watching her.
The lane was smooth and level and the incline gentle, it would have been a very pleasant walk if only the trainers hadn’t kept slopping about on her feet. Every step was tiring and her feet were sweating inside them, the movement rubbing against the blisters her flip flops had already caused. But it didn’t take long to get back to the cottage; Jackson had been right – ten minutes tops.
She beat Tess and Gemma back to the cottage, located the key, kicked off the hideous trainers, left them on the path outside and let herself in. She ran into the bathroom, ran the taps and squealed with delight when steaming hot water gushed obligingly into the bath. She soaked for twenty minutes before using the bath hand shower attachment to wash her hair. It felt so good to be clean.
As she combed her wet hair through, teasing out the tangles she thought of Jackson. Mermaid hair, he’d called it. Will oscillated between loving it and hating it, calling it sexy-lady hair or a damn nuisance.
‘We’re back,’ Tess called from the doorway just as Lily finished getting dressed; she’d pulled on cosy leggings and a soft top. She’d get changed again when they went to the pub for dinner. She pulled on a pair of cosy socks, so soft against the blisters, and padded out to the kitchen.
‘Good day’s shopping?’ Lily asked. Gemma was loading the fridge as Tess splayed her naked feet out on the cool slate floor.
‘This one,’ said Tess, pointing at Gemma, ‘can shop for England. I’m exhausted.’
‘And this one,’ Gemma laughed, closing the fridge door, ‘has no stamina.’ Gemma looked Lily up and down. ‘Are you alone?’
‘Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?’
‘When we saw the stinking clodhoppers outside we assumed you’d picked up some man.’ Gemma gave a little shudder and turned away as Lily raised her eyebrows at Tess.
‘Sorry,’ Tess mouthed.
‘Just as well you haven’t because I don’t think we’ve got enough food to feed a man. I’ve just bought three of everything.’
‘What?’ Lily said, still working on a suitable response to Gemma’s insult about picking up a man.
‘We popped into M&S and picked up some treats, well, since you couldn’t join us for the lunch we’d planned, it seemed a shame. So we just had a light lunch and brought this instead. I’m just heating up this geriatric oven before I put our dinner in.’ Gemma paused. ‘I need a bath before dinner. I hope you haven’t used all the hot water.’
‘What, like you did this morning?’
Lily saw Tess tense.
Gemma frowned and stomped off to the bathroom.
‘Why is she so rude?’ Lily said as they heard Gemma bolt the door.
‘Just ignore her. That’s what I do.’
‘You let her walk all over you.’ Lily opened the fridge. ‘Is there wine?’
‘That was good even if I say so myself,’ Gemma leaned back in her chair and smiled to herself.
‘Yes, you can heat up a good ready meal,’ Lily said, smiling too, probably a bit too much.
‘Yes, but I chose it. And the wine.’
‘I have to agree the food was good, and the wine excellent. So good, I’m on my third glass.’
‘Your fourth actually,’ Gemma said, ‘but who’s counting?’ She topped their glasses up.
Gemma and Tess had rosy pink cheeks and Lily couldn’t help commenting on it.
‘Only our cheeks?’ Tess teased.
‘What?’ Lily watched the smirks spread across Tess’s and Gemma’s faces.
‘Have you looked in the mirror lately?’
Lily ran into the bathroom.
Well, it doesn’t hurt,’ she said on her return. ‘Just feels a bit warm, that’s all.’ She pressed her cool knuckles into her now flaming cheeks. ‘Wine always does that to me,’ she said, reassuring herself.
‘You do look a little like a tomato,’ Tess said, as Gemma snorted into her wine glass.
‘Did you wear sunscreen?’ Gemma sounded so superior.
Lily shrugged. Had she? On her face? She couldn’t remember.
‘You can use my moisturiser before bed. It’ll help. It’s the good stuff.’ Gemma patted Lily on the shoulder. ‘And I’ve got a really good sunscreen you can use, factor fifty, apply once a day. It’s expensive, of course, but you get what you pay for. You won’t see me with a face like a burnt pumpkin.’ She chuckled to herself.
‘Maybe I’ll give the beach a miss tomorrow,’ Lily said, thinking about the cringe-making horror of nearly drow
ning in a metre of water, and the kindness of Jackson. Did she want to see him again? Probably not, and definitely not with a big red face.
‘Oh no, you can’t. It’s all booked.’ Gemma giggled, it made her sound like a school girl; it didn’t suit her image. ‘And paid for,’ she added.
‘What is?’
‘Shush,’ Gemma said. ‘You’ll wake Tess. I think she might be drunk.’
She’s not the only one, thought Lily, only now noticing that Tess had fallen asleep with her head on the table.
‘But what’s booked?’ Lily persisted.
‘Our lessons.’
Lily sighed. Tess was unconscious and Gemma was incoherent.
‘What lessons?’ But even as she asked the question she had a horrible feeling.
‘Surf lessons. I’ve booked us onto a course.’
‘What? No.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Gemma leaned over and patted Lily on the arm; she was patting a bit too often this evening. ‘It’s all paid for. My treat to make up for gate-crashing your holiday.’
‘How far is it?’ Lily sighed. ‘The prospect of squashing into the back of the car reared its ugly head again.
‘Not far, apparently.’ Gemma burped. ‘Excuse me,’ she said. ‘I don’t know where that came from.’
‘Well, where is it?’
‘Where is what?’
This was becoming tedious. ‘The surfing.’
Gemma tilted her head at an awkward angle and retrieved her handbag from the floor. ‘We stopped off at the pub and booked it. I noticed it when we were in there last night. You can book all sorts from that pub. Here.’ Gemma thrust the tickets at Lily. ‘See for yourself.’
Lily’s hands trembled as she unfolded the tickets. ‘Sunset Cove Surfing School,’ she read aloud. And groaned.
Six
‘You were snoring away like an old man,’ Lily said, as Tess rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed.
‘Sorry.’ Tess looked down on Lily in her camp bed. ‘I was exhausted. Food and wine just finished me off. No more shopping for me.’
‘It’s surfing today.’ Lily gave Tess a quick mock grin and waited for her to respond.
‘Yeah, sorry about that. It was done before I had time to object.’
‘Really?’
‘Well, you did say you wanted to learn to surf.’ Tess gave Lily a sheepish grin. ‘It’s a freebie for you and me.’ She got out of bed and padded to the door. ‘Is Gem in the bathroom?’
‘Where else?’ Lily got up and followed Tess out of the bedroom. Tess was right, Lily had wanted to learn but now, after yesterday’s drowning debacle she was definitely having second thoughts. Not least because Jackson would be there, watching her with those blue eyes.
‘Morning,’ Gemma said, her voice as bright as her teeth as she breezed out of the bathroom trailing steamy vapour, and with her hair wrapped in a towel. ‘Our lesson isn’t until noon so we can chill out. I’m so looking forward to it.’ Gemma paused and stared at Lily’s face. ‘Is that sore?’
‘My face? Lily ran to the bathroom to look in the mirror. ‘No,’ she called back. ‘But it certainly looks it.’
‘Never mind, use some more of my moisturiser, it’s on the shelf. I’m sure it’ll calm down by noon.’
But it didn’t.
Gemma stood at the front door, her bag in hand and her lips pursed. Lily looked over and smiled as she laced up her trainers.
‘What’s Gemma got on her head?’ Lily whispered to Tess as they both took a surreptitious glance at Gemma’s headgear – a large multicoloured scarf tied securely under her chin, tucked in tightly all around and not a wisp of hair daring to sneak out from beneath it.
Tess shook her head. ‘Keeps her hair in place.’
‘Believe me; nothing will keep her hair in place in that sea. Nothing. I speak from experience.’
‘Mmm. You’d be surprised.’
‘They’re still here,’ Gemma said as she finally locked the door behind them and put the key in her bag.
‘Who are?’
‘Stinking clod hoppers.’ Gemma turned her nose up at the trainers Lily had worn back from the beach. ‘I’d have thought the owner might have reclaimed them.’
‘No.’ Lily shook her head. ‘I wore them back from the beach.’
‘Urgh,’ Gemma and Tess chorused.
‘Why?’ Tess asked.
‘Because I lost my flip flops. Okay.’
Gemma and Tess exchanged disgusted looks but didn’t comment further.
‘You’re a bit unlucky with shoes sometimes, aren’t you?’ Tess whispered in Lily’s ear.
Ignoring the remark, Lily led the way to the beach and felt as though she was wearing a mask; she’d applied a liberal amount of Gemma’s sun block, which seemed to be setting hard on her face.
‘It’s not gone white, has it?’ she asked Tess as they meandered down the lane.
Tess grimaced but it was Gemma who answered. ‘Of course it has, but it’s hardly noticeable. Would you prefer to look like a tomato? Would you prefer first degree burns?’
‘I’d prefer to stay in and keep out of the sun. I’d prefer to read a book in the shade,’ Lily snapped.
‘Oh don’t be such a bore, Lily. All the surfers wear opaque sun block. You’ll fit right in.’ Gemma quickened her pace, Tess obligingly matched it and Lily trailed a little behind, seething, but still with them.
‘Hey again.’ Surfer guy leered at Lily as they approached the shack. ‘That looks sore. You need to be careful. But I see you got it well covered.’ He sniggered.
‘Thanks.’
‘Anytime baby.’ He grinned.
‘Quite,’ Gemma said, immediately silencing him as she began to explain why they were there. His attitude changed as soon as he realised they were paying customers. He became less leery, more deferential, but Lily had noticed that most people soon deferred to Gemma, herself included.
‘I’m Davey,’ he said. ‘Not Dave or David, just so we have that clear, wouldn’t want you mixing me up with them.’ He chuckled to himself, enjoying a joke only he understood, then turned back to Lily, looked at her feet now clad in her own trainers. ‘You can bring them shoes back if you don’t want 'em.’
Lily gave him a quick nod but she was more interested in scanning the beach for Jackson. No sign; she breathed a sigh of relief.
‘Wetsuits is extra,’ Davey said. ‘Unless you got your own?’
‘Well,’ said Gemma. ‘Would we need surf lessons if we had our own wetsuits? It’s unlikely isn’t it? And it never said anything about extras in your advert, or on the tickets. You’ll be telling us the boards are extra next.’ Gemma stood with her hands on her hips and waited.
‘You can go in without wet suits,’ Davey said, turning away.
‘The water’s too cold and too rough,’ Lily said, remembering the previous day.
Davey turned back to them, but Gemma still stood with her hands on her hips, her head wobbling with annoyance, an action exaggerated by her giant headgear. She raised an enquiring eyebrow.
Davey sighed. ‘Okay, you can have the wetsuits for free, but only for today. Probably best, don’t want you ladies getting friction burns, do we?’ He allowed a grin to spread from ear to ear.
‘Certainly not,’ said Gemma striding towards the wetsuit rack.
‘Not those ones,’ Davey snapped. ‘They’re for those who pay.’
Lily shuddered; he probably had another crate just like the shoe one, but full of disgusting, discarded wetsuits.
Davey bobbed into the surf shack then reappeared with three wetsuits and dropped them onto the sand. ‘There you go,’ he said. ‘Get 'em on.’
‘And where do we change?’ Gemma’s voice was starting to rise in pitch.
‘What? Just pull 'em on. Unless you’ve got a handy Range Rover you can climb into the back of.’ He chortled to himself, evidently enjoying another joke that only he understood.
Gemma took the biggest wetsuit, despite being the slimmest, she
declared she was the tallest. Tess took the middle size one and Lily was left with the smallest.
‘Well you are the shortest,’ Gemma retorted when she saw the expression on Lily’s face.
‘I think it’s a child’s size,’ Lily said, holding it up for inspection. ‘I’ll never get my thighs in that.’
‘It’s supposed to be tight,’ Davey said as he dragged three large boards out onto the sand.
And it was. Very tight. So tight that Lily struggled to breathe. The effort of getting into the wetsuits was exhausting for all three; pulling, pushing, and in Lily’s case stuffing, themselves into the stiff neoprene.
‘Very slimming,’ Gemma said, giving Lily an appraising nod after zipping her up.
‘I’m gasping for oxygen.’ Lily pulled at the neck of the wetsuit and took dramatic gulps of air.
‘Nonsense, that’s just the effort of pulling it on. We all feel like that, don’t we?’
Tess nodded and smiled, but her wetsuit was bagging around her thighs even if it was tight around her waist.
‘Put these on.’ Davey threw t-shirts at them.
‘Yellow,’ Gemma said. ‘Like a canary. I won’t, thank you. And it will clash with my Hermes.’ She pronounced it Er-mez and handed the t-shirt back.
‘Your what?’ Davey frowned.
‘My Hermes.’ She tutted when he continued to frown. ‘My scarf.’
‘Oh. Doesn’t matter. You have to wear them. It’s not a fashion statement, it’s health and safety. Makes you easy to spot in the water.’
‘And advertises your business,’ Gemma said, pulling it on, flapping it around (it was far too big for her) before tying a jaunty knot in the side. Davey’s Surf School bunched and distorted across her trim chest.
It splayed across Lily’s.
Gemma stood on her board and took a surfing stance. Davey told her to get off immediately.
‘Just need to go through a few things first,’ he said. ‘We need to ensure everyone stays safe in the water.’
Lily cringed and hoped he wouldn’t bring up her near drowning. She thanked God Jackson wasn’t about.
