“Well done, Silver Dolphins,” said Spirit, swimming up with Star, Bubbles and Dream. “That was excellent work.”
Bubbles came forward and high-fived Antonia and Cai with his tail. Dream did the same and Star nuzzled them with her nose.
“It’s not safe for you to stay here, Silver Dolphins. There are too many boats moving around. We’re going out to sea, and you should go home too.”
“We’ll be careful,” Antonia promised, hiding a smile Star reminded her of her own mother. “Goodbye.”
Antonia and Cai worked their way along the seabed in the opposite direction to the dolphins. They swam slowly, weaving their way through the jungle of boats until at last they were safely out in the open water. Cai swam to the surface and, shielding his eyes with his hand, he stared into the distance.
“Look, there’s the minke and her calf.”
Antonia looked at the horizon where two small fins were protruding above the water. Sighing contentedly, she said, “I love a happy ending.”
“Me too,” said Cai quietly.
Suddenly, Antonia felt deflated. If only there was a happy ending for her and Cai. But she couldn’t think how to rescue him. If Cai wanted to be a Silver Dolphin, then he’d have to go and live in Australia.
“We’d best get back,” she said hoarsely.
They swam home in silence, their bodies arching in time as they dipped in and out of the sea. Leaping along with the sea breeze in her face, Antonia wondered how it was possible that she could feel so happy yet so miserable all at the same time.
Too soon they arrived back at Claudia’s beach and as Antonia rose from the sea the water cascaded from her, draining the happiness with it, so she was left with a tangled knot of sadness in her stomach. She paddled ashore, automatically heading for the
Sea Watch boat to get her shoes. But the boat wasn’t there.
“We beat Claudia back,” said Cai.
“Let’s wait for her,” said Antonia, grateful for the excuse to prolong the moment before they returned to their normal lives. They sat on the beach watching the sea. A couple of boats came their way, but it was ages before Claudia got back. At first she was just a small dot on the horizon. Gradually the dot grew larger, expanding slowly like a balloon into the Sea Watch boat. The boat chugged closer and, screwing up her eyes, Antonia was able to make out a tall figure sitting in the stern. She waved and Claudia waved back.
“Slowcoach,” shouted Cai. “We beat you back by miles.”
“I stopped for a chat with Jack,” Claudia answered mildly as the boat reached the shore. “He couldn’t believe how many boat owners had answered his call for help. Everyone was amazed when the calf appeared. You did a good job.”
Antonia and Cai rolled up their trousers and waded into the sea with the launching trolley. Cutting the engine, Claudia jumped out of the boat and the three of them manoeuvred it on to the trolley then towed it up the beach.
“Phew! Couldn’t have done that on my own,” said Claudia gratefully.
Cai and Antonia sat on the sand to put on their shoes. Claudia leant against the boat standing on one leg.
“What you did today was incredible,” said Claudia as they came off the beach. “You worked so well together.”
“Tell that to Mum and Dad,” said Cai bitterly.
“I’m going to.”
Cai’s eyes widened in surprise. “You can’t!” he exclaimed. “It’s a secret.”
“I don’t have to tell them everything. But I shall say that I couldn’t have managed without you.”
Chapter Fourteen
When Claudia opened the kitchen door, Antonia saw Cai’s parents sitting at the table with a pile of leaflets spread out in front of them. Both Mr and Mrs Pacific jumped guiltily, then hurriedly collected the leaflets together. Antonia didn’t mean to be nosy, but as Mr Pacific slid the leaflets into the dresser drawer she saw the top one and her stomach turned a somersault. They were house details the sort you got from an estate agent when you were looking to buy somewhere to live.
Antonia felt crushed with sadness. Couldn’t Mr and Mrs Pacific have waited until they got back to Australia before starting to look for a new house?
Claudia reached for the kettle and filled it with water.
“There’s tea or squash and there’s a chocolate cake in the cupboard. Get it out for me, Cai, and cut yourself and Antonia a nice big slice.”
“Not for me,” said Antonia hurriedly. She edged to the back door. “I’ve just remembered, I need to go home early. See you tomorrow.”
Claudia stared at her questioningly, but Antonia closed her mind, not wanting to share her thoughts.
“Can’t you stay for a short while?” asked Cai in surprise. “Aunty Claudia will drive you home if you’re in a hurry. You don’t mind, do you, Aunty?”
“Not at all,” said Claudia gallantly.
“Thanks, but I’d better go,” said Antonia. “Bye.”
She shut the door firmly behind her then ran all the way from Claudia’s house to the bottom of Sandy Bay Road before finally stopping to catch her breath. Her heart was hammering against her chest. Checking her watch, Antonia realised that it was much earlier than she’d thought. If she went home now, Mum would ask lots of questions. There were several benches along the road, looking out to sea. Antonia decided she would sit on one for a while, but then she had a better idea: she’d go round to Sophie’s.
Antonia’s friend was thrilled to see her.
“Come and help me,” she said, pulling Antonia inside. “Dad’s holding an exhibition and he said I could show a few of my pictures, but I don’t know which ones to pick.”
Antonia spent a happy hour with Sophie in her dad’s studio going through Sophie’s best work. Eventually they chose five pictures, including one of a boat that had been stranded in Sandy Bay and Sophie’s latest picture of the whale.
“I need to think of an interesting title for it,” said Sophie.
“It’s a minke whale,” said Antonia helpfully.
“You can tell that just by looking at my picture!” squeaked Sophie. “That means it must be good.”
Antonia smiled, thinking of the animal they’d just saved. Being with Sophie cheered Antonia up enormously and she went home with a spring in her step. But as she turned into her road she saw Claudia’s car parked on her drive and her mood changed again.
Fearing the worst, Antonia ran the rest of the way and hurriedly went inside. The lounge door was closed, but Antonia could hear adult voices filtering through it. She hesitated. It sounded like Mr and Mrs Pacific talking! Antonia had to find out what was going on. She burst into the lounge and again she saw the same pile of leaflets she’d seen at Claudia’s. A red mist crossed in front of Antonia’s eyes. She was so angry she could hear the blood rushing through her ears. Why would Cai’s parents bring those details here? Did they really think she was interested in their new Australian home?
“There you are,” Mrs Lee said, sounding relieved. “What took you so long?”
“I went to see Sophie. I’m not late, am I?” said Antonia defensively.
“No, but when Cai and his parents arrived expecting to find you here, I started to worry,” said Mum. “They’ve come to share some exciting news.”
“We’ve found somewhere to live,” said Cai brightly. He snatched a leaflet from his dad and thrust it at Antonia. “Look, isn’t it brilliant?”
Reluctantly, Antonia took the leaflet from Cai. What had got into him? Why was he suddenly so happy about moving?
“It’s got an outdoor swimming pool,” said Cai enthusiastically. “You can come and swim whenever you want.”
“Yeah right!” The words exploded angrily from Antonia. Astonishingly, Mr and Mrs Pacific burst out laughing and so did Cai.
Confused, Antonia stared at the leaflet. It was printed on glossy paper and the house was a pretty cottage. It was nothing like the houses Antonia remembered seeing when she’d visited Australia.
“Where is
it?” she asked listlessly. “Is it near the hotel we stayed at?”
Cai clutched his stomach. “N-n-no,” he chuckled. “It’s on the edge of a place called Sandy Bay.”
Antonia narrowed her eyes. It was a coincidence that there was another Sandy Bay in Australia, but it wasn’t that funny.
“It’s about ten minutes’ walk. You still don’t get it, do you?” Cai stabbed his finger at the leaflet. “It’s here. In this Sandy Bay. We’re moving here!”
“Cai has really settled here,” said Mrs Pacific. “He’s so happy and he’s made so many good friends. Then there’s Sea Watch too the work he does is amazing. You’re both amazing,” she added, grinning at Antonia. “The more we thought about it, the crueller it seemed to wrench Cai away from everything he’s grown to love and make him start again…”
“So we did some serious thinking,” said Mr Pacific, taking over the story. “We’re going to start up our own business letting holiday homes in Sandy Bay. We’ve discussed our plans with a local estate agent and he thinks he has a house for us to live in and four cottages to let out to tourists. We’re going to see the houses tomorrow.”
Hot tears welled at the back of Antonia’s eyes.
“Well, say something,” said Cai.
“Bubbly!” said Antonia.
It was the adults’ turn to look confused as Antonia and Cai collapsed with laughter and hugged each other.
When they finally calmed down, Mrs Pacific said, “We’re going out tonight to celebrate. Cai tells me there’s an Italian restaurant in Sandy Bay and their pizzas are legend. Would you like to come with us to Pepper’s Pizzas?”
“Yes, please,” said Antonia enthusiastically. “Their pizzas are legend.”
“That’s settled then,” said Mrs Pacific. “We’ll pick you up at seven.”
Antonia waved goodbye to Cai and his parents until their car turned out of sight, then she slipped through the side gate and into the back garden. She stood in the middle of the lawn and stared out to sea. The blue ocean sparkled in the late afternoon sunshine. It was a view that Antonia never grew tired of. This was her home and now it was Cai’s home too. Antonia reached for her silver dolphin charm.
“Silver Dolphins forever,” she whispered.
And the dolphin twitched its tiny tail in agreement. Silver Dolphins forever.
Copyright
www.summerwaters.co.uk
First published in paperback by HarperCollins Children’s Books in 2010
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Text copyright © Julie Sykes 2010
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