by Jen Silver
After the applause died down, Jeff stood to start the presentations.
“Well, ladies, as you can see, you’ve done us proud. We’re all absolutely thrilled by your progress and hope that when you leave here, you will continue to enjoy the wonderful game of golf. As you will discover, when you join a golf club, there will usually be a Lady Captain who presides over occasions like this. We, of course, have our very own lady who will be making the presentations today—Lady Temperley.”
Jordan watched Freya, as she now thought of her, move gracefully towards the front of the room. With the kind of figure that turned heads, both male and female, Jordan wondered if she had ever considered breast reduction surgery. When one of her group asked on Monday what her handicap was, Freya just pointed to her most prominent feature. However, she didn’t have any problem hitting the ball a long way. They had all stood around the first tee, watching open-mouthed as her tee-shot flew a good two hundred yards straight down the fairway.
“There are no losers here. You’re all winners. I was privileged to play with a few of you the other day and was impressed with the quality of play.” Freya continued with some more comments about how she had enjoyed seeing them out on the course and reiterated Jeff’s words about hoping they would continue to play and she hoped they would come back to Temperley Cliffs sometime, even though it was a long way for some of them to travel.
The prize-giving took some time because no one went away empty-handed. Along with trophies and medals for the winner of the competition overall and the runner-up, there were prizes for the winner on each day, a prize for completing a round with the least number of putts—that went to Rosemary and Jordan caught Andi grinning from the back of the room when a stunned Rosemary went up to collect it. The prize for the best bunker shot went to Sam, and Jordan could see she was also astounded to be presented with anything.
At the end, Lady Temperley picked up the stack of envelopes from the end of the table. “Inside these, you will find your handicap certificates. I’ve also included a voucher. Should you want to come back, this entitles you to two free rounds for you and your partner and two nights in one of the chalets.” She gave the envelopes to Tony who handed them out. “Thank you all for coming. This has been a marvellous two weeks for me and, hopefully, it has been for you, too. Jeff?”
“I don’t have anything to add other than to wish you all safe journeys home.”
Beth stood and glanced around. “I think I can speak for all of us in saying how much we have enjoyed our stay here. Everything has been beautifully set up, the accommodation and the food. A special thank you to our instructors, particularly for their patience with those of us who had never picked up a golf club before. I’ve been told that it’s customary in giving a thank you speech at a golf presentation to thank the greenkeepers. Obviously I have no previous experience to draw on, but I do think the course was in perfect condition. And thank you,” she looked around the room, “to all my playing partners this week. We had fun on the course and off it. I now know that snooker is not my forte, but I can hold my own with darts. Thank you everyone.”
She sat down to a big round of applause.
With the formalities over, everyone started chatting. Jordan moved towards the door in the hope of catching Beth before she left.
†
Beth was waiting by the car, looking down at her phone when Sam came out of the manor.
“Have you got everything?”
“Yes.”
Sam put her suitcase in the boot next to Beth’s and then got into the driver’s seat. It was going to be another hot day and she decided the next car she bought would have aircon. For now they would have to make do with opening all the windows and the sunroof. At least it was only an hour’s drive to her parents’ house at Looe.
Beth strapped herself in with the seatbelt. Sam picked up on her sombre mood.
“You okay?”
“I guess. Just got a text from Lydia. She says she’s away for a few days from Monday. And can I put the key through the letterbox?”
Sam reached across and gripped her knee. “I’m sorry. But at least you don’t have to see her.”
“I’ll see her at school, won’t I?”
“Yes, but you can mostly hide out in the English office between classes.”
Beth snorted. “It’s not always safe in there.”
Sam removed her hand and started the car. “Anyway, try to put all that out of your mind for a few days. Mum’s thrilled you’re coming with me for the weekend. She’s making her famous apple and rhubarb crumble in your honour.”
That raised a smile. “In this weather?”
“As a concession to the heat, it will be served with ice cream instead of custard.”
“I love your mum.”
And she loves you, thought Sam. Her parents didn’t know about the Lydia business. As they lived so far away, she hadn’t wanted to worry them. Her mother would have taken the first train up to Yorkshire. Sam wasn’t sure how she was going to explain the need for separate sleeping arrangements now. The double bed in the guest room was where they usually slept when visiting. Perhaps she could sneak downstairs when her parents had gone to bed and camp out on the sofa. It wasn’t the ideal solution but she didn’t want to face the kind of scene that could blow up if they found out Beth had cheated on her.
They set off down the long drive. Turning out onto the main road, Sam said, “You could do worse. Move down here. There will be teaching jobs around.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Jordan.”
“There’s nothing going on with me and Jordan.”
“I mean, you don’t want to be stuck with an old fogey like me. I’ll be drawing my state pension in ten years time.”
“Sam!”
“No really. I don’t blame you. Makes sense, getting a younger model.”
“Sam. I’m not interested in Jordan. I like her and you know I’ve invited her to come and visit, but that’s all. She’s a friend.”
“She wants more than friendship from you. That’s pretty obvious.”
“We’ve talked about it. She understands.”
I wish I did. Sam concentrated on driving and when she next ventured a peek at her passenger, Beth’s eyes were closed. That was clearly a conversation stopper. Sam sighed as she settled in behind a slow caravan. It was going to be a quiet journey.
†
They had seen the last of the guests off the premises and Andi was looking forward to the afternoon she had planned. Coming out of the kitchen with supplies for their picnic, she saw Jordan standing by the reception desk looking lost.
“Withdrawal symptoms? I sometimes feel that way after a tournament.”
“I guess.” Jordan sighed and looked down at her feet. Having changed out of her resident pro uniform into loose-fitting shorts and a sleeveless top, she looked younger than her thirty-six years.
“Hey, it’s not the end of the world.” Andi had a good idea what was bothering her. “So you fell for someone who isn’t really available. She’s got a few things to work out.”
“Yeah. I know that. I just, sort of hoped—” Jordan aimlessly traced circles with her finger on the desktop.
“Did you get her phone number?”
“Yes. And she’s invited me to go and visit.”
“So, there’s hope. She and Sam might still get divorced.”
“And pigs might fly.”
Andi put the basket she was holding on the desk. “You’re not going to last long in this job if you get crushed so easily. And with the number of women you’ll have coming through here over the next few months there will be plenty of opportunity to forget this one.”
“Beth’s special.”
“I’m sure Sam thinks she’s special as well.” It hadn’t escaped Andi’s notice that Sam was on high alert whenever Jordan was near Beth. “And the head lady, Lydia. If she didn’t have her head firmly up her own arse.”
That comment brough
t a smile to Jordan’s face. “She’s an idiot. I like Sam, though. And part of me hopes they do get back together…”
“But another part hopes Beth will come running back to you.” Andi sighed. It was a beautiful day and she didn’t like to see someone else’s unhappiness clouding it. But she didn’t want to leave Jordan like this. “Freya and I are going down to the beach. If you care to join us, I’ll grab another bottle of wine from the store room.”
“Thanks. But I’m going to go and smash a few balls on the driving range.”
“Okay.” Andi picked up the basket. “Don’t break any clubs.”
Freya appeared from the other side of the hall. She was wearing a halter top with shorts that barely covered her intimate parts, carrying two beach towels. Andi licked her lips, glad that Jordan had declined her invitation to join them.
Jordan gave them both a weak smile and walked away. Freya watched, concern showing in her blue eyes. “Is she okay?”
“She will be.” Andi took her arm. “Come on. I feel the sun and sand calling to me.”
†
Refreshed after their dip in the water, Freya watched her lover as she twisted the cap off the bottle of white wine and wondered how long they could put off having the conversation about Andi’s future on tour. If it was worrying Andi, she wasn’t letting it show.
Tris had emailed her that morning to say there were postings on Facebook and Twitter about the sighting of Andi in Salcombe. It hadn’t taken the first reporter on the scene long to ferret out where Professor Green lived. Luckily Andi had been long gone before they turned up at his house to doorstep him when he arrived back from puttering around the harbour in the borrowed dinghy. Clearly the press wanted her side of the story. The longer she stayed out of the picture, the more the speculation and rumours would grow.
Andi’s father had told the reporter to “bugger off” and phoned the local police. His standing in the community meant that the cops showed up promptly to escort the uninvited guests off his property.
The wine was still chilled and tasted good, even drunk from the plastic cup. Andi sprawled on the towel next to her and Freya’s eyes roamed up the long tanned and toned body before meeting the bemused gaze on her lover’s face.
“Like what you see?”
“You’re a horrible tease.”
Naked, except for the unsexy floppy hat she had put on when they were out of sight of the clubhouse, Andi grinned before running her tongue around the rim of her cup.
If sixty was the new forty, then forty had to be the new twenty, and Freya had all the control of a hormonal twenty-year-old faced with the temptation of the woman beside her. She set her cup down on the flat rock where they’d left the picnic basket and moved quickly into Andi’s now open arms, rolling her over to position herself on top. The wine hadn’t completely erased the traces of salt from her lover’s lips.
While she was contemplating where to start on the long body beneath her, Andi’s hands gripped her buttocks and when Freya reared up to protest, she captured one of her nipples with her mouth. There was little Freya could do to stop the moans of pleasure escaping as Andi’s tongue teased its way from one breast to the other, her hands meanwhile finding an opening lower down. Freya considered herself to be fairly fit, but she couldn’t compete with Andi’s superior athleticism.
Wave after wave of ecstasy pulsed through her as Andi found her rhythm, increasing the pressure on Freya’s clit with each stroke of her fingers. Freya screamed out her name when she climaxed, mini aftershocks rippling through her body as Andi carefully removed her fingers. Two startled seagulls, interrupted in plundering the remains of the picnic, flew off screeching their displeasure.
When she could take a breath, Freya murmured, “You’re insatiable.”
“Only with you.” Andi’s eyes were closed, contentment oozing out of every pore.
Not exactly the words she wanted to hear from her lover, but near enough. At times like this she came close to saying the three words she was sure would send Andi running. Freya lay back on her own towel, the lazy movement of a few cumulous clouds across the vividly blue sky mirroring her own floaty feeling.
“Can they see us if they look over the edge from the thirteenth green?”
Andi opened her eyes and roused herself to lean on one elbow to look at her. “They might if they’re looking for a ball. But not many end up down here.”
“I suppose that’s reassuring. Is anyone out on the course today?”
“Not likely. Everyone’s taking advantage of the long weekend you’ve given them to spend time with their loved ones.”
“All except Jordan.”
“Yes.” Andi lay back down.
“So, what do you think?”
“About Jordan? She’ll get over it in time.”
“I hope so. No, I meant, what do think of our choice of golf pros now? Are they up to the job?”
“Yeah. I had my doubts about the two older guys at first, Jeff and Roger. But I think, in a way, they complement the other two. The students responded well to them. Experience does count for something in this game.”
“What about those other two? Is it going to be a problem? Is Jordan going to fall in love with a different woman every week? Is Tony going to be bonking randy widows behind the azaleas?”
“Tony’s an outrageous flirt and the straight women lap it up, but he’s all talk. He does have a girlfriend in St Austell. That’s where he’s gone for the weekend. So, your azaleas are safe. As for Jordan, I don’t know. Hopefully someday she’ll meet the right woman. If she can settle in here, there’s a good chance that will happen.”
“I wonder…”
A ball landed with a resounding thump just past Andi’s head. “Shit!” She jumped up and grabbed her T-shirt with one hand and threw her towel over Freya with the other. “I hope that’s Jordan.”
†
Lying down to peer cautiously over the edge of the cliff, Jordan saw that her ball had just missed landing on one of the two bodies on the sand below.
Andi called out, “Don’t even think about coming down to get this.”
“Sorry. It was a total miss hit.”
“I’ll miss hit you if you don’t fuck off right now.”
Jordan drew back and laughed as she stood and brushed herself off. Good thing it was only her playing. No prizes for guessing what those two had been doing down there. She collected her bag and trudged off to the next tee.
The weekend was going to drag interminably if she didn’t think of something to do. Playing golf by herself wasn’t much fun. She could look up an old school friend who lived somewhere in Cornwall. She dismissed that idea as she teed up on the fourteenth. It was too short notice to impose on someone she hadn’t seen for eighteen years. Visiting her parents wasn’t an option either as they were in the middle of their Baltic Cruise and either in Tallinn or St Petersburg this weekend. She really should have done some planning for this bonus time off but she had been too wrapped up in thoughts of Beth and the time she would have liked to spend with her.
Like that was ever going to happen, she berated herself. Her ball sliced off into the rough and she knew her concentration was off-kilter just from thinking of Beth lying next to her on the beach. Not exactly the best swing thought for producing a good shot.
Chapter Eighteen
Being greeted warmly by Sam’s parents, Beth couldn’t help feeling like a fraud. While she was grateful Sam hadn’t told them about her defection, it was heartbreaking to realise just how hurt they would be if they knew.
For the weekend anyway, the clock was turned back and it was as if the last year hadn’t happened. She enjoyed the familiar warmth of the family setting. Sam was relaxed even though she didn’t get much sleep making the furtive trip from guest room to sofa each night.
Sensing her weariness on the Monday morning, Beth offered to drive the first leg of their journey back to Yorkshire while Sam slept most of the way to Bristol. Beth stopped at the first service a
rea past the city. Staying just long enough to consume coffee and a sandwich, they stocked up with water and chocolate to sustain them for the final two hundred miles and Sam took over the driving.
Sam was happy to talk about the weekend. On Saturday they had made the trip to Kents Cavern and found it just as fascinating as Tracy and Simone had said. Sunday had been a lazy day and their only activity had been a walk along the quay and a trip on the glass bottom boat around the island and back. The skipper pointed out the pirate smuggling caves and they were fortunate to see a few sunbathing seals.
When they had run out of safe topics of conversation, Sam programmed her iPod to play a selection of Enya’s music and Beth soon drifted off to sleep.
As they turned off the last stretch of motorway onto the road that would take them up into the hills towards their house, Sam said, “I’m pretty sure I’ve got a frozen pizza in stock, but that’s all. Do you want to stop off for groceries?”
“Maybe just for bread and milk. Will you be collecting Hermy?”
“Yes, I’ll pop round to Scott and Barb’s while you settle in. I can pick up some supplies on the way.”
They had agreed that Beth should leave her trip to Lydia’s house for the morning. After the long drive, settling down in front of the TV with wine and pizza sounded like the ideal way to spend the evening.
“Um, about Hermy.” Sam took the turn past the reservoir carefully.
“Yes.”
“If she’s too much for you while I’m away, please don’t put her in a cattery. Barb and Scott will look after her.”
Beth gazed out at the moorland they were now crossing. The rugged north coast of Cornwall had its charms, but as they’d driven further north, the appearance of the familiar hills felt like coming home. “Sam, I’m sorry. About Hermy. I don’t know what I was thinking. Well, I guess I wasn’t thinking.”
†
The house was cleaner than she’d left it and it looked like Barb had done the shopping for her. There was a fresh uncut loaf on the counter. One of her favourites from the Co-op made with jalapeño peppers. Eggs and milk in the fridge.
