Midsummer Magic

by Julia Williams

  The boat rocked alarmingly when Harry clambered in and Diana let out an involuntary scream, and then felt really stupid.

  ‘Sorry,’ she said, ‘that was really pathetic of me.’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ said Harry. ‘If I can do this, anyone can. Honestly, it’s easier than it looks.’

  Harry turned out to be right. Soon, with his gentle instructions, she found they were skimming across the water, and gradually her nerves deserted her.

  ‘This is actually quite a lot of fun,’ she said, surprising herself. It was the first time she’d felt comfortable on the water for years.

  ‘Isn’t it?’ said Harry. ‘I think we should race the others to the island and back.’

  ‘You’re on,’ said Diana. ‘I don’t think we’re going to have too many problems.’

  She pointed Harry in the direction of Josie and Ant’s boat, which was going round in circles.

  ‘When I say right, I mean you paddle to your left, you idiot,’ Josie was saying, ‘so we can turn right. I thought you’d done this before.’

  ‘I have,’ said Ant.

  ‘Could have fooled me,’ said Josie grumpily. ‘Right.’

  Ant pushed to his left.

  ‘No, I meant left that time!’ Josie’s exasperation was obvious. ‘Come on. Let’s start again. I want us to go left, so we paddle to the right. Okay?’

  Gradually they got the boat under control and Harry shouted across, ‘Race you to the island and back. Loser buys the first round.’

  ‘That’s like a red rag to a bull,’ said Diana.

  ‘You’re on,’ said Ant, and with that, he and Josie flew away.

  ‘Bugger, we’ll never catch them.’

  ‘Oh yes we will,’ said Harry. ‘Steady as she goes. Ant will cock it up by wanting to go too fast. You mark my words. It’s in the bag.’

  Ant was beginning to regret going out with Josie. She was much bossier than he’d thought she would be, constantly nagging him about which oar he was supposed to be using. The very unwelcome sight of Harry and Diana gliding effortlessly through the water while laughing their heads off at him was deeply irksome.

  So it was with some satisfaction that when Harry (foolishly, in Ant’s opinion) proposed a race, that Ant and Josie finally got it together and were soon flying across the waves.

  ‘Go for it, Ant!’ Josie shrieked in delight.

  He glanced round to see her flushed face, sparkling eyes and fair hair flying back, and he was reminded of the vivacious girl whom he’d met all those years ago. He remembered spotting Josie in the uni bar, surrounded by male admirers, and at the time he’d been as smitten as the rest. Funny that he’d forgotten how attractive she was. But it was a long time since he’d spent so much time in her company.

  ‘We’ll show them, Josie,’ he said, ‘make up for them laughing at us.’

  ‘I think they were laughing at you, actually,’ said Josie. ‘But let’s not quibble.’

  Then the race was on in earnest. The little kayak scythed through the water, which sparkled and shone in the June sun. Ant felt like he was flying. He’d never felt so elated. This was so much fun. Before too long, they’d reached the island. They were miles ahead of Di and Harry, who were ploughing steadily through the water. Josie’s expertise and his brute strength were going to win the day. Except …

  ‘Right, Ant. You need go to right.’

  Ant ploughed on to the right and the boat spun in the opposite direction.

  ‘I mean left,’ said Josie. ‘You should be paddling left to go right.’

  ‘What?’ said Ant paddling frantically to his left.

  ‘That’s right,’ said Josie.

  ‘Did you say right?’ said Ant paddling to his left again, and making the boat veer suddenly to his right.

  ‘No, left,’ said Josie, ‘paddle on your right.’

  Ant tried to do as he was told, but there were some big waves coming up, and one slurped alarmingly in the boat.

  ‘Bugger,’ said Josie, ‘we’re taking on too much water. We need to bail out.’

  ‘Do I go left or right?’ said Ant, before a wave crashed over his head, and the next thing he knew, he was in the water, without a paddle, and a very, very long way from his canoe.

  1992: Bron

  Bron was exhausted. They’d just finished filming series 4 of Illusions, and they still had all the brouhaha of interviews and other nonsense to get through. It seemed to get worse every time. Especially as the inevitable questions about his love life always seemed to come up. Couldn’t journalists think of anything else to ask him about?

  One more drink with the crew, and he was done. He still had the age-old problem that had beset him ever since Tati had left, of how to say goodbye to his latest assistant. He would only let Freddie employ them from now on.

  ‘It would help if you didn’t keep shagging them, Bron,’ Freddie would drawl, and he knew in that at least, Freddie was right.

  Ever since Tati had gone and got herself married – hell, ever since she’d left (could it really be ten years ago?) – Bron had been looking for a substitute. But no one had ever matched up. There could never be another Tati, not on stage, nor in his bed. And yet he still kept searching, kept kidding himself he could find her. Sometimes he toyed with ringing Tati up for old times’ sake. But what would he say? She’d made her choice a long time ago, and she hadn’t chosen him. Nothing was ever going to change that.

  He sipped mournfully at his pint, unable to join in the high jinks of the rest of the crew, who were persuading Freddie it was a really good idea to try out one of his mind games on them now. That was a waste of time, as Freddie rarely drank, and he’d clean them all out in minutes.

  ‘Well, well, well. Look what the cat brought in.’ A very familiar voice cut into his thoughts. ‘Auberon Fanshawe, as I live and breathe.’

  ‘Tati,’ Bron couldn’t help but be cut to the quick that she’d used his full name. His heart sank. It was one thing thinking about her, imagining what he’d say to her, but to have her there in front of him was too much to bear. He felt stifled, like he couldn’t breathe, and his clothes suddenly felt uncomfortably tight. His palms were hot and sweaty and he was aware that he was breathing faster than normal. A small knot formed in the pit of his stomach. She was just the same. Beautiful; distant; unattainable. Why did she still have this effect on him, why?

  ‘Mind if I join you?’

  ‘Be my guest.’ As he said it, Bron knew it was a really bad idea. They’d been apart now longer than they’d been together. All they ever did was hurt one another. He was tired of it, and didn’t want to open himself up to any more pain.

  Tati sat down next to him, and he was overwhelmed by her perfume. Word on the street was that her marriage was on the rocks, and so, the whispers went, was her career. Drunk on set, was what people were saying. But there were always rumours about Tati; it went with the persona she’d created for herself. She’d never made it her business to make friends, and had plenty of enemies, not least among his cast-offs, who’d sought to emulate her career trajectory. If they were hoping for a friendly helping hand from one of the sisterhood, they were certainly mistaken.

  ‘You look lovely,’ he said. ‘How’s Simon?’

  ‘Fine,’ she said coolly. ‘And how’s – is it Emily?’

  ‘Amelie,’ said Bron. ‘And she’s not – we’re not together anymore.’

  ‘A drink for old times’ sake?’

  ‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Tati,’ he said uneasily. ‘Your marriage –’

  ‘Is over, in all but name,’ she said. ‘Come on. One drink. What harm can it do?’

  Chapter Thirteen

  ‘You have to admit, it was funny,’ Harry said for the hundredth time as they got in the car, ready to drive to Tresgothen Manor. They’d all agreed that it was worth giving Freddie the benefit of the doubt, even though Josie was still expressing her doubts.

  ‘Ha bloody ha,’ said Ant, whose mood didn’t seem to have improve
d since he’d had to be fished out of the water by the people running the kayak hire. Josie had managed to get back into the kayak, but had ended up drifting round the wrong side of the island, and it had taken her nearly half an hour to get back.

  ‘Lucky one of us knew what we were doing,’ she said, looking over her shoulder as she buckled her seatbelt.

  ‘Shame you don’t know your left from your right,’ said Ant grumpily.

  ‘Me?’ said Josie. ‘I was giving you perfectly clear instructions. It’s you who have the problem with left and right.’

  ‘Oh do shut up, you two!’ said Harry, looking in the rearview mirror as he did a nippy three-point turn out of a very crowded spot in the car park. ‘Let’s not squabble.’

  He was feeling much happier than when they’d come out. He’d actually enjoyed rowing with Di. When he’d kayaked in the past with Josie, he was always aware of his inadequacy in the face of her eminent superiority in the rowing department. Not that she rubbed it in or anything, but he could feel her impatience. By contrast, it had been nice and restful being with Di, who knew less than he did and was willing to learn. And she’d impressed him with her courage. Scared as she’d been when she got in the boat, once she’d stopped shrieking, she’d settled down.

  ‘I’d have hated going in the water,’ said Di. ‘You’ve actually gone up in my estimation, Ant. You dealt with it pretty well.’

  ‘Wonders will never cease,’ laughed Josie, ‘that’s the first nice thing you’ve said to Ant all weekend.’

  ‘I suppose it was funny,’ said Ant grudgingly.

  ‘Funny,’ said Harry, ‘it was bloody hilarious.’

  He felt quite triumphant. It wasn’t often he got one over Ant, and he was enjoying the unusual feeling of having come out on top.

  ‘Harry’s right,’ Josie started to giggle, breaking the mood, ‘the look on your face …’

  Her laughter was infectious, and before long Diana had joined in, and in the end, even Ant started to smile. ‘Okay, okay,’ he said, ‘I made an idiot of myself. But Josie, I never want to go kayaking with you ever again.’

  ‘Deal,’ said Josie.

  She wound down the window, and the scent of freshly mown grass and roses drifted past them, as Harry sped down the country lanes.

  ‘You sure you know the way?’ he said.

  ‘Of course I do,’ said Josie, ‘Tresgothen Manor is on the road past Mum and Dad’s, about a mile from the open-air theatre. You can’t miss it.’

  Josie put one arm out of the window and sat back, enjoying the ride.

  ‘Are we still sure about this?’ she said. ‘Freddie made Mike Slowbotham look pretty stupid in the pub last night. I don’t want to look like an idiot.’

  ‘He did deserve it though,’ laughed Diana. ‘The guy’s a total ass.’

  ‘… Hole,’ joked Ant. ‘I’m sure Freddie won’t be making us look that stupid.’

  ‘I hope not,’ said Josie. ‘I’m still not sure this is such a good idea.’

  Harry looked at the others. ‘What do you think?’ he said.

  ‘So long as I’m not made a fool of, I’m up for it,’ said Diana, ‘it sounds like fun.’

  ‘And the cash will be handy,’ added Ant.

  ‘I don’t know …’ said Josie.

  ‘Oh don’t be such a stuffy bore,’ said Diana, ‘it’ll be fun. What can possibly go wrong?’

  Harry had a funny feeling that possibly a lot could go wrong, but then he thought about the money. It wasn’t a great deal, but enough for the two of them to go to a really nice hotel on their wedding night, and maybe have enough left over for a weekend in Europe. Maybe if he took Josie somewhere fun and interesting, she’d get the travel bug too. He could but hope.

  Diana was enjoying herself. She’d beaten her demons and proved she could kayak with the best of them. A slightly ignoble part of her also felt quite triumphant. Josie was so damned good at everything, it felt quite nice to have done better for once. And as to having seen Ant ending up in the water, she hadn’t enjoyed anything so much in ages. It had even made up for the shakiness she’d felt after Ant had asked her that question last night. Why he had to bring it up during the game and not when they were alone, she couldn’t fathom. She hadn’t bothered to answer him. A memory of sitting alone in a hospital bed, waiting for him, came searing back into her consciousness. How could he possibly not know why she hated him? If it wasn’t obvious to him by now, it never would be.

  Deciding to put thoughts of Ant out of her mind, which wasn’t as easy as all that, with him sitting right next to her, Diana leaned against the window and stared out dreamily as they sped through the beautiful Cornish countryside. It really was a glorious day, and above the car engine, she could just make out the murmur of bees, and the summer breeze blowing through the fresh green grass. It was so lovely here. Part of her wished she could stay for ever.

  She lay back and shut her eyes, letting her mind drift.

  She wasn’t exactly daydreaming, but her thoughts wandered to a scenario where a tall dark stranger came striding up the beach and whisked her off her feet. He was lovely, soulful, caring and looked like – Harry? She jerked awake suddenly, feeling herself blush. She’d never looked at him that way before, and after what had happened on Friday night, didn’t want any more misunderstanding. She flushed again, as Josie said, ‘Are you okay? You look a bit flustered.’

  ‘Yes, fine,’ said Di, brushing away the guilty feeling that her daydream had left her with. It was only a dream. Nothing had happened.

  ‘Daydreaming about anyone nice?’ teased Josie.

  ‘No one nice,’ said Di, and glanced at Ant to throw Josie off the scent.

  Josie giggled and whispered something to Harry.

  Phew. That had worked. But how strange. To be dreaming about Harry. Strange and embarrassing. Best she forgot all about it.

  Ant’s temper had finally improved as they pulled up at Tresgothen Manor. If Ant had been impressed by Josie’s parents’ house, this was mind-blowing. A long driveway, lined with poplars, gave way to a massive drive with a cultivated lawn, which looked as though someone had cut it with nail clippers, and led up to a massive Elizabethanstyle house, with red brick chimneys and a huge oak door, which was thrown dramatically open as Freddie came out to greet them.

  ‘Welcome, welcome,’ said Freddie, ‘do come in. We’re having drinks on the lawn, and we can sit down and go over the finer points of the contracts.’

  He ushered them through the house, and Ant looked around him at the cool interior, with marble floors and a magnificent wooden staircase, paintings of long-dead aristocrats lining the walls, before they were led out into a glorious garden.

  If the front garden had looked impressive, the back garden was magnificent. A large lawn, with neat flowerbeds at either side, led to a terraced garden at the bottom which was a riot of colour. A rose arch made way for a sunken garden, from where the tinkling sound of water suggested the pond at the bottom of the terrace had been carefully laid to create the illusion of a waterfall. Even Ant, who knew nothing about gardens, could see it was amazing.

  ‘I’d heard they’d done up the gardens here,’ said Josie, ‘I hadn’t realised they were quite so beautiful. When I was a child they were a wilderness.’

  ‘Aren’t they magnificent?’ said Auberon Fanshawe coming towards them, his hand extended in greeting. ‘I’ve stayed in lots of wonderful places over the years, but I can honestly say I would really love to make this my permanent home.’

  ‘Drink, anyone?’ Freddie clicked his finger, and as if by magic a waiter appeared bearing a tray of champagne and Bucks Fizz. Everyone took a glass except Harry, who opted for orange juice.

  ‘To all of you,’ said Freddie, raising his glass, ‘and thank you for sharing in my experiment.’

  ‘Are you sure it’s safe?’ said Josie, who still seemed down on the whole idea.

  ‘Quite sure,’ said Freddie. ‘Look, Jack here, our lawyer, will go through it with you, but ho
nestly, as I told you before, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, and we can stop the experiment at any time. Why don’t I demonstrate how easy it is on one of you? And we’ll take it from there.’

  Ant put his hand up.

  ‘I’m up for it,’ he said.

  ‘All right,’ said Freddie, and led Ant to a chair in the middle of the lawn. A blank screen had been set up behind the chair, and a camera was also in place.

  ‘This is Will, our cameraman,’ said Freddie, ‘and he’ll be with us tonight, to record what happens.’

  Ant sat down, slightly nervous now that it was about to happen, but Freddie put a light hand on his shoulder.

  ‘Nothing at all to be worried about,’ he said. ‘I just want you to think about something that makes you relax.’

  Ant immediately imagined himself on a beach in Australia.

  ‘Take a few deep breaths, and imagine you are descending a spiral staircase,’ began Freddie. ‘I’m going to count down from two hundred, and when you get to one, you will be at the bottom …’

  Ant was vaguely aware of Freddie counting, and before he knew it, Freddie had reached one.

  ‘Now you are completely relaxed,’ he heard Freddie saying; his mind was drifting and Freddie’s voice sounded as if it came from a long way away. ‘I’d like you to go and let the person you’re closest to here know how you feel about them.’

  Overcome with a strong emotion and fuzzy warmth, Ant got up and walked over to Harry and gave him a huge bear hug.

  ‘Aw, mate,’ he said, ‘Aw, mate.’

  Harry squirmed a little under his embrace, but Ant didn’t mind, he just felt a beatific sense of warmth that he was here on this lovely day with Harry, Josie and Diana.