The Summer Island Swap

by Samantha Tonge

  We talked about Rick’s old job in the oil industry. How he’d ended up using his degree to work in an office, something that had never been part of his dreams.

  Rick was easy to talk to and quietly sympathetic. A good listener to boot. I ended up telling him more than I usually would to someone I’d only known for a week.

  Perhaps it was because I was cocooned on a tropical island, away from reality.

  Or maybe it’s because you and Rick are a perfect fit, said a voice in my head that I immediately quashed.

  Eventually we sat in silence again, on the sofa facing the back of the property, with the pool and Tiki-style beach huts. It looked like the front of a postcard one might send from a luxury holiday. I imagined the place with Rick’s relatives milling around, the bar open, people in the pool, dance music playing.

  It was a full moon tonight, creamy white and majestic – and thoroughly romantic.

  Talking about my childhood. Rick talking about his. This connection, whatever it was, between us felt stronger than ever…

  Perhaps that’s why I did it.

  Rick turned to pick up the glasses. I turned at the same time. Our faces came into close proximity. I breathed in a faint musky smell. I’d noticed it the other day. It offered a strange contradiction – that someone so down-to-earth would bother with aftershave. The urge overtook me. I leant forward and pressed my lips firmly against his.

  His body stiffened briefly then his lips parted. Suddenly the air-conditioned room felt as hot and humid as outside. Forget the moon – in front of my closed eyes hundreds of stars sparkled as my nerve-endings fizzed. A fluttering noise brought me back to reality and we pulled apart.

  Just over his shoulder a shadow swooped and almost hit his head. I yelped and jumped backwards. Rick scanned the room and bellowed with laughter.

  ‘It’s just a bat. That happens sometimes.’

  What on earth had I just done?

  ‘Sorry about… I don’t know what I was thinking…’

  ‘I’m irresistible, right?’ Rick beamed. ‘No need to apologise. I rather enjoyed it.’

  That heartbreaking smile. There was no other word for it. I gave a nervous laugh.

  ‘I must be dehydrated,’ I said. ‘Delirious, in fact.’

  ‘You’ve just had a very refreshing, long drink,’ he said, clearly enjoying my discomfort. ‘I never knew coke and milk was an aphrodisiac.’

  I got to my feet. Pronto. ‘Right. Better go. Amy will wonder where I am. I’ll see you here after lunch then?’

  ‘If you can wait until then,’ he teased and stood up.

  ‘Don’t flatter yourself,’ I said sharply though I returned his smile.

  Desperately I looked around the room to take us onto a different conversation. The piano. Of course. A plan popped into my head that could bring Benedikt and Jonas together.

  ‘You said the piano’s vibrating?’ I said in as steady a voice as possible. ‘Benedikt plays the piano. His dad is a tuner. I bet he’s picked up some knowledge over the years and could sort it out for you – when the place is empty, of course, so that it’s perfectly quiet for him to analyse the problem.’

  ‘That would be great. One less thing to worry about. I’ll mention it to him.’

  ‘Maybe Jonas could come over at the same time. He’s a musician.’

  Rick was looking at his laptop again. ‘Sure. Why not? Perhaps they could come over tomorrow after our computer brainstorming session, if they haven’t got other plans. I’m going to spend my evening in the Games Room with the permanent volunteers, refining last minute arrangements for the sports day we’ve got planned on Sunday.’

  ‘That sounds like fun.’

  No, it didn’t. I hadn’t travelled four thousand miles to take part in a sports day. I’d come for massages and cocktails by the pool. But Rick looked so downhearted, bending the truth might cheer him up. I could think of a million other ways to lift his mood. They didn’t involve talking. They didn’t involve clothes.

  ‘It should be,’ he said as if only half-listening to me now.

  ‘See you tomorrow, then,’ I said. In my haste I left via the back entrance.

  23

  I sat in the canteen and yawned before pouring a glass of water. As Amy got older and came to live with me it was no longer worries about her that kept me awake at night. It was others about bills, broken boilers or stalling cars – but also ideas and brainstorming about how to improve Best Travel, hoping I could persuade Prue to let me make some changes.

  Last night was one of those nights. A week on Seagrass Island and – slowly – the cloying humidity seemed more bearable and I didn’t feel afraid if I heard a bird’s screech. No, what kept me awake was, firstly, I had to admit, that kiss. The sort I’d never shared with any previous boyfriend. The type where time stood still – or rather galloped at a pace. A heavenly oblivion I’d not known existed away from a film reel.

  Kiss was a simple word. It seemed inadequate to describe what happened between Rick and me. The electricity between us. The way it made my heart thump. It had blocked out all other thoughts; it made me feel as if I were living for the moment.

  My life had become one of routine and responsibility – of getting up and doing the same thing every day. Whereas this kiss made me feel reckless, spontaneous…

  I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so intensely alive.

  And yet he’d laughed it off. So had I, thank goodness. Mistakes like that could be difficult and embarrassing to remedy. My heart warmed with gratitude as I recalled Rick’s easy manner.

  He made me feel relaxed yet ruffled at the same time.

  It was a combination difficult to ignore.

  I gazed around as people sat down with their lunch, forcing my thoughts to shift to the other things that kept me awake last night, triggered by my walk around Rick’s outdoor pool after making my escape. I’d soaked up the sense of luxury and taken a peek inside the Tiki-style two-storey beach huts. Their top floors were the bedroom – downstairs, the lounge and bathroom. I’d spotted wicker furniture in greens and cream. The rooms boasted wooden features, Caribbean art and glossy green plants all around with discreet aircon units on the walls. Margot certainly wanted her visiting family and friends to feel as comfortable as possible, what with hammocks between nearby trees. With the similar decor these huts seemed almost like extensions of the big house.

  As I’d left, the strong night-time scent of the pink propeller-shaped frangipani flower had wafted my way from nearby bushes. I now knew the name of several indigenous species. Near the bar stood a powder puff tree with its delicate fluffy pink blooms. I’d turned back to see a bat swoop across the pool. Moonlight lit up the bamboo bar and its palm leaf parasol.

  All of this exotic, tropical, romantic ambiance… it gave me the kernel of an idea that might help Rick with trying to raise money. After hearing that heated argument with his brother, it was obvious to me that the family’s financial situation was heading towards a tipping point. Maybe I had the answer.

  I thought back to my initial surprise about how a volunteering holiday could cost so much. But getting to know Rick and seeing his work in action made me understand why. It also made me realise that he had real integrity regarding how that money was used.

  No, someone would have to come up with a completely new idea, to create cash to inject into Crocker & Crowley.

  I’d got up with Amy early to help feed the animals. Jonas came along and tried to charm the tree boas by playing his harmonica. Benedikt joined us too – thank goodness. Alone, I thought Amy might quiz me about my evening at Rick’s house and I wouldn’t be able to keep it to myself that we’d got close. Not that I usually hid things from her but the last thing I needed was my teasing little sister Googling wedding dresses.

  After feeding the animals, as it was Saturday, we enjoyed some chill time on the beach, lying in the warm tide, collecting shells to take back to England. Helga found the prettiest yellow and pink scallop and insis
ted I have it. We played volleyball in mixed teams. I’d suggested men versus women but only so that Jonas and Benedikt were together. Jonas cottoned on and shot me an angry glare.

  It had been the same all week. Any hint that I was trying to pair them up had been met with indignation.

  ‘You never stood a chance,’ I said, and took a sip of water. I smiled at Benedikt whose team lost. Amy and I sat opposite him and Jonas on one of the long white tables, tucking into fried fish sandwiches.

  ‘The score was so close and it was pure luck than you won,’ he replied and re-tied his hair bun. ‘Your mischievous sister distracted me when she started singing “Summer Nights”. Amy knows I’m a sucker for any song from Grease since starring as one of the T-birds.’

  ‘Benedikt.’ Amy’s mouth twitched. ‘You told me that was at school. You were thirteen and should have moved on by now.’

  ‘I was voted best singer of the night and won a book voucher,’ he protested before he and Amy dissolved into laughter.

  Jonas forced a laugh and looked thoroughly miserable. He couldn’t have noticed how Benedikt had gazed affectionately when he’d ducked under the water, out at sea, and surfaced with a clump of seaweed tangled in his dreadlocks. I wondered if Benedikt had noted how Jonas was the first to arrive at his side when he swallowed seawater and started choking.

  Amy and Benedikt got up to help Malik wash up the plates. The volunteers did that at weekends.

  ‘Volleyball was fun,’ I said to Jonas and delved into my trouser pockets, a small part of me still missing my colourful shorts and tailored halter-neck tops, my cute sandals and Audrey Hepburn sunhat. I pulled out a handful of shells. ‘Isn’t this one gorgeous?’ I passed him a shiny yellow, horn-shaped conch.

  He ran a finger over the curves and ridges. ‘This afternoon I’m asking Rick if I can change shacks. Both Alistair and Craig snore. I’m not getting any sleep.’

  ‘You’ve never mentioned the noise before.’

  ‘You know me, I’m not a complainer,’ he said and his mouth attempted to quirk upwards.

  I reached out to take the conch and my hand lingered on his. ‘It’s Benedikt, isn’t it?’

  His eyes glistened. ‘It’s too hard – lying below him each night. Wishing he was next to me. Like during the day when I wish I could hold his hand. I’m sure Rick won’t mind. Not all of the shacks are completely full.’

  ‘If you just did some digging – casually ask Benedikt about past relationships, I’m sure you’d soon realise that—’

  ‘No!’ he hissed. ‘I’m not risking being humiliated again, after what happened with Friedrich. And I won’t risk losing Benedikt’s friendship.’

  ‘Then let me—’

  ‘You promised.’

  Amy came back. ‘What’s everyone doing this afternoon? Jackie’s asked me to help clean out the tree boa enclosure. I’m so excited. We’ve had snakes come in at Paws & Claws but I’ve not handled one yet.’

  ‘That’s the kind of excitement I can do without,’ I said and playfully punched her arm, about to ask if she was wearing insect repellent as there was a mark on her skin that looked like a bite. But then I thought back to the conversation with Rick about his brother Lee. Amy had needed my support as a child but had I really become a domineering older sister in adulthood?

  ‘I’m helping Rick with his website again.’

  Her eyes twinkled.

  I looked at my watch. ‘In fact, I’d better get going soon. Just one thing,’ I said innocently as Benedikt joined us. ‘You two men… would you mind popping up the house early this evening?’

  ‘Why?’ asked Benedikt.

  Jonas’s eyes narrowed. I held my nerve, making my voice sound as bored by the subject as possible.

  ‘Rick wants everything to be perfect for when his grandmother next visits. The house is almost complete but the grand piano is a much-loved piece of furniture and has a problem – a vibration noise that wasn’t there before. What with your family’s experience with pianos, I thought you might be able to work out what the problem was.’

  Benedikt shrugged. ‘Happy to take a look but I’m only a piano player.’

  ‘Great! And Jonas – there’s a guitar. Rick hoped—’ okay, bending the truth just a tiny bit ‘—you could give it the once-over? His family… they… they enjoy holding parties and musical evenings. It’s important that the instruments are in tip-top condition.’

  He folded his arms. Suddenly I became very interested in a tiny spider climbing over my hand.

  ‘If either of you have anything on, or were going on Jackie’s boat trip then, of course, don’t worry, it can be done another time,’ I said airily.

  ‘I was only going to do my laundry and chill,’ said Benedikt and drained his glass of water.

  Jonas studied me for a while longer and then his shoulders relaxed. ‘I suppose I could go. All I’ve got on is Helga teaching me chess. And I do miss strumming my guitar.’

  Benedikt clapped him on the back. ‘Great. Then you’ll be able to play with me.’

  ‘Thanks, guys,’ I said and stood up. ‘I’ll find you both later.’ I left the canteen. Footsteps sounded from behind and fingers curled around my arm. Desperately I tried to think of another good reason as to why the guitar needed attention. However, it was Amy.

  ‘Let’s walk,’ she said. ‘Your route to the house passes our cluster of shacks.’

  ‘You don’t mind me spending the afternoon with Rick, do you? After all you will be tied up with the tree boas – but not literally, I hope.’

  ‘Of course not, but you can stop with the website charade – what’s the real reason you’re going over?’

  ‘It’s no charade, sis.’

  Of course I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to seeing him. This morning, every time our paths crossed, we’d smiled at each other. He asked if I’d slept well. I told him about an especially beautiful butterfly I’d spotted by the showers. The usual conversation but somehow heightened by yesterday’s physical contact between us that no one else knew about.

  Up until today I’d thought secrets were bad, like when I’d discovered Dad had been dating Anabelle whilst Mum was dying or Amy used to borrow fake ID, in the sixth form, to get into clubs.

  However, this secret felt good.

  ‘He needs to bring in more business so I’m helping out.’ And I needed to share with him the idea I’d had. I felt a burst of energy, inside, like I did back in England when I came up with a plan to improve Best Travel.

  ‘But why you?’

  ‘Remember that website design course I did? It was basic but—’

  ‘Drat! I’d forgotten that. Guess that means your time with him is legit. I was hoping your relationship might have gone to the next level last night and you were just too shy to tell me. It was a big disappointment when you came back to our bunk beds.’

  ‘Amy Sterling! This isn’t Ibiza, you know! This is Seagrass Island, full of serious-minded people, wearing the most unsexy clothing, drinking mainly un-intoxicating water. The only romantic action here is between the birds and the bees.’

  ‘I doubt that,’ she said, laughing. Her face turned serious. ‘But I’m glad you’re having fun. That’s all I wanted from this holiday.’

  ‘And I’m glad you are too. It must be the perfect break for a veterinary nurse.’

  Amy didn’t say anything.

  ‘You are loving it, aren’t you?’

  She looked up, from under her fringe. ‘Is it bad of me to say it’s going to make going back to Paws & Claws seem a little less appealing?’

  I raised an eyebrow.

  Her cheeks flushed. ‘I… I always felt that I was kind of… well, lucky to be taken on there… as if they didn’t know how, secretly, I wasn’t up to the job. But helping Jackie, being hands-on with exotic creatures, feeling so at home talking to her and Rick about animal conservation… feeling like an equal, as if I am knowledgeable with skills to share… it’s made me think that perhaps I’m capab
le of more than what I’ve been doing.’ She swallowed. ‘Does that make me sound delusional?’

  I could have punched the air. For the first time, ever, could Amy be aware of her amazing potential? I mustered all my strength and managed not to squeal that I’d always told her that and she should have gone to university.

  Because it looked as if my little Amy was working things out for herself.

  My little Amy.

  A lump rose in my throat.

  Day by day, here, I watched her blossom like one of the beautiful Virgin Island flowers.

  She wasn’t little anymore. She wasn’t mine. I’d known that for a while but couldn’t deny that with the fresh eyes I’d been given, away from the hum drum.

  I gave her a tight hug. ‘No. It doesn’t.’ I took her by the shoulders. ‘One thing Mum always used to say to us, “You can achieve anything you put your minds to.” Do you remember?’

  Amy nodded.

  My fingers squeezed. ‘She said that for a reason. Mum utterly believed in us. And I’ve always believed in you too.’

  Amy gave a shy smile and we said our goodbyes.

  I followed the path to the house feeling nervous at the prospect of meeting Rick – in a good way. There he was. Inside. On the sofa. Chatty on his shoulder. Thank goodness we had a chaperone, even if it was the furry kind. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself. I knocked on the wooden door frame and went in.

  Rick looked up, put Chatty down, next to him and came over.

  ‘Thanks again for this, Sarah. You don’t know how much it’s appreciated.’ He sounded jaded – a voice he never shared with the other volunteers. It felt special that he let me see that side of him. Rick reached out a tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I wished he hadn’t done that… yet was so glad that he had. He leant forward. So did I.

  24