She felt an urgent, sharp need for him to kiss her. Quickly. Otherwise she might lean in and be bold by making the first move, and she didn’t want to do that.
He pressed his lips against hers. They were soft and the kiss was tender. Electricity soared between them and the intensity became harder and more passionate. He practically ripped off her cardigan. But he suddenly stopped, and pulled back.
“Sorry, Soph,” he panted. “I don’t want to rush anything between us if you don’t want to. I mean if you’re still in love with Derek.”
She swallowed, feeling weak with wanting. “He’s the last thing on my mind. I’m here with you, now,” she whispered. Her hands affirmed her words, tugging gently at his belt buckle. She yanked his shirt from his jeans.
Her phone rang. The piercing sound broke through the energy surrounding them. “I’m sorry,” she said, laughing nervously, her stomach flipping with butterflies. She wiped her tingling lips. “It’s probably Mickey or Carol, wondering where I am. I’ll just turn it on silent.” With shaking hands she snatched her phone. She frowned seeing the caller identification screen: Gloria Smart.
“Hello?” she answered, taking the call. Her Mum wouldn’t call her on New Year’s Eve, unless there was something important.
“Sit down, Sophie.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know how to say this.”
“Spit it out.”
“It’s your father.”
“He’s not having an affair Mum. I promise you.”
“He’s in hospital.”
She gasped. “What hospital?” Panic gripped her and she felt the blood drain from her face. “Is he okay?”
“He’s in casualty.”
Sophie dropped the phone as her knees buckled, and Matthew somehow caught her, stopping her from falling. “I’ve been drinking. It’s New Year’s Eve. I’ve got to get there.” She spoke mostly to herself, her eyes round, wild, conjuring a plan.
Matthew grabbed the phone.
“Hello. Hello, this is Matthew Silver. I’m with Sophie at a New Year’s party. I heard you say ‘hospital.’ What’s going on and what hospital?”
Chapter 21
The hospital became Sophie’s home from home. It wasn’t long until both Sophie and Gloria were on first name terms with the various doctors treating Roger. Sophie’s dad had had a heart attack and he was still in recovery.
The upside, if there could be one, came in the form of hunky medics. Throughout her father’s recovery, they diligently alleviated Sophie’s worries. The practitioner’s clean scrubs provoked memories. A whiff of bleach or detergent reminded her of chlorine. She couldn’t help but think of Matthew, for he always smelt like chlorine. He’d fit right in at a hospital, especially with his experience helping people. Being a swimming coach, he probably already knew cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, or in abbreviated medical terms, CPR. Of course he would, since he was into saving lives and all that. Although, Sophie didn’t suppose doctor’s had the same type of passion with water or sea creatures. And Matthew did have a particular interest in wanting to be a dolphin.
Nurses strode around the hospital. If they heard her chatting on her mobile phone discussing something frivolous like a dolphin, then they’d probably confiscate it, so when she received messages from work saying Matthew had rung, she didn’t call him back. In fact, they hadn’t spoken since New Year’s. With the hospital’s limited mobile phone reception making the line crackle, phone calls really were almost impossible. It was difficult to prioritise much else other than focus on her dad and his recovery.
Sophie was overwhelmed juggling her time to support her father and of course her responsibilities back at the office. Whenever she was at Clarks, Bradley constantly shouted at her, urging her to exceed his expectations. To avoid his constant reprimands, Sophie had to do one thing she had never quite done, trust her colleagues to step up. Although Sophie didn’t dare trust Kelly – that would be naive.
Sophie made small incremental steps forward in the process of delegation. Being at the hospital, she wasn’t doing all-nighters. She couldn’t. She trusted Jessica completely to do exactly what her job title read, administrative support. This meant Jessica was able to help a little bit when Sophie was missing in action, at the hospital. Jessica was also able to help arrange the wrap party for the Silver account; since the campaign was running to schedule.
Matthew had called Sophie’s office a few times. He’d left her messages. Sophie either saw them at the most inconvenient time, when the janitor’s vacuum was hoovering next to her late in the evening, or when Bradley was chastising her. By the time Sophie noticed the messages, it was too late to call and she would often just send him an email back.
Matthew hadn’t called her personal mobile phone. Sophie didn’t want to appear desperate. When Sophie’s father was released from hospital, she was determined to find some normality.
One month had passed without actually speaking to or seeing Matthew. If she left it any longer Sophie feared she’d lose her nerve to drop by the pool casually. So Sophie arranged a swimming lesson, just like before. There was nothing wrong with using a swimming lesson as an excuse.
In the pool, Matthew behaved exactly the same as he’d done before. He was friendly and supportive. There was one distinct difference. He seemed more distant, like he’d erected an invisible boundary between them.
In the pool Sophie tried to ignore the disappointment stabbing at her chest. Matthew had just instructed Sophie to complete two full laps with a kickboard.
“Keep going,” he urged as Sophie attempted to stand up in the middle of the pool. After six laps her legs felt like jelly and she was ready to get out.
“We’re not done,” Matthew insisted, glancing at the clock on the other side of the pool.
Sophie frowned. “Oh but it’s almost time….”
Matthew took the board from her. “This can’t become a crutch. It’s excellent for building confidence, stamina, and learning positions. You can’t rely on always having a floatation device. All the balance work you’ve done, you’ve got to use it in the water and swim.”
Sophie shivered. “I see.”
“You’re going to swim.”
She shuddered and watched the demonstration given by Matthew. He started with arm motions without the kickboard. After he completed his instructions, he heartlessly indicated the empty pool lane. He put the kickboard on the edge of the pool and he motioned her forward.
It was her turn.
Sophie’s arms quivered as she extended them in front. Fear rattled inside as she attempted to follow his teaching. She checked her arms and ensured the tips of her fingers touched each other. She couldn’t stop her teeth chattering and she clamped her mouth shut.
With her arms out, she plunged forward to swim.
Taking her first stroke, one arm wound round. The movement felt encumbered and almost jerky like a Thai rickshaw riding on rusted wheels. She kicked hard. Her thrashing legs might not have had the same pressure as an Olympian but excitement funnelled through her body. She was swimming. Dear God, she was swimming and she was sure to create a trail of foam behind.
Her heart hammered as she propelled her body. She felt overwhelmed at what she was actually doing. There was so much technique to remember and everything swirled through her mind.
Her legs needed to flutter kick. Her arms had to rotate. Of course there was buoyancy; that simply had to continue through the length of her stroking through the pool. Panic stabbed. She tried to focus on Matthew’s instructions.
Flutter kick. Stroke. Keep afloat. Flutter kick. Stroke. Keep afloat. Flutter kick. Stroke. Keep afloat.
On her third stroke, her arm felt as if it was whizzing through the water. She felt zealous as she flittered along the surface. Suddenly Sophie became aware she’d missed a step.
She’d missed her breath.
She needed to breathe. Breathing was the integral component of this swimming experience. Unless she’d develope
d a set of gills for Sophie knew what happened if she didn’t breathe. Matthew, half dolphin and half human, still needed air. He wouldn’t mind if she grabbed a cheeky breath out of the normal swimming sequence. He’d understand.
As she swam, she thrust her head to the side. Her mouth tilted above the water’s surface. Greedily she slurped air. She’d done it, she’d taken a breath!
Sophie wasn’t exactly graceful or gliding over the surface like a swan. Her body rotated and twisted like she was rocking and rolling in the water. The loss of the kickboard hampered her buoyancy, yet she pressed on, following the instructions.
Flutter kick. Stroke. Keep afloat. Flutter kick. Stroke. Keep afloat.
She started her fifth stroke. Again her arms wound round and again she missed her chance to breathe. She snatched her next breath which derailed her body’s buoyancy.
Fretting, she tried to correct her body position. She felt like a drunken llama, seesawing giddily as she moved forward in the water.
Flutter kick. Half stroke. Breathe. Finish stroke.
Despite her efforts, her torso sank and she felt like she was struggling to complete the final step.
Please stay afloat. Please stay afloat.
Sinking wasn’t supposed to be part of the whole swimming shenanigans. Her body submerged further until her feet seemed to drag on the bottom of the pool. This was hopeless. A combination of confusion and disappointment swirled around her as she stood up. She’d only completed six strokes.
Matthew clapped and the sound echoed round the pool. “Well done. You’ve swum. How do you feel?” he smiled.
Suddenly Sophie felt quite annoyed. “I’ve barely left the edge. I only went six and a bit strokes. Then I sank.” Sophie’s cheeks turned pink. “I’m a huge failure.”
“No, no,” Matthew insisted. “Remember there’s a lot going on when you’re swimming. Of course there’s buoyancy without the kick board. And the arms and legs need to learn to work together.”
Sophie frowned. “I just don’t think I’m cut out to do this. I actually sank.” She pulled her goggles off her head.
“No, no, keep on doing what you’re doing. Next time, you’ll aim for ten breaths. You’ll get there. I promise you.”
“So how long is it going to take to do one simple lap of the pool?” she said, her voice trembling. “I mean, I’m not asking for much, just one simple lap.”
“Well it’s not that simple is it?” he replied.
“I’ve a body like the Titanic, a sinking ship.”
“It will come with time and perseverance.” He sighed dramatically. “You’ll have to practice.” He paused and without meeting her eye, he continued. “You can practice without me, you know?”
“I realise that,” she snapped. She pulled off her bathing cap. “I’m quite capable of practicing.”
“One lesson a week isn’t enough. You can’t expect to be zipping through the water in just a few sessions. The more you get in, the better you’ll get. So practice, practice, practice.”
She moved towards the step. “Fine, I’ll practice on my own then.” Without waiting for him to tell her the lesson was over, she exited the pool. “I mean, no one can have swimming lessons for eternity. I’ll have to develop some type of competency without your expert guidance.”
His gaze followed her as she collected her kickboard from the water’s edge. “You’re right, you can’t have lessons forever,” he called. “Maybe we’re all better off going it alone.”
She pulled a towel around her body and wondered whether there was any hidden context behind his words. Did he not want to teach her anymore, was that what this was all about?
She sighed. “Thanks for all your help. I mean it, I really appreciate all this so far,” she whispered hoarsely. “But from now on, I won’t want to waste your time.”
She headed for the changing room knowing she couldn’t get angry but her breathing was quite hard.
Of course she should have seen it. He was bound to want to stop the lessons at some stage. He was a busy man. He was the owner of a business conglomerate. The last thing he needed to do was teach someone elementary swimming skills. He had much better things to do.
Matthew wasn’t even at the reception counter when she left the swimming centre. He was completely avoiding her. God, this was the worst thing that could have happened. He’d ended the darn swimming partnership. If he could opt out, then so could she, surely? But she still had a job to do.
***
Two weeks later, Eve contacted Sophie and insisted she return to the pool. “But Matthew told me all I needed to do was practice,” she heard herself say. “He said I could do that alone.”
“But I haven’t seen you here, have you gone somewhere else?”
“No, but….” Sophie found multiple excuses not to go to the centre. She started her excuses by using the ‘w’ word. Work. She was working late, working early, working at the weekend, working out of town.
Then her creativity kicked in. Not surprising really because Sophie did live and breathe the world of advertising. A high school friend who she’d reconnected with (most probably on Facebook) was in town for one night and she had to see her (or “him”). She was talking to the Lost Dog’s Home about how they could possibly implement a rescue adoption programme (she really did like animals). She was thinking about entering the London Marathon and needed to find the right shoes because her instep had been quite painful lately. She’d run into an old college professor and was speaking with her old university about a research project.
“I have an idea for you, Sophie,” Eve replied.
“What’s that?” Sophie answered.
“You mentioned that you wanted to practice on your own. Well, Matthew will be away for a few days. So that should be exactly what you wanted to achieve for your solo sessions?
Sophie paused. “It doesn’t matter whether Matthew’s there or not. I just need to practice on my own. That’s what the taskmaster said.”
Eve was Matthew’s personal assistant. She probably knew everything about him. What he ate for breakfast. How he liked to do his laundry. Who he had sex with….
“That’s so good to hear because you’ve come so far Sophie. You know I’m not just Matthew’s personal assistant. I’m also a swimming coach. I wouldn’t want to see you stop. You’re at the point now where you’ve practically got it and just getting in will really help you. Swimming is a life long skill. It can save you in the direst of situations. There are a few skills you haven’t learnt yet. Why don’t you come in and maybe you and I could work something out? You can of course practice on your own but I could offer you a few tips in regard to treading water and show you how to jump off the blocks. That way you’ll be covered with anything to do with deep water.”
“I suppose we could work something out.”
“So, just come to the pool and practice. We don’t have to do anything further, but it would be such a shame to waste all the time you’ve invested. Think about it, okay?”
Sophie sighed. “Fine.” She knew Eve was right, she had progressed and might as well complete the lessons.
Taking on board Eve and Matthew’s words about practicing, Sophie went several times per week. The pool closed at nine and more often than not, only one staff member was left in the hour before closing to lock up the centre. So Sophie chose this particular hour to practice. It was a perfect technique for avoiding Matthew.
Practicing alone in the pool, Sophie felt like she was trying to do some type of underwater dance where she didn’t know the moves. Coordination wasn’t natural for Sophie, she got muddled in the water, trying to stroke and kick at the same time. It was her persistence that kept her going. Without any type of grace she managed to swim one lap and reach the end of the pool. Finally she had achieved it, one full lap without stopping.
Reaching the end of the pool increased Sophie’s confidence. The one lap without stopping soon became two laps. Then three. Then five. Then ten.
One pract
ice session, Sophie reached the end of the pool and noticed Matthew sitting on the pool step. She was so flustered she stopped her practice session and practically ripped off her bathing cap, and hoped her hair wasn’t sticking out in freakish directions. She removed her goggles and met his gaze, goggle free.
His large blue eyes settled on her. “Congratulations, Soph. I think you can safely say you can swim.”
“We all know why I can swim.” She ran a hand through her wet hair. “Thanks for helping and teaching me. I can only do ten laps in a row, but thanks again.”
“Swimming is just inertia, isn’t it?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re creating a habit that keeps you going in a straight line. So you’ll do seven laps today and ten tomorrow. You’re truly on your way to becoming completely comfortable in the water. Now that I’ve got you here, did you want to have any more lessons? I was hoping to teach you how to jump in from the blocks, face your fear of deep water.”
“Thanks for offering, but it’s okay, I’m fine,” she said and shook her head. “I’m going it alone now.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “It would finish off the essential basic skills.”
Sophie swallowed. “Eve showed me how to tread water and jump off the blocks. It’s probably best if Eve helps me out. After all, with Eve teaching me, it helps our relationship to remain truly professional.” She could barely meet his eye.
A hurt look flashed across Matthew’s face. “You’re right, it keeps us much more professional.” He gave her a tight smile and then strode to the reception counter without saying goodbye.
Chapter 22
Day one of filming the ‘Skinny Dipping’ commercial was scheduled at the Highbury Aquatic Centre. Sophie’s nerves were threadbare. Communication with Matthew had been scarce since the last time she’d seen him at the pool.
Sophie arrived at the centre at four in the morning. She pushed open the reception doors and Matthew yawned behind the counter.
Skinny Dipping (Skinny Sagas) Page 21