by Jen Silver
“Lydia’s arrived.”
“Oh.”
Beth sighed. “I guess I better go and face the music. I can’t leave Jordan to handle this on her own.”
“We’ll go together.” Sam stood and held out her hand to help Beth up.
She was just brushing the sand off the back of her shorts when a golf ball landed where her head had been moments ago. They both jumped.
“Shit! Maybe that’s why this cove is deserted.” Sam picked up the ball and put it in her pocket.
“Do you think you should do that?”
“Whoever played it will want it back and it’s a bit of climb, isn’t it?”
When they reached the top of the path and emerged onto the green, three golfers were approaching. One of them was Tony and the other two were women from the course whom Beth didn’t know. Tony called over to them, “Did you see a ball come over?”
Sam took the golf ball out of her pocket. “Would it be this one?”
He came over and inspected it. “Yes, that’s it. Haven’t you been told about not picking up stray balls?”
“Yes, but this one almost landed on Beth’s head on the beach.”
“Oh, right. Sorry about that.” He did have the grace to sound apologetic. “It’s a blind shot from the fairway. I thought it would be on the green.”
“We’re going back to the clubhouse. Are there any other players behind you?”
“There is a four ball but they’re a few holes back. You should be safe enough from other flying balls.”
As they continued their walk, Beth wondered what she was going to say to Lydia. Many thoughts had gone through her mind during the night but nothing she said was going to sound good. Lydia was hardly going to believe that Sam’s presence was coincidental.
†
Sam was sorry their beach time had been cut short. Lydia’s timing was, as usual, shit. The more she talked with Beth, the more she felt there was a chance her wife was having second thoughts about her relationship with the head teacher. Sam wasn’t going to push her. If Beth did come back to her, it had to be because she had made her own mind up.
Lying next to her on the sand, Sam knew that one of the things she missed most about their life together was the shared laughter. That, and the way their bodies fit together in bed. She held back on expressing her feelings, knowing Beth wasn’t ready to discuss anything intimate at the moment. Although Sam may have given herself away with the comment about them moving.
It wasn’t really a serious consideration. Her parents would be thrilled if she lived closer but the winter weather on the north coast of Cornwall could be pretty brutal. Enjoying a few hours in the sun on a sandy beach, she could imagine Yorkshire being on another planet. But the fantasy was mainly fuelled by the idea of living as far away from Lydia as possible.
Sam suspected the affair was well and truly dead but there was always the chance that renewed contact could reanimate their feelings for each other.
†
Lydia’s experience of dealing with teenagers on a daily basis told her that the woman behind the counter of the pro shop was guilty of something. The barman, whose name badge she’d noted said Kevin, must have phoned ahead to warn of her arrival.
While Kevin had been sensibly attired for a bartender, this employee was wearing an outfit that might have worked for a preschool playgroup. As she approached she saw that the name “Jordan” was embroidered over the crest on the left breast of the white shirt. Not many people could carry off wearing the bright red trousers, but Jordan was fortunate to have a slim-hipped shape.
Putting on her best head teacher smile—the one that said, “if you tell me the truth, we can sort this out easily”—Lydia extended her arm, “Lydia Carmichael.”
The other woman shook her hand making contact as brief as possible. “Jordan Hillier. Can I help you?”
Lydia knew that Jordan knew she hadn’t come in to buy any item of golf equipment or clothing. She kept her smile in place. “Kevin said you might be able to help with a problem with my booking.”
“Oh, and what might that be?”
Yes, guilty as hell. Jordan had the panicked look of a rabbit caught in the headlights.
“I booked a chalet to share with Beth Travers. Kevin took me to Chalet One but there’s no evidence of anyone else staying there. When he checked the booking list, he assured me that was the one assigned to Beth and myself. So, perhaps you could shed some light on this. Was Beth moved to another chalet for some reason? Problem with the plumbing maybe, or ants under the bed?”
“Um, yes. No. I mean there wasn’t any problem with the chalet as such.”
“As such?”
“No, well, she asked to be moved on Friday.”
“So, would you mind telling me where?” This was just like interviewing a recalcitrant sixth former and Lydia was quickly losing patience.
“I…yes…I’ll have to…” Jordan’s frozen rabbit look changed to one of extreme fear. Her eyes looked ready to pop out of her head as the door to the shop opened.
Lydia turned to see Beth coming in followed by another woman who looked vaguely familiar. It took a moment for her to pull the name from her memory bank, and the reason for Jordan’s panic-stricken performance made sense when the recognition hit. Sam Wade.
Nothing could have prepared her for the shock of seeing the two of them together. What had happened in one short week? Beth had seemed genuinely upset about having to travel down on her own. Had she only been fooling when she talked about getting a divorce from Sam? The divorce that Lydia had offered to pay for. When she said they were meeting at the solicitor’s office, was that when they planned this?
Lydia grasped the counter for support and looked back at Jordan. “Is there somewhere we could go to talk privately?”
“Yes, of course. You can use the office.” Jordan recovered herself sufficiently to indicate a door past the shoe display.
†
Lydia walked towards the office without looking back. Sam figured she was used to being obeyed and Beth followed without saying anything.
“Will you be okay?” Jordan had come out from behind the counter.
“I think so.”
“I’ll be here if anything kicks off.”
“I don’t expect any violence, but thanks.” Sam patted her arm and then walked after Beth.
When she reached the room, Lydia was standing behind the desk, arms folded across her chest. Beth stood in front of the desk, looking down at the floor.
Sam glanced around to check for anything that could be used as a weapon. There were a few golf clubs in the corner but they were out of Lydia’s reach.
“Close the door.”
Sam did as she was told and stood next to Beth. Lydia’s outfit of smart tailored shirt and crease-free chinos was in direct contrast to both her and Beth’s mismatched ensembles of crumpled shorts and well-worn T-shirts. They really did look like two naughty schoolgirls called into the headmistress’s office. If they were going to be given a detention, at least they’d be doing it together.
“So, when did you plan this? Getting me to drive all the way down here so you could make a fool of me. If you wanted to end things, there would have been a kinder way of doing it. I thought better of you, Beth.”
It wasn’t really a laughing matter, but Sam felt exactly as she had the few times she’d been called into the head’s office at school. She could barely stifle a giggle.
Lydia turned her glare on her. “Was this your idea?”
“It’s not what you think.” Beth spoke quietly, still not looking up.
“Oh, it’s not, is it? So why do I find that hard to believe? First of all, I turn up at the chalet we booked together to find you’re not staying there. A rather expensive chalet, I might add. Which I’m paying for. And then you stroll in with your ex in tow. What am I supposed to think?”
“Look, it really isn’t what you think.” Sam thought she better say something.
“Right.
So how is it that an employee here, Jordan, looked guilty as hell when I showed up? Or are you fucking her as well, Beth?”
“No need to be crude, Lydia.” Sam folded her arms across her chest, mimicking Lydia’s aggressive stance. “I’m here doing a research job. My employer made the booking for me. I had no idea Beth would be here. She’s never shown any interest in golf before and we’re a long way from Yorkshire. I doubt she expected to meet anyone she knows here either. Maybe if you could have been bothered to put her first for a change and come here with her last week, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
Lydia didn’t like being put on the back foot. “My work comes first. Beth knows that.”
“It’s not just work, though, is it?” Beth looked directly at Lydia now. “You haven’t really let me into any part of your life. You didn’t let me meet your son at Christmas. When Tara does come home for a holiday, I’ve no doubt you’ll tell her I’m just a lodger. I know you Skype with her when I’m not around. Does she even know I exist?”
Sam was pleased Beth was standing up for herself. She wanted to put her arms around her but she didn’t think it would help the situation. During their talks over the past few days, Beth had told her about how important Lydia felt it was to keep their relationship secret. She had even admitted that was part of the attraction at first.
Lydia looked from one to the other, then settled her glare on Beth. “So, I’m here now. You knew I was coming. Why did you move out of the chalet?”
“I just wanted some time on my own.”
“You’ve been here for a whole fucking week on your own. If you didn’t want me here, why make me drive three hundred and sixty sodding miles to tell me?”
It was Sam’s turn to look at the floor. They weren’t standing on carpet, she realised. It was a green sort of matting. She supposed the pros used it for putting practice when they were bored standing around in the shop.
Lydia exploded. “Oh, but you haven’t been on your own, have you? You’ve been in lesbian heaven here. You conveniently didn’t tell me you’d booked two weeks at a dyke mecca for golf.”
“They’re not all lesbians.” Sam thought of Rosemary who probably didn’t even know the word.
Lydia ignored Sam’s interjection. “I don’t believe this. I am so disappointed in you, Beth.”
Sam flinched as Lydia moved quickly from behind the desk. But she only brushed past her on the way out of the door, which she slammed for extra dramatic effect.
“Disappointed? Is that the best she can come up with?” Sam looked over at Beth and was shocked to see her shoulders heaving. She put her arms around her. “I’m so sorry.”
When Beth looked up, Sam was amazed to see she was smiling. “Disappointed is Lydia-speak for total fuck-up.”
“Shit. I thought you were crying there.”
“I should be. To think I’ve wasted so much time thinking I loved her. She just doesn’t get it and probably never will.”
Chapter Eleven
Andi watched the ball as it flew past her and landed softly in the bunker.
“Fuck! That was supposed to land on the green.” Freya’s language deteriorated the more frustrated she became when her game was off.
“You lifted your head. There wasn’t anywhere else it would go, once you did that.”
“I hate you.” Freya slammed the pitching wedge back into her bag.
Andi glanced around to make sure they were out of sight of anyone else on the course before pulling the smaller woman close and kissing her. Freya’s lips parted readily to let her tongue explore. They broke apart to come up for air and Andi grinned down at her. “I love it when you hate me.”
“I’ll show you just how much I hate you when we’re finished here.” Freya’s teasing tone was accompanied by a squeeze of her buttocks, and Andi wanted to finish the round then and there.
“How about we skip the next few holes? I think there might be a storm front moving in.”
Freya looked up at the blue sky with only large fluffy cumulous clouds drifting slowly above their heads. “I think you might be right.”
Andi moved quickly out of her grasp and ran over to the bunker. She retrieved the ball, gave the sand a cursory once over with the rake and raced back to their buggy.
“Let’s get a move on before we get wet.”
Freya started the cart moving forward. “I’m already wet.”
“Can’t this thing go any faster?” Andi slid her hand up Freya’s thigh.
†
Storming out of the shop, Lydia didn’t notice the golf cart until she was almost on top of it. The driver halted the vehicle before it hit her and the two women inside stared at her. The passenger leapt out and instead of shouting at her for not looking where she was going, put a hand on her arm and asked quietly, “Are you okay?”
“No. No, I’m not. I need to speak to whoever is in charge here.”
“That would be me?” The shorter, blonde woman who had been driving stood next to her companion and looked Lydia over coolly.
“I’m Lydia Carmichael and I demand a full refund. That bitch…”
The taller woman increased the pressure on her arm. “Okay. I think we need to take this discussion somewhere else. Freya, can you grab another cart and follow us up to the house?”
“Sure. I’ll leave our bags here.” The one called Freya was already taking the golf bags off the back of the vehicle. “I’ll ask Jordan to put them away.”
Lydia let herself be ushered into the now empty buggy. The other woman got in the other side and started it moving up the hill. “Sorry, these things only have one speed and that’s slow. My name’s Andi, by the way.”
After the confrontation with Beth and Sam and her adrenalin-fueled outburst, Lydia suddenly felt drained. Andi didn’t offer any further conversation and it wasn’t until she led her into a brightly lit apartment that Lydia took note of her surroundings. It was a beautifully furnished room and the view was amazing. She walked over to the window to look out over a part of the golf course with an open view to the sea.
“Would you like something to drink? Tea, coffee, or something stronger?”
“A gin and tonic would be nice, but I better stick to coffee.”
“Oh, why’s that?”
“Because I’ll be driving home.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea right now. You look to me like you could do with a proper drink.”
By the time Andi had mixed two G and Ts and poured out a glass of beer, Freya arrived. She accepted one of the gin drinks and sank down into the sofa. Andi sat next to her and drained a good portion of the beer in one gulp.
Freya looked at Lydia. “I’m Lady Temperley. So it’s me you need to speak to about a refund.”
Lydia set her own glass back down on the table; surprised to see she had drunk most of it. “I’m sorry. I’ve had a bit of a shock. I would like to apologise for my rudeness earlier.”
“Apology accepted but not necessary. We do know something about your situation.”
“Christ! Does everyone here know?”
“Not quite everyone. Just us and Jordan, whom you’ve met.”
The two women were looking at her with such sympathetic expressions that Lydia thought she was going to break down and cry. She swallowed hard in an effort to tamp down her emotions.
“This was meant to be a romantic holiday for us. There hasn’t been time during the school year to do anything properly together. She told me she was going to divorce Sam. Now I don’t know what to think.”
“I know you’re probably finding it hard to believe, but Sam and Beth didn’t plan to meet here. It was also a shock for them.”
Lydia looked into the blue eyes that seemed to reach into her soul. There was no doubting her sincerity.
“Have they been…?” She didn’t know how to put it into words without sounding crude.
“If you’re asking if they’ve been intimate, the answer is no. They have been talking together, but
that’s all.”
“How do you know? I mean, why did Beth move out of the chalet?”
“She’s staying in a room on her own. I’m not an expert on these things, but I think she’s a bit confused right now and just wanted her own space.”
The tears couldn’t hold back any longer. Lydia felt the salty liquid reach her lips and swiped at it, embarrassed. The dark-haired woman handed her a box of Kleenex.
†
Jordan hefted the two bags, one in each hand, to carry into the office. They weren’t overly heavy. Lightweight summer bags with just a few clubs in each. Andi had told her before they set out that she would be practicing long fairway shots on the course. Lady Temperley, she learned, only ever played with six clubs and still managed to maintain a handicap of ten.
Sam was perched on the edge of the desk facing Beth. “She’s not going to give up this easily, is she?”
They both looked at Jordan when she came in. “Sorry, I’m just dropping these off.”
“Did Lydia say anything to you when she went out?” Beth asked.
“No. She didn’t even look my way, just stormed out the door. Then Lady T came in and asked me to take care of their bags. She grabbed another buggy key and hared out again. I’m guessing they ran into Lydia and have taken her back up to the manor.”
“That makes sense. Wouldn’t want her causing a scene in front of anyone else.” Sam stood and brushed at the back of her shorts. “We’re going back down to the beach. Seems a shame to waste a day like this indoors. Do you want to join us?”
“Sure, if you don’t mind. Roger should be here in a few minutes to take over.” Jordan looked down at herself. “I’ll get changed first, though.”
“Yeah. Good idea. If you stand still on top of the cliff, you could be mistaken for a lighthouse.”
“Thanks, Sam. I’ll remind you of what you look like next time you’re teeing off.”
Jordan joined them outside the clubhouse after she had changed into more comfortable shorts and T-shirt and grabbed three bottles of water from the cooler.
“Good to go,” she said, handing them each a bottle. “I’ve updated Roger on who’s still out on the course.”