A Summer at Sea

by Katie Fforde

  ‘You did that for me?’

  ‘Yes! Although you could say I did it for me. Lizzie’s job was available but she’s a health visitor. You’d get to see plenty of babies after they were born, but you wouldn’t bring many of them into the world. I understand that you need to do that; it’s who you are, a midwife.’

  ‘Oh God! This is getting worse and worse!’

  ‘Why? How could it be worse?’

  ‘Because I turned it down!’

  ‘Why? If you don’t want the fancy office or the car – was there a car with the other job?’

  She shook her head, desperately wanting to burst into tears but knowing she had to really focus to find a way out of this mess. ‘I don’t care about the car!’ She swallowed and exhaled and confessed. ‘It was because I didn’t think I could work up here if you …’

  ‘If I what?’

  ‘If you didn’t want me. I couldn’t have spent my life driving round roads you may have driven on, seen views, looked at scenery, when you were in every speck, every pebble, every ripple on the water.’ She paused. ‘Every time I heard a curlew I’d think of you.’

  He took precious seconds to take this in. ‘Then, my darling girl, we don’t have a problem, because I feel like that about you. I adore you and would do anything to keep you near me.’

  ‘Alasdair! You’ve forgotten! I turned the job down!’

  ‘But you do want the job?’

  ‘Yes! Of course I do! If – everything else is OK – it’s a fabulous job!’

  ‘Then you won’t mind that I intercepted this.’ He pulled a crumpled envelope from the pocket of his coat.

  She wondered briefly how he’d got hold of it but then realised it would be to do with James and Rebecca. ‘How did you know I’d turned it down? That letter – I can see you haven’t opened it – could have been accepting the job? And I’m not going to even bother to ask you how you got hold of it. Rebecca!’

  He nodded apologetically. ‘She had the very best intentions.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘Would another swig of whisky make this better?’

  She nodded and accepted the flask. Actually she felt this was the best it could be, bar one tiny detail which she could sort out another time. But emboldened by the neat spirit, she said, ‘I’ve got a confession too. I told Rebecca – completely by mistake – about your wife. But I think you know this.’

  ‘I do. Rebecca told me. I was angry at first but then I thought that maybe it’s a good thing it’s out in the open. It was all a long time ago now and Rebecca won’t tell Kate until I’ve found the right moment.’ He smiled. ‘I think she felt so guilty she devised this entire plan to bring us together.’

  Emily laughed gently. ‘What would she have done if I hadn’t said I wanted to see the otters?’

  ‘She’d have thought of something. She’s very resourceful, my sister-in-law.’

  But Emily’s attention had wavered. ‘Look! Running along the shoreline! Otters!’

  They watched in silence for a few minutes. ‘She really did take a lot of trouble to make this work,’ said Alasdair, putting his arm round her again. ‘I won’t ever be able to express how grateful I am.’

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  ‘KATE WOULD REALLY like it if you came with me to pick her up from school. Unless you’d rather I ran you back to Becca’s?’

  They were all packed up and Alasdair had rowed them back to where his car was parked.

  ‘I should talk to Becca. Except I left my phone in her car, along with everything else I might need on a picnic.’ She remembered her shock and sense of abandonment when her friend had driven off. Of course it had been for the best – the very best – but she still felt a bit odd about it.

  He smiled, got out his phone, clicked through the numbers and then handed it to her. ‘She’s probably desperate to hear from you. Wants to know if you’re ever going to speak to her again.’

  ‘I expect she’s worked out I’m still speaking to her or I’d have not spoken to her – very loudly – before this!’

  ‘You mean you’d have had a long, loud – er – discussion, and then told her you never wanted to speak to her again?’

  She nodded. ‘Right after I’d demanded that she pick me up immediately.’

  He put his hand on her shoulder for a minute. ‘Right, I’ll let you get on with that then. I’m going to take Rupert for a wander. You might need to say things unfit for my delicate doctor’s ears.’

  Emily watched him move off, glad he was so sensitive; and how pleasing it was to see dog and man walking, one behind the other. She remembered the time she’d seen them walking on the horizon, when she didn’t know it was him, and Kate was dancing along behind. Then she’d felt envious of the woman waiting for them at home. Now, that woman would be her. She felt very lucky.

  Rebecca must have had her phone in her hand because she answered in seconds.

  ‘Alasdair?’

  ‘No. It’s me, Emily. I had to borrow his phone. Mine got left in your car, remember?’ Emily kept her voice even. She wanted to punish Rebecca a little for setting her up.

  ‘And?’

  Rebecca had obviously been on tenterhooks since the moment she’d driven away, leaving her friend staring at the back of her car, totally confused.

  ‘And what?’

  ‘Oh, God, Em! Don’t keep me in suspense! What happened?’

  ‘What do you mean, what happened? Do you want to know if we had sex on the beach?’

  ‘No! TMI!’ protested Rebecca. ‘Of course I don’t mean that!’

  ‘I’ll take that as a yes, and tell you.’ Emily was ruthless. ‘Yes.’

  It seemed to take Rebecca several moments to work out what Emily had said. ‘Really? So is it all going to be OK, then?’

  Emily didn’t mean to sigh, and yet she did. ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘What do you mean, you don’t know?’ Rebecca went on urgently. ‘Do you love him, does he love you? Although of course he loves you or he wouldn’t have gone along with all that plotting.’

  Emily couldn’t hold out on her friend any longer. ‘Yes. I mean, it really does look like that. As far as anyone can tell. I do really love him, and he says he loves me.’

  ‘That is such a relief! I can’t tell you. I’ve been beside myself. So it’s all going to end happily ever after.’

  ‘It’s not quite as simple as that. There’s the matter of my job.’

  ‘Is that going to be OK?’

  ‘Don’t you know? You must have helped Alasdair intercept my rejection letter. And thinking about it, it was you who said I couldn’t reject it by email.’

  Rebecca sighed, sounding guilty. ‘I did tell James to get the letter to Alasdair the moment we left the house.’

  ‘And he did! So all I have to do now is accept the job.’

  ‘And you will?’

  ‘Oh yes. To be honest, being a high-powered administrator isn’t really me. At least this way I will get to deliver the occasional baby.’

  ‘I’m so glad. I can’t tell you how guilty I’ve been feeling about all this, hijacking you like that and making sure you didn’t reject the job out of hand. If there had been another way apart from dumping you on the roadside – or one that I could think of – I’d have done it.’

  Any resentment Emily was still clinging to vanished. ‘I’m sure you would, and offhand, I can’t think of anything else you could have done either.’

  ‘And you think it will be all right? Between you and Alasdair?’

  Emily sighed ecstatically as she remembered some of what had passed between them. Whatever their problems, lack of chemistry was not one of them. ‘If it was just us, definitely. But there are other things to take into consideration. I need children, Bec. I didn’t think I did for ages, but I do now, and Kate might not like that.’

  ‘Kate would LOVE babies! I’ve already told you that. You’ve seen how she is with Nell!’

  ‘But one that lives in the same house would be
very different. I need to be sure before I can commit—’ She heard a sound and looked up and saw Alasdair, Rupert by his side. Rupert looked a bit worried. ‘I’d better go. Alasdair is waiting for me.’

  As she disconnected she realised how very poignant and wonderful those words were.

  ‘So, are you up for coming with me to fetch Kate?’ he said. ‘Or does Becca need you?’

  ‘Becca doesn’t deserve me!’ Emily smiled, thinking that actually, she had a lot to be grateful to her friend for. ‘And anyway, my priorities have changed. If you think Kate would like it, I’d love to come with you.’

  ‘I wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t know she’d be thrilled to see you. Your knitted garments for Ted have all been taken into school and shown off. You could probably open a small business selling Designer Fair Isle Knitted Items for Teddies.’

  ‘Catchy title. It’s a thought! But seriously? She’s not cross with me for rushing off?’

  ‘Not since I promised her I’d bring you back.’

  This was significant. Emily knew Alasdair couldn’t commit to a woman unless Kate could also commit to her. And he was right. He owed it to Kate to put her first, at least until she left home. She was glad that so far, and she’d have to make sure of it herself, he was doing this.

  ‘OK, then.’ She made a face. ‘Damn! I forgot to ask Becca when she was expecting me back.’

  ‘She’s not. At least, she won’t mind if you’re not home for dinner. Or breakfast, actually. It’s up to you.’ His smile was diffident, in spite of what had gone on between them. He was taking nothing for granted.

  ‘We’ll have to see. We mustn’t rush Kate into anything. She’ll need time to get used to us being together.’

  ‘One of the many things I love about you is the fact you put my daughter first.’ He kissed the top of her head.

  ‘I have to. She’s a child and none of what’s happened in her life has been her fault. She mustn’t have anything else going wrong for her.’

  He kissed her again. ‘Let’s get going. Then we can buy sweeties at the shop before we pick her up. Sweeties are not something we have all that often in our house.’

  ‘Wouldn’t it be more fun for Kate to choose her own sweeties? On the way home?’

  ‘It would! I didn’t think of that.’

  ‘I expect it’s because you’re a bit older than me. I can remember that far back …’

  They were in the playground a little early but soon saw Kate emerge from the door with a group of little girls.

  Kate spotted Emily and her father immediately. ‘Hey! It’s Emily who knitted those clothes for Ted!’ she called. ‘Emily!’ she said as the group reached them. ‘Daddy said he’d bring you back!’

  Emily had to swallow hard not to burst into tears right there. She put her arm round Kate and patted her while she got her voice under control. ‘And he did. Here I am. But I haven’t got any more clothes for Ted, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Oh!’ said one of Kate’s friends, with that upward inflection that indicated deep unfairness.

  ‘Well, I’d have to see what he needs,’ she went on. ‘No point in knitting him a onesie if he’s already got one.’ Too late she realised she was committed to doing this now and, more than likely, making up the pattern.

  ‘I think a onesie would be just great!’ said Kate ecstatically.

  ‘You don’t think it would make him look fat?’ suggested Emily, hoping to get out of knitting one.

  ‘Teddies are fat, Emily,’ said Kate, stating the obvious. ‘Whatever they wear.’

  ‘I’ll get some wool, then,’ said Emily, resigned but happy.

  ‘Come on, Katkin,’ said Alasdair. ‘Let’s go home. Emily said we should stop and buy sweeties at the shop on the way.’

  Kate gazed up at Emily with adoring eyes.

  ‘It’s a just-this-once treat!’ Emily said, hoping she hadn’t set a terrible precedent. ‘It won’t be sweets after school every day. Unless your dad says …’ She felt she’d fallen into the role of stepmother even before it was hers, and certainly before she knew the rules.

  ‘Come on, you two,’ said Alasdair. He seemed far more relaxed than Emily. ‘Let’s get the sweetie-choosing over and then go home and have something sensible to eat.’

  ‘Are baked beans sensible?’ asked Kate as they walked along to where they’d parked the car.

  ‘Well,’ said Emily, ‘maybe not individually, but as a group they could probably have a certain amount of common sense.’ Her companions looked at her, utterly confused. ‘Oh! You mean are they healthy? I think so, yes. But Alasdair here is the doctor.’

  ‘But you’re nearly a doctor,’ said Kate. ‘You deliver babies, don’t you?’

  ‘I do, but that doesn’t mean I’m even nearly a doctor. Although of course I do know some simple stuff.’

  ‘Daddy delivers babies sometimes. He told me,’ said Kate.

  ‘I had to tell her – and it is true – because otherwise she wouldn’t believe I had any credibility at all!’ Alasdair complained when Kate had run ahead.

  ‘Really?’

  He nodded. ‘I’m beginning to worry about you two ganging up on me.’

  ‘Oh, we will,’ said Emily. ‘Definitely.’

  ‘I think I might like that,’ he said, and unlocked the car.

  Later, after Emily had cleared away supper so Alasdair and Kate could have an important private talk together, Kate joined Emily, who was sitting by the fire. She had her teddy and his Fair Isle wardrobe.

  ‘Could you really knit him a onesie?’ she asked.

  ‘What’s a onesie?’ asked Alasdair. ‘I’m sure I ought to know but that one’s passed me by.’

  ‘An adult Babygro,’ said Emily, ‘and I’m sure you know what Babygros are.’

  ‘Oh yes. Kate wore them, at least for a little bit,’ he said.

  Emily looked at Kate. ‘There is a danger that people will think Ted is a baby, not a very smart bear wearing the latest fashion. Are you prepared to take the risk?’

  ‘Yup,’ said Kate.

  ‘Then be a love and find me a tape measure or a ruler or something and I’ll measure him up.’

  After a steel rule – the nearest thing to a tape measure in the house – had been found, and Ted’s inside leg measurement taken, Kate retired to the bathroom for important teeth-brushing. Alasdair went with her, claiming he was going to brush his too.

  Emily forced herself to think about the chaos her abandonment of the maternity unit would cause. It wouldn’t last long. Sally might get offered her job and get over her objections to taking it. It might work well for her – easier to fit her family into an admin job. Or they might recruit someone new. Whatever; it would work out one way or another. No one was indispensable from a work point of view.

  But as she couldn’t do anything or tell anyone without her phone, Emily decided to just stay in the present, and love everything about it.

  ‘So,’ said Kate when Alasdair and Emily had both read her stories, ‘are you and Daddy going to get married?’

  Emily blushed hotly, taken completely by surprise. And as Alasdair didn’t say anything, began, ‘Well, darling—’

  ‘But, Daddy!’ Kate interrupted. ‘You said you were going to ask her!’

  ‘I know, and I will, but these things are usually done in private.’ Alasdair was as embarrassed as Emily had been.

  ‘Do it now! Ask her!’

  He looked at Emily helplessly. ‘Darling Emily, will you please do me the very great honour of accepting my hand in marriage?’ His eyes twinkled with excitement and suppressed laughter.

  She inclined her head gracefully. ‘The honour would be all mine and I’d be delighted to accept your very flattering offer.’

  Kate looked at her father and then at Emily, confused. ‘Is that what you have to say when you ask someone to marry you? All those words? And did she say yes?’

  ‘Yes, and yes,’ said Alasdair, looking very pleased. ‘We are so lucky, Kate!’


  Kate sighed in relief. ‘So does this mean you’ll share a bed like Uncle James and Auntie Becca?’

  This was quite a quick step – becoming engaged to sharing a bed – even if that was how it usually worked. ‘Perhaps—’ Emily began.

  ‘Yes,’ said Alasdair firmly. ‘Definitely.’

  Kate nodded and then frowned. ‘But does that mean if I have a nightmare I can’t get into bed with you, Daddy?’

  ‘It certainly doesn’t,’ said Emily. ‘You must always come in if you have a nightmare.’

  ‘Even if you have a baby?’

  Alasdair coughed and cleared his throat. ‘Darling,’ you really can’t ask people things like that.’

  ‘It’s OK,’ said Emily. ‘You can ask me anything. And yes, even if we have a baby, there’ll always be room for you.’

  ‘What if it’s twins?’ demanded Kate, wanting to make sure about everything.

  Emily nodded. ‘Even if we have to get a bigger bed, there will always be room for you in it. You might all have to take turns sometimes. But you will always be our eldest, our first lovely girl.’

  ‘Really?’ asked Kate.

  Emily nodded. ‘But the question of babies is also up to your dad, here.’

  ‘You can’t just have babies to order, you know, Katkin. It’s not like ordering a puppy from a breeder. But I promise that Emily and I will talk about it.’

  ‘What? Getting a puppy?’ Kate’s eyes were huge with excitement at the prospect.

  ‘Sorry, darling!’ Her father apologised. ‘It was just an analogy – you know, an example of what something might be like.’

  ‘I’ll tell you what,’ said Emily, taking a chance, ‘if it’s all right with Rupert, who was here first and has to be consulted, we can have a puppy. But we will ask Daddy, too.’

  ‘Why bother!’ said Alasdair, although he did not sound displeased. ‘You two seem to have the whole thing sewn up. A bigger bed, twins and a puppy, even before we’re married!’

  ‘Us girls like to get things organised. Now, I’m going to say goodnight.’ She kissed Kate. ‘And leave you two to talk things over. I’m going to make sure the fire hasn’t gone out.’