Seven Days in Summer

by Marcia Willett

Janet sighs, shrugs. ‘Why not indeed? But I’m not going to be the one to tell her parents. I’m just saying.’

  ‘It’s up to her to tell her parents,’ says Dave. ‘And, anyway, aren’t we rushing ahead a bit? Perhaps it’s just a little holiday romance.’ He begins to smile again. ‘I’d give serious money just to see old Baz’s face when she arrives looking like that.’

  Janet begins to smile, too. ‘That terrible being-in-love thing when you have no idea that anybody knows and all the while you’re glowing like a Belisha beacon.’

  ‘I don’t think it’s terrible,’ says Dave. ‘I think it’s wonderful. And I need some more breakfast. I didn’t taste a thing with her sitting across the table radiating passion.’

  ‘I’ve got a better idea,’ says Janet, following him back inside. ‘We’ll go into Kingsbridge and have croissants and coffee. I think we deserve it.’

  ‘The twins are grumpy,’ Liv says to Baz, coming into the snug. ‘That’s the result of having a midnight feast.’

  ‘Rubbish,’ he says, swivelling from his computer to look at her. ‘They’re often grumpy. So am I. So are you. It was a great night. I’m feeling particularly refreshed, actually.’

  ‘You’re probably used to it,’ Liv replies. ‘Anyway, they’re bored with their sticker books and sticking things all over me.’ She shows him her arms where the twins have decorated her with small pink hearts. ‘So I’ve decided to take them for a little jaunt in the car. Only just along to South Milton. Do you want to come?’

  He frowns, considering it. ‘I don’t think I will, thanks. I shall just laze about here. Is everything OK? You look rather chipper, actually. Clearly the midnight feast did you good.’

  ‘Well, I am quite,’ admits Liv. ‘But I want to speak to Matt. I’ve just picked up a voicemail from him and he sounded in good form and was talking about the weekend. But it’s not the same as speaking to him. It’s difficult to get a signal here unless you go up on the cliff so I thought I’d drive over to South Milton and buy us fish and chips for lunch.’

  It’s true she’s feeling happy this morning because of Matt’s message: hopeful and encouraged by it. They seem to have been out of tune for so long and his message was so sweet, so loving, as if he’d realized that they’d been at odds and really wanted to put it right. She’s listened to the voicemail twice.

  ‘I’m really missing you all, babe, and can’t wait to get down on Saturday to see you. It’ll be late but I can stay overnight and start back after lunch on Sunday, though I’m still hoping to get someone in place for next week so I can get some proper time with you. Look, I’ll try to phone again tomorrow morning about ten.’

  If she can drive out and find a gateway up on the cliffs in which to park, she might just be able to have a proper conversation with him.

  ‘Fine,’ says Baz. ‘You’ll all enjoy that. Take Jenks, though, if you don’t mind. He gets restless if you’re away too long.’

  ‘OK,’ she says. ‘I’ll see you later.’

  She leaves him, calling to the twins, who begin to look more cheerful at the prospect of a jaunt. Liv gathers the necessary refreshments, the toys needed for the outing, and gradually herds them and Jenks out into the car.

  She turns the car and bumps slowly up the track, getting out to open the farm gates, and finally turning into the lane and heading west. Quite soon she finds an open gateway leading into a newly harvested field and climbs out to release the twins and Jenks. Even as they race away with their ball, Liv’s mobile phone rings and she reaches into the car and snatches it from the passenger seat.

  ‘Matt!’ she cries, as if fearful he might have already hung up, but he is there.

  ‘Hi,’ he says. ‘How’s it going? Did you get my message?’

  ‘Yes,’ she says, holding the phone close so as to catch every word. ‘The signal at the Beach Hut is crap. I’m with the twins and Jenks up in a field on the cliff.’

  He laughs. ‘Sounds good. Look, I’ll definitely be down on Saturday. Honestly, Liv, I’m really missing you. It’s just not the same without you all.’

  Liv says, ‘I’ve felt so mean just leaving you to it and coming here to enjoy myself.’

  ‘No,’ he says. ‘No, you mustn’t. It would have been crazy for us all to miss it. Joe’s got his plaster boot and he’s coming back today to take over all the admin, and I think I’ve found someone to help out next week. I’m absolutely determined to be down with you all before much longer. We need some time together …’

  She bends close to the phone, listening to him as he talks on, until slowly she begins to feel an odd sense of unease. He’s being just a tad over the top for Matt, almost as if in some way he’s trying to reassure her, to convince her that she has nothing to fear. There’s an odd note in his voice and she tries to identify it. Finally she recognizes it: relief.

  ‘Look,’ he’s saying. ‘I must go but it’s great to have a proper conversation. Texts are OK but they’re not as good as the real thing. Oh, Joe’s just arrived. See you Saturday, and give the twins a hug.’

  ‘Yes,’ she says. ‘Yes, I will.’

  ‘I love you, Liv,’ he says. He cries it out almost as if he must convince her of it, and she says, ‘Love you, too.’

  Then there is silence and she takes the phone from her ear and stands thoughtfully, wondering why Matt should sound relieved; as if something has happened that has threatened them but he has overcome it. But what could it be?

  Liv moves slowly into the field, watching the twins kicking the ball to and fro, whilst Jenks makes quick forays at it and barks excitedly. She stands with her hands – one still clutching the phone – thrust into the pockets of her jeans. That early sense of joy has dwindled, her instincts warn her that something is amiss, and the familiar anxiety returns.

  Sofia approaches the Beach Hut, looking around for any sight of the twins or of Liv but there is none: no cries, no shouts, no barking from Jenks. She realizes that the car is missing and she is filled with disappointment. Dave was right: she should have texted. Then she sees that the front door stands open and she almost tiptoes towards it, hope rising again.

  Even as she prepares to call out, Baz suddenly emerges and they cry out together with surprise, disbelief, and Sofia knows that they both feel exactly the same way. This is the most hoped for, yet most unlikely thing that could happen to them. Her absolute confidence that he is experiencing these emotions brings back all her earlier optimism and she begins to laugh.

  ‘Sorry,’ she says, though she is not a bit sorry. ‘I was just about to shout. Did I make you jump?’

  His smile is so warm, so loving, that she simply wants to fling herself into his arms, but she waits as he stretches out a hand towards her. She can see that he has no idea how to greet her. This is not a social occasion, he has met her only four times, and there are no rules for this unpremeditated meeting. At the kite-flying, and then later at the party, there had been other people around, and the tea party with Liv and the twins had had its own particular dynamic. In Kingsbridge, amongst shoppers, he had simply taken her off for coffee. Here, now, things are different.

  How simple it would be, she thought, if we could just behave naturally. On impulse she steps forward, clasps his arm and kisses him on the cheek but with her lips close to his mouth. It is an intimate gesture and she feels the shock of it pass down his arm, which tenses in her grip.

  ‘Sofia,’ he says.

  His voice trembles just a little, which gives her courage, and she smiles, still with her face close to his, looking into his eyes. She is surprised and touched to see how moved he is, but also how careful he is not to take advantage of her gesture lest he has misunderstood it. Her heart moves with tenderness for him and she continues to hold his arm.

  ‘I read somewhere,’ she says softly, her lips inches from his ear, ‘that if a man and a woman gaze into each other’s eyes for four minutes by the end of it they will be in love.’

  Baz smiles, a slow sweet smile. ‘Oh, darling Sofia,�
�� he says. ‘As long as that? It took me about ten seconds. But I’ll give it a go if that’s what it takes for you.’

  She bursts out laughing with delight. Never has she been so happy. ‘Oh, no,’ she says. ‘I can beat your ten seconds, but we won’t make it a contest.’

  His hand covers hers as he watches her intently and now she feels just a little shy. She looks at him, determined not to lose her courage, longing for him now to take control, which he does, drawing her into the house and closing the door. She hears the key turn in the lock.

  ‘What luck,’ he says softly, ‘that the car is gone. Any visitor will think that there’s nobody here and we shan’t be interrupted.’

  She clasps his hand and he tilts her chin to look at her with that same intent look, a query in his eyes, and she nods and smiles at him and he puts his arm around her as they climb the stairs together.

  Baz stirs, frowns and opens his eyes. He’s been having an amazing dream in which Sofia came to the Beach Hut and told him that she loved him and they made love on his unmade bed. He rolls on to his back, stretches out an arm and feels her warm body still beside him. The shock is huge. Baz gasps, leans over her, staring at her as she opens her arms to him, smiles at him.

  ‘I thought it was a dream,’ he says, muffled against her bare shoulder. ‘A wonderful dream. It was such a strange night. That storm and then the midnight feast and my swim in the dawn. And then you.’

  He wants to shout with exultation, weep with gratitude, but he simply hugs her tighter. He can feel her laughing silently, shaking in his arms.

  ‘Midnight feast?’ she asks, her breath warm in his ear.

  ‘The twins were frightened. They couldn’t sleep so we had a midnight feast in Liv’s bed with Jenks. It was dawn when they fell asleep so I let Jenks out and it was all so magical I went for a swim.’

  ‘It was magical,’ she agrees. ‘I watched it from my window and then I made up my mind to come and find you.’

  He still holds her tightly, his face buried against her warm soft flesh, too afraid to look at her in case he sees that it was all just a bit of fun. He knows he simply couldn’t bear it, yet what more can he possibly ask of her? The age gap … Fear shrivels him and he thanks heaven that it was all so unexpected, so extraordinary, that he didn’t have time to think.

  ‘I suppose,’ she says with a charming reluctance, ‘that we should get dressed in case Liv and the twins come back.’

  And though he suspects that it’s still a way off lunchtime, and that they are all at South Milton, he takes the sensible decision. After all, Liv might change her mind, decide to come back early …

  The thought helps him to unlock his arms, to release Sofia and slide to the edge of the bed. She is pulling her clothes on, pushing her fingers through the thick mane of hair, and he fumbles with his shirt whilst wondering what on earth comes next. Dragging on his jeans, slipping his feet into his deckies, he is aware that Sofia has disappeared into the bathroom.

  He hurries downstairs, unlocks the door, remembers that the kitchen door is unlocked and begins to laugh. Anyone could have walked in. He’s still laughing when Sofia appears and he tells her the joke. She laughs, too, and suddenly all the awkwardness disappears and Baz feels strong again. He still has no idea where this is going but he feels able to take the future one step at a time. He waits for Sofia to make the first one.

  She takes it without stumbling or faltering.

  ‘When do you go back to Bristol, Baz?’

  ‘Not for a while yet. Liv’s here for a fortnight and she’ll take me back to Truro and then I’ll catch a train to Bristol. Matt’s hoping to be down for part of next week with us, I think. What about you?’

  ‘Only here for this week. I need to get back and find a job. I’d like it to be in Bristol. I shall stay with my parents in Bath for the time being.’

  ‘If you need somewhere to stay,’ he says lightly, ‘when you come over for an interview, you only have to ask. Once I’m back.’

  ‘And if I simply feel like visiting Bristol without an interview, once you are back?’

  Her steps are still sure, still certain, though her face is less confident, vulnerable now.

  ‘My darling Sofia,’ he says gently. ‘You will always be welcome. Surely you know that?’

  ‘I need to hear it,’ she says. ‘After all …’ She hesitates. ‘You might have other commitments.’

  He smiles. ‘Perhaps we should go for that four-minute thing after all. I hoped that I’d already convinced you … but, whatever it takes.’

  She laughs, crosses the floor to him and puts her arms round him.

  ‘I’ll let you off the four minutes,’ she says, and takes the next step. ‘But I need your mobile number. If we could text it would help. It’s difficult when you’re staying with people, lovely though they are. It will be hard to … dissemble.’

  ‘We could just make it public.’

  He presses his cheek against her wild copper hair and waits for her to hesitate, to draw back. She doesn’t miss a beat.

  ‘It wouldn’t be fair to Liv while we’re all here together. People will need time to adjust. And everyone will go on about the age gap. I haven’t been married and had babies and you’ve got two grandchildren.’

  He gives a tiny gasp at her directness and she draws back to smile up at him.

  ‘I don’t want your friends putting you off,’ she says. ‘Everyone here will have a point of view. This is just between you and me, Baz.’

  He stoops to kiss her.

  ‘I don’t know what to say,’ he murmurs.

  Still she stares up at him, daring him, laughing. ‘Yes, you do.’

  And so he takes the next step himself, sure-footed and confident.

  ‘I love you,’ he says.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  FROM HER VANTAGE point on the cliff, El sees Baz and Sofia walking on the beach. Their hands are linked and they lean close together. She watches, oddly moved by their languor, the way they bend in to each other. Even from this distance it is clear that intimacy has taken place. They pause, looking at each other, whilst Sofia talks and then they both laugh. El feels slightly uncomfortable, as if she is spying on them, and turns back to her sketch pad. When she next glances down, Baz is alone and she guesses that Sofia has climbed up to the coastal footpath and is now on her way back to the village.

  Perhaps, thinks El, she doesn’t want to bump into anyone visiting the Beach Hut by car.

  She is intrigued and, on a whim, packs up her rucksack, sets off along the cliff and then climbs down the little shingly path that leads to the beach.

  Baz sits alone outside the Beach Hut, beneath an umbrella, his long legs stretched out in front of him. El begins to laugh.

  ‘You have that fatuous smile of a man who is madly in love,’ she observes. ‘I saw you both from up on the cliff.’

  His smile widens. ‘What do you suggest I do about it?’

  ‘Absolutely nothing.’ El sits down beside him. ‘But if it were me I’d pack a bag and take the first train back to Bristol, taking her with me.’

  ‘Ah, but your affairs, my dear El, are not complicated with family. I can’t possibly leave yet. Matt’s due at the weekend. Not to mention Miles and Annabel’s lunch party on Friday.’

  ‘Well, good luck to that,’ she says, making a face. ‘You’ll have to do better than this or Annabel will lace Sofia’s drink with something nasty.’

  Baz sits up slightly, his expression changes and he looks so dismayed that El bursts out laughing.

  ‘You think they might guess?’ he asks.

  ‘If you look like that when she’s not here, goodness knows what you’ll be like when she is. Or have you decided to go public?’

  ‘No, no. Not here.’ He shakes his head. ‘I did mention it, actually, but Sofia thinks it would be unfair to Liv and that everyone would start getting in a state. She says it’s private. Just between us while we’re here.’

  ‘She’s quite right. That’s w
hy I said you should go straight back to Bristol. However, since you have your family duties here I suggest you stop giving the impression of somebody out in the street with no clothes on and pull yourself together.’

  ‘How practical you are, my dear El,’ Baz says. ‘After all, I hardly expected you to come walking in, did I? You caught me off guard. I shall be the soul of propriety, you’ll see.’

  Nevertheless, he can’t prevent the smile that lifts his lips and the corners of his eyes as he stretches contentedly.

  ‘Hopeless,’ murmurs El. ‘Utterly hopeless. Well, don’t say I haven’t warned you. Have you had any lunch?’

  Baz shakes his head. ‘I wanted to make Sofia something but she wouldn’t stay. I didn’t dare suggest the pub.’

  ‘Just as well,’ comments El. ‘Shall I make us a sandwich?’

  ‘Good idea.’ Baz gets up. ‘Sorry, El. I’m not thinking straight. Let’s have a little glass of something, shall we? Prosecco, I think, might suit this moment.’

  She smiles at him affectionately. ‘And we are celebrating what, exactly?’

  Baz begins to laugh again. ‘Oh, darling El. Anything you damn well like. Who said, “Love isn’t love till you give it away”?’

  ‘I’ve no idea,’ she answers, grimacing with amused distaste, ‘but it sounds very corny to me.’

  ‘You are such a cynic!’ he cries.

  She grins at him. ‘OK. You’re in love. She’s in love. I’ll take it as read. Now get the drinks and I’ll make us a sandwich.’

  Sofia walks home with quick, light steps. She feels energized with that same sense of confidence and relaxation she experienced earlier this morning after the storm. Everything she hoped for, wished for, has been granted. Baz met her on equal terms, understood her, and accepted and returned her gift of love. She remembers how tenderly he’d unwrapped her, as though he were eagerly opening a very special present, undressing her with reverence and delight.

  As she turns into the village street Sofia wonders how she will manage to contain herself back at Brambly Hedge. She begins to laugh, remembering how she told Baz about her foolish way of seeing Dave and Janet.