He realised that, for whatever reason, his mother hadn’t been barking at him at roughly the same time as the seagulls awoke, so he took advantage of the quiet and jumped into the shower, glad to get in before the girls took over with their hour-long stints in the bathroom, a whirl of powders and pastes being splodged all over the place along with wet towels, abandoned pyjamas and shrieking.
As he stood under the torrent of water he accepted that he was fooling himself. Talking all night over the phone with your teaching assistant, giggling, sharing memories and future dreams was not keeping boundaries firm. The right thing to do would be to ring her as soon as he was dry and dressed, and thank her for her kind offer to show his family around but explain that it wasn’t necessary.
As he shampooed his hair, he knew that that wasn’t going to happen.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Pippa stood at Kam’s front door and took a deep breath. She had a feeling today was going to be a day full of laughter, even if most of it would be at Kam’s expense. She’d enjoyed meeting his sisters yesterday – they were so much fun – and watching all four of them together was fascinating: whilst they were all definite individuals there was something about the four of them that was so similar, their mannerisms, the way they laughed. It was both freaky and quite adorable. It was like one person split into four.
Just arriving at Kam’s flat was making her tummy flip. She had never been there before and was fascinated to see where he lived and what it was like. She imagined she’d be walking into a man-pad, with wall to wall surfboards, wetsuits hanging over the bath and all sorts of man toys, kayaks, paddleboards and the like littering the house.
The building itself had been a great big old smokehouse and net store, part of the fishing heritage of Treporth but now repurposed as swanky apartments. She had always wanted to have a peek inside to see if they were as swish as the advertisements had suggested. She was also slightly curious as to how Kam was managing to fit his family into a two-bedroom apartment.
She felt her tummy flip again as she pushed the buzzer and waited for him to answer. She reminded herself that there was no need to be anxious; this was merely a day out with a colleague’s family, not a date. However, it was a struggle to get her disobedient body to believe it: the speed of her beating heart and the nerves that were making her feel more than a little sick were convinced it was a date, and a date with the whole family at that. Which meant she had to make a good impression on everyone rather than just one person. No pressure at all.
‘Hello, come on in,’ Kam answered the intercom and then whispered, ‘Rescue me, they’re all insane.’ Making her laugh before she had even walked in through the front door.
‘Hello, are you ready for adventures?’ She wandered into the hallway and he led her through to the living room. It was a huge room, all modern steel and glass and lots of light juxtaposed against high ceilings and old granite wall. She noted that, bar the bedding neatly folded at the end of one of the huge sofas, the room was immaculate. No smell of musty socks or damp wetsuits. Just a clean citrus smell pervading the house along with the sound of hairdryers – more than one – all of which she assumed belonged to his sisters.
Kam was dressed down in a T-shirt and jeans today, with the jet black of his hair shiny from the shower. His house told her that he was no boy but all man, his physique and smell backing that up. And those arms peeking out of the T-shirt were screaming man with every muscle, every dark hair on show. Oh, be calm, she told herself, whilst her mind immediately went to places that would put Fifty Shades to shame. His mother was in the next room and she had enough good sense not to race over there and peel that T-shirt off his body.
‘Hello, I can’t thank you enough for this.’ Kam seemed oblivious to the filth racing through her head.
‘Honestly, I’m really happy to do it. I’m just a bit worried about fitting us all in my car. Did you say your friend Ben might be joining us as well?’
‘Yes, mum insisted. She practically brought him up, so he’s virtually a brother rather than a friend. But don’t worry, my mum’s got her car and that fits eight, so we’re all good.’
‘Okay, is your mum driving?’
‘Not unless you want to take your life in your hands. She’s a demon behind the wheel, look at her…’ He paused as his mother walked into the room.
‘Ah Pippa, how lovely to see you. Such a good girl. I hear you are to be our tour guide, hmmm?’ She enveloped her into a great big hug and Pippa breathed in a deep floral scent and felt immediately comforted, as if all was well in the world. No wonder Mrs Choudhury’s family were all so close; that hug had some kind of superpower pheromone blasting out making everyone feel safe.
‘I am indeed. Kam told me all the things his sisters liked so I’ve managed to work those in but he was pretty rubbish at telling me what your favourite thing is.’
‘Ah, that’s so simple.’ Kam’s mum went and ruffled his hair. ‘Why is this still wet eh? Your guest is here and you’re not ready?’
‘Why don’t you say that to the girls? They’ve stolen my hairdryer despite bringing their own, and have turned my room into some kind of beauty salon and won’t let me in. They’re the ones who need to get a move on.’
‘Hmm. Anyway, Pippa, ignore them for now but my favourite thing is actually my children. If they’re happy, I’m happy just watching them. Now don’t go telling me that’s creepy,’ she jumped in as Kam opened his mouth. ‘Although, Pippa, the truth is I prefer them when they’re doing as they’re told or asleep. I really like them when they’re sleeping.’
‘Was Kam terribly naughty as a child?’ asked Pippa, impressed with how she was keeping her face straight.
‘Him and Ben were a handful. They turned me grey overnight. I have so many stories to tell you. Absolute pickles, the pair of them. It’s a good job I had girls after that or I would no doubt be in my grave now, dead from stress at an early age.’
‘You talk such nonsense,’ Kam laughed at his mother’s exaggerated face as she recalled her parental woes.
‘I shall look forward to those stories. He always pretends he was so good. Kam said Ben is joining us today. I haven’t met him yet.’
‘How so? He and Kam are usually joined at the hip,’ Mrs Choudhury smiled at Pippa as she said this, and then turned and flashed Kam a very cross look. ‘And nonsense, how dare you?’
‘Kam and I spend time together in work, but that’s it usually.’
‘In that case, we shall have to change that. Kam, Kam, why have you not taken Pippa out yet? She hasn’t even met Ben. How do you expect to get yourself settled down if you don’t take the first step?’
Pippa laughed as a look of utter mortification flashed across Kam’s face. It wasn’t enough to stop Mrs Choudhury though.
‘I say to him – I’ve been saying for years – “When are you going to get married? Why are you not trying harder? Look at how old I am.” Now, and with his father ready to retire. We need some grandchildren and I’d like them before I’m too old to enjoy them.’
‘Hahaha, are you getting the why-can’t-you-find-a-nice-Hindu-bride talk again, Kam? Oh Mum, that’s too funny. I thought you had stopped that. You know Kam is never going to do anything whilst you nag. I’m ready now. Where are we going?’ Nisha headed into the room, and she looked more than ready: she looked absolutely gorgeous. Neither her mother or Kam seemed to notice and both turned on her at the same time.
‘I don’t nag! How dare you say such nonsense!’
Kam and Nisha both snorted.
‘Glad to see your hair is done, sis.’
‘Thanks bro, always so understanding.’ She patted the short style and reached on to her tippy toes and gave her brother a kiss on the cheek. ‘Hi, Pippa, nice to see you. Guess you’re getting to see the family as they really are. That should put you off my big brother.’
‘Will you both stop it? I’m so sorry Pippa. Ignore my mother’s crazy bride talk, and as for my sister, she pretends not to
be as bad but she’s probably worse. You two need to stop embarrassing me, and probably Pippa as well. She’s a colleague and a friend and nothing more. How many times!’ He turned back to Pippa with a sorry-my-family-are-so-horrendous smile. She recognised it as a look she had thrown to people fairly frequently. It seemed Kam had been right the other night when he suggested their families had a lot in common.
Kam changed the subject, probably to save himself being embarrassed every time his mother spoke. ‘I’ve arranged for Ben to meet us at ten, just off the A30 as you suggested heading right down west. How does that sound?’
‘That sounds fab, but in that case…’ she flipped a quick look at her phone ‘…we need to get a wriggle on. How long do you reckon before your sisters are ready?’ Kam rolled his eyes as both his mother and Nisha laughed.
‘Okay, I’ll try but if I manage to hurry them out, we all need to recognise I am practically Superman.’
‘Ooh good, it’s only fair that I get to see you in Spandex,’ came straight out of Pippa’s mouth before she could think, as Nisha dissolved into giggles and Mrs Choudhury developed a very smug look.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Kam managed to get his sisters out of the flat within the next ten minutes but, much to Pippa’s disappointment, he didn’t appear clothed in a body-hugging red and blue costume and cape.
His mum and sisters sat in the back of Geeta’s people carrier, clucking and teasing and giggling at high volume. Kam had made it quite clear that Pippa was in the front with him, for navigational purposes. She tried to offer the front seat to Mrs Choudhury, being a little uncomfortable about the matriarch being in the back seat but to her alarm, Kam’s mother had a Very Determined Look and shook her head, adamant in her refusal.
‘That’s definitely a win for the both of us. You escape my sisters and I escape my mum.’
‘Sitting in the back doesn’t make us deaf, you know,’ quipped Hema at the same time as Mrs Choudhury swiped her adult son around the head.
‘Smacking is harmful to a child’s health and largely frowned upon these days. It’s banned in some countries, you know,’ Kam said, rubbing the back of his head, his hair all spiky where he hadn’t been able to dry it properly.
‘You’re harmful to my health with your rudeness, And we’re not in “some countries”. And you’re not a child. There are no laws against smacking an adult.’
‘I think there are. It’s called common assault.’
She clipped him around the ear again.
‘Ow. Are you joking?’
‘Stop sitting here chattering. We’ll be late for Ben. Now, Ben is a good boy. He wouldn’t keep his mother waiting.’
‘He doesn’t speak to his mother.’
‘Well, she’s a dreadful woman. I don’t blame him at all. Come on. Hurry up.’
Pippa couldn’t stop laughing as this was going on. Kam looked like he was about eight years old, scowled at his mother and started the car. The radio came on immediately, ridiculously loudly.
‘She has it on this loudly in an attempt to scare the girls into submission and cover up the sound of clanking gears and screeching brakes. She’s a terrible driver. Let me turn it down so your ears don’t start to bleed. Although upon reflection you should suffer for laughing when I was being slapped.’ He turned the music down a smidge, so it was bearable but provided them some cover from the back.
‘Look, a wise woman doesn’t interfere between a mother and her son.’
‘Well, I beg of you, for today, please don’t be wise. I need a teammate. I’m seriously outnumbered here, always have been.’
‘What about Ben, won’t he be on your team?’
‘Are you joking? Did you see the Tupperware container my mother bustled on board with? Yup, I know you did.’
‘Oh, I did. I’m so used to it with my mum. We can’t go anywhere without bringing an entire snack selection.’
‘Right, although in this instance, those – all of those – are for Ben.’ His face suddenly lit up as an old Oasis track came on the radio. ‘I love this track.’
‘No way, so do I. Turn it up loudly so we can sing without anyone actually hearing us.’
‘You’re on!’ The two spent the rest of the journey singing incredibly loudly and looking at each other, possibly far more than was safe whilst driving and not without the entire Choudhury clan noting.
Chapter Thirty
The journey had been a long one, through some very twisty lanes which caused an awful lot of shrieking, eye covering and murmured prayer from the back. They had reached Penzance via Marazion so the Choudhurys could admire the beauty of St Michael’s Mount, its rugged castle perched atop its mount and set on an island out on the bay. Anuja thought she might buy it once she had made her fortune.
They had then headed down through Newlyn where Pippa’s suggestion to explore the fish market was met with a resounding ‘No!’ and through to Mousehole where Hema couldn’t help but point out that the streets were clearly designed only for mice as the village name suggested, no normal car could fit through such tiny streets safely and perhaps they should all turn around rather than try.
Then had come an awful lot of narrow, winding lanes, but as they drove the hedgerows were so full of life, bursting over the road in a riot of late spring colours, pale pink and blues, whites and yellows, all delighting Mrs Choudhury, who kept ‘ooh’ing and ‘ahh’ing as every corner brought a glimpse of sea and a smudge of flowers against the windows.
‘Okay, official first stop and we’re here.’ Pippa lent over and turned the radio down as Kam pulled into a car park, one of sand and grass.
‘Does stopping mean we don’t have to listen to you two squawking like demented parrots any more?’ asked Ben in response, brushing crumbs from his trousers and smiling at Mrs Choudhury.
‘It means you have a break. But we’ll be back to it as soon as we get in the car,’ Kam smiled, used to his friend’s teasing and clearly relaxed, surrounded by all those he loved.
‘Well then, I vote for a long walk. Anyone?’
Nisha laughed and punched Ben on the arm.
‘That’s my brother you’re teasing. Mum used to try and convince us that his singing was quite beautiful.’
‘Pah, you’ve always been too smart to be fooled by that! But my point is he’s your brother. That’s why anything I say will bounce off him like a ball does a wall. He’s been tortured by you for so long, I’ve gotta make it harsh to have any hope of an impact.’
‘What are we doing here then, Pippa?’ Mrs Choudhury spoke up. She had been quiet since their arrival. If she had been Jan, Pippa would have been tempted to check her pulse.
‘Well, I tried to plan a day around your daughters’ interests, Mrs Choudhury.’
‘Geeta, please’
‘Geeta. So, we’re at the Minack theatre. It really is something special and I thought Anuja would be interested because of her career and because once she’s so rich and famous that she’s bought St Michaels Mount, this will be her local theatre.’ Anuja grinned and nodded her head in acknowledgement.
‘It’s going to happen, you know,’ she stated, just in case they didn’t have faith.
‘Oh, we know. You’re particularly skilled at drama,’ Kam winked and the others chortled a little.
‘For Hema, there was the possibility of the fish market, but even though you didn’t fancy that I thought we could go to Porthminster to eat. It’s one of the most popular restaurants in the county and they have just brought out a new recipe book. To give us a good appetite beforehand, I thought we could stop at an ancient village for Nisha, although I have plans to liven it up a bit for the rest of us.’
‘Does it have anything to do with the bag you brought?’ Kam asked. He didn’t miss a trick. Shades of his mother perhaps.
‘Yep, always prepared, me,’ Pippa grinned as she undid her seatbelt and opened the door.
‘Don’t I know it!’ Kam answered, a faux-victim tone to his voice, as if she had been
torturing him for years. The teasing made her feel like she belonged, like she was family, and she felt the warmth of contentment traverse through her.
Within seconds, the two of them found themselves at the doors at the back of the car, and without thinking both opened the doors for the others, saying in tandem, ‘Out you jump then.’
‘Seriously?’ asked Ben
‘We’re not four!’ Nisha protested.
‘Hmm, sometimes you behave like it!’ Geeta was quick to jump in.
‘Sorry!’ Pippa and Kam said, laughing and again both in unison.
‘This is getting freaky,’ Pippa giggled, and Kam’s face lit up as he motioned to the others, still sat in the back of the people carrier with their eyebrows arched.
‘Shall I count them out and in, or would you prefer to? Now hurry up, we’ve got lots to pack in,’ Pippa put on her briskest voice as Kam continued to laugh, leaning against the car as he did so.
‘You’re incorrigible.’
‘I love that word. It’s not used often enough. Say it again.’
‘Happily. Incorrigible. I don’t know how you don’t hear it daily.’
‘Will you two stop flirting so we can get down in there and have a proper look? It looks amazing.’
‘We’re not flirting. Anyway, Pippa’s got a boyfriend,’ Kam answered quickly and with a particularly devilish twinkle. Pippa clocked Ben throwing a shocked look when Kam said this, and Pippa too was a little surprised by Kam’s statement. She knew she hadn’t exactly qualified what she was doing with James but she thought after their talk yesterday that he understood.
‘No, I haven’t! He just thinks he is, and that eventually I’ll believe it too. But yes, let’s go and have a look. It really is remarkable. It’s a theatre hewn out of the rockface.’ She indicated ahead of her and they all stood there for a moment, looking out to sea and watching the gulls circling in the May sky.
‘So, if I understand what you just said, you don’t have a boyfriend then, but someone thinks that you’re his girlfriend?’ Hema jumped in with the question that everyone wanted to ask.
The Cornish Village School--Summer Love Page 16