Page 126 of Best Summer Ever

‘I was just looking for you,’ he said, when he put me down and the world was the right way up again, but only just. ‘Fancy a swim?’

‘I’d love one,’ I said, giving him a kiss. ‘My stuff’s still in my car from last time.’

‘I’ll go and grab mine,’ he said, rushing off.

‘Ah, young love,’ sighed George, as he looked between us.

‘Young love indeed,’ said Algy, smiling at me. ‘Don’t forget to be back here by six.’

‘What for?’ I asked. It was the first I’d heard of something happening this evening. ‘And do I need to bring anything?’

‘Your mother has seen to the eats,’ Algy told me. ‘Did Josh not mention it?’

I shook my head.

‘Did Josh not mention what?’ asked the man himself as he bounded back in record time with his swim shorts and towel thrown over his shoulder. ‘Oh,’ he then said to me, ‘we’re having a little get-together tonight, Daisy. You need to be here for six.’

Algy rolled his eyes.

‘Right you are,’ I laughed. ‘Come on then troops, before the tide turns.’

Having dropped George off, then had our fill of swimming in the sea and dried off in front of the beach hut – which had been the backdrop to so many recent happy moments – Josh and I decided to head to the pub for lunch.

‘Here they are,’ said Sam, smiling, as we crossed the threshold, ‘love’s young dream.’

‘Sam,’ tutted Tess. ‘Leave them alone.’

I wondered how word about us being together, together as opposed to summer together, had spread, but didn’t bother to ask. We lived in a village with a competent gossip network, so the details of who had said what were irrelevant really.

‘Yes, do pipe down, Sam,’ said Marguerite, with a pretty pout. ‘You know I had my heart set on picking up the piecesand being Daisy’s rebound relationship when Josh headed back to the States.’

‘Oh, really?’ Josh laughed.

‘That,’ Marguerite grimaced, looking at me, ‘sounded far less creepy in my head.’

‘Good to know.’ I nodded. ‘How are you enjoying life in the cottage?’

‘It’s so good,’ she sighed happily. ‘I honestly don’t think I’m ever going to want to move out or leave Wynmouth.’

It amazed me that the tiny Norfolk village could hold such appeal to seasoned world travellers such as her and Josh. I knew Josh had come to the coast for a very different reason to Marguerite of course, but nonetheless, they’d both fallen in love with the place I’d grown up in and I’d fallen back in love with it again – amongst other things – too.

‘Unfortunately, she doesn’t pay holidaymaker’s rent,’ Sam teased Marguerite, ‘so I’ll be turfing her out soon.’

‘Hey,’ she objected. ‘Then where will I go?’

‘I’m sure something will turn up,’ I told her.

While Sam poured our drinks, Tess made us a local crab salad sandwich apiece and I looked around for a table and spotted Penny, poring over what looked like some paperwork, in the corner next to the window.

‘Have you got enough light to read by in here?’ I asked her as I walked over and she leapt sky high. ‘Sorry,’ I said, unable to stifle a laugh because she had looked so comical. ‘I didn’t mean to make you jump.’

‘It’s fine,’ she flushed, gathering the pages together. ‘I was just finished anyway.’

‘Can we join you?’ Josh asked.

‘Of course,’ Penny obliged, but I got the impression she hadn’t really wanted to be disturbed.

‘Is that café paperwork?’ I asked, while she stuffed everything in her bag and Josh went to get her a drink and our food order.

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