Page 51 of The Summer Island Swap
‘Let’s walk,’ she said. ‘Your route to the house passes our cluster of shacks.’
‘You don’t mind me spending the afternoon with Rick, do you? After all you will be tied up with the tree boas – but not literally, I hope.’
‘Of course not, but you can stop with the website charade – what’s the real reason you’re going over?’
‘It’s no charade, sis.’
Of course I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to seeing him. This morning, every time our paths crossed, we’d smiled at each other. He asked if I’d slept well. I told him about an especially beautiful butterfly I’d spotted by the showers. The usual conversation but somehow heightened by yesterday’s physical contact between us that no one else knew about.
Up until today I’d thought secrets were bad, like when I’d discovered Dad had been dating Anabelle whilst Mum was dying or Amy used to borrow fake ID, in the sixth form, to get into clubs.
However, this secret felt good.
‘He needs to bring in more business so I’m helping out.’ And I needed to share with him the idea I’d had. I felt a burst of energy, inside, like I did back in England when I came up with a plan to improve Best Travel.
‘But why you?’
‘Remember that website design course I did? It was basic but—’
‘Drat! I’d forgotten that. Guess that means your time with him is legit. I was hoping your relationship might have gone to the next level last night and you were just too shy to tell me. It was a big disappointment when you came back to our bunk beds.’
‘Amy Sterling! This isn’t Ibiza, you know! This is Seagrass Island, full of serious-minded people, wearing the most unsexy clothing, drinking mainly un-intoxicating water. The only romantic action here is between the birds and the bees.’
‘I doubt that,’ she said, laughing. Her face turned serious. ‘But I’m glad you’re having fun. That’s all I wanted from this holiday.’
‘And I’m glad you are too. It must be the perfect break for a veterinary nurse.’
Amy didn’t say anything.
‘Youareloving it, aren’t you?’
She looked up, from under her fringe. ‘Is it bad of me to say it’s going to make going back to Paws & Claws seem a little less appealing?’
I raised an eyebrow.
Her cheeks flushed. ‘I… I always felt that I was kind of… well, lucky to be taken on there… as if they didn’t know how, secretly, I wasn’t up to the job. But helping Jackie, being hands-on with exotic creatures, feeling so at home talking to her and Rick about animal conservation… feeling like an equal, as if I am knowledgeable with skills to share… it’s made me think that perhaps I’m capable of more than what I’ve been doing.’ She swallowed. ‘Does that make me sound delusional?’
I could have punched the air. For the first time, ever, could Amy be aware of her amazing potential? I mustered all my strength and managed not to squeal that I’d always told her that and she should have gone to university.
Because it looked as if my little Amy was working things out for herself.
My little Amy.
A lump rose in my throat.
Day by day, here, I watched her blossom like one of the beautiful Virgin Island flowers.
She wasn’t little anymore. She wasn’t mine. I’d known that for a while but couldn’t deny that with the fresh eyes I’d been given, away from the hum drum.
I gave her a tight hug. ‘No. It doesn’t.’ I took her by the shoulders. ‘One thing Mum always used to say to us, “You can achieve anything you put your minds to.” Do you remember?’
Amy nodded.
My fingers squeezed. ‘She said that for a reason. Mum utterly believed in us. And I’ve always believed in you too.’
Amy gave a shy smile and we said our goodbyes.
I followed the path to the house feeling nervous at the prospect of meeting Rick – in a good way. There he was. Inside. On the sofa. Chatty on his shoulder. Thank goodness we had a chaperone, even if it was the furry kind. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself. I knocked on the wooden door frame and went in.
