Page 63 of The Summer Island Swap
‘Sarah, about…’
I waited for it – for what Dad would have said. How a superficial charm would explain to me how the argument about the hotel had been my fault; how he’d forgive me, just this once.
We came to a fallen tree trunk and sat down, facing out to sea.
He turned to me. ‘Sorry.’
My brow knotted.
‘For being an absolute idiot. I should never have spoken to you like that yesterday. You were only trying to help. I guess I’m over-sensitive. This conservation project is so close to my heart.’
My fingers uncurled. ‘All right. It’s your family. Your business. Let’s just forget it,’ I said warily.
Wow. He seemed to mean it.
‘But it’s not all right. I accused you of being selfish – you who have helped me so much. If I’m honest, my brother, the way he likes to take over… well, you emailing him was my worst nightmare. Although you weren’t to know that,’ he added hastily.
‘And ifI’mhonest, the way you dismissed my plan… it hit a nerve too. Dad used to do that – and my boss at Best Travel.’
We looked at each other. Waves broke on the sand. I mirrored the understanding that flowed into his face.
‘I do hugely admire your passion for Seagrass Island and the wonderful wildlife here.’
He sighed. ‘But perhaps that blinds me. It all seems kind of hopeless sometimes. The iguana died. That put me on edge as well.’
‘Oh Rick – I’m so sorry. I didn’t know that. But look… I’m not the enemy – and nor is this hotel idea. I honestly believe both projects could be run side by side. Things can’t go on as they are. Action needs to be taken now,’ I added softly.
He hesitated before taking my hand. He raised it to his mouth. Reluctantly I took it away.
‘I’ve no bad feelings towards you – quite the opposite. But last night, it did make me think. I’m only here for three weeks. Perhaps it’s better to stop things now. We’re both too old for a holiday romance.’
And I’m too old to get hurt, especially by someone like Rick, someone who I actually really like.
They didn’t feel safe, the feelings I had for him. Already I was falling, falling for those earnest eyes; for the drive; for the man who could make everyone laugh and who has won the complete trust of a vulnerable monkey he loved.
He’d apologised, but what if that was a one-off? Anabelle mumbled something once after a disagreement with Dad.
‘He wasn’t like this before we got married. It’s all about him now. Planet Gary.’
Rick stared into my eyes. His shoulders drooped very slightly. ‘Whatever you want.’
We stood up and his phone rang. I moved away to give him privacy but the sea breeze soon blew an angry tone over.
‘This is totally unacceptable, Lee,’ I heard Rick say eventually. ‘We haven’t even agreed on… no, it doesn’t save me any work. Hey! Don’t cut me off.’
Cue an eerie silence filled only by the cry of seagulls. Rick marched over.
‘A mate of Lee’s has been let down at the last minute. He and five friends had booked a fancy hotel in Jamaica, for five nights, but it suffered a fire last week. So Lee’s offered them the beach huts. Explained to them that they’d be our guinea pig guests and therefore gave them a really cheap rate. He reckons he’s saved me the bother of finding our first customers.’
‘How could he do that – you haven’t set your prices? In fact, you and Margot haven’t even agreed this hotel idea is actually going ahead.’
‘I know. The whole thing is crazy. Gran won’t be pleased that he’s organised this without consulting her. Lee doesn’t even know this guy well anymore. They met at university and he saw about the cancelled booking on his Facebook page and contacted him – Jason, he’s called. Honestly…’ He exhaled. ‘When we were kids, I worshipped him. Lee was my cool older brother. I’d try to wear clothes like his and would sneak a squirt of his aftershave…’
I smiled. Amy had been the same. I went through a phase of defiantly wearing Goth-like thick black eye liner to annoy my dad. Amy drew black felt tip around her eyes. It took a couple of days to wash off properly.
‘… but these days he’s just bossy. Interfering. Superior.’ His neck flushed. ‘Sorry. I probably sound as if I’m still at primary school. You and Amy seem to get on so well.’
‘It’s hard not to want to help her,’ I said, the words sticking in my throat that I was probably a lot like Lee. ‘I care about her. Deeply. Maybe that comes across as interference. I’m sure part of your brother’s motivation is the same – it’s because he loves you. Not because he assumes you’ll fail.’
