Page 76 of The Summer Island Swap
Five minutes later we stood together, looking at the pyramid of treats on the ground, by a group of palm trees. We scrunched the packets in our hands. The concentrated sugary smell wafted through the air. I hardly dared breathe. An insect landed on my head. Rick brushed it off. We looked at each other. Frustration hung in the air between us. Despite our harsh words, I hated seeing the worry etched across his face. Those dark eyebrows knotted. Despite everything I wanted so much to give him a tight hug.
But I wasn’t like Mum. I wasn’t like Anabelle. Rick had hurt me. I wouldn’t go back so he could do that again.
‘Whereishe?’ said Jackie.
He didn’t appear. We waited in silence. And waited. And waited some more.
Eventually Jackie looked at her watch. Said we might have to accept the obvious – that Chatty had suffered an accident such as drowning, or fallen victim to a more violent outcome.
My throat hurt. Tears hung in Amy’s eyes. Shoulders hunched, Rick turned away. Eventually he faced us again.
‘He’s got to come back,’ he muttered. ‘We’ll wait a bit longer.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘Who else is going to appreciate Sarah’s godawful whistling?’
‘That’s it!’ I said and everyone looked me. I took a deep breath and started to whistle ‘Daydream Believer’.
As usual it was out of tune and I missed a few notes, but the sharp sound carried high and wide. Amy couldn’t help wincing.
Eventually I stopped. ‘Did you all hear that?’ I whispered.
There was another squeak.
‘Chatty?’ Rick called. ‘Come here little fella…’ He walked forwards.
The squeak sounded again. It came from above. I looked up into the tallest palm tree, just behind the pyramid of fruit packets.
I exhaled. My eyes felt wet. ‘Up there,’ I said and pointed before whistling again.
Rick lifted his head and hurried forwards. He reached up towards Chatty who sat on a branch, clinging to the trunk.
‘Pass me an open packet of fruit,’ he murmured.
Amy darted forward and obliged.
Rick lifted it as high as he could and rustled it. Chatty’s head twitched. Slowly he slid down the tree and touched Rick’s hand. On tiptoe he reached up and lifted him down. He held him close, burying his face in the fur.
‘Sorry, little fella. So sorry. I’ve neglected you this last week,’ he murmured, eyes shining when he looked up. My heart swelled as he gently scratched Chatty’s head.
Familiar whistles and squeaks came from Chatty who cautiously climbed onto Rick’s shoulder, as if he were telling him all about his overnight adventures. I mumbled his name and reached out my hand. He bared his teeth on it gently and clutched it with his paws. Then he wrapped his tail tightly around Rick’s neck and started to groom his hair, showing little interest in the food.
Rick sank to the ground at the base of the tree. The three of us joined him quietly. Rick ate one of the strawberry pieces. The sweet smell became stronger as he chewed. Chatty stopped grooming him and slid down onto his lap and ate one too. Then he crawled in my direction when he heard me talk. I settled him on my knees and stroked the wiry limbs. Jackie passed him an unopened packet and he excitedly proceeded to open it, look more like his old self, especially when another piece of the dried fruit was in his mouth. I tickled behind his head as he ate.
Amy noticed a cut on his ear. Jackie phoned the vet who agreed to come over to the island and give Chatty the once-over. Whilst she discussed the appointment with Rick, I kissed Chatty before making my way back to the shacks with Amy.
Rick’s accusations. My recent realisation that I wanted more than ever to move my career forwards. Margot’s talk of a five-year plan that I’d already drawn up. It was time.
Time to go home.
34
We sat on my bed in the shack. The air wasn’t as humid as usual. It was almost time for lunch but I didn’t feel hungry.
‘Now that we’re alone… is… is everything all right?’ asked Amy. ‘Why the icy atmosphere between you and Rick?’
‘We’ve had a row.’ I sighed. ‘He’s angry about Chatty and blames me for the whole hotel idea and these troublesome guests.’
‘What an idiot.’ She put an arm around me.
‘To be fair… I lied to him about something and that’s made him think I have an ulterior motive for the whole plan.’
