Page 85 of The Summer Island Swap
‘He should never have blamed you, even if it had been true. It was an accident and apart from anything else, you were a child.’ He shook his head. ‘I’d never hurt you, Sarah. Not intentionally. I hope you know that.’
‘I do.’ A tear rolled down my cheek. ‘That’s what cuts most about Dad. There were no excuses I could make for him. He always knew exactly what he was doing. I doubt he even believed the accusation himself. Whereas you and me… I suppose sometimes, when people are hurting they say things they don’t mean; then regret it and say sorry.’
‘Perhaps we should talk less,’ he said.
‘Sounds good to me.’
We looked at each other and smiled. Rick’s phone buzzed.
‘You should answer that.’
Rick pulled a face and tapped his finger onto the screen. Both his eyebrows raised. He scrolled up and down, reading it again.
‘It’s a text from Malik. About Gran. She’s just landed in Antigua and will be catching the plane to Tortola once this weather has completely died down.’ He beamed. ‘So much for not coming until September. She’ll be here tomorrow. I can’t wait to introduce you.’
38
After our ordeal Rick offered both Amy and me a bed at the house. But now that I was about to organise an early flight home, I felt an odd affinity with the shack – in the same way I looked back on that first bed and breakfast I moved into, all those years ago. Not with fondness but… a kind of gratitude. It had made me what I am – in the same way this shack had taught me that I could still survive hard times.
I sat on my bunk bed and gazed at my cracked, unpolished nails. Part of me was looking forward to returning to the executive life. Smart suits. High heels. However maybe, in the future, I’d chill more about the way I looked at weekends. I hadn’t thought much about my appearance, with Rick – unlike how I’d been with previous boyfriends. And with Chatty around there had been little point in styling my hair.
I’d hardly slept, thinking about my departure.
Perhaps I’d visit Rick here.
Maybe he’d come to London.
Or was this just a fling?
Whatever the outcome, in lots of ways, I owed this trip a lot.
Who’d have thought I’d ever be thankful for this island swap?
Amy returned from the showers, rubbing her hair with a towel. She threw it onto my bed. I lifted it up and lobbed it on hers. We smiled at each other.
‘What time does this Margot get into the airport?’ she asked.
‘Just before lunch. I’m going over to meet her with Rick.’ It would also give me a chance to sort out my early ticket back to London. I lifted up my phone. ‘Guess who I got an email from this morning?’ I asked as we headed outside and sat on the steps of the shack, soaking up the early morning sun. ‘Prue.’
Amy tidied her hair with her hands. ‘What did she want?’
‘Me to go back. Apparently the last three weeks have been hell with regular customers asking where I am and her having to sort out the housekeeping problems herself. She’s even offered me a pay rise and said something about her nephew having a lot to learn.’
‘You aren’t considering her offer?’
‘You see this finger?’ I said and lifted one up. I jabbed it at the screen and deleted the Best Travel email.
Amy grinned. ‘Great, because our return to England is going to herald a new beginning for both of us.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Promise not to say I told you so?’ She took a deep breath. ‘I’m going to apply to university to study veterinary science. Next year. So I have a couple of months of research ahead of me too, to choose a course and get my application in this autumn. My grades weren’t quite high enough for all the courses but I’m hoping my years of experience, working as a nurse at Paws & Claws – and the stay here – will act in my favour.’
I gaped. ‘Amy… that’s brilliant. What’s changed your mind?’
‘Helping Jackie. Being given responsibility in the way I’m not as a nurse back in London. It’s boosted my confidence. Made me realise that…’ She looked at me. ‘… Dad was wrong. Ihavegot what it takes. I’ve been thinking since our chat yesterday. His attitude towards us – it affected your view of men. Now I can see how it affected my view of my career prospects. I suspected as much over the years and wished I’d ignored him and trained as a vet – but always told myself it was too late. I don’t believe that now.’
‘What changed?’
