Page 29 of A Secret Cornish Wish
‘Right, who’s for cider?’ Mandy says as she begins to fill the plastic glasses one by one and Eddie hands them out.
We all take one, even Claire.
‘Now, who is going to make the toast?’ Mandy asks. ‘Eddie? This performance was all your idea.’
Eddie, always one for a grand gesture, stands up.
‘Hmm, now let me see . . . I would like to thank you all for coming on board in the first place. I know I had to pester some of you . . . ’ He raises his eyebrows at me. ‘But I think you’ll all agree now we’re just forty-eight hours away from the show, it’s all worked out really well. I’d also like to say a special thank you to Suzy, who, even though she probably has the best voice of all of us, has made a wonderful job of our costumes.’
‘Yes, hear, hear!’ We all raise our glasses to acknowledge Suzy.
‘You haven’t seen them all finished yet,’ Suzy says, grinning. ‘You might hate them!’
‘Nonsense, I’ve seen them and they’re amazing,’ Eddie says. ‘Now, where was I? Ah, right, here’s to the Misfit Mermaids! Not only an amazing act, but the best bunch of friends I could ever ask for!’
‘The Misfit Mermaids!’ We all cheer together, and we begin to drink our cider, which to my surprise actually tastes rather nice.
After we’ve all sat chatting and finishing off our drinks, Mandy begins to refill our plastic cups, and as she pours the last drops from the bottle into Eddie’s glass, Claire looks relieved. ‘Oh, is that the end?’ she says, not sounding all that upset. ‘What a shame.’
‘Nah, got another bottle, haven’t I?’ Mandy says, pulling a second bottle from her bag. ‘Now pass over your glass, Claire.’
Claire glances at me as she stands up to hand Mandy her plastic tumbler.
‘Claire, you don’t have to take a second one,’ I tell her as she watches Mandy prepare to refill her cup. ‘No one is forcing you.’
Mandy looks up at Claire. ‘Yeah, don’t take it if you don’t want to – all the more for the rest of us!’
‘I will pass if you don’t mind,’ Claire says. ‘I already feel quite lightheaded after my first helping.’
‘Nothing wrong in that, Claire,’ Rob says kindly as she sits back down again. ‘My parents say it’s a good thing to know your limits with alcohol.’
‘Another, Rob?’ Mandy asks, lifting the bottle.
‘Of course!’ Rob stands up. ‘I haven’t reached my limit yet! Frankie?’ he asks, holding out his hand for my tumbler. ‘Another?’
‘Yes, please,’ I say, handing him my cup, even though Claire isn’t the only one to feel a little lightheaded after her first glass. ‘Fill it up!’
The rest of us all take a second serving of cider.
‘Look how amazing the sky is this evening,’ Suzy says, as we all relax on the picnic rugs, the little bit of alcohol we’ve drunk making everything seem beautifully hazy and warm. ‘I bet there’s going to be an incredible sunset over St Felix Bay tonight.’
‘I’d go and take a look if I could be bothered to move,’ Eddie says, stretching on his back. ‘But I’m so comfy here.’
‘Me too,’ Rob sighs. ‘Why can’t life always feel as relaxed as this? Right now, I’m not worried about anything. I’m just happy for once.’
He looks over at me and smiles.I know just how you feel, I think, smiling back.
‘I’m sorry to pop all your lovely, chilled bubbles,’ Claire says. ‘But we might have to move in a minute; the tide is getting very close to the rugs.’
‘Nah, Claire. You worry too much!’ Mandy grins. ‘The sea never comes in further than this point.’
‘But it looks like it might today.’ Claire, who is still perched on the rock, is watching the waves ripple over the sand. ‘It’s been getting closer for the last few minutes.’
Eddie rolls over on his stomach to look at the sea.
‘You might be right,’ he says, his eyes at beach level. ‘But I kind of like the jeopardy of it right now. Jeez, what was that?’ He immediately sits up.
‘What?’ I ask.
