Page 26 of One Golden Summer
“Always got time for a cup of tea at the beach hut with you. Although then I’ve got to meet Dolly at the Lobster Grill. It looks like she might be able to accommodate the party after she had a wedding cancellation.”
Mum snorted. “At least that couple won’t need a divorce party down the line, so they saved themselves a lot of money. What’s this woman’s name you’re working for? Some kind of herb?”
“Ginger.” Kirsty didn’t need to look at her mum’s face to know what it was doing. “She’s lovely, too. I’m sure you’ll meet her soon.” Kirsty clutched her parents’ beach towels, along with one of their bags of provisions for the day. They’d left Dad at the shop, choosing a paper and having a coffee with his friend, with instructions to “bring iced buns for elevenses.” Kirsty hoped Dad understood the importance of that task, or else there’d be hell to pay.
“Is this Ginger single? Is that why you had your hair cut? It looks lovely, by the way.”
Kirsty turned her head. “She’s divorced, so yes she’s single. But she’s also straight, before you start matchmaking.”
Mum gave her a look. “Shame. I’ll have to tell Shirley, though. Her son just got divorced. Perhaps they’d be a good match? You remember Christian?”
She did remember Christian. He was a total gobshite and Kirsty was only surprised his divorce had taken so long. “Shall we let Ginger get used to being divorced first before we marry her off again?”
“I just want everyone to be happy.”
“Not everyone’s version of happiness matches yours.” It’s a conversation she’d had with her mum many times. Kirsty had been at her happiest over the past few years, but Mum could never fathom that. Happiness for her equalled romance. For Kirsty, happiness was a state of mind. Although, she had to admit, since meeting the Oliver sisters, her quota of happiness had increased.
“I shouldn’t invite him to the summer BBQ tomorrow, then?”
“I hope you’re joking.”
Mum elbowed her as they walked. “Of course I am. You’re coming, though? As well as Helena and Hugh?”
Kirsty nodded. “Wouldn’t miss it. The annual opening of Dad’s BBQ is a tradition I’d never mess with.”
“He’s got a new one this year. Gas. He keeps going out and turning it on when he thinks I’m not looking. Still, it makes him happy, so who am I to judge?”
A whoop from the beach made them both turn their heads as two young girls ran into the sea, screamed at the temperature, and ran back just as fast. On their right, Saffron’s Beachcomber house came into view.
Mum nodded towards it. “I heard the posh house is off the market for a while. Do you know who’s renting it?”
Prickly heat tiptoed up Kirsty’s spine. “Ginger’s sister.”
“She mustn’t be short of a bob or two.”
“She bought a box of wine from the shop, so she gets my vote. I took her kayaking the other day, too.”
“You still remembered how to do it? That kayak has been gathering dust for a long time since Anna. But good for you.”
Her mum was now the second person to point that out. Perhaps she had forgotten the things she liked to do since Anna, and the shop had taken up more and more of her time. It had been almost a five-year break from kayaking, save for a couple of solo rides here and there. But after the past week going out on her own and with Saffron, she was back in the saddle. It felt good. Like she was returning to her true self.
Kirsty put a hand to her chest as they walked past Saffron’s house. She looked up to the veranda. It was empty. Where was Saffron? Doing more movie publicity? Reading a new script? Thinking about moving back to London after her break by the sea? Something in Kirsty’s chest contracted at the thought.
Watching the star ofGirl Racerstaggering about their beach hut and trying not to fall on her arse had made her smile. Kirsty was beginning to glimpse the human face of the movie star. The one the public never got to see. She’d also witnessed Saffron’s long, lithe body in her wetsuit that clung to her inallthe right places. She had the mental snapshot stored safely in her mind. Kayaking with her had been invigorating, being back in touch with nature. Saffron had woken up Kirsty’s passion for getting out on the sea, not simply looking at it. Her shoulders ached after all the paddling, but it was a good ache. One that made her feel switched on, ready to jump back into living fully.
Saffron made her feel alive. Kirsty had been happy, but maybe there were levels of happiness.
In just a few short days, Saffron had made her level-up.
They arrived at Toffee Cottage, and her mum unlocked the door, bringing out the easy lounge chairs and setting up the small table on the porch. Kirsty gripped the waxed white wooden railings and stretched out her back, taking in the view. She couldn’t imagine not living near the sea. It was part of who she was. She smiled up at the lighthouse, then turned to where her mum dropped a magazine on a chair.
“I need to go to the loo again.” Her mum shook her head. “Don’t get old. Your bladder packs up.” She wandered off in the direction of the public toilets on the promenade five minutes further along the beach.
Kirsty flopped into the opposite chair and stretched out her legs. She yawned then checked her watch. Two hours before she had to meet Dolly. She might just sneak in a coffee and iced bun if her dad showed up on time. She grabbed the magazine from the other chair, then stopped when she saw the front cover. A photo of Saffron holding hands with herGirl Racerco-star Echo Black sat in the top corner, with the headline:Are This Star-Studded Couple Made For Each Other?
Kirsty sat up straight, her cheeks flushing red, a feeling of dread sinking down into her stomach. Of course, it would be naive of her to think Saffron didn’t have relationships, but was she still in one? Everything she’d said indicated otherwise, but how recent was that photo? Was that why Saffron had taken a break from filming? It would make sense. Kirsty flipped to the story to find out more, telling herself it meant nothing.
She’d just met Saffron.
