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‘They think we’re together,’ Pe
Henry smiled. ‘I’m not remotely bothered by it, so you shouldn’t be either. If they want to think I’m going out with a beautiful woman, then I’m totally fine with that.’
Pe
‘Right, start picking your feet up a little like this, so you can practise distributing your weight onto your different feet.’ He demonstrated lifting each of his feet off the ice ever so slightly and repeating it several times.
Pe
He gave her a few more pointers about pushing her legs back so that soon she was propelling herself across the ice. Even though he was still holding her hands, she felt like she was doing most of the work. He was a great teacher, so patient and demonstrative.
He stopped her and moved to her side, still holding one of her hands. ‘Let’s try it like this for a while, I won’t let you fall.’
She knew he wouldn’t. She tentatively pushed off and was pleased that she seemed to have the hang of it, though her legs felt like they were shaking under the strain. Her feet were still hurting and there were muscles screaming in her legs that she never knew she had. She caught sight of Daisy, staring at them. The last thing she wanted was for Daisy to feel left out so she pulled to a stop, clinging on to the side.
‘I’m just going to have a rest for a little while. Why don’t you skate with Daisy for a bit and I’ll get back on in a few minutes?’
Henry nodded and escorted her safely off the ice, before tearing after Daisy and chasing her round the rink.
Pe
Over the sound of the waves, she heard a shout of laughter come from the other side of the sea wall.
Pe
She squinted against the bright lights of the ice rink to see two boys, Sam and Alex, playing just a few feet from the water’s edge. The waves were crashing theatrically against the sea wall, mere inches from where they were standing, and the boys didn’t seem fazed at all.
Where were Mike and Pippa, the kids’ parents?
Loads of kids played on the slip during the day, but normally only when the tide was out. Three big shipwrecks had happened in the cove over the years and wonderful little treasures like cups, plates, coins, jewellery and various sailing paraphernalia washed up on the slip on an almost weekly basis. Most of it was completely worthless, but for the children of the town it was like a little treasure trove down there. She watched Sam and Alex now, filling their buckets up with bits of sea glass, and other wondrous delights.
She looked around for Mike and Pippa. Surely they hadn’t let them go and play down there when the tide was in?
Suddenly a huge wave crashed against the slip, covering the boys completely, and to Pe
Chapter Eight
She was on her feet before she even knew what she was doing, leaping over the small barrier separating the ice rink from the public and ru
She spotted Daniel, Maggie’s husband, with his two small boys in tow and he looked at her in horror as she ran past.
‘Get help, call the lifeboat,’ she yelled at him as she ran down the slip, yanking her coat off.
Alex, the oldest of the boys, was standing on the edge of the slip, trying to reach Sam who was struggling in the water, too far out for either of them to reach.
Pe
‘But…’ Alex was sobbing.
‘Go!’
Alex ran up the slope and Pe
Suddenly everyone on the slip started waving and pointing frantically at her and Sam, some people even cheering.
She turned round in the water and saw the bright orange RIB from the lifeboat station ploughing through the water towards her. The lifeboat crew were looking in the water for them but couldn’t see them. She didn’t dare wave in case she lost her grip on Sam.
Waves crashed over her and she just hoped they would see them soon.
A shout rang out from the boat and the next thing a rope with a small float on the end was thrown towards her. Holding Sam tight, she grabbed hold of it and they dragged her towards the side of the boat.
She held Sam up out of the water for them to take, but that forced her under the water. A hand came down and grabbed her, yanking her back to the surface as the boy was taken from her.
She looked up blearily into the eyes of her friend George, who was holding onto her with grim determination. Another hand grabbed her other arm and between George and another man she was hauled aboard.
George knelt down in front of her, pulling a lifejacket over her head. ‘Are you OK?’
She nodded, not able to talk as the cold night air sliced into her skin.
George quickly stood back up and manoeuvred the boat back to the side of the slip. Pe
The boat slammed against the side of the slip. Dave quickly stood up and leant over the side to hand Sam back to his Dad.
George helped her to her feet and Dave held out a hand for her to guide her ashore. Suddenly Henry was in front of her and he quickly lifted her to safety. He pulled the lifejacket off her and wrapped his coat around her tightly, though it did very little to dull the effects of the cold. Henry stared down at her, he looked furious.
‘Take her to The Pilchard,’ someone said. ‘They’ve got a fire in there.’
Oh god, please no.
Henry turned and marched through the crowd, dragging her with him.
‘Where’s the pub?’ Henry asked someone from the crowd and they must have told him because he started to head that way, not relinquishing his hold on her.