Page 51 of Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure
Chapter Forty-One
B oxing Day at Solma Vacaciones was a time for the campers to get together and celebrate with an afternoon party around the pool. The management laid on a barbecue and buffet for their guests and with games for the children and activities for adults, the happy campers all joined in.
Sophia, wearing her bright red one-piece, was encouraging her senior squad to work off their Christmas excess in the pool. ‘Sí! Hagámoslo!’ she yelled, kicking her legs and waving her arms. ‘Let’s do it, get moving!’
Arthur, in a pair of Speedos borrowed from Erik, his Santa hat at a jaunty angle, was knee-deep in the water as he raised his leg and waved his arms. Atticus, comfortable on a nearby sunbed, prayed that Arthur wouldn’t need ‘gnome-ing’ back together when he took the tumble that was imminent and ended up flat out in the pool.
‘You’ve got this Aqua-Gnome!’ Jake called out. ‘Show the water who’s boss, Uncle Arthur!’
‘You’re crushing it, Hydro-Hero,’ Maeve joined in. She held her phone in her hand and was shooting an Instagram reel with the hashtags: ‘#PensionersPaddle at the #SeniorSplash’.
In the children’s pool, Britta held Declan’s hand and guided him to the slide on the hippo. She clapped her hands as he sped into the water. Nearby, Finn was enjoying a game of water volleyball with children from Spanish families.
‘Where’s Caitlin?’ Mary asked as she joined Maeve.
‘With lover-boy in the jacuzzi.’ Maeve waved her hand to the side of the pool, where a smiling Caitlin sat in a bubbling inferno with Luis.
Sprawled out beside Atticus, Cheryl, in her tankini, smoothed suncream onto her legs. ‘Want a squirt?’ she asked. ‘It’s factor fifty and will stop your wrinkles.’
‘It’s a bit late for that.’ Atticus tilted his hat.
Ruby appeared and throwing down her beach bag, stepped out of her denim dungarees and sat beside Cheryl. ‘There are more folks arriving,’ she said. ‘I just saw a people carrier pulling up outside one of the chalets.’
‘The more the merrier,’ Cheryl said and held out her tube to Ruby. ‘Be a love and do my back, would you?’
‘Is Arthur alright? Ruby asked. She noticed a commotion at the pool where several members of the senior squad were gathered around Arthur.
‘I think he’s split his Speedos.’ Atticus chuckled.
Hands reached for towels as Arthur, covering his modesty, was assisted from the water.
‘You’re a pool shark, Uncle Arthur,’ Jake said and helped him to a seat beside Atticus. ‘That last leg kick was epic.’
‘I’ve nearly sliced me unmentionables in two.’ Arthur winced and clutched his towel to cover the gaping hole in Erik’s designer swimwear. ‘Have you got a needle and thread?’
‘Anyone fancy a glass of sangria?’ Ruby asked.
Hands shot up but Atticus tapped Jake and Maeve’s down. ‘They’ll have a Coke,’ he said as staff from the animation team, dressed in festive outfits, encouraged the children to the stage.
Mary went to help Ruby and carried a tray of drinks as they made their way back. The sun was fierce and Mary, squinting her eyes, wished she’d worn her sunglasses as she navigated her way.
‘Oops!’ she called out as she accidently bumped into a man who’d suddenly appeared before her. ‘I’m so sorry, I can hardly see where I’m going.’
‘Let me help you,’ the man replied and held out his hands.
‘O.M.G!’ Mary screamed and almost dropped the tray.
Ruby, realising the danger, swooped low and caught it.
‘MUNGO!’ Mary gasped. ‘What on earth? ’ She took a step back and squeezed her eyes shut then opened them to stare at the figure before her. ‘Is it really you?’
‘Yes, it’s me.’ Mungo laughed. ‘We’ve just arrived. I asked the receptionist where you might be; she was quite offhand and garbled in Spanish. I couldn’t understand her, but I thought I might find you all here by the pool.’
‘WE?’ Mary rubbed her eyes as if to reaffirm what she was seeing.
‘Helen and Eliza are here too,’ he said. ‘Look, over there.’
Mungo pointed and Mary saw her sister-in-law and niece hugging Atticus and Jake.
‘Well, I never.’ Mary shook her head. Almost speechless, she linked her arm through her brother’s. ‘We’d better go and join them.’
Atticus was on his feet. At first, he thought he was imagining things. Was that really Helen and Eliza coming toward him? But as they got closer and ran to wrap him in a huge hug, he knew that their arrival was real.
‘But where’s Mungo?’ Atticus asked.
‘I’m here, Dad,’ a voice behind him called out and Atticus turned to see Mungo and Mary.
Atticus glanced from one to the other. ‘Did you know?’ he asked Mary.
‘Hadn’t a clue – I’m as surprised as you,’ Mary said, slowly recovering and beginning to grin.
Mungo reached out for his dad’s hand. ‘I’m sorry,’ he simply said.
‘Whatever for?’ Atticus asked.
‘For everything.’ Mungo shrugged his shoulders. ‘For not listening to you and being an overbearing father.’ He glanced towards Jake. ‘But most of all, for not appreciating my family. I’ve taken you all for granted and I’m truly sorry. ’
‘Well, that’s…’ Atticus was at a loss for words.
Britta held Declan, still carrying his teddy, and looked anxiously from Atticus to Mungo.
Mungo continued, ‘You don’t have to say anything, Dad. Just know that I think your great adventure to Spain is admirable. It took some guts, and I couldn’t be happier that you’ve met someone and fallen in love.’
A little voice piped up and heads turned to stare at Declan.
‘Uncle Mungo,’ Declan said, ‘do you know my new granny?’
Suddenly, the ice was broken, and everyone began to laugh. Atticus gave Mungo a bear hug and stood back to smile at his son.
Britta stepped forward and held out her free hand. ‘Hello,’ she said, ‘I’m Britta.’
‘Hello, Declan’s new granny.’ Mungo smiled. ‘Ali insisted I take my family on holiday,’ Mungo explained as questions rained upon him. ‘She found us a Boxing Day flight to Alicante and told me she was perfectly capable of running the business for a week.’
‘There was hardly anyone on the plane,’ Eliza said excitedly, ‘and I had a glass of champagne.’
Erik joined the party. He’d taken Ness for a walk on the beach and the old dog, recognising Mungo, wriggled her way into the crowd.
‘Were my Speedos a bit snug?’ Erik asked, his expression bemused as he stared at Arthur, now attired in Cheryl’s voluminous green kaftan.
‘Aye, you could say so,’ Arthur replied .
Mary stood back and stared at the ever-increasing party. Unexpectedly, she felt exhausted. With weeks of little sleep and living on an emotional knife-edge she suddenly felt that she might collapse if she didn’t take a moment for herself.
‘Can you keep an eye on the kids?’ Mary whispered to Atticus.
Atticus saw the look on Mary’s face and nodded. ‘Yes, love, of course. Why don’t you go to the beach and stretch your legs? The kids are just fine.’
Mary gave a half-smile and turning away, she set off.
Matching the rhythm of the waves brushing against the shore, Mary’s steps were slow as she began her solitary walk.
The salty breeze tousled her hair, and she reached out to tuck it behind one ear.
As she reached for her sunglasses, she stared at the wide expanse of the beach.
The weight of recent events lingered heavily, and the decline of her marriage left Mary putting on a brave face for the kids, knowing there would be difficult days ahead as they came to terms with their parents’ split.
Overhead, seagulls cried, their calls echoing the unanswered questions in her mind.
Her longing for love emphasised her loneliness, but she thought of the texts she’d received from Ruari and smiled.
Given half a chance, she’d jump into his bed and give in to his subtle invitations, but, Mary pondered, no man in his right mind would seriously look at a middle-aged woman with four demanding children.
Lost in the complexity of her thoughts, Mary wandered along, her bare feet paddling in the water.
‘How am I going to navigate through all of this?’ she called out and stared up at the sky.
‘I’ll help you,’ a voice replied, and Mary turned to see Atticus coming toward her.
‘Dad!’ Mary laughed and held out her arms.
Looking up, Mary and Atticus saw that a cluster of solitary stars had emerged. Like tiny gems, they twinkled and stood out in the still bright sky.
As father and daughter embraced on the shore, Mary spoke softly.
‘Mum would be so proud of you.’