Page 30 of One Golden Summer

Saffron shifted in her seat, and a football bumped the back of her leg. She swivelled around to spy a dark-haired girl, no older than six, doing her best not to look like the guilty party. “You like football?”

The girl nodded.

Saffron looked to the left and right but didn’t see any other suspects. “Who are you playing with?”

The girl proudly pointed at her chest.

Saffron hopped up. “Can I kick the ball with you?”

The girl nodded enthusiastically, and Saffron passed the ball to her, impressed by the speed it whipped back in return. The two of them drifted to the side, Saffron laughing. The girl attempted to hog the ball, dribbling circles around Saffron. She responded by placing a hand on the child’s head, keeping her at arm’s length, while the girl attempted to get a boot on the ball.

“You’re cheating.” The girl took another swipe.

“I have to. You’re just too good.” Saffron continued to stiff-arm the child. “Are you related to Megan Rapinoe?”

The girl broke free, swiping the ball and taking it with her across the lawn where two children her age, who’d just arrived at the party, stood. Soon enough, they fell into a game.

“Looks like you’ve been cruelly cut from the team.” Kirsty handed Saffron a glass of wine.

“So it seems. I didn’t know the local footballers were so ruthless. Thanks.” Saffron took a sip. “Sandy Cove is making me soft. I’m a bit out of breath.”

“We can’t have that. Take a seat.” Kirsty waved to a couple of seats to the side of her parents’ garden.

Saffron crossed her legs, resting the glass on the arm of the chair. “You’re lucky.”

“What do you mean?”

“This.” She waved to the guests. “Everyone here seems happy and genuine. I haven’t felt this at ease in a group in I don’t know how long.”

“Is that the experience of all actors? Or…?”

“I think most of us have our guards up, especially after getting burned the first time.”

“What happened?” Kirsty wore a sympathetic expression, with curiosity brimming underneath.

Saffron stared into the red liquid, rolling the glass between her palms, stirring the contents. “I trusted the wrong person.”

“And?”

“She let me down. She says it was a mistake, but…” Saffron gave the glass one final swirl before knocking back a sip.

“You don’t believe her.”

“It’s hard to know the truth. I’d like to, but I promised myself never to put myself in that position again.”

“It sounds lonely.”

Saffron stared at Kirsty’s parents, Ian with his arm around Ruth’s waist as he turned the meat on the grill. Ruth rested her head on his chest, turning and smiling at Helena for a photo. “It’s part of my life.”

“Does it have to be, though?”

Saffron didn’t answer, because although she couldn’t see a way around her isolation, she didn’t want to say it to Kirsty of all people. “What about you?”

“What about me?” Kirsty flinched as if not expecting to be put into the hot seat. Or did she think Saffron wasn’t the type to get to know someone else? Kirsty wasn’t wrong, for the most part.

“Has anyone let you down?”

“My ex did.”