Page 38 of The Summer Escape

“Sorry. I forgot.” Honesty was the best policy, after all.

“You forgot? You do realise we have a waiting list for the classes?”

“Yes. I’m so sorry. We extended our holiday and …”

“It’s all right for some,” the woman huffed. “A phone call would have been nice. We’d easily have been able to fill the space if you’d warned us.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“I hope you’re not expecting a refund. We can’t give you your money back when you didn’t cancel.”

“It’s fine.” Annoying, but she wouldn’t have expected a refund.

“I’d advise you not to underestimate the importance of swimming lessons. It’s a matter of safety; the sooner kids learn, the better. Especially if you’re spending so much time on holiday.”

The condescending tone almost left Beth speechless.

“I understand the importance of swimming lessons,” she said through gritted teeth. “Which is why I signed Ellie up for them. We just have a lot going on at the moment. When we’re back home I’ll rebook for later in the year. Thank you for calling.” With her jaw clenched, she jabbed at the button to end the call.

Immediately, she messaged Dee to vent. The phone rang straight away.

“The woman on reception at the leisure centre is such a cow,” Dee said. “I bet it was her who called you.”

“I don’t know how I managed to forget to call them.”

“You’ve had a lot on your mind.” Her voice was laced with mirth. “All the hot sex probably clouded your thinking.”

Dropping onto the edge of the bed, Beth looked out of the window towards the cottage. “I think you’re right.”

“I was joking. You forgot to cancel the swimming lessons. So what? It’s not so bad.”

“The woman made me feel like a terrible mother. She gave me a lecture on how kids need to learn to swim for safety.”

“Well, duh! That’s why we send them to swimming lessons. But I don’t think it matters whether she learns this month or next.”

“I did spend all day yesterday thinking about Trystan.” Beth chewed the edge of her thumbnail.

“So?”

“So, maybe if I hadn’t been so busy thinking about him I’d have remembered the swimming lessons. He’s on my mind all the time. I’m like a pathetic schoolgirl with a crush.”

“Um … no. You’re like a fully grown woman with a crush. Which is awesome. There’s nothing pathetic about it.”

“It feels pathetic.”

“Did you see him yesterday?”

“Yes. Briefly at lunchtime. Then he came over in the evening and we had a drink on the patio while the sun went down. It was lovely. And he’s taking us out for a day trip on Thursday.”

“Wow. This is turning into a proper holiday romance.”

“Yeah.” She grimaced. “Which might not be a good thing.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m a single mother. I should be focusing on Ellie, not chasing after some young guy. He’s thirty-two, by the way. Ellie asked him on my behalf, with the subtlety of an elephant wearing clogs. It was completely embarrassing but he was very sweet about it.”

“Thirty-two’s respectable. Have you got a photo for me yet?”