Page 49 of The Summer Escape

“Check the tides,” his mum said, and he bit his tongue to stop himself from telling her that of course he’d checked the tide. “Why don’t you take Beth and Ellie with you?” She looked at Beth. “It’s beautiful on Bryher. You’ve not been yet, have you?”

“No. But I’d hate to intrude. We’ll go over another time.”

“I’d like to go on a boat,” Ellie said, looking pleadingly at Beth.

“Trystan’s going to visit his brother today, but we’ll go another day.”

“Is it Kit?” she asked, looking at him with big eyes.

“No, my older brother, Lowen.”

“Does he have a train too?”

“No,” he said, chuckling. “No train, I’m afraid.”

She looked thoughtful. “I’d like to go anyway. Even though he doesn’t have a train.”

“Take them with you,” his mum said. “They’ll enjoy it. And it’ll be nice for you to have the company.”

Maybe she had a point. He’d been worried it might be awkward for Beth to come along with him, but it might have the effect of making it less awkward for Trystan. And it’s not as though he ever stayed long with Lowen.

“Do you want to?” he asked Beth.

“Yes, we do!” Ellie said excitedly.

“It seems as though we’re keen,” Beth said. “If you’re sure it’s okay?”

“We can get lunch over there,” he said, warming to the idea. “And do some exploring, go to the beach …”

“Who’s going to drive the boat?” Ellie asked, slipping off her chair to stand by Trystan’s legs.

“Can you drive a boat?” he asked her.

“No.”

“I guess I will then.”

“Can I help? When I go on the train, Kit lets me sit on his knee to help him drive.”

“Does he now?” Mirren shook her head. “I’ll have to have a word with him about that.”

“You can help me drive the boat,” Trystan told Ellie, who looked delighted.

“Make sure there are life-jackets for all of you,” his mum said.

His smile was tight. “I will.”

“If there isn’t one that fits Ellie properly, call Kit and he’ll be able to borrow one from the lifesaving club.”

“Can we gonow?” Ellie asked.

“As soon as we’ve finished our coffees,” he said. “We need to pack our beach things too.”

Half an hour later, the three of them were bouncing gently over the waves as they headed away from St Mary’s on a northerly course. The noise of the engine had unsettled Ellie at first, and she sat timidly on Beth’s lap in the middle of the boat, having put aside her notions of helping skipper the boat. After a while she relaxed and Trystan offered her his hand and asked if she wanted to help steer. Perched on his lap, her hair blew in his face and he leaned to the side, pulling strands from his mouth.

Beth moved to take a photo of the two of them and he dutifully smiled alongside Ellie. He slowed the boat to let her take photos of the scenery and she seemed totally absorbed as she held the camera to her face.

They were rounding Samson when Ellie thrust her arm out, pointing towards a rocky outcrop. “Penguins!” she squealed. “Mummy, look at the penguins.”