‘Okay, sure.’ She smiles. ‘Let’s make the most of the time we have here.’
We head along the road once more, and a couple of blokes on quad bikes toot their horns at us near a junction, before turning around and heading our way. When we pull up at the beach, the two very confident guys ask if they can buy us a drink. I’mflattered, of course, as I think Evie is, but don’t think we can be bothered. I glance at Evie to make sure.
‘Thanks, but we’re meeting someone here,’ I say, and the guys shrug and head for the beach bar and immediately get chatting to a couple of young women sitting on bar stools sipping a drink.
‘Look at those abs though.’ Evie lowers her sunglasses and glances over at one of them, as he lifts his T-shirt over his head, and I shove her on the arm and laugh.
We find a couple of sunbeds and order some soft drinks from a passing waiter.
I’m stretched out beneath the glorious blue sky, feeling the delicious warmth of the sun on my skin, when Evie suddenly reaches over for my hand and takes it in hers. ‘I’m glad you’re my friend,’ she says. ‘You always watch out for me, don’t you?’
‘I’m glad you’re my friend too.’ I give her hand a little squeeze. ‘And you look out for me too, it’s what friends do, isn’t it?’
‘Yeah, but when I think of how anxious I used to be, you always made me feel grounded, talked common sense to me. I must have been a right pain in the backside, a bit of a hypochondriac even, according to some and maybe they were right. Not to mention a clean freak.’
I don’t mention the time she brought disinfectant to a B and B that was already squeaky clean and proceeded to clean it from top to bottom. Or the fact that she brought a sleeping bag to sleep on top of the covers.
‘You were not a pain,’ I reassure her. ‘Anxiety is a real thing. You couldn’t help that. But I believe we should all try and find something that shifts the focus, relaxes us a little. In your case, it was swimming. I like to make stuff.’
I bought a craft book from a market stall a few years ago, and have made some pretty items, such as keyrings and cushionsthat I have given as gifts. ‘And eat too much cake probably,’ I say, adjusting my black bikini top that just about holds my ample boobs.
‘You’ve got a gorgeous figure; I love your waist. I look like a boy.’ She laughs looking down at her toned midriff and slender legs that I would kill for.
‘Besides, I can’t take all the credit for helping you, the cognitive behavioural therapy helped. And Nick and the girls,’ I remind her.
‘And the tablets. I was reluctant to take them, but I know they did help in the beginning,’ she recalls. ‘But you’re right, of course, my family and the counselling sessions help, but I just want you to know that I couldn’t have a better friend and I’m grateful.’
‘You don’t need to thank me,’ I tell her, although I am so pleased to hear how much she values our friendship.
‘But I want to. You’re the one who really gets me,’ she says, which makes me feel a bit emotional. ‘And don’t think I haven’t noticed you trying to steer me away from Kostas.’ She raises an eyebrow.
‘Have I?’ I reply, not very convincingly.
‘You have. But you needn’t worry, as I said it’s just nice to be flirted with a little. I like that you care though.’
‘Of course I care. I would hate you to make a mistake that you would live to regret.’
I remind her again that every long-term relationship changes into something more comfortable over time. ‘But that doesn’t mean you stop trying to keep the spark alive. Don’t forget those weekends away, picnics in the sun, whatever it takes to remind each other why you fell in love in the first place,’ I advise. I don’t add that it’s preferable to taking up with a love rat, as she is well aware of the dreadful mistake I made.
‘Maybe you ought to be a marriage guidance counsellor,’ says Evie.
‘No, thanks. It’s different with close friends. I’m not sure I could be telling strangers what to do.’
‘Anyway. I agree me and Nick need to spend some time alone together. You’re a bit of an old romantic deep down, aren’t you, despite what happened with that… that rat you met online,’ she says, angry on my behalf. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring him up.’
‘Maybe I am. I do believe in happy ever after, but I can’t even think about another relationship right now. Anyway, how did we end up talking about me when we were talking about you?’ I laugh.
I think of my cheating ex who was bored with his fiancée, as they had been together since they were teenagers and fancied a little bit of fun before he committed to marriage. But I am determined not to let it sour my opinion of all men, even though they are strictly off the menu for now. I’ve grown to like my own company these past months, and it would take someone very special to change my current happy, single status.
‘I do know what you mean, and I love my family with all my heart and couldn’t imagine a life without them,’ she reassures me. ‘I guess we are both so busy with the business, romance is sometimes put on the back-burner. We’re pretty exhausted most of the time, but you’re right that we really ought to make the time.’
‘You should delegate more, instead of having to work weekends. No wonder you are both exhausted.’
Evie and Nick do work a lot. They built up their haulage business from nothing, and work long hours. ‘And while we’re at it, if you can manage breaks apart, surely you can manage them together once in a while, now that the girls are older.’
‘Duly noted. You always were the voice of reason.’ She smiles. ‘Here’s to our friendship.’ She lifts her juice glass.
‘I’ll drink to that,’ I say and we tap our plastic juice-filled tumblers together before settling down onto our beds to enjoy the sun.
