Page 105 of Second Chance Summer
I need timewas a cop-out so she shifted into a mode she was more comfortable with: business. ‘How long do you think you need to finish the retreat?’
‘A month? Maybe less if we push it.’
She nodded. ‘Do you have any takers for the housekeeper and chef’s jobs?’
‘The chef said yes. I’ve had a couple of possibles for the housekeeper. One can start straightaway.’ He frowned. ‘Lily, why are you asking this now?’
‘Because I’m going to come back to visit you in four weeks’ time and help you throw an official opening bash for the Stark Retreat.’
‘If you say so.’ He gave a wry smile that was tinged with sadness and doubt.
‘I can see you don’t believe me but I will. The Lily who arrived isn’t the one who’s leaving.’
‘The one who arrived was just fine. More than fine; she’d just lost her way.’ The gentleness with which he said it, the sincerity in his eyes, almost made her wobble and say that she would stay. Instead, she pulled back just in time.
‘I never make promises I can’t keep. You do understand?’
Sam said, ‘I do, and I’d never ask you to make a promise apart from this: promise me you won’t change your life for me.’
The rotor noise increased. Lily ignored it. ‘What do you mean?’ She was practically shouting.
‘Auntie Lily!’ Tania and Amelie tugged on her hands and dragged her away from Sam. ‘Daddy says we have to go now or you’ll be left behind.’
Étienne strode over.
‘You should go,’ Sam said.
‘We’ll miss you,’ the girls shouted.
‘I’ll miss you. I’ll miss you all.’ Then he turned away and Lily was ushered towards the helicopter.
The islands fell away, like water through her hands. Soon they were mere shapes on a map, their ragged edges surroundedby aquamarine sea. In minutes they were memories and only the ocean was visible, flecked with frothy white caps and dotted with ships.
Across the aisle, the girls were pointing and chattering but Lily couldn’t hear the words. A lighthouse came into view, then tall cliffs and a castle off the coast – St Michael’s Mount – and, weirdly, a large retail park. The helicopter skimmed perilously close to a Sainsbury’s before landing neatly on a yellow circle.
Lily said a silent prayer and sank back in the seat.
‘It’s OK. We’re alive.’ Étienne’s hand was on her arm when she opened her eyes. He was smiling at her as the rotors slowed to a halt. He pointed out of the window. ‘And look, I could pop to those shops for a lawn mower and some baked beans.’
‘You don’t have a lawn,’ Lily said.
Étienne smiled at her. She knew he was trying to lighten the mood.
Tania fiddled with her safety belt. ‘That was awesome!’
‘Stay in your seats, please!’ Étienne ordered.
A few minutes later, they’d collected their bags and clambered into Étienne’s car. Lily rested her head against the seat, grateful she didn’t have to make the long journey back to London by train on her own. The chatter of the children would distract her from the fact that every mile took her further from Scilly and from Sam.
Already the land seemed so big, so built-up, compared to the islands. Too many cars, too many people, too many questions – too many decisions to make.
The girls wore headphones and were playing on their tablets in the rear of the car.
‘Missing it?’ Étienne said. ‘Missing him?’
Lily’s heart shrank a little more. ‘What do you think?’
‘I think you’ve left a piece of your soul behind.’
