Page 9 of Second Chance Summer
‘Oh my God!’ Morven squealed. ‘I wasn’t sure if you’d picked her up yet. What is she like – horrible?’
‘Morven …’ Sam hissed.
‘What? She can’t possibly hear us from here,’ the girl declared.
Er …wrong, thought Lily.
‘It’s not nice to be rude about people you haven’t met,’ the older woman said.
‘Why not? I know she’s that nasty cow from the TV.’
‘Morven! That will do!’ Sam said sharply.
Lily’s stomach turned over. She’d come all this way toescape from stress and here she was, being discussed and abused in public by a stranger.
The older woman tutted loudly. ‘Morven, don’t be so unkind. Sam, I’m glad I caught you.’
‘In the nick of time, Auntie Elspeth, but I have to be going now or we’ll be caught out by the spring low tide. This weather isn’t doing us any favours either.’
‘Well, be careful. The fog could last for days.’ Elspeth shuddered. ‘I don’t like it.’
Lily broke out in a cold sweat at the thought of being trapped in the middle of nowhere for days. That made it more important than ever that she should get a message to Richie.
‘Ooooh!’ Morven cried. ‘The fog … It must be a portent, signifying you oughtn’t to be setting out on this venture. Stark belongs to its ancient guardians, your ancestors.’
‘That isn’t helpful, Morven,’ Sam warned.
‘It’s not a very auspicious start, though,’ Elspeth agreed gloomily.
‘Auntie Elspeth,’ Sam sounded very frustrated, ‘we’ve had this conversation many times before. The only portents I pay any heed to are the ones telling me I need to make a living, to support my family. And as for our ancestors: a tranquil luxury retreat is the best way to honour the island’s history.’
Morven sniggered. ‘Luxury? Like, yeah! Last time I saw it, the paint in the cottages was still wet and the toilets didn’t flush.’
Filled with dismay, Lily shrank further back into the porch. On top of being absolutely knackered and apprehensiveabout the boat transfer to Stark, the idea of coping with a blocked toilet for days was just too much.
‘It’s all fixed!’ Sam said in exasperation. ‘And I am about to take myvalued guestto the island for a wonderful break. So, if you wouldn’t mind untying the boat, I’m leaving now.’
‘Don’t forget this!’ Elspeth thrust a small wooden chest into his arms. ‘You might need it.’
‘Thank you. Now, Imustget back to my guest.’
Lily summoned up her courage: she was, after all, a confident businesswoman who could deal with anything.
‘Actually,she’shere.’
She stepped out of the porch and strode forward.
Three jaws dropped in horrified amazement.
‘How nice to meet you,’ she said sweetly to Elspeth alone. ‘Apologies if I took you by surprise but I got off the boat to try and find a mobile signal.’
‘I – er – didn’t see you there,’ Sam muttered. ‘And I’m sorry but we have to gonow,’ he added.
‘Because of the fog, so I heard,’ she added smoothly. ‘However, I’d like to call my family and was hoping to pick up some WiFi from this café. Does anyone know the code?’
‘The signal’s always crap in the fog,’ Morven said.
‘We don’t have th––’ Sam muttered, before Elspeth interjected.
