A roar of laugher erupted from the side of the pool. Keith had obviously been watching – well at least she’d made him laugh. Patti managed to swim underneath the unicorn and bobbed up, ‘Glad you think it’s funny!’ She laughed, water dripping from her hair all over her face, she wiped it away to see that Keith wasn’t alone, standing beside him was Leo, they both had their heads thrown back and were howling with laughter.
Way to make an impression, Patti!Thank goodness her body was submerged in the water up to her shoulders. She wasn’t going to get out until Leo had turned his back! The swimming lessons had given her and Sandra more confidence about their bodies, but she still felt awkward with someone like Leo. She could see that Sandra was a bit embarrassed too, but Mary didn’t seem bothered. She was obviously quite at ease with Leo.
‘Perhaps I should have brought my swim shorts.’ Leo chuckled.
‘Borrow a pair of Keith’s and you can both join us,’ Mary suggested.
Patti was relieved when Leo declined and he and Keith went into the kitchen to start on dinner.
Mary had cooked a huge paella for dinner, with more crusty bread, followed by a tiramisu, and they all chatted away as they ate, with the conversation mainly in English, although Leo resorted to Spanish when he couldn’t think of the word he wanted and then they all tried to translate for him. Patti turned her head as Mary laughed, tears streaming down her face, at something Leo said. She hadn’t seen Mary laugh like that all the time they’d been here. Her sister-in-law seemed to have come alive in Leo’s company. Patti remembered Mary saying that she and Rags often joined Leo and Coco for a walk. A little fear crept into her mind. Keith and Mary seemed distant with each other, could Mary be attracted to Leo? No, surely not. But that’s what had happened to her in her own marriage, wasn’t it? They’d both been busy working, become more like ships in the night, then Adrian had met Sally who’d given him the attention he craved.
Is that why Mary had invited Leo over tonight, because she was missing him?
‘Are you all right, Patti? You seem a bit troubled.’ Sandra’s voice dragged her out of her thoughts. They were both sitting next to each other at the far end of the table.
‘Yes, I’m fine.’ She gave Sandra a reassuring smile. ‘I think all that fun in the pool has tired me out a bit.’
Leo glanced over at them both and smiled ‘Are you enjoying your stay in my country,senoras?’
‘We are, Keith and Mary are wonderful hosts,’ Sandra replied.
‘They certainly are. They’re really looking after us,’ Patti agreed.
‘They’ve been out gallivanting every other day,’ Keith said, taking a long sip of his beer. ‘It’s been nice and peaceful for me.’
‘Where have you been?’ Leo asked.
Mary filled him in. ‘And tomorrow we’re going jet skiing.’
‘Jet skiing! You’re all mad. Those things aren’t safe,’ Keith retorted.
Leo looked surprised too. ‘It is many years since I went jet skiing. Do yousenorasgo often?’
‘It’s going to be our first time,’ Patti told him.
‘You have… How do you say…?’ he paused. ‘Spirit. Spirit of adventure.’
Was that admiration in his voice?
‘I think they’ve lost the plot!’ Keith exploded. ‘They’re much too old to be cavorting about like this.’
‘Usually it is something you do when you’re younger, but it is a pleasurable experience and safe if you are sensible,’ Leo said reassuringly.
‘Of course it is. We’ll check them all out and make sure we go on an approved one.’ Mary looked annoyed and Patti didn’t blame her. Keith didn’t have to be so scathing.
‘Why don’t you at least come for the ride, Keith?’ Patti suggested. ‘You can just sit on the beach and relax. You might have fun watching us. And you probably won’t worry so much about us if you’re there.’
‘You’re crazy. The last thing I want to see is my wife, sister and her friend careering across the sea, strapped to a contraption that could tip them into the water any minute, or crash into a boat.’
Mary raised her eyebrows. ‘We’ll check that the water is clear, and only go for a short ride. Thousands of people jet ski every year quite safely.’ She picked up her phone and started tapping the screen. ‘Look, it’s perfectly safe. We’ll have a tutorial and a lifejacket, an instructor will be with us, they ride in a boat nearby, and we’ll only go for the short run, twenty minutes max.’
‘I don’t want you to go,’ Keith stated.
‘Well, I’m going. Remember – not so long ago – we both said we’d try it one day. We were both going to do a lot of things! Just because you no longer want to doesn’t mean that I should give up my dreams too.’
Sandra held her breath as Keith and Mary locked gazes. She hoped this wasn’t going to lead to a big row. Then Keith got up from the table and stormed out.
‘I think it is time I go too.’ Leo stood up. ‘Goodnight,senoras.I hope tomorrow, it goes well.’
