They all said goodbye and Mary walked with Leo to the gate. Patti watched as they stood, huddled together, heads almost touching as they talked. They looked so close.
‘I can’t help feeling guilty that Keith and Mary had words, it was our talk of fulfilling our bucket list that started all this off.’ Sandra sounded worried.
‘I think things haven’t been right between Keith and Mary for a while.’ Patti told her. ‘I just hope that it’s a blip and they’ll get over it.’
Just then Mary came back. ‘I’m sorry about that but Keith has to realise that he might want to sit and rot all day, but I’ve got a life to live and I’m going to live it.’
‘It’s the heart attack. It’s left him feeling vulnerable…’
‘I know, Patti. And I don’t mean to sound harsh but – whilst I understand his fear – I don’t think it’s wise to pander to it any longer. Maybe if I start getting out and doing things, Keith willwant to join in. It’s worth a try. Besides, I’m not going to let you two sit around the pool every day. I want to show you some of Spain while you’re here. Leo agrees with me too. He said Keith isn’t the man he used to be.’
She picked up her phone again. ‘Now let’s book us in for our jet ski ride; 11.30 tomorrow okay?’
‘Great!’ Patti agreed but Sandra hesitated before nodding. Patti could see that her friend was a bit reluctant.
‘Okay, they only have double or single jet ski so I guess we had better book one each.’ Mary looked up from the screen. ‘Unless you two prefer to go together and I’ll go by myself. I don’t mind at all.’
Patti thought it was a shame that Keith wasn’t joining them then they could all pair up. She didn’t like to go with Sandra and leave Mary to go alone. ‘What do you think?’ she asked Sandra.
‘How about you two go together? I’m not bothered about going jet skiing to be honest.’
Patti could see that she was nervous. She didn’t want to push her into doing something she didn’t want to do but was sure that Sandra would regret not joining in when she saw how much fun it was. ‘It could be fun to have one each. We can race each other.’
‘But we’re the three musketeers! We have to all do it,’ Mary protested. She looked so disappointed. She really was enjoying the comradeship, Patti realised.
Sandra must have realised the same thing because she nodded. ‘You’re right. I’ll be brave and do it.’
‘It’ll be three jet skis then. And don’t worry, it’s all perfectly safe and an instructor will be with us.’ She tapped a few keys then Patti thrust her credit card in front of her.
‘This is my treat because it’s on my bucket list,’ she insisted.
She couldn’t wait until tomorrow!
32
SANDRA
They’d just finished booking for the jet ski when Don phoned Sandra.
‘What have you been up to over there?’ he asked curiously. ‘I hope you’re keeping out of the sun. Sunstroke can be dangerous, you know?’
‘I know, dear, I always use sun cream, sunglasses and a sun hat. You should know that! You’re the one who had to be badgered to wear it.’ She laughed as she remembered the battle she had trying to get Don to put on sunscreen and wear a sun hat when he was a child. He hated it and was always trying to lose his sun hat, leaving it on the beach, in cafés, but she knew what he was up to and he never succeeded in leaving it behind.
He chuckled. ‘Rana is as bad now, Laila has to nag like mad to get her to wear sun cream and she absolutely refuses to wear a sun hat!’
‘Karma,’ she teased, delighted that they were having such a relaxed conversation. She told him about their shopping trip yesterday and that today they had stayed in around the pool. ‘I jumped in and I swam three lengths,’ she said proudly.
‘Well done, Mum. What are you up to tomorrow?’ He sounded genuinely interested.
She took a deep breath and braced herself for his reaction. ‘We’re going jet skiing.’
‘You’re what? Are you totally mad? Have you forgotten what happened to Martin?’
That stung. How could she ever forget how her adventurous, fun-loving older son had died? Realising this was going to be a difficult call, she got up and walked down towards the pool so she could talk in private.
‘Of course not, how could I?’ she replied. ‘But we’re going on the sea not up in the air. And we’ll be wearing life jackets and be with an instructor.’
‘Listen to yourself, Mum. You’re over seventy! I don’t know what’s got into you just lately. Dad would turn in his grave if he knew what you were up to!’
