The Sheila Newberry Spring Collection by Sheila Everett

Author:Sheila Everett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction

TWENTY

Rosanna was having the time of her life, crewing for Derry on the way back. He was tolerant of her mistakes; they joked and laughed a lot. Merle, after plunging into deep water, both literally and with regard to Derry, was content to laze on deck in balmy weather, with a sprig of lavender pinched from a riverside garden to ward off the flies. She was ‘reading with eyes closed’, merely complaining mildly when the others tacked and zigzagged according to the prevailing wind and the vagaries of the river.

On the last morning, Rosanna caught Derry gazing thoughtfully at Merle: at her exposed, brown limbs; at the spread of liquorice-coloured hair on an improvised pillow; the skimpy sun-top and shorts. Seeing Rosanna watching him, he grinned and ruffled her hair – lank, because it needed washing.

‘OK, Rosy?’ he asked. ‘Don’t fret, you’re beautiful, too, you know.’

I’ve got a horrible spot on my chin, he’s being kind, she thought ruefully. It’s nearly that time of the month, so maybe it’s as well we’re on the last lap of our expedition. Merle takes it all in her stride, I’m not that self-assured yet.

After tying up and helping to hump all the baggage out, Rosanna lingered for a moment in the boat with Derry, while Merle stood above them on the landing-stage, her back to them, waving to her father, who, unexpectedly, was accompanied by a small boy whom they didn’t recognise.

‘Hi, Dad!’ she called.

‘Derry . . .’ said Rosanna.

‘Mmm?’ He was hunting around to see if they had forgotten anything.

‘I – had a really wonderful time. Thank you so much.’

He gave her an impulsive hug. ‘Thank you for coming, Rosy. You’re now a seasoned sailor, eh? I hope you’ll crew for me again soon.’ He paused, lowered his voice, ‘You’ll keep our secret, won’t you? About you know what.’

‘Of course I will, Derry,’ she said simply.

Years later, she would realise that his next words were tender ones.

‘You don’t have to tell me how you feel, I know, and I’m flattered, Rosy, but before you know it, you’ll be inundated with prospective boyfriends and you’ll wonder what you ever saw in me! Come on, let’s step ashore.’

‘Had a good trip?’ Jim asked. ‘This is Jamie, who’s staying with us while his mother is in hospital.’

Merle exclaimed, ‘Good lord! He looks like you, Derry!’

‘Well, you are related in a way – but it’s rather complicated.’ Jim had been rehearsing this. ‘We won’t go into it all just now.’

‘You look like Aunt Janet,’ Jamie told Merle. ‘Can I get in the boat?’ he asked Derry eagerly. He’d lost his initial wariness.

‘Tell you what, after we’ve had one of Jan’s bust-your-guts meals, if the ladies present will excuse such indelicacy, we’ll stagger back here, hoist the sail and go as far as the bend in the river and back.’

‘Not me,’ Merle called back over her shoulder. ‘I intend to have a bath!’

‘Thought you’d had one already,’ Derry teased.

‘I’ll come,’ Rosanna offered, although a bath had been her priority, too.

‘You haven’t had enough of the river, then?’

‘No, I’d like to live on a boat, one day.

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