She holds up her hand and calls out to him, ‘Darling!’
Primrose barrels across the sand and launches herself at Kit’s knees. He swoops her up, nuzzling her ears as she bestows delighted licks about his face and neck. He carries the dog as he walks towards Beatrice, keeping hold of her to avoid hugging his mother.
‘Mother.’ He carefully kisses her cheek.
‘Dear God, you look like a navvy!’
He winces. How many seconds has it taken before he wants to immediately turn around and walk away from her?
She sees him tense and hastily adds, ‘Only joking. It suits you, these muscles. This tan. A working man!’
They stand regarding each other warily.
‘Do come back to the house, darling. Let’s have tea or something. What time is it?’
He assumes the unspoken question – is it socially acceptable 347to offer him a drink other than tea.
Kit puts Primrose down and she hops up on her hind legs, executing a small circle on the sand accompanied by half a dozen delirious yaps. From the small dog’s perspective, she has just been reunited with a brother.
‘Oh, Primmy!’ Beatrice claps in delight. ‘Primmy Primrose Wallace, we should have put you in a circus!’
The dog trots ahead, head held high. But walking alongside her, Beatrice notices Kit’s shoulders slump. He has never carried himself with any great confidence, her boy. Such a pity. Wasted potential.
Mother and son walk up towards the dunes and the holiday home, remarking on the warmth in the sunshine, if not their relationship. The gulls circle overhead like vultures.
Kit feels odd as they approach Falcon. He’s walked past it most days, but this is the first time he’s been inside the timeshare for several months. When his mother opens the door, it is the same chic haven as always. Beatrice hasn’t yet unpacked one of her bags, which sits on the kitchen floor, but she has made a start on the provisions.
‘I’ll take this up for you, shall I?’
‘Thank you, darling. That would be lovely.’
Kit carries his mother’s luggage up the stairs to her room.
She calls up after him, ‘I’ll put the kettle on!’
She has turned over a new leaf.