SABINE
Sabine sat in one of the director’s chairs outside the kiosk and fanned herself with the Dartmouth Chronicle she was too hot to read. Just gone three p.m., and the heat was intense. She didn’t dare look at the thermometer pinned to the kiosk wall. The last time she’d looked it had said twenty-seven degrees and that had been hours ago. It felt hotter than ever now, the gentle breeze coming off the river doing little to cool things down.
The town was quiet with very few people wandering around. Families had gone to the beach, day-trippers had taken refuge in various cafes and sensible locals were staying indoors until things started to cool down. The trip tonight, due to set off at seven o’clock, was only half full but Sabine anticipated a last-minute rush of bookings as the heat died and people visualised the enjoyment of spending a couple of hours out on the water in the cool of the evening.
Looking out across the river to where Owen’s boats were moored, she caught the occasional glimpse of Owen and Peter on board Queen of the River, doing some routine maintenance. Since he’d learnt about inheriting the business, Peter had taken over more and more responsibility for the day-to-day running of the business. Even telling Owen they needed to talk as he had lots of plans for expansion next season, much to Owen’s amusement.
She smiled as she saw Johnnie walking towards her, clutching ice creams in one hand and struggling to push Carla in her pushchair with the other.
‘You’re a star,’ she said, accepting the coffee-flavoured ice cream cone with its 99 chocolate flake. ‘Just what I needed. I was too lazy to walk up and buy one.’
For several minutes they concentrated on eating their ice creams before the sun melted them. Johnnie, though, fought a losing battle with Carla’s face and hands as her chocolate ice cream dripped faster than she could lick it.
‘Owen talked to you recently about the trip?’ Johnny asked as he searched in the pushchair bag for a wet wipe to give Carla’s face a clean.
‘You mean apart from constantly nagging me to go with him?’
‘He’s planning to go to Thailand now, you know,’ Johnnie said. ‘He’s made contact with a woman over there.’
Sabine stared at him.
‘Maybe he’ll come back with a mail order bride,’ Johnnie said, not looking at her.
‘Over my dead body!’ The words were out before she realised the significance of them. How jealous she felt at the suggestion.
‘See, you do care. Don’t worry, I made that up to see your reaction.’ Johnnie looked at her.
‘Seriously, Sis, why the hell don’t you a) go travelling with him and b) marry him.’
‘Travelling with him would mean leaving you to cope with Carla without any backup,’ Sabine said, ignoring the second question.
‘Not a good-enough excuse,’ Johnnie said. ‘Carla and I are settling in together just fine. Besides, I do have women friends in town, you know. Harriet and Rachel, to mention but two.’
‘Ah, Rachel. You deliberately keeping her away from me?’ Sabine said, glad of an opportunity to steer the conversation away from her and Owen. ‘If she knows I’m your sister, I’m surprised she hasn’t come by the kiosk and introduced herself.’ She looked suspiciously at Johnnie. ‘She does know I’m your sister?’
Johnnie nodded. ‘Of course. She was busy the evening I suggested supper and now she’s away for a couple of weeks. When she gets back I’ll introduce you. Promise.’
‘Make sure you do.’
‘So,’ Johnnie said. ‘No worries about me not coping with Carla while you’re away. And then, when you get back, Carla will love being a bridesmaid at her Auntie Sabine’s wedding. Won’t you, ma chérie?’ He looked at Carla, smiling.
‘Hey, slow down,’ Sabine said. ‘Agreeing to go travelling with Owen is one thing. Getting married is maybe a step too far.’
‘It’s a step you should have taken years ago,’ Johnnie said. ‘Right, we’re off to the park.’
Sabine bent down and kissed Carla. ‘Have fun. See you soon.’
Johnnie was so much happier these days since Carla had appeared in his life. It was because he finally had a purpose again, Sabine decided. She couldn’t help wondering though whether it was just Carla who’d put a spring in his step, or whether this Rachel had something to do with it as well. She must make a real effort to meet and become friends with her.
Folding up one of the chairs to put away, the Save the Kiosk poster she’d pinned to the door at the beginning of the season caught her eye. Faded by the sun, the writing was illegible and she reached up and took it down. No point in leaving it up there.
The petition itself was languishing on the shelf by the biscuit tin. Guiltily Sabine realised she hadn’t accosted anyone to sign the petition for weeks now. Thoughts about the kiosk had slid to the back of her mind recently. She doubted too that Johnnie had given it any thought since the arrival of Carla in his life.
Sabine turned to deal with a couple of holidaymakers who wanted to book tickets for a boat trip at the weekend. By the time she’d issued their tickets and entered the details on the boat’s booking form, Owen was standing at her side waiting for her to be free.
‘Seen BB recently?’ he asked.
Sabine shook her head. ‘No. Why?’
‘Remember the boat Chevalier? Used to belong to old Harry the river pilot years ago. BB’s buying it.’
‘Good for him.’
‘He’s planning to sail it back to America, September/October time,’ Owen said. ‘Looking for crew already. Reckons he only needs two.’
Sabine looked at him, already knowing what he was going to suggest but waiting for him to say it.
‘I’ve agreed to be one of his crew. You up for being the other one? You said you wanted to see America. Perfect opportunity.’
Sabine bit her lip, Johnnie’s earlier comments still resounding in her thoughts. Was this crunch time? Did she want to commit herself to this right now? If she agreed, there would be no backing out. She’d be letting BB down as well as Owen if she changed her mind.
She took a deep breath. ‘Bit rusty as far as sailing goes. I haven’t done any for years.’
‘It’s not something you forget how to do,’ Owen said. ‘Besides, you can always become the galley slave.’
‘Chauvinist,’ Sabine said. ‘Okay. I’ll do it. We’ll go see the world together.’
She placed a subtle emphasis on the word ‘together’ and hoped from the look on his face that Owen had heard and picked up on the unspoken message in the reply she had just given him.