Chapter 33

MADI

‘This was a lovely idea, Madi. I haven’t had a day out at the beach for ages. Not since Barb went away.’

‘Well, you should. Do it more often, I mean. The walking’s good for you, and the sea air.’

‘Just not the sort of thing I ever imagined doing on my own, I suppose. I thought she’d always be there. Still, it’s certainly brought the colour back into your cheeks.’

‘I’m loving it. I haven’t had waves rippling over my bare toes for years! But I am feeling a bit tired now. Do you mind if we sit for a while?’

‘Of course not. You should have said.’ Tom took the rolled-up mac from under his arm and spread it out on the sand. ‘There! Not sure why I brought it really, as there’s hardly a cloud in sight. After yesterday’s downpour, I guess we’ve been lucky, but at least the old mac’s come in handy for something.’

‘It’s so empty here,’ Madi said, sitting down and adjusting her pose to avoid a large pebble, which was digging into the back of her leg. ‘Peaceful.’

‘The families don’t tend to come spilling out until the afternoon, when school finishes. The Easter holidays are nearly upon us though, and everywhere will be much more packed then, whatever the weather. Otherwise, it’s just the dog walkers at this time of day.’

‘Have you ever thought of getting a dog yourself? It’d be company for you, and the perfect reason to force yourself out for a bit of exercise every day.’

‘Are you saying I’m in need of exercise, young lady?’ Tom put both hands around the flesh above his waistband and wobbled it.

‘I didn’t mean you were fat!’

‘No, I know you didn’t. Only teasing. And, yes, I have thought about it. Getting a pet. A little elderly cat like Flo from one of those rescue places, or a budgie or something. But a dog’s a big commitment …’

‘Any pet is a commitment, Tom. That’s why I don’t have one, with my lifestyle. It wouldn’t be fair. But you …’

‘I know, but the other worry, for me, is what happens if, or when, I can’t look after it any more? If I end up a few years down the line incapacitated, or unable to go out walking, or dead even? Animals can live a good few years. A pet could outlive me, and who’d take care of it then? I’m happy to leave my daughters all my worldly goods, but I don’t want to lumber them with costs and responsibilities …’

‘Oh, please, stop being so morbid. You’re in your sixties, not your eighties! You’ve got years of good active life in you yet.’

‘We can’t know that, Madi. Look at my Barbara …’

‘What about her? Her illness was a nasty trick of fate, unforeseeable, sad, but there’s no reason to suppose it’s going to happen to you too. And is this what she would want? You putting your own life on hold, putting your own dreams and plans aside, just in case?’