‘All hands to the pumps,’ Blake says briskly, and claps his hands in a manner that says he means business.

‘You wanted us here to work?’ My voice is small and uncertain and very disappointed.

BC stares at me, then bangs his forehead with the heel of his hand. ‘Oh God,’ he says. ‘You thought you were here as a guest?’

My cheeks flush with embarrassment.

‘That’s why you’re all dressed up like that?’

I look down at my beautiful new sunshine island dress. I’m so humiliated that I can’t speak. Lauren looks like she’s about to clobber me.

‘I feel terrible,’ Blake says. ‘This is such a big event that we needed everyone’s help. I’m really sorry, Annie. I don’t know how this misunderstanding happened.’

I do, I think. It was me being stupid, silly, optimistic. ‘Can’t you manage without us?’

My boss sucks in a breath. ‘’Fraid not. You don’t mind, do you?’

‘No, no.’

‘Yes, yes,’ Lauren mouths behind his back.

‘We’ll go and get our costumes then,’ I say miserably.

‘Good girl,’ Blake says, and claps me on the shoulder before striding away to attend to something else.

‘This is the last time I’m ever coming out with you,’ Lauren says when he’s gone.

‘I’m sorry, Lauren.’ My spirits are in my strappy shoes. ‘I had no idea. I don’t know how I can have got it so wrong.’

‘Bloody men,’ Lauren mutters.

‘It won’t be so bad.’

‘They’d better be paying us.’

‘I’m sure they will,’ I assure her. ‘And we can still have fun.’ I put my arm round my sister and steer her in the direction of the stern and the costumes that await us. ‘Wait and see.’

Chapter 68

Chapter 68

‘Ooo,’ Minny says when she sees us. ‘I was starting to get in a panic. I didn’t know where you were.’

‘There was a slight misunderstanding,’ I tell her. ‘I didn’t realise we were working.’

‘Oh no.’ Minny’s face is full of pity. ‘That’s why you had your hair done and bought a new dress.’

Yes, I think. Don’t need reminding of that one.

‘All the hula outfits have gone now,’ she says regretfully.

I laugh at that. ‘Not sure that I’d have wanted to show so much skin.’

‘Oh, the costumes that are left won’t show any skin,’ my little friend assures us. ‘You don’t need to worry about that.’

‘Thank goodness!’

‘I’ll get them,’ Minny says, and she totters off to the far side of the room. After a moment, she shouts, ‘Perhaps it would be easier if you came over here.’

Lauren and I exchange a puzzled glance, but do as we’re told and go over to where Minny is.

I gasp, loud and involuntarily, when I see what she’s holding up.

‘No,’ I say. ‘No way.’