‘Now where was I?’

He pulls her into his arms again and then his lips are on hers. They are tentative at first and then they properly kiss and it feels like a first kiss. A teenage kiss. A kiss that’s been filmed in slow motion for the good bit of a movie.

‘God, you’re right. Why haven’t we snogged? We’re so good at it,’ he whispers.

‘I know,’ she says. ‘I know.’

44

From The Pier

In the loo at the Samaritans, Dominica is putting on mascara for the first time in over a year for the Sea-Gals night out, although it won’t be the same without Helga who is still recuperating but in good spirits. Dominica has talked several times to Helga’s niece, Mette, who wants to come over, but Helga has strictly forbidden it.

Dominica understands Mette’s frustration, but she also understands why Helga wants her to stay away. She is full of plans to ‘solve’ Helga, like she’s a problem. She’s determined to get her back to Denmark for a start. Shouldn’t Helga have a choice in the matter? Mette’s view of Helga and Dominica’s couldn’t be more different. She can’t help feeling that if Helga’s niece ever got in the sea and saw her aunt in action, she’d think differently. But then, as Dominica has been reminded from doing this volunteering, families are often places where people don’t see each other at all.

She surveys herself in her tiny compact mirror, trying to wipe away the smudge. She used to be so good at putting on make-up, when she and Chris used to go out all the time. She thinks about the couples they used to do the pub quiz with, who have drifted away over the past year. Back then, she used to be queen of the quick turnaround. As she got home from work, she could be changed and in full make-up in ten minutes. She prided herself on her decisiveness, but clearly that skill has gone right out of the window. She can’t even control a mascara wand.

It’s only a night out at the pub, but she went through four outfit changes before cycling here for her shift. The problem is that there are so many clothes that remind her of Chris. Going through her wardrobe was like time travelling. There’s quite a few that need to go to the charity shop and she’s made a pile that she’s left in the middle of the bedroom floor. She’s not looking forward to sorting out that lot after the pub. But at least she’s made a start.

She gets back to her cubicle and quickly looks at her watch and then at Bill. It’s twenty past nine and only another ten minutes until the end of her shift and maybe he won’t mind if she slips off now. She thinks of the others in the pub and how much she is looking forward to chatting to them and celebrating Tor’s news. But Stuart, the next volunteer taking over her shift is late, although he should be here any second.