51

A New Companion

‘I feel completely different,’ Claire announces, as she changes on the beach with Dominica. She’s wearing a lovely red polka dot swimming costume and she stretches her arms up and out to the horizon.

‘You look completely different,’ Dominica agrees, folding up her T-shirt. She grabs a squirt of sun cream and rubs some on her shoulders. It’s already a scorcher. Ahead, the sea is turquoise blue and green, the sky clear except for a few clouds on the horizon.

‘I just needed to reconnect with Pim, you know? It seemed so complicated, but actually it was very simple.’

‘What did he say when you gave him the picture?’

‘I was so nervous, but he loved it. He cried. He said it was the best present he’d ever had.’

‘Oh, Claire. That’s wonderful,’ Dominica says. Because it is.

‘I’m not sure where we’re going to put it. I don’t want the boys to see it just yet. Pim’s sent it to the framers and he never gets things framed.’

Dominica’s delighted for Claire.

‘It’s like we’re on to a whole different chapter. We’ve booked a holiday with the boys and we’re going paddleboarding in the Lake District.’

‘That sounds fun.’

‘We’ve ordered blow-up paddleboards to practise and we’re going to have a go at the weekend.’

‘Hello, hello,’ Helga calls, waving. She strides down the beach and the others get up to hug her.

‘You came.’ Dominica smiles. It’s so good to see her out in the sunshine.

‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ve missed it like crazy.’

‘It’s a perfect day for it,’ Claire says, hugging Helga too.

Dominica helps Helga with her jacket. She’s worried about her scar, but Helga has checked with the doctor and it’s safe to swim.

‘What’s happened to you?’ Helga stands back, admiring Claire in her new costume.

‘I’ve been swimming every day. Those lessons with Andy really paid off.’

‘Didn’t they just. It shows.’

‘I’m doing the swim round the pier. You’re doing it too, right? It’s in a couple of weeks.’

‘No, I won’t be here,’ Helga says, shaking her head.

Dominica feels suddenly bereft, the joy of the day popping. Helga has become not just a swimming companion but a proper friend. No, more than that. She’s like family. She can’t believe she’s going home. ‘You’re really doing it? Going to the retirement village?’

‘No,’ Helga shouts. ‘No! Fuck that.’

Claire and Dominica laugh and Dominica puts her hand to her chest. ‘Good. Because you really gave me a shock just then.’

‘There’s so much to tell you. Linus is coming to get me,’ Helga announces. ‘He’s sailing here right now this minute.’ She stares out at the horizon as if she can make his boat materialise.

‘What? Oh my God, Helga.’ Dominica whoops and then Helga is telling them about her call. Tor arrives and then Maddy and both are keen to hear what the excitement is all about.

‘We were on the phone for hours and hours,’ Helga says, her cheeks pink. She’s radiating joy. ‘He told me all about his family. His wife was a sailor, but she died five years ago. He’s had this wildly successful business in Australia, but he’s retired now and has been feeling at a loose end too. It’s like we’ve collided at the same life stage. It was like all the years just melted away.’