Page 54 of One Hot Summer

I never thought anywhere could rain harder than back home in the north of England. But I was mistaken. The swimming pool was no longer visible as rainwater splashed everywhere. Having the doors closed helped with the noise, but we could still hear it hitting the canopy with force.

“I hope everyone is hungry,” Miranda said. “I’ve made a pasta bake, and there’s more than I thought there would be. I’m terrible with measurements. Should we invite Stan and Bev over?”

“I think we can let them look after themselves tonight,” Alistair quickly responded.

“Good idea,” Miranda agreed. “Jenny, I don’t think I can apologise enough for Beverley’s behaviour the other night. That poor Chloe, the things she puts up with.”

The pasta bake smelled amazing. Miranda was right, it was large. Probably enough food to feed a family of ten. She carried it over to the dining table, and I picked up the plates and followed her.

I jumped as thunder cracked above us as I was setting out the plates, grateful I didn’t drop any on the floor. Although, when in Greece…

“That was close,” Miranda said, glancing up to check the doors were firmly shut.

“Fairly.” Alistair was still standing by the door, looking out onto the hills. “Few miles away, but I think it’s heading over to us now. I should have pulled the furniture in. It’ll be everywhere if the wind picks up.”

“Well, hopefully it passes quickly. Come on, everyone. Let’s sit down and eat. You kids can tell us what you’ve been up to.”

Miranda proudly placed the food in the centre of the table. Zack laid out the cutlery beside each plate, sneakily kissing my cheek as he passed me when his parents weren’t looking. Alistair pulled out a bowl of salad from the fridge and we all sat together. The food was so delicious that I couldn’t resist a second helping.

“So, Jenny,” Miranda had finished her own second helping of pasta, “I was thinking, if you and Zack didn’t have plans tomorrow, how about you and I go shopping then?”

“I’d love to.” I looked to Zack. “Is that okay with you?”

“Of course it is.” He smiled and put his arm around me. “We have plenty of time left to do our beach day. I think I might need a day in bed after eating this much pasta anyway. That was good though, Mum. Thank you.”

“Yes, thank you. I’d eat another portion if I thought I wouldn’t burst.” My stomach was solid. I probably shouldn’t have had all that bread with it. If Zack wanted sex tonight, there was no chance of me going on top. I doubted I could even make it up the stairs, let alone trying anything more athletic.

“I’m so pleased you enjoyed it. And I’m so excited to shop with you, too. There are some really nice–”

We all jumped as thunder and lightning clapped above us. It sounded like a bomb had blasted into the ceiling. Unfortunately, it knocked off the electrics, leaving us sitting in darkness.

“Oh, the torches, Alistair. Where did we put them?”

“Under the sink.” Alistair slid his seat back. “Wait there, everyone.”

“Here, Dad, take this.” Zack switched on the torch on his phone and handed it to Alistair so he could see where he was going.

“Thanks, I’ll get some candles too.”

We sat in almost pitch black, straining to see Alistair as he wandered into the kitchen and fumbled under the sink. Eventually, two giant orbs of light emerged from the darkness. He handed Zack one of the torches and placed two smaller ones on the table.

“I could only find these,” he said, placing a small tub on the table, which contained a bag of tea-lights and a lighter.

“We can use this.” Miranda brushed the breadcrumbs from her side plate and pulled a few of the candles from the tub. Once lit, they created a really nice ambiance. “There we go, much better.” She smiled. It really was lovely.

“Oh, I forgot to say,” Zack began, “we saw Steffan and his dad yesterday. They’re working on the tourist boats over at Spinalonga.”

“Really? I don’t suppose his dad was hospitable?” Alistair asked.

“No, not really. He…”

Another loud crack of thunder interrupted Zack, and then there was a chaotic mixture of screams and calling out in panic as the flash of lightning revealed a silhouette of a person at the sliding doors, banging to get inside.

“Oh my goodness, let her in!” Miranda said, as Zack recovered from having screamed in such a high-pitched way, and I tried not to laugh at him in front of his parents. Alistair rushed to the door to let in a soaking-wet Chloe.

“Thank you, oh, thank you so much.” She wiped the rain from her face. “Isn’t it horrible outside?” She was wearing an oversized white T-shirt, and evidently little else. It was clinging to her cold, wet skin.

“What an earth were you doing out there?” Zack asked, as she pulled out a chair and sat down next to him.

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