Page 22 of Just the Beginning

Anya was surprised to see her cousin Matt standing with the others. ‘Hello! I didn’t know you’d be joining us.’

Matt gave her an exasperated half-smile. ‘Ed and I were supposed to be replacing the carpet in the dining room but he’s had a better offer apparently and gone off somewhere for the weekend. I called round hoping to beg a bacon butty off Mum and instead got roped into making enough sandwiches to feed the five thousand.’

His dad handed him a large plastic cool box. ‘Once you’ve helped us carry this lot to the beach you’re welcome to push off again.’

Matt shook his head. ‘And miss out on all those sandwiches I made? No chance!’ With the cooler in one hand, he reached for a large rucksack and hooked it over his opposite shoulder. ‘You’d think we were going on a polar trek, not five minutes down the road.’

‘At least Freya’s dressed for a polar trek,’ Anya said, shaking her head as she watched her daughter skip down the path holding Helen’s hand.

Her cousin’s eyebrows almost hit his hairline as he surveyed Freya’s outfit. ‘Interesting fashion choice; must’ve inherited it from you.’

‘Haha! Don’t think I’ve forgotten that summer where you wore that floppy beanie constantly.’

Matt pulled a face at her. ‘Bad enough having Chloe around to blow all my secrets; now I’m going to have to put up with two of you!’

Shooting her brother a triumphant grin, Chloe slung her arm around Anya’s waist. ‘Double trouble back together just the way it’s meant to be.’

Anya returned the embrace, the old nickname for the pair of them bringing back a flood of happy memories. Whatever the circumstances that had brought her here, it was good to be back in the Quay with the people she loved.

It was only a few minutes to the beach and no one would’ve suspected that Freya had had a meltdown from the way she gambolled around between them, running ahead then racing back to point out something she’d spotted. She tripped once in her too-small boots but Ryan saved the day, dropping the large roll of mats he was carrying and grabbing Freya before she could face-plant on the pavement. He turned it into a game as he swung her into the air and up onto his back. Squealing with delight, Freya clung to his neck as he jogged down the steps and across the golden sand. Anya took the bag Chloe was carrying so her cousin could scoop up the mats and then they made their way down.

The beach was busy with both locals and weekenders but they found a spot not far from where several rows of water sports equipment had been neatly set out beneath a large green advertising flag emblazoned with the wordsThe Hire Hut. As they dropped their bags, mats and other bits and pieces Anya spotted Rick nearby. He was wearing a baseball cap and a T-shirt the same lurid green as the beach flag, and a pair of long black shorts. He was talking to a couple wearing wetsuits and bright yellow life jackets. Rick held a two-bladed paddle between his hands, his wide shoulders dipping and rolling as he showed them the correct technique. As though sensing her watching him, Rick glanced over. Spotting Anya, he smiled and waved before turning his attention back to the couple.

‘Fancy a paddle, do you?’ Chloe said, pausing in her task of rolling out the straw mats to see what Anya was staring at. ‘Or are you just admiring the view?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Anya said, snatching the mat her cousin was holding and shaking it out, making a point of turning her back on Rick in the process.

‘My mistake.’ Chloe’s grin was so evil Anya was surprised she hadn’t sprouted little horns on the top of her head.

While Ryan and Matt made a return trip to the house to fetch a windbreak and a couple of sun umbrellas, the three of them finished laying out the mats and towels. Freya squatted nearby, humming to herself as she dug a hole with a plastic spade. The blue net hem of her dress was already covered in sand but Anya told herself to channel Elsa and just ‘Let it go’. If the worst came to the worst, she could rip out the skirt and replace it with something from one of the bags of material Ryan had stored in the shed for her. Perhaps it was time to think about getting her sewing machine out and finding space for it. Her evenings were quiet once Freya had gone to bed, so shecould run up a few things and maybe try and sell them. Even if she only made a few pounds it would be better than nothing.

‘Hello? Earth to Anya.’

Anya blinked as Chloe waved a hand in front of her face. ‘Sorry, I was miles away.’

‘Clearly.’ Chloe shimmied out of her shorts and T-shirt to reveal a black fifties-style bikini with a halter-neck top and high-waisted bottoms. Anya coveted it immediately and told her so. ‘Thanks,’ Chloe said with a pleased grin as she settled on the towel next to her. ‘So where were you just now? Anywhere nice?’

It took Anya a second to catch her meaning as she pulled off her own T-shirt to reveal an all-in-one swimsuit with a ruched waist detail that helped to disguise the softer bits around her middle that she hadn’t been able to properly shift since being pregnant. ‘Oh, no, not unless you count your dad’s shed as nice. If Freya’s dress survives a day on the beach it’ll be a miracle, and that got me thinking about my sewing machine and making space in the house for it. I’ve got all that material just sitting around, I should do something with it, though I’m not sure what.’

Chloe gave her a big grin. ‘I’ve been waiting for you to change your mind and I know exactly what you can do with it! You can make stuff for me and I’ll sell it online. I’ve got a shop for some of my art – it doesn’t earn me a fortune but I have plenty of repeat customers and I’ve even had a few commissions. I’m thinking about ramping it up a bit, designing some Christmas cards and making stocking and secret Santa gifts.’

Anya frowned at her. ‘How come this is the first I’ve heard about this?’

Chloe shrugged then took some sun cream out of her bag and began to apply it liberally to her arms. ‘I started it last year.I didn’t tell you because you had rather a lot on your plate. It’s mostly been a hobby up until now while I’ve been figuring out how everything works. I’d like to make more of it, maybe even build it up to open a shop of my own one day.’

‘I had no idea,’ Anya said, shaking her head in wonder. ‘All these dreams and ideas and you never said a word.’ She reached out and touched Chloe’s shoulder. ‘I’ve been so in my head since…’ Her cousin’s understanding smile meant she didn’t need to finish the thought. ‘I’ve not paid enough attention to what’s been going on with you.’

Putting aside the sun cream, Chloe leaned in and hugged her. ‘Like I said, you’ve had a lot going on. It’s no big deal.’

But it was. Chloe was more than a relative, she was supposed to be one of her closest friends and Anya had been so wrapped up in her own misery she’d neglected her. Issy too – and Kat. Just look at what Issy had achieved with the café and the Hub. And what about Kat? Was she really happy working for her dad? Anya doubted it but it was awful to realise she had no idea. ‘If you’re serious about making a change, then I’d love to be involved.’

Chloe’s smile was as bright as the sun. ‘Oh don’t worry, I have big plans for us, Annie. I don’t want to spend the rest of my days being a legal secretary and I’m pretty sure you never had being a hotel receptionist marked on your career card.’

‘I never had a career card,’ Anya admitted. ‘I thought Drew would take care of me forever and I could live out my little fantasy life watching home decorating shows and playing house. I know I’ve only got this job with Davy because he probably feels sorry for me. I’m not qualified todoanything.’

‘Bollocks,’ Chloe said. ‘The only person who is feeling sorry for you is you. You are brilliant at making stuff and your house wouldn’t have looked out of place on any of those shows. Youhave a real eye for design, Annie, and I think between us we could do something special.’

‘Like what?’

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