Page 57 of Gold Digger
“Excuse me,” I muttered and walked away from them towards the pool. Margot had clearly tired of trying to win me over. One time questioning her about her family and her back was up.
Now, I didn’t want to go anywhere near the blinking pool, but I was boiling and dying of thirst, and all the drinks were set up over there. Once I got some water down me I was going to find Hayley and get out of here. I just hoped that Uber came out as far as Little Buckingham.
I gave the bartender a brief smile as I swapped my champagne for iced water. Stepping away from the makeshift bar, I drank it down past my dry throat and closed my eyes in relief. But then something slammed hard into my ribs, shoving me to the side. My eyes flew open as I stumbled backwards. My balance was rubbish at the best of times, and with a sharp jab like that, the force of it nearly winding me, there was no chance of me staying upright. But instead of hitting the hard patio, I gasped as my body crashed into the water. There wasn’t even time to suck in a breath before I went under. Everything seemed blurry and upside down. My lungs were burning. I kicked my legs haphazardly and flapped my arms around. When I broke the surface, I sucked in some much-needed air, but then I was under again. Crap, what had Hayley’s teacher said? Legs like flippers? Kick from the hip? I could see blurry figures above me. For the love of Marmite, I was going to die at the bottom of this pool with posh people watching me drown like it was some sort of sport. When I came up again to breathe, I heard someone say:
“Whatisshe doing?”
“No idea. Some sort of synchronised swimming?”
Cheese and rice, I was doomed. None of this lot would ever think that a grown adult woman wouldn’t be able to swim. I sank under again. My movements seemed to be pushing me downwards more than they were helping me break the surface now. But before I could reach the bottom of the pool, a strong arm closed around me, and suddenly I was surging up to the surface. When my face was back in blessed air again, I coughed and spluttered all the water I’d swallowed between deep, stuttering breaths. That strong arm was dragging me from the deep end, and then I was lifted up out of the water, cradled in Ollie’s arms.
“By Jove,” an older man said from the gathered crowd. “Is she alright? We were wondering what she was up to.”
“She can’t fucking swim, you idiots,” Ollie snapped, and there were various gasps of surprise. Ollie then walked out of the pool up the steps from the shallow end and over to one of the wicker chairs at the side where he sat down with me in his lap.
I was still coughing and choking, and he alternated between giving my back firm slaps when I was choking and rubbing gentle circles when I took deep breaths. Tears were streaming down my face and I felt utterly humiliated. Then, just as I was starting to get my breath back, a little girl missile flew across the courtyard, her arms closing tightly around my neck, her little body shaking with sobs.
“Hey, hey, hey,” I chanted in a croaky voice. “I’m fine, lovebug.”
But however much I tried to reassure her, she just sobbed harder. It was only when Ollie’s gathered us both to him and he spoke in his firm voice, ringing with certainty, that she started to settle.
“I wouldneverlet anything happen toeitherof you. Lottie’s swallowed some water, but we’re going to take care of her now. And you’re both going to learn to swim so that this will never ever happen again.” Hayley stiffened at that, but Ollie’s arms gave us a squeeze before he pulled back slightly to make eye contact with her. “Hayley, both of you are going to learn to swim, and neither of you are going to be scared of water ever again. Understand me?”
To my absolute surprise Hayley nodded slowly.
“Good girl,” Ollie said.
“Lottie?” I turned towards Claire who was standing next to us, holding out a towel, her face pale. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry I was out on the lawn and?—”
“Quite the drama,” Blake interrupted her as he came to stand next to her.
I took the towel from Claire with a low, “thanks”. I was wiping the tears and water from my face so it took a moment to notice Hayley’s reaction. But when I glanced down at her I saw she was staring up at Blake, her eyes burning with anger, and her mouth set in a thin line.
“Hails?” I croaked and she tore her furious gaze from Blake to look at me. I frowned and tilted my head to the side. She looked between me and Blake with jerky movements of her head, her little hands were fisted at her sides. My eyebrows went up and she nodded once. Okay, so now I knew who that blow to my ribs was from.
“Hayley!” Florrie called as she skipped over to us. She was smiling and had a whole gaggle of other children with her. “Oh good, you found Lottie. Did you tell her that we want to go out to the backfield and?—”
Florrie’s words cut off as she turned to me. “Oh, did you jump in with your clothes on? Richie did that earlier. His mum was super cross.”
“Lottie had a bit of an accident, darling,” said Ollie. Hayley was shaking her head furiously and for once I was grateful that she wouldn’t speak. This wasnotthe time to throw accusations around.
“Hails, why don’t you go with Florrie a minute. I need to have a quick chat with Ollie and then we’ll have to get going soon, okay?”
Hayley looked between me and Blake, the anger in her expression morphing to concern.
“It’s okay, lovebug,” I said, trying to make my voice as reassuring as it could be with the croakiness still there. “Ollie’s here.” She looked to Ollie who was frowning slightly, not quite understanding the interaction.
“Yes, it’s fine, stowaway,” he said gently. “You go and see Legolas with Florrie.” It took a moment but with Florrie tuggingher hand and me encouraging her she did go. The party had resumed around us now, so it was just the four of us. I stood up, not wanting to do this from Ollie’s lap. I needed to stand my own ground. Unfortunately, Margot chose that moment to bustle over.
“Darling, I heard what happened,” she said, pulling me into a hug, seemingly uncaring that I soaked her outfit. And, just like that, I was reminded of the warm, wonderful mother she really was underneath the whole bribery and changing my name thing.
“Lottie tripped into the pool, Mum,” Ollie said, and I stiffened slightly as he spoke for me. “If the goddamn drinks weren’t so bloody close to the edge, then?—”
“Actually, Ollie,” I started as I pulled back gently from Margot. “I didn’t trip. Someone jabbed me and knocked me into the pool.”
There was a stunned silence for a moment. “What the fuck?” snapped Ollie.
I was staring at Blake. His eyes flashed and I raised an eyebrow in challenge.I see you, arsehole, I communicated silently.
