Page 139 of He's the One

“Fine.” Theo’s father smiled and Theo’s heart began to sing.

“Can I talk to you about the Windrush scandal as well?” Theo asked.

More shocked faces from his father and James.

“What?” Theo frowned.

“I didn’t realise you even know what that is,” his father said.

“Well, I do, and I want you to help.”

Theo’s father paid the bill despite Col’s offer to pay half. After they’d parted company with his father and James, he and Col walked along the seafront. Theo’s mind was racing, thinking about what they’d discussed and how his father seemed different somehow, more open, friendlier.

“I think he was most taken with the idea of the treetop adventure.” Theo smiled as Col caught hold of his hand.

“It helped that James thought it was a good idea. I don’t think your father would have gone for it otherwise.”

“I can contact the companies now and ask them to come out and take a look. I suppose I ought to go on one of the courses. Would you come with me? I’d feel braver if you were there. I know there are two safety lines and you’re attached to one all the time, if you do what you’re supposed to, so it can’t bethatdangerous but—”

“Theo.”

“You think it would be? I have to confess, I did see online that someone had been killed in America, but they took off both harnesses.”

“Theo!”

“What?”

“Look where you are.”

Theo gasped. They were on the beach.

“Are you going to freak out?”

For a moment, he thought he would. But Col had tight hold of his hand, the sand was firm under his feet and nothing bad had happened. His heart was going nuts but… “I did it!” Then he panicked. “Don’t let go of my hand.”

“I won’t. Think you can walk along the edge of the sea?”

Theo nodded. The moon was full and the beach looked pretty. He was determined not to go backwards now he’d accidentally stepped forwards. The longer they walked, the better he felt. In one way at least. Part of him was feeling stupid for having been worried about doing this.

“Don’t.” Col squeezed his fingers.

“You reading my mind again?”

“You had every reason to be anxious about the sand. And the sea. I like the sea but it can be dangerous even when it’s calm. A healthy respect is a good thing. But sand—apart from quicksand and there’s none around here—is mostly benign and doing what we’re doing now, strolling along, is safe.”

“I feel okay.”

“Only okay and I’m holding your hand?”

Theo laughed. “Shall we save the arcade for another day and go back to your place? I might let you hold something else.”

Col pulled him off the beach.

Chapter Twenty-One

Back at the hall the next morning, while Theo was off looking for more 9-volt batteries for the metal detector, Col had a call from his mum.

“We’re about to board, sweetheart.”

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