isn’t it? Must be something to do with the lovely beach
air…’
‘More like the lovely toned beach
bodies,’ Darcy laughed.
‘That too.’
Darcy was continually being
amazed by the generosity and good nature of the public on which her quest
relied, and as they stood in the audience, entertained for the next few hours
by sporting antics as diverse as dinghy dragging, sandcastle jumping and a
trampoline based game dubbed Baywatch Bouncing , they were barely left
alone for two minutes without someone wanting to donate. It gave her the
warmest feeling to know that people cared so much for a girl they didn’t know
and a family who hardly registered the tiniest indent on the face of the earth.
For a short while, as she watched the lifeguards cajole and win over the
crowd with their good humoured antics and infectious enthusiasm, as she watched
Harry in particular display the kind of physical prowess that had given him the
supple young body he now boasted, she could almost forget that she had been
abandoned by her own husband. But not quite.
The morning passed and Ged did not show. Whenever she
stopped to think about it, a wave of rage would wash over her, followed by an
equal one of despair. He wasn’t answering his phone and he wasn’t there with
her. As the day wore on, a vast range of emotions took their turn: panic,
worry, anger and sadness. More than anything, she was desperately concerned
that Sophie and Jake were alright, but as Amanda had reminded her many times,
if anything had happened to them, he would surely call her the instant he was
able to. Amanda almost looked as vexed about it as Darcy whenever she
thought Darcy wasn’t looking, and it was only the distractions of the games and
the endless stream of people willing to donate that kept either of them from
voicing really savage thoughts.
‘There’s Julia,’ Amanda said,
squinting across at a figure making her way toward them through the crowds.
‘Thank God she’s here, I’m desperate for a coffee….
She can take the bucket for a while.’
‘Perhaps you ought to ask her
first if she minds,’ Darcy smiled thinly.
‘She’ll be alright… she loves all
this fundraising lark… makes her look virtuous.’ Amanda started out to meet
her. ‘I’ll pick you up a coffee too,’ she called behind her as she went.
There was an exchange of words
and the charity bucket, and then Amanda was gone. Julia held up a hand to Darcy
in greeting and then gestured that she was going to wander the crowds with it.
Darcy nodded her understanding. Over the speaker system, Mark announced
that the games were taking a short break before they began the final couple of water
based activities, and reminded people of why they were all there, helpfully
mentioning the various ways people could donate to Sophie’s cause.
‘It looks as thought it has been
a fantastic success today…’
Darcy spun around to see Ethan
Reeves looking down at her with an amiable expression.
‘You made me jump,’ Darcy
laughed, her hand flying to her chest.
‘Sorry about that,’ he smiled.
‘I thought I’d grab a quick word with you about how you think it’s gone
today.’
‘I thought you were concentrating
on the lifeguards,’ Darcy began, hoping to put him off the scent of the family
photo he had mentioned earlier. ‘They’re far more interesting and better
looking,’ she added with a forced smile.
‘Oh, I wouldn’t say that…’ He
scanned the crowd. ‘I have a photographer around here somewhere. Perhaps we
could get that family shot. And I’d love to meet them all. Your husband must be
incredibly proud of you.’
‘Oh… I’m sorry… he had to take
Sophie home not long after they arrived… she wasn’t feeling well…’ Darcy
blushed as the lie flew from her lips. She just hoped it wasn’t too noticeable.
‘So they’re not here.’
‘Who’s not here?’ Darcy turned to
find Ged standing behind
her, Jake at his side and Sophie in her wheelchair.
air…’
‘More like the lovely toned beach
bodies,’ Darcy laughed.
‘That too.’
Darcy was continually being
amazed by the generosity and good nature of the public on which her quest
relied, and as they stood in the audience, entertained for the next few hours
by sporting antics as diverse as dinghy dragging, sandcastle jumping and a
trampoline based game dubbed Baywatch Bouncing , they were barely left
alone for two minutes without someone wanting to donate. It gave her the
warmest feeling to know that people cared so much for a girl they didn’t know
and a family who hardly registered the tiniest indent on the face of the earth.
For a short while, as she watched the lifeguards cajole and win over the
crowd with their good humoured antics and infectious enthusiasm, as she watched
Harry in particular display the kind of physical prowess that had given him the
supple young body he now boasted, she could almost forget that she had been
abandoned by her own husband. But not quite.
The morning passed and Ged did not show. Whenever she
stopped to think about it, a wave of rage would wash over her, followed by an
equal one of despair. He wasn’t answering his phone and he wasn’t there with
her. As the day wore on, a vast range of emotions took their turn: panic,
worry, anger and sadness. More than anything, she was desperately concerned
that Sophie and Jake were alright, but as Amanda had reminded her many times,
if anything had happened to them, he would surely call her the instant he was
able to. Amanda almost looked as vexed about it as Darcy whenever she
thought Darcy wasn’t looking, and it was only the distractions of the games and
the endless stream of people willing to donate that kept either of them from
voicing really savage thoughts.
‘There’s Julia,’ Amanda said,
squinting across at a figure making her way toward them through the crowds.
‘Thank God she’s here, I’m desperate for a coffee….
She can take the bucket for a while.’
‘Perhaps you ought to ask her
first if she minds,’ Darcy smiled thinly.
‘She’ll be alright… she loves all
this fundraising lark… makes her look virtuous.’ Amanda started out to meet
her. ‘I’ll pick you up a coffee too,’ she called behind her as she went.
There was an exchange of words
and the charity bucket, and then Amanda was gone. Julia held up a hand to Darcy
in greeting and then gestured that she was going to wander the crowds with it.
Darcy nodded her understanding. Over the speaker system, Mark announced
that the games were taking a short break before they began the final couple of water
based activities, and reminded people of why they were all there, helpfully
mentioning the various ways people could donate to Sophie’s cause.
‘It looks as thought it has been
a fantastic success today…’
Darcy spun around to see Ethan
Reeves looking down at her with an amiable expression.
‘You made me jump,’ Darcy
laughed, her hand flying to her chest.
‘Sorry about that,’ he smiled.
‘I thought I’d grab a quick word with you about how you think it’s gone
today.’
‘I thought you were concentrating
on the lifeguards,’ Darcy began, hoping to put him off the scent of the family
photo he had mentioned earlier. ‘They’re far more interesting and better
looking,’ she added with a forced smile.
‘Oh, I wouldn’t say that…’ He
scanned the crowd. ‘I have a photographer around here somewhere. Perhaps we
could get that family shot. And I’d love to meet them all. Your husband must be
incredibly proud of you.’
‘Oh… I’m sorry… he had to take
Sophie home not long after they arrived… she wasn’t feeling well…’ Darcy
blushed as the lie flew from her lips. She just hoped it wasn’t too noticeable.
‘So they’re not here.’
‘Who’s not here?’ Darcy turned to
find Ged standing behind
her, Jake at his side and Sophie in her wheelchair.
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