‘How’s the dress?’
I looked down at the fabric of the skirt I’d spread out in the sun, my legs folded up and crossed out of the way underneath it.
‘Definitely drying. My bum still feels pretty soggy though, which could be tricky. I’d rather not walk to the car with my knickers on display.’ I glanced at the bodice. Its double-layer construction had at least helped make this part a little less embarrassing now it was drying in the warm air. ‘The top will be OK. And I’ve got a scarf in here I can just sling round my hips to cover my unmentionables.’
Tilly laughed. ‘I don’t think there’d be too many people complaining.’
‘I’d be complaining! Come on, help me make sure I get everything under wraps.’
We got to our feet, and I rummaged in my bag for a scarf. Pulling it out, I tied it so that it sat low on my waist and covered my bum and the front of my dress, preventing anyone from seeing that today was, of course, the day I’d chosen to wear my tiniest pair of knickers. We gathered up our stuff and headed back up to the car. After loading the gear and ourselves in, I pointed the little Fiat back in the direction of the marina, and my flat.
Leaving Tilly to upload the photos and do any editing required, I grabbed my dressing gown and headed into the bathroom. Stripping off the dress and my underwear, I stepped into the shower.
With body and hair now free from sand and salt, I stepped out and began drying off. My eyes took in the small beach of sand in the bottom of the bath. Flicking the water back on, I rinsed it away. Not exactly the best start to the day.
‘How did they come out?’ I said, returning to the living room after blasting my hair with the hairdryer. I’d got the worst off but it was still damp, so I twisted it up and stuck a butterfly clip on the back to hold it out of the way.
‘Good!’ Tilly said, her eyes still locked on the screen. ‘It looks like we got some good shots before you took a dip, so we can just go ahead as planned. I think this is really going to be a great aspect to the blog – you know, incorporating more of the city into the shots.’
‘I hope so. I’m thinking we might need a bit more practice with location photography though.’
‘Yeah, I think you’re right. Sorry I didn’t get to warn you about that wave. I didn’t really notice it coming until it was too late.’
‘Don’t worry, no harm… What the hell is that?’ My eyes fixed on the image now displaying on Tilly’s laptop.
‘Oh! The camera was set on burst mode. It was still taking pictures when the whole wave thing happened. I guess it caught you as you stood up.’ Tilly giggled. ‘I’m pretty sure the hits on the blog would go sky high if I put this one up!’
On the screen was a picture of me standing at the edge of the beach, soaking wet, eyes closed, just as I’d pushed my hair back. The yellow dress was plastered against my body, leaving little to the imagination. My mind whizzed back to the windsurfer. Oh God, please don’t let him have seen anything!
‘The only thing you’re going to do with that is to delete it. Now!’
‘Oh, Libby. I never thought I’d say this but you’re no fun.’
I pulled a face at her.
‘Delete. Now.’
The post dropped through the door and we turned at the sound. I heard Tilly pressing keys as I went to fetch it, my mind working as I did so.
‘Although, we could do a sort of mini feature about the mishap – not with that picture though!’ I flicked through the mail. Nothing interesting. ‘Have you still got the one you took with the seaweed in my hair?’
‘Yes… here.’ Tilly brought it up on screen.
‘Certainly not the most flattering shot but, if I crop the X-rated bit off, it might make a funny little story as an extra post. I’ll set about writing that up, if you can finish off the main one?’
‘No problem.’
* * *
As we’d started early in order to catch the light and the relative peace of the beach, I’d offered to let Tilly have the afternoon off. Once she’d gone, I was going to settle in and try to get my head around the tax paperwork. Again. A couple of days ago, I’d rung an accountant but within minutes he was talking in what seemed like an entirely foreign language, asking me things I didn’t understand. Eventually I’d feigned someone at the door and hung up before proceeding to work myself up into even more of a state about the whole thing.
But today was a new day. If I could make even a little progress, it would go some way to making up for being washed up on shore this morning.
* * *
‘You’re going to love me!’ Amy announced as I answered my phone.
‘I already love you.’ I laughed.
