‘You’re sure about this, Margot? Really sure?’ Dad, who’d been so quiet, gazed over at me.
I nodded. ‘I wasn’t looking for this. I didn’t come to Francelooking foranything.But I found this, and I need to see where it leads,’ I explained.
Dad nodded at me briefly in understanding. ‘Wren, why don’t you give Margot her present?’ Dad nudged her and Wren grinned.
‘But you’ve given me presents,’ I protested.
‘This is from all of us,’ Mum said, and got up with Wren and walked behind the mobile home.
They emerged carrying a surfboard. A bright pink one with painted black waves on it.
‘Oh my God,’ I said, getting up.
Wren could barely contain her excitement. ‘Do you like it?’
‘I chose it,’ said Rue.
‘I did!’ argued Wren.
‘They both did,’ said Dad. ‘The woman in the shop told us it was perfect for someone starting out in competitions.’
There was a lump in my throat, and I could barely get the words out without my voice shaking. ‘Thank you all, so much. Wait. When did you even get it?’
Dad smiled. ‘Remember when I said I was taking the girls to the supermarket, just before we went to look at your new room? Well, we actually went into town.’
My heart swelled at the thoughtfulness.
‘Can we play that game again?’ Wren asked.
‘What game, love?’ Mum said.
‘The one where we say what we’re grateful for,’ she said quietly.
Dad glanced up at me and I remembered the last time we’d played, the better part of a month ago. I cringed again. Not because of the game, but at how angry I’d been the first time.
‘Yeah, let’s play,’ I said.
‘OK, me first!’ Rue shouted. ‘I’m grateful for the surfing lessons, even though I fella lot.’ Rue grinned.
‘You didn’t fallthatmuch,’ Wren offered. ‘I’m grateful that I got to see how brave people can be. Like Rue going surfing even though it’s hard for her, and Margot staying here all by herself. And Mum and Dad letting us try new things even though they’re worried,’ said Wren.
I looked over at Mum, whose eyes were shining. She put a hand over her heart. ‘That was lovely, Wren.’ She cleared her throat. ‘And I’m grateful for seeing my beautiful daughters discover new parts of themselves.’
Dad reached over for Mum’s hand. ‘And I’m grateful for this holiday. For making us all see each other a bit differently.’
A wave of emotion rolled through my chest. What was I going to do without my family?
‘Margot?’ Dad asked.
‘I’m grateful for …’ I hesitated. The lump in my throat was still there, and my voice wavered. I coughed. ‘For this place. The ocean, and everything it taught me. For new friends, and for you all, supporting me.’ I took a deep breath. ‘For you, Rue, for showing me what never giving up looks like, for Wren who always notices what people need. For Dad – thank you for letting me do this even though it scares you. And Mum –’ I found it hard to look directly at her, so I settled my gaze on the top of her head in case I collapsed into floods of tears – ‘for believing I can do this.’
‘And I need a super-fast recovery so I can be a real surfertoo,’ Rue said, jumping in, making me laugh, and making me even sadder that they’d be gone in a matter of hours.
Mum laughed. ‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.’
We finished dinner, then Dad brought out a plate of desserts they had bought in the supermarket.Tarte au citron,les éclairs au chocolatandles mille-feuilles, the same kind that Felix had shown me. He’d cut them all up into tiny pieces and we shared them as the sun set, with the sound of cicadas singing in the grass around us. It couldn’t have been more perfect.
But this was it. This was goodbye. Tomorrow, I had to get up at five thirty a.m. and be at the beach by six. There wouldn’t be time for extended goodbyes. And I needed to get to bed, to rest before the competition.
