Page 50 of Daydreaming at the Boathouse Cafe

‘I was thinking that we need to order some safety equipment for the lake,’ he said to Ben and Walter.

‘Health and safety gone mad,’ muttered Walter, shaking his head.

For once, Alex felt the need to disagree with him. ‘I worry that if anyone gets into trouble out there, there aren’t even any lifebuoys, let alone a lifeguard out there to keep an eye on people.’

‘A lifeguard?’ Even Ben’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

‘If you’re serious about wanting to open up the lake for paddleboarders then you’ll need to be safe,’ Alex told him.

Ben leant back in his chair, nodding thoughtfully. ‘I see.’

‘If Dodgy Del ever comes through with the paddleboards,’ Walter reminded him.

Ben rolled his eyes. ‘Summer might be over by then,’ he said, with a grimace. He then turned to look at his friend. ‘You really think we should be thinking about this?’

‘I do,’ said Alex. ‘I’ve seen experienced triathletes get cramp in the water, as well as other difficulties like getting tangled in the reeds, for example. Even if it’s only for hotel guests and your grandmother, then I’d be far happier if they were safe.’

‘Agreed,’ said Ben, with a nod. ‘So you know about the kind of things we need?’

‘I can get everything ordered for you, if you like,’ replied Alex.

‘Great,’ said Ben, standing up. ‘Better to be safe than sorry. We’re responsible for everyone whilst they stay here so that should cover everywhere, including the lake.’

So when Alex went out the following morning for his swim, he made a note whilst he was out in the middle of the water as to where the shallows were, as well as suitable places for lifebuoys.

In fact, he was out in the water for so long that by the time he joined Tiny on the beach after his swim, Hannah had joined him, looking concerned.

‘You were out there much longer than usual,’ she told him, holding out his towel.

‘Thanks,’ he said, taking it from her outstretched hand.

‘Are you back training again?’ she asked.

He shook his head. ‘Just rehabilitation,’ he said, wincing a little as he briefly put his weight on his foot before sitting on one of the three deck chairs that Walter had put out for Dotty on the sand.

To his surprise but pleasure, Hannah sat down next to him. Tiny, delighted to have double company, wagged his tail and immediately rolled over, waiting for someone lucky enough to rub his furry tummy.

Hannah smiled at the dog and reached forward to oblige. ‘You’ve always been so focused,’ she said. ‘I wish I had even a tiny bit of that self-confidence.’

He looked at her. ‘I’m not so sure about that,’ he told her. ‘It was certainly easier to feel that certainty about everything when I was training.’

‘How so?’ she asked.

He thought for a moment, trying to find the words to explain. ‘I guess it was all about the preparation for the next race. I had to be meticulous in training, otherwise I’d just be making up numbers.’ He shrugged his shoulders. ‘It was hard work but it did make me feel energised. Enjoying what you do helps.’

His frown caused Hannah to look at him in concern. ‘What is it?’ she asked.

‘The trouble is I didn’t really enjoy it these last couple of years,’ he told her. ‘It went from enjoyment to pure ambition to win a medal. That sole dream clouded everything else in my life.’

‘But you’re an athlete,’ she reminded him. ‘It’s easier for you.’

He sighed, trusting her with the truth. ‘Do you want to know a secret?’

She waited patiently for him to carry on.

‘Tiny did me a favour,’ he told her. ‘I was tired, done. I was competing for Dad, not for myself. I put his goals way above my own. I want to be selfish for a while.’

She smiled at that. ‘You’re the least selfish person I’ve ever met,’ she told him.