Page 48 of Be More Capybara

‘We’ll see.’

Tasha returned. ‘Sorry, I needed to sort something out. Have you got any questions?’

‘No, it all seems fine so far,’ Nigel said.

‘Let’s go downstairs to the pool.’

A minute later she was handing them shoe covers. ‘You go through the men’s changing room,’ she said to Nigel. ‘Your partner and I will cut through the women’s and meet you by the steam room.’

Partner?

Nigel smiled. ‘See you on the other side, darling.’

Pity he didn’t mean it. Tasha led her through the changing room, pointing out the electronic lockers. Everything looked new and very minimalist, until they walked through the door into the pool area.

Helen gasped.

‘Is everything ok?’

‘I just wasn’t expecting a Greek temple.’ If she’d been the interior designer on this project, there would be no fake Ionic columns and certainly not a detailed mural of the Greek countryside from several hundred years BCE, judging by the dress of the woman standing on the hillside. It was all quite bizarre.

But she’d forgive the fussy design because the pool was fantastic. And it had a narrow channel allowing you to swim into the outdoor pool. She could get used to being here.

Nigel was already standing by the side of the steam room. He smiled across at her. ‘I’m looking forward to trying this out.’

‘Me too.’

34

NIGEL

Nigel checked his reflection in the changing room mirror. He might have put a bit of weight on around the middle, but his swimming trunks still fitted - just! The sooner he started regularly exercising again, the better.

He grabbed his towel and headed out to the pool.

Helen was alone in the jacuzzi. She waved.

He hung his towel by the steam room door and headed over to her, holding in his stomach. ‘You look happy there.’

‘It’s wonderful. Join me.’

Nigel didn’t bother with the steps. He jumped in next to her, deliberately making a big splash.

‘You sod,’ she said, using her hand to wipe away the water dripping down her face, but she was still smiling.

‘Sorry.’

‘Yeah, I’ll give you sorry.’ She scooped up a handful of water and threw it at him.

He spluttered as the water hit his face. ‘Are we even now?’

‘For the time being. I may get my revenge properly later.’ She leaned back against the tiled edge and shut her eyes.

Nigel glanced across at her. She still looked beautiful with her long eyelashes. The laughter lines by her eyes might be slightly more prominent than they used to be, but not as bad as his. The years had been kinder to Helen than they had to him. ‘And how will you do that?’ he asked.

‘If I tell you, I won’t be able to take you by surprise.’

He smiled to himself, leaned back and closed his eyes too. Helen was right. This was wonderful.