Page 11 of The Summer That Changed Us

Aware of the irony in her own logic, she smiled at Robyn. ‘I completely understand if you’d rather not, given how rude I was, but can I see the photo you took?’

Robyn shrugged. ‘Sure.’

She turned the camera towards Katie so she could see the screen on the back of it. The seagull that had almost flown in her face had, moments before, been perched on the rock just behind her. The camera had caught the bird mid-hop, head cocked to one side and looking cheekily in Katie’s direction; a sliver of her sleeve appeared in the shot too.

‘Whoops, I did just get you after all,’ said Robyn, pulling an apologetic face. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll delete it.’

‘Please don’t, I overreacted,’ Katie said quickly. ‘It’s a great picture. Are you a photographer?’

‘No.’ Robyn didn’t speak for a long moment. ‘Right now, I’m a nothing.’

Katie’s heart squeezed for her. She sounded like she needed a hug, not that Katie would dare. Somehow Robyn managed to give off don’t touch me vibes. Katie had already got off on the wrong foot with her; she needed to build bridges, not blow them up.

Katie smiled. ‘That can’t be—’

True, she had been about to say, but before she could finish her sentence there was a scream from directly up above them beyond the cliff. The path leading upwards was hidden from view and carved out of the rocks like the public right of way. Robyn and Katie looked up towards the glass house and then at each other. At the bottom of the path was a gate marked private which must lead directly to the property.

‘Sounds like someone’s had an accident,’ said Robyn.

Katie nodded. ‘I saw someone out on the terrace earlier. Should we investigate?’

‘Shit a brick, my ankle!’ yelled a voice. ‘HELP! Is anyone there?’

The women darted towards the gate.

‘We’re coming,’ shouted Katie. ‘Just stay where you are.’

‘I don’t have a lot of choice in the matter,’ came the voice again. ‘Hells bells, this hurts.’

The gate came up to Robyn’s chest and was very sturdily built from wooden bars with pointed ends. She rattled the chain which was looped around the frame and peered over the top. ‘Oh no, there’s a padlock on the other side.’

‘Never mind, I think I can jump it,’ said Katie. ‘Stand back.’

It had been years since Katie had done any athletics but at one time, she’d been quite good at this sort of stuff. Plus, she was a great deal taller than Robyn.

‘Please be careful,’ said Robyn anxiously, taking Katie’s water bottle from her.

Katie blew out a sharp breath and then took a run at the gate. She leapt into the air and using her hands to push off, she vaulted over it and landed relatively unscathed with a thud on a patch of sand on the other side.

‘That was amazing!’ Robyn’s face appeared pressed against the bars of the wooden gate.

‘I can’t believe I just did that!’ Katie grinned, brushing the sand off her hands and knees. ‘Shall I go without you or … ?’

‘No way,’ said Robyn, slinging the camera and Katie’s water bottle over the gate into Katie’s waiting arms. ‘Watch this.’

She leapt up at the gate, grabbed the top of it and flailed around with her legs to get some purchase.

‘Try getting your toes between the bars,’ said Katie. ‘There’s a cross piece here.’

She thrust her arm through the bars and guided Robyn’s boots into place.

‘Ta-dah!’ Robyn heaved herself up to the top and grinned at Katie, panting from the exertion. ‘Now all I need to do is get my leg over.’

‘Said the actress to the bishop,’ said Katie, who despite the potential seriousness of the occasion was quite enjoying the drama.

‘Don’t make me laugh,’ Robyn gasped. ‘I already needed a wee before I decided to straddle a five-foot gate.’

‘I don’t mean to sound ungrateful,’ came the voice again, sounding more panicky than the last time. ‘But if you could hurry up, that would be most appreciated. Thank you.’