Page 72 of The Summer That Changed Us

Chapter Twenty-Six

It was early, but the sun was already warm, and yesterday’s bad weather felt like a distant memory. Katie only had an hour before she needed to open the shop, but Robyn had asked them if they’d mind collecting sea glass with her that morning. She hadn’t seen either of them since the evening when she’d opened the blackmail note and she was looking forward to a catch-up. She hurried down the path to the beach. Robyn was already down there, and she could see Grace striding towards her.

‘It feels like ages since I’ve seen you. I’ve missed you both. Come here.’ Grace held her arms out and they all hugged.

‘Same here,’ said Robyn. ‘I feel guilty for not being in touch until now when I need help. Thanks girls, I appreciate this. I know you’ve got enough to do already.’

‘Anything for the sisterhood.’ Katie rolled her shoulders back and inhaled the sea air. ‘When you’re tired of collecting sea glass, you’re tired of life.’

‘Agreed.’ Grace produced a tube of sunscreen and dotted it onto her face. ‘Sea glass collection should be recommended by doctors for stress relief.’

Robyn’s message on the WhatsApp group asking for help had come just at the right time for Katie. So much had been going on recently she hadn’t felt the sun on her skin for days. The weather was incredible for May: a deep cobalt-blue sky hovered cloudlessly over a calm sea.

‘Show us the mosaic again,’ said Grace. ‘I need to fix the colours in my head.’

Robyn got out her phone. ‘I’m making one each for Hannah, William and Betty. I’ve got plenty of the white and the pale blues and greens; it’s bright blue bits I need, to make the names pop. And interesting-looking shells.’

‘On it,’ said Grace. ‘Like a seagull on a chip.’

Robyn handed out buckets and they began scouring the shore for blue treasure and Robyn told them about her group therapy session, and how interested the other women were to come and collect sea glass for themselves and the invitation to run her own workshop.

‘I’ve suggested a date, but I wanted to run it by you two first.’ She bit her lip. ‘Check that you don’t mind other people gatecrashing our beach.’

‘Of course not,’ Grace protested. ‘I think it’s a great idea.’

‘Me too! You can have all my auntie’s sea glass if you like,’ Katie offered. ‘Then you’ll have enough sea glass for ten workshops just in case people don’t collect enough.’

‘That would be great!’ Robyn said. ‘I’ll definitely use it. I’m hoping to make sea glass workshops a regular thing if the first one is successful.’

‘It will be,’ said Grace. ‘I’d definitely come on one.’

‘So would lots of my customers,’ Katie agreed. ‘Sea glass is really popular; if you offer to teach people how to make mosaics or jewellery or art with it, they’ll snap your hand off.’

‘I hope so,’ said Robyn. ‘Once I’ve made these name signs for the christening, I’m going to make a few more and set up an online shop to help promote the workshops. There’s loads to sort out yet but I’m excited to get stuck in. If I could make this pay, I’d be so happy.’

She already looked more content than Katie had seen her. Maybe things with Finn had improved too.

‘I’ll help,’ said Grace. ‘I’ve been thinking that I need a project to divert my energy and stop me being so angry about Myles and his one-night stand. It’s been driving me mad trying to work out when it could have happened and who with. I’ve been looking for clues, but there are no unexplained hotel bills, no restaurant receipts and I can’t find anything suspicious in his diary. The only people he seemed to have spent money on was me, his two children and my sister and her kids.’

Katie frowned. ‘Your sister?’

‘Zoe has struggled for money sometimes,’ Grace explained. ‘After we sold the business last year, Myles began helping her out a lot more, making sure she had what she needed for when the new baby came along.’ Grace sighed. ‘He was generous and kind. That’s what makes his infidelity so hard to stomach. I told Zoe about his affair on the phone and she was devastated; he was like a big brother to her. She’s coming up for a visit with the baby next weekend. It’ll be so lovely to see her. Hopefully you’ll both get to meet her too.’

Katie squeezed her arm. ‘I’d like that. I’ve always wanted to have a sister to confide in; at least now I’ve got you two.’

‘Same,’ said Robyn, smiling. She dropped a handful of sea glass into her bucket. ‘I suppose if the woman he had a fling with was someone close to him, there wouldn’t necessarily be a financial paper trail. Maybe someone at work?’

‘Hmm.’ Grace thought for a moment and then shuddered. ‘Now I’m thinking about our lovely staff and trying to imagine who went behind my back. I can’t do this, it’s too awful. Let’s change the subject. Katie, what’s new with you?’

Katie’s heart lurched; getting to know Barney and Amber a bit more had made her see that people could get past traumatic events. Barney’s life had been totally derailed by his wife’s accident, but instead of treading water and dwelling on it, he’d pushed ahead and changed direction. It was an example that she was determined to learn from.

‘Since I last saw you, I’ve realised that I need to stop blaming that dodgy photoshoot for everything,’ she told them. ‘Because actually, setting aside for a moment that some shitbag is trying to blackmail me, the truth is, I’m doing OK. And I know I’ve been fortunate in inheriting a shop and a home, but the shop has thrived without Auntie Jean and I’ve made that happen. Our customers have nominated us for retailer of the year while I’ve been in charge. I think it’s time I owned that success and accept that although I didn’t go to uni and get a degree, and though I might not be fighting for justice with a career in law, I can make the world a better place one bra at a time.’

Robyn and Grace both put their buckets down on the pebbles and gave her a round of applause.

‘Go you!’ Robyn beamed.

‘That’s a great attitude. I’m so proud of you.’ Grace pulled her into a bosomy hug. ‘Have you decided what you’re going to do about the blackmail?’