Page 76 of Not Just for Christmas

Caroline forked up a mouthful of her seabass. ‘And then I’ll be jetting off to—’

The last part of that sentence was interrupted by a cough. And then another.

‘Oh God,’ she rasped, going red. ‘Fishbone. I’m choking.’

From the depths of my bag, I heard the faint sound of my phone ringing. I ignored it, instead thrusting a glass of water into Caroline’s hand. ‘Drink.’

She gulped at the water until it made her pant for breath.

‘Better?’ Polly asked.

She shook her head. ‘Still there.’

‘Eat bread,’ I suggested. ‘That might push it down.’

‘Good idea.’ She grabbed a roll from the basket on the table and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing and swallowing with an exaggerated gulp.

‘Can you see anything?’ She opened her mouth so wide that she retched.

‘Nothing except chewed bread,’ I said, wincing.

‘Sorry, this is so embarrassing.’ She could hardly speak. ‘Going to the bathroom.’

‘Want someone to come?’ Tina said.

‘No, thanks,’ she croaked, and walked away coughing in an attempt to dislodge the bone.

I used the hiatus in the drama to check my mobile. There were three missed calls from Dylan and one voicemail. My heart cracked as I listened to his message.

‘Hey Luce, just wanted you to know we’re down at the beach, having a splash about. I’m trying out my new wetsuit and Sam managed to squeeze himself into his old one.’

Panic surged inside me. What was Dylan thinking?

I rang him back immediately, then again, but his voicemail answered both times.

‘Hey this is me, leave a message,’ said Dylan’s bright and breezy voice.

‘Pick up, for God’s sake,’ I muttered.

‘What’s the matter?’ Dee asked, catching my eye.

‘It’s Dylan,’ I gulped. ‘He’s not answering his phone.’

‘Maybe he’s lost in his music,’ said Jen dreamily.

Or maybe he couldn’t reply, because he was in trouble. Because when it came to the sea, none of us was invincible.

I stared at my phone.

Sam was in the ocean. It was December, the waves would be huge, the current too strong for him. Dylan wasn’t experienced enough to know any of this. If he took his eye off Sam for even one second, he could go under, be pulled out to sea. I had to get out of here, I wasn’t going to be able to relax until I got Sam back in my arms.

‘Success!’ Caroline returned brandishing a fishbone between her finger and thumb. ‘Look at the size of that!’

I leapt to my feet. ‘I need to get to the beach.’

‘What’s the matter?’ Her smile vanished. ‘You’re as white as a sheet.’

‘It’s Sam.’ I gulped. ‘Dylan has taken him into the sea.’