AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“When we were kids, we used to build a sand boat on the beach, and wait for the tide to take it,” Maya said, remembering her childhood holidays. “Kyle used to make one for Amber and Lewis when they were little.”
“Yes, we did the same. Or we’d make a massive sandcastle,” Sam said.
“We could build a boat now,” Lewis said, overhearing their conversation.
“You don’t have your swimming costumes on,” Maya said, seeing this leading to five very wet children.
“It’s too cold to swim. We’ll just paddle,” Lewis insisted.
They did have spades with them, as well as their fishing nets and buckets.
Sam nudged Maya. “Go on, it’ll be fun. The tide has turned. If we build it close to the tideline, it should have sunk by the time we need to go up for lunch.”
Daisy and Scarlett were tugging on their dad’s shirt, pleading with him to build a boat.
They walked out to a spot in the middle of the beach and started digging, piling up the sand following a rough outline Lewis had made with his spade.
Daisy and Scarlett started off helping, but then decided to look for bits of seaweed and shells to decorate the boat. Tom and Charles took over with their spades. Charles was well into the boat building, as a granddad should be. As the walls got higher, he made a step for the children to be able to get in and out easily.
Engrossed in the shovelling, building and patting the sand smooth, when Maya looked up, the sea was only ten feet away. Amber and Chloe were drawing lines in the sand with their heels to measure the waves and how close the water was getting.
As the first wave hit the boat, rippling around its sides, the kids jumped into it. They all had to stand, as there wasn’t enough room for them to sit. Maya got out her phone, snapping photos. She had 4G on the beach — somehow — and shared a picture via Instagram. With the blue sky and cotton wool clouds, you would have thought it was August, not April.
Caught off guard, a huge wave surged past Maya, splashing up her calves with a shock of cold. “Whoa,” she heard Sam say, also caught out. She rolled her three-quarter-length trousers up and waded back to a shallower part, joining Sam. Tom and Charles were standing further back out of the water. The kids were jumping up and down excitedly — feet still dry — in the boat, undefeated, although the sides of the boat were crumbling away gradually. Tom and Charles would rush back in before the next wave hit and try to build the sides of the boat up, battling vainly against the sea, with the kids screaming and laughing at them.
Maya’s feet sank into the sand as the water retreated. Not expecting her feet to be buried as deep as they were, she lost her balance.
“Whoops, you okay?” Sam said, catching her as she wobbled, his hand on her arm. She grasped his elbow. Her eyes met his, and his expression was a mix of laughter and concern.
“That caught me by surprise. My feet were stuck.” She let go of Sam once she knew she wasn’t going to fall.
“We’d better head back for lunch soon,” Charles said, coming to stand beside Sam and Maya.
The boat started to crumble until it was only a mound of sand. Daisy had been the first to abandon ship, followed by Amber and Chloe, then Lewis. Scarlett wanted to get out too, but suddenly appeared fearful of the sea. Tom waded into the shin-deep water, hooked his four-year-old daughter under his arm, and carried her horizontally, as if she were a surfboard, turning her terrified cries into giggles.
Rose had laid out a grand picnic in the garden when they returned from the beach. Sam relished Maya’s expression of surprise.
“Rose, you didn’t need to go to all this trouble,” she said, gazing at the huge amount of food.
“Nonsense. I love doing it for my family. And you’re a part of my family this weekend.” Rose ushered the children to a chequered picnic blanket on the lawn. The adults were seated around the circular garden table on the patio, Sam between Maya and Heather.
After lunch had gone down, and the kids had taken a treat from their Easter baskets, Joe arrived, ready to take them to the beach. Daisy and Scarlett decided to stay behind and play at Grandma’s. Sam had to chuckle. Tom looked relieved. He clearly hadn’t fancied donning a wetsuit again.
“I’m sure Joe can find a wetsuit to fit you, Sam,” Tom said. Not required for surf instruction, he had a bottle of Stella open and was swigging from it, looking very relaxed and smug on his sunlounger.
“Oh no, maybe in July, but certainly not in April,” Sam said. “I’m quite happy to watch from the beach.”
“What about you, Maya?” Joe had mischief in his eyes. Sam recognised that look. If this had been a few years ago, Joe would have swept Maya off her feet. But it made Sam wonder if someone like Joe was more Maya’s type.
She shook her head and looked as if she was about to argue, but Sam quickly said, “No, no, she’s allergic to cold water too, like me.”
“Besides, who will take the photos?” Maya waved her phone. “And I did enough paddling this morning.”
“Okay, you two lightweights can stay on the beach.” Joe turned his attention to the kids. “Looks like it’s just us — the Fantastic Four.”
The three older children cheered.
Sam found himself by Maya’s side, yet again, standing at the water’s edge, watching the children, laughing and cheering on their surfing antics. Luck really was on his side, to be spending so much time with her. She was easy-going, he could relax in her company. Getting to know her as a friend first suited his pace. He noticed she kept looking at her phone today.
