The Sister-In-Law(5)

‘You haven’t even looked around yet. Wouldn’t you like to see inside first?’ Joy called to Violet, who wasn’t buying the blatant attempt at distraction and didn’t answer. ‘Mum and I are going inside,’ Joy then threatened, presumably hoping they’d abandon the pool in favour of viewing the interior decorations – she had no clue.

I looked from her to Alfie, now standing precariously on the edge of the pool, totally naked, while Violet stood in the shallow end waiting for me. Maybe part of me would have liked to follow Joy in and see inside, to wander into the beautiful villa, drinking an ice-cold G and T with a bright wedge of lemon while she gave me the tour. But, damn it, my four-year-old was standing precariously close to 6 feet of water.

‘It’s a little late, Clare, are you really allowing them to swim now?’ she asked through perfectly painted lips.

‘I promised,’ I offered apologetically, but before she could respond, there was a loud smack followed by a terrifying silence.





CHAPTER THREE





A terrifying deathly silence as Alfie disappeared was followed by the equally terrifying rush of loud, intermittent screaming, as he desperately tried to get his breath in 6 feet of water. Everything felt like it was in slow motion. I was focussed only on one thing and barely saw or heard anything else. I was vaguely aware of Joy open-mouthed watching him, as I instinctively dumped Freddie in her arms. I powered across the ground to the side of the pool to reach my drowning four-year-old, jumping in fully clothed and gathering every ounce of strength I had I grabbed my little boy, lifted him from the depths and dragged him up to the surface. I held his sobbing face above the water as he tried to breathe and cry and call ‘Mummy!’ all at the same time, and I thought I might have a heart attack, but that didn’t matter, I just had to get him to safety.

Eventually, with a little help from Joy, we both climbed out. She was still holding Freddie and had already instructed Violet to run inside and get towels.

I hugged him close. I wanted to cry, to hold him forever and just sob with relief, but I also had to stop him from doing this ever again and so channelled my tears into stern words once he’d recovered slightly.

‘Alfie, that was so naughty,’ I said, removing my wet T shirt and jeans and taking a towel from Joy. ‘You could have really hurt yourself, and Mummy’s very cross.’ I frowned to make my feelings clear.

‘Told you we should have gone inside for gin,’ Joy said under her breath. She was white with shock as I’m sure I was too.

‘Yep, you were right, Joy,’ I murmured back.

‘So, Alfie, what have we just learned?’ Joy asked gently.

‘Not to get wet?’ His little chin was trembling – it had scared him.

‘I think what Granny means is you just learned that you must never jump into the water like that without a grown-up there, or your armbands on. It’s too deep. You won’t ever do that again, will you, Alfie?’ I added.

He shook his head vigorously. I just hoped it had scared him enough to be careful, but not so much he wouldn’t want to go near water ever again.

‘I think we should all go inside, so you can choose your beds,’ Joy said to the kids, once Alfie and I had taken off our clothes and were wrapped in towels. In that moment, I was grateful to have Joy around, even if she did take over a little. Within minutes, the children were racing up the stairs, Alfie’s near-death experience forgotten. By him at least.

‘Hold Freddie’s hand tight on them stairs,’ Bob called to Violet from the landing where he and Dan were still sorting the luggage.

‘Those stairs, darling,’ Joy corrected, as Violet negotiated Freddie up the steps, Alfie following on, as my motherin-law and I watched from the bottom of the stairs.

Bob rolled his eyes at me and I smiled. ‘You and Alfie been for a swim already?’ Bob asked, looking from me to Alfie. Joy and I watched on from the hallway and glanced at each other.

‘Don’t ask, Bob.’ I smiled.

‘Yes, let’s put it this way, it’s gin time for Clare and Daddy time for our Dan,’ Joy laughed, leading me into the sitting room.

I just hoped Dan would supervise the chaos and arguments that were bound to happen when the kids reached the top of the stairs and one wanted the other one’s chosen bed. Bob didn’t have the speed or stamina to handle that, but Joy wasn’t fretting, she’d handed our charges to ‘the men’ and was now settling in an armchair with her glass. She’d put mine on a coaster on a little tray table next to the chair nearest to her, and I plonked myself down, still wrapped in a big grey towel, taking the ice-cold gin gratefully.

‘How is everything?’ she asked, conspiratorially.

‘Good,’ I answered quickly. I wanted to embrace the holiday feeling and forget about our recent troubles. Joy liked to poke her nose in, but really it was only because she worried about us all.

‘You and Dan just ask us if you want to escape to a bar or something,’ she said, nodding slowly. ‘And Jamie’s arriving tomorrow,’ she added. ‘I can’t wait to see him, we haven’t spoken for weeks.’

‘But you’re keeping up with his Instagram?’ I said. I also followed Jamie and knew he’d recently been in India. I sometimes messaged him, but not for a while. Life was too busy.