Page 72 of Never Gonna Happen

‘What do you mean?’ asked Emily.

‘Everyone knows that riding a horse gets a girl in the mood for love.’

Emily shook her head and waved a finger in the air. ‘Jamie gets me in the mood for love. I don’t need a horse.’

Jessie and Delphine both cackled into their drinks. ‘Good that he’s taught you to ride though,’ said Delphine with a wink. ‘Because with his leg the way it is, you’re going to be on top for a loooong time.’

Emily inhaled some piña colada up her nose and realised she was absolutely hammered. She looked around at the groups of friends and families on the terrace and wished Kelly was there with her. She’d love this place so much – the drinks, the music, the food, the warm tropical air. It was the longest Emily had gone without seeing her best friend in years, and it made her heart hurt.

‘I need to make a phone call,’ she said, tumbling off her stool. She wobbled to the edge of the sand and fell into a low wooden beach chair, pulling her phone out of her pocket and fumbling with the screen. It was 6.30 p.m. in England; Kelly would have just finished Beth’s dinner.

‘Kel, s’me,’ said Emily with a hiccup as her friend answered the phone.

‘I know it’s you, you daft cow,’ said Kelly. ‘Your name’s on the screen.’

‘Well, maybe you know ’nuther Emlee.’

Kelly laughed. ‘Oh my God, you’re smashed.’

‘Absolutely wankered,’ said Emily. ‘Girls’ night with Jessie and Delphine. Soooo many cocktails.’

‘I’m jealous,’ said Kelly petulantly. ‘You’ve made new friends.’

‘Yeah, but being with them made me miss you,’ said Emily. ‘So I wanted to call and tell you you’re ’mazing.’

‘Aww, that’s so nice,’ said Kelly. ‘You’re amazing too, you absolute pisshead. When are you coming home?’

‘Not sure. Shoon, I hope. Jamie can’t fly yet, he’s still all swollen up.’

‘I bet he is, looking at you in a bikini.’

‘Veh funny,’ said Emily. ‘None of that business at the moment, I’m all about the self-love.’

‘Oh God, now I know you’re pissed,’ said Kelly. ‘Go back to your new friends and bring me home a nice present.’

Emily kicked off her flip-flops and buried her toes in the cool sand. ‘Wotchoo want?’

‘I don’t know,’ said Kelly. ‘Something fancy. Maybe one of those massive Toblerones from the airport.’

Emily laughed. ‘Mum arshed for the same thing.’

‘What can I say?’ said Kelly. ‘The women in your life are really easy to please.’

Chapter Thirty-Five

In the end it was three weeks after Jamie’s accident before the orthopaedic surgeon at the clinic gave him a full examination and pronounced him well enough to fly. His wounds were healing well and the swelling had subsided enough for the doctor to provide a letter confirming fitness to travel, with some additional medication and advice on getting through a twelve-hour flight. Emily was relieved for Jamie’s sake – even though the beach house was quiet again now Adam and Catherine had gone, the heat and humidity made life uncomfortable for him. He was keen to manage his recovery in the blissful cold of an English winter, ideally in the company of his horses.

Emily ran her pen down her to-do list – she’d already called the airline to confirm their upgrade to First Class seats and book extra assistance at both ends of the journey, and she’d given Jessie a quick ring to discuss plans for their final evening. Now it was time to call Anna to make arrangements for their return. She sighed heavily, feeling like she’d rather pull her own teeth out. She pressed the button to dial the house number, listening to it ring several times before the housekeeper answered.

‘Anna, it’s Emily.’

Anna said nothing; Emily could hear her sucking a lemon from six thousand miles.

‘Jamie has been approved to fly tomorrow evening, so we’ll be home on Wednesday,’ continued Emily. ‘I just want to talk about arrangements for when he gets back.’

‘Fine,’ said Anna, with a tone that suggested she’d rather shit Lego.

‘The main thing is he needs step-free access.’