Page 74 of Never Gonna Happen

‘I like the medication here,’ said Jamie. ‘I’m pretty sure they don’t do painkillers this good in the UK.’

‘You’ll be on two paracetamol every four hours when we get back. That’s your lot.’

‘Oh God,’ said Jamie. ‘Can we stay here?’

Jamie’s physio arrived after lunch, so Emily went to check in with Mr Hunter. He was on the phone and held up his hands to indicate ten minutes, so she went and sat on the edge of the pool with her feet in the water and called her mum. Carol had a tea break at 10.30, so there was a good chance she might pick up.

‘All right, Moo,’ said Carol. ‘It’s Emily,’ she said to whoever else was in the room. ‘Calling from Mauritius.’

‘Are you at work?’ asked Emily.

‘In the break room,’ said Carol. ‘Cottage pies are all made, just got to go in the oven. Still got the pink sponge and custard to do.’

‘Sounds delicious,’ Emily lied. She could taste that exact lunch – the greasy mince, the powdery mashed potato piped into uniform swirls, the rubbery skin of the custard. She swallowed down a dry heave and focused on the lovely lunch she’d just eaten. ‘I just wanted to let you know we’re flying home tomorrow night. Jamie’s been signed off.’

‘Oh, that’s lovely news,’ said Carol. ‘How long have you been there now?’

Emily swished her feet around in the cool water. ‘Nearly a month.’

‘You haven’t sent us any photos for a while. I was telling Parminder who does the veg all about your holiday and showing her the pictures of that market you went to.’

‘It’s not a holiday, Mum. I’ve been working and looking after Jamie.’

‘Is he being a misery? Men are the worst. When David broke his wrist on that bloody skateboard you’d have thought they’d cut his arm off.’

Emily laughed. ‘He’s fine. The heat makes him itch, but he’s getting better.’

‘You’re like Grace Kelly in Rear Window.’

‘I haven’t seen that one.’

‘Ooh, you should. It’s Hitchcock. Jimmy Stewart is stuck in a wheelchair with nothing to do but spy on his neighbours with a pair of binoculars, and he convinces himself that one of them has committed a murder.’

‘Where does Grace Kelly fit in?’ asked Emily.

‘She’s his girlfriend, but much richer and fancier than him. The other way round from you two, now I think about it.’

‘I’m sat with my feet in the pool right now, feeling pretty fancy. And I’ve been going for a swim in the sea every morning. I’ve seen loads of turtles and tropical fish.’

‘Crikey, Bognor is going to be a bloody shock after that.’

‘Yeah, I know. I miss you guys, though.’

‘We miss you too. Oh, Geraldine’s giving me evils, I need to go and make the custard. Give Jamie our love.’

‘I will, Mum. Give Dad a hug for me.’

When Mr Hunter pushed Jamie on to the terrace of Sam’s Café in his wheelchair, a party was in full swing. It took a few seconds for Jamie to realise it was all for him, and he gave Emily and his father the biggest smile he’d managed since the accident. With Emily’s planning skills and Mr Hunter’s money, Jessie had laid on a farewell dinner with drinks and live music, with a path of rubber wheelchair matting running from the terrace to the water’s edge so Jamie could access the beach for the first time in weeks.

Emily and Mr Hunter had invited all their friends on the island, as well as the medical staff from the clinic who’d managed Jamie’s surgery and recovery. The biggest surprise for Jamie was that Emily had invited Joseph the gardener and the group of fishermen who’d rescued him, along with their families. Jamie had no recollection of the accident or these men, and he shed a bucket of tears as he thanked them in French and halting Creole for saving his life.

It was an eclectic collection of people, but the food and drink flowed freely and the atmosphere was one of thankfulness and celebration. Emily mingled and helped Jessie with drinks, then sat on the terrace with Jamie for a while, keeping an eye on him while he chatted with a stream of well-wishers.

By 10 p.m. he looked exhausted, so Emily quietly sidled up and squatted down next to him. ‘Ready for bed?’ she asked.

‘Yeah, soon,’ said Jamie, taking her hand. ‘Thank you for organising all this. It’s been amazing.’

‘My pleasure,’ said Emily. ‘You look knackered. Let me get Paul to take us home.’