The Secret Mother

He obeyed, and with a hand beneath his chin she towed him to the side. ‘Are you all right?’ she asked, when she’d helped him out.

‘Just winded,’ he muttered. ‘But Mom will sure give me hell when she hears about it.’

‘Don’t you think you’ve earned a telling off? It was a silly thing to do. You could have been badly hurt.’

‘Guess so,’ he admitted ruefully.

Taking pity at his woebegone face, she added, ‘But I don’t suppose your mother will be angry for long. She’ll be only too pleased you’re all right.’

A couple of older boys appeared on the scene. ‘Hi, Vincy, you okay?’ one asked.

And then the other suggested, ‘Want to go down the flume?’

Seeing she was no longer needed, Caroline turned to make her way to the cabin where she’d left her clothes.

At first she could see no sign of Matthew, and she was just drawing a breath of relief when she noticed him standing on the balcony, his eyes fixed on her.

How long had he been there? If he’d seen what had happened he would know she’d lied about not being able to swim.

He descended the steps and came towards her with a long, somehow menacing stride. She was standing tense, waiting for the axe to fall, when he said casually, ‘At first I couldn’t see you. I thought you might have gone to get changed.’

Bending her head, so he wouldn’t see her face, she said, ‘I’m just on my way.’ Then she added hastily, ‘Is Caitlin all right?’

‘Happy as a sandboy. I asked her if she wanted to come and have lunch with us, but she preferred to stay and enjoy an indoor picnic with the others.’

‘Oh...’ Though part of her wanted to be alone with Matthew, she knew only too well how hazardous it could be, how many pitfalls she might encounter.

‘As we are on our own,’ Matthew went on smoothly, ‘I suggest we drive along the Skyline Parkway and do some sightseeing.’

‘Will we be able to?’

‘Oh, yes. There are quite a few houses up there, so it’s a road that’s usually kept ploughed. Though it’s not particularly high, you’ll find the views from the ridge breathtaking. We can stop on the way for a spot of lunch at Sky Windows.’