Finding Home by Kate Field (read book .txt) 📗

water. It was the best day of the weekend, with a clear blue sky and a gentle breeze, and she wandered across the fields to Corin’s lodge.

‘Hello,’ he said, looking surprised when he opened the door. ‘Didn’t I say I’d pick you up?’

‘I thought I’d save you the bother.’ Mim looked at him. He was dressed in his usual style, adapted for the warmer weather – jeans and a well-worn shirt instead of the previous scruffy jumpers. ‘What fancy dress outfit is this? Lord of the manor?’

‘No. I’d have put on my top hat and tails for that.’ Mim wasn’t sure if he was joking until he laughed. ‘The people in fancy dress usually only dip in and out of the sea. I don’t think I could swim 4k dressed as a teddy bear.’

This time she did think he was joking until they arrived in Beremouth and joined a throng of people heading down towards the promenade. Corin hadn’t been wrong in promising a spectacle. Mim couldn’t see a teddy bear, but she did spot a couple of giant Easter bunnies, a handful of chicks, an army of superheroes, and an assortment of people wearing random outfits including nightdresses, ballgowns, and nurses’ uniforms – and that was just the men.

She found a space and stripped off down to her wetsuit, stuffing her clothes in a bag.

‘Give them here,’ Corin said. ‘A friend has come to watch and will look after the bags and Dickens.’

He seemed to have no shortage of friends here. They climbed down the steps from the promenade to the beach, shuffled through the gathering swimmers to find a good spot, and every few metres someone stopped him to give him a slap on the back, or a hug, or even a head wrestle. They finally came to a stop next to a trio of sleek-haired, long-legged women who were all wearing tiny white bikinis with a fluffy tail attached to the bottom and a headband with bunny ears. Was it a coincidence they’d stopped here, Mim wondered, eyeing them up suspiciously? Apparently not. They threw themselves at Corin with squeals of delight that astonished her. Why was he generating such excitement? She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He was the same old Corin as far as she could see – chestnut hair sticking out at angles, a wide smile on his face, and a red lipstick mark on his cheek. Although, she had to admit, as her gaze went lower, he did fill out his wetsuit extraordinarily well… She tore her gaze away and started talking to a giant octopus on her other side.

The event was due to start at 11a.m., by which time the beach was packed several rows deep with at least a hundred people. The promenade was equally crowded with spectators. A klaxon sounded and the first rows of swimmers raced across the pebbles into the sea, whooping and squealing as they splashed into the waves.

‘This way,’ Corin shouted, and Mim followed him as he sprinted forwards, dodging the people who were already dashing back to dry land in their wet fancy dress costumes. She waded through the shallows and watched as Corin dived in ahead of her, taking huge, powerful strokes to slice through the water. Mim soon lost him in the crowd of swimmers; she was a strong swimmer but there was no way she could match his pace. It didn’t matter. He’d pointed out the route they would take, swimming right along the coast until they reached a lifeboat, which they would circle and head back left towards another boat. The loop could be completed once for 2km or twice for 4km.

The conditions were perfect for the swim. The sea was calm, and only the occasional gentle wave lifted the swimmers as they made their way round the circuit. This was a totally different experience to the swims she carried out with Karen and Heather. When Mim looked up, all she could see were slick bodies sliding forwards, united in this activity, at one with each other and with nature. It was the most exhilarating thing she’d ever done.

She completed the 4k and waded out of the sea reluctantly, at the same time as another swimmer. She looked at them to share a smile of satisfaction and was surprised to see it was Corin. His wetsuit glistened in the sun and seemed to cling to him even more snugly now it was wet. He looked as happy as Mim felt.

‘What are you doing here?’ she asked. ‘I thought you’d have finished ages ago.’

‘I wasn’t going to leave you behind.’ He smiled. ‘How was it for you?’

‘Bloody fantastic!’ She grinned. ‘I could have done at least another loop.’

He laughed.

‘See how you feel tomorrow before you make rash promises like that. There are some 6k events held over the summer.’

‘I’d better start training then.’

‘Really? Did you enjoy it that much?’

‘I loved it.’ Mim grinned. ‘Who needs money? Doesn’t this go to show that the most fun things in life are free?’

‘I’ve known that since I was sixteen.’

He bent over and rubbed his hands through his hair, shaking the water out. The smile on his face left Mim in no doubt that he wasn’t thinking about swimming. Despite the goose bumps that were rising on her skin, she felt unexpectedly hot.

They collected their bags and Dickens. Mim pulled out a towel, shivering as the adrenalin of the swim faded. Corin was holding a strange garment that seemed to be a coat with a towel lining. Some of the other swimmers along the promenade were already wearing them.

‘Don’t you have one of these?’ he asked.

‘Hmm, let me think, do I have an expensive towel coat?’ Mim smiled and pretended to rummage in her bag. ‘No. Not in here. Obviously, I have dozens of them in a range of colours, but left them all back at the caravan. Silly me.’

‘Here, let’s swap.’ Corin passed her the coat and took her towel. He