21

The next day Jill was at the beach with Simon, early, before the crowds of tourists appeared. Simon was swimming in the waves with his board, of course. Jill had been in with him and even given the board a try, and now she was sitting on her towel on the sand, warming up in the sun and watching him.

“Jill!” she heard from behind her.

She turned. “Anya! This is early for you!”

“Ja, my brothers convinced me to get up and come. It’s lovely out here when it’s not too hot yet. Did you swim already?” Anya joined Jill on her towel, opened her bag and got out a big yellow sunhat which she put on.

“Yes, I did,” said Jill. “Simon can’t get enough, though. He’ll swim for hours if I let him.”

“Hi Anya!” called Simon, who had just been neatly deposited on the beach by an obliging wave. “Look what I can do!” “Amazing, kiddo!” called Anya back. “Show me again!”

Simon picked up his board and ran back towards the waves.

“So last night was fun,” said Anya. “We must do it again. That game is crazy.”

“Yeah, it was a lot of fun,” said Jill.

“You and surfer boy are getting along very well.” Anya nudged Jill in the arm.

Jill looked at Anya, surprised. “Why do you say it like that?”

“Because, my friend, it was kind of obvious. Last night it was like, oh cute, it’s Ricardo and Bianca, and Alex and Jill.”

“What? But how can you say that, Anya? You know it’s not!”

“Ja, but Jill you don’t know what it looks like to everyone else. We can all see he likes you.”

Jill felt awful. This was just what she had thought last night. “But Anya, I have told him that I don’t like him in that way. I like him a lot, but as a friend. He’s fun to hang out with. I like talking to him. He knows.”

“Girl,” said Anya, shaking her head. “Maybe you are saying that ‘I like you as a friend’ thing with your mouth but that boy is not hearing you. I’m telling you now he is taking every smile you give him and every friendly conversation and hoping he is winning you over.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?” asked Jill. She had a lump in her throat and tears were not far away. “Should I ignore him? Tell him to leave me alone?”

“Eish, I don’t know,” said Anya, putting her arm around Jill and squeezing tight. “Don’t worry about it too much. Maybe he’s cool with just friends but it just does not look like that to me. Are you sure you don’t like him? Because last night I was seriously wondering.”

“Oh Anya,” said Jill. “No. No! I can’t believe you have to ask me that. If you were wondering then maybe I am giving the wrong signals.”

“Ag Jill, don’t get too stressed,” said Anya. “Maybe it isn’t a problem, okay?”

Simon suddenly appeared in front of them, dripping and happy. “Jill, can we get an ice cream today? Please?”

“Sure, Squirt,” said Jill, wrapping the shivering little boy in his towel. Ice cream was just what she felt like after all that serious talk. “Come Anya, soft serves are on me.”

They walked up the steps to the parking lot where an ice cream and coffee van had set up business for the holidays. It had just opened, seeing that it was still before nine, but they managed to get three swirly cones with chocolate flakes inside them. They sat on the low wall above the stairs and ate their ice creams, looking out at the beach. It was starting to get busier now. Jill was wondering if she could convince Simon that he was done with swimming for the day, so she could go home and be alone in her room to ponder this problem, when he started waving wildly in the direction of the beach. “There’s Alex, Jill! And Ricardo. Can we go and say hi?”

Sure enough, there were the boys, in wetsuits carrying their boards. Both boys waved and headed over towards the steps. Simon stuffed the last of his ice cream into his mouth and skipped down the stairs, licking the stickiness off his hands as he went. Jill and Anya stayed at the top.

“Hi girls,” called Ricardo.

“Are you going surfing?” asked Simon, unnecessarily, when he reached them. “Can I watch you? Please Jill, can we stay and watch them?” he called up to his sister.

“Anyone can watch,” said Alex, looking up to where Anya and Jill sat on the wall. “You won’t be able to see much though, Simon, we’ll be quite far out.”

“We’ll stay for a while, Simon, but we’re going home soon,” said Jill. She didn’t know how to act around Alex now. Should she be unfriendly? That felt dishonest and wrong.

“How about you come out some of the way with us, kiddo,” said Alex. “You can ride on my board a bit. If that’s okay with Jill of course.”

“AWESOME!” said Simon. “Please, Jill?”

“Okay,” said Jill. “Then when you come out we’ll go home.” She looked at Anya and shrugged. Anya shrugged too. The girls walked down the steps back to the beach.

“Hi,” said Alex, when they reached the bottom.

“Hi,” she said. She felt self-conscious. Brief, she thought. She would go for brief but polite.

“Is this okay?” he said. “Were you wanting to go home?”

“It’s okay. I’ll wait until he’s done.” She didn’t meet his eyes. Simon was jumping up and down with excitement. “Come, Squirt, more sunblock. I’ll keep your board for you.”

Jill and Anya found a spot on the sand and spread a towel again. “Maybe it’s nothing,” said Anya. “Don’t worry about it, Jill. I’m sorry I got you stressed. Just be your lovely self and it will all be okay. Now tell me, that boy over there, the one with the freckles playing beach bats – what do you think?”

Jill laughed. “Very nice, Anya,” she said. “You should go and say hello.”

“No way,” said Anya, looking shocked. “I’m much too shy to do that!”

22

Alex stood on the balcony of the house and scanned the beach. For the past few days he had felt sure that Jill was avoiding him. It was the day before New Year’s Eve, and even though he and his family were leaving to go home to Cape Town in less than a week he hadn’t given up on Jill. He had felt sure that he was making progress after the evening playing games at her house, but since then he had hardly seen her. Twice he had gone for a run, passing her house and hoping to see her, but he had no such luck. He hadn’t thought very much past the end of this holiday, but now time was running out. He wondered why he still wanted so badly to know that she felt something for him before the holiday was over. Was it just the challenge? Was it that he had been rejected and he couldn’t take that?

He didn’t think that was why he hadn’t given up yet. She wasn’t just a girl he wanted to score, as his friends might say. He wanted to know her. And for her to know him. And he felt sure that if the situation was just right, she would realise that she felt the same. That was why he was standing on the balcony, scanning the beach for a glimpse of her or even of Simon or Anya.

If she’s avoiding me she won’t walk past the house, he thought.

He wondered if he should message her, but decided against it. What would he say? If he asked her if she wanted to do something alone with him she would say no. He needed a reason, something to invite her to. He had an idea and went downstairs.

Anna and his Mom were in the kitchen getting some lunch together. He sat on a barstool at the massive granite island and took an apple out of the fruit bowl.

“Mom,” he said. “Remember you said we could have some friends around if we wanted?”

“Yes, I did,” said Pam, opening a packet of lettuce to make a salad. “Do you want to?”

“How about a braai tomorrow at lunchtime?” he said. “Anna can invite some friends too.”

Anna flopped onto a barstool, a baby carrot in her hand. “Friends?” she said scornfully. “This has been more like a solitary retreat than a holiday for me.”

“What about James?”

“Okay, I’ll invite James,” she said, munching the carrot. “He’s cool. But he’s always busy with that youth group of his.”

“A braai tomorrow will be lovely,” said Pam. “Dad is playing golf in the morning but it’s only nine holes. He’ll be back by then. How many do you want to invite, Alex?”

“Four, I think,” said Alex. “Thanks Mom.”

“Maybe three for me,” said Anna. “I met some girls the other day who might want to hang out.”

“Lovely, my dears,” said Pam. “Let me know. I’ll pop to Woolies for supplies later this afternoon.”

Alex went to get his phone. He sat on the couch and messaged Fezile and Ricardo. Soon they had both replied that they could come,

Bianca too. Now he just had to get Jill there. He decided he would take a chance and see if he could find her on the beach before he messaged her. He had a feeling she might rather say no, and there was a better chance she would come if he asked face to face.

He changed into his board shorts and grabbed a towel and some sunscreen. He might as well go for a swim if he couldn’t find her. He walked down to the beach and towards the main swimming area, nodding hi to Sam and Lee-Anne on the way. They were playing beach bats, not wearing much as usual. He didn’t want to talk to them, especially to Sam after what had happened at the party. But she waved back to him, saying, “Hi there, Schoolboy!” as if nothing had happened.

When he got to the main beach he couldn’t believe his luck. Simon was running out of the sea with his new bodyboard towards Jill who was waiting for him with a towel, her bag over her shoulder. She wrapped the towel around him and hugged him, then they turned and started for the steps. He called to her, but the beach was noisy and the wind was blowing towards him, and she didn’t hear him. They had crossed the parking lot and were about to walk down the path through the bush when he finally got her attention.

“Jill!” he said. She and Simon turned.

“Hi Alex!” said Simon. “I just caught SIXTEEN waves in a row!”

“Shot, kid,” said Alex. “Good practice for surfing one day.” “Yeah!” said Simon.

“Hey,” said Jill. He couldn’t read her expression, but it wasn’t unfriendly at least. He thought he’d get straight to the point.

“My parents want to meet some of my friends,” he said. “Please – come over for a braai tomorrow?”

“It’s the New Year’s Eve party at the church hall,” she said. “I thought maybe Fez and Ricardo had invited you.”

“Yes, they did, but I mean at lunch time. They’re coming. And James I think. I’d really like you to come. We can all go the party afterwards.”

“It sounds nice, Alex,” she said. “I’d like to meet your parents. But Simon – I should rather spend some time with him. The holidays are flying past so quickly. And I think Aunt Bert might have plans tomorrow anyway.”

“He can come too. He’ll love the pool. Come on Jill, I’ve hardly seen you the past few days. Let’s just hang out, have some fun before I go home.”

She paused. She seemed to be searching his face for something. Then she relaxed. “Okay. Thanks. Do you want to go to Alex’s house for a braai tomorrow, Simon?” “Oh YEAH!” said Simon.

“Can I bring something?” asked Jill.

“No, just yourself,” he said, relieved. “And Simon. And swimming things. There’s a diving board.”

“Wow,” said Jill. “Sounds amazing.”

Alex was pleased with how things were going. He thought he’d try his luck for more. “What are you doing now?” he asked. “Do you want to hang out? Go for a walk or something?”

“Oh, no thanks,” said Jill quickly. “I’m meeting Anya and some of the others to decorate the hall for the New Year Party. It’s going to look so good.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Alex. “We have to dress up, right?”

“Yes, if you can,” said Jill. “No shorts, slops or T-shirts.”

“I can do that,” said Alex. “See you tomorrow then. About twelve?”

“See you then,” said Jill, as she turned away and headed up the path towards home.

“Bye Alex!” called Simon. “See you at your house tomorrow!”

23

“So,” said Pam Palmer to her son. It was just before twelve the next day, and Alex was sitting on a barstool in the kitchen again while she put crackers, chips and dips onto a serving plate. “Tell me again which of your friends are coming.”

“Ricardo and Fezile. You met them before,” said Alex, taking a chip from the plate. “Ricardo’s bringing his girlfriend, Bianca. And Jill is coming. You haven’t met her yet.” He crunched up the chip, avoiding his mother’s eye.

“Jill,” she said. “You were at her house the other evening. Until quite late, I recall.”

“Yup,” he said. “She’s bringing her little brother. He’s nine. Simon.”

“You mentioned that,” said Pam. “I’m a little concerned about having children here, you know, with the pool.”

“He’s a strong swimmer,” said Alex. “He’s desperate to be a surfer when he grows up. But we’ll watch him.” “You and Jill?” said Pam, raising her eyebrows.

“I guess,” said Alex.

“Not that I mind having a little boy here,” said Pam. “But I don’t think most girls would want to bring their little brothers to a braai with their friends.”

“Jill isn’t most girls.” Alex was still looking at the chip plate and not at his mother. Pam’s eyebrows rose higher. “She’s just a friend, Mom,” said Alex, casually taking another chip and dipping it in guacamole. “But she’s different. She’s more mature, and she’s honest. So many girls at home are … I don’t know. Giggly. Confused. Insecure. You know.”

Pam searched her son’s face, unsure of what she saw. “Well then,” she said. “I am very interested to meet her.”

When Jill walked into the house she was overwhelmed. She had been expecting it to be smart inside, but it was still by far the most extravagant house she had ever been in. The living area was double volume with huge glass doors leading to the outside entertainment area, and it was decorated beautifully with artwork and sleek modern furniture. Simon couldn’t hold back his admiration. He stared around him, clutching the little bag that held his swimming costume and towel.

“Wow, Alex! This place is AWESOME! You live in a palace!”

Alex laughed. “We’re only staying here on holiday,” he said. “Our house in Cape Town doesn’t look like this.”

“Does it also have such a high roof?” asked Simon, craning his neck upwards.

“It actually does,” said Alex.

“And is your house this big?”

“It’s a bit bigger,” said Alex. “But it doesn’t have an upstairs and a downstairs like this place. Because there’s no sea to look at where we live.”

“Can I see the sea from upstairs?” asked Simon. “Can I go and see?”

“I’ll take you,” said Alex. “Come. You can see my room.” He looked at Jill for approval and she nodded. “I’ll stay here,” she said, feeling it would be a bit too intimate to go into Alex’s bedroom. She was trying hard to maintain a bit of distance – at least she had been trying. Yet somehow, here she was. She hoped it was okay.

A few minutes later she had met Pam, and stood on the veranda of the house with a glass of sparkling water. Bianca, Ricardo and Fezile were standing on the other side of the pool next to the braai with Alex’s dad, whom she hadn’t met yet. He was getting the fire going, a beer in his hand.

“Hi Jill!” she heard from behind. She turned and saw Anna coming out from the living room, a drink in her hand.

Anna was dressed for the pool, in her bikini with a gauzy scarf knotted around her waist. She had put something in her hair that made it look as if it was wet. Jill had struggled to decide what to wear. At first, she had put on the dress she had been wearing when Alex had come over to house the first time, but then she had remembered that he had said she looked amazing in it and had changed her mind. In the end she had just put on a favourite T-shirt and a skirt that reached just above her knees. Her hair was just washed and dried and loose on her shoulders. She had put on a little make-up and had felt satisfied with how she looked when she left her house, but now she felt like a schoolgirl next to Anna. She tried to put that comparison out of her mind. Besides, she was still a schoolgirl for now.

“Almost New Year,” sighed Anna, taking a sip of her drink. “This has been a very quiet holiday so far, and there’s not much chance of it getting more interesting.”

“I’ve had a great holiday,” said Jill. “It’s gone so fast.”

“You’ve had good company,” said Anna. “My brother hasn’t been around here much.”

Jill wasn’t sure what to say to that. She decided not to take the bait. “I guess he’s been surfing quite a lot,” she said.

“And hanging out with you and your volleyball churchy buddies.” Anna stirred her drink with a little cocktail stick. The ice cubes clinked against the glass. “I heard you were playing board games the other night.”

“Yes,” said Jill, feeling a little indignant. “You don’t approve?”

Anna laughed. “It just surprises me, that’s all. You’re not his usual … crowd.”

“Well he’s not our usual churchy volleyballer,” said Jill, looking Anna in the eye. “We didn’t hold that against him.” She wasn’t going to get embarrassed and ruin the mood.

“Sharp,” said Anna, pointing at Jill with the stick she had been using to stir her drink.

Jill heard James’ voice in the living room behind her. “Here’s James,” she said to Anna. “Is he not your usual crowd?”

“Okay, okay, touché,” laughed Anna. “James is a treasure. Love him to bits. Are you going to swim?”

“Maybe later,” said Jill, feeling as if she had just won a battle she didn’t know she had been fighting. Anna put down her drink on a table, took off her scarf and dived into the pool. She popped up on the other side and waved across the pool to James, who had appeared next to Jill.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” said Jill. “This place is making me feel small.”

“It is impressive, isn’t it,” said James, waving back and looking around at the garden and the pool. “And it’s empty most of the year.”

“Crazy,” said Jill. She heard the doorbell ring inside and soon Pam appeared. “Anna!” she called. “Your other guests are here!”

“Ah!” said Anna, getting out of the pool. Jill turned and was surprised to see the two beautiful girls she had noticed on her first visit to the beach after she got home. They were wearing clothes today, thankfully. Clothes that didn’t cover a lot more than bikinis did, but clothes at least.

“Girls! You made it!” said Anna, towelling herself off and giving them each an air kiss. “Mom, James, Jill, this is Lee-Anne and Sam.

They’re from Joburg.”

“Hi!” said the girls.

“Lovely to meet you both,” said Pam, and went back inside.

“This is a fabulous place, Anna! How come you only invited us now? You could have a killer party here,” said Lee-Ann.

“I only met you a few days ago, dears,” said Anna. “And you’re here now. Besides – parents.” She grimaced. “Drinks? Come, my dad showed me how to make a Margarita.”

The girls trooped inside, leaving James and Jill outside. “Wow,” said Jill. “Maybe I should get a pair of shorts like that.”

“Don’t joke, Jill,” said James, laughing. “I’m going to have to avert my eyes all afternoon. At least Anna covers up most of the time.”

“You guys have become friends?” asked Jill.

“We’ve hung out a bit,” said James. “No sparks, if that’s what you’re asking. We’ve had few conversations about Christianity, though. She has a lot of questions.”

“She does?” asked Jill. “I’m surprised. She hasn’t seemed interested at any other time. Intimidated, if anything.”

“Sometimes people need a safe place to think about spiritual things,” said James. “It can be scary to challenge what you’ve always believed and contemplate that there might be another way. I think she’s been able to do that a bit in our chats. But so far, it’s just questions. And they’re going home soon anyway.”

“Yeah,” said Jill. “Maybe that’s a good thing.”

“You’re talking about Alex now.”

“I’m really confused, James. We agreed to be friends, but Anya thinks he’s still … you know. So I’ve been trying really hard not to be encouraging.”

“Yet here you are,” said James, with a smile.

“Yes, here I am. And I love being his friend, really. But it’s not worth it if I’m giving him the wrong idea.”

“That’s wise, Jill. I’ve also noticed the way he looks at you. Whatever you two have agreed, friendship isn’t all he wants from you. That would be my guess.”

“I shouldn’t have come,” said Jill.

“You don’t have to go cold, Jill. And this is Alex, remember. He’s assuming you will fall at his feet like all girls seem to do. Maybe that’s why he likes you – because you haven’t.”

“So I’m a challenge. I didn’t go all mushy on him so now he wants to prove he can make me.”

“Maybe. I don’t know. All I mean is that you have done nothing wrong. You’ve just been a good friend to him. I’m sure you haven’t led him on. If he hasn’t got the message it’s something he has to realise for himself.”

“I’ll have to think about that a bit. But maybe I feel better. Thanks James.” Jill patted his back.

Just then Alex walked onto the veranda with Simon.

“The upstairs is amazing, Jill,” said Simon. You can see the WHOLE BEACH from Alex’s room. And he has his own bathroom, all for himself!”

“How about a swim now, Simon?” said Alex. “You can change in the bathroom you saw next to the front door.”

“Okay!” said Simon, racing off with his little bag.

“Hi James,” said Alex. “At least Anna had one friend to invite.”

“No, she asked some girls over too,” said Jill. “They’re at the bar, I think. Lee-Anne and Sam.”

“What?” said Alex. “Did you say Lee-Anne and Sam?” “Why, do you know them?” asked Jill.

“Uh, maybe,” said Alex, looking very uncomfortable for a second. He turned and looked into the house towards the bar at one end of the living room. “Yes,” he said. “I have met them.”

“Oh yes,” said Jill. “That first day, when I saw you at the beach. They were there too.”

“The first day you saw me?” asked Alex. “When I swam with Simon?”

“No, it was earlier actually. I was watching Simon play on the beach and you had been for a surf. You walked out of the sea as if you weren’t even wet, and you had green shorts on. I thought you looked like Percy Jackson.”

“Percy Jackson!” James laughed. “He does kind of look like Percy Jackson, doesn’t he? Without the green eyes.”

Alex looked intrigued. Jill wished she hadn’t said that. Now he was going to think it meant something, that she had noticed him before they met.

“I’m flattered,” he said, giving Jill a look that made her blush. She looked away, glad for the appearance of Simon and the need to put sunblock on him before he swam.

When Simon was happily splashing around, Alex took them across to the braai to meet his dad. “Thank you for having us, Mr Palmer,” said Jill.

“Pleasure, you