Free Sunday's Child by Clare Revell

arrives.”
    “She’s not due for another six weeks. You guys really don’t get out much, do you?”
    Trevor winked. “My mistress, the sea, is just too demanding of my time.”
    Cal grinned. “She is that. Have fun.” He headed up the stairs to the huge operations room. Filled with radar and radios, it connected them to the boats and coastguard, as well as the Met Office, the three emergency services and other RNLI stations along their stretch of coastline, and head office at Poole Harbor. He signed what he needed and then headed to the office.
    The door was open. He tapped on the frame and stuck his head around it. “Tom, you wanted to see me?”
    Tom looked up. His eyes sparkled in welcome and his blond hair, tinted with grey looked too perfect, as always. “Yeah. The Courier wants to do an interview and a piece on river safety. I figured you’d be the man to do it.”
    Cal rolled his eyes. “Me? Haven’t I been in the press enough already?”
    “Not really,” Tom teased. “Besides, people still remember your rescue in Headley Cross, and it won’t hurt to reiterate the need to take care out there.”
    Arguing wasn’t going to work, best just to agree. “OK. When?”
    “Two o’clock tomorrow afternoon. He’ll want pictures of you in full kit too.”
    “I’ll be here. See you then. Hopefully not again tonight.” He winked and headed outside to where he’d parked his truck next to the shop.
    Some of the RNLI stations had a small shop attached to them, selling RNLI merchandise, again all staffed by volunteers. Laurie Dillon, the shop manager was unlocking her car, her normal smile replaced by a worried frown. He shot her a smile. “Hey, Laurie. You’re leaving early tonight. What’s up?”
    “Hi, Cal. Family problems. My niece is coming up to stay unexpectedly early after a fight with her brother. I’m hoping I can sort things out.”
    “That doesn’t sound good.”
    She shook her head. “No. They’ve fallen out before, but never enough for her to just up and leave like this. Oh, while I think of it, can you chase up that quote for me?”
    “Hasn’t Dad sent it yet?”
    “No, or if he did, it hasn’t arrived.”
    “I’ll swing by the office on my way home and hand deliver a copy myself later.”
    Laurie smiled. “Thank you. See you later.”
    Cal nodded and crossed to his red truck. He’d pick the quote up now, in case he got called out again. This was possible the way the week was going.
    Red Watch had started their duty shift at 0700 Tuesday, with a shout almost immediately.
    Training on Wednesday evening had turned into the real thing after a paddle boarder got swept out on the rip tide. Today they’d had three shouts already and it was only Thursday afternoon.
    At the office, he found the quote and slid it into an envelope. Then he checked the diary. Glancing at the clock, he realized it had gone six and decided just to go home via Laurie’s to give her this. Then maybe have something to eat before the pager went off again.
     
    ****
     
    Hattie pulled up on the driveway of her aunt’s house. She didn’t remember any of the two hour drive from Headley Cross to Penry Island. That on reflection wasn’t a good thing, but nothing she could do. Her heart ached and tears were still perilously close to the surface. She stepped from the car, straight into the warm embrace of Aunt Laurie.
    “I’ve got you.” Aunt Laurie’s gentle voice opened the floodgates, bringing forth a tsunami of tears. Aunt Laurie guided her inside the cottage, and sat with her on the sofa, still holding her.
    Finally Hattie looked up. “I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to get here and cry all over you.”
    “It’s fine, dear. What happened?” Her aunt handed her a tissue.
    “Steve wanted me to cancel again. He booked in a house party and lied about it, in order to make me stay. I hate him.”
    “Hate isn’t a nice word,” Aunt Laurie chided. “You may not like him, but you’ll never hate him.”
    “I’m