After I’d said good morning to Jayne, Dominic gave me an awkward smile, which I returned, equally as awkwardly.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
“And I’m ready!” Tilly added, making us laugh.
We arrived at the arranged meeting point at Spitchwick Common, and set out a blanket on the grass. Tilly jumped up and down, eager for her aunt, uncle and cousins to arrive. Before she could burn in the already scorching heat, Dominic handed me the sunscreen, and I made sure all of Tilly’s exposed skin was well covered in factor 30 while he pulled out some folding chairs and a bunch of toys and games to keep the kids entertained. It was still early, but slowly, more families arrived, ready to enjoy the little piece of heaven on earth that was Dartmoor.
Dave, his wife, Mel, and their two children, Jake and Danielle, arrived around thirty minutes after us and as they approached, carrying their own boatload of supplies, I noticed that Dave’s clothes were soaking wet. Jake and Danielle ran to greet Tilly and the three of them sped off to play together.
“Madison,” Mel said, hugging me tightly, “I’m so glad you could come! It’s great to see you.”
Mel’s sleek black hair was cropped, perfectly showing off her high cheekbones. She looked even more gorgeous than I remembered. It had been over a year since I last saw her, when we’d had a crazy, impromptu night on the town, which ended with us waking everyone in her house when she’d stumbled through the front door and crashed into the huge potted plant at the bottom of the stairs.
“It’s great to see you too,” I said. “I can’t believe how big the kids are getting!”
“I know,” she laughed, watching them as they ran around. “It’ll be Jake’s ninth birthday next month, and Danielle’s nearly seven. Seems like just yesterday I was pushing them around in their prams!”
“Madison, come over here and hug me!” Dave’s voice said from behind me.
I smiled broadly at Dominic’s big brother, who had his arms outstretched. Dave was a larger version of Dom. Taller, rounder, and louder, but bundles of fun and always so full of energy. A trip to Devon without seeing Dave was a trip wasted.
“Dave,” I said. “I’ve missed you but you are dripping wet, and I’ve just put on sunblock. What happened to you?”
Mel chuckled beside me, and Dave said, “My idiot brother thought it would be ‘fun’ if we got some water balloons to throw around. He phoned and asked me to fill them up and bring them with me. I had them in a bag on my lap, but I didn’t count on some idiot driving too fast down a narrow lane. Mel had to brake hard, and I got a lap full of rubber and water! So, no water balloons today.”
“You thought it was a good idea too.” Dominic grinned.
“I did, but I didn’t expect to end up being the only one having a water fight.”
“You’ll soon dry,” Mel said. “It’s boiling out here.”
Dave whipped off his shirt and laid it out on the ground beside the blanket. “Will you hug me now, Madison?” he asked, making Mel laugh harder.
“You’re such a tart, David,” she said.
“You really are a tart,” I said, letting him embrace me. “But it’s good to see you.”
“You too, kid. You too.”
The day at Spitchwick couldn’t have gone any better. The children were having the time of their lives, playing badminton, chasing each other, dipping their toes into the river and eating large amounts of sugary crap their parents usually made them avoid. While Dominic, Jayne and Mel played football with the kids, Dave and I stretched ourselves out on a blanket, soaking up some rays. He’d been shooting glances my way all day, but there had barely been five minutes of quiet for us to talk without anyone else around. Mel eventually rounded up the troops, because we both knew Dave wanted to discuss New York with me. I’d been half expecting it since Tilly told me he’d asked for me to come along to the picnic.
“Come on then,” he said. “Tell me you agree with me.”
“Agree about what?” I asked, staring up at the blue sky and relishing the warmth of the sun on my skin.
“That Dom moving to New York is the stupidest thing you’ve ever heard.”
“Oh,” I laughed. “Yes. I completely, wholeheartedly agree.”
“So why haven’t you stopped him?”
“Stopped him?” I asked. “You can’t stop him doing anything once he’s set his mind to it. That’s just how he is.”
“You don’t want him to go.”
I sighed. “No. I think it’s going to do more harm than good.”