And now Im gathering my bag and heading straight out, Alex said to his brothers wife.
Claire! Can you hear me? Alex shouted before even stepping inside.
Im listening, the woman replied, still tapping away on her tablet with a stylus.
Ian and his wife and their little girl are asking for a place to stay!
Claire knew exactly who Ian was her husbands younger brother, a restless lad two years her junior. Hed always seemed to be born with a camera in his hands, never far from it.
He loved snapping pictures, mostly of people, especially women. He started out at the local newspaper, then moved to an ad agency, and somehow wound up in a beauty contest a sort of gold rush for him.
He didnt stop there. He shot weddings, corporate launches, anything that paid. Even at his own brothers wedding he couldnt sit still, darting around the bride and clicking away.
Claire put the stylus aside, straightened up, and just then Alex walked into the room. She smiled at him.
So Im giving the goahead, she said.
It was nice of him to ask about the guests. After all, they lived by the coast and everyone wanted to pop over.
Claire didnt mind, though their cottage was tiny and theyd only started building a guest cottage the previous year.
We still have a few bits left to finish, she reminded Alex, who wasnt much of a handyman.
Just the finishing touches, he replied.
When are they planning to arrive? Claire asked.
If everyones on board, Id say in about two weeks, he said.
Brilliant, let them come, she agreed.
Fancy a walk? Alex suggested tentatively.
Too much work, she said.
I get it, but maybe
Claire rarely left the house. She only liked being out in the garden in the cooler evenings; otherwise she spent most of her time locked in her studio, drawing and drawing.
She was a bit on the thin side, always on diets, counting calories, then bingeeating, berating herself, and starting the whole cycle again.
Outside the sea crashed, the garden burst with roses, their scent filling the air. On the windowsill a fluffy cat dozed, opening its eyes only for a passing swallow.
Alex headed out. Claire stood, gave her back a quick rub, stepped onto the scales and sighed as the needle ticked up.
Again, she thought sadly, noticing half a kilo added.
She eyed the packet of biscuits shed brought to her desk that morning, already halfeaten.
Maybe one more and thats it, she mused. Her hand reached for another, but she felt a twinge of shame, set the pack back, and carried it to the kitchen.
Claire worked from home illustrating books, so all that was expected of her was the finished artwork. Alex, whod opened his own ad agency five years back, was always disappearing somewhere.
It all began with buying some businesscard equipment, then a camera, hiring a few artstudent interns, then graphic designers, writers, and before he knew it the agency was humming along.
He never stood still, knowing the ad market kept shifting. Soon he had a webdevelopment team and an ecommerce crew. He kept a modest staff about fifteen employees and a similar number of freelancers which brought in a decent income.
Theyd lived up north, but after a summer down south they were about to leave when the lady of the house told them she wanted to sell her plot.
Alex brushed it off; work was his whole world. Claire, however, fell in love with the idea of a piece of land a good twenty acres, albeit on a hillside and not the most prime spot.
After a chat with her dad, who backed the move and sent over the cash, Alex had to admit they needed to build something.
A couple of years later theyd got a threeroom cottage, and when guests started arriving they decided to add a little guest house.
Even though Claire and Alex had married before Ian did, their daughter Olive was the same age as Nell, Claires own little girl.
Ian might have stayed single forever, but it turned out his partner, Yvonne, was expecting, so a wedding became inevitable.
At the start of summer Claire sent Olive to stay with her mother. Nell was five, about to start school. Claire wanted the girls to meet, so after a quick chat with Alex she said shed pop over.
Ill be right back, she told Alex. Keep the guests happy and she covered the laptop screen with a protective film, make sure no one wanders in there.
Ill lock the door, Alex joked.
Claire set off with a light heart. A few days later Ian arrived with his wife and little Nell.
Wow! Yvonne exclaimed, having heard countless stories about Alexs cottage but never actually visited.
Thats Claires work, Alex said proudly, gesturing toward the garden.
The garden was mostly wild: a pear tree, a hazel, apple and plum seedlings, all growing fast enough that the mower could barely keep up.
Olive, see that cherry tree, Alex said gently, pointing to a lofty branch.
Olive darted off.
Lovely place youve got, Ian said, pulling his suitcases into the guest house.
What do you have in here? Yvonne asked.
Alex spent nearly an hour strolling the grounds, pointing out each tree, then they all went down the hill into the main house.
Seeing Claires studio door ajar, Alex slipped in. Olive, feeling like the lady of the house, brushed the film off the screen and reached for her stylus.
Stop! Alex said calmly but firmly. You cant touch that.
He took the stylus from her and placed it on a shelf.
And really, you shouldnt be in this room at all.
Olive bolted out. Alex pulled the protective film back onto the screen, shut the door tight, and turned to Yvonne.
Is your wife still well, on the heavier side? she asked with a sly grin.
Alex winced. He knew Claire wasnt exactly a runway model, but Yvonne had once been a photomodel herself.
Trying to be gentle, he replied,
Not everyone can be as slim as you.
Yvonne smirked selfsatisfiedly.
Still, its not something to talk about, right?
She muttered,
To stay slim you just have to eat less.
I get it, Alex agreed. Claire has tried all sorts of diets, counted calories, but
Eat less, Yvonne repeated.
Alex realised his hint wasnt getting through, so he blurted,
Dont say that about Claire.
Yvonne huffed, shrugged, and as she left the guest house said,
Just eat less, thats all. Dont be a pig.
Alex winced at the comment. He didnt understand why these models were so nasty. He dealt with them at work; they were proud of their looks, which they’d never earned. Nature gave them the looks, but instead of enjoying them they looked for shortcuts.
The next day, just as promised, Claire returned with Nell. Alex met them, sighed, sat down and gave Olive a hug.
The little girl looked healthier chubbier cheeks, fuller lips.
Grandma, Claire said protectively.
No worries, a few days of fresh air and a swim and shell be right, Alex reassured.
How are our visitors? Claire asked.
Theyve gone to the sea, should be back soon.
They didnt starve, did they? Just pizza? the houses lady of the house asked, opening the fridge.
Nope, Yvonne cooked something, so they didnt die of hunger.
Ill whip up lunch, Claire said, changing into an apron and heading to the kitchen.
An hour later the guests came back. Yvonne was quiet this time, but Alex could see she was still not happy with Claires looks, nor his daughters.
The lunch was hearty. Claire, thinking everyone was famished, made a meat casserole, sliced salads, fruit, and baked two pies. The kids ate everything, but after ten minutes Yvonne scolded Nell:
Dont eat so much or youll end up as plump as Natalie.
Fortunately, Claire and Natalie had already stepped outside, but Alex heard everything. His face flushed with anger; he was about to speak up when his own daughter burst into the room.
Daddy, daddy, can I run up the hill? she asked excitedly.
The guest house sat at the bottom of a slope that led up to the land Claire had bought, which explained the price.
The hill was covered in hazel and wild vines clung to the steepest parts. In the mornings you didnt need an alarm; the birds woke you up.
At first that annoyed Alex, but he soon got used to it and couldnt imagine life without the birdsong.
Take Olive with you, Alex suggested to his daughter.
She ran over to Olive, held out her hand and said,
Come, Ill show you the nest, theres a ravine and stones too!
Olive turned to her mother, then glared at Natalie and, after a beat, said,
I dont make friends with pigs.
Alex gently lifted his daughter and asked her to go help her mum watering the flowers. The upset Olive ran off.
Alex turned to his brother, who had been sitting with his wife and Olive the whole time.
Youve hurt my daughter, he said, hurt, calling her a pig.
I didnt say it! Ian snapped.
You stayed silent, as did your wife, Alex said slowly, his gaze shifting from his brother to Yvonne and then to Olive. You both called my girl a pig.
Yvonnes face turned pink. Ian had nothing to say hed indeed kept quiet and never commented to his daughter.
Alex gave the family a cold stare, then, with a hint of contempt, walked out.
That evening, when Claire set the table, Ian arrived with his family. Alex thought maybe someone would apologise, but they acted as if nothing had happened.
Claire, as hostess, served a wonderful dinner. Ian praised the food, Alex backed him up.
Nell, full from the meal, slumped back in her chair. Claire brought tea and biscuits that Alex had bought.
Yvonne grabbed one, cut off the cream and started eating, as did Olive.
Claire reached for a biscuit, remembered shed promised herself enough, and set it aside.
Yvonne noticed, smiled and whispered,
To stay thin you just dont eat.
Alex slammed his palm on the table. The sudden noise made Yvonne jump, looking confused at him.
Go for a walk, Alex said to his wife.
She took their daughter and stepped outside, leaving the houses owner alone with the guests.
He went back to his brother after all, he was still a man of his family:
This time youve insulted my wife.
Thats not true! Ian replied.
You were silent when she he looked at Yvonne said my wife was fat.
But shes really fat! Yvonne defended herself.
In the same breath Alexs hand struck the table again, making Yvonne jump. He turned to Ian:
First you insulted my daughter, calling her a pig.
Stop it! Ian shouted, realizing where his brother was heading.
And now youve insulted my wife, calling her fat and telling her to eat less.
But shes right, Ian said, looking at his own wife.
I wont let anyone insult my family in my house, Alex said, then fell silent.
Fine, sorry, Yvonne replied disdainfully. Im not to blame shes like that
Alex stared coldly, then slowly said,
Im letting you stay the night, but youll be out of here by tomorrow morning.
What?! Ian shouted.
And thats because Im right?! Yvonne shrieked. Shes fat, and your daughters fat too!
One more word Alex rose, leaned on the table and said, One more word and youre both out of my house right now.
Yvonne jumped up, flustered, and without thanking anyone for the dinner, bolted to the guest house. Olive chased after her.
Thats all Ive said, Alex said to his brother.
Ian stayed silent, probably knowing exactly who his wife was.
At dawn, skipping breakfast, Ians family hurried toward the exit.
The air was scented with blooming magnolias, the sun just beginning to warm.
Where are they off to? Claire asked Alex, wiping the table with a kitchen towel. Not happy with the guest house or my cooking?
All good, Alex hugged his wife, readjusting the curtain.
But why? Claire worried, sitting on the edge of a chair.
Its how it is, he replied. How about we head to the sea today and spend the whole day there?
Hearing that, cheerful Nell sprinted to her bedroom, returned moments later in a swimsuit and a huge inflatable ring.
Her bubbly steps echoed through the house.
Im ready! she declared, marching toward the door, humming a cheery tune.
Not so fast! her mum called, also heading to change.
Alex felt a pang of sadness he hadnt seen his brother in ages and hoped the two girls would become friends.
Claire, ever the organiser, came over.
Weve got water, fruit, towels and sunscreen, she said, packing everything into a large beach bag.
Great, lets go, he replied, tossing the rest of Ians familys luggage aside and changing himself.
Within five minutes they were down the hill, heading for the sea.
The southern sun grew hotter, and the salty sea breeze carried the scent of brine and kelp.
