Page 47 of A Snowfall of Silver

Russ appears, peering over the side. “What’s that?” he says. “It’s got red eyes!”

He plunges his hand in the pool. “No! Russ!” I exclaim, before he violently withdraws his hand, sending a spray of freezing seawater over me and Alma, a string of curse words falling from his mouth.

“It’s called a velvet swimming crab,” I say, half in sympathy, half-laughing at the outraged expression on his face. “They’re notorious for giving you an angry nip if you bother them.”

“A nip?” Russ’s eyebrows raise incredulously. “That thing almost had my hand off!”

I take his hand in both of mine, rubbing it gently. “It hasn’t even broken the skin.” I look up at him.

He smiles lazily. “But it hurts. I think it needs further ministrations.”

“What seems to be the problem?” Dan arrives.

“Russ has hurt his hand,” Alma says drily. “He appears in need of a nurse.”

“I volunteer,” Dan smirks.

“No offence, Daniel, but yours is not exactly the tender care I was hoping for.” Russ pulls his hand away, a reluctant huff of laughter in his voice.

He and Dan climb further along, daring each other higher and higher up the rocks.

Alma and I watch them for a moment. “Be careful,” Alma says finally.

Her tone is so serious that I look at her in surprise.

“Of what?” I ask.

She squints up at the boys. “Of Russ. There’s something…” She trails off, and then looks at me again, her gaze earnest. “Just be careful.”

I don’t know what to say to that, but we’re interrupted then by the sound of the boys hollering and beating their chests, showing off how high they’ve climbed.

I notice Kit and Viola walking by the edge of the sea, their heads turn towards Dan and Russ too, and Viola lifts her hand in a wave. She looks happier than I’ve seen her down here, by the sea, her eyes sparkling, her hair being ruffled by the playful hand of the breeze.

“Let’s skim stones,” I say suddenly.

“I haven’t the faintest idea how to skim stones,” Alma replies. “Not a lot of sea in London.”

I laugh and lead her down to the shore. I think I see a flicker of annoyance in Viola’s eyes, but Kit greets us easily. I can hear snatches of Dan and Russ squabbling as they climb back down to join us. Soon I’m teaching all of them how to skim stones across the surface of the water.

Kit watches quietly as the others’ stones sink with sad splashing sounds. Then he pulls a stone from his pocket and sends it skipping across the water.

“Six bounces!” I exclaim. “You’ve been holding out on me!”

“All those summer holidays in Devon,” he grins, the freckles on his nose scrunching up.

“Pah! Cornwall knocks Devon’s socks off every time.” I begin to search around for a likely looking stone, determined to best him. Which I do, of course.

“Nine!” Kit lets out a low whistle. “I bow before the master.”

I don’t know how long we’re there in the end, on the beach, laughing like children, exploring, but eventually the others start to peel away.

“I’m freezing,” Viola says through chattering teeth. “Do you think we should go and see if Sophie’s got the fire going at the pub?”

“Oh, yes, that sounds like bliss,” Dan agrees.

“I’d kill for tea and toast.” Alma tugs Russ’s arm, and he wanders off with her, talking about lunch.

Finally, it’s just Kit and I left. I’ve been waiting for this moment all morning.