Me: The tide was really high down on the beach.
Nell: Yes. We haven’t seen it like that in a while.
Me: That’s because we’ve been trying to avoid all the tourists but most of them have gone home now.
Nell: We almost had the beach to ourselves.
Me: How lucky are we?
Nell: Extremely.
Me: I never take this for granted, you know. Living where we do.
Nell: I know you don’t.
Me: What were you three labs discussing with Kev, by the way?
Nell: When?
Me: Down on the beach. You all seemed really focused on something Kev was telling you.
Nell: Really? I can’t think what it was.
Me: Yes, you can. You’ve got that sly look when you’re not telling me something.
Nell: Good grief.
Me: What secrets are you all keeping?
Nell: Don’t be silly. We were probably discussing the high tide.
Me: It didn’t look like that kind of discussion to me.
Nell: Stop imagining things.
Me: It looked like a ‘Don’t tell Sara’ kind of conversation.
Nell: Here we go.
Me: You’re up to something. I know you are.
Nell: Nonsense.
Me: I’m going to find out so you might as well tell me now.
Nell: Honestly, one can’t even have a quiet conversation nowadays without you reading some kind of conspiracy into it.
Me: If that lion is back on the scene and you haven’t told me I shall be really angry.
Nell: What lion?
Me: The one you keep giving second chances to for some inexplicable reason.
Nell: Why would we be discussing lions on the beach?
Me: Why not?
Nell: I worry about you sometimes. I really do. Seeing things that aren’t there.
Me: You’re up to something, Nell. I know you are. I’m not giving up that easily. Sorry.
