As she walked towards the front door, her mobile rang. Ellie.
‘Mum, is it all right if I come home for a bit?’
‘Yes, of course. When are you coming?’
‘Be with you in about an hour,’ Ellie laughed. ‘Sorry to spring it on you.’
‘That’s fine but … have you got your key? Because neither Dad nor I are home at the moment.’
‘Oh. Where are you?’
‘Dad’s on a business trip and I’m in Devon – having a short break.’ No need to explain why. ‘Ellie, is everything all right? You sound a bit hyper. I can come home this evening if you need me.’
‘Everything is fine. Just got an unexpected holiday. Enjoy your break. I’ll see you when you get back. Love you.’
‘Love you too,’ Harriet said as the call ended. Something had happened in Ellie’s life, she was sure. She was too determinedly cheerful. What did ‘coming home for a bit’ mean in reality?
The river was sparkling in the noon-day sun as Harriet walked back into town deep in thought. She’d promised to meet Sabine at the kiosk for a picnic lunch.
Sabine had a small crowd round her as Harriet approached, so she hung back watching the passenger ferry and looking at the river scene. Far more boats and moorings in the river than she remembered.
Once Sabine had finished dealing with the holidaymakers, she opened a couple of the director’s chairs and placed them on the embankment pavement.
‘How did it go up at the house? Pasty and wine okay?’ she asked. Without waiting for an answer to her second question, she handed Harriet a plastic cup of red wine. ‘Pasties will be here soon.’
‘It was weird. After all these years it was as if I’d never been away,’ Harriet said. ‘I kept expecting Amy to appear and tell me off for not telling her I was popping in and why hadn’t I brought Ellie.’ She took a sip of the wine. ‘I can’t tell you how guilty I feel over Amy. I wish I could say sorry to her. Make up for the lost years.’
‘Doing what she wants and living in the house could be one way,’ Sabine said.
‘But she won’t know, will she?’ Harriet sighed. ‘It’s too late.’
Their pasties were delivered just then by a young lad on an old-fashioned bicycle with a large wicker basket fixed to the front. For several minutes both women ate contentedly.
‘Gosh these are good,’ Harriet said. ‘Haven’t had a pasty in years.’ She glanced at Sabine, who’d muttered an oath.
‘Just seen Owen coming this way. Didn’t think when I suggested lunch here that certain other people would be around. Sorry.’
Harriet shrugged. ‘Not to worry.’ Managing two days incognito in her home town had to be some sort of record anyway.
‘Hi, Owen,’ Sabine said. ‘Guess who’s turned up?’
‘Harriet, nice to see you. I’d heard you were back and wondered if we’d meet.’
Harriet glanced at Sabine, who held up her hands. ‘I swear I didn’t tell him. Who did?’ she said glaring at Owen.
‘Can’t remember,’ Owen said, shrugging. ‘Staying long?’
Harriet shook her head. ‘Just a few days.’
‘Sabine filling you in with all the news?’
‘Hear you’ve done really well with the business,’ Harriet said.
‘She tell you I’m off at the end of the season for a bit of travelling? Try to persuade her to come with me, will you? Right. I’m off to have lunch with the mayor – want to bend his ear about this kiosk. I’ll be back for the 2.30 trip. Don’t forget to sign the Save the Kiosk petition, Harriet.’
As he left them, Harriet looked at Sabine, ‘Travelling with Owen?’
Sabine shrugged. ‘Told him I’ll think about it, that’s all, but it’s not going to happen.’
‘Could be fun.’
‘Mmm,’ Sabine said. ‘More wine?’
‘No thanks. Have to drive to Totnes later to meet Frank,’ Harriet said. ‘Oh, Beeny what am I going to do?’
‘Selfishly, I want you to come back! It all happened so long ago I can’t see it affecting your life now. People won’t even realise you’re a true local unless you tell them. They’ll think you’re another incomer. And old friends will just accept that you’re back.’
Harriet looked at Sabine. ‘You make it sound so easy.’
‘Accept the legacy, Tatty. Worry about it afterwards. Ten to one, there won’t be half the problems you imagine happening.’
‘Even if that proves to be true – what about Ellie’s reaction? I’m terrified she’ll hate me for my past mistakes.’
Harriet scrunched up the plastic cup and threw it in a nearby waste bin. ‘I’d better go and let you get on with selling tickets.’
Impulsively she hugged Sabine. ‘Oh it’s so good to be back together. Why did we ever lose touch?’
‘Because you did a runner, you daft bitch,’ Sabine said.
Harriet laughed. Beeny never had been one to hold back.
Four hours later, Harriet, sitting in the car at Totnes railway station waiting for Frank, mentally went over the pros and cons regarding Amy’s legacy.
Accepting and going back to live in the town – could she really do it? The condition of living in the house for a year wasn’t that long, really. If it didn’t work out at the end of the twelve months, she could return home and use the house simply as a holiday home. Or even rent it out. The last few days had shown her that she still had friends in the town and the warm fuzzy feeling she’d always got driving down the hill towards the Higher Ferry whenever she’d been away for some reason, had hit her hard the day she’d arrived. Deep down, she knew she wanted to live back in the town.
Ellie’s reaction was the real worry. There was so much she didn’t know about the past. Would it all have to come out when she was told about the legacy? The scandal itself might have happened a long time ago and, like Beeny said, people were more forgiving because it was so common place these days, but how would Ellie react to her mother’s secret. She wouldn’t have to tell Ellie anything about the past if she turned the inheritance down, but how could she live with herself if she did that? Besides, she and Frank had always said they would tell Ellie the truth about the past when the time was right. Now Amy’s legacy had catapulted into their lives, the moment couldn’t be denied any longer. Whatever the consequences.
And Frank? How would all this affect their relationship? Would he be prepared to move with her to the town she’d vowed never to return to? Could his work commitments even make it impossible for him to live in Devon? No that wasn’t a reason for not retuning. These days the Internet made it possible to live and work anywhere.
Harriet reached into her bag and took out Amy’s letter and turned it over and over. She didn’t need to read it again. She’d read it so many times now she could have recited the contents word for word if she’d been asked. Intriguing that Amy had anticipated her saying NO to the legacy. There were so many reasons to turn it down – and just the one for accepting – whatever the problems it brought her, Harriet, there was no denying it was Ellie’s birth right. How could she possibly deny her?
Getting out of the car as the London express pulled into the station, Harriet sighed. She and Frank would discuss it but, in truth, there was only one decision they could make …
CHAPTER TEN
ELLIE
Parking in her parents’ driveway, Ellie sat for a few moments physically unable to summon up the energy to actually get out of the car. Gripping the steering wheel, she banged her head against it in despair. God what a twenty-four hours. Job and home gone simultaneously.
In one way she was relieved her parents were away and she didn’t have to face them, but on the other hand she longed for a hug from her dad and a gruff ‘It’ll sort itself, pet,’ his answer to everything that had upset her throughout life. Mum would give her a quick cuddle and make her a hot chocolate before sitting down, prepared to listen to all the ins and outs of what had gone wrong this time.
She was stiff when she
finally got out of the car and went into the house. She’d unpack the car later. Not that there was a lot of stuff. Mainly clothes and a few personal items that were lying about. She’d literally flown around the flat pushing things into her large rucksack, knowing deep down she was unlikely to see anything she’d missed ever again. She sighed deeply. Right now, she needed a coffee.
Once in the kitchen, she switched the machine on and heaped coffee into the filter. Waiting for the water to drip through, she wandered upstairs to her old room. Now technically the guest room, it lacked the funky wallpaper and posters she’d pinned up everywhere in her teenage years before leaving home. For the past five years the walls had been covered in a bland cream paper with nondescript twirls on it. The old-fashioned kidney-shaped dressing table still stood in front of the window, the ruched material concealing its drawers and central shelf the same toile de joy pattern that hung at the window. Rod had been scathing: ‘God, this room belongs in the last century.’ He’d been dismissive of everything else in the house too. Oh, not to Harriet and Frank. To them he was charm itself. It was just to her in private that he poked fun. When she’d protested he was being unkind, he’d just looked at her and shrugged.
Ellie went back downstairs. Pouring her coffee and helping herself to a couple of biscuits from the tin, she went into the sitting room and flopped onto the settee. How naive she’d been to waste nine months of her life with him, thinking they were good together. That he might actually love her. She should have known when he didn’t introduce her to his parents for months.
‘Plenty of time for that,’ he kept saying, as if he didn’t want to introduce her to them. When he had taken her home, the visit hadn’t been a success. The family had treated her like a difficult guest for the whole visit.
Rod had met Frank and Harriet early on in their relationship – and that hadn’t been a great success either. Mum hadn’t taken to him at all, and as for Frank, he’d been a typical growly dad thinking nobody was good enough for his girl. Thinking back, from the time she’d moved into the flat, their relationship had changed. Rod always busy at work, their social life non-existent except for the occasional cinema visit and then it was always his choice. How had she failed to notice just how self-centred Rod was? How selfish. Clearly she’d been useful to pay the rent. She hadn’t just been naive – she’d been plain stupid. How had she failed to notice just how self-centred Rod was?
At nearly thirty years old, you’d have thought she’d have known better. She’d been so desperate for a relationship, the chance to finally settle down and maybe start a family, she’d overlooked so much. Was she destined never to find her soul-mate? Never to have a lasting loving relationship? Her track record wasn’t good in that department, that was for sure. Mum had once told her she was too trusting. Well, not any more. This was the last time she was going to jump into any relationship without first analysing every single aspect of the man in question.
Draining the last of her coffee, Ellie got to her feet and stretched. Time to get her stuff out of the car. Tomorrow she’d start the dual business of job and flat hunting. By the time Mum and Dad came home, she’d be organised and on her way to sorting her life out.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SABINE
May Bank Holiday Monday found Sabine huddled in the kiosk with the heater on and just the top half of the stable door hitched open. Thankfully without any wind behind it, the rain wasn’t blowing into the kiosk. The town was always crowded over the Bank holiday whatever the weather, and Sabine was busy selling tickets for the 11 o’clock trip up river.
Holidaymakers, desperate to find something to do out of the rain, had decided a trip on the Queen of the River, with its below deck saloon and bar, was ideal. It wasn’t as if the river was rough. No wind making the water choppy, just rain, rain, rain. What better way to pass the last day of the long weekend than gliding up river with a glass of wine in hand. Lunch in Totnes and then back down to Dartmouth before beginning the long trek back home courtesy of the A38 and the M5. Personally, Sabine would have been happy if she could just have stayed at home in this weather and curled up with a good book.
By half past ten the boat was fully booked and Sabine was turning people away. She was just thinking about putting the kettle on for a coffee when Johnnie appeared, waving a bag of warm doughnuts at her.
‘Coffee here or at the cottage?’
‘Your place,’ Sabine said. ‘Much cosier today. Give me twenty minutes to see everybody on board and I’ll be with you. Don’t eat all the doughnuts before I get there.’
Sabine was locking the kiosk as Queen of the River began to move away from the landing stage when BB walked past.
‘Morning. Care to join me for a drink?’
‘Sorry. My brother is expecting me for coffee and doughnuts at his place.’ Sabine hesitated. ‘Want to come? You can talk boats.’
‘Sure would.’
As they walked through town, Sabine said. ‘So whereabouts in American are you from?’
‘Small town on the coast of South Carolina,’ BB answered. ‘Ever been to America?’
Sabine shook her head. ‘No. Nearly went once when I was younger but sadly life got in the way. Might put a visit to the USA on my bucket list.’
‘Well, if you ever make it over to South Carolina you make sure to find me and the family. You’d be made right welcome.’
‘Thank you, BB. Right, Johnnie’s cottage is down this lane,’ and she led the way up to a navy-blue door and turned the handle.
‘Johnnie, I’ve brought a friend. Would like to talk to you about boats, I think.’
Once the introductions were made, and BB was admiring the framed pictures of various boats Johnnie had hanging everywhere, Sabine made the coffee and took it through into the sitting room.
Talk naturally turned to boats and sailing and BB started to tell Johnnie the kind of thing he was hoping to find. Sipping her coffee, Sabine tuned out from the conversation.
Telling BB she’d put a visit to the US on her bucket list had reminded her about Owen and his plans. Was the US on his itinerary to visit? She’d have to ask him. Going with someone would be fun. She’d never liked the idea of travelling alone. Wonder where else was he planning to go? She’d always fancied seeing Italy, Mexico too. If she agreed to go with Owen they could plan a list of destinations between them. India could be fascinating too. He’d said ‘no strings’. They could be geriatric back-packers together – couch-surfing their way around the world for six months. She smiled at the thought. Owen was always good company.
She was jerked out of her daydream when BB stood up.
‘Thanks for the coffee. I’d best get going. Thought I’d head over to Kingswear marina today, see if they’ve got anything interesting on their books.’
‘See you around,’ Sabine said and Johnnie politely got up to see him out.
‘Nice bloke,’ Johnnie said as the front door slammed behind BB.
‘You know he’s looking for somewhere to live for summer?’ Sabine said. ‘Ever thought of taking a lodger? Be company for you. Wouldn’t have to worry about the place when you were away.’
‘God, no,’ Johnnie said. ‘I need my own space. Can’t bear the idea of a stranger – however nice he is – being here.’ He hesitated. ‘Anyway, I’m thinking about selling this place.’
Sabine looked at him, surprised.
‘It’s over three years since Annie died. You sold up and moved much quicker after Dave. Kickstarted a new life for you and Peter. Think it’s about time I did the same.’
‘I know you and Annie loved this place, but you’ll always have the memories,’ Sabine said gently. ‘Wherever you live.’
‘Might sell the boat too and use all the money to buy a bigger one and live on board.’
‘Good idea,’ Sabine said. At last Johnnie was beginning to think about his future.
‘Owen told you about his plans for a six-month sabbatical?’
Johnnie shook his head. ‘No. When’
s he planning to go? And where?’
‘End of the season. Not sure which countries exactly – Europe obviously.’ Sabine paused before adding, ‘He’s asked me to go with him.’
‘You going?’
‘Told him I’d think about it. But if I go, I’d like to see more than just Europe. Mexico, India and Iceland. Places like that appeal. Just a bit worried about what people might think. Him and me going off together, because it wouldn’t be like that.’
‘Might be before you come back,’ Johnnie teased. ‘India. The Taj Mahal. We all know how romantic that place is.’ Sabine poked her tongue out at him.
Johnnie hesitated before adding, ‘He’s a good bloke. Been in love with you for years.’
‘I know,’ Sabine said. ‘I kind of love him too but …’ She shrugged and decided to change the subject. ‘See you’ve got a letter from Martha,’ she said pointing at the letter lying on the coffee table. ‘Any interesting news?’
‘Bit strange really. Here, read it.’ Johnnie picked it up and handed it to her. ‘Tell me what you think.’
Sabine quickly scanned the letter before looking up at him. ‘Not like Martha, is it? Maybe ring her?’
‘Done that. All she would say is that she needs to talk to me in person and the sooner the better.’
‘It’s probably just French bureaucracy getting its knickers in a twist over something and she needs some advice,’ Sabine said.
Johnny nodded. ‘I’ll go over soon for a quick visit between deliveries. Help her sort whatever it is.’
‘Make sure you’re back for my exhibition. I need you here for support,’ Sabine said.
CHAPTER TWELVE
BB
BB walked out of the letting agency’s office depressed. He’d been so confident he’d be able to find somewhere other than the hotel to live for summer, but as the weeks went by it seemed a fruitless search. All the agency could offer him was a week here and there in various holiday lets. The idea of having to move house several times during the summer didn’t appeal.
The Little Kiosk By The Sea Page 6