The article concluded with an interview with one of the families displaced. Monique Tremont and her three children were now homeless as the fire had spread through to their apartment. “We have nothing, only the clothes we stand in. My kids lost their toys, everything! But we are alive and thank the Lord no-one died” Kind-hearted locals have entered into the community spirit. A picture accompanied the article showing donations that had been collected, blankets stacked high against boxes of goods. But the generosity was superseded by that of benefactor and chamber of commerce member Nico Devanti. Complete with another plug for the charity fundraiser. Carrie spat her coffee! It was him. Her stranger from the beach was Nico Devanti.
“When we heard the devastating news and plight of local people and families we knew we had to step in. It’s important that we all unite in our community to help our friends and neighbours. By creating affordable housing we are taking those first steps together. ”
She wiped her mouth with the napkin and looked around to see if anyone had witnessed her coffee spluttering. Thankfully no-one had.
“Our foundation is assisting with locating and providing homes to those affected.”
The article concluded that a delighted Monique would be re-homed but help was still needed with donations. Volunteers were painting and decorating homes. “I thank the Lord that my children are safe but I also thank the Lord that he has brought Mr Devanti into our lives.”
“Would you like anything else or some fresh coffee?”
“Some more coffee would be lovely, thanks Tansie” she had read the name of her waitress embroidered on her uniform.
Tansie returned a few minutes later with a fresh pot and cup. She cleared away the used tableware and pointed to the open newspaper.
“That’s my cousin, Monique – it was a real shock the fire and all – she’s staying with my Aunt until the house is ready. House is fit to burst with all those children. They are all used to having their games and the internet. The oldest boy Trey is lost without his computer!”
“Where they in the house Tansie when the fire started? It didn’t say in the article.”
“No thank the Lord! But we think that is why they didn’t get a chance to save any of their things. When they found out and got home as quick as they could, the fire department wouldn’t let them in – not safe – then pouf – it’s all gone!”
“That’s a shame Tansie, I’m only here for a few days more but let me know if I can help”
“That’s very kind of you Carrie I will be sure to let you know”
Another cup of coffee and she was still pondering that Nico who she met this morning was the same infamous billionaire playboy. She had thought it was him but he was walking his dog for goodness sake! Not the kind of behaviour she would have expected from his wild exploits. In his twenties he had he had partied through Europe and was rarely seen without a different beauty hanging off his arm. Affairs with movie stars and models were tabloid news. When the affairs ended there were no exposes or tell all tales. They all loved him and seemingly parted on good terms. The paparazzi loved him too for there was always a story around Nico Devanti. The magazine editors also loved him as there circulation list would always increase. But suddenly the partying stopped and he seemed to have matured into the respected businessman that he was now known for. A long term relationship with Lea into the mix who named dropped her boyfriend at every opportunity.
Full of caffeine she returned to her room. Housekeeping had already been and cleaned her room back to its immaculate state. She checked her phone 09.55am – only 04.55am back home so too early to make any calls or texts. But she did have a missed call and a text from Auntie Belle.
Carrie replied
“Hi Belle, I’m sure Mum gave you an ear bashing! I know she is just being overprotective and I’m being too defensive. You know how we clash! Anyway the Inn is lovely. Planning to stay at here for another four days but I haven’t booked my return flight yet. Nothings confirmed. Speak soon. C x”
Beep – a reply from Belle.
“Ok darling, Be Good!! Bx”
Carrie returned to her ipad to check her emails but there was nothing of interest. A few online sales that she had missed out on. Points and rewards to be collected on her bonus cards. An email advising her that car insurance was up for renewal.
That had been Rob’s domain, all of the insurances and renewals, anything financial. Last year with everything that had happened her Dad had made those decisions when they were needed. Reminders in her calendar that it was Claire’s birthday next week. At six months pregnant her options for a gift would be limited from their normal birthday routine. Time to get the thinking cap on. Normally they would go out for a girlie lunch which turned into a boozy lunch – some shopping – a few fashion disasters that they would return to the shops later – a girlie day out.
Mmm no booze but maybe still the lunch and sensible shopping this time. Her sister’s swollen ankles would be the deciding factor here! She might even get Claire something whilst she was here in the Cape. Another tradition was that she always made her sister red velvet cupcakes for her birthday. Again, this tradition had been missed last year and Carrie had been determined to resume it this year. It was to be a demonstration that she was getting back to ‘normal’ or whatever that was.
Now that she was here she had to get back to her plan, forget about handsome strangers and get some perspective on what she wanted to do. The reason that she had been drawn to this area in the first place. First things first, she got the lighthouse book out. It was time to face her fears. She had the notepad ready which she had scribbled her plans for this trip out in. When she spoke with Terri later she wanted to express some knowledge as to why she had picked coming to the Cape. Despite this her mind was drawn back to meeting Nico this morning. She picked up the lighthouse book determined to focus her mind.
Opening the book and turning to page twenty three, Portland Head light house and the tiny yellow butterfly. The sun was low in the sky casting a dusky glow over the sea and rocks. A shard of sun highlighting the butterfly on a rock. She ran her finger over the corner of the page. Almost expecting the butterfly to come alive at her touch. The description of the lighthouse was impressive. A large white tower with a white Victorian keeper’s house and buildings topped with red roofs. She wondered if you could access the tower but maybe that would be another question for Terri or the website might hold that information. She had learned the opening hours 10am to 4pm, no access to the tower, a café on site and the keeper’s house now contained the museum. She just needed to check the directions with Terri and it was a go for tomorrow.
It had started to rain outside tapping against the windows. Carrie stood for a few moments staring out at the bay before picking up her mobile. It was time to contact home again. Just after 7am back home and her Mum would already be up. The phone was answered within a few rings.
“Good Morning Mum how’s things back home?”
“Hi Carrie, all okay here. How are you?”
“I’m good Mum, really good. I think the sea air agrees with me. I went for a walk a few hours ago, cleared the cobwebs away. I’m going to call Claire later. Is she okay?”
“Yes but the lease has fallen through on the new house.”
“Oh No, what happened?”
“The owners removed the listing, returned their deposits. It’s a disaster for them Carrie. Dad and I have told them it’s for the best if they move back home as they’ve already given notice on their flat. Just until they get another place to stay.”
“How long do they have left?”
“They have to be out of the flat for Friday. Claire doesn’t want to commit to an extension on their lease at the flat. She wants out. There are boxes everywhere. Harry wants to take his toys out of boxes already packed then having a tantrum when he can’t get anything out. Your sister is panicking. Ryan is working in Edinburgh this week it’s too short notice to take any more time off. We are going to hire a van an
d move some of their belongings. Your cousin Michael is going to help too.”
She knew if she didn’t cut in now her Mum would continue to talk and talk and talk.
“Mum, I have an idea, you have my spare keys, and so does Claire. I have plenty of room at my place. All those bedrooms. They can stay at mine. There’s room in the garage for their boxes and stuff plus you know I redecorated the study. That room is ready just for a cot or bed or both to be added to. I was planning on getting some more furniture for the room for the babies to stay over. But I’m sure some of Claire’s will do the trick. What do you think?”
“Carrie, are you sure? You know we have plenty of room too. Let me call Claire, talk her through the options. Your sister can be just as stubborn as you! Give me half an hour”
“Okay Mum, I will call you back and you can let me know what she thinks”
She hoped her sister would agree and in this instance take the help offered. Claire would be so disappointed the lease had fallen through. They had outgrown the flat and with the baby on the way the new house would have been ideal. Claire had been so excited. Carrie had all that room at her home and even if Rob had been alive she knew he would have been the first to make the offer too. When the half hour was up she called back home.
“Hi Mum, well what did she say?”
“She wants to speak to you, just to make sure you are absolutely 100% sure about this but she did agree it was the best option. Such a relief. I know that you can keep an eye on each other”
“Thanks for that Mum. Oh that’s great news; I will give her a call now. She can move in straight away.”
“Brilliant, will speak with you later, love you.”
“Love you too Mum”
The phone was answered within a few rings.
“Hi Claire, tell me all about it!”
“Oh Carrie, what a nightmare! It’s all been very strange. I got an email yesterday, on a Sunday of all things when we got back home from Mums, no phone call or anything just an email to tell me the lease had fallen through! What if I hadn’t checked? What would they have done?”
She repeated most of what their Mother had already told Carrie.
“So what do you think? Are you okay about moving into mine until you get something sorted?”
“I’m sure, are you sure Carrie? It’s a big thing, different from a sleep over you know.”
“Yes, Claire Bear, I wouldn’t have made the offer if I hadn’t thought it through, you know that. The house is far too big for me on my own. It will be good to have company and my favourite little guy Harry”
“Thanks Carrie, I was prepared to move back home with the parents, I just feel so stressed with it all.”
She started to cry. Carrie was shocked. Claire wasn’t a crier.
“Claire, it’s okay, everything will be fine, now listen, you have keys to my place, you can move in whenever you are ready. Mum said Dad and Michael are helping with the move.”
Carrie continued as the sobs abated. “Plenty of room in the garage believe it or not, I was having a clear out over the last few weeks so don’t worry about storage. You can put Harry’s cot-bed into the new bedroom. I managed to get some furniture but you might want to add some of your own and maybe a black out blind to the room, I don’t think that one is any good for keeping the sunlight out or it can wait until I’m home. Remember I was planning on making that room a sleep over room for Harry and the new baby!”
“Okay, I’m feeling a bit better now. I’m usually the calm one. Damn these hormones”
“Claire, you are six months pregnant for goodness sake! Of course you will be feeling out of sorts. Another thing you will need to get some stair gates to keep Harry out of mischief. If I think of anything else, I will let you know.”
“Great minds think alike, I can use the stair gates I have here but think I might just get new ones for yours.”
“Everything will work out fine, you know it will.”
“I loved living in the flat before we had Harry, it was great but we need a home of our own and I thought we would have that security with the new lease. This will give us some breathing space to get looking again for somewhere to live.”
“No rush from me, you will have a few days on your own to get settled whilst I’m over here. I spoke to Auntie Belle last night. I think she is going to try and pop over before I go home. Now .. are you sitting down?”
“Typical Auntie Belle, only she would think of travelling from one side of America to the next as just popping out. What have you got to tell me?”
“Well, I went for a walk along the beach this morning. Oh Claire, it’s lovely here. You would like it.”
“And?”
“You will never guess who I met?”
“Carrie, spill it. Who did you meet? Can’t have been Auntie Belle?
“A dog.”
“You met a dog Carrie, very good.”
“Don’t be silly Claire, yes I met a dog but I also met the dog owner…. Are you waiting .. Nico Devanti!”
“Ohhhhh, what was he like?”
“His dog was playing fetch and then he introduced himself. Not the dog ha but Nico. He was nice for the few minutes I spoke with him.”
“What about the glamorous girlfriend? Was she playing fetch too?”
“Nope, no girlfriend, just Nico. Very attractive too!”
“Ha Ha, so what are you doing the rest of today after that excitement?”
“The innkeeper, Terri, she is going to go through my plans for visiting some of the light houses and then I will have a look at my return flights.”
“Keep safe Carrie and let me know when you are going. I’ve been trying to speak to Ryan but he is travelling to work so will chat with him later about staying with you. But if I’m happy, he’s happy.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Over a cup of coffee Terri gently guided Carrie through the local light house attractions. She even had some leaflets from the local tourist board. They were sitting again in Terri’s private rooms. In daylight the window casting a view over the generous back gardens of the Inn. A large tree complete with swing caught her attention as it swayed.
“I think tomorrow, I will go to the Portland Head Lighthouse.”
“You won’t be disappointed Carrie. It really is impressive on a clear day. What do you think of the Cape so far?”
“In this short time, I’ve really fallen for the place. I had a fantastic walk this morning along the beach. I could quite easily do that every day! But it looks like I will have to move my plans along and think about returning quicker than I thought.”
“I have so many guests returning season after season. I feel the same way myself. What’s happened to change your plans?”
Carrie took a sip of the coffee and explained her sisters living arrangements.
“I feel partly responsible. They were due to move house last year and I’m sure with everything that happened to me when Rob died my sister had to renew her lease when she didn’t have many options. I feel they were backed into a corner.”
“Carrie things happen for a reason and maybe your sister just wasn’t meant to move into that other house?”
“Maybe, but I’ve good a good feeling about her moving into mine. Mmm these are delicious Terri,” Carrie was working her way through a second cookie on the tray next to the coffee pot.
“Freshly made this morning, malted milk chocolate flavour”
“Oh yum!”
“We make a few batches a day, try and mix it up with different flavours. They are supposed to be for guests but quite a few get eaten by all the staff. It’s a guilty pleasure but one you can’t help but indulge in!”
“Well I think I might be passing through the parlour later this afternoon!”
“Ha ha, I might just join you for a break.”
Carrie had scribbled some notes for tomorrow; she planned on maybe going for a walk depending on when she woke and then breakfast. She would then be prepared to go the lighthouse.
<
br /> “You’ve been a great help Terri, thanks for this.”
“Not at all Carrie, I’ve enjoyed it. Makes you appreciate just what you have around you.”
“One more thing, I promise! I couldn’t find if you have any laundry services. Sorry if I have overlooked it.”
“Oh that’s strange, we do laundry the list is usually in one of the drawers, let me check for you.”
“Thanks, there are so many drawers; I’ve probably skipped over it. I got a bit messy at the beach today and my jeans are in need of a wash.”
After a few minutes Terri returned with a laundry sack and slip for Carrie to complete. Back at the room Carrie retrieved her jeans and sweater that were marked from the sea and Beau’s paw prints. She rang the housekeeping extension from the room and they collected her laundry which would be returned the next day or earlier if she required it.
Despite the early start and busy morning with calls back home it was only 3pm. Carrie decided to go for a walk around the bay and shops. She stopped off at a bistro for a late lunch and ordered a club sandwich to tide her over. Whilst she was waiting to pay her bill she heard another party of people leave in the booth behind her. She recognised the voice of Tansie from the Inn.
She smiled in recognition.
“Hi Carrie, its good to see you. This is my cousin Monique I was telling you about. We are just grabbing a bite to eat before returning to the house. Had to take the children clothes shopping. Although I know they would have preferred to go shopping of a different kind!”
“Hi”
Carrie was in turn introduced to Moniques three children. Trey, Tyreese and Tameka.
Carrie was charmed by the shy little girl.
“Hello, is that you’re dolly. Whats her name?”
Tameka was snuck into the side of Tansie, she shyly turned round. Lifted her head and spoke softly.
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