The Girl on the Beach: A Heartbreaking Page Turner With a Stunning Twist

by Tracy Buchanan

  I felt my tummy tilt. There had been a connection. So why the hell hadn’t he got in touch?

  ‘When was the last time you saw him?’ I asked.

  ‘Two months ago.’

  ‘And nothing since? No calls?’

  ‘Just left me a voicemail saying he needed time away. Happened to be right before he was due to start work on a new commission.’ His eyes flickered with anger briefly. ‘The business can cope, just. It’s more him I’m worried about, we all are.’

  I stood up and walked to my bag. ‘Sounds like he just needs the space.’

  ‘Yeah, that’s what I told Mum,’ Cole said as he followed me. ‘But you know the way she is, stubborn as hell.’

  ‘You’ve had a wasted trip then,’ I said as I rifled through my bag for my toothbrush and toothpaste.

  He looked around him, smiling. ‘Not so wasted. This place is amazing, Gwyneth.’

  ‘Yep, welcome to the world of seals,’ I said, gesturing towards

  Duchess, who was awake now, watching her son trying to wobble over an iceberg. ‘And there’s our queen.’

  ‘She’s magnificent.’

  ‘She certainly is.’

  He examined my face. ‘How have you been?’ he asked gently.

  I shrugged. ‘Busy.’

  ‘Funny,’ Cole said with a slight laugh. ‘Same thing Dylan said whenever I asked him how he was. He did a good job of keeping busy after you left.’

  ‘Coffee?’ I asked, gesturing towards a new pot bubbling on a small stove.

  ‘Yeah, that’d be good.’

  We were silent for a few moments as I poured us both some coffee.

  ‘Is Heather okay?’ I asked as I handed a plastic mug to him.

  His eyes flitted away from mine then back again. ‘She’s fine. She has her issues but on the whole she’s good. So what do you do for fun here?’ he asked, seeming keen to change the subject. ‘My flight back is in a couple of days so I feel like I should make the most of it.’

  ‘Two days, hey?’ I got the feeling Cole’s visit went beyond just searching for Dylan. ‘Well, our version of fun is watching seals giving birth.’

  ‘Hmmm, not sure I fancy that. I didn’t much enjoy Rhonda’s screams of pain. Fancy coming for a drive with me?’ he asked, gesturing to his four by four. ‘I hired this beast for three days as well, wouldn’t want to waste it.’

  Hired a car too? I examined his face. He did look exhausted. Maybe he just wanted to escape, like his brother?

  ‘I can’t, I need to be here,’ I said.

  ‘No, you don’t,’ Julia said, walking over. ‘Take the day off, spend it with your friend.’

  ‘I can’t! What if Duchess leaves today?’

  ‘She won’t, the sea’s too rough.’

  I looked out towards the icy ocean and the splash of waves.

  Julia grabbed my hand and looked me in the eye. ‘This needs to stop, Gwyneth. You’re working yourself ragged. You’ve always been a hard worker but this is taking it to the extreme. What’s going on with you?’ She leant close to me, squeezing my shoulder. ‘Is it Reg passing away?’

  Cole frowned as he watched us.

  ‘That was nearly eighteen months ago!’ I said, making her hand slip off my shoulder as I backed away. I raked my fingers through my hair, avoiding Cole’s watchful gaze. ‘I just underestimated how tired I’d be, that’s all. I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.’

  ‘You’re taking a rest day today, okay?’ Julia said. I opened my mouth to protest but she shook her head, giving me a stern look. ‘I won’t hear any protests. Take a day off or you’re going home early. Go with your friend, do some sightseeing. Anything but work. You need to give that mind of yours a rest,’ she said, jabbing her cold finger against my temple.

  I shook my head. ‘Fine.’ I turned to Cole. ‘Come on, let’s go risk our lives driving along the icy roads.’

  A few hours later, we were driving along Iceland’s main ring road. We’d stopped at a café for a late breakfast first and Cole had filled the conversation with news of his work. He seemed much less put together than I remembered, words tumbling over one another, sometimes unable to meet my eyes. When we set off again, he grew quiet, taking in the scenery, which was stunning, vast snowy landscapes and pink skies. We stopped often so Cole could take photos.

  ‘God, Rhonda and Alfie would love it here!’ he declared during one of our stops.

  ‘Then why didn’t you bring them?’

  His brow creased slightly. ‘I came to find Dylan. Didn’t want to drag them on a wild-goose chase.’

  ‘But you hired a car, you’re staying for two nights. Looks like a bit of a break to me.’

  ‘Maybe I need a break,’ he said. ‘Mum reckons Dylan not being here has put a lot of pressure on me.’

  ‘You look tired.’

  ‘So do you.’ He examined my face. ‘I don’t want to pry, but that stuff your producer was saying earlier – maybe she’s right?’

  I thought back to what Julia had said. She was right. And yes, that had something to do with the regret I’d felt at not hearing from Dylan. But I couldn’t help but wonder if it might be because it had been ten years since I’d seen my parents. The passage of time brought home just how long it had been. Had they tried to track me down after I’d run away from the hotel to work with Reg? Not hard enough, in my view. But then who could blame them?

  They must have thought of me though: did they wonder if I was married, had kids? I’d never really thought far enough ahead to consider that. It was always in the back of my mind that one day I’d come to the point in my life where I’d settle down, but that point hadn’t arrived yet. I hoped they’d be proud of me though, of what I’d achieved. Of course there were times when I wanted to reach out but I was so scared. What if they rejected me again?

  I noticed Cole watching me.

  ‘Oh, Julia’s a mother hen,’ I said. ‘I’m just tired, that’s all.’

  We got back into the car and sat in silence as Cole drove. Then he leant forward, eyes excited. ‘I knew it had to be here somewhere!’ he said.

  ‘What?’

  He pointed towards a large building on the horizon. ‘A lodge we built a few years ago. I knew it was near here. That client I mentioned? He owns it. Shall we take a look?’

  I recalled Mairi mentioning something about a beautiful lodge Dylan built. I can’t deny I’d thought of it a few times during my time in Iceland, wondering if I’d passed it without knowing. I was curious to see what it would look like so I nodded. Cole turned down a narrow driveway and we headed towards the lodge. As we drew closer, I could see it was a modern version of the McCluskys’ lodge, and much larger too. Made from lighter wood, it was all contemporary angles and vast triangular windows. There were no other buildings around it, just fields of ice. It was stunning and it astounded me that Dylan had made something so beautiful.

  ‘Do you think it would be rude to knock on the door?’ Cole asked. ‘I’d love to see how it looks inside. I could even take some photos for our next brochure.’

  ‘It’s your client. Anyway, haven’t you made an appointment to meet with him or were you just turning up in the hope he’d be around?’

  He laughed. ‘Of course I made an appointment but that’s at Asher’s offices in Reykjavik tomorrow. I wouldn’t get the chance to see the building.’

  I shrugged. ‘I’m sure he’d be okay with it. I bet he loves showing it off, it’s so impressive.’

  We both got out of the car and walked up to the door. As we got closer, I could hear the sound of music and laughter ringing out from inside, and from the fields behind the house the smell of ashes raced towards us. It brought back heady memories of the previous Christmas with Dylan’s family.

  ‘Looks like they have guests,’ Cole said, grimacing.

  ‘It’s fine. Makes it even more likely they’ll be okay with us having a quick peek.’ I realised just how keen I was to see Dylan’s handiwork up close. ‘Better now than when they’re i
n their pyjamas watching TV.’

  ‘I get the feeling these people don’t do stuff like that. Have you seen the size of this house?’

  We both laughed. We stopped in front of the door. There was a sign next to it – Veta Skala. It was just like the one Dylan had done for his working hut: D E C. I placed my hand on it and traced the letters with my fingers. I closed my eyes, imagining Dylan here, his warm breath on my neck …

  ‘Hallo?’ I looked up to see a tall blond man standing at the door wearing a white open-necked shirt and smart jeans.

  Cole and I exchanged bemused glances.

  ‘You look very familiar,’ the man said as he looked at Cole.

  Cole put his hand out. ‘Hello, Asher, I’m Cole McClusky. We’re due to meet tomorrow but as we were passing, I couldn’t resist stopping by.’

  A bright smile spread across the man’s face. ‘How wonderful! I did tell Dylan to invite you tonight.’

  ‘Dylan?’ Cole asked. ‘Have you been talking to him?’

  ‘Yes, he’s here! He’s been here working with me for the past two months!’

  My mouth dropped open, my heart thumping loudly in my ears. ‘Dylan’s here?’

  Asher opened the door wide. ‘Come see for yourself.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  I hesitated a moment, my mouth dry.

  ‘Jesus, I can’t believe Dylan’s actually here,’ Cole said, his eyes shining. ‘Mum was right about him coming here for you.’

  ‘He’s not here for me,’ I said, recovering myself.

  ‘Come through,’ Asher said, beckoning us inside.

  ‘But – but you have guests,’ I said, peering behind him into the large hallway. There were a dozen or so people standing around, drinking champagne and dressed in beautiful attire. I suddenly felt overwhelmed. Was I ready to see Dylan?

  ‘It’s fine, it’s our Twelfth Night celebration,’ Asher said, ‘Anyone is welcome.’

  I walked in, impatiently searching the faces but I couldn’t see Dylan. I felt nerves flutter in my stomach.

  ‘This place is amazing,’ Cole said, looking around him wide-eyed. He walked towards the vast windows at the back, which looked out over snowy fields and a huge bonfire, a tall bearded man with a heavy winter coat standing by it and throwing things in.

  Could that be Dylan?

  I walked over and put my hand to the glass. Then I felt something behind me, warm breath, the smell of whisky and ashes.

  I turned and there Dylan was. I looked up at him, not quite believing who I was seeing. He looked even broader and taller than I remembered. His dark beard had grown slightly wild and he looked as tired as me, dark circles beneath his dark eyes. There was a bruise on his cheek, turned yellow with age. And he was handsome, so bloody handsome, dressed in a thick black polo neck jumper and blue jeans.

  We took each other in, oblivious to everyone around us.

  ‘Dylan!’ Cole said as he hugged his brother. ‘Did you know I was coming?’

  ‘Asher mentioned you’d made an appointment with his PA,’ Dylan said, his eyes still on me.

  ‘Mum’s stewing. You could have called,’ Cole said in a low voice only Dylan and I could hear.

  Dylan dragged his eyes away from me and turned his attention to his brother. ‘I’m sorry. I should have got in touch. I just needed to get away. I was planning to explain during the meeting tomorrow.’

  Cole shrugged. ‘It doesn’t matter, no explanation needed. Just good to see you again. So you came right here?’

  Dylan nodded, his eyes on me again. ‘I got in touch with Asher to see if he had any work for me. He’d mentioned some land he had.’ He looked towards Asher, who was busy getting us all drinks. ‘It worked out pretty good.’

  I tried not to stare too hard at him, but it was difficult. I’d really thought I’d never see him again.

  ‘You’ve been staying here, in the house?’ Cole asked.

  ‘Officially, yeah. But I’m at the farm mostly.’

  ‘Farm?’ Cole asked.

  ‘The land Asher owns. It’s not a working farm any more. You’d love it.’

  Asher walked over then with three glasses of champagne on a small tray. ‘For my British guests. We haven’t been introduced,’ he said as he handed my glass to me.

  ‘Gwyneth,’ I said, taking a quick sip of my drink. I needed the alcohol to calm my nerves, aware of Dylan’s eyes never leaving my face.

  ‘Gwyneth makes wildlife documentaries,’ Cole said. ‘She’s very talented.’

  Asher’s eyes lit up. ‘My wife will be delighted to hear that. She adores wildlife documentaries. I must tell her.’

  He left the three of us alone again as he looked for his wife in the crowded room. Cole looked between Dylan and me then drained his glass. ‘Right, better get a refill,’ he said, walking away and leaving us alone.

  Dylan and I stood in the crowded hallway facing each other, the smell of sawdust and whisky filling the air.

  ‘I’m sorry I just walked out like that,’ I started.

  ‘Without a word,’ Dylan said, voice hard.

  ‘I left that note. But you never called!’

  ‘What note?’

  ‘Before I left, on the bed! I left my number on it, told you to call me.’

  His face filled with surprise. ‘Really?’

  ‘Really!’

  ‘You clearly left it somewhere obscure as hell. I never found it.’

  ‘It was pretty obvious, on top of the bed with your name in capitals.’

  He laughed. Then the smile dropped from his face and he shrugged. ‘It’s fine, it’s in the past. Let’s not worry about it. I’m pleased we get the chance to see each other again for an hour or two.’

  ‘Hour or two?’ I put my hand on his arm. ‘I wanted you to call me, you know. I thought you didn’t want to. If I’d known you’d never got the note, then I’d have done everything to contact you.’

  He avoided my gaze. ‘It was a misunderstanding. Life is full of them. And now we know.’ He looked behind me. ‘Is your friend here?’

  ‘You mean Cole?’

  ‘No,’ he replied, voice serious. ‘The tall blond guy I’ve seen you hanging around with.’

  ‘What? I’m confused.’

  ‘I turned up at the filming location when I arrived two months ago. You were with a man, dancing, drinking …’ He let his voice trail off.

  My stomach dropped. ‘Why didn’t you come talk to me?’

  ‘I told you. You were with someone,’ he said stiffly. ‘It was good to see you happy.’

  ‘You mean Lyngar? He’s just a friend, you know.’

  ‘Didn’t look like it to me.’

  ‘Fine, maybe more than a friend on a few lonely nights.’ I grabbed Dylan’s hand. ‘But it’s been nothing like what we had. Nothing. You came here to find me, didn’t you?’ I asked, my mind buzzing with it. ‘That means you felt what we had between us too.’

  ‘I needed closure,’ he said stiffly.

  ‘Closure,’ I repeated.

  He rubbed at his dark beard. ‘I’ve been feeling this restlessness since you left. I just couldn’t focus, you know? I knew I had to track you down. Plus I remember how I felt when I was working on this house, so peaceful here.’ He seemed to force a smile on his face. ‘It was a no-brainer really. Kill two birds with one stone. And now I have.’

  I could see what he was doing, trying to sweep what we had under the carpet. Maybe he didn’t believe I’d left a note? How could I convince him?

  Asher clapped his hands then. Everyone turned towards him. ‘Dinner is served,’ he said. He walked over to us, Cole by his side. ‘We’ve set places for you, I insist you both join us.’

  Cole and I shrugged at each other.

  ‘How can we resist?’ Cole said. ‘It smells delicious.’

  And how could I resist spending more time with Dylan? I smiled at him but he didn’t smile back. I chewed at my lip. Maybe I’d got it all wrong?

  We walked into a huge dinin
g room and each took a seat at a glossy white table that ran the length of the room. Hanging above were golden pendants of different sizes and hues, creating an ethereal semi-lit hue.

  ‘Champagne?’ Asher asked.

  I shook my head. I wanted to have a clear mind.

  ‘Any whisky?’ Dylan asked.

  ‘Of course,’ Asher replied, fetching a bottle from a drinks cabinet and pouring Dylan some. Asher then sat down and introduced us to his other guests, many of whom worked in the creative industries: architects, graphic designers, artists, writers. Asher himself ran the biggest advertising agency in the country and clearly did well for himself, judging by the calibre of his friends with their designer clothes and diamond earrings.

  One woman stood out though. She had long silver hair and a flowing white dress, a luxurious fur robe around her shoulders.

  ‘My lovely wife, Hekla,’ Asher said, introducing her to us.

  Hekla turned her vivid green eyes to me. She looked to be in her thirties, but I suspected she was older than that, hints of a nip and tuck evident in the stretch of the skin on her face and the plumpness of her lips. Apart from her voluptuous breasts she was tiny, seeming to be just about five foot.

  ‘This is the documentary-maker I was telling you about,’ Asher said.

  Her face lit up. ‘Wonderful! What are you working on at the moment?’

  ‘We’re filming the seals at Diamond Beach.’

  ‘What a mystical place it is,’ she said wistfully. ‘Such an atmosphere.’

  ‘I agree, it’s amazing there.’

  ‘So, tell me what these celebrations are all about,’ Cole asked, gesturing to the bonfire.

  ‘We call it Prettándinn,’ Asher explained. ‘A goodbye to Christmas and a chance to finish all the drink and food we have left over.’

  ‘What’s the bonfire all about?’ I asked.

  ‘The bonfire is to celebrate the departure of the fairies and the elves,’ Hekla said solemnly. ‘The elves inhabit this earth over Christmas, and this is a chance to say goodbye.’

  Dylan and I exchanged a look, both of us trying to keep straight faces. I felt my breath quicken with desire.

  ‘It’s a very magical time,’ Hekla continued, oblivious to our bemused looks. ‘In fact, I am quite sure the seals at Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon will be shedding their skins later and will dance naked on the beach.’