The Boardwalk by the Sea

by Georgina Troy

  It sounded like a good plan to Sacha. “Hang on a second; we’re bound to need permission for this. Do you have a phone book?”

  “What for?” Bella reached for the book that Sacha remembered being almost twice the thickness before most people stopped bothering with their landlines and used their mobile phones instead.

  “I’m going to give the Parish Hall a call. Hopefully I can speak to a Centenier and ask what we need to do.”

  A few moments later, Sacha ended the call to one of the voluntary officers who policed the parish. “He said we need permission from the bailiff and that usually takes three to six months.”

  “We can’t do it then,” Bella folded her arms across her chest a sad expression on her face.

  “Not necessarily,” Sacha said. “He said to carry on with our planning, because we don’t have enough time to waste, and he’ll get back to me tomorrow after speaking to someone at the bailiff’s office.”

  “I hope we can do this,” Bella said.

  Me too, thought Sacha. “He did say that if all else fails the Parish Hall has a permit and we can hold the event there.”

  “That’s kind of him, but it won’t be the same.”

  “At least we know we can hold it to raise money for Betty,” Sacha said. “That’s the main thing.”

  Bella agreed. “We need to get planning.”

  “I agree, and we need to put a small advert in the gazette so that anyone we haven’t thought of can let us know whether they’d like to reserve a pitch.”

  “Perfect.” Bella grinned. “Now all we have to do is sort out that leaflet and decide who is going to do what.”

  “I’m sure Jack, Lucy and Milo will be willing to help set up the bunting and stalls. They all have so much energy and love getting involved in new things.”

  “Brilliant.” Bella laughed. “You see, this will sort everything out.”

  Watching Bella scribble away on her notepad, absorbed by the prospect of bringing everyone together, Sacha felt a surge of pleasure. It felt good to be doing something positive to help Betty

  She realised how long she’d been away from the café and, finishing her cold tea, told Bella she’d better get back to relieve Jack, who must be desperate for a paddle by now.

  “I’ll see you later on, maybe,” she said, smiling when Bella narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, the end of the biro in her mouth as she concentrated on ideas for the event.

  Trailing her fingers along the railings as she crossed the boardwalk, Sacha noticed they felt sticky, and looked a darker colour – as if they’d been painted again overnight. How odd, she thought.

  Approaching the café, it dawned on her how she never ceased to be cheered by the happy laughter drifting from the beach. She and Jack had spent most of their childhoods there, building sandcastles and swimming in the sea while one of the waitresses watched over them, as their mother helped their father in the café. They had been happy days, and she wondered whether she’d be lucky enough raise her own children here, so they could enjoy this glorious place. She, Jools, Lexi and Bella had often spoken about being mothers before they were thirty. Although now each of them had almost reached that age, the prospect seemed highly unlikely.

  “Mummy, I want an ice cream,” she heard a little boy saying. “Please. You promised.”

  Sacha waited for the mother to react. She argued a little with the boy, although Sacha could tell it was in a half-hearted way, and eventually gave in, asking the couple sitting nearby to watch over their belongings. How many places could you still do that, Sacha wondered as she watched the mother and her two sons make their way up the granite stairs.

  She waved at someone she recognised on the beach and entered the café. As she set about making some ice-cream sundaes, she wondered whether her mother would be happy to get involved with the fête.

  It was busy in the café, as it usually was on hot summer days like this one. Milo came out from the kitchen. “Did you notice there’s going to be another ice cream place?” he said, his voice barely above a whisper so no one else could hear.

  “I did,” she said. “It’ll be fine though,” she added, wondering if maybe he was worried that if they lost business he might not be needed to continue working for her. Then it occurred to her that maybe he was interested in going to work at the new, exciting Italian gelateria. She waved for him to follow her back to the store area.

  Once inside she said, “He might be wanting staff to work for him.”

  Milo blushed. “I saw an advert in my Mum’s gazette last night,” he admitted.

  “If you want to apply for the job I’ll understand.” She wouldn’t like to see him leave, but remembered how it felt to be a teenager, excited by new experiences. “I would miss you, of course.”

  “You want me to go?”

  Sacha took him by his shoulders. “No, of course not, but I don’t want you to worry about it if you decide you want to go and work there.”

  “Thanks, but I’d rather stay working for you.” He looked at her, hesitating before adding, “I might want to try out his ice creams though, just once.”

  “Me, too,” she said winking at him. “But don’t tell Jack, I don’t think he’d understand.”

  “He was telling Lucy about Alessandro this morning. I don’t think he’s very happy with him.”

  Sacha grimaced. “He’s not.”

  Chapter Eight

  August

  “How can my feet be sore from handing out these leaflets?” Sacha asked Bella, slumping down on her sofa a few days later. “I’m used to being on my feet all day.”

  “I’m knackered, too,” Bella said, kicking off her trainers. “Whose bright idea was it to do this anyway?”

  “Yours,” Sacha laughed. “Or was it mine? I forget.”

  “I forget how steep those hills are at either end of this village,” Bella grimaced, flexing her toes and moving her feet around in circles to loosen up her stiff ankles. “I’ve got a few people who’ve signed up for a stall. Lexi is a definite and I’m not sure about Jools as she’s still away, but she should be back soon and is always up for anything.”

  “She loves Betty, too, so she’s bound to agree to take part,” Sacha said.

  “How about you?” Bella asked. “Any immediate interest?”

  Sacha moved a cushion from under her arm to behind her back. “Um, yes, other than the few that we signed up the first day we gave out leaflets, two people. One is the lady who makes the jams and sloe gin, the other was her friend, who was visiting.” She thought back to the woman with the colourful earrings. “She makes jewellery and cushions and other things out of old scarves. I’ll be visiting her stall if I have a moment. I should think it’ll look nice and colourful on the boardwalk.”

  “Brilliant,” Bella said, closing her eyes. “You see, it’s coming together and we’ve only been working on this for a week now.”

  “You did remember to take their contact details in case we have to let them know that the venue has changed, if we don’t get permission?”

  “I did,” Bella said, crossing one leg over the other and rubbing her sore feet.

  They sat in exhausted silence for a few moments. This was the best thing about a good friendship, Sacha thought; knowing each other well enough that words weren’t always necessary.

  “Do you think your mum will agree to make extra cookies and cakes for the day?” Bella asked. “I’d ask mine, but she’s hopeless at anything that doesn’t constitute a stew, or beans on toast.”

  “Probably,” Sacha mused. “It’ll depend on how busy she is. Since she semi-retired she spends her time golfing, and visiting art studios, and travelling away to festivals like the one in Hay-on-Wye. Anything that gives her a break from Dad, so he can’t make her help out when she’d rather not.”

  Sacha didn’t blame her mother for making the most of her free time; she’d worked hard enough to deserve all the fun she could have. She suspected her mother would make the space in her diary for the fête
, though. She wouldn’t be able to resist meeting Alessandro and getting to know him and the plans for his venture.

  “I think we can rely on her to be there for at least part of the time,” she said, smiling.

  Bella looked at her quizzically for a moment and then grinned. “Ah, of course, your mother the divine, Mrs Collins wouldn’t be able to resist, would she?”

  “Especially if I tell her how good looking he is,” Sacha giggled.

  Bella gasped. “Oh, my God, imagine her dilemma. On the one hand, here’s this bloke who’s set up in competition with your business, and on the other, he’s a delicious guy who she’d probably like to see her daughter with. I wonder which side of her nature will win?”

  Sacha laughed. “You’re so right. Poor Mum, she’s not going to know what to do.”

  Her mother would probably be irritated with Alessandro, because of his business. She could never understand how her mother, falling in love with her father at nineteen, could be content to be with him her entire adult life. She always insisted that she’d never been inquisitive about another man and had only ever loved Sacha’s father.

  Sacha suspected that this reciprocated adoration was the reason she and Jack could never find the perfect partner. Jack was looking for that perfect love, albeit unsuccessfully. She couldn’t understand why he felt so tied to Nikki, but Jack would have his reasons, whatever they might be. And she, well, she thought she’d found it with her ex, Giles, but it wasn’t to be. Anyway, she reminded herself, she didn’t want and certainly didn’t need a partner to feel fulfilled.

  She noticed Bella watching her. She seemed to be waiting for Sacha to answer an unheard question.

  “Sorry, I was miles away,” she admitted.

  Bella shook her head. “That was pretty obvious. What I said was, we’ll go out again tomorrow and give out more leaflets.” She handed Sacha a batch. “These are to top up any you haven’t given out. I’ll visit the rest of the shops and cottages along the boardwalk and suggest they stick at least one in their front window, so hopefully passers-by will read them.”

  “Yes,” agreed Sacha. “We can put these out on our counters and ask other businesses in the area to do the same. I’ll contact Mum and see if she’ll share them around Dad’s other cafés.”

  She pulled her mobile out of her shorts pocket and tapped out a text for her Mum. Pressing send, she focused her attention back on Bella. “What else can we do that won’t cost a fortune?”

  “I’ll speak to my friend at the gazette, I’m sure he’ll do a quick interview with me, and you if you like. That should make sure that most of Jersey knows about the fête, even if they decide they don’t want to bother coming.”

  “Great idea,” Sacha said. Excitement welled up in her chest. “I’m really looking forward to the day, I think it’s going to be brilliant.”

  “Only if we organise it properly, and if the weather holds.”

  They groaned in unison. The weather, thought Sacha, the bane of all their lives when it came to outdoor events.

  “It’ll have to,” Sacha said, hopefully. Her phone pinged. “Mum,” she said, looking at the screen on her mobile. She laughed. “She said if we pop round now we can join them for a barbeque. She said to bring Jack and Alessandro.”

  They looked at each other.

  “How does she know about him, already?” Bella laughed. “Does anything happen on this island that your mum doesn’t know about?”

  “Not much,” Sacha said, shaking her head. “Right, I’ll go and find Jack.”

  Just then the door opened and Alessandro walked in. “Ciao ladies,” he said. “I am sorry to interrupt you.”

  Bella stood. “Hang on a sec,” she said. “We’ve all been invited to a barbecue at Sacha’s parent’s place. You’ve been invited. Coming?”

  He looked bewildered for a moment. “I have time to shower quickly?”

  “Yes,” Sacha said, walking over to the door. “I’ve got to get hold of Jack. How about we meet outside in half an hour? I’ll text Mum and let her know we’re coming and we can walk up?”

  “Perfect,” Bella said, shooing Alessandro towards the stairs. “Hurry up in case Jack wants a shower, too.”

  Just at that moment Bella’s doorbell rang. “Anyone in?” asked a deep voice as the door slowly opened.

  “Sod it,” Bella whispered. “I’d forgotten I’d arranged this.”

  Sacha knew as soon as she saw the man walk in carrying a large box of wrapped up objects that he had come to do a deal with Bella.

  “Don’t worry,” she said. Mum will have loads of barbecues this summer and you can come with me to the next one.”

  Bella pulled a face, quickly replacing her grimace with a wide smile as she turned to welcome her guest.

  Sacha was outside Bella’s cottage when Jack arrived. “I’ve been looking for you,” he said. “The Centenier just phoned and said that there’s been a meeting at the Parish Hall to approve a special licence to hold the fête. Betty is a local war hero, so the bailiff wants to grant the licence to her by way of a small thank you from the local community.”

  Sacha knew the Centenier worked hard to ensure the parishioners were looked after and was glad he had decided to honour her in this way.

  Sacha and Alessandro walked up the steep hill at one side of the bay, Jack slightly ahead of them. She explained about the fête and what they were hoping to achieve.

  “Bella can give you some leaflets for your place, and one or two to put in the window. What do you think?” she asked.

  “It is a good idea,” Alessandro said. “I haven’t been to a fête before and I look forward to it.” He smiled at her. “You haven’t told me what you think of my gelateria?”

  “Sorry,” Sacha said. “It’s been a busy few days, what with it being the height of the season now.”

  “That is understandable. I have also been busy with my work.”

  She thought back to her visit to his small but well-designed place.

  “Is small but good enough, I hope,” he said.

  “It’s perfect. Especially as you’re only doing ice creams.” A thought occurred to her. “What will you serve in the winter when people aren’t interested in eating ice creams, though? Will you only be open during the summer season?” She tried to keep the hope from her voice.

  “I thought so, but my father insists we do crepes in the winter.”

  “But they’re not Italian, they’re French,” she said. “I thought the whole point of your place was that it was an Italian gelateria?”

  Alessandro shrugged. “They serve crepes in gelaterias also. They are very popular, too. This is the choice we will have to make to keep open for the winter.” He walked in silence for a bit. “If it doesn’t work then my father will need to think of an alternative way to do business.”

  As they reached the summit of the hill, Alessandro and Sacha were both slightly out of breath and stopped to give their legs a break. He looked back at the bay. Sacha watched his reaction as he looked down on the sea glistening in the sunshine, and listened to the distant screams of excitement from children building sandcastles and playing football on the beach. She wondered if she’d had the same expression of pleasure on her face when she’d seen the exquisite vista of spires, rooftops and sunset that Alessandro had shown her from the Gianicolo.

  “It is very lovely,” he said. “Very like in a black and white English movie, no?”

  Sacha laughed. “I suppose so.” She checked her watch. Her mother hated having to wait for anyone. “Come along, we’d better get a move on.”

  It wasn’t much further, only another ten more minutes if they hurried, she thought.

  She pointed out the top of the large pine tree that her father had planted as a sapling when they’d first moved into their home. “We’re nearly there.”

  Finally, reaching the tall cream gateposts either side of black iron electric gates, she pressed the intercom. “Mum, we’re here, can you open the gates please.”


  She wondered where Jack had got to. He must have been walking quickly to arrive so much earlier than they had. Surely he hadn’t gone in already?

  Her mother called for them to come in. “We’re in the back garden, waiting for you.”

  Sacha stifled a giggle. “I told you she was impatient,” she said, breaking into a jog and leading Alessandro between two tall palm trees towards the sound of Jack’s loud voice, exclaiming over the steaks their father was no doubt barbecuing.

  Sacha and Alessandro turned the corner to see the large wooden garden table laden with salads, garlic bread, and a pile of plates and utensils, waiting for them to help themselves.

  “Hi, sorry we’re a little late,” Sacha said. “This is Alessandro.” She hugged her mother and then her father and beckoned Alessandro over. “He’s opening a little gelateria along the boardwalk.” She knew they would be interested and it would save him having to break the news to them later in the evening. Better that everyone knew where they stood straight away.

  Her father’s heavy grey eyebrows knitted together in a deep frown. “Yes, I’ve heard about this,” he said, not bothering to hide his disapproval.

  Sacha spotted Jack glowering at Alessandro and hoped he didn’t add to their father’s anger by adding his thoughts on the matter.

  “No arguments tonight, Tom,” her mother said, touching his right cheek lightly with her hand. “Alessandro is new to the island and he’s our guest for the evening.” She turned to Alessandro. “Welcome, I’m glad you could come. Tom is very proud of his enormous steaks, so I hope you’re hungry and ready to eat a lot.”

  Alessandro looked over at the meat cooking in front of her dad, who still had a scowl on his face. Sacha hoped he’d do as her mother had asked and be polite to his guest. It wasn’t often she asked him to do something and he usually obliged rather than risk upsetting her.

  “Fine,” he said, eventually giving in and winking at Sacha. “I don’t know why your mother thinks I’d be anything other than a perfect gentleman,” he whispered. “Right, I know you’re funny when it comes to eating meat.”