“Now that is what I call a treat,” Claire laughed when he handed her a plate with a huge slice of toast dripping with Jersey butter. “And served by such a handsome waiter.”
“Get your neck around that,” he laughed. “Then tell me I’m not the best toast chef in the business.”
Bella shook her head. “Big head,” she teased, taking her plate and biting greedily into the huge slab of toast in her hand. She chewed and swallowed the delicious confection. “Yes, you are now officially King of the Toasted Cabbage Loaf. Better get used to making it for us.”
He gave a slight bow before sitting down and eating. Groaning in pleasure, he swallowed a mouthful. “I missed this stuff when I was living away, too, Claire. This is my favourite bread of all time.”
Bella couldn’t help being amused by his rapture. She looked across at her mum who had a similar expression on her face as she ate in silence, relishing every mouthful.
“Perfection,” Claire said eventually.
When they had finished, Bella cleared away the plates and joined them in the living room. “Why don’t you tell us a little about Jayvani, Mum. I don’t know much about your life in Sri Lanka.”
“I’ve never been but I’ve always wanted to go,” Jack said. “Nicki hated the thought, but now we’re no longer together there’s nothing to hold me back.”
Bella briefly pictured accompanying Jack on his travels.
“You’ve never come to visit either, Bella,” Claire said with a hint of accusation. “You really should make the effort.” She stared at the flames dancing wildly in the fireplace for a moment. “We could show you around. I’m sure you’d fall in love with the place.”
“I’d love to,” Bella admitted. “But I’d have to find someone to look after the shop while I was away, or close it, and I couldn’t leave the cottage with lodgers staying here.”
“You could make some sort of plan though,” Claire said, a hopeful tone in her voice.
“Yes,” Bella agreed, not sure how she would manage it. “I’d need to save to come. I don’t have any spare cash at the moment.” She didn’t ever have any spare cash, but didn’t need to let her mum know that. She didn’t want Claire to worry about her unnecessarily.
“You have a decent amount of antiques here, Bella,” her mother said, looking around the room. “Surely if you make a concerted effort you could sell a few and make some money?”
“Essentially that’s true,” she agreed, stroking the wide arms of the forties chair, enjoying their softness. “But this is a quiet time for sales. Hopefully, I should get a few closer to Christmas.”
They descended into a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
“We need a party,” Jack announced. Claire stared at him, looking happy at the thought.
“Really?” Bella asked, listening to a thunder clap. The last thing she felt like doing was having to trek out in the cold to a party. She was happy at home. “I’m happy with a good book and hibernating in front of the fire until spring.”
“At your age I never turned down the offer of a party,” Claire said.
Bella resisted looking at her. She doubted her mother’s party lifestyle had changed much since she was in her late twenties. “Why, though?” she asked, waiting for Jack to answer.
“Because it’s nearly Halloween and it’ll be fun.”
“I’d rather celebrate bonfire night,” Claire said. “I get spooked by all those ghouls and ghosts.”
“I suppose Halloween isn’t too bad, but I’m not so sure about bonfire night,” Bella said, thinking of Mrs Jones’ little terrier, Teddy. “I worry about the animals around here and how terrified they’re made by noisy fireworks. Anyway, don’t forget Sacha is organising something for Halloween for the locals, before the kids go trick or treating.”
Claire nodded. “She has a point, Jack.”
Jack slapped his hands down on the arms of his chair and grinned. “Why don’t we source noise-free fireworks for the fifth then?”
Was there such a thing? “Do they exist, or are they something you’ve imagined?”
He pulled a face at her. “I wish I had thought them up, I might have made some money out of the idea. No, they are a reality. What do you think? If we get them, no one can complain. Babies and pets won’t be frightened, and we don’t have to feel guilty.”
Bella mulled over his words. “Well, if you can get them then I’d be up for it,” she said, unable to resist his enthusiasm for the idea. “Where would we have the bonfire?”
“The beach.” Jack looked delighted at his suggestion.
Bella wriggled her toes in front of the fire. “But what about high tide twice every day. How do you suggest getting around that?”
“Let me think about it.” He rubbed his chin.
Bella watched his long, tanned fingers grazing lightly over his stubble. How could being messy make Jack seem even more attractive to her? “I’m sure you’ll come up with something, you usually do.”
“What was the best bonfire night you remember?” Claire asked.
They had a good think.
“Probably when I was a kid and my dad took Sacha and me to a massive bonfire party at a farm somewhere in St Peter’s,” Jack said, smiling. “Not sure where it was now though. You?”
“I’m trying to choose,” Claire said. “When I was young we had smaller family parties with a few Catherine wheels, rockets and sparklers. Dad was alive then and we usually went to one of his work colleagues’ homes. I remember the smell as they served hot dogs for the children, while the adults ate plates of curry and drank mulled wine.”
“It sounds fun,” Bella said, enjoying hearing her mother reminisce.
“It was. The funniest I recall was when it was foggy and us children could only see a glimmer of a firework in the distance, and the dads were shouting at us from the end of the garden to concentrate and look at the misty display.”
Bella and Jack laughed at her memory.
“We’ll do something. Get everyone from the boardwalk involved and each of us can either prepare food, drink or something to do with the fireworks. What do you say?”
“I think it would be fun,” Bella said honestly. “It’s good to have things going on at this time of year, otherwise it’s too quiet,” she said, warming to the idea. “It’s always a little too quiet on the boardwalk after the noise and excitement of summer.”
“Then it’s agreed,” he said enthusiastically. “I’ll come up with a plan. We can chat about it tomorrow after I’ve seen Sacha and Betty at the café and find out what they have to say about it. You two can join us for breakfast too, if you want?”
“I’d love to.” Claire smiled at Bella. “What about you?”
“I won’t, thanks. I’ve got too much to do here. You can fill me in when you get back though,” Bella said, excited at the prospect. “Now, I’d better get started with a manicure before I’m too tired to bother.”
“Now?” Claire asked. “Your hands look perfect to me.”
Bella was used to people commenting on her hands and how perfect they were, but to her they were tools of her part-time money earner and needed constant care. “Thank you, but I never know when I’m going to be contacted for a shoot and need them to be immaculate at all times.”
“She’s the only person I know who has to wear gloves for most of the summer,” Jack said, glancing at Bella’s hands. “I would have no idea how much work it takes to keep them looking so good if I didn’t live here.”
Her mum looked astonished. “Well, who knew you could make a living from having your hands photographed. Serves me right for not keeping in better contact with you, Bella. It seems there’s a lot about you that I’ve yet to learn.”
Bella shrugged. “Likewise.”
She was part way through oiling her right hand when there was a knock at the door. She looked at the wall clock and noticed it was nearly eleven. “Who can that be at this time?”
“I’ll go and see,” Jack said, getting up from
his chair and answering the door. “It could be some nutter.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Bella and Claire sat in silence, waiting to hear who had called at the cottage so late.
During Bella’s lifetime living here, there had been the odd local who had caused a stir with their eccentric ways, and one or two holidaymakers giving the residents of the boardwalk reason to widen their eyes in shock, but no one who had ever made her feel threatened in any way. She smiled at the thought of an ex-circus owner who had attempted to train her nan’s elderly Border collie years before. He’d been given a nip for his efforts and then a stern telling off from her nan when he had dared to complain about the dog.
“What’s the matter, Tony?” she heard Jack ask. He was holding tightly to the door, so it wouldn’t bang against the wall in the strong winds.
Bella mouthed the word ‘fisherman’ to her mother when Claire gave her a questioning look.
“I’m glad you’re in, Jack,” Tony said, sounding exhausted. “I’ve been tying up several of the boats, checking their moorings. I’m having a little difficulty with my own boat though. Could you spare half an hour to help me?”
“Not a problem, mate,” Jack said. He looked over his shoulder at Bella as he grabbed his jacket. “I won’t be long, I’m just going to help Tony,” he shouted unnecessarily.
“Be careful,” Claire shouted back. “It’s fierce out there tonight.”
Bella finished working on her hands. Concerned for Jack, she picked up their mugs and took them to the kitchen. She wished now that the shutters weren’t blocking her view of the small harbour.
“I hope they’re alright,” she said, filling the sink. She pulled on her favourite pink washing-up gloves, with purple faux marabou feathers around the wrists, which Sacha had bought her last Christmas, and began washing-up the mugs.
“He’ll be fine,” Claire said, coming up behind her. “You like him, don’t you?”
“What a thing to say.” Bella blushed. She wasn’t used to having someone around who could read her so well. And she especially didn’t need her mother putting her foot in it and saying the wrong thing to Jack when he got back. “I don’t,” she fibbed. When her mother went to argue, Bella raised her hand. “Fine. But please, don’t speak to him about it, or make insinuations. If you do, you’ll have to go and stay at the pub.”
Claire threw her head back, laughing. “You’re such a drama queen. When have I ever said the wrong thing?”
Bella stared at her mother in astonishment. Didn’t she know herself at all? Hands on her hips, she said, “I couldn’t count the times you’ve done exactly that,” she said, trying to listen out for Jack coming back. She couldn’t bear him to arrive home and overhear this conversation. “And I wouldn’t mind if it was unintentional but we both know that each time you happened to share information, you knew exactly what you were doing. You just can’t help yourself.”
“Cheek.” Claire pulled a shocked face. She wrapped her skinny arms around Bella’s shoulders and hugged her. “You know I love you, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Bella admitted, soothed slightly by the reminder. “But we’re not debating that, are we?”
“I know.” Claire let go and stepped back, resting her bottom against the opposite worktop. “But I’ve barely been around while you’ve been growing up and now, it’s odd seeing you as a capable woman in your late twenties.” She smiled. “In fact, if makes me feel quite old, I can tell you.”
Bella shook her head, recalling how much her mother worried about her age. She’d never known her to be honest about how old she was and certainly never introduced Bella as her own daughter on the odd occasion they had gone out together on the island.
“Mum, when are you going to stop fussing about how old you are?”
“You’re young, it’s easy for you.” Claire sighed heavily.
“Don’t pull that act on me,” Bella said, flicking bubbles from the sink at her. “Nan told me that when you were eighteen you pretended you were older. Then when you hit twenty-five lied about your age and wanted people to think you were younger.” She thought for a moment. “How old does your boyfriend think you are?”
“I don’t know,” her mother answered, irritated for once. “Anyway, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him as long as he loves me.” She pointed at Bella. “Which he does.”
Bella couldn’t help saying, “Good. But if you’re both so happy together why are you here and not in Sri Lanka with him?” Claire went to answer, but Bella interrupted her. “And don’t try to say that you needed to see me, because we both know that you never visit purely to catch up with me, but usually because you’re running away from something else in your life.”
She hoped she didn’t sound bitter, because she certainly didn’t feel that way. She was simply stating a fact. Her nan had always been straight about her mother’s actions, telling Bella often how loved and cared for she was, and she’d had no reason to wallow. Consequently, she had never felt sorry for herself growing up.
“Look,” Bella added, trying to soften her previously harsh words. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled you’re here. I love spending time with you, but I know how you put on a brave face and I simply don’t believe there’s nothing wrong. So,” she narrowed her eyes. “What’s the problem this time, Mum?”
Claire thought for a moment. She seemed conflicted about something, but eventually said, “I love Jayvani and want him to commit, but he’s being influenced by that cow of a mother of his.”
Now, she was getting somewhere. “If he loved you as much as you say then surely he won’t care what his mother thinks.”
Claire shook her head sadly. “It’s not like that. As much as I love him, and I do, he’s turned out to be just like all the other men I’ve known: soft when it comes to his mother.”
Bella could see that Claire was genuinely upset, and felt mean for delving into her private life. “It’s fine,” she said. “If he doesn’t love you enough to come after you, or find a way to persuade you to go back to him, then he’s the one who’ll lose out.” And the idiot, she thought, thinking how much fun her mum always was.
A large wave cast several pebbles crashing against the shutters making them jump. Bella couldn’t help worrying about Jack.
“He’s a strapping lad and knows the sea well,” her mother said, sensing her concern. “He won’t do anything reckless and I’m sure he’ll be home soon.”
Bella hoped she was right.
CHAPTER FIVE
They stayed up chatting for two more hours, but there still wasn’t any sign of Jack. Bella checked her phone in case she’d missed a text from him and then her watch.
“Stop doing that,” Claire said. “He’ll be back when he’s finished helping the fisherman.”
Bella sighed. Her mother was right. She was shattered and sitting here fretting wasn’t going to bring Jack home any sooner. She covered her mouth as she yawned. “You’re right. I’m going to have to get some sleep,” she said. “I’ve got to prepare for the Autumn Market I’m taking part in over the weekend.”
“I’m exhausted, too. Let’s get to our beds.”
Bella closed the wood burner doors, and leaving one light on for Jack when he got back, followed her mother upstairs.
“I hope he’s home soon though,” she said, turning to her mother as she reached her bedroom door. She tried to stay calm, but was unable to push aside her anxiety. “What if something’s happened to them? Would we know?”
“That Tony chap will no doubt have a radio on his fishing boat, and anyway, they’re only in the harbour.”
“Then, what’s taking them so long?” Bella asked, aware her voice was rising. It wasn’t fair to snap at her mother, she realized, embarrassed. “Sorry. I’ll go to bed now.”
Claire walked over to her and gave her a hug. “Get some sleep. I’m sure everything will be fine in the morning.”
“Yes, you’re probably right,” Bella said, hugging her back. “Good nigh
t.”
◆◆◆
After failing to fall asleep until the early hours, fretting about Jack’s absence, Bella woke later than she’d intended the following morning. She stared bleary-eyed at her alarm clock for a few seconds, unsure whether she’d inadvertently pressed snooze, or forgotten to set it in the first place. She listened out for the wind, relieved that it had died down and that the storm seemed to have passed.
She lay in bed, listening to see if she could hear him making a noise somewhere in the cottage, and smiled as his deep voice sang the wrong words to a tune on the radio in the kitchen.
Looking forward to seeing him, she stretched and flung back her thick duvet. She stepped out of her bed onto the blue and yellow, moon and stars rag rug her nan had made her when she was little and pushed her feet in to her slippers. It was never usually this cold in mid-October, she mused, grabbing her fleecy dressing gown from the end of her bed.
She hoped the weather would warm up a bit, before the winter months really did kick in. Bright sunshine shone through her thin flowery curtains. She narrowed her eyes as she pulled them aside to let them become accustomed to the light, then peered out over the boardwalk to the sea. She could see pebbles and some driftwood scattered around, but the sea was still, like a village pond. She wasn’t surprised as this often happened after an especially stormy night. She remembered her nan telling her that holidaymakers were often taken aback by this extreme change in the weather over the course of only a few hours, but it was something she had experienced many times.
Moving away from the window, Bella looked at her reflection in her dressing table mirror and groaned. “I look like a dishevelled octogenarian,” she murmured, brushing her hair and trying to force her curls in to some semblance of tidiness. It didn’t work, so she tied her hair in a ponytail and went to the bathroom to wash her face and clean her teeth.
Jack sang louder as he clattered about in the kitchen. How was he always such an early riser? she wondered, smiling. He never seemed to oversleep and was always cheerful in the mornings. She wished she could be a little more like him in that respect.
Autumn Antics: Escape to the seaside with the perfect autumn read! (The Boardwalk by the Sea Book 2) Page 4