Autumn Antics: Escape to the seaside with the perfect autumn read! (The Boardwalk by the Sea Book 2)

by Georgina Troy

  “Finish your breakfast and sort out your bill and pack your things. I’ll see you back at the cottage when you’re ready. I’ll tell you everything then.”

  ◆◆◆

  “Is very good to be back here,” Alessandro said ten minutes later, unpacking his clothes as Bella changed the bedding in his room. “It is a good hotel, but some of the people staying, like Nicki, they are strange.”

  Bella laughed. “Hopefully she’ll be gone soon,” she said. “There’s trouble whenever she’s around, or so it seems.”

  “Jack, he must be happy she is going?”

  Bella agreed. “After last night’s dramas, I should think we’ll all be looking forward to a rest from her and her antics.” She hung his bath towel on the hook on the back of the bedroom door wondering afresh why Nicki had really returned to the island, if it wasn’t to win Jack back. “Do you think you and Sacha will move in together at some point?” She knew it was nosy to ask, but hoped he wasn’t planning on moving out too soon.

  He shrugged. “I am uncertain. We have only known each other a few months and I think it is romantic to stay at her flat only some nights.”

  She had to agree. It was. Bella wondered what would happen if she and Jack ever did get it together. They already lived in the same house, but it would be odd to move into the same room with Alessandro living here, she mused. Then, reminding herself that they hadn’t so much as been on a date, let alone started a relationship, she smiled.

  “You are amused?”

  She realized Alessandro had finished unpacking and was probably wondering what she was doing. “Sorry, I was just thinking about something my mum said,” she fibbed.

  Alessandro closed the small wardrobe doors. “I must go and work now. I need to check on the Isola Bella. We are closing down for the winter, and need for it all to be cleaned.”

  It was sad to think of the boardwalk being so quiet after the busy summer season. The days had passed too quickly.

  “Jack, he was telling me he has seen more of those strange symbols on the beach yesterday,” Alessandro said as they made their way downstairs.

  “I didn’t know.” She was surprised he hadn’t mentioned anything to her. “Is that the only one you’ve seen lately?”

  “Yes, apart from the one on the bookshop windowsill two weeks ago,” he said. “Still, no one knows who does this?”

  “No. No idea. Although,” she smiled, “knowing the locals, I’m surprised no one’s sussed who it is yet, or what they mean, but I must admit, I quite like the mystery element.”

  They walked down stairs. “Will you be coming to the bonfire party that Jack’s arranging?” Bella asked.

  He nodded. “Sacha, she says she is making the toffee apples.” He pulled a confused face. “I have never had these before, but I am interested to discover how they will taste. I am to help her make them, she said.”

  Bella laughed. “I like the toffee bit better than the apple. But then I’ve always had a sweet tooth.” She noticed the time on her deco wall clock and gasped. “Bugger, I was supposed to go to the cottage and check up on Megan and Lexi. With any luck they’ll be able to do the photo shoot and interview today and she can go home.”

  “She is a funny girl. Very nice, I think.”

  “She is much nicer than I thought at first,” Bella admitted, grabbing her coat. “Lock up when you go out, will you?”

  ◆◆◆

  She arrived at Megan’s cottage out of puff and red in the face, after running up the hill. She really needed to get more exercise, she decided, and instantly changed her mind. Sport was not for her, unless it was swimming in the sea in front of her cottage.

  She knocked on the door, hearing loud voices inside. She couldn’t make out if they were angry or simply excited.

  “Hi,” Megan shouted as she pulled open the door and stepped back to let her in. “Isn’t it a gorgeous day? I couldn’t believe how beautiful this place looks in the sunshine. We’re going to go down to the boardwalk as soon as Abel decides his plan for the first photos.”

  She finally took a breath and Bella nodded. “Sounds fun,” she said, looking forward to seeing how the shoot turned out. “I’m so glad the fog lifted, and the crew got here safely.”

  “Me too. I was beginning to worry, as you know.” She leaned her head closer to Bella, glancing in the direction of the kitchen area where the others were congregated. “Did you see the paper?” Megan asked quietly, pushing a copy to Bella. “Abel was furious, so was my agent, until I insisted I knew nothing about them being taken. They were scared it might cause problems for my exclusive feature with the magazine, but I promised them I didn’t speak to the paps and that the photos were taken without my knowledge.” She giggled. “My agent has been fielding phone calls for the last hour from other papers wanting interviews with me, so our plan worked.”

  “Good, I’m pleased,” she said. Turning her attention to the article on the front page, she read, “Who’s the mystery hunk with celeb queen Megan Knight?” Bella gazed at the blurry photos of Jack with his arm around Megan’s shoulders looking as if he was bending to kiss her. Their body language certainly gave the impression they were a couple in love. “You can see that it’s you two, sort of. Thankfully the fog is so thick they appear to have been taken slyly. Has Jack seen them?”

  “I told him about them and he looked them up on his phone. He seemed pleased that they weren’t very clear.”

  Bella could imagine Jack being happy for his identity to remain unknown.

  “I’m still hoping I can stay here for Jack’s bonfire party,” Megan said, folding the paper and placing it on the window sill. “I’d hate to miss out and it sounds as if it’s going to be fun. After all,” she said, barely taking a breath, “I’ve never spent bonfire night on a beach.”

  Bella hadn’t considered how unusual Jack’s idea was until now. “Me neither.”

  She followed Megan in to join the others. Abel stopped speaking as soon as he spotted them, nudging the woman next to him, who instantly looked up.

  “Hey, Bella,” Abel said, beaming as he pushed back the sleeves of his black woolly jumper to reveal his muscular forearms. “Great to see you again.” He left the others and came over. “Megan, they’re ready to finish your make-up and then you can change. We’ll get on with the first batch of photos.”

  He led Bella outside. She breathed in the fresh autumn air, the scent of a bonfire from a nearby garden mixing with the salty sea air.

  “Sorry to drag you out,” he said quietly. “Firstly, I wanted to thank you for helping us find somewhere for Megan to stay.” He looked around him, smiling. “This really is an incredibly beautiful area. You live nearby, I understand.”

  “I have a cottage down there.” She pointed down the hill in the direction of the boardwalk. “Just by the sea. It is lovely.”

  “I can see now why you wouldn’t want to live in London.”

  Bella loved the city, but only for short periods of time. “I think when you’re an island girl, like I am, then you always want to return. I lived in Kingston upon Thames for a few years when I was at uni and I loved it. Now, though, I’m happy to be back here.” She couldn’t help wondering why he had brought her away from the others. “Was there something you wanted to discuss with me?” she asked, hoping he might have a hand-modelling assignment she could do.

  “Yes.” He began walking along the pathway in front of the house. “A couple of things.”

  “Go on,” she said, intrigued.

  “Did you hear about the photos those paps took?”

  “Yes, she’s just shown them to me.”

  Abel took a deep breath. “Look I don’t want to cause any friction between her and your friends,” he said. “But do you think there’s anything between her and your friend Jack?”

  Bella shook her head. “No, why?”

  Abel led her further away from the cottage and lowered his voice. “She’s just making a name for herself and if my girlfriend thought Mega
n was getting too attached to him, she might be concerned.”

  “Because Jack lives here?” Bella asked unsure what was troubling Abel.

  “Because she’d rather Megan focus on her budding career rather than a new relationship.”

  Bella could see he was finding their conversation a bit difficult, so nodded. “I think it was probably a very short-lived thing between them,” she said, hoping Abel believed her.

  “Good. That’s a relief. Megan mentioned that you and your friends have worked hard to make her stay here fun,” he said, changing the subject. “She was hoping to pay you back a bit by using your businesses as a backdrop for the magazine shoot. She’s being so amenable at the moment, which I’m sure you recall from your work with her, is unusual. This shoot is important. It’s worth a lot of money to my partner, and to me, and we’re keen to keep her happy and get the job done before she remembers how she usually behaves.”

  Bella couldn’t help smiling. “Would we be paid?” she asked, aware she was probably being cheeky. She was sure that Jools and Sacha would be happy enough for their bookshop and café to be included in the glossy magazine, as would she with The Bee Hive. That alone would be enough to draw in new customers.

  He stopped walking and moved his weight from one foot to the other. “I’m sure something can be arranged. So, what do you think they’ll say?”

  “Will you be including, Isola Bella, the gelateria, too?”

  “If the owner was one of the people looking after Megan, then yes.”

  “Great. I’ll tell Alessandro. He was going to close the place down today for the winter. I’m sure he’d rather have stock and furniture in there, for the photos.”

  “I should think he would.”

  “I’ll go and ask them all now, while you get on.” She couldn’t wait. “I guess you’ve already had the OK from Lexi?”

  “Yes,” he said, indicating the middle cottage. “Although, she’s insistent that we are careful not to disturb the tenant in the other one.”

  Bella hadn’t realized Lexi had let the third cottage and frowned. “I thought she was keeping it empty?”

  “That was the plan,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “But she insists he won’t be bothering Megan and won’t be staying very long.”

  “Fine,” she said, hoping Lexi was right. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Oh, and Abel?”

  “Yes, Bella,” he said, seeming relieved at how their conversation had turned out.

  “It’s a yes from me. I’d be delighted for you to take photos in and around my cottage. The Bee Hive, you can’t miss it.”

  His eyebrows knitted together. “The what?”

  She wished she hadn’t said anything. “Just look for the blue cottage, it’s the only one on the boardwalk.”

  She hurried down the hill to find Sacha. This really was great news. Who could have predicted that this unexpected boost in income would come from Megan, of all people? She really must be careful not to make assumptions about people before getting to know them properly first.

  She reached the boardwalk and ran to Alessandro’s gelateria, finding it locked up. “Bugger, where is he?” she moaned, retracing her steps and then hurrying to the café, almost bumping into him as she went in. “There you are,” she said, breathlessly telling him all that Abel Reed had said to her. “So, if you’re interested, set up your place quickly so that it looks its best.”

  “Thank you,” he said, beaming at her. “I will go and find Fin to help me.”

  Sacha came over from behind the counter and kissed him before he left. She gave Bella a suspicious look. “What are you up to?”

  “You’ll never guess what we’ll all be doing today.”

  She quickly repeated all that she’d told Alessandro and then turned to leave. “I have to find Jools and then go and give my place a quick dust and run the hoover around.”

  “Can’t you ask Claire to help?”

  With all the excitement, Bella hadn’t realized that Sacha didn’t know about Betty’s fall. She explained what had happened and that her mum had agreed to move in to care for Betty. “Which is why Alessandro has moved back to my cottage,” she finished.

  “So that’s what he came to tell me,” Sacha said guiltily. “I kept putting him off because I was busy in here, and then you arrived and off he went.” She smiled at Bella. “I’m so pleased he’s back at your place. He was so happy there.”

  “You don’t think you’ll be moving in together any time soon?” Bella asked nervously, hoping her friend didn’t think she was being too nosy.

  “Not just yet,” Sacha said, glancing out of the window at some noisy seagulls. “I’m enjoying this old-fashioned courting period. I’ve never really had a relationship like this one before and want this stage to last for a while before moving on to the next phase.”

  Bella could understand completely. “Good for you,” she said, giving her friend a tight hug. “Right, I’d better be off.” She pulled open the door. “You haven’t seen Jack anywhere, have you?”

  Sacha pointed out to the calm sea. “He’s gone out with Tony the fisherman. It’s his first day working for him.”

  Bella felt a twist in her gut, and wished again that Jack hadn’t taken the job. She hadn’t even wished him good luck earlier – had forgotten all about it. She had lived on the boardwalk long enough to know how quickly the sea could change from being calm and gentle to wild, if a storm blew in from one of the other Channel Islands or over from France.

  “Don’t look so concerned,” Sacha said. “Tony is very experienced. Jack will be happy as ever out at sea all day. I’ll only be concerned if he ever ends up back in an office job. He hates sitting at a desk and having to wear a suit all day.”

  She was right. And anyway, Bella thought, it really wasn’t wise to show such concern for someone who was supposed to be just a friend. “I know,” she said. “I can’t imagine how he coped working in the city. He must have felt like a caged animal.”

  “Probably behaved like one too, on occasion,” Sacha laughed. A couple entered the café. “Right, we’d better get on. Tell Mr Reed I’m more than happy for my café to be featured in his shoot, and say thank you to Megan for suggesting it. Whether he pays me, or not,” she lowered her voice. “But don’t tell him that bit, obviously.”

  Laughing, she walked off and showed the couple to a table.

  Bella left, staring out to sea, willing Jack to come home safely, before arriving at the bookshop to see Jools, the familiar brass bell jangling its welcome as she pushed open the door.

  “Good morning,” Jools’ grandmother called from her seat behind the worn wooden counter. Looking up and seeing Bella, her smile widened. “How are you, young lady?” she said, fondly. “Jools and I were talking about the new symbol that’s appeared on the boardwalk. Have you seen it?” Bella nodded. “I also hear from Jools that you’ve got an unexpected visitor.”

  Bella nodded. Her nan and Jools’ grandmother had been school friends and she occasionally kept in touch with her mum. “It’s been fun having Mum around, Mrs Jones. She’s moving in with Betty, after her fall this morning.”

  “I heard about that. Poor Betty.”

  Bella heard clattering coming from the small kitchen behind the shop. “Morning Jools!” she shouted.

  “I’ll be with you in a sec!” Jools called, appearing moments later carrying one mug and a cup of saucer. “Sorry, Gran needs her tea.” She grinned at her grandmother and placed their drinks on the counter. “So, you’ve had a lot going on, haven’t you?”

  Bella smiled at her pink-haired friend. “It has been a little busier than usual, yes. That’s partly why I’m here.”

  Jools and her grandmother stared, waiting for her to continue. “Go on,” said Jools. “I can tell it’s exciting. Is it something to do with the drama at that party last night?”

  “No,” she said, aware she was dragging the intrigue out as far as she dared.

  “Bella, what?”


  She explained about Megan’s magazine deal and that she had asked that they include the bookshop in the photos.

  She watched as her friend and her grandmother exchanged glances without speaking.

  “We would be very happy for them to come and take their photos,” her grandmother said. “But we’ll need to clean the place first.”

  Jools didn’t look very happy at this suggestion. “I think the dustiness gives this place character.”

  Bella looked around. It wasn’t dusty at all, but she knew Jools’ grandmother was very particular about cleanliness of her beloved shop.

  “I’d better go,” Bella said. “I said I’d report back as soon as I’d spoken to everyone, so that they can plan their day.”

  “Will they be here this morning, do you know?” Mrs Jones asked.

  “No idea. It might even be tomorrow. Is that okay?”

  “Will they be paying us anything?” Jools asked.

  Bella was aware that it was harder for Jools and her grandmother to make a living than she and Sacha. People loved to visit their shop, but they didn’t make much money and Jools was always trying to sell her beautiful paintings to top up their income. “Yes, but I’m not sure exactly how much.” She turned to leave, stopping at the shop doorway. “I forgot to mention, I found some second-hand books in a lot I bought at an auction,” she said, and after promising to deliver them later, rushed back to find Abel and tell him that everyone was happy for their homes and businesses to be included in the shoot.

  Bella left to return to the boardwalk and was distracted by a movement in the furthest cottage from Lexi’s. She hesitated, just as the door opened and a disgruntled looking Oliver Whimsy walked out. He nodded an acknowledgement in her direction. Stunned to see him there, she smiled and waited for him to get into the waiting taxi and leave.

  So that was Lexi’s new tenant. She couldn’t help wondering what had happened since the party between him and Nicki. Probably nothing, judging by the speed he’d left.

  She arrived back at the boardwalk out of puff and decided that she really needed to get fitter, after all. The traipsing up and down the hill between her home and the cottages had been exhausting, but she needed to get home and check everything was in its place. The photo shoot was an opportunity she didn’t want to miss.