Winter at Wishington Bay

by Maxine Morrey

  ‘How was everything?’ I asked, taking the card Nate offered and putting it into the portable payment machine.

  ‘Amazing. Really. I’d love to thank Ned personally when he’s got a moment.’

  ‘He’s here tomorrow if you want to drop by. I’m sure he’d be thrilled to meet you. Him and Gabe are as close as brothers, and I know he’s looking forward to meeting Gabe’s real one.’

  Nate gave another of those nods, not quite meeting my eyes.

  ‘Did I say something wrong?’ I asked, as I handed the machine over.

  ‘No. How do I put a tip on here?’

  ‘Oh. I skipped that screen.’

  He handed the machine back to me. ‘Then please unskip it.’

  ‘You don’t have to. Like I said, Ned’s all about—’

  ‘Family. I know. But you and I are not family and I’d like to tip you.’

  I reluctantly pressed a couple of buttons and took the programme back to the required screen, then handed it back. Nate took it without looking at me, pressing buttons when prompted.

  ‘I don’t know a lot about waiting tables but I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to put customers off trying to tip you.’

  He handed the machine back and this time met my gaze with a direct one of his own.

  ‘I don’t… usually.’

  ‘I don’t want anyone going to extra trouble.’

  I shrugged. ‘Too bad. I’m afraid you don’t get a say in that.’

  He shook his head and made a sound that might have been a laugh. ‘Is that so?’

  ‘Yes. It’s all been agreed.’

  ‘I see.’

  The machine churned out the receipt and I tore it off and handed his copy to him. ‘Thank you.’ I gestured to the copy I held. ‘And you shouldn’t have done, really.’ The tip Nate had put on was way more than generous.

  ‘Yes,’ he said, softly. ‘I should.’

  I smiled and felt that traitorous blush begin to creep.

  5

  ‘So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?’ I asked, handing him the expensive cashmere overcoat he pointed to on the rack and trying not to notice just how nicely it fitted his broad shoulders. ‘More writing?’

  ‘Yep,’ he said, pulling the collar up against the weather and layering a scarf before pulling out a pair of what looked to be buttery soft, dark brown leather gloves. ‘I’ll get Bryan out for another scoot about the beach before it gets dark and then crack on with the book.’

  ‘How’s it going?’

  He shrugged. I waited for more but it quickly became apparent that that was the full extent of his answer. I pondered on whether to say what was in my head. Nate did the head tilt.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘How do you do that?’

  ‘You’re pretty easy to read.’

  ‘I am not. I’ve had a lifetime of training to prevent that!’

  Oh. Bugger.

  ‘Really?’ he asked, interest in his tone.

  ‘Obviously it didn’t work!’ I laughed, but even to my own ears, it sounded a little off. ‘Anyway,’ I said, still unsure whether to wade in, but desperate to change the subject. ‘I was just going to suggest that you might want to take it easy this afternoon. Maybe.’

  ‘Do you advise that to all your clientele?’

  ‘Only those who look like they might fall face first into their warm chocolate pudding.’

  Nate dragged a hand across his jaw. ‘That obvious, eh?’

  He looked like he needed to sleep for a week but I thought telling him that might be overstepping the mark just a little. ‘No, you just look a little tired today.’ And the last time I saw you.

  ‘Yeah. Like I said, I’m not sleeping too great, so you’re probably right.’

  ‘Is there something wrong with the bed? I can get you different pillows, if you have a preference, or if—’

  He held up his hand and caught mine within it briefly. ‘The pillows are fine. Thank you. Everything is perfect. It’s just me.’

  ‘Oh,’ I said, eloquently, as I tried to ignore the tingles shooting through me from his touch.

  From what I’d heard, the separation hadn’t been Nate’s idea. And here I was getting sparks off a man who was clearly still in love with his estranged wife. Jeez, I really could pick them.

  ‘Don’t get blown away walking back,’ I said, escorting him to the door.

  ‘I’ll try not to.’

  ‘I don’t know how I’d explain that one to Gabe, so probably best.’

  He gave me a little salute before putting his head down and heading out into the gale. I watched the tall, broad figure covering the ground briskly with long, strong strides until he turned out of sight.

  ‘Thanks for coming today,’ Carrie said as Eloise and I settled alongside her at the table. Set up in front of us was an array of leaves, berries, wire and baubles along with a wire wreath frame.

  ‘It’s a pleasure,’ Eloise said, picking up and putting down some of the leaves, before inspecting the decorations. ‘Although I’ve never really been the creative type so you might have to display my wreath as far out of sight of the customers as possible.’

  Carrie laughed, patting Eloise’s hand. ‘I’m sure it’s going to be lovely. Have you ever done anything like this, Soph?’ she asked.

  I shook my head. ‘Not at all, but I’m excited to try. Although, again I can’t guarantee I’m going to produce anything worthy of display in a fancy restaurant like Ned’s. Maybe Burger King?’

  We giggled together as the glass of complimentary champagne went to our heads and shushed each other as a small group of men came in, all dressed in green jumpers with the name of the hotel embroidered on the upper left chest. An older gentleman with a cheerful face that looked like it had spent many a season outdoors stepped to the fore.

  ‘Afternoon, ladies,’ he glanced over at the sole chap who had come in with his wife shortly after us. ‘And gentleman.’ There was a murmur of laughter, fuelled somewhat by the bubbles. ‘I’m Doug, the head gardener,’ he held up his hand. ‘And no, I’m not making it up. That really is my name.’ Behind him, his colleagues grinned. One to his left, a tall, good looking outdoorsy type with slightly ruddy cheeks and sandy blonde hair caught my eye and held the grin. I smiled back as I took another sip of my drink and pondered over the wisdom of us skipping lunch today in order to get here in time.

  ‘Looks like Soph has pulled already,’ Eloise stage whispered to Carrie, as up in front Doug demonstrated how to begin with our wreath making.

  ‘Oh, I have not,’ I said, giggling along with them. I really shouldn’t drink at lunchtime. Free or not, I was way too out of practice.

  ‘Perhaps he’ll be able to give her some hands-on demonstrations.’ Eloise widened her eyes and Carrie stifled a snorted laugh. Doug glanced over, gave a patient look with a hint of smile and continued. The other gardener caught my eye and grinned again, giving a quick eyebrow raise as he did so.

  ‘Sorry,’ I mouthed.

  He shook his head and gave a surreptitious ‘OK’ signal with his thumb and forefinger. I nudged the others and tried not to laugh again. Missing lunch definitely hadn’t been a good idea.

  As the demonstration came to a close, Doug introduced his helpers, advising that one would be coming over to each table to assist in any further supplies or advice.

  ‘I wonder which one will take this table?’ Eloise asked, looking pointedly at me.

  ‘Oh, shush,’ I said and busied myself in collecting the leaves from the centre that I planned to start my wreath with.

  ‘Afternoon, ladies.’ The deep voice had a soft West Country lilt and I looked up to see that the sandy-haired gardener who’d grinned across at us earlier now stood in front of our table. ‘I’m Billy and I’m here to cater to your every whim.’ He winked at an older lady opposite me who flapped her hand at him. ‘Wreath wise, of course.’

  ‘We’ve got a cheeky one, here,’ the lady said, chuckling.

  ‘So,
who do we have?’ Billy asked.

  ‘I’m Gloria, and this is my friend Barb.’ Barbara raised her hand in a little wave, which Billy returned.

  ‘I’m Carrie.’

  ‘Eloise.’ They both turned to me as did Billy’s gaze.

  ‘Sophia,’ I said, looking up and seeing the green eyes of the gardener hover on me a little longer.

  ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you all, ladies. Now, does anyone need any help?’

  Gloria immediately commandeered Billy to help her get started while Barb already seemed to be charging ahead. I got the idea she’d done this before. On our side of the table, the three of us were desperately trying to remember what Doug had said and making slow, albeit steady progress.

  ‘These are looking great,’ Billy said as he finally managed to pry himself away from Gloria’s chattiness and attend to his other guests.

  ‘Flattery will get you everywhere,’ Eloise teased him. ‘Won’t it, Soph?’ she added. I gave her a look, but she just beamed back at me.

  ‘Do you need any more eucalyptus?’ Billy asked, coming round to crouch next to me as he studied my creation.

  I looked round at him blankly. His expression was open and friendly and he read my thoughts.

  ‘This one,’ he said, lifting up a sprig of a type I’d been winding round my frame to start off with, the supply of which on the table had dwindled.

  ‘Oh! I’m so sorry. I had no idea what is was called.’

  ‘No reason why you should,’ he replied in a languid manner. ‘Back in a jiffy. Anyone else need anything else?’

  A couple of requests were put in and Billy disappeared off to the front of the room where large buckets were stuffed with extra supplies.

  ‘I think you have an admirer there, ducky,’ Gloria chuckled across the table.

  ‘See,’ Carrie added, ‘I knew it wasn’t just us. He’s definitely got his eye on her, right?’

  ‘Absolutely,’ Gloria winked. ‘Lucky girl.’

  ‘Oh, he does not. He’s obviously just chatty to everyone. It’s all PR. They want people to return.’ I shrugged it off.

  ‘Well, I certainly think he wants you to return.’ Gloria wasn’t giving up and Carrie and Eloise weren’t helping, egging her on.

  ‘Ssh! He’s coming back,’ I whispered.

  ‘Here we go,’ Billy said, laying the eucalyptus sprigs in front of me and popping some more holly that Barb had asked for in front of her.

  ‘Thanks, love,’ she said, barely looking up as she continued work on what was looking to be a very professional wreath.

  ‘I think you’ve done this before, Barb,’ Billy said, pursuing the conversation.

  ‘I do the church flowers every Saturday and I’ve done a few of these in my time, I suppose.’ She smiled up briefly before beavering on.

  ‘I just dragged her along for company really,’ Gloria laughed. ‘Although I should have known she’d show me up.’

  Barb patted her friend’s hand, clearly not so absorbed in her work as to miss the comment. ‘Yours is looking lovely, dear. Don’t be silly.’

  ‘And where are you putting your wreaths, ladies?’ Billy asked, turning to us three.

  ‘They’re for a restaurant.’

  ‘Oh, great! Any particular one?’

  ‘Yes, Ned’s over in Wishington Bay.’

  ‘Wow! Wreaths for a Michelin starred restaurant. No pressure!’ He laughed again, something that seemed to come easily to him, his whole manner relaxed.

  ‘No pressure, really. I just thought it’d be nice to make our own this year.’

  Billy cocked his head. ‘You’re from the restaurant?’

  ‘Yes. I own it along with my husband, Ned.’

  ‘And you’re all making wreaths for there?’

  ‘Yes. Eloise and Sophia are both part of the team and kindly agreed to come today.’

  ‘Do you need any more?’ Billy asked. ‘We’re trained on these the first Christmas we get here and I’ve been here nearly ten years now so I’ve knocked up a few in my time. We had a couple of last minute cancellations so there’s some frames spare.’ He shrugged.

  ‘It would be great back up if Soph and I make a mess of ours,’ Eloise giggled at me.

  ‘Those are going up whatever,’ Carrie pointed at the creations in front of us both. ‘But if you’re sure that’s OK? I don’t want to get you into trouble.’

  ‘Nah, it’s fine.’ Billy waved away her concern.

  ‘I can put a tag on it, that it’s from here, if that helps.’

  ‘You really don’t have to but if it makes you feel better, that’d be great.’

  ‘It would. Deal,’ Carrie smiled.

  ‘Deal.’ Billy returned it and pulled a chair from the stack behind us. ‘Mind if I join you properly?’

  There was much shaking of heads and assent given as Billy placed the chair next to mine. I shuffled along a little more towards Eloise, who didn’t budge. I nudged her gently and she looked up.

  ‘What?’ she asked innocently.

  ‘It’s a bit of a squeeze at the moment,’ I whispered.

  ‘I think a bit of a squeeze would do you the world of good.’

  I widened my eyes at her. ‘You were trying to get me together with Nate the other day.’

  ‘I know. And you wouldn’t go for him, so maybe the outdoorsy type is more up your street. You know, you with that accent and him… It’s all a bit Lady Chatterley’s Lover.’ Eloise leant round me, still without moving her chair. ‘Billy, what’s your surname? I don’t suppose it’s Mellors?’

  ‘Oh, my God,’ I mumbled, tipping the last dregs of my champagne down my throat, and desperately hoping he didn’t get the reference.

  ‘No, Eloise. Sorry to disappoint you. It’s Myers.’

  ‘Close enough,’ Eloise smiled before finally moving her chair and allowing me to give Billy a little more room.

  As we both shuffled our chairs round the table, from the corner of my eye, I saw him smile at Eloise and shake his head good naturedly. Oh God, he totally got the reference.

  ‘So, what do you do at the restaurant?’ Billy asked, his voice quieter.

  ‘I’m a waitress.’

  ‘Do you like it?’ he asked, his fingers expertly winding foliage round the frame in front of him, his eyes not entirely on the job.

  ‘More than I thought I would, to be honest. You meet a lot of different sorts of people.’

  ‘Although only those that can afford to eat at such a restaurant.’ He gave me a look.

  ‘Actually, Ned’s always been pretty good about having a wide range on his menu. He’s not into all that snobbery that a lot of chefs are. Thank goodness.’ I knew I’d have enjoyed my job a lot less if I’d merely swapped one world of snootiness for another. ‘You should come. Bring your partner. I’m sure they’d love it.’

  ‘They probably would if I had one.’

  ‘Oh. Right. Well. Then come anyway. We have plenty of people who come on their own to eat for one reason or another.’

  ‘I’m a little more social than that.’

  I flicked my glance to him and laughed. ‘Yes, I rather got that impression.’

  ‘I’d like to take you though. Assuming you aren’t otherwise engaged.’ He glanced at my left hand. ‘Figuratively speaking. And, of course, wouldn’t mind eating where you work.’

  Typically, Carrie and Eloise’s in depth conversation had momentarily lulled just as Billy asked the question.

  6

  ‘Oh! I… um…’

  Billy leant over a little more, aware that we now had an audience. ‘No rush. I’ll have to drop these round anyway as I won’t get them both finished today. Maybe you can let me know then?’

  I looked round at him, the features of his face gentle, his expression understanding, and nodded.

  ‘Sorry. I’m always told I go for things a bit quickly.’ He frowned. ‘Not that you’re a thing. I mean—’

  ‘I know what you mean.’ I frowned at the smooth and shiny gold b
auble I was trying to affix to my wreath. ‘What I don’t know is why this won’t stay where I want it to.’

  Billy peered across and gently laid his hands over mine to turn the wreath over and inspect it. ‘If you move it just along here a little…’ he pointed, having let go, allowing me to make the adjustment myself, rather than taking it over, which I appreciated, ‘you can wrap the wire round that bit there…’ He waited while I did so. ‘There. Perfect. It’s just got a bit more to hang onto there and gives it more stability.’

  I held up the wreath in front of me.

  ‘That looks great, Sophia,’ Billy said.

  ‘Thanks for the help,’ I said, smiling, pleased with my creation.

  ‘Any time,’ he replied as Carrie and Eloise exchanged a look and I pointedly ignored them.

  ‘Let’s have a picture before we go, shall we, Barb?’ Gloria bustled her friend into place. Barb didn’t look thrilled at this but she had seemed to enjoy herself, if quietly. ‘Come on, Billy. We need evidence that we’ve spent the afternoon with a big, strapping lad, don’t we?’ Barb blushed, although I was sure I detected a small smile. Gloria winked at us three as we watched. ‘Got to give the WI something to talk about, eh?’ she added, making us all giggle.

  ‘Mind if I take one to put on the hotel’s socials? They love evidence of people having enjoyed things like this.’

  ‘Of course not. Just remember to get my good side!’ Gloria laughed, giving Billy a big squeeze for the camera.

  ‘How about one of you three?’ he asked, having extricated himself from Gloria.

  ‘Oh, that’d be lovely, thanks,’ Carrie said, handing him her phone as we bunched together and held our wreaths. Billy snapped a couple before returning the phone.

  ‘Can I get one of the three of you to add to our collection too?’

  ‘Sure!’ Eloise answered as I made what I hoped was a subtle step away. I had no wish to be on the hotel’s social media feed anyway but this was five star, with an excellent reputation. Exactly the sort of place that I might have stayed in previously and exactly the sort of place those from my old life would still stay in. Plenty of people scanned social media for more info on a place before booking these days and although I knew the likelihood of anyone I knew seeing it was low, it was still too much of a risk.