Canal Boat Cafe (4) - Land Ahoy

by Cressida McLaughlin

  ‘I thought it would be straightforward, but apparently, changing the name of a boat is very unlucky, and that’s the last thing I wanted. Mick, the boatbuilder …’ she searched for him in the crowd, and he gave a quick cheer, ‘taught me the steps I needed to perform a thorough and disaster-free renaming ceremony, and I started by finding, and then obliterating anywhere the name Summer Breeze appeared. Since I hadn’t noticed it anywhere outside or inside the boat, the search had to be thorough.

  ‘Now that’s been done, and the boat has been repainted, we can get rid of the old name.’ She unfolded a piece of paper, held up a metal tag with the name Summer Breeze written on it, and stepped onto the bow deck of the boat.

  ‘So,’ she said, feeling her cheeks redden, ‘here goes. Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, implore you in your graciousness to expunge for all time from your recollection, the name Summer Breeze, and submit this ingot bearing her name to be corrupted and forever be purged from the sea.’ She glanced around her, at the barely straight faces, Tommy grinning and Adam’s shoulders shaking gently.

  She had wondered aloud to Valerie whether this was really a ceremony for narrowboats, that surely it must only apply to sea-going boats, but Valerie had said that all rivers were connected to the sea in some way and was, like Mick, adamant that it needed to be done. She had also wondered if her mum had known about the original name, and had simply had it painted over with The Canal Boat Café when she bought the boat, rather than expunging it completely, because of the connection to her daughter. Maddy had only introduced the boat to Summer once it was finished and in the water, showing it off proudly as her new home, her new life, after her divorce from Summer’s dad.

  Trying to push away her embarrassment, Summer threw the tag in the water, then poured half the bottle of champagne in after it. ‘In grateful acknowledgement of your munificence and dispensation,’ she said, watching the fizzy liquid get swallowed up by river water, ‘we offer these libations to your majesty.

  ‘Now,’ she said, turning back to the befuddled and amused faces, ‘that’s done, which means we can get on with the naming ceremony. Here.’ She jumped down onto the towpath, her heart pounding, and stood next to Mason and the large piece of paper that was covering the boat’s new name. It was still painted red and blue, but Summer had used an attractive gingham design for the trim work, and added paintings of different types of cakes, and mugs of tea and coffee along the length of the boat.

  Mason reached to the floor behind him, and handed Summer another bottle of champagne. ‘You need a new one for the renaming ceremony,’ he said. ‘You can’t use the rest of the first bottle.’

  ‘You’re as superstitious as the rest of them,’ Summer said, laughing and accepting it gratefully. She turned to the crowd, held up the new bottle of champagne, and read out the second part of the speech.

  ‘Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, implore you in your graciousness to take unto your records and recollection, this worthy vessel …’ She glanced at Mason, who gave her an encouraging smile, and then gripped the corner of the paper and carefully pulled it away. ‘This worthy vessel, hereafter and for all time known as Madeleine.’

  She looked at her handiwork: Madeleine written in a fluent, flowing script in dark blue against the faded blue background, the words The Canal Boat Café painted below it in red. There were cheers of appreciation and a couple of gasps from the crowd. Summer looked up and caught Jenny’s gaze, and the older woman gave her a nod and a small, understanding smile. Summer’s return grin was pure relief.

  ‘In appreciation of your munificence, dispensation, and in honour of your greatness, we offer these libations to your majesty and your court.’ Summer sacrificed most of the bottle of champagne to the river, and turned back to the crowd. ‘To celebrate the new name of the café, we have fresh madeleine’s for everyone, full of jam and cream. Please stay for a while, have a tea or a coffee, and sample some of our cakes. I’ve got wooden carvings made by the wonderful Norman for sale inside, and if you fancy something bigger or stronger, then The Black Swan pub is also open. If you want to discuss any bookings – we do private parties, which involve a trip along the river – then please talk to Harry or me. Thank you for coming to share this special day with us, and I hope you’ll have many return visits on board Madeleine.’

  As the crowds began to disperse, some heading inside the café where Harry was waiting, others drifting towards The Black Swan and the picnic benches, Mason pulled Summer aside. ‘That,’ he said, kissing her on the nose, ‘was beautifully done. It’s a beautiful tribute to your mum.’

  ‘It seems like a bit of a faff,’ Summer admitted. ‘Not the new name, but the ceremony. And it’s a waste of a lot of perfectly good champagne.’

  ‘I don’t think the river gods would see it that way,’ he said. ‘Besides, I’ve got another bottle waiting in my fridge for when today is over – and it’s just for the two of us. Those deities have had their fill.’

  ‘Mason Causey,’ Summer said, looking up at him and letting herself get lost, for a moment, in his gaze, ‘you are the perfect boyfriend, you know that?’

  ‘I know,’ he said, kissing her again. ‘But the longer you stand here gazing at me, the longer Harry has to run the café by herself.’

  ‘Good point,’ Summer said. ‘What are you going to do?’ she asked as she turned back towards the café.

  ‘I’m going to come and order an espresso and a bacon sandwich,’ he said, grinning. ‘What other choice is there?’

  Summer changed out of her grand reopening dress and put on jeans and a grey hoody. She ran round to The Sandpiper and Mason welcomed her onto his boat and into his arms, giving her a long, lingering kiss.

  ‘You smell of cake,’ he said.

  ‘It’s a special new perfume,’ she said. ‘I thought I’d go the extra mile for the café.’

  ‘You always go the extra mile. Was it a successful day?’

  ‘Yes,’ Summer said, smiling. ‘The best.’ She sighed, delighting in the feel of weary limbs from a day on her feet, clearing and serving, chatting and laughing with her customers. ‘The new cakes went down well, we had no real disasters apart from a squirrel trying to climb in the window and Latte going barmy trying to chase it, and I’ve had lots of messages of support on the Twitter and Facebook pages. Madeleine is officially launched.’

  ‘And it’ll have nothing but good luck,’ Mason said, ‘because you appeased the river gods.’

  ‘I did,’ Summer said, triumphantly. ‘And I’ve come to collect my reward.’

  Mason slowly tugged at Summer’s hair, pushing it behind her ear, and bent down to kiss her neck. ‘Don’t you want the champagne first?’

  Summer wriggled and laughed. ‘Mason!’

  ‘Come on, then.’ He grinned at her and got two glasses out of a cupboard, and the bottle of champagne from the fridge. Summer noticed it was better quality than the others, the outside of the bottle glistening with condensation.

  They stepped out into the cool evening air and Mason hoisted her up onto the roof of The Sandpiper before passing her the bottle and glasses. He lifted Archie and Latte up and then climbed up himself, sitting close to Summer as he popped the cork and poured champagne into the glasses.

  It was just after seven, and the sun had begun its slow, beautiful descent, with the endless turquoise of dusk above them, the brightest stars the first to show themselves. Lights from the boats in the visitor moorings, and the large windows of the pub, glowed golden in the approaching gloom. Summer could hear the flutter of wings as ducks took flight, and Valerie calling Mike and Harvey in for their dinner. Willowbeck was slowly shutting itself up for the night, doors closing, birds going to roost, the surface of the water settling into a dark, inky nothing.

  Summer gave a shiver of delight and moved cl
oser to Mason, putting her arm around his waist and clinking her glass to his.

  ‘To Willowbeck, and all the magic that it has to offer,’ she said quietly, not daring to break the stillness of the evening.

  ‘To Summer Freeman,’ Mason added, ‘and to Madeleine. To The Sandpiper, to flourishing wildlife and endless cake-lovers, and to our future on the river. Together.’

  ‘To us,’ Summer said, and they both drank. It was as perfect, as cool and refreshing as she’d anticipated.

  ‘I have to go to the reserve tomorrow,’ Mason said. ‘I’d love to stay in the café all day drinking coffee and sampling your new cakes, but they want me to take photos of a new area they’ve just cleared.’

  ‘There’s no sign of your work there running out?’

  ‘Not a glimmer. And when it does,’ he said, ‘well, there’s lots more work I can do in the area. Work that means I can stay here, in Willowbeck.’

  ‘I know we can go where we choose,’ Summer said, ‘and that there are other beautiful villages and stretches of river and canal, but Willowbeck feels like home, and I don’t want to leave.’

  ‘You won’t have to,’ Mason said. ‘I love Willowbeck, and I love you, and I’m not going anywhere.’

  ‘Ah,’ Summer said, ‘but do you love me as much as you love Willowbeck?’ She turned to him, picking out his features in the gathering dusk.

  ‘Surely you know the answer to that?’

  Summer took his face in her hands, kissed him firmly on the lips and then said, ‘I do. Willowbeck is very lucky to have you.’

  As night fell and the stars came peeping out, winking down at them, Summer and Mason lay on the roof, looking up. She felt Mason sigh, his chest rising and falling, his fingers tracing patterns on her waist.

  ‘Penny for your thoughts,’ Summer said quietly.

  ‘I was just thinking,’ Mason said, ‘how happy I am.’ She could hear the gravel in his voice, like a trace of the smoke inhalation left over from the fire, but she knew him well enough now to know that it was the telltale sign of emotion. She stayed silent, letting him speak. ‘Even before I moved to the river, even after everything that’s happened, I don’t think I’ve ever felt as content, or as hopeful as I do now – hopeful for the future. That’s all down to you, Summer. Do you remember that first day, when Archie stole your bacon and you were angry with Valerie for talking about Maddy watching over you, and you gave me Jenny’s poisoned cake?’

  Summer laughed. ‘How could I forget? I was pretty awful, wasn’t I?’

  ‘You were trapped, like a caged bird. Somewhere you didn’t want to be. I could see past that.’

  ‘Well, I thought you were scruffy and disorganized,’ Summer said.

  ‘You did?’ She felt Mason sit up slightly, the challenge in his voice.

  ‘And completely adorable,’ Summer finished. ‘I wanted to run my hands through your hair, even though I was angry.’

  ‘This hair,’ Mason said, shaking his head, ‘it gets to everyone. It’s like my super power.’

  ‘Such a Lothario,’ Summer said. They fell into an easy silence, and Summer narrowed her eyes, trying to pick out the constellations amongst the glittering clusters far above them. She still couldn’t remember any of their names, and thought she would have to get a book, or an app. Latte lay down with her chin on Summer’s ankle.

  ‘Mason?’ she said.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Do you think Mum is really looking down on us, like Valerie said?’

  ‘If she is, she’s congratulating you on your choice of boyfriend.’

  ‘I’m being serious.’

  ‘I know,’ Mason said, kissing her forehead. ‘Sorry.’ She heard him sigh. ‘I think she’ll always be with you, in your heart and your memories, and in the things she taught you – how to run the café, how to be strong in the face of adversity, how to forgive. She’ll always be a part of your life, but looking down on you? I’m not sure. I don’t believe in ghosts, but please don’t tell Valerie I said that.’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Summer said, ‘your secret’s safe with me.’

  When the sun fell behind the horizon, and the temperature fell with it, they decided to take the rest of the bottle inside, to Mason’s cosy cabin. As he helped Summer down off the roof, she glanced in the direction of Willowbeck bridge. The light was gone now, the glow of the towpath lights not reaching as far as the brick structure, but for just a second, Summer thought she saw someone standing there, a woman, a glimmer of blonde hair in a ponytail. She blinked and the image was gone, there was nobody on the bridge and she was standing on the deck of The Sandpiper, in Mason’s arms.

  ‘OK?’ Mason asked, giving her a puzzled smile.

  ‘Yes,’ Summer said. ‘I thought I saw something, that’s all. But there’s nothing there, it’s just my eyes playing tricks. Let’s go inside, it’s getting cold.’

  As she followed Mason inside, she hovered at the door, looking again at the curve of the bridge. She wondered how much truth there was in Valerie’s beliefs, whether her mum was still there at her side, unseen, and if Elizabeth Proudfoot and the gardener, Jack, had found each other in the end.

  She thought if it was going to happen anywhere, then it was likely to be in Willowbeck. Who could fail to want to stay, and fall in love, in Willowbeck? Summer had. She’d decided to stay, and she’d fallen in love with the place and with the scruffy, delicious nature buff who was pouring out the rest of the champagne and whistling tunelessly to himself, while Archie and Latte skittered at his feet, tripping him up, hoping for a morsel of something tasty from the fridge.

  Summer stared out at the bridge for a few more seconds, found herself giving a quick, ridiculous wave into the darkness, and then closed the door on the night and went to wrap her arms around Mason. It was here, with him, as much as in Willowbeck, that Summer truly felt at home.

  If you can’t bear to leave Summer and the gang behind just yet, you can read the full adventure, with bonus material, in the complete Canal Boat Café novel!

  Click here to pre-order THE CANAL BOAT CAFE now 978-0-00-813604-8

  Coming soon!

  * The Canal Boat Cafe was first published as a four-part e-serial*

  And why not try Cressy’s Primrose Terrace series? A four part e-serialisation featuring Westies, Spaniels, Retrievers and Terriers, every dog will have its day!

  Catherine ‘Cat’ Palmer realizes that bringing an adorable puppy into work is a bad idea when it gets her the sack. Deciding it’s the perfect opportunity to launch her dog-walking business, Cat enlists the help of flatmates Polly and Joe. After all Primrose Terrace, the street where they live, is full of home-alone hounds.

  Getting to know the owners and their precious pooches isn’t all plain sailing, but soon Cat is making friends, particularly with sexy Mark and his Collie, Chips. With her talent for misadventure, Cat’s new life starts to show some cracks, and when one of the street’s loveable schnauzers gets ill, it looks like this Christmas could be turning into a dog’s dinner. But Cat has never given up on anything in her life – and this is one Christmas that’s definitely worth saving …

  Click here to buy WELLIES AND WESTIES now 978-0-00-813520-1

  Click here to buy SUNSHINE AND SPANIELS now 978-0-00-813521-8

  Click here to buy RAINCOATS AND RETRIEVERS now 978-0-00-813522-5

  Click here to buy TINSEL AND TERRIERS now 978-0-00-813523-2

  And the full PRIMROSE TERRACE novel, titled A CHRISTMAS TAIL, is available to buy now!

  Click here to buy now 978-0-00-813602-4

  * A Christmas Tail was first published as a four-part serial set in Primrose Terrace*

  About the Author

  Cressy was born in South East London surrounded by books and with a cat named after Lawrence of Arabia. She studied English at the University of East Anglia and now lives in Norwich with her husband David. When she isn’t writing, Cressy spends her spare time reading, returning to London or exploring the beautiful Norfolk coastline. Sh
e is also the author of A Christmas Tail, an original four-part e-serialization, set in the fictional world of Primrose Terrace.

  If you’d like to find out more about Cressy, visit her on Twitter and on Facebook. She’d love to hear from you!

  /CressidaMc‌LaughlinAuthor

  @CressMcLaughlin

  Also by Cressida McLaughlin

  The Canal Boat Café series

  All Aboard

  Casting Off

  Cabin Fever

  Primrose Terrace series

  Wellies & Westies

  Sunshine & Spaniels

  Raincoats & Retrievers

  Tinsel & Terriers

  A Christmas Tail – The Complete Primrose Terrace Story

  About the Publisher

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  HarperCollins Canada

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  United Kingdom

  HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.