Emma's Story

by Georgia Hill

  Ollie gave a short laugh. ‘I don’t think that was what he had on his mind to open up, Em.’

  ‘You could be right. Biddy saw through him as well.’

  ‘It’s not right, Emma. He shouldn’t be taking advantage of students like that.’

  ‘No.’ Emma sobered. ‘Biddy said the same. He didn’t take advantage of me though, don’t worry. I just … I just got a bit confused. Got my priorities skewed.’

  Ollie found her hand and clasped it tightly. ‘I did too, Em.’

  ‘I take you for granted, don’t I?’

  ‘Sometimes. But I go on about my training too much, don’t I?’

  ‘A bit.’ She shrugged against him. ‘Still love you, though.’

  ‘I love you too. Oh Emma, I don’t want to split up. I want us to be together. Do you think we can work something out? I promise not to bang on about the RNLI as much.’

  ‘And I promise to take more of an interest. It is important what you’re doing and I am proud of you, you know.’

  ‘I’ll try to be interested in Shakespeare, although I can’t promise anything.’

  Emma laughed. ‘Then I’ll try not to be boring about it. We’ve both got things in our lives that are important to us. That’s a good thing, isn’t it?’

  ‘Do you want to carry on with your studying?’

  ‘I might. I haven’t decided yet. It costs a fortune.’ She sighed. ‘I do love it, though. Tash mentioned there might be a promotion at the office going. You never know, I might do some on-the-job training. Go for management.’

  ‘Way to go, Em. That’s fantastic! I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more. And, you know I’ll support you, whatever you want to do with your life. The world’s your lobster, as Biddy says.’ Ollie’s voice was warm with pride.

  ‘What about babies?’ She knew he was keen. ‘I’m not sure I can study, hold down a full-time job and have kids.’

  ‘You do want them at some point, don’t you?’

  Emma thought back to how ecstatic Millie was with Jed and possibly a baby on the way. She thought how happy her mother would be to be a grandmother. ‘Yes,’ she answered, slowly. ‘At some point in the future.’ She pictured a baby, with her big hazel eyes and Ollie’s shock of black hair. A fuzzy warmth overtook her. He’d make the best sort of dad. ‘Oh Ollie, I’d love to have your babies, of course I would.’

  Ollie hugged her to him. ‘But plenty of time for that, though, eh? We’re only kids ourselves. Time for you to get an education first. A degree, if that’s what you want.’

  ‘Oliver Lacey, have I told you how much I love you?’

  He kissed her, lingeringly. ‘I’m getting the idea.’ Then he rested his forehead against hers and laughed. ‘Can’t believe we wasted a whole night in a four-poster, Em. If only you’d been wearing this get-up back then.’

  She kissed him back. ‘I promise to keep it if you dress up as Ross Poldark again. Only this time, I won’t laugh. I’m so sorry about that, Ollie.’

  ‘It’s forgotten. Daft idea, anyway.’

  ‘No, it was really sweet of you. And thoughtful.’

  They kissed once more, relief that everything was all right between them fuelling their passion.

  ‘You taste of salt and vinegar. Of chips and the cold wind,’ Emma giggled and laid her head on his shoulder. ‘Delicious.’ The picture of Leah, with her hand gripped possessively on Ollie’s arm reared up into her vision. ‘And what about Leah?’ she demanded, sitting up. ‘She didn’t waste any time, did she?’

  ‘You jealous?’ Ollie asked, obviously pleased.

  ‘You bet I am! Emma said, hotly. ‘Don’t want my man being pawed by another woman.’

  ‘What can I say?’ Ollie said, sounding smug. ‘I’m just too much of a temptation.’ He sobered. ‘Nothing happened, Em. Jeez, I couldn’t shake her off though. Wouldn’t get the message that there’s only one girl for me and that’s you.’

  ‘Oh, Ollie …’ Emma gazed at him, his face impenetrable in the gloom, his black hair lit by the flashing neon lights behind him. ‘I do love you.’ If she said it often enough, he might believe her. She’d never take him for granted ever again.

  ‘We’ll be okay, Emma. We can work through this. It’ll be easier when we get our own place. And that will happen, I promise.’ He kissed her again, their passion flaming the cold night.

  Emma surfaced from the kiss and was about to tell him about Millie’s offer of the flat when a high-pitched beep sounded. And then sounded again.

  ‘What is it?’ asked Emma, confused. ‘It’s coming from your jeans pocket.’

  ‘It’s my pager,’ Ollie said. ‘It’s a shout.’ Thrusting the now cold bag of chips at her, he added, ‘I’ve got to go, I’ve got five minutes to get to the station. Bugger it, I had something to ask you too. Something really important.’ For a second he wavered, then he turned and ran.

  ‘And I’ve got something to tell you, too,’ she shouted after him, watching him sprint down the path. She turned and looked out to sea. The clouds scudded across a clear moon. It looked dark and stormy out to sea. And dangerous.

  Chapter 25

  Emma thought she might as well return to the fair. Her senses were tingling from Ollie’s kisses and she was too wired to sleep. Besides, she wouldn’t be able to relax until she knew he was back. This was one of the first real shouts that Ollie had been called to and the knowledge he might be in danger out at sea horrified her. It was all far too real, suddenly. She caught up with Millie and Jed outside Madame Zackerlie’s Fortune Telling caravan. A stiff breeze skittered an empty cider can along the cobbles and two drunks shoved past them. To Emma, the fair had lost its appeal. It felt end-of-evening blowsy.

  ‘We thought about going in,’ Millie said, nodding to the fortune teller’s. ‘But then Tessa told us it’s really Joyce Biddle from the WI’s Knit and Natter Circle.’ Sensing Emma’s preoccupation, she asked, ‘No Ollie? I thought I saw you together a while ago.’

  ‘He’s had to go out with the lifeboat,’ Emma explained, stuffing the remaining chips into an over-filled bin. She must have been really preoccupied with Ollie, she thought with a smile. She never threw food away and especially not chips. ‘There was an emergency. I thought I’d go and wait outside the station for when he gets back.’

  ‘Oh Em, he could be gone for hours.’ Millie put a comforting arm around her shoulders. ‘And it’s getting really cold, that wind is really kicking off. Come back to the flat and you can wait there. You can see the lifeboat station from my lounge window. I’ll make us some tea to keep us going.’

  ‘That’s ever so kind of you, Millie, but I wouldn’t want to take you away from the fair. It’s only just getting going.’

  ‘To be honest, I’ve had enough and I’ve got to get back to Trevor anyway. I don’t like to leave him on his own for too long.’ She turned to her husband. ‘Jed, do you want to come back too, or are you staying on?’

  ‘I’d quite like to stay for a while longer, do you mind?’ A thinner, bespectacled version of Jed waved at them from the dodgems. He had his arm around a spectacularly beautiful woman and she screamed in delighted shock as their car thudded into another. ‘There’s Alex and girlfriend Eleri,’ Jed said. ‘Said I’d do battle with him on the dodgem cars. Want to catch up with all the goss from the Henville anyway. Haven’t seen them for weeks, they’ve been so busy at the hotel.’ Jed’s older brother owned the exclusive Henville Hotel where Ollie had taken Emma. ‘I won’t be late, though. Promise. Trust me.’ He kissed Millie tenderly and strolled off into the crowds.

  Millie turned to Emma, with a giggle. ‘Don’t think Jed has experienced anything quite like the Berecombe fair before. He’s enthralled by it all.’

  ‘At least he’s not snobby about it,’ Emma said, thinking of Joel’s insufferably lofty attitude.

  They pushed their way through the milling throng and made their way to the steep street leading down to the promenade.

  ‘Jed? He’s the least snobby person I
know.’ Millie giggled again. ‘Funny, though. It took me a year to realize it. Oof,’ she added, as a shock of spray hit them. ‘It’s getting rough out there. Really high tide too. Wouldn’t surprise me if the harbour doesn’t flood tonight. Come on, Em, let’s get a shifty on and get into the warm. I can show you round the flat when we get there. It won’t take long. There’s not a lot to it!’

  Chapter 26

  Trevor the cockapoo gave them a rapturous welcome and followed at their heels while Millie showed Emma around. His cold wet nose bumped against the back of her knees.

  ‘Just the lounge, bathroom, kitchen and bedroom,’ Millie explained as they wandered through. ‘As you can see, it’s completely separate from the café below. There’s this tiny box room too.’ She opened the door opposite the bathroom. ‘It used to be my bedroom when I was little but when my parents …’ She paused, and Emma could hear the emotion in her voice. ‘When I took over the main bedroom,’ Millie corrected herself, ‘I had shelves put in and it’s a bit of a glory hole now.’ She closed the door, a thoughtful expression on her face. ‘Useful, though.’ Turning to Emma, Millie straightened her shoulders and smiled. ‘You go on through to the lounge. There’s a chair right in front of the window which looks out onto the harbour. You can watch out for the return of the lifeboat from there. I’ll bring the tea in. Fancy some carrot cake with it, or is it too late for cake?’

  ‘It’s never too late for cake, especially yours,’ Emma said and went to sit in the aged and lumpy chair in front of the picture window. She could see the harbour lights from here, through the rain-smeared glass. The lifeboat station had its doors flung open to the night and the interior looked hollow and empty without its bright orange boat inside. The wind hurled itself at the window, making it rattle. Emma shivered and cuddled into the chair.

  ‘That’s quite a storm developing,’ Millie said, as she brought through a tray of tea and cake. She put it on the coffee table, with a warning look to the dog. ‘Make sure he doesn’t steal the cake, will you, Em? I’ll go and find you something warm to wear. You look frozen.’

  Ten minutes later, Emma was curled up, wearing a turquoise blue tracksuit of Millie’s and warming her hands around a steaming mug of tea.

  Millie collapsed onto the sofa with an exhausted sigh. ‘I get so tired at the moment. Wish some of my old energy would make a comeback.’ She reached for her tea and hugged Trevor as he jumped up next to her.

  ‘That’ll be the baby, I suppose,’ Emma said without thinking.

  Millie blushed crimson. ‘How did you guess?’

  ‘Not difficult.’ Emma grinned. ‘And Tash always says it’s one of the major life-changing events which makes people move house.’

  ‘True. I’d appreciate it if you kept it to yourself for the moment, though. I’m not past the twelve-week stage yet and feeling superstitious.’

  ‘Won’t say a word. You’ll love the Greys’ cottage. What a perfect place to have babies and dogs.’

  ‘Isn’t it, though?’ Millie settled against the sofa and smiled dreamily. ‘I knew as soon as I saw it. Just perfect.’ She looked around at the flat’s little sitting room. ‘I’ll miss this place so much. It’s been home for as long as I’ve known.’

  ‘I promise Ollie and I will look after it,’ Emma said. ‘As long as he gets back,’ she added in a whisper. ‘If he gets back, I’ll promise to never ever take him for granted again.’

  Chapter 27

  They must have fallen asleep, as Emma woke with a jolt to the sound of the flat’s front door slamming shut.

  ‘That wind is really something,’ Jed said, as he came into the lounge. He brought the sharp scent of saltwater with him and his face was reddened with cold. ‘I was practically blown along the prom. Hello, my love,’ he added as Millie stirred sleepily. He crossed the room to kiss her. ‘Oh and Emma, I think the lifeboat’s about to come in. I saw it heading for the harbour. Think there was a yacht following close behind. Must have been a casualty as there’s an ambulance waiting on the harbour road. Emma?’

  He received no answer as Emma had shoved on her stilettoes and run out into the night.

  She ran the short distance to the harbour, stopping only to take off her shoes and run barefoot the rest of the way. She lurched to a halt where there was a motley collection of people waiting outside the lifeboat station. She recognized the harbourmaster and Paul Cash, the town’s only policeman. The rest was a blur of flashing lights and concerned faces.

  ‘What happened?’ she asked breathlessly.

  ‘Yacht in trouble in the storm that blew up,’ Paul answered. ‘Owner broke his arm when the mast went. Family with children too, so everyone’s a bit tense.’

  The lifeboat was negotiating the narrow harbour entrance now and Emma could see the stricken yacht, its main mast shattered in half, following behind. She hopped from foot to foot, the cold and wet seeping into her bones and watched, impatiently, as the lifeboat was put into its cradle and pulled up the causeway by a tractor. The lifeboat crew looked identical, in their white helmets and yellow waterproofs and Emma couldn’t see which was Ollie. A small child in an emergency blanket was handed to a paramedic, with its dazed-looking mother following. They disappeared into the ambulance. A man, his arm in a sling, and an older child, got into a second ambulance which had just made its way down the steep hill to the harbour.

  ‘Where’s Ollie?’ Emma yelled. No one was listening; they were all too busy dealing with the emergency. She couldn’t see him anywhere. Cold, of a far more sinister kind, took hold. What if he had been lost? It happened to lifeboat crew. There was a plaque inside the station detailing those men lost at sea. The list was too long. And every man had been someone’s son, brother, father or husband. ‘Where’s Ollie?’ she repeated, desperately. Tears began to fall, blurring the chaos of the night even more.

  The helmsman passed her, grinning through his exhaustion. ‘He’s back there with Will, on the yacht. They stayed on it to motor it into the harbour. And young Ollie spotted the boy in the water. Seconds from drowning, that kid was. You should be very proud of your Oliver. He’s done good tonight.’

  Emma ran further along the harbour to where she could see the yacht bobbing high on the spring tide. A crowd had gathered around, watching, as another crew member hauled Ollie up the iron ladder onto the harbour wall. They stood around him, slapping him on the back and teasing; relief that the shout had been successful making them loud and ribald. Emma ducked through and ran to him.

  ‘Oh Ollie.’ She grabbed him and put her arms around him, difficult with his bulky kit. ‘I love you. I love you. I love you.’

  He pushed her away a little and she could see his face was rimed with fatigue. His eyes, however, were alight with the satisfaction of having done a good night’s work. ‘Hi, Em,’ he said, kissing her soundly. ‘We’ve had quite the night. Where were we before we got so rudely interrupted? Oh yes, I had something to ask you.’ He went down on one knee and looked up, his grin flashing white in the harbour lights. ‘Will you marry me?’

  Her answer got lost in the cheers and catcalls of those circled around them. She tugged him back to his feet. ‘Oh, Ollie! Yes, of course I will. I’d love to marry you!’ He’d just risked his life for others. She might have lost him. Forever. He’d done a very special thing tonight. And, once the adrenaline wore off, she knew he would be casual and diffident about it. She kissed him with all the love she had.

  To more ribald cheers, Ollie gathered her into his arms. ‘Must be mad to take you on,’ he grinned. ‘But it’s a madness I’ll gladly accept.’ His kiss made her breathless. Then his face creased in concern. ‘Emma, you sure you want to take me on? All this, I mean. It won’t be much fun, sometimes, being the one who’s waiting on the shore.’

  ‘Who knows,’ she said blithely. ‘I might even volunteer myself. The RNLI take women, don’t they?’

  Ollie laughed. ‘They do, but even they might not be ready for you, my love.’ He looked down at her. ‘You’re shive
ring like there’s no tomorrow. No wonder. You haven’t got any shoes on. Come on, let’s go and grab a cup of tea.’ Loosening his helmet, he took it off and put it on her. Then he swept her off her feet and into his arms. Carrying her towards the warmth of the lifeboat station, they were followed by the cheering crowd.

  Emma, pink-cheeked with pleasure and embarrassment, threw her arms around his newly-muscled shoulders and hid her face against his wet neck. ‘I love you, Oliver Lacey. Who needs Ross Poldark? You are truly my hero.’ And, as she said the words, realized they would be true forever.

  Acknowledgements

  Grateful thanks go to Tim at Archway Books in Axminster and lovely Bee and Chris at my favourite seaside bookshop, Serendip in Lyme Regis, for helping with information about running an independent bookshop. Lisa Hill - your insights into the life of an estate agent were much appreciated. Huge thanks to Joanna Quinn from the RNLI’s College in Poole for taking the time to fill me in with what it takes to be an RNLI volunteer. All mistakes are my own. It’s not been the easiest of years to write a book so I must thank everyone at HarperImpulse for their support and patience – and their continuing faith in me. And, as ever, thank you dear readers for buying and reading the books. I hope you love this latest slice of Berecombe cake as much as I enjoyed writing it.

  Also in The Little Book Café series:

  The Little Book Café, Tash’s Story

  The Little Book Café, Amy’s Story

  About the Author

  Georgia Hill writes rom-coms and historical fiction and is published by HarperImpulse.

  She divides her time between the beautiful counties of Herefordshire and Devon and lives with her two beloved spaniels, a husband (also beloved) and a ghost called Zoe. She loves Jane Austen, eats far too much Belgian chocolate and has a passion for Strictly Come Dancing.