Sacha’s heart pounded with excitement. “We need to meet him,” she said, trying not to sound too desperate. “My aunt has promised us that he’s going to open the fête and we need to find out exactly what he’s willing to do.”
“Yes,” Bella said. “I’m a bit concerned that he doesn’t realise that this is just a little event compared to what he’s used to.”
Lexi thought for a moment. “Look, don’t come up to the cottages until you hear from me. I’ll have a quiet word with him and ask if he’ll chat to you and then let you know. Is that okay?”
“Sounds good to me,” Sacha said, relieved to be getting somewhere.
Alessandro stood up and offered Lexi his chair. She sat and he pulled over another one for himself.
“Someone said this was all in aid of Betty’s lease on her cottage,” Lexi said, her voice lowered.
Sacha brought her up to date with the situation. “We don’t mind the locals being aware, as long as it’s kept quiet. You know how private Betty is. Don’t forget she kept what she’d done in the war a secret for over twenty years before someone else announced her bravery. She desperately doesn’t want to leave the boardwalk though, it’s been her home since her husband died and she moved here in the sixties.”
“But I thought Betty owned that cottage,” Lexi said. “She’s been there as long as anyone can remember.”
“We thought so too,” Bella said. “But this wouldn’t be an issue if she did, poor thing. We’re determined to help her and all the funds raised will go towards paying for the lease extension. The only issue, is will we raise enough?”
“We have to, somehow,” Sacha continued. “We must make sure this event is a success, and I need to be certain George Newton knows why it matters so much, so that he doesn’t let us down.”
Lexi stood up. “Leave it with me. I’ll speak to him and heaven help him if he doesn’t do the right thing.”
They laughed. Lexi was only five feet tall and petite, and might look sweet, but could be more determined and feisty than any of them.
“Thanks, Lexi,” Sacha said, showing her out. She joined the others back at the table. “Right, it looks like this really could be going ahead. You all look like you’ve nearly finished eating, so I’m going to get some paper and we can make up the plan for the stalls and any other bits.”
She left them and went to the bunker at the back of the café, looking for some A3 paper, which she’d used for notices a few months before. Grabbing a few sheets and some highlighter pens, she returned to see Jack and Lucy clearing away the plates and wiping the table. Alessandro was making a space in front of where Sacha had been sitting for the plan.
“Right, we need to know how many stalls we’ve all managed to sign up so far,” she said. “Lucy please pass your notepad to Alessandro, he can note down the amounts that have been promised, or even paid for.”
An hour and a half and several coffees later, they’d drawn up a plan, a list of expected funds raised, and a further list of who would be arranging and locating other necessary items for the event.
Sacha sat back and stifled a yawn. “I think we’re getting somewhere, finally.” She pictured the scene. “I know my dad and mum will come down to help on the day. That should leave me free to give any extra help to anyone who needs it. Is there anything else we need to cover tonight?” She waited for them to have a think.
“I reckon that’s it,” Jack said. “Now I don’t know about you lot, but I need to get some shut eye. You should probably be getting home too, Lucy.”
Lucy beamed at Jack and immediately stood up and went to get her tiny rucksack. “See you in the morning,” she said, leaving with a wave.
Sacha hugged Bella and Alessandro. “Thanks for staying tonight, I think we’ve made great headway.”
“It will be a successful day,” Alessandro said, kissing her on both cheeks, before escorting Bella home.
Sacha stopped Jack. “Can I have a word before you go?
“Sure,” he said, leaning against the wall as Sacha closed the door. “What’s bothering you? If it’s what I said yesterday about you forgiving Alessandro easily, then I’m sorry, but I’m still angry with him on your behalf.”
“It’s not that,” she said, not wishing to get into their disagreement again. She explained about Lucy. “I’m sure she’s got a bit of a crush on you and I know how oblivious you can be sometimes. I just thought I should tip you off so that you’re careful how you speak to her.”
He rubbed his eyes. “Of course she hasn’t. If anything, I think it might be Alessandro she’s trying to make jealous by flirting with me. If you think I should be a bit careful though, I will be.” He thought about it for a few seconds, before adding. “She was no different while you were away to how she is now.”
She considered his words. Who wouldn’t have an attraction for Alessandro? Sacha did, after all. Poor Lucy, she hoped she didn’t fancy him, especially as he would be returning to Italy soon.
“Yes, well as I said, you can be a bit oblivious to women’s feelings about you sometimes. Talking of which, how’s it going with Nikki?”
His mood changed. “She’s still phoning me all the time. Despite what I told her about us taking a break, she still goes on about wanting me to go back and carry on where we left off. She doesn’t know what I’m doing here, playing waiter, as she calls it.”
“What a cheek. Don’t let her boss you around,” Sacha said, offended by Nikki’s comment. “You go back if you want to, but only if it’s the right thing for you.”
He ruffled her hair. “Always so bossy,” he said. “Anyone would think you were the eldest.”
“I am.”
He bent his head closer to hers and whispered, “Only by seven minutes, so it doesn’t really count.”
“It does to me,” she said, playfully nudging his arm. “Now go away and let me get to bed.”
He put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her quickly. “‘Nite, Sis.”
“And Jack?”
“What?”
“Please don’t give Alessandro a hard time. We should be concentrating on Betty right now, at least there’s a chance we can do something to help her.”
“Fine,” he said, scowling as he walked out of the café.
Sacha locked the door behind her brother. Then, straightening the chairs, she wiped the table once again before switching off the lights and going up to her flat.
She had only just dried herself off after her shower and dressed in her worn T-shirt and bed shorts when her phone pinged, alerting her to a new text.
She picked it up and looked at the screen. It was from Lexi. Too upset about Betty’s cottage to wait. Spoke to George (so hot!). G says to pop round at ten thirty tomorrow morning. Sweet dreams. Lx
She replied, thanking Lexi and sent a text letting Bella know she’d need to find cover for her shop in the morning.
Things really were coming together.
Chapter Ten
Sacha couldn’t tell who was more nervous about meeting George Newton, her or Bella. For once Bella was silent as they walked up the short hill from the boardwalk to the three fisherman’s cottages above the village. She had rehearsed what she was going to say and hoped to sound encouraging and grateful that he had agreed to take part on their special day, without sounding like the fan she truly was.
They reached Lexi’s cottage at the end of the row that had historically housed local fishermen, who’d taken their boats from the little harbour down the hill, out into the channel to fish for their daily catch.
“I could just picture that gorgeous widowed fisherman living here with his kids,” Bella said.
Sacha looked at Bella. “I suppose so.” She wasn’t sure where that comment had come from but assumed her friend was just nervous. “Ready?”
“Just about.”
Sacha was glad she hadn’t had much notice for this meeting today. Although she’d still had time to spend the night fretting about what to say to her favo
urite actor without making him change his mind. She’d taken a little more effort to tame her wavy hair this morning and put on a newish summer skirt with a T-shirt and hoped that was enough. Taking a deep breath, she knocked at Lexi’s door.
It opened almost immediately. “Don’t look so terrified,” Lexi giggled. “He’s not going to bite you.” She stepped outside and led them to the front door of the cottage at the other end of the small terrace. Lowering her voice to a whisper, she added. “Honestly, calm down, he’s quite nice.”
Lexi knocked on the other cottage door, which opened moments later to reveal George Newton, in person. Sacha and Bella stared at him in silence. There was a quiet confidence that she’d expected but she hadn’t thought he’d be wearing faded denims with a pale blue cashmere V-necked sweater that showed off his dark tan to perfection. She heard Bella whimper quietly behind her and cleared her throat to cover up the sound.
“Sorry, George,” Lexi said, waving them both inside. “Hurry up, you two, he hasn’t got all day.”
Sacha couldn’t believe he could be any better looking in the flesh, but he was, remarkably so. She had to take a moment to look at him; take in his broad shoulders, those chocolate brown eyes, and that perfect mouth, that her aunt had kissed. The thought threw her. She didn’t doubt her aunt had told the truth about her connection to him, not for a second. The notion seemed a little surreal though, or, Sacha wondered, could it simply be that she was a tiny bit envious.
She thought of her recent kiss with Alessandro and couldn’t imagine any other kisses being that perfect, not even George Newton’s. No, she decided, he might be super impressive and very famous, and he was perfect to look at and to watch on screen, but he wasn’t Alessandro. Her stomach contracted at the thought of the handsome Italian she’d been thinking about more and more often. Refusing to ruin her mood she pushed away all thoughts of him.
George reached out to shake their hands, bringing Sacha’s thoughts back to the present and reminding her why they were there. He led them into the tiny living room and motioned for them to take a seat on the two-seater sofa at the end of the room. No one spoke for a few seconds.
Clearing his throat, he said. “Your aunt,” he narrowed his eyes and pointed at Bella. She shook her head. He turned his attention to Sacha. “Sorry, your aunt has asked me to open your fête in a couple of weeks’ time and I gather you want me to confirm that I’m happy to do so.” He smiled showing off his Hollywood white teeth. “I am. I think both of you know how difficult it is to refuse Rosie anything.”
Sacha certainly did. She relaxed slightly, George was such a nice man. “We really are incredibly grateful.”
“I’ve told him about Betty,” Lexi sat on the arm of the nearest chair and folded her arms. “So, you don’t have to go over everything again.”
“Would you all like something to drink?” George asked. He was the most relaxed person in the room, which wasn’t entirely surprising. Sacha was usually confident with people, but he was super smooth and very likable. She realised he was still speaking so focused on what he was saying. “Lexi stocked up my fridge and I think she’s ensured that I have most juices and several selections of teas and coffees to hand.”
Sacha was amused to discover that Lexi was more impressed with her guest than she was letting on. It made her own reaction to him feel a little less ridiculous.
“No, thank you.” She waited for Bella to shake her head before adding, “If Lexi’s told you our reasons for the fête then you’ll know why this is so important to us all. We have to raise as much money for Betty’s cause as possible, and you agreeing to open the fête is an unexpected bonus.”
“That’s very kind of you to say so.” He stared at her for a moment. “Your aunt and I go way back and I’d do anything for her. I grew up hearing about Betty’s heroics and I’m only too pleased to be able to give something back to a lady who did such a brave act during the Occupation.”
“Yes, Dad told me that if she’d been caught she could have been send to Ravensbrück concentration camp like Louisa Gould, or executed up at the manor like Francois Scornet in 1941.” It was hard to imagine these days, a lady being arrested and a twenty-one-year-old being executed up the hill from the boardwalk, especially on such a peaceful summer’s day.
“I suppose you’ll want me to make a brief speech before declaring the fête open?” he said, interrupting her thoughts.
“Please,” Sacha said, relaxing further. If the day itself went this well then there was little chance of them not succeeding.
“Fine, I’m happy to do that. I’ve put the date in my diary. Time?”
“We thought twelve thirty?” Bella said, finally speaking.
He smiled at her. “Great, twelve thirty it is then.”
Delighted, Sacha and Bella thanked him once again, and not wishing to outstay their welcome, left with Lexi.
“See?” Lexi said as they walked down the path to the road. “I told you he was nice. Everything will be fine.”
Sacha thanked her and began walking back down the hill with Bella. “I think I can stop panicking now,” she said. “It does seem like everything has fallen into place. If the weather is perfect, then there should be no reason the fête won’t be a massive success.” She watched her friend out of the corner of her eye. “I’ve never known you to be that quiet.” Sacha giggled at the thought of her friend sitting in wide-eyed silence at Lexi’s cottage.
“I still can’t believe we’ve met him.” She walked on in a daze. “He really is incredibly hot.”
He was.
A couple of days later, Sacha arranged to meet Bella later for a glass of wine on the beach after they’d both closed their businesses for the day. Then, as she walked slowly back to the café, she stopped to stare out across the channel to where the sun was shining on the distant island of Sark. She hoped she’d have enough time while Alessandro was here to be able to take him on one of her friend’s boats to visit Guernsey, Sark, Herm and Alderney, some of the other exquisite Channel Islands.
She arrived back in time to help Jack and Milo with a large group of people who were on a coach tour of the island for the day. She loved it when the coaches brought people down to the boardwalk because they never failed to be excited by the nostalgic charm of the place and they always enjoyed the refreshments at her café.
Thirty-two tea cakes, eight rounds of cabbage loaf toast with fresh local jam and fifteen sundaes later, Sacha and Milo had waved them off and were helping Jack clear up.
“They were fun, weren’t they?” Milo said, noticing a camera that one of them had left behind and racing out of the café to go and find the owner.
Sacha carried a pile of plates into the kitchen, returning to serve another two tables that had recently been taken up by new arrivals.
By the end of the day she was exhausted. “I love August. Even before I ran the café, I always looked forward to the height of summer,” Sacha said, wiping down the counter after tidying away the cones and flakes into the back storeroom. “But it is shattering when there isn’t time to take much of a break.”
“Now you’ve met this actor bloke at Lexi’s place, do you think there’s a chance you might stop worrying so much about this event for Betty?” Jack asked as they both sat down with a coffee after Milo had left.
“Yes,” she said picking up her glass cup and blowing on the drink in a vain attempt to cool it slightly. “I’m only stressing because it matters so much. Betty needs us to make this work.”
“I know, Sis.”
There was a knock on the door, and they looked over and saw Alessandro waving at them.
“It’s alright, I’m not going to upset you and give him a hard time. I’ve spoken to Bella and she insists he isn’t such a bad bloke. I’ve decided, after a lot of nagging from your friend that I’m going to give him a chance to prove it,” Jack whispered as he went over to unlock the door. “Although I think we still need a bit of a quiet talk, him and me.”
Sacha w
ent to argue, but Jack just smiled.
“Come in, mate. How’s it going at your place?”
Alessandro beamed at them, his tanned face contrasting against his perfect white smile. “I am here to ask if you would like to try some of the gelato I’ve prepared. Both of you.”
“I can’t,” Jack said. “I’ve got to be somewhere, but I’m sure Sacha can be persuaded. She can compare it to hers.” He pulled a scared face and Alessandro, unsure, looked to Sacha to see her reaction. When she stuck her tongue out at Jack, Alessandro laughed.
“We have to know what secrets the competition holds,” Jack said.
“I’d love to,” Sacha responded, honestly. “But I’ve promised Bella...” She trailed off mid-sentence as Bella ran up to the door.
“No, it’s fine,” Bella waved at her frantically. “I’ve already told Alessandro you’ll be free. We can drink wine on the beach any old night. You can’t turn down an offer like this, you know, one that mixes business and pleasure.”
Sacha noticed her friend’s emphasis on the word ‘pleasure’ and widened her eyes slightly at her, hoping her brother and Alessandro wouldn’t notice.
“That would be lovely,” she said, turning to address Alessandro. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll meet you at, what’s it called again?”
“Gelateria di Isola,” he said proudly. “It means of the island. I will see you soon.”
He left and Jack and Bella stared at her for a moment.
“What?” she asked, irritated with them both. She didn’t need to be teased about something that could never happen.
“Seriously?” Bella said. “You think we haven’t noticed.” She held up her hand to stop Sacha from arguing. “We were saying only this morning, weren’t we Jack?”
Jack gave her a fierce look. “You were saying,” he corrected. “I’m not so sure I like the idea that Sach has the hots for anyone. It’s all a little bit gross.”
Sacha was used to her brother behaving like a teenager when it came to her and boyfriends. Her twin always found any reference to her having intimacy with a man unsavoury. She understood where he was coming from, as she’d never really liked to know any details about him and his relationships.
Summer Sundaes: Escape to the seaside with the perfect summer read! (The Boardwalk by the Sea Book 1) Page 17