Summer Sundaes: Escape to the seaside with the perfect summer read! (The Boardwalk by the Sea Book 1)

by Georgina Troy

  “I think she’s just a bit lonely and doesn’t know how to express herself maybe,” he said.

  “Maybe you’re right. There’s something bothering her though, I’m sure of it.”

  “Then speak to her about it.”

  “I will,” she said as he gave her a bear hug, holding her tightly for a little longer than she liked, making her struggle and push him away. “Get off, you big oaf.”

  “You’re so easy to wind up,” he laughed, nudging her gently.

  “Never mind that,” she said, grimacing at him. “We’ve got to get this place ready for a kid’s ice cream party in an hour and I need you to help me set up the tables.”

  She was used to catering for these parties and encouraged the parents who visited the café to book their children’s birthday bashes via a mailing list she’d set up, soon after taking over.

  She was walking back into the café after checking the twelve party bags the mum had brought in earlier when she’d dropped off the cake, when she heard Jack roar for someone to slow down.

  “Your table is over there,” he said, pointing to the long table at the back of the café, laden with plates of chocolate, cakes and long sundae spoons. “Find your places and we’ll come and take your orders.”

  “They’re noisy little devils, aren’t they?” he laughed, walking up to Sacha at the counter. “Poor mother must be knackered chasing after that lot.” Just at that moment the mother and two friends followed the boys inside, each laden with bags of clothes and towels and looking flustered. Jack rushed over, closely followed by Sacha.

  “Here,” she said, relieving two of the women of some of their load. “We’ll look after these until you leave.” She pointed to a table next to where the boys were seated. “I’ve reserved this one for you.”

  “Drinks?” Jack suggested, holding up his pen and notepad and giving them his best cheeky grin.

  Sacha caught their reaction over her shoulder as she took take the boys’ bags round the back of the café.

  He took their order and moved behind the counter to make up some fruit smoothies. “Those poor women looking after all those kids,” he said, appearing impressed.

  “You could charm the fairies out the trees,” she said, wiping the top of the counter. “What?” she said, confused when he frowned at her.

  “I think it’s birds, rather than fairies.”

  There was a loud cheer and the decibel levels in the café rose. Sacha noticed the frantic expression on the mothers’ faces and looked at Jack. “I think this is going to be a long couple of hours.”

  She picked up twelve specialty menus and walked over to the boys’ table. “Right guys, here are a few menus. Have a look and decide which sundae you’d like, and let me know.”

  “Yayyyyyy,” they cheered. One slapped the birthday boy over the head with the laminated menu and others followed. He looked as if he was about to cry, so Sacha held up her hands. “Any more of that and I’ll give you a half sundae rather than the full size one.”

  Twelve faces stared at her in silence at the thought of having a smaller sundae than their friends. They studied the menus, some whispering with others about what choice to make. It didn’t take long for them to decide, although a couple changed their minds a few times, while the others voiced their orders.

  “Okay, now which toppings?” she asked, smiling as their eyes widened. “We don’t do nuts for younger children in case there is anyone with allergies, but we have chocolate sprinkles, flakes and chunks, toffee and fudge chunks, hundreds and thousands. If you like something a little healthier and still sweet, we have fresh strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. We also have chocolate, fudge and strawberry sauces. Have a think and Jack will bring over a selection, and you can add them yourself.”

  It was a little frantic to have so many excitable children wanting sundaes at the same time, but Sacha enjoyed the chaos and fun of it all. She remembered only too well her and Jack’s birthdays when their parents had hosted sundae parties for them and their friends. As it had been a double celebration, they’d taken over the entire café and it really had been mayhem. However, it was also the best fun, and had created wonderful memories they still joked about now.

  Jack took the smoothies to the wilting mother and her two friends who, Sacha noticed, were beginning to perk up a bit now they were sitting in the cool café.

  “It’s a relief for someone else to take over for a bit,” the birthday boy’s mum said. “I never imagined twelve little five-year-olds could take so much looking after. I’ll bring them straight here next time and forget about trying to entertain them on the beach.”

  “You do that,” Jack said. “How about I bring you a cake each, or maybe you’d like one of Sacha’s over-the-top sundaes?”

  “I’m fine with this, thanks,” the mother said. Her friends agreed.

  Jack went to set up a tray with the toppings and sauces. “Want some help?” he asked Sacha as she created her third sundae.

  “No, you’re okay. Just take these to the boys, will you?” She indicated the one with a large candy number five stuck in the top, next to the cherry. “That’s for the birthday boy, and then work your way round clockwise.”

  As soon as the last boy was served, Jack carried over the toppings. “Starting with the birthday boy, who wants what out of this lot?” he asked.

  Sacha cleared up the mess she’d made, and refilled the strawberry and chocolate tubs with fresh ice cream and stocked up with more wafers and spoons, before going over to the party table to help Jack.

  “Hey guys, slow down a little,” he was saying. “You’ve got all the time you need to finish those off, no need to hurry.” He took away a couple of empty glasses as the boys teased each other and exchanged a few playful punches. “The joys of hosting children’s parties,” Jack whispered to Sacha.

  As each boy left, Sacha gave out a party bag and finally, the last guest was collected and the mother thanked Sacha and Jack and left with her son and her two exhausted friends.

  “That went well,” Jack said. “For the most part, anyway.” He waved at someone outside and the door opened and Alessandro walked in. “Hi, have you come to take her away from all this mess?” Jack asked, indicating the table strewn with toppings, napkins and party hats.

  “It looks like I’ve timed this well.” Alessandro looked around at the chaos. “You need me to help you clean this?”

  “No, he doesn’t,” Sacha said. “Jack has offered to do it, haven’t you Jack?”

  “Looks like I might have done,” he said, grimacing as he opened a bin bag and dropped several ice-cream smeared napkins into it. “Lucy will be here soon and will help me. I can see she wants to chat with you,” he said to Alessandro, “so why don’t you two go off somewhere and make the most of this incredible weather?”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice,” Sacha teased, grabbing her car keys. “Call me if you need me.”

  Lucy arrived and seemed to perk up a bit, seeing Sacha walking with Alessandro towards the door. “Have a lovely time,” she said.

  “Thanks,” Sacha replied, wondering if Lucy had got over whatever it was that had been bothering her. “I’ll see you in the morning.” The door closed behind them and she breathed in the warm summer air. “I need to dip my flip flops in the sea,” she said, lifting her foot and displaying her the sticky coating of various toppings and syrups. “Those little kids were like whirlwinds in there today.”

  “I can wait while you change them in your flat, if you would rather?”

  “No, I need to get out of here before Jack finds a reason for me to stay. I haven’t been outside for hours and want to feel the sand between my toes.”

  They walked along the boardwalk to the steps, which Sacha noticed had been smartened up. “All these little changes being made to the boardwalk,” she said, trying to work out who could be behind them. “They’re improving the place, but no one seems to know who’s doing it and it isn’t the parish arranging it because
I gave them a call yesterday and asked.” Reaching the soft sand, the sensation of the tiny grains between her toes was soothing and she pushed away all thoughts of mysterious changes and symbols. They weren’t hurting anyone and someone surely would discover who was behind it all. “This is bliss,” she said.

  “First, I need to do this.” Alessandro kicked off his sandals and picked them up. Taking hold of Sacha’s hand, he began to walk, and then run towards the sea, pulling her behind him.

  Sacha shrieked with excitement at the freedom of running down the sandy beach. This was her favourite place in the entire world and today the weather was perfect. They reached the sea and ran into the waves and she wriggled her toes in the cool water, staring out to the row of small islands on the horizon.

  “Where shall we go to?” Alessandro asked.

  Sacha closed her eyes, relishing the warmth of the late afternoon sunshine on her face. “I really don’t mind. You tell me what you’d like to see and I’ll find it for you.”

  “I read that on the north coast of the island there are cliff walks. Maybe we could do one of those?”

  “There are pathways we can take all round the island, but the ones on the north coast are probably the most dramatic and rugged. Do you want to go now?” she asked.

  “When you are ready. There is no rush,” he said. “I don’t have to be anywhere else.”

  She realised that neither did she and the thought cheered her.

  “I thought we could eat out somewhere later. Spend some time alone to talk.”

  She opened her eyes and looked at him. He was staring out at the channel, but rather than looking happy, like she’d expected him to, he seemed to be troubled by something. Sensing he wanted to talk to her privately, she tugged on his hand. “Let’s get going.”

  “Yes,” he said, glancing at a nearby couple splashing each other in the sea.

  They walked, hand in hand, up the beach, onto the promenade and to the car park where she was relieved to see that her car was in the shade of one of the large pine trees. Like other trees on the island, the tree’s branches grew on one side only as if a strong wind was pushing the leaves in one direction.

  She unlocked her car and let the heat escape as she wound down the windows. “It’s amazing how hot it gets in here, despite being in the shade.”

  “You have air conditioning in your car?” he asked doubtfully.

  “Sorry, it’s an old model and there’s nothing that fancy in this banger.” She loved her Fiat 500, despite wishing she could afford one of the newer, more glamorous versions. It was the only one she’d ever owned and had saved for it for several years. She’d been thrilled when her father had kept it at his house while she was away, starting it every so often so that the battery always worked when she came home on holiday. She loved the freedom it gave her and knew that one day she’d have to replace it with a newer model. For now, though, it was perfect, apart from the heat inside.

  She drove them through the lanes to the north coast. The warm summer air cooled the interior of the car very slightly, and made it less uncomfortable. Both were silent, lost in their own thoughts. Sacha wondered if he had suggested their walk to be able to tell her that he was leaving the island. She dreaded him giving her an actual date for his departure, making it become real.

  She decided to take him the scenic route through the lanes in St Mary, along the coast at St John and along Les Platons.

  “Where are we going?” he asked, looking around.

  “We’re in Trinity, now,” she said, “and I’m taking you to Egypt.”

  He looked at her, confused. “Egypt?”

  Sacha laughed. She’d expected this reaction. Few people who visited the island were aware of Egypt.

  “There are some nice walks near there,” she said. “It was actually Egypt Farm. I’ve seen some pictures and it looked lovely, with a big granite house and outbuildings. Unfortunately, the place was taken over by the Nazis in the Second World War when they occupied the island from 1940 to when the islanders were liberated on ninth of May 1945.” She could see he was fascinated, and added. “You missed Liberation Day, but the ninth of May each year is taken as a Bank Holiday in the island.”

  “Bank Holiday?”

  “Yes, the whole island has a day off from work.”

  “Ah, si.”

  “Most people celebrate the occasion by raising flags and having parties. There’s a big presentation in town near to the Pomme d’Or Hotel where the first soldiers who liberated the island raised the British flag.”

  “I like the sound of this.”

  She smiled, recalling times she and her family had celebrated with barbecues at home or on the beach near their house. “It’s still a very painful memory to some of the older people here and I grew up hearing all about it, too.”

  “This Egypt, what happened?”

  “There’s nothing much left, it’s all very sad. If you’re interested in the Second World War there’s so much I can show you here. Many old bunkers and even strange little pillbox type ones built on the side of roads. All sorts.”

  “I would love to learn more.”

  “There was a commando raid down near Egypt but one of the men stepped on a mine and died a short while after.” She thought back to her grandmother telling her tales of things that had happened to her friends and their families during the Occupation.

  They used the place to train their soldiers for combat training and target practice. There’s very little left now, which is a shame. The family live in South Africa, I think, and although they’ve tried to get planning permission to rebuild the site, they haven’t been successful.”

  “That is very sad,” he said, frowning.

  “I think so, too. There’s another farm further down, called Little Egypt. It’s all very secluded.

  “There is much history on this island,” Alessandro said. “It is a fascinating place, especially for somewhere so small.”

  “I’m going to park at Bouley Bay,” she said. “There’s a café just above the beach there, which sells really good burgers, if you want to eat one. I thought we could buy a drink and begin our walk; it’s only three to four miles, but very beautiful along the coastal pathways. The walk goes between two bays and we’ll pass by Egypt Woods and end up at Bonne Nuit, where we can stop for a quick bite to eat. We can then make our way back to the car at Bouley Bay. What do you think?”

  “I like this idea.”

  She had wondered if maybe they were starting their walk a little late, especially as the sun set in the West of the island at the other side of the hills, but she could always give her brother a call to come and fetch them if necessary.

  After parking her car at Bouley Bay, she pointed down a pathway to their right.

  “There’s the café, would you like something?”

  “A cool drink, maybe?”

  She needed one too. They bought their drinks and she changed into the sensible walking boots she hadn’t worn since her last time travelling with friends. She put a peaked cap on, tucking strands of her hair behind her ears.

  “Ready, let’s get going then.”

  They walked a short way up the hill on the side of the road until they came to a wooden sign, indicating the path for their cliff walk. She’d forgotten the initial part of the walk was up hill but reasoned that the beauty of the area was well worth the effort. She walked in front of Alessandro, stopping every so often so each of them could take photos of the fields, and as they made their way upwards they spotted the small ruin near the brow of the hill. Taking a few selfies with the view of the bay below them in the background, Sacha sighed, happy to be spending some quiet time alone with Alessandro.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” she asked.

  “It is incredible,” he said, stepping back to let a woman and her Labrador pass. Sacha took him by the hand and began walking again.

  “I’m trying not to think about what my dad did to yours, or I’ll get cross,” she said. “Let’s car
ry on with this beautiful walk.”

  They strolled along the path once again, until Alessandro said, “I am glad to be seeing this side of the island before I leave.”

  Sacha’s heart plummeted. She stopped walking, snatching her hand away and turned to him, uncaring that she wasn’t bothering to hide her shock. “Leaving, when?”

  Another two walkers passed them.

  “We should keep going.”

  Sacha preferred him not seeing the tears that were welling up in her eyes, so did as he suggested. “So, you’re really leaving,” she said over her shoulder. “Have you got an actual date?”

  “I didn’t want to go before the fête,” he said. “I want to help everyone on the boardwalk to secure Betty’s home for her. I have enjoyed feeling part of this community and hate to leave, but I cannot stay much longer. I need to work again, Sacha.”

  “I wish you didn’t have to,” she said, staring out to sea, concentrating on not giving in to the tears that were threatening to make an appearance.

  “I would like to, probably more than you realise. I’ve enjoyed getting to know everyone, especially your friends and family. I cannot be employed here, not unless I am given a special licence which I can only be granted if I am doing a job no one else here is qualified to do. Or if I’m married to someone who is entitled to live here.”

  She stopped and looked up at him, kissing him on his smooth, tanned cheek.

  “I know. It’s good of you to stay this long,” she said, relieved to still have a few days with him around and not having to pull everything together without his help. “I’m sad you have to go, but I understand,” she admitted, reluctantly. “If only there was a job you could apply for here.”

  “I would like to find something, but am not hopeful,” he said, his voice quiet. “There aren’t many archaeological programmes in this area, and I need to go where the work is.”

  “Of course, you do,” she said, swallowing the lump constricting her throat. It had been an unexpectedly exciting summer and she’d willed it not to end, but as was so typical, real life was going to get in the way. “I’ll miss you,” she said, immediately thinking that maybe his going was a blessing in disguise. Falling in love with a man who lived elsewhere really wasn’t a good idea.