by Robyn Neeley
“People are going to laugh anyway,” Duncan said. “We’ll be lucky to cover our costs.”
Carly tightened her jaw. “I’ve worked out the money, we’ll make a profit. And it’s not a few boats whizzing around the harbour, it’s an organised sailing race with some big name participants.”
“Is Daniel Edwards taking part? He’s a local lad?” Jessie said.
“Not to my knowledge,” Carly said.
“Why? Wasn’t he asked?” Duncan said, smiling.
Without the grin, she would have assumed it an innocent question, but he knew. Of course he knew, they all did.
“Well,” she said, banging her papers down on the table. “Why doesn’t someone ask him?”
“He’s back,” Jessie said. “I’ve seen him.”
“Then it’ll be easy for you to find him. Now what else do we have to discuss?”
“Do we have to include the local schools? It’s getting difficult to organise,” Ian said. “The teachers are all busy with Christmas plays.”
“We don’t have to if they’re not interested. We’ve got the junior sailing team race and a Santa’s Grotto, that should be enough for the little ones. If the schools don’t want to join in, then we’ll leave it.”
It would have been nice to include the children more, but Ian had done his best. It was just certain members, two in particular, who liked to make her life difficult. Jessie had never forgiven her for being voted in as Chairperson and Duncan, well, she didn’t know what his problem was, but he’d been against her from the start.
“We could still do the annual school trip to the lifeboat station in spring,” Ian said. “Get the kids involved then.”
She nodded. “We should, it’s important the next generation understand how vital the lifeboat station is here.”
“Is it that vital?” Duncan said. “Padstow isn’t far away. I still think we could summon a fast lifeboat from there, rather than buying and maintaining a craft ourselves. Haven Bay isn’t that big.”
Carly inhaled sharply. How many times had they been through this?
“No,” she said. “Our town is famous for its water sports and attracts thousands of visitors in the summer. If we want holidaymakers to come, we have to make it safe for them and there’s also the fishing trawlers that go out every week to consider. Mick’s had to bring a fair few of their men back in the lifeboat. Go and talk to the other families who have people out on the boats, Duncan, see if they want a lifeboat station here. It’s easy for you to say it’s excessive, when you haven’t got anyone at risk.”
She snapped her file shut. “And I’m not discussing it any further, it’s been made clear by the police and the coast guard that we must have a lifeboat on standby here. We’ve got dangerous currents and the day-trippers don’t appreciate the danger, no matter how many signs we put up. The question isn’t whether we have a lifeboat station, it’s how we’re going to pay for it. Anyone who disagrees has no place on this committee.”
Mutterings rose from around the table, but she stared at them, unrepentant. Why volunteer for a fundraising committee, then disagree with what they were raising money for? She hadn’t gone into this lightly, she knew from personal experience how dangerous those cliffs were. Duncan seemed to believe a drowning person would flounder around on the surface for twenty minutes, leaving ample time to summon a boat or helicopter. But he’d never felt the powerful fingers of the icy winter current swirling around his body, dragging him down.
With a fixed smile, she held up her minutes. “We need a volunteer to help with the children’s sailing race, shouldn’t be too strenuous. You’ll just need to watch from a dinghy to make sure they go around the markers properly.”
Everyone stared back in silence and she sighed. Now they were sulking because she got frustrated. Number one rule of running a committee, never, ever, lose your temper.
“Why don’t you do it yourself?” Duncan said.
“Me?” she frowned.
“Yes, you.” He looked around the group for support and her mouth dropped as a few heads nodded.
Swallowing she took a deep breath. “It involves standing in a dinghy, which you are well aware I can’t do.”
“But you could sit down. We’ll put some cushions on the seats to make it comfy for you.”
She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of explaining why she couldn’t supervise the race, but her cheeks burned. A couple of people at the table, shuffled their feet and stared at their hands. They’d all seen her on sunny days watching the boats in the harbour, arms wrapped around herself.
Looking at Duncan, she opened her mouth to give a sharp retort, then a man stepped from the doorway leading to the bar and cleared his throat.
“I can cover the children’s race,” Daniel said.
Carly stared at him and the group seated at the table shoved their chairs back, open mouthed.
“That would be great,” Jessie squeaked.
Carly slapped her papers on the table. “Are you planning on still being here in three weeks?”
“I wouldn’t have offered otherwise,” he said.
She glared at the rest of the committee. “Does anyone object? No? That’s settled then, I’ll send you the details later, Daniel.” She swallowed. “Thank you.”
“Why don’t we have a drink in the bar while you fill me in?” he said.
“No, I don’t think so, I have to get home.”
How dare he embarrass her in front of everyone? Hadn’t she already made her feelings clear? Grabbing her papers, she stuffed them into her rucksack, fingers fumbling as he continued to watch her.
“Right, see you next week,” Ian said, standing up. “Come on everyone, let’s have a drink before we head home, it’s chilly out.”
Watching them leave, Carly snapped her bag shut and slung it over her shoulder. Since meeting Daniel again, she reacted to the slightest provocation. Was it frustration over seeing him so fit, strong and successful?
“You didn’t have to volunteer,” she said, looking at him.
“I want to help.”
“Until you vanish off again to your glamorous life?”
“You know sailing, Carly, it’s not that glamorous, getting up at five for training, rope burns, soaking wet.”
“I wouldn’t know about that, would I? Not anymore.”
“So it’s not the fundraising that’s really concerning you? I had a feeling it wasn’t.”
“What else do you expect? How would you feel in my position? I don’t want you here, reminding me of what I lost, just leave me alone and go back to your fiancée.”
“I’m allowed to come and see my family, you don’t own this town. You hate me still, I get it. I’m sorry for what happened, terribly sorry, but there’s nothing I can do to change it.” He stepped in front of her, forcing her to look at him. “I want to help raise the funds for a new lifeboat because without the last one you’d be dead and I couldn’t have coped with losing you, you were the centre of my world. So if I offer to help with the gala, don’t attack me for it, just accept it for what it is: me trying to make some small amends for what happened.”
Breathing deep, she closed her eyes. Was it better that he raised the topic? She didn’t know, but his skin looked pale and his eyes were flecked with red. He wasn’t the carefree Daniel she remembered.
“Thanks for your help,” she repeated. “I do appreciate it and so will the lifeboat station.” She was tempted to ask where his fiancée was, but it would make her sound desperate.
“I didn’t expect you to be doing things like this,” he said. “You never used to be interested in charity stuff.”
“I was a professional sportswoman then. I’ve got more spare time now and it gives me something to work toward.”
“Perhaps it’s not so unu
sual then, you always did like a challenge.”
“Is there any reason for your visit, or are we just going to reminisce over old times?”
He drew his head back. “Is this how it’s always going to be between us?”
“I expect so, I can’t imagine us being friends again.”
“It does look that way, which is a shame, because you were my best friend for years.”
“That was before you destroyed my life.”
He winced and she closed her eyes; that had been a cruel thing to say. But he brought out the worst in her, the angry, frustrated side she spent so long trying to control.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s true though, isn’t it? We both know that.”
His eyes were dark grey, narrowed, and his jaw set. Once, they’d been best friends, lovers; she didn’t want to hurt him, she just wanted him out of her life, he was disturbing her in a way she didn’t like.
“Daniel … ” she said, then the door opened again and her friend Linda stepped in. Glancing at them both, her mouth fell open and she moved back.
“Sorry, I’ll wait in the bar,” she said.
“Meeting up for a drink?” he said, looking at Carly.
“Yes, we are.” She gazed at him, without flinching and he stalked out the room, slamming the door behind him.
Linda jerked as it crashed, then came around to the head of the table.
“Was that Daniel?” she said. “I didn’t know he was back. He looks good, doesn’t he? Mind you, he always did.” Her smile faltered. “That was the wrong thing to say, sorry. It threw me, seeing him here. It’s been years.”
“Two,” Carly said. Daniel hadn’t looked good to her, he looked exhausted and stressed, but she knew him better then Linda. “Hopefully he’ll return home soon.”
“What’s up with you, Carly? You’ve been so moody these last two days. Is your leg hurting?”
“Not my leg.” She dropped into her chair. “Sorry, I know I’m being a nightmare at the moment. Daniel unsettled me; I never expected to see him again.”
“But his family lives here.”
“I assumed he was enjoying his new life too much to remember Haven Bay.”
“He’s not going to forget his own family, is he? Daniel isn’t like that, I suspect the only reason he stayed away is because he was avoiding you.”
“Thanks!”
“You can’t complain about him not coming back when it was you who ordered him to go.”
“I know.” She dropped her head into her hands. “I couldn’t bear to see him so alive and well, while I sat in a wheelchair, with doctors shaking their heads over me and saying they might have to amputate. I couldn’t do anything on my own and I hated him seeing me like that.”
“I think you were frightened of holding him back.” Linda said. “You loved sailing so much, you couldn’t bear for him to lose it as well. Which would have happened, I’m convinced, if he’d stayed in Haven Bay caring for you. Sorry if I sound harsh, but it’s true. By telling him to go, you let him have what you lost.”
“I’m not sure it was quite that altruistic. There were many reasons, which all seemed right at the time, but I look at him now and wonder if I did the right thing. He doesn’t seem very happy.”
“I don’t think either of you were in a state to be together then, you were angry and he was guilt stricken, a toxic mix. Ali doesn’t think he ever got over it and while I don’t know why he’s returned, I’m convinced that he’s still in love with you.”
Carly sat bolt upright. “Don’t be ridiculous, he’s engaged. If he was still in love with me, why is he getting married?”
“He’s single. The engagement’s been called off, she walked out on him.”
“Then I expect he’s here to recover from a broken heart.” She remembered the magazine spread of Daniel and his glamorous TV presenter fiancée, smiling and showing off a large diamond ring.
“Yup, that’s what Ali said too, but she wasn’t convinced it was Imogen he needs to get over.”
“Let’s leave this, I’m not sure I can deal with any more Daniel Edwards conversations today.” She stood up. “Time for a drink, I’ll be nicer company after a glass of wine.”
“You’re fine, don’t be so hard on yourself, you’ve coped really well.”
“I don’t think I have, actually, and I doubt Duncan would agree with you.”
“Who cares about him? Duncan hasn’t lived here long enough to see a drowning on the beach like we all have, else there’d be no complaints about fundraising. Haven Bay is a wonderful place for a holiday, but it can be dangerous.” Linda looked at her watch. “I’ve got an hour before I have to get back to Jack, Mum’s babysitting.”
Carly grabbed her cane and stood up. She needed to stop obsessing about Daniel’s return, it was nothing to do with her, not anymore, and everyone had problems; look at Linda, pregnant as a teenager and now a single mother, she wasn’t the only one whose life hadn’t turned out the way she’d hoped.
CHAPTER THREE
Carly dropped into a chair in the sailing club bar and stuffed her shopping bags under the seat; after the stressful fundraising meeting yesterday, she needed some retail therapy to unwind. Haven Bay now boasted several smart cafés and restaurants, but when she was weary it was always here she retreated to. It had been her second home since she won the Children’s Sailing Scholarship at the age of ten, which she’d only entered to get away from home for a few hours. Later, she found out her tenacity and determination had appealed to the head coach, Shane, along with the delight in her eyes, he said, when she took the dinghy around the harbour. Daniel had been watching from the jetty that day, a year old then her, his place on the team was already assured and he clapped as she brought the boat into the jetty, brown hair falling over his grey eyes.
Waiting to be served, she scanned the old-fashioned panelled walls until her gaze fell on the three framed certificates announcing Sailor of the Year (Under 16), with her name typed beneath. Tacked beside them were faded photos of her, smiling, her dark brown hair soaked and cheeks glowing.
Sighing, she looked away, glancing at the larger display belonging to Daniel fastened to the wall opposite. Unlike her pictures, his story didn’t come to an abrupt end, instead the portraits became larger and more professional, accompanied by articles cut from major newspapers. She stared at one of him receiving his second medal, his head down and expression hidden; she always hoped he was smiling under his tumbled hair. The next picture of him, taken by his winning boat, showed him with a creased brow and set mouth, how could he look so sad with the gold clutched in his fingers?
Tearing her gaze away, she picked up the menu.
“What can I get you?” Linda stood by her table, grinning, pad in hand.
“Are you working here?” Carly said.
“Yes, I need extra hours to pay for childcare.”
“Don’t do that, bring Jack down to the shop after school, he can entertain himself while I serve, he’s getting good with the pricing gun.”
“I know, I spent ages combing bits of sticker out of his hair the last time you babysat. Anyway, what are you having?”
“Tea, please and a slice of chocolate cake.”
“Excellent choice, back in a few minutes.”
Linda snapped her pad shut and Carly watched her stride to the next table. Jack was a lovely boy, but the pregnancy had stopped Linda from going to university as she’d planned. Instead, she held down three café jobs and mended last year’s jumpers. There was no doubt that she loved him, but her friend often looked weary.
Would she ever have a child herself? She shook her head. It was unlikely; she’d never felt the same way about anyone else that she had for Daniel and she couldn’t settle for less. When she hear
d about his engagement, she had shut the shop and retreated to bed, her muscles aching as if she had flu.
“Here you go,” Linda said, putting a tray on the table and starting to unload the tea set. “I don’t want to scare you away, but Daniel’s just walked in. Shall I wrap your cake and pour the tea into a take-away beaker?”
Carly took a deep breath. “No, that’s all right, I can’t keep avoiding him, Haven Bay isn’t that big.”
Looking around, she flinched. He stood in the doorway staring at her, unsmiling. Would he turn and leave? She couldn’t blame him if he did, she’d been horrible to him. A lump rose in her throat and she swallowed, glancing down at the table. They’d been best friends and lovers, but the air between them crackled only with anger now. Could it ever go back to the way it used to be?
He strode toward her, winter boots thudding on the floorboards and she lowered her head, skin prickling as if every part of her was responding to his presence.
“I know you saw me arrive,” he said, pulling a chair out and sitting down, stretching long legs under the small round table. “I didn’t know you still came to the sailing club.”
“I’m here quite often,” she said. Had he been hoping she wouldn’t be here?
“How is the fundraising going?”
“We’ve got £400,000, so just another half a million to go.”
“I could help.”
“We can manage.” Then she remembered her decision to be civil. Daniel was a celebrity, if he came to the gala, they could invite the press and spread the word about the appeal.
“We do need someone to open the event and make a speech about the importance of the lifeboats. Could you do that?” she said.
He hesitated and she knew he was also thinking about the publicity. Was it right to sell him as a means to make money? But Daniel put very little into Haven Bay; there were no schools named after him or teaching scholarships set up for the children. Haven Bay volunteers had trained and supported him, and it was time for him to give something back.