Spring Tides at Swallowtail Bay: The perfect laugh out loud escapist romantic comedy for summer! (Swallowtail Bay, Book 1)

by Katie Ginger

  Just as she was about to run into the water Miles came charging forward, running full pelt towards the sea. He threw his phone and wallet onto the ground and dived straight into the cold, white waves. From the way the water pushed him backwards she could see the strength of the current but still he pressed on. Frank was desperately scrabbling around and the look in his deep dark eyes was one of pure terror. Stella’s heart broke apart but Miles was almost there. He was having to swim now, his strong arms cutting through the rough water until he gently caught hold of Frank who struggled mercilessly, making Miles’s job twice as hard. Somehow Miles remained calm and in a flash he was back on the beach soaking wet and shivering. Stella ran towards them, taking Frank from his arms and cradling him like a baby. The poor soaking wet dog shivered and he pressed his cold wet nose to her face, whimpering. Miles stood next to her, his arms crossed over his chest, his whole body shaking.

  ‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’ A crowd had gathered at the terrifying spectacle and they began to clap. Miles nodded at them, embarrassed and freezing. ‘You’d better get changed before you catch pneumonia,’ Stella said, aware that he had saved her and that she’d been stupid running off leaving the door open. Speaking of which, she hoped her entire shop hadn’t been robbed, but even if it had, Frank was more important than that. She couldn’t believe that Miles had done that for her. Leapt into a freezing sea to save a dog he didn’t even like. Underneath his blunt exterior there seemed to be more to him. No matter what Jay had said, she couldn’t deny how heroic and selfless he’d been. It seemed there really was a depth to him she hadn’t credited.

  And now, she owed him big time.

  ***

  The family left as soon as the police had taken their statements. They completely blanked Stella as they climbed into their car, and it wasn’t until Roger was just about to get in that he interrupted her apologies to say, ‘You’ll be hearing from my solicitor.’

  Once Miles had changed into clean, dry clothes he called a joiner friend to come and fix the door and stayed with Stella while she made her statement. ‘They left mid-afternoon yesterday,’ she told the policeman, sat in her living room, a blanket around her shoulders. ‘I didn’t see them go. I was serving customers.’

  The policeman nodded. ‘The front door onto the street wasn’t damaged. Could it be that it was left open?’

  ‘Maybe. But if it was it would have been them that left it open. Once the guests are in I don’t bother them. I leave them to their holiday. They have keys.’

  The policeman nodded and she shuddered; she was in shock from everything that had happened that day. She just couldn’t get warm no matter how many cups of hot sweet tea she drank or how many blankets were wrapped around her shoulders.

  ‘I’m sure it wasn’t your fault,’ said Miles. ‘These things happen. They must have left it open when they left for Halebury.’

  Stella sniffed twice and looked down at Frank who was still shivering in his basket even though she’d added extra blankets and wrapped him up like a sausage. Burying her face in her hands she collapsed into tears. ‘What am I going to do now? They’ll take everything I’ve got.’

  ‘Your insurance will cover a lot of it as you’ve reported it to the police,’ said Miles. ‘You’ll just need to get the incident number for when you contact them.’

  ‘Thanks,’ she replied, wiping her nose. She really was grateful to him, not just for saving Frank but he’d been so practical this afternoon, locking the shop for her and reminding her to get information for the insurance people. Though normally level-headed, it was the advice she needed while her brain was mushy with shock.

  Miles placed a hand gently on her back. It sent a shot of heat up her spine, causing her to turn to him, but then he removed it looking embarrassed. ‘I’ll nip next door and see if Lexi can come over. You shouldn’t be alone right now.’

  ‘You’re being very kind. Thank you.’

  He gave a half smile. ‘I’m not actually as bad as I seem. Did you want me to come back and wait till she arrives?’

  ‘Yes, please. I’d appreciate the company.’ And the thought of Miles’s company was a pleasant one. Miles walked away while the policeman asked some more questions. When he returned the policeman had gone.

  ‘So what’s the official verdict?’

  ‘They think that either I or one of the family left the front door open and someone just chanced their luck. I woke up in the night thinking I heard them come back but it must have been the burglars. That helps them with the timing. They’re going to check CCTV and see what they can find.’

  ‘Well, at least that’s something.’

  Stella leaned down and gave Frank another cuddle. The dog looked up with his large soppy eyes and the mass of blankets wiggled where he was trying to wag his tail.

  ‘He knows you’re upset,’ said Miles, almost fondly.

  Stella wiped her cheek. ‘He does. Sometimes he comes and sits on me when I’m feeling unwell and barks at anyone who goes past like he’s guarding me. He did that to Vivien that day she was poorly. Thank you for saving him. I don’t know how I’d have coped if I’d lost him on top of everything else.’ Saying it out loud brought a wobble to her voice again.

  Miles cleared his throat. ‘I’m glad I could help. Lexi said to pack a bag; you’re staying at hers tonight. And you’re to bring Frank.’

  Good, thought Stella, sadly. She really didn’t want to be here anymore. She’d tried so hard to make her dream a reality but it was all being torn away from her. If only she could turn the clock back and not even try at all. Maybe even go back to before she and Isaac split and save their marriage and stay in Oxford. It would stop all the heartache of ending up a failure.

  Chapter 25

  Miles knotted his tie and ran a hand over it to ensure it was straight. He’d chosen a light grey suit for this wedding. Somehow it didn’t feel right to wear the same black one he’d worn to Vivien’s funeral.

  It had been less than a week since the burglary and Miles was sure Stella wouldn’t be in the mood to go, but he’d promised he would and she hadn’t told him otherwise. He was meeting her at the shop at eight-thirty to ensure they had plenty of time to get to Oxford for the ceremony at one o’clock. He shrugged his jacket up onto his shoulders, tucked his wallet and keys into his pockets and made his way out.

  As he turned the corner he could see Stella through the large glass windows of the shop. She was wearing a fitted pale blue dress the same colour as the sea, with a lace edging that finished just above the knee. Nude high heels showed off her shapely legs – legs he’d never imagined she had in the jeans she usually wore – and her hourglass figure was shown off to perfection. Her hair was loosely piled on top of her head with tendrils framing her face and though her make-up was minimal, she looked amazing. She didn’t need much to accentuate her pretty features and yet, she was entirely herself. Kiera had always worn make-up like a mask, hiding her true self. Stella looked up at him as he pushed open the door.

  ‘Hey, Stella. Are you ready to go?’

  ‘Yes, I think so.’ Her eyes widened a fraction as they ran over him and he nervously flattened his tie again, hoping she approved. ‘Frank is at Lexi’s for the day. I’ve got a card with a gift voucher in – unoriginal I know, but I couldn’t think what else to get them and I didn’t want to take something from the shop in case it seemed a bit weird or boastful. So, I’ve got my bag with my money, keys and make-up. Yep, I think we’re all set.’ She gave him a half smile but her voice lacked its usual enthusiasm. Not surprising given everything she was going through. The fact that she was smiling at all was a miracle.

  ‘I get the feeling you’re not looking forward to this.’

  ‘I’m not really. But it’s too late to pull out now.’

  ‘You could blame the burglary.’ Worried he sounded like he was trying to get out of it, Miles added, ‘I mean – I’m happy to go still, just, you know, if you didn’t want to.’

  ‘If I was going t
o use that as an excuse I should have done it days ago. Never mind. We’ve got our glad rags on now so we might as well go. And you can drink all the free beer. Knowing Isaac’s parents it’ll definitely be a free bar.’ With a slick of pale pink lipgloss, Stella’s smile was even more dazzling.

  ‘So who’s Isaac?’ Miles asked and she froze, slowly turning back to face him.

  ‘Sorry, didn’t I tell you? It’s umm, it’s my ex-husband’s wedding.’

  ‘Your ex-husband?’ Astounded she’d agreed to go at all, Miles rearranged his shocked features. Before, his surprise had often come across as judgemental and he didn’t want to slip back into old habits. If Kiera suddenly invited him to something there’s no way he’d go. It just showed Stella’s kind nature and incredible strength of character. ‘Wow.’

  She hesitated, fiddling with her handbag. ‘Are we still okay to go? I know it seems weird and I’m sorry I didn’t mention it before, I just—’

  ‘You just thought that being the pompous idiot I’ve made myself out to be I’d have a tantrum and refuse?’ Miles watched a range of emotions pass over Stella’s face from fear to amazement, to a wry and extremely pretty smile. He’d hit the nail on the head. ‘I won’t lie, I am surprised. I’d find it difficult attending my ex’s anything, let alone her wedding. But then, if Kiera invited me to something it would only be out of spite.’

  ‘Isaac’s not like that,’ she assured him, cocking her head slightly to one side. ‘He’d never think to do such a thing. I’m sure he’s invited me to show there are no hard feelings and that he wants us to be friends. He’s a nice man, really.’

  Miles wanted to ask what had happened between them but was afraid of pushing his luck and asking too personal a question. He popped his hands into his pockets. ‘Well, you’re a much nicer person than I am.’

  ‘I don’t think that’s true,’ Stella replied and a strangely loaded atmosphere descended.

  As the blush rose up Stella’s face and Miles warmed from the compliment, she dropped her eyes and led the way out, locking the door behind her. Miles followed to the car, unused to being the passenger. As they drove past the shop on their way out of town, he caught Stella glance at the door to the holiday lets and read the concern in her face.

  ‘Have you heard anything more from the family?’

  She sighed. ‘Yes, I got a letter from their solicitors about two days after they left telling me I was being sued for five thousand pounds.’

  He flinched. ‘Five thousand pounds? How can they possibly claim so much?’

  Stella’s hands shifted on the wheel. ‘A grand for the money he says he had in the bedside cabinet, another for the possessions that were damaged – kids’ toys and stuff though they didn’t bring much with them – and the rest is emotional damage to him, his wife, the nanny and the children.’

  ‘Emotional damage?’ Miles’s voice dripped with derision. ‘Those kids were completely fine.’

  ‘I don’t know. I suppose shock can take some time to come out, can’t it.’ She shrugged. ‘It is what it is. I’m going to have to stump it up and hope the insurance company pays me back. They’re demanding the money pretty quickly.’

  ‘But that’s nonsense.’

  ‘The insurance company said it’s going to take a while to get sorted. There’s the police investigation, and I can’t prove who left the door unlocked. They said it’s my decision if I settle or not.’ She glanced out of the window again. ‘I’ll really miss Swallowtail Bay if I have to leave.’

  Miles’s face shot to Stella’s. He didn’t want her to leave either, especially under such circumstances. It just wasn’t fair. A red flag began to wave in Miles’s brain but he couldn’t pin down exactly why. It must have been the reference to Stella leaving. He hadn’t realised the burglary could cost her everything. As this was probably the last thing Stella wanted to discuss today, he changed the topic to something lighter.

  They made great time to Oxford, listening to the radio, discussing music and films and discovering they actually had a fair amount in common. As they pulled up onto the gravel parking area in front of the church, Stella seemed to hesitate.

  ‘It’ll be okay,’ Miles said. ‘They don’t know about the burglary, do they? And you don’t have to tell them. Just pretend it hasn’t happened and try and enjoy yourself.’

  ‘Okay,’ Stella said, taking a deep breath. ‘Let’s go then.’

  The church was big and grand, much larger than the small sweet one they had buried Vivien in at Swallowtail Bay, and full of people. The familiar pull of home filled Miles. No matter how pretty somewhere was, it wasn’t a patch on his and Stella’s hometown. Miles saw an older couple in the front pew scowl and whisper to each other. He took them to be the ex-husband’s parents. After fiddling with his cravat, the ex-husband made his way towards them.

  ‘Isaac, you look fabulous. Congratulations,’ Stella said, holding out her hand.

  For a second Isaac stared at her, then he took her hand and pulled her in and kissed her cheek. ‘Stella, you look lovely. I’m so glad you could make it.’ Something about the way he spoke with such unbridled joy and enthusiasm made Miles think of a giant puppy. ‘And who’s this?’

  ‘This is my friend Miles.’

  ‘Congratulations,’ said Miles, shaking Isaac’s hand too. ‘I hope your day is everything you want it to be.’ From the corner of his eye he caught Stella’s cheeky smile.

  ‘Ellie should be here any minute. Unless she’s jilted me – which I really hope she hasn’t.’

  There was something very warm about Isaac’s easy, friendly manner and he could see that Stella was right. Isaac hadn’t invited her to make a petty point about how his life had moved on – something Kiera would do – he was genuinely pleased she was there to share this moment with him.

  ‘I’m sure she hasn’t,’ replied Stella. ‘I see your parents have spotted me.’ Miles followed her gaze, as did Isaac, to the two sneering faces he’d spotted before.

  ‘Just ignore them, Stella,’ Isaac said. ‘You know what they’re like.’

  ‘Do they approve of Ellie?’ There was no jealousy in her voice, only a slight teasing.

  ‘They do,’ he said reluctantly. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘That’s okay. I wish you both every happiness.’

  Isaac took her hands in his. ‘Thank you, Stella. That means so much to me. We shared such a huge part of each other’s lives, I’d hate for us to not to be friends.’

  ‘Me too.’

  Miles couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Recalling Kiera’s theatrical farewell, he couldn’t imagine her ever being so gracious, but Stella seemed the type of person who brought out the best in people. It wasn’t surprising her first husband had been a nice man. However it had ended, they were clearly both okay about it.

  ‘I need to get back up front, but you guys take a seat. I’m so happy you could make it, Stella,’ he said again, giving her another kiss on the cheek. ‘And nice to meet you, Miles.’ Isaac disappeared, almost breaking into a run he was so excited.

  ‘He seems nice,’ Miles said, as they edged their way along a pew to the end. Stella’s hand brushed against his and the warmth and softness of her skin kindled a tingling that ran up to his chest. From the quick glance she gave him, he wondered if she’d felt it too.

  ‘He is. He’s a good man and I’m happy for him.’

  Miles stared at her. ‘You really are, aren’t you?’

  ‘I really am,’ Stella replied as if she had only just realised it herself. ‘When I think about it we did just grow apart. I want him to be happy. Don’t you want Kiera to be happy wherever she is?’

  Miles thought for a moment and realisation dawned. ‘I do actually. But, weren’t you hurt when it ended?’

  ‘Very.’ She admitted it so openly that Miles had to stop his mouth dropping open. ‘And angry. And I felt rejected. But I’ve come to realise that sometimes things don’t work out the way you think they should and I do like my life in Swallowtail Bay.�
� A sudden sadness washed over her features that Miles could tell had nothing to do with the wedding and everything to do with the shop, the burglary and the horrible family suing her for a ridiculous sum of money. Yet again there was a red flag flying somewhere in his brain, telling him he’d forgotten something or made a mistake, but he couldn’t place why. ‘Do you ever think about Kiera?’

  ‘Sometimes. I’ve kind of trained myself that once something is done I don’t think about it again.’

  ‘Does it work?’

  He thought of the shop and how hard he’d found it to let go. ‘No. Not always.’ The grin that spread over Stella’s face was cheeky and Miles mirrored it.

  Everyone stood up and the bride entered. She was a pretty girl though not as pretty as Stella, and she looked a bit meringue-like in the large poufy dress, but then every bride should wear what she wants on her wedding day. The service was long, very long, and he and Stella glanced at each other from time to time, repressing a smile. Neither of them sang the hymns and when Miles first noticed he leaned in and whispered, ‘You’re not singing.’

  ‘Neither are you,’ Stella teased.

  ‘But you were singing in the car.’

  ‘Car karaoke is one thing, but hymns are out of my vocal range. Too high. What’s your excuse?’

  ‘Tone deaf.’ And Stella’s eyes sparkled as she silently mouthed the words.

  Before long they were making their way to the wedding reception being held at an enormous farmhouse on the outskirts of Oxford. A jazz quartet were playing as they arrived and waiters and waitresses were handing out glasses of orange juice or champagne. Fairy lights hung from the white walls giving everything a soft, pretty glow. White tablecloths covered the tables and everywhere were rather extravagant displays of pink flowers.