Moonlight Over Muddleford Cove: An absolutely unputdownable feel good romantic comedy

by Kim Nash

  ‘It’s a warm sunny day, Nellie-bum. Get your top off.’

  I swung round to face him and he grinned back at me.

  ‘I think it’s this button here.’ He winked.

  I went bright red. I seemed to be making a habit of this around him. Some things never change.

  At the press of a button, I watched, fascinated, as the roof folded up and over before hiding itself in the boot. I pulled steadily out of the driveway and was told to turn right. After a short drive we arrived at the quay. Talk about memories. After driving around the car park a couple of times, trying to find a space that I liked, I parked right at the back, which was devoid of any other cars, managing to park in the middle of two spaces. Jack found it hilarious, but I explained that I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to the car after Aunty Lil had entrusted it to me.

  As we reached the front of the car, he grabbed my hand and pulled me along to the far side of the quay, where there was a little kiosk that sold buckets and crabbing wire. After he’d handed over his cash, he filled the bucket with water from a nearby tap. All I could think of though was how perfectly my hand had fitted into his and how much my heart was fluttering. He went over and sat down right on the edge of the quay and patted the space beside him.

  ‘Come on.’

  Oh how we laughed in that next hour, first when he stood and toppled and nearly fell in, and then when I said I’d caught a massive crab which was pulling on the wire and it turned out to be an old shoe. I’d forgotten how it felt to laugh like I didn’t have a care in the world. Jack was a good influence on me.

  At one point he grinned and pulled me to my feet. We were millimetres from each other’s faces. I held my breath. He reached towards me, his eyes looking from mine, to my lips, and I closed my eyes. I felt him kiss the top of my head most unexpectedly and whisper, ‘Oh how I missed you’ into my hair so quietly I wondered whether I’d imagined it. I could feel a flush creep across my face and neck. He saw my obvious discomfort and in that way he always used to, which he knew would get round me, smiled and yelled, ‘Come on, let’s go and get an ice cream.’

  After passing on our crabbing gear to a young family who had been standing behind and watching us, their toddlers mesmerised, once more Jack grabbed my hand. It felt the most natural thing in the world and we ran across to the ice-cream kiosk laughing. I was totally out of breath when we got there.

  ‘Mint choc chip still your favourite, Nellie-bum?’

  I laughed. ‘It is and you will probably order one scoop of chocolate and one of strawberry.’

  ‘Actually you’ll find I’ve changed since you knew me all those years ago, Nellie Wagstaff.’ He ordered from the man at the counter. ‘Could I have one mint choc chip and,’ he muttered under his breath, ‘one with a mixture of chocolate and strawberry, please?’

  He grinned and tilted his head in that very Jack way and my stomach fluttered again. I really did need to pull myself together. This was Jack. My friend. Just because I had a huge crush on him when I was younger, did not mean I had to behave like a schoolgirl every time he smiled at me now.

  ‘Don’t tell Mum that we’ve had pudding before we have dinner. She’ll never forgive us,’ he joked as we sat side by side on a bench. I was so aware of his firm thigh touching mine. ‘I’m glad I finished work early now just for the ice cream. I suppose the company was alright too though.’ He nudged my shoulder with his. There it was. That bolt of electricity. I wondered if he’d felt it too.

  I let out the breath that I didn’t realise I’d been holding.

  ‘What do you do for work Jack?’

  ‘I’m a vet. I went to uni and when I qualified it just so happened that another vet was moving on, so I got a job working in the local practice in the town. That’s why I still live with the old ’uns, because I’m always at work and getting called out at ridiculous times of the day and night. Crazy really that I never moved far away. I only went to uni in Bournemouth and came home every weekend. But then, why would I want to leave all this?’ He spread his arms around. ‘It’s the most beautiful place in England. And I get all my meals cooked for me, which really is a big bonus.’

  ‘Oh wow. You always did say that you wanted to be a vet. How cool that you’re living your dream.’

  ‘Yes, it is I suppose. You have to make your dreams come true though, don’t you? They’re not going to happen unless you work hard and plan your future. Mum always laughs and says she doesn’t know where my focus comes from. And what about you? What do you do? You always wanted to take on the world. Did you achieve your dreams too?’

  ‘Sadly not. Well, certainly nothing as exciting as you. After we moved, I struggled at school and had to retake a year. Then I went on an intensive college course and worked my way up in various admin and secretarial jobs. I was promoted to an account executive in my last company but sadly they went bust recently, so right now I don’t even have a job. What a loser, eh?’

  ‘Well you could look at it like that, or you could look at it a different way. That it’s serendipity that has brought you here, that’s brought us together again and that now you have inherited everything you have from Lilian, that you have an opportunity to take some time out, and work out what you do want to do. I’m a huge believer in everything happening for a reason but we don’t always know what the reason is.

  ‘You can rethink some new dreams and goals and, with Lilian’s financial support, there is nothing to stop you achieving them. And if you need some help, your old pal Jack is still pretty good on the nagging front.’ He patted my hand and I looked up into his beautiful blue eyes.

  His hair had probably been loaded with gel earlier in the day but now it flopped forward in a haphazard way and he kept on sweeping it back. When he smiled, that childhood dimple still appeared in his left cheek. His short tidy beard looked so soft and it was all I could do to stop myself reaching out to stroke it.

  He held my gaze for a little longer than was absolutely necessary and he looked down at my lips and then back up again at my eyes. God, I wish he’d stop doing that.

  ‘This has been really nice, Nellie-bum. I’ve enjoyed spending time with you this afternoon.’ He put his arm around my shoulders and gave me a gentle squeeze.

  ‘Me too, Jack. Me too.’

  ‘Lilian would love to have known she’d had an impact on your life even after all this time. She never stopped talking about you. You really should think long and hard about what you want to do with your life now. She’d be so pleased that she’d been able to help you.’

  A lump formed in my throat and I could feel my eyes welling up.

  ‘Come on, let’s head back home, Mum will have the tea on and I can’t wait for you to meet Norman. You are going to absolutely love him. He’s quite a character.’

  Chapter Twelve

  We’d had such a lovely couple of hours and I felt completely relaxed and happy. I was so glad that Jack had been with me on my first drive out in the Merc. I felt a million dollars. A flash car and a gorgeous man in the passenger seat. It was great for my morale and I couldn’t stop smiling.

  We entered the Shepherd’s house laughing loudly. Les and Val greeted us with open arms. It was so good to see them, and both looking so very well too. There were hearty hugs all round. Val always had been the best hugger I knew.

  She pushed me to her arm’s length.

  ‘Let me look at you, Ellen Wagstaff! You’re all grown up. I knew one day you’d grow into those lanky legs of yours.’ I laughed nervously and she pulled me in for another squeeze. ‘I always knew you’d turn out to be a beauty. Didn’t I say that, Les? Didn’t I?’

  ‘You did, my dear, and of course she’s grown up. The last time you saw her she was only fourteen and that was twenty years ago.’

  I smiled at Les and remembered what a kind man he had always been. If ever Aunty Lil needed a man’s touch for something around the house, he was the first one she’d called and he would be there like a shot. If ever she was in trouble
, in any way, Les and Val were right there for her. I was so glad that she’d lived out her years with them still as her friends and neighbours.

  ‘I was so sorry to lose Lilian, darling. I’m so sorry for your loss, especially after everything else you’ve been through in your life. But I suppose we should be glad that her passing has brought you back to us. It feels so strange that she’s no longer next door.’ She reached a hand up to wipe away a stray tear. ‘Just knowing that she was at home was always a comfort to us over the years; having a voice over the fence to shout good morning to. The nights I said to Les that I was popping round to borrow something and we sat and polished off a bottle of wine between us, and he’d come round two hours later to find us giggling on the swingy bench in the garden. We always managed to persuade him to join us and then we’d stagger home in the early hours. Good job we weren’t far away! And obviously Norman was there too in later years. Such company for her. I’m so glad she found him.’ Another tear rolled slowly down the side of her cheek and she took a tissue out of her apron pocket and wiped it away. ‘Ignore me, I’m a silly old fool. Lilian wouldn’t want me to be sad. I know that much. Come on, let’s go through.’

  Val tucked my arm in hers and covered it with her hand. She didn’t seem to want to let me go and I was very happy for her to keep holding on to me.

  Leading me through to the lounge, she put her hand over her mouth.

  ‘A drink! How rude of me, I was just so happy to see you after all this time, and then I got chatting about Lilian, that I completely forget to offer you a drink. Can we get you a gin and tonic, or a glass of wine? What do you like to drink? It was dandelion and burdock the last time I saw you, but then you were fourteen.’ She pinched my cheeks and giggled.

  ‘A gin and tonic would be wonderful, if that’s OK? It’s not like I’ve got to drive home, is it?’

  We all giggled and I sat on the sofa, but nearly flew off again when Jack flung himself down next to me and poked me in the ribs. He looked deep into my eyes and moved closer towards me. He coughed.

  ‘Nellie-bum, I…’

  ‘I’m here. Jack? Jack?’

  A woman’s sharp voice came from the hallway and Jack jumped away from me with a start. At the lounge door stood a tall lady with long black hair. She was pretty but I couldn’t help but notice her heavy dark eyebrows and bright lipstick before anything else.

  ‘Natalia, what are you doing here?’

  Jack stood up and she wandered over to him, aiming for a kiss which seemed meant for his lips, but he turned his head away at the last minute, which didn’t go unnoticed. She put her arm proprietorially around him while glaring across the room at me.

  ‘Jack, darling. I saw your dad in the supermarket earlier and he invited me for dinner.’ Her face changed and she plastered on a smile. ‘And you must be… Nell.’ She turned her nose up as she emphasised my name. ‘It’s so good to meet you finally.’ She wandered over to me and I was taken aback as she air-kissed both cheeks. ‘I’ve been hearing so much about you, especially in the past week.’ Somehow she managed to drawl out that sentence to make it sound as if I’d been an inconvenience to her. ‘It’s been “Nellie this, Nellie that” every day.’

  She grabbed Jack’s hand and pulled him towards her, putting her hand on his back. He looked really uncomfortable and tried to pull away.

  Val came in to wave us through to the dining room. ‘Oh hello, Natalie, you’re here then.’ She winked at me.

  ‘Natalia, silly, not Natalie.’ A shrill giggle followed her words.

  ‘Well you were christened Natalie, dear, so I’m not sure why you had to change it to something which sounds far too exotic for these parts.’

  I’d never heard Val be bitchy before.

  Jack took the seat at the head of the table opposite his dad at the other end, and Natalia nearly fell over her feet in her rush to sit as close to him as possible. Val put me in the chair the other side of him and opposite Natalia. I was sure she sneered at me when no-one was looking. For my part I couldn’t stop staring at those eyebrows. They were likely to put me off my dinner and not much did that.

  Val took the seat next to me and patted my hand. I noticed there were only five places set at the table and was a bit confused because I’d thought Norman would be here for dinner.

  ‘Is Norman not joining us?’ I asked.

  Jack jumped up. ‘I forgot about Norman. Bless him! I’ll go grab him.’

  I was a little puzzled. What strange terminology to use about picking up an old man. I assumed that’s what Jack had meant. He must live nearby. But why on earth wasn’t the table laid with a place for him? Perhaps I’d been mistaken and he was joining us but not for food. Maybe he’d eaten earlier.

  ‘So when are you going home, Nell?’ asked Natalia, smiling sweetly.

  ‘You never know, Nellie might be here to stay,’ answered Val, smiling back across the table.

  ‘Oh God, why would you want to do that? It’s awful around here. Nothing to do at all.’

  Val jumped in again. ‘She hasn’t made her mind up what she’s going to do yet. Lots of options and no rush to make any decisions, is there my love?’

  I had the feeling she was egging me on.

  ‘Absolutely not. I might even stay here permanently,’ I said.

  Natalia physically balked at this suggestion and pursed her lips. ‘I can’t imagine why you’d want to do that. There’s nothing for you around here. Surely you’ve got friends back wherever you’ve come from? The Midlands isn’t it?’ She made it sound like a dirty word. ‘There are no job prospects. It’s hard enough already to get a job if you’re a local, let alone having people from elsewhere come in and try to take our jobs and other things that belong to us.’

  I saw Val smirk before she got up and asked Les to help her bring the food through. I wasn’t a horrible person and didn’t want to fall out with anyone, so I tried to make conversation with Natalia while we were alone.

  ‘Such a pretty name, “Natalia”. Is it after someone famous?’

  A compliment usually worked for most people but she just narrowed her eyes at me.

  I tried a different tack. ‘Do you live far away?’

  There was silence again, combined with a bored look. I’d never been very good at keeping quiet when there was a gap in a conversation and usually felt like I had to fill it even when I knew I was flogging a dead horse. One last attempt and I wouldn’t bother again.

  ‘Do you work?

  This seemed to be the thing that cracked her. It was as if a light switched on in her brain, and once she started chatting, she wouldn’t stop.

  ‘I do work, yes. I’m one of the senior staff at the vet’s practice which Jack is a partner in.’

  Partner, eh? He hadn’t mentioned that when we were chatting about his job.

  ‘It’s wonderful that we get to work together all day every day. Obviously when we marry and have children, that will all change, and I’ll give up the job to raise our family.’

  My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach. It seemed there were a lot of things Jack had forgotten to mention. I could have kicked myself for being so naïve, thinking he’d ever be interested in me, when he clearly had the beautiful Natalia around him all day long.

  ‘Are you engaged then?’ I asked.

  ‘Well, not officially. But can you keep a secret, Nellie?’ I had hardly finished nodding before she continued regardless. ‘He asked me on the last Valentine’s Day. He’s so romantic, of course, but we’re keeping it a secret for the moment. Please don’t tell him I’ve told you, he’d kill me. He hasn’t even told his parents yet. He wants to announce it when the time is right. That’s why I’m not wearing a ring yet. Promise me, Nellie. Is it OK if I call you Nellie? That’s what everyone else is calling you, and we’re practically going to be family soon, aren’t we? After all, you and Jack are like brother and sister, aren’t you? That’s what he told me, although you are prettier than I thought you’d be. Jack said you were a prope
r plain Jane and you’re not that bad. Maybe one day I could take you to the beautician’s and get your brows done. You can hardly see yours and thicker brows are all the rage now. Wouldn’t that be fun? Oh and eyelashes too! A proper girl’s day out.’

  What a change of direction.

  ‘Erm yes, I suppose so.’

  I couldn’t take my eyes off her face. She couldn’t be older than I was, but she’d clearly had a lot of work done on her lips because they were absolutely massive and proper permanently pouty. I couldn’t imagine how she could drink anything without dribbling it all down her chin. And she could get stuffed if she thought I was letting anyone near my eyebrows. Sluggy-eyebrows and spider-lashes were not a fashion statement that I wanted to be any part of.

  Les and Val returned to the room laden with umpteen bowls of food. Val always had been a feeder.

  ‘Everything all right?’ Val asked nervously.

  ‘Oh wonderful, Val, darling. We’re getting on like a house on fire, aren’t we, Nellie?’ She smiled that sickly sweet smile again.

  I really didn’t know what to make of her. She had started acting like my best friend but I didn’t feel comfortable around her at all. I felt like she was someone I needed to keep aware around and maybe not fully trust until she’d earned it.

  ‘Here he is.’ Jack interrupted the conversation when he returned to the room. ‘Come on, Norman, come and meet Nellie-bum. Nellie-bum meet Norman.’

  ‘Fuck! Oh my god! Shit, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to say fuck. But really! Oh, err hello there.’

  Norman was not what I was expecting at all. In my head, I’d built a picture of a grey-haired, cravat-wearing, smooth-talking older gentleman who had won the heart of Aunty Lil. But the Norman who shuffled in behind Jack, couldn’t have been further away from my imagination.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I looked into Norman’s big brown eyes as realisation hit me. Norman was in fact a curly haired, slightly scruffy-looking, white-blonde poodle.