by Vawn Cassidy
Chapter Sixteen
Nat
Good Golly, Ms Molly…
I wander down to breakfast at the B&B the next morning with a yawn and a wide smile that seems to be permanently etched into my face. As I peruse the buffet and load up my plate with bacon and sausage, my cheeks are starting to ache, and I idly contemplate if excessive and prologued smiling can lead to nerve damage, leaving me doomed to spend the rest of my life looking like the joker from Batman.
I’ve hardly had any sleep, and I have beard burn on my balls, and I’ve never been happier in my life. Getting on the wrong bus had been the best thing to ever happen to me. I love it here in the bay, breathing the sea air, doing a job I love, spending almost the entire night having my brains sucked out through my dick by the hottest guy I’ve ever met.
My balls are aching from how many times Beck made me come last night, and it’s left me feeling unbelievably sated and unbearably smug. Although we stopped just short of him actually fucking me, it’s left me thoroughly satisfied. By unspoken agreement, I didn’t stay the whole night, but instead returned to the B&B in the small hours. It was kind of sweet actually. Beck walked me home, holding my hand in the moonlight along the empty streets, and when he left me on the doorstep, he’d given me the sweetest kiss, a delicious dichotomy to the carnal things his mouth had done to me only hours earlier.
But I think both of us unconsciously know we need some kind of boundaries. This thing between us is already beyond intense, like a flash fire it’s going to burn hot and fast, and I’m just hoping we emerge the other side with our friendship still intact.
Pouring myself an orange juice, I turn to face the almost empty dining room. There’s a couple of guests from Newcastle tucked away in the corner looking at a leaflet for the Eden project and a family of four with two small children just getting up to leave with their beach bags and towels. But what catches my eye is Ms Molly sitting by herself at a table in front of the huge bay window. She’s staring out onto the street, and there’s something in her eyes that tugs at me as she sips daintily from a china teacup. Instead of ducking and hiding, as I have done previously, I march across the room and set my plate down on the table beside her.
‘Good morning, Ms Molly.’ I smile pleasantly. ‘Do you mind if I join you?’
She blinks for a moment as if surprised and sets her teacup down in the saucer with a tiny rattle.
‘Of course.’ She smiles in delight as she smooths down her dress.
‘You look lovely today,’ I tell her as I slide onto the chair and pick up my cutlery.
‘Well, thank you, Mr Elliott, that’s very kind of you to say.’ She beams as she fluffs up her hair.
She does look pretty in her pale flowery sundress and signature kitten heels. I’ll say this for her, for someone who’s supposed to be a sex maniac, she dresses like she’s off to a luncheon at the tennis club.
‘Call me Nat,’ I tell her as I slice my bacon. ‘You say Mr Elliott and I look behind me for my father.’
‘Nat.’ She smiles coyly, fluttering her eyes lashes at me. ‘You look good enough to eat.’
I laugh easily. ‘I hate to break it to you, Ms Molly, but I’m pretty certain I like dick as much as you seem to.’
I watch as she stares at me for a moment, blinking slowly before tilting her head back and laughing like a musketeer. It’s an honest and heartfelt humor that warms my stomach. I don’t think I’ve heard her laugh like that before.
‘I thought as much.’ She wipes a tear from her eye as she continues to chuckle to herself. ‘Let me guess.’ She fixes me with a warm gaze, ‘Beck Ainsley? I wouldn’t be surprised, that boy is far too good looking for his own good.’
I know I’m blushing as I lift the fork to my mouth and begin to eat.
‘I’ve seen him around here a few times since you came to stay.’ She winks, and her expression has completely changed. Gone is the sly innuendo and intense focus, instead her expression is relaxed and warm, and somehow softer. A slow suspicion begins to dawn as I watch her.
‘Why do I get the feeling you’re not the voracious man-eater everyone thinks you are?’
She grins and winks at me cheekily, and I laugh loudly.
‘Why do you do it?’ I ask curiously. ‘You must know you have quite the reputation around here.’
‘Why?’ She smiles wickedly. ‘Because it drives Bea nuts, and at my age there’s precious little entertainment around here. When the highlight of your day is watching The Chase, it’s time to make your own amusements.’ She leans closer, whispering conspiratorially, ‘I tell you what, Nat, these shoes are killing my feet. I have a lovely pair of purple crocs I wear when she’s not around.’
I find myself chuckling in honest delight at the thought of Ms Molly sneaking around the house in a pair of crocs.
‘And the bell on reception?’ I ask referring to the monstrosity on the front desk that plays a gruelling and tinny rendition of Ode to Joy, which Ms Molly insisted her daughter keep.
‘I can’t stand it.’ Molly giggles. ‘I love my daughter, but lord the woman has a stick up her arse. She needs to learn to lighten up and not take everything so seriously.’
I shake my head, smiling as I pick up my glass and sip my orange juice.
‘You get to a certain age, Nat.’ She shakes her head as she picks up the teapot and pours herself another cup. ‘And people either ignore you or treat you like a slightly slow two-year old. They seem to just want you to sit in a corner knitting something and not overly burden them with the pleasure of your company.’ She stirs the sugar into her tea, setting the spoon down gently as she lifts the cup to her lips and sips. ‘Every now and again, I like to remind them I’m not dead yet.’
I chew my mouthful contemplatively as I study her, and I know that first impressions aren’t always correct. I’m living proof of that, but I can’t help but feel I’ve sorely misjudged Ms Molly. Underneath the polished, attractive older woman’s brashness and outrageous commentary she’s lonely. I cast my mind back over the couple of weeks I’ve been here, and I can’t remember seeing her leave the house.
‘You don’t get out much, do you?’ I ask softly as I lay my cutlery neatly on my empty plate.
She shrugs elegantly. ‘I know my daughter and granddaughter love me, but they are embarrassed being out with me. It’s my own fault I suppose. What started out as a joke ended up with me becoming the joke, but still.’ She smiles quietly. ‘It’s better than being stuck in an old peoples home waiting to die.’
I wipe my mouth and toss the napkin down on my plate. ‘Oh my god.’ I pat my flat belly. ‘I need to walk this breakfast off.’
‘It certainly is a lovely day for it, especially after the rain yesterday.’ Ms Molly smiles softly. ‘I always feel like everything looks bright and shiny after the rain, like it’s been washed clean.’
‘Me too.’ I stand slowly holding my hand out to her. ‘Ms Molly, would you like to take a walk with me down to the beach?’
She looks up at me blinking as her cheeks flush with pleasure. ‘Oh, that would be lovely, Nat,’ she replies as she rises from her seat gracefully. I take her hand and hook her arm over mine.
‘Come on, Ms Molly.’ I grin. ‘Let’s give the town gossips something to talk about.’
‘Call me Molly.’ She pats my arm affectionately. ‘I think this is going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship, Nat.’
I chuckle as we walk out of the breakfast room and into the main foyer. Bea looks up from the reception desk, her eyes wide when she sees us walking by arm in arm, giggling like school kids.
‘Mother!’ she exclaims somewhat in stunned surprise. ‘Where are you going?’
‘To Vegas.’ Molly waves grandly. ‘We’ll send you a postcard from the Elvis chapel.’ She slaps her hand on the little bell as we pass, and we head out of the main entrance laughing loudly with Ode to Joy ringing in our ears.
We head down to the seafront, strolling along as we chat like long lost friend
s, and I realise, a little sadly, that everyone is missing out on the real Ms Molly. The woman is hilarious, and I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard or for so long. She tells me side-splitting and bawdy stories of her younger years, then moves on to all the memorable guests who’ve stayed at the B&B over the years, leaving me in no doubt that if she ever wrote her memoirs, they’d be an instant best seller.
We wander down to the surf school and say hi to Georgie, then stop by the beach shop to buy an ice cream while we peruse the various fridge magnets, buckets and spades, and inflatable beach balls. We sit on the low brick sea wall and eat candy floss while we watch the surfers and boats, and I feel happy, right down in my bones happy. Like I’ve just discovered the most perfect place on earth.
‘I know that look.’ Molly smiles behind her huge Audrey Hepburn sunglasses, holding her wide brimmed sun hat on as the breeze coming off the water picks up.
‘What look?’
‘You’re falling under the bay’s spell.’ She grins. ‘Don’t feel bad, it happens to the best of us. I came here for my eighteenth birthday with my parents back in 1961 and fell in love with the place. Of course, I also happened to fall head over heels for a local boy called Charles. I never do anything in half measures.’
‘What happened?’ I ask curiously.
‘The summer ended, and we were due to return back home.’ Her eyes soften in remembrance.
‘Where was home?
‘Doncaster,’ she laughs. ‘I know, doesn’t sound very exciting, does it?’
‘What happened?’ I ask, entranced by her story.
‘My parents made me go home with them, but I wouldn’t be told, I was far too head strong. I knew exactly what I wanted. As soon as I arrived home, I packed up everything I owned and caught the train straight back. I arrived on Charlie’s doorstep and told him he was going to marry me.’
‘And did he?’ I smile, absolutely charmed by her.
‘Of course, he did.’ She sniffs. ‘He knew a good thing when it arrived on his doorstep with a battered old suitcase.’ Her tone softens. ‘We married and Beatrice was born a year later, we had a son too, but he died of measles.’
‘I’m sorry,’ I mutter quietly.
‘I often wonder if he’d have grown up to be like my Charlie.’ She stares out at the glittering water thoughtfully. ‘Charlie died in ’74… bad lungs, and I opened the B&B, it was a good income, but I think I was just lonely. I wanted to be surrounded by people, and I’ll tell you a secret, Nat.’
‘Go on then.’ I smile warmly.
‘Despite my stellar reputation around here.’ She shakes her head with a small smile playing on her lips. ‘There was never anyone but Charlie.’
‘You must have really loved him,’ I murmur.
‘I did,’ she sighs. ‘I often wish we could’ve had longer, but I was grateful for every moment we were given, even if it ended too soon. Love is a gift no matter how long you have it for. The trick is to enjoy the hell out of it, no matter how long it lasts.’
‘I’ll drink to that.’ I smile.
‘I should be getting back.’ Molly laughs as she pushes herself carefully off the wall, ‘My feet are killing me.’
‘You should wear your crocs next time.’ I grin.
‘I may just do that,’ she snorts. ‘Maybe it’s time to let people see the real me again,’ she adds quietly.
‘You should,’ I say genuinely. ‘Because the real you, Molly. She’s magnificent.’
‘Molly the Magnificent,’ she laughs. ‘You’re such a charmer, Nat.’ She pats my face in an affectionate grandmotherly way, and something inside me warms. ‘I think I’m going to enjoy our friendship.’
‘Me too,’ I tell her. ‘Come on, I’ll walk you back.’
‘No need.’ She shakes her head. ‘I know you need to be at Sully’s soon, Melanie will be waiting.’
‘If you’re sure,’ I reply.
‘I am.’ She smiles. ‘Thank you, Nat,’ she adds, her voice soft with gratitude and affection. ‘I’ve had a really lovely morning.’
‘Me too.’ I lean down and kiss her delicate, papery cheek and inhale the scent of violets and face powder. ‘I’ll see you later, Molly.’
‘You can count on it.’ She winks cheekily as she turns and wanders down the path.
Checking my watch, I realise she’s right, Mel will be expecting me at the restaurant soon. It’s been closed for a few days now, longer than she originally intended, and I’m starting to worry. She’d called me at the B&B this morning and left a message to meet her but didn’t say why.
I push away from the wall and head down the beach toward the steps leading up to Sully’s main decked terrace. The closed sign still hangs ominously on the other side of the door at an odd angle, but the doors unlocked.
Letting myself in I call out into the stillness of the restaurant, but there’s no response. Locking the door behind me I head out back toward the office and find Mel sat at an old, battered oak desk, dwarfed by stacks of paperwork and files. I knock lightly, and when she glances up, she looks exhausted and sad.
‘Hey.’ I frown. ‘What’s wrong?’
She shakes her head. ‘Why don’t you go and grab us both a coffee, Nat and then come and take a seat.
I do as she suggests, and when I place the mug down on the desk, she looks up at me gratefully as I take a seat opposite her.
‘How are things with you and Beck?’ she asks as she sips her coffee.
Shit, is that what this is about? I know Beck had mentioned she didn’t want us seeing each other. Was I going to lose my job?
‘Don’t look so panicked, Nat.’ She shakes her head. ‘I’d know about you and Beck, even if he hadn’t called me this morning to tell me himself. I’m not blind. I saw the way you two were with each other on Sunday.’
‘I uh…’ I frown. ‘I don’t know what to say, Mel.’ My heart sinks. ‘I know you didn’t want us to…’
‘Nat,’ she stops me bluntly. ‘When I said that, I was concerned for you. I love my son, but he hasn’t had a great track record with men, and I was worried you’d end up getting hurt and selfishly I didn’t want you to leave.’
‘Leave? Are you serious?’ My brain tries to catch up. ‘You’re not firing me then?’
‘Firing you?’ she laughs. ‘Nat, you’re the best thing that’s happened to this place in the last year. No, I am not firing you. I just… I want you and Beck to be happy, but I suppose I am a little worried. After what happened in Florence…’
‘Why, what happened in Florence?’ I reply in confusion.
‘I don’t know exactly.’ Melanie sighs. ‘I think Jesse and Ryan are the only two Beck’s confided in. All I know is that Beck left for Europe for an apprenticeship in Florence to learn how to cast bronzes. He was so excited. Now, like I said, I don’t know exactly what happened, he won’t say, but he came home about a year before his dad got sick, and he was different.’
‘Different how?’ I frown not liking the sound of that.
‘Before he left, he was a dreamy romantic, the brightest and most optimistic of all my kids. But when he came back, he was colder, more distant, jaded I think is the word. It was obvious he was hurting. After that, there was just a steady stream of one-night stands. He doesn’t do relationships. I don’t know who broke my baby’s heart, but it left him scarred. When his interest homed in on you, I’ll admit I was worried he’d just sleep with you and walk away leaving me to find a new chef, but…’
‘But?’ I push.
‘But he’s different with you,’ she says softly as she studies me. ‘It’s like I have my Beck back again. He’s softer and he laughs more. I watched the two of you on Sunday, and now, I’m worried for an entirely different reason.’
‘Because you think I might hurt him?’ I reply quietly with a dull thud of pain.
‘Because I think you have the power to hurt each other,’ she tells me earnestly. ‘I’m not going to get involved with whatever is going on between you, just... b
e careful with each other.’
‘It’s not like that, Mel,’ I try to reassure her. ‘We’ve talked about this, and we’ve set boundaries. This is just casual.’
‘That’s what he said,’ she muses.
‘Well, it’s true,’ I insist stubbornly.
‘We’ll see.’ She blows out a tired breath. ‘Anyway, although I’m glad I’ve had the chance to speak with you about Beck, that’s not the reason I called you in today.’
‘It’s not?’ I reply as I stare down at the mountains of paperwork, and I have an ominous feeling. ‘Mel, what’s going on?’
‘Nat,’ she breathes out, and her eyes fill with tears.
‘Hey.’ I jump out of my chair and round the desk, wrapping my arm around her as I grab for a tissue out of a nearby box of Kleenex.
‘Sorry.’ She takes the tissue gratefully.
‘It’s okay.’ I stroke her back soothingly as I pull up a stool so I’m sitting directly beside her. ‘How bad is it?’
‘Bad.’ The tears roll down her cheeks faster then she can wipe them away, and I grab the whole box of tissues and set them in front of her.
‘Alright.’ I nod. ‘Break it down for me,’ I tell her calmly.
‘There’s practically nothing left.’ She sniffs loudly and blows out a breath. ‘Scott hasn’t just run the place completely into the ground, he’s stolen all the money.’
‘What?’ My breath rushes out in disbelief.
‘I knew when I first started looking over the books that he’d been skimming, but the further I look, the more it’s like a horror show. Over the past year, he’s been using this place as his own personal piggy bank. He’s bled it dry, and now, it’s all gone, and he’s run off. He’s not working at a restaurant in Devon like he said.’ She looks up at me through tear-stained eyes. ‘He’s literally disappeared off the face of the planet.’
‘Mel, you have to call the police,’ I tell her firmly.
‘I have.’ She nods. ‘About half an hour ago, and they’re sending someone over to open an investigation, but even if they find him, there’s almost no chance we’ll be able to recover any of the money he’s taken.’ She swallows hard. ‘I’m going to have to close the restaurant.’ I watch as the tears come faster, and her face crumbles. ‘It’s like losing Sully all over again.’