Chapter 9
CLAUDIA
‘ G eorge? George Slatter, is that you?’
The man who’d just wandered into the dining room of the Pebble Street Hotel had taken one look at Claudia and promptly made a u-turn. The sound of her voice brought him to an abrupt halt, and now, he was standing as still as a statue.
Claudia became vaguely aware that she’d left her chair and was in a strange kind of half-crouch as she stared at his back.
It had to be him… didn’t it?
After the most horrible day, had the universe finally decided to give her a break? If she was right and that really was George Slatter, then her hidden agenda for being in Seabury—discovering what had become of her blast from the past—had just landed in her lap.
‘George?’ she said again, more quietly this time.
Claudia stood up straighter, wincing as her dining chair scraped against the parquet floor.
She sent an apologetic look at the people on the table nearest hers, but they were all watching her with interest rather than annoyance.
Claudia didn’t care either way. She just wanted the man to turn to face her again so that she could be sure she hadn’t been imagining things.
Maybe it wasn’t him. Maybe it was just the fact that she’d been feeling so lonely, sitting there waiting to eat alone, that it was simply wishful thinking that the best thing from her past had just wandered into her present.
Claudia watched as the man turned slowly on the spot.
‘Claudia.’ It was a statement rather than a question. ‘Yes, it’s me.’
For the first time that day, Claudia’s smile was wide and genuine. It felt like her mask was cracking in half to show the real person underneath. The sensation was weirdly uncomfortable.
George’s slightly stony expression melted into the warm grin that had always managed to make her knees wobble.
‘George, what are you doing here?’ she said, unable to keep the joy out of her voice. What did she care that the other diners were now ogling the pair of them? Her heart was pounding, and not in the horrific way it had been when she’d nearly wiped out that poor post van earlier.
‘I live here,’ he laughed.
‘I know that ,’ said Claudia, without thinking.
‘You do?’ said George, looking thoroughly surprised.
Claudia winced and cleared her throat. Damn, that had just slipped out! What if he thought she was in Seabury looking for him? God, how embarrassing!
Shaking her head, Claudia gave herself a mental slap.
That was her mother’s voice in her head.
She was the one who cared what everyone else thought—Claudia didn’t give a flying sausage!
After all, even if it was true and she’d come on this trip just to search for George, why should it be embarrassing?
Besides, it wasn’t true… at least, not completely. It was time to come clean.
‘Freya’s getting married,’ she said, launching right into the middle of the story. ‘Remember my little sister?’
George nodded.
‘Well, my mother wanted me to come and erm… meet the groom’s family.’ Claudia did her best not to let her resentment show, but judging by the look on George’s face, she’d failed spectacularly.
‘Ah, so your mum’s still her usual warm and welcoming self then?’ he said lightly, his eyebrows going up.
‘Afraid so,’ sighed Claudia.
She shouldn’t be surprised that George had cottoned on so fast. Her mother had loathed him when they’d been together, and he’d returned the favour as much as his youthful, easy-going nature had allowed.
‘Anyway,’ she said, forcing a smile back onto her face, ‘someone mentioned years ago that you’d settled in Seabury, and I’ve always wanted to…’ she trailed off, searching for the right words. ‘I just figured I’d keep an eye out for you while I was in town,’ she finished lamely.
‘Well… you found me!’ said George, glancing over his shoulder, then back at her.
‘Technically, you found me!’ said Claudia. Suddenly realising that she was still on her feet, she sank back into her chair. ‘Are you here with someone?’
She crossed her fingers in her lap. The idea that George might have a wife and kids waiting for him in reception made her feel mildly sick. But… a lovely guy like him? He was bound to be happily settled by now, wasn’t he?
The minute George shook his head, tingling relief shot through her.
‘Join me for a minute?’ she said, nodding at the chair across from her. The combination of relief and hope seemed to have clogged her throat, and the request came out more like an order. ‘I mean… only if you want to!’
George cocked his head. ‘I don’t want to intrude.’
‘Don’t be daft,’ she said. Her shoulders sagged, and she smiled at him. ‘Let me buy you a drink at least.’
George paused for a long moment. With another quick glance over his shoulder, he nodded. ‘Okay, I’d love to,’ he said, slipping into the chair across from her. ‘I want to hear all about what you’ve been up to!’
Claudia cringed. It hadn’t occurred to her that George might be just as curious about her life as she was about his. Urgh .
‘Tell me all about you, first,’ she begged.
‘My life went pretty much where you’d guess,’ said George. ‘It doesn’t make for much of a story, I’m afraid. No kids, no wife. I’m just a small-town postman.’
‘You’re… you’re a postman?’ she stammered.
Uh oh!
A strange mix of ice and fire raced through her system.
That near miss earlier had been with George?
! A thousand horrific images flitted through her head as the reality of how close she’d come to causing a tragedy hit her squarely in the chest. Her horror must have shown on her face, because George frowned.
‘I know it’s not high-flying or anything, but it suits me,’ he said, his voice tight.
‘It’s not that,’ said Claudia quickly, horrified that he might think she’d turned into as big a snob as her mother. ‘It’s just… are you the only postie in Seabury?’
George nodded, still frowning.
Claudia’s heart stuttered. So… it had definitely been him . ‘In that case, I owe you a huge apology.’
‘And a pair of clean undies,’ he said, a small smile appearing on his face. ‘I can’t deny it—you did manage to shave at least a couple of years off my life this morning.’
‘I’m so sorry,’ said Claudia. ‘But wait… you knew it was me?’
‘I had an inkling,’ said George. ‘But it was only when I visited Matt and Ewan, and they told me about Freya and the fact that you’d just paid them a visit, that I started to connect the dots.’
He knew the Peppers? Urgh, this was going from bad to worse. She could only imagine what the brothers had told him about how she’d behaved!
Well, there was no point worrying about that right now, was there? Claudia knew she had an awful lot of apologising to do for her behaviour today… and she might as well start as she meant to go on.
‘Let me buy you a drink,’ she repeated, with a note of pleading. ‘It’s the least I can do after my attempt on your life. Actually… have you eaten? Can I tempt you to join me?’
Claudia crossed her fingers again as George hesitated. A movement over his shoulder near the door of the dining room caught her attention, and she glanced over.
Lionel, the owner of the hotel, seemed to be glaring in her direction. She guessed she couldn’t blame him—she hadn’t exactly treated him very well when she’d arrived.
‘What’s up?’ said George, clearly noticing her frown. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine,’ said Claudia, ‘but I’m not so sure about Lionel!’
George turned to look, then turned back to her with a grin. ‘Sorry, I think that might be my fault. He told me I wasn’t allowed to disturb you under any circumstances.’
‘Oh! Well, too late, you’ve definitely disturbed me,’ she chuckled, the sound unfamiliar in her ears. ‘But… in a good way.’
‘Nice to know I still have the power to do that,’ said George, going pink as he shot her a mischievous look.
Claudia’s answering blush made her feel like her makeup might melt right off her face. Cursing under her breath, she wished she’d stuck to her first instinct and not bothered to reapply a full face after her shower.
Grabbing her glass of water, she took a grateful sip and watched as George gave Lionel a cheeky wave. The older man rolled his eyes, and his bushy eyebrows seemed to bristle before he turned on his heel and stalked away.
‘Don’t worry about him,’ said George, turning back to her. ‘He’ll get over it. He’s just cross that I reneged on our deal.’
‘Which was…?’
‘I could do a drive by of your table on the condition that I didn’t speak to you, and then I had to buy him a single malt from the bar afterwards.’
Claudia laughed. ‘Well, when the waiter comes over, I’ll be sure to order one for him.’
‘He’d like that,’ said George, shooting her a look of approval that made her toes curl.
‘So, will you stay and eat with me?’ she said, cocking her head. ‘I’d love to catch up properly. I know this might sound a bit weird… but… I’ve missed you.’
George paused for several long seconds that felt like an eternity. Then he grabbed the menu. ‘I’d love to,’ he said, starting to flip through the pages. ‘I’m starving! Mind you, I don’t know why I’m bothering to look at this. I know exactly what I want.’
‘You know what’s good here?’
‘Of course,’ said George. ‘The whole town knows what’s good here. Everything!’
‘Great,’ said Claudia. ‘In that case, I’ll have whatever you’re having, because I’m finding it impossible to choose.’
‘You’re in for a treat,’ said George, his eyes scanning her face as if he was trying to reconcile what he was seeing with the girl she was a decade ago. ‘I can’t believe how much you’ve changed.’
‘Not really,’ said Claudia quickly, patting her hair and then wincing—it was still crunchy with vast amounts of hairspray.
‘Oh, come on,’ chuckled George. ‘You’re immaculate – you look a million dollars… and then there’s that seriously fancy car!’
‘That stupid thing’s just a hire car,’ she blurted.
‘You’re kidding?’
‘Nope,’ said Claudia. ‘It was my mother’s idea. I’d have been much happier in my rusty old Fiesta, to be honest.’
‘You drive a rusty old Fiesta?’ said George in surprise.
Claudia nodded and grinned at him. ‘Yeah. And it might surprise you to know that I don’t often look like this.’
‘You don’t?’ said George. ‘I mean, you look great… but I have to admit, I preferred the rainbow bunches and lime green fringe. That was a good look on you.’
‘I loved those rainbow streaks!’ sighed Claudia. ‘I thought I was so cool.’
‘You were,’ said George firmly. ‘In fact… I’d bet pretty much anything that you still are.’