Chapter 12
CLAUDIA
‘ H ey, are you okay?’
Claudia peeled her eyes away from the golden sand of West Beach and peered over her shoulder at George. She’d disappeared from The Sardine when her phone had started to vibrate, leaving him behind to wait for the large parcel of cakes she’d ordered.
‘Got the cakes, I see,’ she said, avoiding the question and forcing a smile onto her face as she nodded to the giant paper bag he was holding carefully against his chest.
‘Yep - one for pretty much everyone in town,’ he chuckled.
Claudia nodded and pushed away from the railings. She figured that if she was going to do a proper apology tour before she left Seabury, she’d probably get more forgiveness if her “sorry I was a butthead” was accompanied by a sweet treat.
‘Everything okay?’ said George again, cocking his head.
‘Just mother,’ said Claudia, waggling the mobile phone with a sigh. ‘I didn’t answer it. I figure I might as well wait until I’m on the train. Then at least I can report back.’
‘Mmm,’ said George, raising an eyebrow.
Claudia glanced away. She knew he hadn’t really been asking about the phone call. ‘I just… I was just looking at the beach… this is the same spot in that portrait of Paula and Kate, right?’
George nodded. ‘Paula spent a ton of time down on West Beach. Swimming, messing about with Kate and the Chilly Dippers. When she got really poorly towards the end, her hubby Ryan would bring her down, and they’d sit for hours all bundled up in blankets together, just watching the sea.’
George paused when his voice cracked, and Claudia swallowed, her own throat thick with sorrow for the loss of this livewire she’d never even met.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said, reaching out and taking George’s free hand again. It felt so easy and simple. ‘I didn’t mean to stir up memories.’
‘I like to remember her,’ said George with a little shrug. ‘Everyone does. She was a force for good and refused point-blank to put up with any sympathetic head tilting. She wanted to do things her way right up to the end… and she did.’
Claudia swallowed again and nodded. It sounded like Paula grabbed every single second of life… and it was time for her to start doing the same.
‘Ready to start today’s adventure?’ she said, giving George’s hand a little squeeze.
‘Yep, but would you mind if we take a wander down to All Things Woolly and start the great tour of apology there?’ he said. ‘I’m not sure if it’s Ewan or Connie in today, but I’d love for you to meet baby Melody.’
‘Sure!’ said Claudia. ‘I’d love that too. I tried to pop in yesterday, but I think I was a bit too early.’
‘Ah, so it was you,’ said George. ‘Connie said she heard someone knocking. She was out the back changing the baby, and you’d gone by the time she opened up.’
‘Lucky her,’ said Claudia, feeling a sudden pang of embarrassment. ‘At least she missed me in full dragon-mode.’
‘Give yourself a break,’ chuckled George, swinging their hands between them as they strolled along the seafront. ‘Like Kate said, you were having a bad day.’
‘Bad decade,’ said Claudia. Then she thought of Paula again and shook her head. ‘Anyway, I’m done with all that rubbish. It’s like you said last night, maybe it’s time to start chasing the big dreams again.’
‘I like the sound of that,’ said George, and his smile made her stomach do a little backflip. ‘You know. I kind of feel duty-bound to warn you about something before we go any further.’
‘Uh oh, that doesn’t sound good,’ said Claudia, a sudden pinch of nerves twisting in her stomach.
‘Well… it kind of depends on your take on it!’ laughed George. ‘It’s just… if we carry on like this, wandering through Seabury holding hands, the gossip grapevine is going to practically explode with excitement.’
‘Oh,’ said Claudia, ‘right… sorry, I didn’t mean to?—’
She tried to disentangle her fingers from his, but George’s grip stayed firm.
‘ I don’t mind in the slightest,’ said George, the husky edge to his voice making her toes curl. ‘But the entire town has been trying to matchmake me for years now. I’m just not sure you want to get their hopes up? If they spot us like this, they’ll all be talking!’
‘Honestly?’ said Claudia, unable to keep the grin off her face at the idea of all the Seabury stalwarts trying to pair George off with every available female who strolled into town.
‘I reckon there are far worse reasons for people to be talking about me. Mind you, after my behaviour yesterday, it might have a bad effect on your reputation.’
‘Blimey, I hadn’t thought of that,’ said George. ‘Good boy postie linked with the new bad girl in town. I kinda like it!’
He squeezed her hand, and Claudia felt her knees wobble.
‘Well,’ she said, trying not to dissolve into a pile of mush on the spot, ‘thanks for the gossip-warning, but I think I’ll risk it.’
George grinned at her, then pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. For the briefest moment, Claudia felt herself stiffen—then she softened into the unfamiliar embrace that felt like home.
‘Watch out, I could get used to this,’ she murmured, marvelling at how well they fit together as they continued to stroll towards the end of North Beach.
‘Fine by me,’ said George.
Claudia was actually pretty disappointed when they arrived at the welcoming little frontage of the wool shop.
She didn’t want their cosy walk to come to an end.
That said, as much as she didn’t want to leave the citrus and sandalwood-scented protection of George’s embrace, she was curious to have a peep inside All Things Woolly.
She was looking forward to meeting some of the Pepper family on her own terms rather than as her mother’s puppet.
Plus, she was weirdly invested in seeing George with a baby… not that she’d ever admit it out loud. Claudia had a funny feeling the moment might seal her growing obsession with this adult version of the boy she’d known so many years ago.
‘Ready?’ said George, watching as her eyes raked over the window display.
‘You bet!’ she said. Then, before she could start worrying about how she was going to be received, Claudia pushed her way inside.
‘Oh, my goodness,’ she gasped, staring around in wonder. ‘This has got to be the most gorgeous shop ever!’
‘Well, thanks,’ came a laughing voice from the depths of a patchwork armchair. ‘I’ll be sure to tell Ewan!’
Claudia jumped. She hadn’t realised there was anyone else there. She watched as a woman with sleepy eyes appeared from the depths of the chair.
‘Connie!’ said George, hurrying over to give her a hug. ‘How are you doing?’
‘I’m fine, thanks,’ Connie said with a massive yawn. She clapped her hand over her mouth. ‘Sorry, guys, that keeps happening… it’s like I’ve got no control over it!’
George grinned at her. ‘This is Claudia.’
Claudia made her way through the baskets of wool to shake hands. ‘Sorry to disturb you!’ she said. ‘George wanted to introduce me to his favourite girl—baby Melody!’
‘No need to apologise,’ laughed Connie. ‘You’ve just saved me from nodding off while I’m meant to be watching the shop!’
‘Is Mel having a nap, too?’ said George, glancing around, clearly searching for the tot.
Connie shook her head. ‘Sorry to disappoint you, Georgie boy. Auntie Rosie decided I needed a break, so she’s taken her for the day. They’ve gone down to Rosie’s nan’s cottage to give Ewan a bit of peace and quiet at the house.’
‘So… you’re here working?’ laughed George. ‘Not exactly a rest!’
‘It’s perfect,’ said Connie. ‘Nice and peaceful. All I have to deal with is the occasional customer—but that’s a joy because it means I get lovely knitters to chat with. There’s nothing to do in between but flop in the chair and knit or daydream.’
‘I’m surprised Ewan isn’t here too, fussing around you like a mother hen,’ said George.
‘Oh, he’s at home working on a commission,’ said Connie. ‘Seabury House is nice and quiet for a change because Matt’s at the hospital.’
‘Oh no,’ gasped Claudia. ‘What’s wrong?’
George grinned at her and shook his head. ‘Don’t panic—he works there!’
‘Oh,’ Claudia felt her cheeks grow warm. What an idiot! She already knew the oldest Pepper brother was a doctor. ‘Of course. Sorry.’
‘Don’t apologise,’ laughed Connie. ‘I’m just sorry they’re not around to see you.’
‘Well, I’m glad you told us,’ said George. ‘Seabury House was one of our stops on Claudia’s great apology tour.’
‘Your… what?’ said Connie, looking amused.
‘I’m trying to bribe my way back into people’s good graces after my behaviour yesterday,’ said Claudia, nodding at the bag George was still clutching.
‘I’m hoping that a half-hundredweight of cake from The Sardine might work its magic for me.
There’s one in there for you. Kate said you like carrot cake? ’
‘Oooh!’ Connie’s eyes lit up. ‘Well, she’s not wrong, but you’ve got nothing to apologise for.’
‘Other than terrorising your family,’ said Claudia, with an awkward smile.
‘Don’t worry about that,’ laughed Connie. ‘They’re big boys. I’m pretty sure they can handle an unexpected visitor now and then. Mind you, if it means I get cake, you’ve got my permission to drop in on them whenever the fancy takes you!’
‘Well, thanks,’ said Claudia with a smile of relief. ‘As it doesn’t sound like I’m going to get to see Matt and Ewan again before I leave, can I leave their peace offerings here with you? And will you tell them how sorry I am for being a weirdo yesterday?’
‘I’ve got a better idea,’ said Connie. ‘Why don’t you and George join us for dinner tonight? Matt’ll be back from work, and Rosie and her nan are bringing Melody back around six. You can meet her, too!’
‘Oh… I…’ Claudia turned to glance at George.
‘Up to you,’ he said with what was clearly meant to be a chilled smile, but there was something in his eyes that told her that he was far more invested in her answer than he was trying to let on.
Claudia swallowed. ‘I mean… that would be lovely… but my train leaves before then.’
‘Can’t you stay one more night?’ said Connie, her face falling. ‘It seems a shame for you to leave without having the chance to interrogate the family properly!’
Claudia let out a surprised hoot of laughter.
‘She does have a point,’ chuckled George. ‘The offer’s still open, if you’d like to stay.’
Claudia glanced between Connie’s hopeful smile and George’s open, easy face and nodded.
‘Okay,’ she said, her heart swooping with nerves and excitement. ‘I’d love to come to dinner.’
‘Yay!’ cheered Connie. ‘Right, I’ll let the boys know they’d better prepare for a good roasting.’