The Old Lighthouse in Sunny Shore Bay (Sunny Shore Bay Book 8): Escape to the British seaside with t
Chapter One
It started with a birthday party.
Penny’s eighth birthday party, to be specific.
My daughter has been begging for a big bash for months now, and who am I to disappoint her? Planning has become a bit of an obsession, and it hasn’t escaped my attention that everyone around me is getting sick of my rambling. I’ve been driving my husband Jerry up the wall, I know it. Lately, he’s been avoiding me more so than usual, preferring to hole up in his study after work rather than lounge on the sofa with me. And I guess that’s where it started, the niggling worry in the pit of my stomach that’s become hard to ignore …
At least I’ve got my best mate Mia to rave at, and that’s just what we’re doing at The Spicy Bean, our favourite local coffee spot.
‘Does Penny really need all this, Claire?’ Mia asks dubiously as she runs a finger over the long list I’ve slid across the table. ‘When I was her age, I was happy with jelly and ice cream and a simple game of pass the parcel.’
‘Of course she needs it!’ Tutting, I snatch the paper from her hands. ‘You should have seen Harriet’s birthday disco back in January. They hired out a literal club for the occasion, can you imagine? Her mum took great delight in informing me that she knew the owner of the establishment, as if that would somehow impress me.’
The truth is, not only did it impress me, it also intimidated the hell out of me. How could my Penny’s party compete with that? I had to make a start on plans straight away.
Spluttering in disbelief, Mia almost spits her coffee out at me. ‘A club for an eight-year-old?’
‘Well, it was over before nine o’clock.’ As I adjust the cuff of my jacket, I catch sight of my silver cocktail watch and gasp. ‘Crap, I didn’t notice the time, I’ve got hot yoga in ten minutes!’
Mia raises an eyebrow. ‘I might regret asking this but - hot yoga? What on earth is that?’
I pick my gym bag off the floor and hurl it over my shoulder. ‘What it sounds like: yoga, but hot. As in, it takes place in a really hot room.’
‘And what exactly is the point of that?’
Glancing upwards, I shrug. ‘I don’t know, something to do with toxins, probably? I’ve never really looked into it. Hey, why don’t you come? You haven’t got any piano lessons this afternoon, have you? It’ll be great!’
With a wrinkled nose, Mia picks up her cappuccino mug and sips. ‘No thanks.’
‘Why not?’
‘I don’t think I’d fit in with your Yummy Mummy friends. Firstly, I’m no one’s mummy but Hettie’s, and she’s got whiskers and a fluffy tail. Secondly, I don’t have a rich husband - or any husband, for that matter - to pay for stylish yoga outfits and I don’t fancy turning up to the studio in my cleaning sweats. Thirdly, I doubt we’d have anything in common to talk about. They summer abroad, and I summer here in Sunny Shore Bay.’
‘Don’t be such a reverse snob!’ I poke her in the ribs. ‘Besides, you thought you’d have nothing in common with me when I first picked up Penny after her piano lesson, but look at us now!’
‘True. But still, I’ll give it a miss if it’s all the same to you.’
‘Suit yourself.’
I leave Mia to her coffee and step outside into the warm, early spring sun. I almost wish I hadn’t taken the car out, it’s such a gorgeous day. Still, my little Audi whizzes across town and I make it to the yoga studio just in time. Well, almost in time, everyone else is already in place, stretching on their mats before our instructor. I mouth an embarrassed ‘sorry’ to him before rolling my mat out in between Tamara and Rosalind.
‘Late again, Claire,’ Tamara scolds me in a jovial manner. ‘What kept you this time?’
‘Nothing really, I just got chatting to a friend and lost track of time.’
‘What friend?’ Rosalind butts in, her green eyes shining greener. ‘Do I know her?’
‘Mia Goddard, she teaches Penelope piano. I’ve told you about her before.’
‘Oh yes, the piano tutor!’ Tamara cackles, as though Mia’s profession is highly amusing to her.
Eager to get off the subject, I face forward and focus on the instructor’s directions. I can’t stand the way my friends judge women who work - in their little world, a lady’s place is in the home, a home that is up-kept by a housekeeper and furnished by a professional interior designer. And sure, that is the lifestyle I lead, Jerry brings home a large salary that keeps Penny and I in perpetual luxury, yet I can’t help but envy people like Mia and my sister Kat.
That probably sounds daft, considering Mia lives in a small, two-bedroom semi and Kat is only able to afford something bigger because she and her boyfriend Rob are combining their incomes to buy a new place together, but I look at their lives, their independence, and I ache. They’re both successful business owners who, despite all their struggles, made something of their skills and passions, they don’t rely on anyone but themselves.
I once had dreams - I left my parents’ house and went straight to the university dorms, where I worked hard and was on my way to getting a degree in Fashion Design.
And then I met Jerry.
I abandoned my degree in the middle of my third year to move in with him, and a year later, we were married. He promised me the world, a gorgeous home, fabulous trips, beautiful things, and I lapped it up like a dog desperate for water. To his credit, he’s delivered on all of those things and more, Penny and I want for nothing. And yet, something is missing. Something I see whenever James kisses Mia’s cheek, or Kat and Rob playfully tease one another. Heck, even my mum and dad have more chemistry than Jerry and I do these days.
Tamara and Rosalind, however, seem to consider Jerry the perfect partner.
‘So where is the hubby taking you away this year, Claire?’ Tamara asks as we transition into the downward dog position. ‘We’re off to Bora Bora next month, just William and I, the kids will be staying with Will’s parents. But you’re doing a Disney this summer, aren’t you, Rosalind?’
‘Yep, Disneyland Florida for two weeks! Anastasia and Oliver are so excited.’
‘Oh, I’d love to take Penny there!’ I exclaim. ‘We’ve not made summer plans yet, but perhaps I’ll talk to Jerry about it.’
‘Well, I’m sure he’ll be happy to oblige,’ Tamara grins. ‘He’d do anything for you two, wouldn’t he?’
An uncertain little laugh escapes my lips and I turn my face away to hide the grimace.
He’d do anything, alright - except listen, spend time with us, or offer even a smidgen of affection …