The Old Lighthouse in Sunny Shore Bay (Sunny Shore Bay Book 8): Escape to the British seaside with t

Chapter Eight

‘You need to speak to Mum and Dad,’ Kat insists the second I finish filling her in on the whole Jerry debacle, but I shut that idea down in a flash.

‘No way. I don’t want them to worry about me and Penny, we’re fine.’ I cluck my tongue at my sister’s raised eyebrow. ‘Okay, not fine, exactly, but we’re safe and comfortable at Mia’s for now.’

‘But for how long?’ she demands to know. ‘Look, Mum and Dad could lend you some money, help you out -’

‘What money, Kat?’ I snap, dropping a damp j-cloth onto the ice cream parlour’s countertop. ‘They’re not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, and I can’t ask them to dip into their retirement fund to hoist me out of my own mess. No, I can handle this. I just need to find a full-time job, that’s all.’

Kat sighs at my stubbornness, but I know she understands. When she was having financial troubles, the last thing she wanted to do was borrow from a loved one. Taking help is one thing, but taking money from family and friends is a different kettle of fish, especially when you know they’d gladly give it to you, even if they couldn’t really afford it themselves.

‘I get it, you want to be independent. I’d offer you a full-time job here if I could.’ She opens her arms, gesturing to the pastel-hued, 50’s style parlour around us. ‘But I can’t afford to pay another wage, I wish it was an option, I really do.’

Touched, I offer my sister a warm smile. ‘Even just the part-time money is a lifeline for now, Kat. I truly appreciate it.’

Companionably, she pats my shoulder and sashays past into the back office, just as Tom - another part-timer - comes out in his apron. The morning shift at the parlour is always super dead, nobody wants ice cream at nine o’clock in the morning, do they? With no customers, there’s not a lot to be getting on with, and I can only wipe the already spotless counter so many times in an hour!

In dire need of a distraction, I allow my mind to wander, and it strolls all the way to the old lighthouse. Dreamily, I gaze out of the window, across the beach to the faded, ancient structure cresting the cliffs. I wonder what that guy was doing in there, had the old building piqued his curiosity, as it had mine? Was he searching for some sort of peace in there too?

Oh, how I wish I hadn’t run off the way I did, I must have seemed such a fool - or worse, a criminal. I mean, I suppose I was technically trespassing, but hey, so was he. The only difference is I’m the one who freaked out and ran away like I’d been caught doing something bad. Oh God, did it look like I was doing something dodgy up there? I flush at the notion, praying the mystery stranger didn’t leave thinking the worst of me.

‘Excuse me?’ The agitated customer tapping her foot in front of me draws me from my stupor. ‘My ice cream cone?’

‘Oh, erm, yeah, coming right up.’ I make a hasty grab for the scoop and tuck a rogue strand of hair behind my ear. ‘Um, what flavour did you want, again?’

Rolling her eyes at my incompetence, the customer repeats her order irritatedly. ‘Raspberry and lemon.’

‘Of course.’

Ice cream cone in hand, Miss Snarky-Knickers saunters out the door, and I stick my tongue out at her back.

‘Oi, I hope you’re not being rude to my customers.’ Kat wags a teasing finger at me, playing the strict boss.

‘Ah, she doesn’t have eyes in the back of her head, does she?’ I stretch my arms toward the ceiling, yawning. ‘It’s time for my break now, isn’t it?’

‘Yep, but you know what, why don’t you take the rest of the day off? It’s not busy here, and I’ve got Tom on shift until four.’

‘Are … are you sure?’

‘Sure I’m sure! I just think you could do with some fresh air, a little time to relax, you don’t seem yourself. I’ll still pay you for the whole shift, don’t worry.’

I know she’s trying to be kind, but still, I cringe at the gesture. I never thought there would be a day where I’d be pinching the pennies, my part-time job at my sister’s ice cream shop my only source of income.

‘Thanks,’ I answer gruffly, and I hurry to grab my bag from the cloakroom. ‘See you later, Tom, Kat.’

‘See you later.’ As I pass, Kat clasps hold of my arm and pulls me close, so that Tom won’t hear. ‘And listen, if you need anything, make sure you reach out, okay? I’ll be there, any time of the day.’

‘I know you will.’ All choked up, I force down the burgeoning tears and put on what is hopefully a happy face. ‘Thanks, sis.’

As I mosey along the pier, I muse over what to do with my gifted afternoon of freedom - browse the little boutiques in town, perhaps? There was a time when I could pick out a new brooch, dress and a bag in a single splurge, but I guess now I’ll have to be content with window-shopping. Now, maybe I’m being a Negative Nancy, but that doesn’t sound all that fun to me.

And of course, I can’t go visit my mates Tamara and Rosalind, I’d have to explain everything to them, and I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with the awkwardness of that yet. Like it or not, I’m not one of them anymore, I’m no longer a stay-at-home wife living a life of leisure, now I’m a single mum, homeless and in serious need of money.

Deciding that perusing my old haunts would be much too depressing, I follow my daydream instead, to the place that has lingered in my mind since I first stepped foot inside. Though I know I probably shouldn’t, I start sprinting like a little kid, clear across the beach and up those rickety, moss-ridden steps in the cliff to the lighthouse.

The familiar fragrance of dust mingled with damp sea salt surrounds me as I enter the light chamber. There’s a twang of disappointment in my chest when I find it empty, and I hear no footsteps sneaking up the stairs behind me this time.

No Mystery Man in sight.

It’s silly, but a small part of me was expecting him to be here. Still, I didn’t come to this place for illicit rendezvous with strange men, I came here for peace. I stride over to the huge, dirty window and drag my finger across the glass. This place is gorgeous, though it could do with several goings over with a vacuum - no scratch that, only a flame thrower could get rid of all this gunk.

As I step back one pace to admire the view, I tread on something hard. I peer down and discover a leather-bound book, lying open on the floor. Stooping to examine it, I flick through the pages, though I can’t make head nor tail of the carefully written notes or intricate illustrations. What exactly is this?

I spend a while up in the light chamber, just watching the tide slowly creep out and listlessly thumbing through the curious little book of secrets. While I’m reading one of the entries, I catch sight of my wristwatch. Crap - it’s twenty to three, I’ve got to get to the school!

Before I can think better of it, I pocket the notebook and squirrel away, down the twisting staircase and out of the mysterious lighthouse into the sun. The harsh glare of daylight is an unwelcome reminder of reality and already, I miss the tranquil quiet of the lighthouse. Everything feels sort of … simple up there, calm and private, like I’m so high up in the clouds that the troubles down below are too far away to reach me.

I wave to Penny as she skips across the playground, her school satchel swinging on her hips. Breathing deep, I push my worries beneath the soles of my feet and plaster on a big grin. I can’t wallow in self-pity any longer. Nope, now it’s time to put the Mum hat on.

‘Hi, Mummy!’ she greets me with all her usual enthusiasm.

‘Hey, honey! What did you get up to in school today?’

‘We learned about the solar system! Did you know Earth is the third planet away from the sun?’

‘Is it really, honey?’ I lean down and kiss her cheek. ‘You’re such a little smartie.’

‘Miss Rowan gave me this, it’s a permission form for the trip to the Space Centre.’ She flaps the paper in my face, and I catch the price of admission at the bottom. Fifty quid for a school trip? For that kind of money, this space centre better be rivalling NASA!

‘We’ll see, darling,’ I reply vaguely as I fold the sheet up and stuff it into my bag.

I may not have heard a word from Jerry since that day he skipped town, but his actions have been loud and clear. I was dismayed to find that the joint account we shared has been emptied, leaving me with less than a months’ worth of cash to live on. He’s trying to get me to break, I know it. He wants me crawling back on my knees, completely broke and destitute, all contrite for not going along with him in the first place. It’s so callous, and the thing is, he thinks he’s getting to me, but all he’s doing is hurting his own daughter. I’m still figuring out how I’m going to pay for her dance classes, she’ll be devastated if we have to give them up. At least she can keep up her piano lessons as Mia has offered them for free for the time being, which I feel awful about.

We walk in silence to the car, but once I get Penny buckled into her seat, her big doe eyes stare into mine.

‘Mummy?’ She nibbles her bottom lip. ‘Is … is Daddy ever going to come back?’

My heart leaps into my throat and I stammer through an explanation. ‘Yes, of course, darling, he’ll come back to see you soon, we hope. But … it’s complicated. Mummy and Daddy, well, you know how your friend Susie’s parents live in different houses?’

She nods.

‘Well, that’s kind of what’s happening with your daddy and I.’

Except I doubt that Susie’s dad ditched his family for a job miles and miles away and had them shoved out of their five-bedroom home onto the street …

Again, she nods, her eyes cast to her feet, as if she knew that all along. But then she looks up and beams at me. ‘Don’t worry, Mummy. Good times are just around the corner!’

She might be a little girl, but I swear, this child has such an old soul. She’s wise behind her years and has a positive attitude I could only dream of fostering.

Overcome with love, I hug her tight. ‘Of course they are, darling.’ I whisper the words into her soft hair, hoping if I say them enough, I might be able to convince myself that they’re true. ‘Of course they are.’