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

Chapter Twenty Four

Penny and I sleep until quarter past ten on Saturday morning, and we stay in our pyjamas for an hour after we’ve finally risen from the bed. Jerry despised the idea of wearing one’s nightclothes outside of the bedroom, he thought it extremely uncouth and classless, so we were required to get dressed the moment we stepped out of the sheets.

But now, it’s Penny and I who get to make the rules, and the No-PJ decree is straight out the window today. One rule that should have stayed in place was No Food After The Kitchen Is Closed, but I was definitely in breach of that last night. With everything that occurred, my head was in such a mess, I ended up eating my emotions, and the evidence is scattered across the coffee table.

While I’m tidying up the living room, I steal furtive glimpses at my daughter, who’s currently curled up on the couch with Hettie. She’s a little sheepish, not surprising given her dad’s unannounced visit yesterday, so I let her sit in front of the TV, watching Saturday morning cartoons with a bowl of cereal in her lap.

I’m just tapping away aimlessly on my phone when a call comes through. My heart leaps into my throat, perhaps it’s Noah? Maybe he appreciated the dandelion and burdock after all!

Wishful thinking takes over and I don’t even check who’s calling before answering.

‘Hello?’ I say, every inch of my skin bristling with hope.

‘Ah, Claire!’ The familiar, plummy voice has me checking the caller ID, and I do a double-take when I glance at the screen to see Rosalind’s name in pixelated letters. ‘How are you?’

‘I’m good, thanks. Erm hope everything is well on your end?’

‘We’re just great. In fact, the kids wondered if Penelope might want to come on a play date today?’

I’m too stunned to speak for a moment. ‘Er, yeah, I’m sure she’d love that,’ I croak a hasty reply.

‘Great, shall we say twelve thirty? Just in time for lunch.’

‘Sure. We’ll, erm, see you then!’

As expected, Penny’s ever so excited to hang out with Oliver and Anna, apparently kids don’t care about money and class, it’s as if nothing’s changed between them at school. She used to have play dates with Rosalind and Tamara’s kids at least once a week, it must have felt strange when that abruptly stopped. Well, even if I have my misgivings about my ex-mate, I’m not going to isolate my little girl from her friends, she’s had enough changes in her life lately.

We pull up onto the Whitley’s drive, right next to Rosalind and her hubby’s twin Audis. It’s my intention to drop Penny off and leave instantly, but Rosalind catches my arm before I can turn back to my car.

‘Can we have a quick chat?’ she asks, her eyes anxious and beseeching.

Despite my misgivings, I indulge my former friend and follow her through to her stunning open-plan kitchen. They recently had it renovated and it’s gorgeous, all gleaming granite worktops and stylish hexagon tiles.

While the kids play upstairs, Rosalind makes me a cappuccino with her upscale coffee machine.

‘Tamara told me about your new job, it sounds just wonderful.’

I watch her warily, wondering if she asked me inside to score free clothes from Cassi Queen. ‘Thanks.’

Rosalind clears her throat, her eyes averted. ‘I realise I might have been a bit - unpleasant - the last time we saw each other.’

My initial instinct is to sugarcoat it, oh no, of course not! But I push aside the reflex and instead opt for brutal honesty. ‘Yeah, you were.’

Shamefully, she bows her head. ‘Well, I feel just awful about it. I was a total …’

‘Snob?’ I suggest.

To my surprise, Rosalind laughs and nods. ‘Yes, a snob. Something I never wanted to be, but I suppose I’ve become one over the years. Easy living can do that to a person, you know?’

I soften a little, empathising. ‘I’ve been there.’

She reaches across the table and takes my hand in hers. ‘I’m sorry, Claire. I truly am.’

Our fingers laced, I give her a little squeeze. ‘Water under the bridge.’

‘And, if you’re free, Tamara and I would like to invite you to hot yoga next week.’

‘Well, maybe I’ll skip the yoga, but I’ll happily join you two for matcha lattes and lunch afterwards.’

She grins at me, and suddenly the air between us is cleared, and it feels just like old times. ‘Deal.’

I leave Rosalind’s house with a smile on my face and a weight off my shoulders.

Instead of driving straight back to Mia’s, I stop at the car park near the pier, and make my way to the beach. Specifically, to the lighthouse.

I wonder if Noah will be inside, sifting through old records and journals. Hope blossoms with each step I climb, but it’s dashed instantly when I open the light chamber door and find it empty. Once the initial disappointment abates, I notice a sight that sets my heart aflutter. Resting on the desk is a huge box of chocolates, a bottle of white wine, and a letter addressed to Claire. My breath catching in my throat, I pick up the note and read it:

Claire -

Thanks for the treats, they really helped to spur me on with my research!

Thought I’d return the favour, you deserve this and more.

Hope to see you soon …

Noah x

I clutch the paper to my heaving chest, allowing his words to spill into my heart.

I have to see him. I just have to.