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

Chapter Twenty Eight

Rosalind knocks the door around ten o’clock in the morning to pick up Penny, she’s taking the kids to the water park out of town today. Personally, I don’t see the point when we’ve got a beautiful beach right on our doorsteps, but what do I know?

‘Don’t worry about the ticket cost,’ Rosalind hisses with a discreet wink. ‘I’ll take care of it.’

I thank her kindly for the offer, but ultimately, I hand over the forty pounds cash. She was trying to help, in her own slightly condescending way, but I’ve been learning a lot about budgeting, and decided this month I could afford the splurge, for Penny. We might not be able to spend money willy-nilly anymore, but I can save so my daughter can enjoy big treats now and then.

I wave goodbye as Rosalind’s pearlescent white Audi speeds off. I’m glad that we’re friends again, and that Penny is still happily hanging out with Oliver and Anastasia, as if nothing changed. With a sigh and a smile, I shut the door.

It’s a sunny Saturday morning and I have nothing to do but lounge around, eat to my heart’s content and perhaps do a bit of tidying up before Mia comes home from James’. In the past, the prospect would have daunted me, I always had to fight to fill up my lonely days with activities. Nowadays, I’m so busy that a moment’s rest feels like a holiday, so I’m grateful for a good few hours to myself. I guess this is what it’s like when you enter ‘the real world’, and I’ve got to say, though it’s tough and tiring, the self-satisfaction I feel after a hard day’s work can’t be beaten.

I switch on the radio, tune into Classic FM, curl up on the sofa and make a start on my ever-growing to-read list. Since my researching stint at the library, I’ve discovered I’m more of a bookworm than I thought. I’m partway through chapter one of a steamy story about a duke and a headstrong chambermaid when there’s a brisk knock at the front door, one I know to be my mother’s. I seriously consider ignoring it, but decide I better not, and push myself off the squashy sofa to answer her call.

Sure enough, there she is - Mother Knight in all her glory, standing in the threshold with a stock pot in her hands and her lips pursed.

‘Dad made a casserole,’ she announces as she pushes her way into the entry hall. ‘I thought I’d bring it over, since I don’t know what sort of stuff you and Penelope are eating at the moment.’

‘Mia cooks, and so do I.’ I squint suspiciously. ‘Why did you really come round, Mum?’

Pretending not to have heard me, she hums to herself as she strides inside. ‘Let’s put the kettle on, shall we?’

She flits around the kitchen as if she’s in her own home, locating two mugs with ease and dropping two tea bags into them. I stay silent as she serves the tea, teamed with a couple of chocolate hob-nobs on the side. We sip our soothing drinks without a word, yet I can see Mum watching me over the rim of her mug.

‘So,’ she finally speaks, ‘were you ever going to tell me that Jerry came round?’

I’m about to demand how she knew about his visit, but then I remember Jerry claimed he’d gone round to my parents to find out where Penny and I were staying.

‘Well, it’s not really any of your business, Mum,’ I reply, cold as a stone.

‘Hey, hey, don’t get snippy with me. Despite what you think, I didn’t come here to chastise you. It’s just … well, I wish you’d told me, honey. I want to support you through these things. I wish you felt you could come to me with your troubles.’

‘I did, well, I do, but not with this, Mum. This is something I’ve had to figure out on my own. Besides, you don’t think I’m doing the right thing, do you?’ I shoot her a glare. ‘You think I should leave Sunny Shore Bay and follow after Jerry like his lost little wife.’

‘On the contrary, I’m very glad that you and Penny are still close to us, truth be told, I’d miss you if you went to Liverpool. But, I’ll admit, I did think you were making the wrong decision.’ She rests a hand over mine, offering me the kind of comfort one can only derive from their mum. ‘I don’t now, though.’

‘What changed?’

She shrugs. ‘Nothing, really. I just realised that you’re an adult, and you can make your own choices. I don’t know the ins and outs of your marriage, but I do know you haven’t been happy for a long time, pet. A mother knows, and I’ve seen that spark in your eyes go out over the years. I suppose I’m a bit stuck in my ways, and I hate the idea of you and Penny losing everything you once had, but that’s no reason to stay with someone who makes you miserable.’

The mug is warm between my clasped hands, yet I release a shuddering, shivery breath into it. It’s horrible to hear her say it all out loud like that, and yet, it’s strangely cathartic, validating.

‘But that spark is returning, slowly but surely.’ She smiles shrewdly. ‘And there’s a new spark in your eyes, too. One that maybe someone put there … maybe a man?’

I gawk at her in disbelief. I guess she’s right, a mother knows!

‘Maybe. But … don’t you think it’s too soon?’ I bite my lip so hard, I’m surprised it doesn’t start bleeding. ‘And what about Penny?’

‘Well, no one knows Penny better than you do, you know what she can and can’t cope with. Still, she’s a tough cookie, and she just wants her mummy to be happy.’ Her eyes look straight into mine. ‘I’m not going to pretend I understand all of your logic lately, honey. But I do know one thing, there will always be people offering their opinions where they aren’t wanted, sticking their oar in and telling you that they know what’s best for you. Goodness knows, I’ve been on at you enough recently. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to follow your heart. It rarely steers you wrong.’

Sniffling, I blink away the burgeoning tears and find her hand. ‘Thanks, Mum.’

After a second cup of tea, Mum takes her leave, and I collapse into the soft embrace of the sofa, stroking Hettie as I play over her words of wisdom. Follow your heart, that’s what she said.

And my heart is leading me to one place, and one place alone.

Back to the lighthouse.