Chapter 15
‘Hello, you two!’ David straightened up from the fence post he’d been leaning on to grin at Hannah and Jason as they bumped along the gravel path. ‘This is an unexpected pleasure!’
‘Hannah!’ Sarah peered around David, her face breaking into a beaming smile as she spotted them. ‘I can’t believe it.’
‘Believe what?’ puffed Hannah as she came to a halt next to them. She put one shaky foot to the ground and promptly decided to give it a couple of minutes before attempting to get off the bike.
‘I can’t believe Jason got you on a bike so fast,’ she laughed. ‘Weren’t you just saying last night that your legs wouldn’t handle it?’
‘Erm… I stand by what I said,’ laughed Hannah, doing the exact opposite and perching back on her saddle.
Jason grinned, hopping off his own bike with ease. Hannah shot him an envious look. Oh, to have the boundless energy and strength of being nineteen again!
‘Admit it—you enjoyed it!’ he laughed. ‘You’re a natural. Bet that’s you hooked, now!’
‘What brings you guys up here?’ said David, still looking mildly bemused.
‘Hannah wanted to bring your jacket back,’ said Jason, giving Sarah a knowing grin.
Hannah promptly wished she knew him well enough to give him a friendly punch for landing her right in it.
‘You didn’t have to do that!’ laughed David, shaking his head in wonder. ‘You could have just left it in the garden or something.’
‘To be fair, I probably would have,’ said Hannah, finally feeling strong enough to clamber off the bike and lean it against one of the fence posts. ‘But when I was looking for you, I noticed Bernard was missing and… well… and I kind of jumped to the wrong conclusion.’
‘You thought he’d escaped again?’ said David, with sudden understanding.
‘Yup,’ said Jason.
Hannah nodded, feeling more than a little bit daft. ‘Then I decided to go on a wild-goose chase to hunt you down and let you know.’
‘You know, things would be a whole lot easier if you two would just exchange mobile numbers!’ chuckled Sarah.
‘She has a point,’ said Jason, rolling his eyes.
‘I don’t know mine off by heart,’ said David, fiddling around in his pocket and pulling out an ancient brick.
‘And I don’t have mine with me,’ said Hannah with a rueful smile. ‘It’s at home somewhere, set to silent.’
At home. Huh. Those words had just tumbled out by accident… and yet, they’d felt kind of… right.
Hannah gave her head a little shake. She wasn’t about to start getting caught up with all that again right now. Yes, she wanted to talk things through with David… but not with the other two watching them intently. Besides, right now, she had a rogue sheep to check up on.
‘Anyway, here’s your jacket back,’ she said, starting to strip it off.
David shook his head. ‘Keep it on for now. It’s windy up here. There’s no point in getting cold after your ride. Besides, it suits you.’
Hannah smiled at him and happily snuggled back into its depths.
He was right, the breeze up here next to the lighthouse was fresh, and now that she’d stopped pedalling, she was in danger of getting chilly pretty quickly.
Well… everything other than her face, which currently felt like it had been toasted in front of the fire like one of Aunty Millie’s favourite buttered crumpets.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Sarah and Jason exchanging a knowing look, and Sarah mouthing AWWW. It did nothing to ease the flush on her cheeks.
‘So… Bernard’s got a new home?’ she said, deciding that now was a good time to change the subject.
‘Yep. At least for now,’ said David, pointing across the little paddock in front of them, to where the missing sheep was now stuffing his face with grass as though his life depended on it.
‘I didn’t want him causing you any trouble or getting out onto the road again.
Mike and Kate said he can stay here for the winter, and he seems happy enough. ’
‘Not tried making a break for it yet?’ said Jason.
‘Oh, he’s scoped the entire perimeter,’ laughed Sarah.
‘But this fence was designed to keep Stanley from disappearing off to swim with the seals whenever Dad and Kate turn their backs for five seconds. If it can keep that hairy horror incarcerated, Bernard’s got no chance.
Hey, do you guys want to come inside? They’re both at work, but I can make us all a cuppa. ’
‘I’m up for it!’ said Jason. ‘Lizzie’s given me the afternoon off. Fancy a ride later now that your bike’s fixed?’
‘Definitely!’ Sarah nodded. ‘Mr Eaves, Hannah… cuppa?’
David glanced at Hannah, and she bit her lip, waiting for him to take the lead. He winked at her. ‘Thanks Sarah, but I need to head back down to town.’
‘Me too,’ said Hannah, quickly picking up on the hint. There was no way she was up for playing gooseberry between the teens.
‘Fancy a lift?’ said David. ‘Or are you keen for another cycle?’
‘Lift. Definitely lift!’ said Hannah, with near-indecent haste. As much as she’d enjoyed the ride, it had been mostly uphill, and her legs were feeling more than a little bit wobbly. ‘Oh, but what about the bike…’
‘I’ll pop it in the back,’ said David. ‘We can drop it off at Moore Bikes on our way home.’
‘Actually, I’ve rented it from Lizzie until I leave town,’ said Hannah.
‘Great idea!’ said David. ‘In that case, I’ll drop it home with you!’
There it was again. The H word.
‘Thanks,’ said Hannah. ‘That’d be great. I’m not sure how much more my legs can take today!’
Sarah and Jason disappeared off up to the lighthouse, and with one last look over the fence at a contented-looking Bernard, Hannah followed David over to his truck, which was still parked near the paddock gateway.
‘Oh… I should warn you about something,’ said David, lifting Hannah’s bike as if it weighed no more than a feather, and popping it into the flatbed.
‘Oh?’ said Hannah, suddenly distracted. She’d just caught a quick flash of tanned, muscled stomach. It looked like Bee Daddy had hidden depths in more ways than one!
‘Erm… I had Jason’s bike in the back on the way here, so Bernard rode up in the front.’ David shot her an apologetic look. ‘It might smell a bit sheepy in there, and you’ll want to watch where you step.’
Hannah let out a snort of laughter. ‘Maybe I’ll cycle back after all!’ Even as she said it, she opened the door and hopped in. It would take a lot more than the handful of little turds in the footwell to make her turn down a lift right now!
Two seconds later, David hopped into his side and grinned across at her. ‘Ready?’
‘Sure.’
As they pulled out of the gateway, Hannah gave Bernard a farewell wave.
The silence stretched between them as the truck bumped slowly back down the track.
Hannah swallowed nervously and turned to stare out of the passenger window.
After dashing around town hunting for David, it felt strangely intimate to be her own with him.
‘Jason’s turned into a lovely young man.’
The minute the words left her mouth, Hannah wanted to kick herself. She sounded like a fond eighty-year-old aunty! She’d only said it to break the silence.
‘I mean… he’s just…’
Shut up, Hannah!
‘Thanks,’ said David. ‘I’m not sure I’ve got much to do with it, though. He’s always been a special lad. I’m lucky.’
‘It’s more than just luck,’ said Hannah.
David smiled across at her. ‘Thanks for coming last night, by the way. I know the invitation was a bit out of the blue, but it meant a lot that you came.’
Hannah shrugged in surprise. ‘I loved every second of it.’
David nodded and focused back on the road. This was clearly a man who was more than comfortable with long silences. Hannah was going to have to take lessons!
‘I’m guessing he gets out on his bike a lot?
’ she said, just for something else to say.
‘He pointed out all the little beaches and hidden pathways on our way up here. I’m sure Millie probably took me to some of them when I was little, but I don’t really remember.
’ She paused, but when David didn’t say anything, she continued.
‘I wish I had more time to explore while I’m here… ’
Hannah trailed off again, this time because the big dollop of regret had returned in full force.
‘Some of my favourite beachcombing spots are out this way,’ said David.
Hannah smiled. ‘You know, I’ve always been a bit jealous of the things you find.’
‘Really?’ David shot her a look of surprise.
Hannah nodded. ‘I tried it myself a few times, back when I visited with Gareth. Whenever I needed a break, I’d go down to West Beach and stomp along with my eyes down. I never found much other than a few limpets, though.’
David nodded slowly, then put his foot on the brake and slowed the truck to a crawl.
‘What’s up?’ said Hannah in surprise.
‘How desperate are you to get home?’ he said.
‘Desperate?’
‘You know… are you busy?’
Hannah paused for a split second, then shook her head. ‘Nope. Not desperate at all. I’m in no hurry to get back to cleaning!’
‘So… I might be able to tempt you with a little detour?’ he said.
‘Sure!’ said Hannah. ‘Where to?’
‘I’m going to take you beachcombing,’ said David. ‘If you’re up for it, I mean?’
‘Really?’ Hannah let out an excited squeal before clapping her hand over her mouth.
It was exactly the kind of reaction that would have brought a sneer to Gareth’s face.
Her joy in the little things had always irritated him.
So much so that she’d learned to keep her reactions to herself over the years.
Sod that. Not any more!
Hannah gave a little wriggle of excitement. ‘You’re seriously going to share your secrets with me?’
David laughed as he hit the indicator before pulling onto a narrow track that led sharply downhill towards the sea.
‘Not sure they’re my secrets to share,’ he chuckled. ‘But sure. I’ve not been to Honeypot Cove in a while, so there should be some good things to find!’
‘Honeypot Cove?’ chuckled Hannah. ‘Is that your spiritual home?!’
David’s shoulders shook as he laughed.
‘Sorry,’ muttered Hannah. ‘That was—’
‘Brilliant,’ said David firmly. ‘Only my close friends and family make bee puns every five seconds. Which means we’re finally past being just neighbours.’