Chapter 11
GEORGE
G eorge practically bounced into the reception of Graphika. The design agency was the last stop of his morning round… which he had to admit, he’d never completed so quickly.
Gone were the leisurely chats, the cups of tea here and the admiring of gardens there. This morning had been all business… because Claudia would be waiting for him when he got back into town, and he didn’t want to miss a moment of her company.
‘Morning, George,’ said Lilly.
George grinned at the receptionist as he bounded towards the front desk. ‘Hey, what’s up?’ Lilly’s usually cheerful face was grey and worried.
She shrugged and glanced around, clearly checking she wasn’t about to be overheard by one of the bosses. ‘Bit of a disaster, if I’m honest. You know that new hotshot they hired? Dan?’
George nodded.
‘Well, he’s been pinched by a big company up in Bath.’
‘Oh,’ said George. ‘Well, that’s bad luck.’
‘Bit worse than that,’ said Lilly, glancing over her shoulder again and dropping her voice to a whisper. ‘He was heading up one of our biggest projects. There’s just three weeks left to get it to the client.’
‘But, surely he’ll get it sorted before he’s worked out his notice?’ said George.
‘Notice?!’ hissed Lilly. ‘He got the offer yesterday afternoon. We came in this morning, and his desk had already been cleared. All he left behind was his laptop, company phone, and a note to say he was gone with immediate effect.’
‘That’s bad!’ said George.
‘And that’s an understatement,’ said Lilly. ‘Greg’s running around looking like he’s about to have a fit.’
‘I bet he is,’ said George. ‘Can’t one of the others take it on?’
‘Not this last minute,’ said Lilly. ‘Everyone’s up to their eyeballs as it is, and any freelancers worth their weight are all booked up months in advance.’
‘I wish there was something I could do to help,’ said George.
‘Don’t worry, you already have,’ said Lilly, with a sigh. ‘Thanks for letting me offload a bit. It might mean I can keep my cool while everyone else around here loses it. Anyway, enjoy your visitor?—’
‘How do you know I’ve got a visitor?’ said George in surprise.
‘My aunty saw the pair of you in the hotel last night,’ said Lilly. ‘She seemed to think you both looked very cosy.’
George rolled his eyes. ‘This town has no shame!’
‘You’ve got that right,’ Lilly sniggered. ‘Anyway, I hope you guys have fun. Oh, and if you happen to find any designers with nothing to do lying around, send them our way!’
‘Okay, deal.’ George forced a laugh, but the mention of Claudia had reminded him that he was in a hurry. He’d promised to meet her at the hotel as soon as he’d finished his round. ‘Good luck with it all,’ he said, waving over his shoulder as he made a beeline back towards the van.
The temptation to put his foot down and whizz back into town was almost too much for George, but the memory of his close call with Claudia the day before forced him to take the narrow lanes with even more care than usual.
George couldn’t wait to see her again. It had felt like they’d only just scratched the surface the previous evening. Before he knew what was happening, they’d finished their meals and had already lingered longer than was normal over coffee.
In the end, Claudia had been the one to call it a night, stating that she didn’t want to incur the wrath of Lionel and Hattie more than she already had.
George swallowed nervously as he parked his van and hurried towards the hotel.
As much as he’d been the one to propose that toast last night about figuring things out as they went along, he’d be absolutely gutted if Claudia decided to head straight back home instead of taking him up on his offer to stay.
‘Morning Lionel!’ he said, forcing a smile onto his face as soon as he spotted his old friend behind the reception desk.
‘Come to make more deals you aren’t going to stick to?’ said Lionel, raising an eyebrow.
‘Ah, come on,’ wheedled George. ‘You know I didn’t have a choice in the matter. She spotted me!’
Lionel grinned. ‘Don’t worry, my boy—I was only pulling your leg. Anyway, that drink Claudia sent me certainly softened the sting of your betrayal!’
George chuckled.
‘You know,’ said Lionel, ‘she’s not so bad, your Claudia.’
‘Not sure she’s my Claudia,’ muttered George, casting his eyes around for the woman in question.
The last thing he needed was for her to hear a comment like that and retreat back inside her shell.
Not when she’d been so open with him the previous evening, and especially n ot if there was even the slightest chance that she might stay in Seabury a few more days. ‘Have you seen her yet this morning?’
Lionel nodded. ‘She joined us for breakfast, as a matter of fact. Apologised for yesterday, too. Sounds like the poor girl has had a bit of a time of it, eh?’
George nodded. He had no idea how much Claudia had shared with Lionel, and there was no way he was about to divulge any of her secrets by mistake.
‘Well, you clearly had a good effect on her, that’s all I’ll say.’
‘What makes you say that?’ said George, trying to sound casual.
‘She seems… different this morning.’ Lionel frowned, clearly thinking about it. ‘Less… spiky.’
‘Yeah, well, I don’t think those spikes actually belonged to her,’ said George. ‘I think she might have borrowed them from her awful mother! You know, I don’t think she’s changed much at all, and I?—’
‘Speak of the devil!’ said Lionel quickly, cutting him off and nodding to the main doors of the hotel.
George turned in surprise, only to spot Claudia jogging up the steps from outside.
‘Wow!’ The gasp slipped out of him before he could stop himself, and he heard Lionel chuckle behind him, clearly enjoying the moment.
‘Erm… hi!’ said Claudia.
‘Hi yourself!’ said George. ‘You look…’
‘A bit less like I’m about to foreclose on someone’s mortgage?’ said Claudia.
‘I was going to go with lovely, ’ said George with a little shrug.
Claudia looked deliciously pink and windswept.
Gone was the rigid helmet of hair from yesterday, the expensive get-up and painful-looking heels.
Instead, her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, apart from the strands she was busy trying to push off her face from where the wind had swept them.
She was wearing a loose pair of jeans, simple trainers and a soft cream jumper that showed her curves to perfection.
‘Well… thanks,’ said Claudia, a faint blush colouring her cheeks.
‘Smooth!’ chuckled Lionel in a low voice, earning himself a glare from George. ‘So,’ he added at normal volume. ‘What’s the plan—are you still checking out this morning, Claudia?’
‘Sadly, yes. I’ve loved staying, though. Thank you. For everything.’
‘You’re always welcome,’ said Lionel.
‘And… is it still okay to leave my case with you until later? George is going to show me around Seabury a bit more, and my train’s not until later this afternoon.’
George’s heart plummeted into his shoes. So she was still planning to leave?
‘Of course, it’s my pleasure,’ said Lionel. ‘It’ll be safe and sound here with me until you need it. Now, where are you two planning to visit first?’
George shrugged. The mention of the train had put a dent in his excitement. He quickly straightened his shoulders. There was no way he was going to sulk and miss out on enjoying Claudia’s company while she was here—even if it was only going to be for a few hours.
‘I reckon that’s up to the guest of honour!’ he said, smiling at her.
‘In that case, I’d really like to head to The Sardine first, if that’s okay?’ she said. ‘I kind of want to do a bit of an apology tour.’
‘We can definitely do that,’ laughed George.
‘You’re not going to break your saintly-racing-snake behaviour and actually eat cake, are you?!’ said Lionel with a fake gasp.
‘I’m having a day off,’ said George with a shrug. He wasn’t about to admit it, but he’d skipped his run that morning too. Instead, he’d dashed around the house, cleaning and tidying like a man possessed… just in case Claudia decided to take him up on his offer.
‘Well, well, well!’ said Lionel, giving him a knowing look.
‘Every runner has to have rest days,’ said George, not meeting his eye.
‘And every human being should have cake days!’ chuckled Claudia. ‘Preferably as often as possible.’
‘You know,’ said Lionel with a grin, ‘something tells me you could fit in very well around here.’
‘I’ll take that as a compliment,’ laughed Claudia. ‘Ready?’
George stared at the hand she was holding out towards him, his heart doing a little jig in his chest. He knew it was just a sweet gesture from one old friend to another, but as he threaded his fingers through hers, it felt weirdly… right.
‘Morning, guys!’ chirped Kate, as George held the door open for Claudia. She’d dropped his hand to step inside the little café, and he was already missing the connection.
Judging by Kate’s narrowed eyes, she’d spotted their joined hands and was looking decidedly excited by the development. ‘Well, this is a lovely surprise!’ she said, wiggling her eyebrows at George.
George rolled his eyes at her over Claudia’s head, though he was thoroughly tempted to stick out his tongue too – just for good measure.
‘Morning,’ said Claudia, clearly oblivious to the silent banter going on between them.
‘I have to say, you’re looking more relaxed today,’ said Kate, smiling at her. ‘Sleep well?’
‘Like a log,’ laughed Claudia, the surprise of the friendly greeting clearly taking her by surprise. ‘Anyway, I owe you an apology for yesterday. I was?—’
‘Having a bad day,’ said Kate, her voice unusually gentle. ‘We all get them.’
‘Well, yeah… I was,’ said Claudia. ‘Even so, I was really rude, and you were only trying to help. I’m sorry.’
Kate smiled and shook her head. ‘No harm done. And I hope you’re staying for a drink and something to eat?’
‘Try to stop us!’ said George.
‘Blimey, you having a cheat day?’ laughed Kate.
‘Something like that,’ said George.
‘Well, good, because I’ve got a surprise for Claudia.’
Kate bent low, only to reappear brandishing a large bottle.
‘Pumpkin spice?!’ said Claudia, her eyes widening with excitement. ‘Are you kidding me?!’
‘I gave my supplier a nudge yesterday, and it arrived with my order this morning,’ said Kate. ‘Can I tempt you?’
George watched in amusement as Claudia nodded, practically bouncing up and down with excitement.
‘I’ve always wanted to try one. Thank you!’
‘Skinny?’
Claudia shook her head. ‘Sod that - full fat, please.’
‘Me too, please,’ said George.
‘Cake, Claudia?’ said Kate, raising an eyebrow.
‘Definitely,’ she said with a grin. ‘Might take me a second to make up my mind though!’
‘Take all the time you need,’ chuckled Kate, as Claudia crouched in front of the glass cabinet for a closer look. ‘George, let me guess…’
‘Coffee cake for me, please,’ he said with a grin.
‘What a surprise,’ laughed Kate. ‘You know, you’re lucky there’s any left. Graphika called and added a whole bunch of extra cake to their usual lunch orders.’
‘I’ve never known a company to buy their staff comfort food when they’re having a crisis,’ laughed George.
‘What crisis?’ said Kate, as she got busy with their drinks.
‘That fancy-pants new designer they hired has done a bunk,’ said George with a shrug. ‘Left last night with no notice. Apparently, he had three weeks left on a project for a really big client, and from what Lilly said, it’s battle stations there this morning.’
‘That sucks!’ said Kate.
‘What was the project?’ said Claudia, straightening up and looking at him with interest.
‘Sorry, no idea. Must be something fairly big, though, because it sounds like they’re going to have a hard time finding someone to take it on at the last minute.
Lilly literally told me to keep my eyes open for anyone who might be up to the job.
’ George shrugged, then nudged Claudia. ‘Shame you’re not local, hey? !’
‘Are you a graphic designer?’ said Kate with interest.
‘I… used to be,’ said Claudia slowly. ‘I did a lot of freelance stuff. What’s this company like?’
‘Pretty awesome, from what I know,’ said Kate. ‘My best friend used to work there, and she loved it.’
‘But she left?’ said Claudia.
Kate smiled sadly and shook her head.
‘Paula passed away,’ said George gently.
‘Oh Kate, I’m really sorry,’ said Claudia.
‘She always joked that they’d have to carry her out of Graphika in a box,’ laughed Kate, shaking her head.
‘Paula was such a character!’ said George, unable to keep a smile off his face. ‘That’s her, there.’ He nodded at the far wall, where a portrait captured Paula and Kate lounging side by side in a pair of deckchairs on West Beach.
‘That’s such a gorgeous painting!’ said Claudia, heading over for a closer look.
‘Lionel did it for me,’ said Kate. ‘And that huge photo above is the Chilly Dippers, our local cold swimming group. Paula was their founder, and they wanted a bit of a memorial for her in here.’
‘You’ve done her proud, Paula would love it,’ said George, noticing that Claudia was still gazing at the painting, her eyes heavy with sadness.
‘Anyway,’ said Kate, ‘that’s enough of our small town troubles. Claudia, what cake can I tempt you with?’