Chapter 9
Cath pulled up the Mini on the main street, right outside Will’s house.
And there he was, coming out of his door, wearing black jeans, a Fair Isle grey knit jumper, and his black-padded puffer jacket.
He was also sporting a grey beanie hat. He looked cool in a country-style way, dressed warmly yet ready to walk.
He gave a gorgeous smile as he reached the car, where he unloaded the large rucksack he was carrying onto the back seat, along with a red-checked tartan cloth roll. ‘Morning.’ He then hopped into the front. ‘That’s the brunch bag, and a picnic blanket.’
‘Morning, Will. Oh, and you are prepared.’
The day had started bright and breezy, and that was how Cath was feeling inside too, glowing yet rather aflutter. And also, filled with promise.
‘So which beach are you thinking?’ she asked.
A short drive away was the scenic Northumberland coastline, and they were spoilt for choice with beautiful Bamburgh with its castle, fish and chip fun at Seahouses, the sweep of Beadnell Bay, golden sands from Newton to Embleton, and farther south, Craster village, with its quaint harbour.
‘How about Low Newton? It’s a great place to walk, and we could always stop for a pint at The Ship afterwards.’
‘Sounds good to me.’
‘You know the way?’
‘I do indeed.’ Memories of summers past, family days spent on holiday with Adam and Trevor were there in her head. There was still an inevitable soreness that all that was past, but Cath also felt more accepting that life had moved on. She had moved on.
And with that, she put her Mini into gear, and she and Will were off on their way. With the radio on, they were accompanied with chat, music and memories.
*
Nestled in the dunes, with a fabulous view over the golden sands and pewter-blue waters of the bay, they sat together on a picnic rug.
‘Right, there’s coffee and I have bacon butties.’ Will smiled, with a hint of nervousness. ‘You can tell I’ve gone all out. I’ve even brought sauces. Red or brown?’
‘Hey, bacon butties sound great.’ Cath grinned. ‘And it’s ketchup all the way for me.’
‘Ah-hah, well, I’m a brown sauce kind of guy.
’ Will quirked an eyebrow, which made him look cheeky and kind of sexy, sending Cath’s stomach on a helter-skelter.
He dug into his rucksack, took out some foil-wrapped sandwiches and then opened them to top with sauce, passing one across to Cath. ‘Here you go, madam.’
‘Thank you, sir.’ The first bite was scrumptious, as they were still a little warm. The bacon moist and salty-sweet with a crispy rind. Perfect, in fact, served with a mug of freshly ground coffee, from the flask. ‘This is great.’
‘The coffee’s a Colombian blend, by the way. I ground the beans myself at home.’ Will was evidently a bit of a connoisseur.
It tasted rich with a hint of nutty chocolate. ‘Delicious. And brunch with a sea view, how wonderful.’ The company wasn’t half bad either, she mused.
They looked out over the bay towards the rugged rocky ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, which stood out from the headland on the horizon.
The sea rolled in to the bleached-wheat-coloured sands before them, foaming as it broke on the shore, where a group of white-and-grey sanderlings busied themselves scurrying as they foraged for marine worms and crustaceans.
A couple walking a spaniel meandered below them on the beach, followed by an elderly chap with a cute border terrier, the dog happily chasing a ball to and fro.
Will and Cath nestled in their vantage point, sheltered by the dunes.
It was lovely to be sitting close together – though they weren’t quite touching – watching the world go by.
‘Oh, I nearly forgot. There are chocolate brownies, too.’
‘Ooh, lovely.’
‘Made by myself.’
‘Really?’ Cath quizzed. Will wasn’t known for his baking skills.
‘Yep, I messaged Lily – our baking queen – with a plea for help, and she sent over her foolproof chocolate brownie recipe. I needed to make some kind of an effort, after all.’
Aw, it was so sweet, that he was trying to make it special for her.
Opening a plastic tub, he revealed thick, slightly gooey chunks of brownie.
‘Well, they certainly look good.’
‘But the proof of the pudding …’ He grinned.
‘Okay, I’m going in, and …’ Cath paused to chew and taste ‘… the verdict is … bloody delicious. In fact, I might need another just to check.’ She smiled broadly, the chocolate all melty-brown over her teeth.
Will shook his head at her. With that goofy face, she looked so like the young girl he’d met and fallen for when she was only sixteen. How had he missed recognising that look when they’d met again six months ago? But thirty-six years was a long, long time.
A few minutes later, a young couple, perhaps in their early twenties, walked by on the sand, their hands laced together affectionately.
Cath began thinking back to all those years ago too, and their own youthful romance that was destined not to be.
Their first ever kiss in the dunes at Bamburgh Beach, falling for each other, yet knowing there were only a few days left to be together.
She found Will watching her intently. Was he reminiscing too?
Or looking forward, to where they might go from here?
Might there yet be a future for them, together as a couple?
How strange, how lovely, how scary. Cath hardly dared to imagine what lay ahead, preferring to take one day at a time for now.
There were far too many dreams to be broken.
Yet, all she wanted to do right now was to lean in against him, feel the warmth of his body next to hers. Hoping his arm might come to gently rest around her, as they sat side by side, soaking in the view of the blues and golden hues of sea, sand, sky. She shifted an inch or so towards him.
‘Right, let’s pack up and go for that walk, hey?’ Will was already rising to his feet, putting away the flask and food boxes. ‘Shall we head along the beach towards Dunstanburgh and then back by the golf course to Low Newton village?’
Had that closeness been too much for him? ‘Ah, yep, sounds good to me.’ Her dreamy bubble of a balloon had burst. The moment had evidently passed. But a walk on the beach would of course be nice, too.
‘Oh, and the brunch was delightful, thank you. Ten out of ten for the brownies.’
‘My pleasure.’
Cath stood, then shook out and rolled up the rug, with Will taking the rucksack.
They strolled the sands, content in each other’s company, chatting away about the fine weather, their grown-up children, village life, work.
The urge to be nearer, to feel his touch, still wouldn’t leave her, so she reached for his hand.
He’d asked her out for this walk, after all.
Surely, he was looking to get to know her more.
And phew, yes, he took her hand in his, their fingertips lacing.
And it felt natural, a growing tenderness there between them.
He turned to give her the biggest of smiles.
Whoop!
*
After a thirty-minute stroll, a pint at The Ship was in order.
The historic white-walled pub was tucked in the corner of a ‘square’ created by three rows of stone-built fishermen’s cottages, giving a courtyard feel to its grassy centre.
Cath ordered an apple cider, which was cool, crisp and sparkling.
Will chose a pale ale, which had been brewed on site at the microbrewery there.
They sat outside on a wooden bench, looking towards the sea.
They chatted easily, saying how beautiful the coast here was.
And talking of other places worth a visit: Craster with its quaint harbour and kipper smokery, historical Holy Island, Alnwick with its castle and gardens, Will telling her that the cherry blossoms there were stunning in the spring.
Cath realised there was so much yet for her to discover, in her new home area and with Will.
Might there be more trips together, a walk hand in hand under that cherry blossom, she dared to wonder?
The day had been gorgeous. The weather fine until now, they’d been lucky, but then the skies darkened, the air cooled and the plink of raindrops started.
Becoming louder, drumming on the table, and leaving spots on their clothes.
Heavier now, and oh crikey, a crack of thunder that vibrated through Cath.
‘Uh-oh.’
‘Quick.’ Will was up off the seat, with Cath swiftly following him.
They dashed to stand under the eaves of the old pub, but the rain just got heavier. Their near-empty glasses, abandoned on the bench, were beginning to fill with water.
‘Oh my, we’re not getting away with this, are we?’ Cath observed wryly.
‘No way, José.’ Will pulled a woeful face, but he was smiling through his eyes as he did so.
There was only a foot width, or so, of eaves covering them, and so much rainfall that it soon began to cascade from the overflowing gutters, getting them wetter than ever.
‘Well, that’s me soaked through already,’ said Cath, the rain dripping from her hair into her eyes.
‘No point lingering here really. Are you ready?’ Will looked primed to set off.
‘As I ever will be …’
He grabbed her hand and they made a dash back to the car, laughing all the way up the hill, with shoes and socks squishing beneath their feet.
Back at the parking area, she could hardly open the Mini’s doors quick enough. Damp and steamy, with clothes sodden, and the car heaters noisily blowing warm air at them, they sat and stared at each other, with a look filled with surprise and humour and a trace of something more …
Will leaned towards her, and they met above the handbrake, where they shared a gentle but gorgeous kiss. And despite being soaked to the skin, Cath felt happier than she had in a very long time.
*