Chapter 13
I had a fitful night’s sleep and was wide awake shortly before half six.
My head felt hangover-fuzzy yet I hadn’t touched a drop.
Drawing back the curtains, it was still dark but, from the tranquillity, I knew the storm had passed…
for now. The sun would be rising within the hour: a stunning spectacle.
There was nothing I loved more than being on the beach when the sun peeped over the horizon then steadily rose into the sky behind Lighthouse Point.
It was a sight that was way overdue for me.
Twenty minutes later, I steered Mum’s car down the approach road to South Bay.
The gradually lightening sky was speckled with pink and orange in stark contrast with the silhouette of the lighthouse and harbour.
To top off the picture-perfect scene, lights twinkled around the curve of the bay.
Absolutely beautiful. Why had I traded this for big cities for so many years?
I parked the car on the seafront and headed down a few steps onto the sand.
Seaweed and driftwood strewn across the beach and promenade hinted at the storm that had raged hours earlier, but all other signs were gone as the gentle waves lapped onto the sand a few hundred metres out.
I perched myself on the edge of the beach wall and inhaled the salty air.
Soon after, I was treated to an orange arc peeping over the horizon, casting a welcoming glow across the calm sea.
Sunrise on the beach: stunning. Absolutely stunning.
And suddenly I had an overwhelming compulsion to run.
Me. The person who’d shunned exercise for a year.
It was going to hurt but I wanted to do it.
I had the beach almost to myself as I jogged slowly along the hard sand, dodging round lumps of seaweed.
I could make out the silhouettes of a couple of people walking dogs and two more runners in the distance.
The peace gave me time to think and, by the time I’d made it back to my starting point, I’d reached a decision.
I was definitely going to give online dating a try.
Targeted online dating as Clare suggested: only Stevens.
Andy returning to the UK and us both being single could have meant something if I’d still been in London, but my present circumstances made it a non-starter.
So we’d just continue as friends who occasionally emailed each other and I’d bury any thoughts of it finally being the right timing for us – since it clearly still wasn’t.
If I was ever in London, I’d look him up, but with a business to run and weekends committed to doing that, me being in London was a very unlikely scenario.
Bending over, hands on my thighs, I gulped in deep breaths of cold air while my heartbeat steadied. I sat down on the cold sand and smiled as I drank in the blazing ball of fire behind the red and white striped lighthouse.
With another deep breath, I lay back on the sand, eyes closed, feeling trickles of sweat run down my hairline and into my ears. How very attractive. I hoped none of the joggers or dog-walkers were Stevens because sweaty, beetroot-red, and breathless wasn’t the most alluring of looks.
I lay there for a few minutes listening to the distant waves, the cry of gulls, and feeling the slowing of my heartbeat. Despite the physical exertion, I felt more relaxed than I’d felt in a very long time.
‘Sarah? I thought it was you.’
Nick? I snapped open my eyes. He was silhouetted against the sun, but it was definitely him. My heart began beating faster again as I propped myself up on my elbows and put my hand up to shade my eyes as I squinted at him. ‘Hi. What are you doing here?’
‘Same as you by the looks of it.’
‘Sweating buckets and having a coronary on the beach?’
Nick laughed and reached his hand out to me. ‘Want a hand up?’
I nodded. ‘Your hands are very warm,’ I said as he pulled me to my feet. And very soft. An image filled my mind of those hands cupping my face, and then his fingers running through my hair as he kissed me. Whoa! Where did that come from?
‘And yours are very cold,’ he said. ‘Here.’ He encased my hands in his and rubbed them quickly.
I looked at our joined hands, then into his eyes.
In that brief moment, it felt like everything around us stopped.
I was oblivious to the lapping of the waves and the cries of the gulls that had been so clear moments before.
I was, however, still very aware of the thud-thud of my heart as I lost myself in his twinkling blue eyes.
He reached up to my face with one hand and gently caressed my cheek as I held my breath…
and his gaze. ‘You have some sand on your cheek,’ he said but he didn’t move his hand and I didn’t want him to.
He was going to kiss me. And I didn’t want to stop him.
‘Ebony! Stop!’
We both turned as a large black Labrador leapt up at Nick, knocking him sideways.
‘I’m so sorry. Ebony! Here now!’ An elderly woman gave us an apologetic glance before she chucked a ball for Ebony who bounded after it. Peace was restored but the moment was lost. Damn bloody dog.
Nick cleared his throat. ‘All warm now?’
‘Yes. Thanks. Erm, so, erm… you’ve been running too? Is this a regular thing?’ I set off towards the steps onto the promenade in the hope of averting attention from whatever it was that had just happened between us.
Nick followed me. ‘I try to come down two or three mornings a week. I hate gyms and I used to hate the idea of running, but a couple of years ago I looked after Skye and Stuart’s Spaniel while they were on holiday.
She ran so fast and I was scared of losing her so I used to run to keep up with her.
When they came back, I realised I missed the exercise so I took it up properly.
I’ve no interest in running anywhere other than the beach, though.
There’s something exhilarating about running with waves crashing round you. What about you? Regular runner?’
‘God, no! I used to be in a club at college, running along the seafront at North Bay twice a week, but I fell out of the habit when I went to university. The only running I’ve done since then has been a half-hearted jog on a treadmill.’
‘So what made you go running today?’ Nick asked.
‘I had a bad night’s sleep and woke up with an overwhelming urge to see the sunrise, which somehow turned into an overwhelming urge to run. I haven’t done much exercise for well over a year so I’ll probably need a Zimmer frame to help me get around tomorrow.’
He laughed. ‘You might want to do a few stretches just in case. Do you think you’ll do it again?’
I thought for a moment. ‘You know what, I think I will. It was hard work, but I really enjoyed it.’
‘If you ever want company, I’m usually here for sunrise a few mornings a week although I don’t have set days as I’m often away with work.’
We reached the steps and ascended onto the promenade.
‘I might take you up on that,’ I said, heading towards where I’d parked the car. ‘If you can put up with seeing me in this state again.’
‘What state?’
‘Sweaty, bright red and far too fat for a pair of leggings.’
Nick stopped.
‘What’s wrong?’ I asked, stopping too.
‘I wish you could see yourself through my eyes,’ he said. ‘Because that’s not what I see at all. Far from it.’ He held my gaze until I had to look away, feeling suddenly shy.
‘I’d better go,’ he said. ‘Hope to see you again soon.’
I waved as I watched him jog towards his car, a grin on my face at his compliment and the almost-kiss.
My cheeks hurt from grinning by the time I got out of the car at Mum and Dad’s for a shower and change.
On Monday morning, I was at Seaside Blooms waiting for some workmen to arrive to fit my new floor when a text arrived.
?? From Nick
Hope you’ve had a good weekend. It was great to see you on Saturday. I’m working away for the next few days but, if you’re not too achy, can face it again and don’t mind some company, I’m aiming for a run at 7.15 on Friday. See you if I see you
I was about to reply when there was a knock on the door.
Thinking it would be the workmen, I was surprised to see Auntie Kay instead.
I hadn’t seen her or even spoken to her since Wednesday.
Her hands-off approach was starting to concern me as I’d assumed she’d have been by my side every step of the way.
I voiced my worries to Mum at the weekend but she reassured me that the reason I’d seen so little of Auntie Kay was specifically to avoid the hand-holding.
I needed to pursue my own vision for Seaside Blooms and get used to making the decisions on my own. After all, it was my business now.
‘It’s the elusive Auntie Kay,’ I said, giving her a hug. ‘Wow! I’m honoured by your presence.’
‘Don’t be so cheeky,’ she said, wagging her finger at me playfully. ‘I’ve got a mountain of things to sort out and so have you. You don’t need me getting in your way.’
‘Do you have time for a cuppa?’
‘Always.’
We headed through to the kitchen and I switched the kettle on. ‘Let me guess why you’re here.’ I folded my arms and gave her a stern look. ‘I bet you’re dying to know the outcome of your little bit of matchmaking and it has probably killed you not knowing for the past few days.’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. What matchmaking?’
‘Auntie Kay!’
‘Okay. You win. I had to do it. I know you think you’re destined to be with someone called Steven but you and Nick are perfect for each other.
I’ve always thought it. Now that you’re single and back here, I realised there’d still be nothing I could do about it if I was on the other side of the world so I had to give things a little nudge before I left. You’re not mad at me, are you?’
I took one look at her mischievous twinkling eyes and laughed. ‘You’re so naughty.’
‘I know, but I’m still your favourite auntie.’
‘You’re my only auntie,’ I said, ‘which is just as well as I don’t think I could cope with more than one like you.’
‘Are you going to put your favourite auntie out of her misery, then? Are you going to see him again?’
The kettle clicked off and I quickly turned my back on her under the pretext of making the drinks. I needed my cheeks to lose some of their colour before I turned and faced her once more.
‘Yes, but only as friends.’
‘No! Why?’
‘Because you were right. He’s a really lovely guy and I like his company.’
‘You know that’s not what I mean. Why just friends? Why not more?’
‘It’s bad timing. As you just said, I’ve got loads to do with the shop. Plus, I’ve just come out of a long-term relationship and he’s not called Steven.’ I turned back round and handed her a mug. ‘So I’m not going to rush into anything with anyone just yet. Maybe in the New Year.’
‘With Nick?’
‘You never give up, do you?’ I ushered her towards the desk and perched on it while she sat on the chair.
‘Finding out about Nick isn’t the only reason I came in. Do you have any plans for Thursday night?’
‘No. Why?’
‘I’m cooking a farewell meal for you, Ben, your mum and dad. Thought I might as well take advantage of your brother being home for a long weekend. Seashell Cottage for half six?’
‘Sounds good. I’m guessing I won’t see you until then?’
She smiled as she shook her head. ‘You know I’m at the end of a phone if you have any burning questions, but you’re doing brilliantly without me, exactly as I expected.’
‘I just don’t want you to feel pushed out.’
‘Believe me, I’d never feel like that. It’s not my business anymore, sweetie. It’s yours. Oh, and I have something for you.’ She rummaged in her bag and handed me an A5-sized envelope. ‘You were asking about a photo with the lighthouse…’
‘You found it?’ I fumbled with the envelope, pulled out an old black and white photo, and gasped.
Standing in front of Whitsborough Bay’s lighthouse were three figures.
I’d seen their childhood photos before so immediately recognised the children as Mum and Auntie Kay.
If I didn’t know better, I’d have sworn the adult with them was me, not my grandma.
My heart thumped as I reached out and gently touched Grandma’s image. Is it true about Steven, Grandma?
‘I was sorting through an old box of papers last night and came across it. I had to do a double-take. The likeness is uncanny, isn’t it?’
I nodded slowly, mesmerised by the photo.
‘What made you ask about it?’ she said.
‘Madame Louisa mentioned it.’
I watched her frown. ‘No! So I’ve just found something that’s going to make you believe in that prediction even more. Which is going to make you believe Steven’s your destiny and Nick isn’t…’
‘I’m afraid so.’
‘Damn!’
There was another knock on the door. ‘That’ll be the men fitting the floor,’ I said.
‘I’ll leave you to it, then,’ Auntie Kay said, standing up and following me to the door.
I let the workmen in and offered to make them drinks while they brought in their tools.
Waiting for the kettle to boil again, I stared at the photo.
What was it with things miraculously turning up?
Was it a sign? I made a mental note to check behind Mum and Dad’s sofa one more time in case the bracelet decided to make a re-appearance too.
Then I picked up my phone and replied to Nick’s text:
?? To Nick
Could barely move this morning but it’s easing! I’m going to Auntie Kay’s for a family farewell meal on Thursday so think I will be too full of food and drink to run the next morning. Another time maybe? Thanks for asking