Chapter Eight
‘I think we were talking about kitesurfing …’ Tammy resumed when the fresh beer arrived and order had been restored.
The conversation turned to their favourite beaches and soon they were sharing stories about her creations and his surfing adventures. She’d certainly never expected to find a kindred spirit beneath the suit – at least in terms of their love for the ocean.
Ruan ordered coffee and Tammy decided to go for a mint tea, hoping the lack of caffeine would give her a good night’s sleep.
Once the hot drinks were finished, the waitress came to the table again. ‘Can I get you anything else?’
‘No, thanks.’
‘I’m fine too.’ Ruan smiled at the waitress, who smirked before murmuring, ‘OK, guys,’ and left them, probably assuming they wanted some time alone.
Which Tammy did, very much, but she was also panicking.
One of them should ask for the bill and Tammy didn’t want to be the one to end the evening and leave the awkward question of what happened next hanging between them.
It would mean deciding: ask him back to hers or not. Ask to see him again – or not.
Tammy jumped down on the side of self-protection. ‘I have an early start tomorrow. Before I go to work in the gallery, I need to be up at dawn for a commission.’
‘True dedication,’ Ruan said admiringly.
‘Well, it’s a low tide not long after sunrise. I want to be on the beach early. A guy has commissioned me to create a marriage proposal for his fiancée. Potential fiancée.’
He blew out a little breath. ‘I’m impressed. That’s quite the responsibility. Do you do a lot of proposals?’
‘A few each year, and yes, it is a responsibility because obviously the person wants everything to be perfect and sometimes the elements won’t play ball.
This couple are older, in their fifties, and the man’s arranged to take his partner for a walk and champagne breakfast, supposedly for her birthday, to a clifftop along the coast from Porthmellow beach. ’
‘It’s good to know romance isn’t dead,’ Ruan said. ‘That’s not me being cynical, it’s only that when you’re managing people’s property and land like I do, it can be pretty nasty when there’s a break-up.’
‘Luckily I only get to see the start of the relationship,’ Tammy said, smiling. ‘The beach is a special place for them, as they first met here on holiday. On the surface, it sounds conventional: a heart with their initials inside and “MARRY ME” in giant letters. So far, so straightforward.’
‘But?’
‘He wants the heart to be fifty feet tall, created on the low-tide sand flats.’
‘Fifty feet? Sounds spectacular but also risky. Do you get nervous about doing jobs like that?’
‘I’m always twitchy about proposals. I’m always twitchy about any commission because obviously we’re dealing with nature and the weather. A lot could go wrong. Then there are the people themselves. If it’s a surprise, there might be a delay or they might be ill.’
‘Or they might say no,’ Ruan offered.
‘That’s never happened yet, thankfully.’ She touched the wooden table for luck.
‘Though I don’t always get to hear about the answer immediately because often I’m down on the beach and they’re up on the cliffs.
I have to wait for them to phone me and let me know and they’re often understandably too excited and overwhelmed. ’
‘No wonder, with a grand gesture like that. I’m not sure I’d dare,’ he said, adding hastily, ‘Not that it isn’t a brilliant idea, only it is big and very public.’
‘Don’t worry, I won’t take offence,’ Tammy said.
‘And I’d have exactly your concerns too.
So far, it’s worked, but you never know if the person is against the whole idea of marriage.
Fortunately, that’s not my responsibility, but I obviously want there to be a happy ending.
Or at least a happy beginning, which is all you can ask for, I guess. ’
She smiled and raised the bottle to her lips, hoping the proposal conversation hadn’t spooked him.
‘Yeah …’ Ruan glanced at his smartwatch before giving her an apologetic grimace. ‘Sorry, I didn’t realise it was so late. I have an early start too. I still have to prepare for a presentation for a breakfast meeting, although it’s about new taxation legislation so not as romantic.’
She laughed. ‘I’d rather do the proposal.’
‘Don’t blame you.’ Even though he sounded genuine, she couldn’t help wondering if he was looking for an excuse to end the date. Or maybe that was just her, looking for a way not to care too much.
‘Tammy …’ he said solemnly. She braced herself. Was this where he ended it politely and firmly? ‘I wish I didn’t have to leave, but …’
‘No, it’s fine. We’re both busy. Really, I understand.’
‘No, I only wanted to say that I liked your idea of a proposal being a happy beginning … Argh, I’m not making myself clear. I meant that it’d be great – more than great – if we could do this again. See each other again.’
This time, when his hand rested on hers, she didn’t try to pull away. It was such an innocent gesture, yet his touch sent an electric thrill right through her and gave her goosebumps.
‘Yes, why not?’ she replied as if she was the coolest woman on the planet, not one whose pulse was fluttering like a butterfly trapped in a jar.
‘Great. In fact, I was wondering if you’d like to come over to the club in Marazion at the weekend?’
‘Kitesurfing?’ She laughed out loud. ‘Thanks for the invite but no way. I think it’s crazy. Not that you are.’
Ruan chuckled. ‘Actually, you’re more than welcome to join in if you like, but I was under the impression you prefer to keep your feet on the sand.
But … I was wondering if you fancied coming to spectate.
If that wouldn’t be too boring? Or we could just meet up afterwards?
There’s a great café at the kitesurf centre. ’
‘Are you sure? I thought this was a catch-up with your mates.’
‘It is but they won’t mind. I’ll see how I feel after the first session and go out again on Sunday if I’m in one piece. You’re welcome to come over either day, any time – if you’re not working, that is. We could grab something to eat or a drink after?’
She rapidly sifted through her schedule in her head, sensing it had taken a lot for him to ask her to watch him after the trauma of his accident.
‘Well, I promised Davey I’d do some extra hours at the Harbour Gallery and Saturday is his busiest day of the week.
I could come sometime on Sunday afternoon? ’
‘That would be perfect,’ he said with a smile that gave her the warm and fuzzies.
‘OK. Sounds good. I can work until twelve and then head over to Marazion?’
‘Great. You can park free at the centre. If anyone complains, say you’re a friend of mine.’
‘Sounds good. As long as I can definitely keep two feet firmly on the ground.’
‘You have my word, no kitesurfing for you,’ he said, gently chuckling before looking for the waitress. ‘I’ll ask for the bill, shall I?’
He hailed the waitress and Tammy took out some cash as her part of the payment. The initial tension around what would happen at the end of the meal had ebbed away to be replaced immediately by those annoying butterflies in her stomach.
After paying, they walked outside, Tammy’s mind working overtime.
This would be a second date. She wanted to see him again, but the very fact she was so nervous and excited made alarm bells ring.
She really liked this man, and the attraction went beyond just physical.
That was scary and dangerous. It was a beginning, but it would – could – also have an end.
She was getting ahead of herself.
‘Nice car,’ Tammy said as they left the restaurant behind and walked towards where Ruan had parked.
It was a contrast to the bashed-up little van she’d inherited from her dad.
Its main function was to transport her tools, though, and at least she didn’t have to worry about it being spoiled by sand and weeds.
‘It’s a few years old but it’s reliable,’ Ruan replied, opening the Audi. ‘Don’t want to break down in the middle of nowhere in a single-track lane.’
‘No,’ Tammy said with a fleeting smile. ‘Not with a queue of impatient locals stuck behind you.’
Her phone pinged and when she saw the message, she let out a little cry of shock.
Ruan frowned. ‘I hope it’s not bad news?’
‘No. I don’t think so – I – oh my God. Yes!’ She threw her arms around him.
‘Wow. Good news then?’
He was smiling down at her and as their eyes met her stomach did a double somersault.
Realising where she was and that this was the closest she’d been to Ruan, she let go of him and blood rushed to her cheeks. ‘Sorry. Sorry. That was the OceanFest organisers. They just messaged to say I’ve got the job. Three different pieces over three days.’
‘That’s brilliant. I’m thrilled for you.’ And he genuinely seemed to be, grinning almost as madly as she must have been. ‘You’ll be able to reach so many more people at the festival. I looked it up online. It’s huge. They attract tens of thousands of people.’
‘I half wish you hadn’t reminded me of that,’ she said, trembling inwardly at the scale of the task ahead.
All three installations had to grab attention and be spectacular.
Her reputation depended on it: maybe even her future as a sand artist. A disaster would be shared far and wide on social media.
The regional TV news would also be visiting.
She longed to do a proper happy dance across the car park, but she’d already embarrassed herself enough.
It was way too soon for showing him who she really was.
It had been way too soon for a hug. ‘I’d better go.
I have less than a month to plan and practise for the installations.
I never expected to get the job and was too superstitious to plan just in case.
Plus, I agreed to help Davey in the gallery. ’
He treated her to his serious lawyer look. ‘If you’re too busy for Sunday, I don’t want to put you under added pressure …’
‘No, I’ll be there,’ she replied firmly, even though she was too busy.
‘Great, I’ll look forward to it. Shall I walk you home before I leave?’
‘Erm. No, no, I’ll be OK but thank you all the same,’ Tammy said.
‘In that case, see you Sunday.’ He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, the lightest brush of skin on skin that sent her senses into overdrive. If her body reacted like that to a touch of his hand and a peck on the cheek, what would she be like if they took things further?
‘See you,’ she said, trying not to think too much about that scenario while casually walking out of the car park. She lifted her hand in a brief wave to Ruan as he passed her, window down, mouthing ‘Bye’.
Once he was out of sight, she finally allowed herself a little air punch and a ‘Yes!’ Life was looking up.
There was this amazing opportunity that would make her dad proud and – just maybe – the glimmer of a fresh start in her love life.
She’d been right to grasp both and this commission felt like an omen. Her father would want her to be happy.
It was then she spotted Sean walking down the steps from Porthmellow’s steep main street towards the car park.
Had he seen her and Ruan hugging? He’d been possessive when they were together and was obviously still stinging from their split.
With a sigh, Tammy quickened her step towards the Harbour Studio, determined not to look behind or let Sean know she’d noticed him.
It wasn’t that she was scared of speaking to Sean, and she could hold her own well enough. But her love life was none of his business, and she didn’t want a confrontation this evening: not when her life seemed to finally be heading in the right direction.