Chapter Thirty-Eight
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Lily decided to do as he’d asked, sitting in the airport, staring through the windows, willing the little plane to appear. Jack had gone home from the check-in counter and the café had closed. The airport was empty apart from a man in Lycra cycling gear and a woman with a yappy pug, presumably waiting for the incoming flight like Lily was.
Only a few ground crew remained outside, standing by chocks and chatting with each other until suddenly they started to look more animated.
Lily jumped up, crossing to the windows overlooking the runway. The pug yapped as if it could sense something was happening. The cyclist checked his watch and spoke to the dog owner.
Then she saw it: the tiny Islander, wings wobbling on its approach to the cliff edge at the end of the short runway. Suddenly, it dropped to the ground with a rumble and a screech of brakes. Lily half-feared it might plough into the terminal but nobody else seemed bothered. The pug sniffed at the cyclist’s shoes, while its owner chattered away.
The minutes stretched out agonisingly before the plane door opened and the passengers descended. Last of all, carrying a rucksack in one hand, was Sam.
The pug owner and cyclist had sauntered off to the side of the terminal, presumably where the passengers would arrive.
Lily followed them, her heart pounding fit to burst.
Then Sam was striding towards her, his mouth set in a line.
‘Lily. What are you doing here?’
‘I came back to surprise you because I couldn’t wait until the launch, but now … why were you off to Penzance? Was it to meet Rhiannon?’
‘No! I mean, yes, to the first part. I was on my way to Penzance. I’d already ordered a cab from Land’s End airport but only to take me to the station, so I could get a train to London to see you .’
‘But I – why ?’
‘Why do you think? I was going to turn up at your office or flat to tell you that I can’t wait until I’ve finished the bloody retreat. I pushed you away because I could never make you choose between me and your life in London and thought I’d make it easy for you by acting as if I didn’t care. But it was killing me. It seems completely crazy now.’
‘No crazier than me coming all the way here without telling you and accidentally breaking into Hell Bay House. I’m sorry but the wind blew the card onto the floor – really – and I couldn’t help but see it. I know I should never have read a personal message to you, and I’m sorry, only I saw her name, and then, well, I didn’t know what I thought apart from that you might have gone to meet her.’
‘No, I decided not to. It’s been too long. And most of all,’ he put his hands on Lily’s arms, ‘that card made me realise that I can’t live my life looking backwards. I don’t want to. It made me realise that I want to look to the future, and that that future is with you .’
Lily was speechless momentarily but then walked into his arms and held him as tightly as he held her. ‘I feel the same,’ she said. ‘Back in London – without you – I knew I’d left a piece of me behind. I couldn’t wait another moment to be with you. When I make up my mind, I go for it.’
His eyes lit with joy.
Lily threw her arms around him and planted a kiss on his lips that went on and on until finally she had to break away to breathe.
‘Wow …’ Sam said, drawing in air, his eyes full of happiness. ‘You really do go for it!’
‘Oh, I do! When there’s something I want so much. I’m so happy I rushed down here even if we did almost miss each other!’
‘We didn’t and that’s what matters,’ he said, holding her tightly. ‘We both came to our senses and realised the incredible thing we had within our grasp.’ With a gentle touch he pushed a strand of hair off her face. ‘You’re an amazing person, Lily Harper, I worked that out fast. What it took me longer to work out was that I could have feelings for and find happiness with someone like you – someone I thought was so different to me. Once I did realise how I felt about you, I didn’t want to risk getting hurt because I couldn’t see how we could ever make it work.’
‘We will make it work somehow. I’ve been thinking about that. We both want to be together and that’s all that matters.’
‘It is. Rhiannon’s card made me realise how much my new life means to me. How much you mean to me. I’d learned to live alone, expecting nothing, until you walked into my life.’
She laughed. ‘You didn’t seem too happy about it!’
‘Neither did you.’ His eyes lit with fresh pleasure.
‘I said I’d come back, Sam. Why did you doubt it?’
‘I was too afraid to believe. Terrified of getting hurt again and I’d no idea how we could build a future together when we exist in such different worlds.’ He hesitated. ‘I – I could come and live in London, if you want? In your place. Or we can get a new one?’ He looked down at the floor, as if he was afraid to hear what came next.
‘You can’t run Stark from London but I can run Lily Loves from Stark – at least for part of the time. I’m going to refuse the supermarket deal and all my team are in agreement. I knew it was wrong: the stress, the hours – selling our souls. Better opportunities will come along.’
Sam looked skywards and let out a huge sigh of relief, then he took her face in his hands and kissed her so tenderly, she wanted the moment to last forever.
Finally, their kiss ended and they were joyfully looking into each other’s faces.
‘Shall we go home?’ he said, still holding her.
‘Ah, but whose home?’
‘From now on, home is wherever you are.’
Morven was at Hell Bay when they returned, walking in hand in hand.
She rolled her eyes. ‘Does this mean you two are official?’
‘Official?’ Lily said.
‘If you mean, are we seeing each other, then yeah, I guess it’s official.’
‘About time,’ said Morven. ‘Right, now that’s sorted, I’m going round to Rowan’s for a sleepover.’ She slung her backpack on her shoulder and waved goodbye. ‘See you tomorrow.’
Elspeth walked in and spotted Sam holding Lily’s hand. ‘It’s true, then?’
‘Yes, it’s true,’ Lily said.
Elspeth sat down heavily on the sofa. ‘Bugger me. When you turned up at the quay that filthy afternoon, I would have said it was the last thing I’d ever have expected.’
Lily exchanged a glance with Sam. ‘Us too,’ she said. ‘I think it was loathing at first sight.’
Sam laughed.
‘Well, there you go. You never know how life is going to turn out.’ Elspeth shook her head. ‘I’m happy for you both. Now, are you staying here tonight or going over to Stark?’
Sam turned to her. ‘Lily?’
‘I think I’ve had enough boat journeys for one day.’
‘We’ll stay here then.’
‘And I’ll get off to Zumba,’ said Elspeth, getting up off the sofa. ‘Enjoy your evening – though I warn you, this will probably be the talk of the islands before too long.’
‘I’m used to being gossiped about,’ Lily said, and gave Elspeth a warm hug. ‘Thank you for making me welcome, even though you had so many misgivings.’
‘Yes, well, you two aren’t the only people who can change their minds. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Yes, I’ll come by the café. I need to talk to you about a more permanent office arrangement.’
‘Great. I shall up my rates!’
‘I’d do the same, if I were you.’
Chuckling to herself, after a farewell wave, Elspeth left them alone.
‘I’m glad you chose to stay here,’ Sam said when silence returned to the house again. He closed and locked the French doors with a firmness that sent a delicious shiver up Lily’s spine.
‘Why’s that then?’ she said.
He walked towards her, the fire of desire in his eyes. ‘Because I don’t think I can wait a moment longer to take you to bed.’
Lily smiled back, almost trembling. ‘Why else do you think I wanted to stay here?’
She took his hand and let him lead her up the stairs to their bedroom.