Chapter 15
‘It’s such a lovely evening, isn’t it?’ Danni lifted her face towards the sun as she spoke, walking in step with Esther along the harbourside.
Meg had already headed off home and the two of them had decided to go for a walk to ease the kinks that had started to make Danni’s back twinge after sitting in the milkshake bar for so long.
There was no need for Danni to rush home, because Charlie had taken Caleb to visit his parents.
Joe was at a conference and would be away overnight, which meant Esther had no need to rush back either.
It felt a bit like the old days, just the two of them, even if it was only for a little while.
‘It’s gorgeous and it reminds me how lucky I am to live somewhere like this.
How lucky I am in so many ways.’ Esther threaded her arm through Danni’s, despite the height difference making the angle of her elbow awkward as a result.
They might be mismatched height wise, and maybe their lives were destined to move in slightly different directions too, but none of that did anything to diminish the bond between them.
Nothing could, unless Esther allowed it to, and there was no way she was going to let that happen.
‘We are lucky, aren’t we?’ Danni agreed. ‘What Meg has been through was a reminder of that, not to mention Oakleigh and his parents…’
As she trailed off, Esther’s thoughts went back to the couple she’d only seen briefly, who’d looked completed wild-eyed with grief and terror. ‘Did they have any idea why he took the overdose?’
‘The only reason they could come up with was that he’d apparently been hiding a gambling debt.
The flatmate who found him told them about it when he rang to say that Oakleigh was on his way to hospital.
He’d been keeping it a secret from his parents and they just kept saying that if only he’d told them, they could have sorted it all out.
There’s no way of knowing for sure if that’s why he overdosed – unless Oakleigh makes enough of a recovery to tell them – but either way I’m sure they’re always going to wish they’d known. ’
‘Secrets can be so dangerous, when you’re keeping them from the people you love.
Even if you think you’re doing it for the best of reasons.
’ Esther stopped walking as they drew level with the new tapas restaurant that overlooked the harbour, letting go of Danni’s arm and turning to look directly into her friend’s eyes.
‘I know why you didn’t want to tell me about the baby, and I love you for it, but I want you to promise me something. ’
‘Of course I will. If I can.’ Danni furrowed her brow, her expression giving away how anxious she was about what Esther might be about to ask.
‘I want you to promise me that there’ll be no more secrets between us.
You’re my best friend, but more than that, you’re the sister I never had.
If we can’t tell each other everything important, then what hope is there?
Even if it’s something you’re worried it might be difficult for me to hear, like about the baby, next time I want you to tell me. ’
‘There won’t be a next time when it comes to babies, I can promise you that.’ Danni gave her a wry smile, as she moved both hands to support the small of her back. ‘I don’t think my poor old body can take it.’
‘It doesn’t matter what it is you need to tell me.
I just don’t want you to keep any secrets from me, if it means you carrying the weight of them instead.
Trying to protect my feelings in a situation like that only hurts us both.
Just promise me you won’t do that again.
’ Esther held her gaze, waiting for Danni to protest or make another light-hearted remark, but instead she nodded.
‘I will, if you’ll do the same for me. If something happens for you that’s hard to bear, I want you to tell me too, regardless of how hard you think it might be for me to hear.’ Danni crooked her little finger and held it out to Esther. ‘Pinky promise?’
‘Pinky promise.’ Esther hooked her little finger through Danni’s. ‘No more secrets.’
‘No more secrets,’ Danni repeated, before the two of them turned back along the harbourside to continue their walk, blissfully unaware of just how difficult keeping that promise might turn out to be.
Hope took the dish of patatas bravas Louie had pushed towards her.
The tapas restaurant was lively, with a background track of chatter and feel-good music, as well as delicious aromas that had made Hope’s stomach rumble before she’d even looked at the menu.
Not having eaten since breakfast had ensured her appetite was undented, despite the nerves that had bubbled up when she’d spotted Louie waiting for her outside the restaurant.
She’d told herself that their dinner date wasn’t a date at all, just an opportunity to make a new friend, so there was no need for nerves, but they’d arrived all the same; his easy smile making the fluttering sensation all the more intense.
She’d been worried that the conversation might be stilted and awkward, wondering what on earth she’d been thinking arranging to go out to dinner one-on-one with someone she’d shared all of five minutes’ conversation with before now.
Hope had reassured herself with the knowledge that they had the hospital in common, and some mutual acquaintances, even if she couldn’t tell him why she’d be particularly interested in hearing about Joe.
Thankfully the conversation was flowing freely and easily, with a good sprinkling of laughter, thanks to Louie’s tales about his family back in Wales, where his aunt Gwen had originally come from too.
‘When I told my parents I was going to become a psychotherapist, my dad was disappointed,’ Louie admitted.
‘Really? I imagine it would make most parents very proud.’
‘Oh, they were, but my dad has had problems with his feet for years and he said it would save him a lot of money if I became a podiatrist instead.’ Louie grimaced at the idea, an expression Hope was pretty sure she was mirroring, but then he laughed.
‘Mum put him right, quick as a flash, and said, “It’s not a podiatrist you need for your feet, Rhys, it’s a farrier! ”’
Hope couldn’t help laughing too. Louie’s family sounded like they had the same kind of sense of humour as hers did, making it easier to relax in his company. ‘You must miss them, being down here. My family lives in Wales too, Tenby.’
‘I love it there. We’re from a little town called Crickhowell, not far from the Black Mountains and, yes, I do miss it and my family, but I really love it here too.
Being so close to the sea is a dream for me, as a keen kitesurfer.
When the job came up at St Piran’s, it seemed perfect, especially as I had family down this way to lessen the chances of getting homesick.
’ Louie topped up her wine glass. ‘What about you? Tenby is gorgeous, so it must have been an even bigger wrench to move away from there.’
‘It was, but it’s my family I miss the most. I’ve got three brilliant sisters, who are my best friends, and parents who are each other’s best friends. It makes me smile just thinking about them.’
‘I can see that,’ Louie said warmly. ‘So what made you decide to come here, when you’ve got all of that back home?’
‘I saw the job advertised at St Piran’s…
’ She knew that wasn’t enough of an explanation, but had no idea what else to say when it was all so complicated.
Her father would probably have reminded her that the truth was a good place to start if ever she wasn’t sure, but only her family knew why being in this part of Cornwall had been such a draw for her.
Yet looking at Louie, she couldn’t seem to keep the words in.
‘It was somewhere I wanted to visit, after meeting my biological mother, Laura. She and my biological father met here, when they were both teenagers on holiday. Far too young to be parents. I don’t know, I suppose I just wanted to see it for myself and put together the pieces of the story that Laura had told me. ’
‘I can understand that. Wanting to know where your life started makes perfect sense. What about your biological father?’
‘He never even knew Laura was pregnant, but he ended up living not far from here. When I first came to Cornwall, I thought about contacting him and telling him who I was, but he’s got his own life now.
’ Hope caught herself, but it was already too late, the admission was out there, and she’d definitely said too much.
Far more than she’d intended. She had to try some damage limitation.
‘I mean, he must do. I’m twenty-six now and I’m sure he must have a family of his own.
The last thing I’d want to do is disrupt that, especially as I don’t need to fill any gaping void in my own life. I’ve already got the best dad ever.’
‘Me too, even if he has got feet like a swamp monster.’ Louie laughed again, then looked suddenly serious.
‘I always knew I was lucky to have a family like mine, but the work I do has made me realise just how lucky. Lack of love and support has such a huge impact on people’s mental health, and I see that first hand. ’
‘I know exactly what you mean.’ Hope tried to push down the question that felt as though it was already spilling out of her mouth, but for the second time she found she couldn’t stop the words from escaping. ‘And what it’s like working with Joe? He seems like a really nice guy.’