Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
G oing with the flow didn’t quite have the same feeling when Verity woke up the next morning to find Sam wasn’t lying next to her. When she’d fallen asleep in his arms, she’d had a huge smile on her face – but not anymore. His clothes were gone and the pink fluffy socks were hanging on the back of the chair. Last night she was full of excitement and this morning she felt empty, like the two empty wine glasses on the small outdoor table – the only trace he’d been there. Why hadn’t he woken her and when did he sneak out?
Sitting up in bed, she grabbed her dressing gown before swinging her legs to the floor, then pulled back the van door…and jumped out of her skin when she found Pete standing there.
‘Woah! You frightened the life out of me.’
Pete tapped his watch. ‘I won’t be recommending you to Cooper if you can’t even turn up for voluntary work on time.’
Verity wondered if he was joking and felt a sense of rising panic. ‘What time is it?’ She quickly grabbed her phone. ‘I’m so sorry, Pete, I’ve overslept.’ With the wine and the kissing and the…Sam…she’d forgotten to set her alarm.
‘I’ll wait five minutes…over there.’ He pointed to the cottage, where Verity noticed the other rangers were already waiting.
Quickly closing the door, she brushed her teeth in bottled water from the fridge and pulled her brush through her hair. Stumbling, she pulled on clean clothes, slipped her feet into her trainers and lifted up her T-shirt to spray deodorant. It might have been just her imagination but she was sure she could smell sex all around her in the cramped space of her van. Hurrying towards the cottage and Pete, she noticed the other rangers making their way to their own sections of the cliff.
‘I slept like a log,’ she said, taking a clipboard from Pete.
‘Would that be down to the coastal air or the company?’
Damn, he must have seen Sam sneak out. She took her chance to try and fill in some blanks. ‘Do you know what time he left?’
‘Just after six a.m., when I left the cottage to go and check on Jimmy.’
‘And how is Jimmy?’ She felt awful; she hadn’t given Jimmy a second thought from the moment she’d woken up.
‘Feeling sorry for himself but he’s eating and drinking, which is a very good sign. Sam is coming to collect him at lunchtime.’
They walked in an awkward silence, Verity feeling a little embarrassed that Pete knew Sam had spent the night.
‘I don’t usually behave in that way,’ she finally blurted.
Pete looked sideward at her. ‘Don’t feel the need to explain yourself to me. It’s none of my business. My business is you turning up for work on time.’
‘I’m sorry about that.’
Pete nodded, but Verity’s mood had slumped. She knew last night had been completely her choice, she’d even felt empowered that she could make that choice, but now she was feeling regret, and it wasn’t good for her emotional health. Never having been in this situation before, she had no clue what to say or how to act when she next saw Sam.
‘Would you be free around two p.m.?’ asked Pete.
‘I’ll need to check my busy schedule.’ She smiled. ‘Yes, I’m free.’
‘I need to go over to the solicitors at Sea’s End to sign the contract for the sale of the surgery.’
‘Did you want me to come with you?’ she asked, a bit confused.
He handed her a bunch of keys. ‘No, Sam is coming to collect Jimmy and I need someone here to let him in. I’ve already administered the medication this morning so Jimmy just needs to be handed over, the cage cleaned down, and the surgery locked again.’ Pete must have sensed Verity’s hesitation. ‘Or I can rearrange the solicitors? I just didn’t schedule in a dog chasing a seagull over the cliff edge when I agreed to the appointment.’
‘And why not? That would have been my very first thought.’ She smiled, taking the keys from him. ‘Of course I can do that for you.’ She was intrigued to find out how Sam would act towards her and whether he would acknowledge what had happened last night. It was better to see him in the privacy of the surgery than to run into him in the street.
As they began to count the puffins, Verity realised she was quieter than yesterday. She couldn’t get Sam off her mind. Even though he’d been honest with her and told her that he wasn’t looking for a relationship, she couldn’t help feeling down because he’d left without saying goodbye. She should be revelling in the fact that she had been wrapped in the arms of a gorgeous man and enjoyed great sex, but instead she was disappointed, because when she’d played the scenario out in her head, they’d woken up together and he’d told her what a great night he’d had, before asking to see her again. Instead, she’d woken alone and had no idea where they stood with one another.
‘Have you thought any more about applying for the job with Cooper?’ Pete interrupted her thoughts as he stuck his hand down one of the burrows.
‘I’m thinking about it. It’s just?—’
‘Houses are sellable, and life is what you make it,’ interrupted Pete, as though he could read her thoughts.
He retracted his arm from the burrow and noted down the number of puffins on the sheet of paper.
‘How is it they don’t bite or scratch you?’ she asked, jealous.
‘They know me. I’m not called Puffin Pete for nothing, you know. Your turn.’
Verity lay down on her stomach and reached inside the next burrow. ‘I was thinking about it but now I’m not so sure. I suppose it’s the fear of the unknown.’
‘If you get the job, just see how it goes. You’ve got your property rented out and you could use that income to rent somewhere around here.’
‘It makes perfect sense but what if the novelty of the island wears off once I’m no longer in holiday mode? What happens then?’
Pete pointed towards the sea. ‘That’s not a novelty. Waking up and seeing that sea every day is the thing that’s kept me going all these years. Tell me the pros and cons.’
Verity pulled her arm out of the burrow. ‘I think they’re beginning to like me. No bites that time.’ She smiled.
‘Definitely a pro,’ said Pete, drawing a line down the centre of another piece of paper. ‘All the pros?’ He wound his hand around in a circular motion to encourage her to start talking.
‘Pros: I’ve made friends in Clemmie and Amelia. And I just love all of this.’ She swept her arm towards the sea and the bay. ‘It’s miles away from my past and no one knows anything about me unless I tell them.’
‘Fresh start,’ Pete said as he noted it down.
‘I don’t already have a job so I could start work straightaway.’
‘Noted.’
‘I don’t have any friends in Staffordshire anymore and it would be a relief to move away from my ex. And there’s something about this place. I love that you have a proper community where everyone knows everyone and there’s always someone you can talk to. I guess the bottom line is that I like it here.’
‘And the cons?’
‘I have a house in Staffordshire.’
‘And…’
‘I can’t think of anything else.’
‘Then it’s a no-brainer. Apply for the job. See what happens.’
Verity sighed. ‘Actually, there is another con, and I don’t know what I’m going to do about it.’
‘Why, has something happened?’ asked Pete.
‘Sam happened. I think I’ve been stupid.’
‘Because of last night?’
Verity nodded. ‘I feel an idiot. My gut feeling is unsettled. I think I made the wrong judgement.’
‘Did you have all the facts to make the judgement?’
‘Yes, but I went ahead anyway, even knowing it was never going to go any further. And now I have to face him.’
‘It’s difficult when feelings are involved.’
‘But that’s the thing, I don’t understand how I can even have feelings so soon. They’ve crept up on me and now they’re all I can think about.’
Last night she’d felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time – sexy, desired – and there was no way Sam hadn’t felt the same connection between them.
‘I thought I was in control, but now I feel like I’ve let myself down.’
The swirling feelings of being sexy and desired had now turned into ones of shame and embarrassment.
‘Why?’
‘Because he made it pretty clear it was a one-off and he didn’t want more. I suppose I got caught up in the moment, the romance of it all, and blurred my own boundaries. To be honest, I think I was hoping I could change his mind and he’d wake up this morning telling me he wanted me.’
‘There’s no point dwelling on it.’ Pete hesitated. ‘Sam is a good guy. We probably have far more in common than he’ll ever know, which is why I can say with some confidence that he’s likely just protecting his heart.’
‘Anything you would like to share?’
Pete shook his head.
Verity knew that in Sam’s case it probably had something to do with how things had ended with Alice. As for Pete, she decided against questioning him further. If he didn’t want to talk about his past that was his right.
‘Come on, next burrow.’ Pete pointed.
* * *
Four hours later they called it a day. The sun was beating down and they’d covered a lot of ground.
‘Not bad, only thirteen bites today,’ Verity said as she looked down at her hand.
Pete smiled. ‘Not one bite for me.’ They walked back towards Cliff Top Cottage.
‘Are you sure you’re okay handing over Jimmy for me?’
‘If I’m applying for the job with Cooper and sticking around, I’m going to have to face Sam often. I might as well get the first meeting over and done with sooner rather than later.’
‘You’ve made up your mind then?’
‘You’ve convinced me that I have nothing to lose. Do I really want to go back to a street where I look out of the window before I venture outside, and I constantly dread bumping into the ex? Absolutely not.’ Verity rolled her eyes.
‘You don’t need to feel any dread here,’ said Pete, kindly. ‘You can stand here and look around you for as long as you like.’
Verity did exactly that, frustrated to find that that feeling of dread had transferred to Sam.
‘Do you know what I see?’
‘What?’ asked Verity.
‘Someone who has triumphed in difficult circumstances. You can now do what you want, when you want, and that includes moving halfway across the country. My guess is that nothing has changed in his life, other than the woman on his arm, but everything has changed in yours, and for the better. Don’t look back, just look forward.’
‘You’re right, Pete. Whatever the consequences of last night’s antics, I’m excited about the possibility of staying here. Someone up there has saved me from a mundane, boring life and delivered me new possibilities and choices that I’m actually eager to embrace.’
‘Apply for the job. I think you’ve made the right decision.’
‘I will, and when I hand over Jimmy, I’m going to hold my head up high and be professional.’
‘You’ve got this.’
‘In fact, I’ll take my laptop and apply for the job whilst I’m there. Then, later this afternoon, I’m going to call in to the bookshop and see if Amelia would like to do something tonight if she’s not working.’
Pete smiled. ‘Don’t let the buggers get you down.’ He waved as he headed towards his cottage.
Talking to Pete had helped. He reminded Verity of her granddad, whose advice she had always valued. Hearing her phone ring in her pocket, she looked at the screen. It was Ava.
‘Afternoon!’ Verity answered as she unlocked the van and slid open the door.
‘How’s life on Puffin Island? Are you still there, heading to your next destination or heading home? You’ve been quiet.’
‘I’m still here.’ She blew out a breath.
‘Oooh, it sounds like you have gossip.’
Verity spilled the beans. ‘A one-night stand has been ticked off the bucket list before I hit thirty.’
‘Is this Verity Callaway I’m talking to? Miss Prim and Proper? You’re a dark horse. Finally, you’ve become a modern woman!’
‘Don’t, I feel awful about it.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I suppose I’ve never done anything like that before. I’m usually in some sort of relationship before I’ve gone to that stage.’
‘The sea air must have addled your brain.’
‘It’s not funny, I could cry.’
‘And who was this guy?’
Verity hesitated. ‘Sam.’
‘Aww, gorgeous Sam whom you followed to Puffin Island after stalking him at the ferry port? Gorgeous Sam whose cottage you’ve been staying in?’
‘I didn’t stalk him!’ she exclaimed, indignantly.
‘Mmm, I’d say you got what you wanted, so why not embrace it for what it is? Why could you cry? Was it rubbish sex?’
‘The best I’ve ever had. But he’s made it clear he’s not looking for a relationship.’
‘So just sit back and enjoy the ride – literally.’ Ava laughed. ‘Have fun whilst you’re on the island. It’s a bit like a holiday romance, then you go home.’
For a moment Verity was quiet.
‘The silence is telling me there may be more,’ prompted Ava.
‘Where is home?’
‘The Midlands.’
‘But what have I got there? Yes, I have a house, but it’s rented out for the next six months so I can’t go back just yet.’
‘I know, and that’s my fault, but you could always come and stay in my digs in London. We can still have our adventure. It just won’t be exactly what we had planned.’
‘Hmm…the fast-paced city or the soothing island with the perfect view?’
‘Are we talking about the sea view or Sam?’
‘The sea! There’s an opportunity to apply for a job here on the island as a veterinary assistant. I’ve no idea where I’ll live, but I could maybe book the hotel or the B things didn’t seem awkward between them at all. Maybe this morning she’d been overthinking the situation. Maybe Sam had started to see things differently.
‘A welcome sight, did you say?’ Verity knew she was pushing it but she wanted to gauge his reaction. She pulled the towel around her body.
‘It’s the best sight I’ve seen all morning. But, saying that, I’ve spent that morning coming face to face with around two hundred seabass, a hundred lobsters and about the same number of oysters,’ he replied playfully.
‘Cheeky! What are you doing here on the cliff top? Have you come to apologise for sneaking out of the van and not waking me this morning?’
‘I didn’t sneak anywhere. How you slept through the noise of those puffins is beyond me.’
Verity smiled as she dried herself. ‘Slept like a baby.’ She pointed towards the van. ‘I’m just going to get changed.’ She stepped inside but didn’t want to the let the conversation drop. ‘Don’t you miss cuddling up to someone at night?’ The van door was slightly ajar and she could see Sam inspecting the shower, which was still hooked over the branch of the tree.
‘I did last night.’ She saw him smile.
‘But wouldn’t you want more of that?’ She moved away from the crack in the door as he glanced in her direction.
‘Like I’ve said, I just enjoy living in the moment. No ties, no commitments.’
Verity opened the door wide.
‘Wow!’ He was unashamedly staring at her.
She had slipped on an off-the-shoulder maxi dress and a pair of flat sandals, and the appreciative look in his glistening blue eyes was exactly the reaction she had hoped for. She gave him a beatific smile that lit up her face as she swept her wet hair over her shoulders.
‘I’m not always in jeans or joggers. Well, actually, ninety per cent of the time I am.’
‘You should wear a dress more often. It suits you.’
‘I might just do that.’ She pointed towards the surgery. ‘I take it you’re here to collect Jimmy? Even though you’re early.’
‘I was hoping Pete was around to hand him back to me as I’ve taken the rest of the day off. I want to get Jimmy settled at home.’
Verity jangled the keys. ‘Pete’s had to nip to Sea’s End, and he’s left me in charge of the handover. Let me just grab my laptop, as I want to pinch a bit of his power and WiFi this afternoon.’
They walked side by side towards the surgery. ‘I have to say I was impressed with your singing,’ Sam remarked. ‘Not so sure about the dancing though.’
‘I honestly think my singing is worse than my dancing.’ She grinned as she opened the surgery, picked up the post from the floor and placed it on the counter along with her laptop. ‘Jimmy won’t be able to put weight on his leg but he’ll try. It might take him a moment to get his balance, too.’ Verity opened the door to the back room and immediately Jimmy let out a bark.
‘There you are.’ Sam was by his side in an instant and opened the crate door.
As predicted, Jimmy tried to get to his feet but his balance was off and as his bad leg touched the floor he let out a whimper. Sam steadied him. ‘I’m afraid you’re going to have to hop for a while, pal.’
‘He’ll soon get used to it,’ said Verity, encouragingly.
Sam looked at her. ‘I know I said thank you yesterday but I’m very grateful…to you both.’
‘It’s my job to assist,’ she said. ‘I believe Pete has already given you the medication?’
Sam nodded.
‘And how are you going to get him home?’
‘I’m going to carry him. And then we’re going to curl up and have a boys’ afternoon.’
‘Which consists of?’
‘Watching James Bond and having a few treats. Do you know what time Pete will be back?’
‘In the next hour, I should imagine.’
‘I was hoping to catch him for that chat. I’m sure Jimmy will be asleep at some point this afternoon so just I’ll pop back to see him then.’
‘You’re doing the right thing, moving on.’
Sam nodded. ‘Thanks to your straight talking. I’m not having anyone else call me immature.’
Verity laughed. ‘I think you’re being very mature speaking to Pete.’
Sam gathered Jimmy up in his arms, and they made their goodbyes.
Verity stood in the doorway and watched as Sam headed along the cliff path. As soon as he was out of sight, she texted Ava.
All very strange, I’ve seen Sam and it wasn’t in the least bit awkward. That was not what I was expecting.
Ava’s reply came instantly.
He made his intentions clear, there’s no need for it to be awkward.
Verity thought about Ava’s reply and decided she was right.
And in other news, I’m applying for the job!
You’ll definitely get it!
Verity hoped so. She opened her laptop, went to Cooper’s website and pressed on the link to apply for the job. After reading through the job description, she uploaded her CV and her references. She paused when the application asked for her personal details. They needed her address, which was normal, but what was her address right now? She decided on:
Verity Callaway
The Travelling Van
Parked between Cliff Top Cottage and Cliff Top Garage
Puffin Island
She smiled. She would either stand out from the crowd or her application would be dismissed because she had no permanent address.
She hit send, and with a whoosh the message was on its way. It was now only a matter of time before she knew one way or the other.
She closed the laptop and spent the next hour cleaning. After sterilising Jimmy’s crate, she disinfected all the worktops and gave the surgery a good mop round, then stood with her arms folded leaning against the operating table. She was really hoping that she would get an interview. This place had a good feel about it. Leaving everywhere spick and span and fully disinfected, she grabbed her laptop and the keys. She’d actually done it, applied for a job on the island, and she felt a spring in her step as she opened the surgery door.
‘The post,’ she muttered, grabbing the letters from the counter then locking the door behind her. Pete’s car was back, and she was just about to head towards his cottage with the post when she heard raised voices and stopped in her tracks. The arguing was coming from the open front door of Pete’s cottage. Unsure what to do, she hesitated. She didn’t mean to listen but it was difficult not to because the woman’s voice was getting louder.
‘How have you kept this to yourself? I thought I was your friend. How many times have I put my neck on the line for you?’ she screamed, presumably at Pete.
‘And how have you kept that a secret from me for all these years?’ Pete replied.
‘Because it wasn’t my secret to tell. I promised.’
Verity finally recognised the voice – it was Betty. Rooted to the spot, she watched as Pete stepped outside, visibly upset and dabbing his eyes with his handkerchief.
Damn. Whatever was going on between them, she didn’t want to get in the middle of it. Juggling the letters, she dropped them on the ground and quickly bent to scoop them up. There were three of them, and Verity stared at the bold type on the top one before glancing at the other two. Each was addressed the same: to ‘Mr W. P. Fenwick’. Verity’s heart began thumping.
Fumbling with the keys, she turned and marched back to the surgery, quickly opened the door and threw open her laptop. ‘Come on,’ she murmured to herself, urging the internet to load and promising herself that as soon as she started earning a salary again, she would treat herself to a new laptop. Tapping ‘Veterinary Surgery Puffin Island’ into the search engine, she clinked on the link that popped up.
Clinical Director and Veterinary Surgeon of the Puffin Island Practice – Wallace Peter Fenwick.
All Verity could do was stare at the name. Her pulse was racing as well as her thoughts. She gazed at the photo of Pete. ‘Wallace,’ she murmured as the conversations with Pete began to click into place. Was it possible the postcard wasn’t from Joe? Was it actually Pete who had written to her grandmother?
Verity picked up the letters again and turned towards the door. Whilst Betty and Pete were together, she was going to take her chance. Hurrying towards the cottage, she stepped through the front door and found Pete and Betty standing in the living room.
‘I recognised the handwriting!’ Betty was shouting. As she turned to Verity she breathed out slowly, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.
Verity switched her gaze to Pete, finding a look of pure shock and disbelief on his face.
Turmoil flushed through her body. She had an uneasy feeling that they’d been arguing about her.
‘Wallace.’ The name left Verity’s mouth. ‘Joe isn’t “W”, is he?’ The look between Betty and Pete said it all. Neither needed to answer her question.
Verity glanced towards the letters in her hand. She swallowed. ‘It’s you, isn’t it? You sent the postcard from Puffin Island?’
Caught up in some romantic idea, she’d convinced herself the postcard was from Joe, but was that because it gave her a connection to Sam, gave them something in common? Had she been so determined to believe it simply because she was hoping for that connection to flourish?
Pete hesitated then nodded slowly. ‘And you’re Henrietta’s granddaughter.’ His voice broke.
Verity nodded. ‘I am.’
Betty touched Pete’s arm. ‘I’ll leave you both alone.’
‘Stay.’ Pete had lowered his voice to a whisper. ‘It’s time,’ he said. ‘It’s time you knew the truth – or my version of events, at least, and I think it’s time you tell me yours.’
Betty hesitated but then nodded.
‘What’s going on?’ asked Verity.
Pete gestured to her to take a seat. She had no idea what she was about to discover, but judging by the looks on their faces, whatever Pete and Betty were about to say wasn’t going to be easy for either of them.