Chapter 50
The school fair was in full swing, and Kitty was carrying another tray of cakes across the sun-filled field towards her table when she stopped in her tracks.
Nick caught her eye and grinned. He was in the stocks, with a long line of children queuing up to throw sopping wet sponges at his face.
He freed himself for a moment, stood, and waved to Kitty.
Her breath caught at the way his sodden cotton shirt clung to the outline of his body.
Despite truly believing she’d done the right thing by putting a stop to their passion a few days earlier, she hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind since.
Seeing him like this was doing nothing to help her focus on the task at hand.
‘Hurry up, Kitty!’ yelled Sam, pointing to the huddle of children growing ever more impatient as they waited for the cakes to arrive.
Kitty tore her eyes away from Nick and pressed on towards her stand.
‘Sorry,’ she said, dumping the tray on the table and swapping fairy cakes and chocolate muffins for children’s coins.
‘I don’t blame you for getting distracted.’ Sam nudged Kitty. ‘I’d bet my life every woman with her heart beating in Saffron Bay has her mouth open and tongue hanging out.’
‘Stop it, Sam,’ whispered Kitty, turning her attention to the children. ‘I can’t believe we’re getting through so many cakes,’ she said, popping a muffin into a paper bag and handing it over.
‘Margot’s baking is legendary,’ said Sam, ‘and these cakes are a bargain. We could have charged four times as much and still sold out.’
‘Maybe, although that’s hardly in the spirit of things, is it?’ said Kitty, bending down to retrieve more change from the bag by her feet.
‘Sorry, sir,’ said Sam above Kitty’s stooped form. ‘What can I get for you?’
‘Truth be told, I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. What I’d like is a word with your friend.’
Kitty’s insides turned to ice. She stood slowly, every muscle tightening, every bone clicking. Her stomach lurched, and she swallowed down nausea.
‘Kitty, are you all right?’ asked Sam. ‘You’ve gone white.’
Kitty ignored Sam and stared at James. ‘What are you doing here?’ Her voice came out small, caught in her throat by a mixture of fear and shock.
‘I came to see what all the fuss was about,’ said James. ‘What’s so special about this place that you left London to be here?’ He gazed over Kitty’s head towards the beach. ‘I suppose it has some perks,’ he said, pointing to the view. ‘Hardly the Costa del Sol, is it?’
Kitty swallowed.
Sam glanced from Kitty to James. ‘I’m sorry, sir,’ she said briskly. ‘We’re very busy, and if you’re not wanting to buy a cake, could I ask you to please wait elsewhere?’
James scoffed and raised an eyebrow. He kept his focus on Kitty. ‘We need to talk.’
‘Not now,’ snapped Kitty. Her voice had strengthened, buoyed by Sam’s interference.
‘I’m not going anywhere,’ said James, in that laconic manner he had.
Panic bubbled in Kitty’s chest. She struggled to pull in a breath. ‘Wait for me at The Ship Inn,’ she said. ‘I’ll meet you there in an hour, when we’re finished here.’
‘It would be preferable if we spoke in private,’ said James.
Kitty shook her head. No way was she letting him into her home. ‘It’s The Ship or nothing,’ she said, praying she sounded more confident than she felt.
A smirk played at the corner of James’s lips. ‘One hour,’ he said. ‘And please don’t be late. We have a lot to talk about. Old friends always do.’
Kitty gave a curt nod, staring at his departing back as he strode across the field.
‘Miss! Miss! I want a muffin!’
She forced her attention to the children in front of her, but she couldn’t focus. When she’d messed up four orders in a row, Sam placed a hand on her arm.
‘Take five minutes,’ she said. ‘You look like you need a break. Was he who I think he was?’ She gestured to the space James had occupied moments before.
Kitty nodded, unable to speak.
‘OK, you definitely need a break. Go, walk down to the beach, take five minutes and come back when you’re feeling calmer.’
‘What if he… what if he’s on the beach?’ said Kitty.
‘You’re right,’ said Sam. ‘Wait in the classroom.’
‘I can’t leave you here by yourself.’
‘I’ll be fine,’ said Sam. ‘Honestly, Kitty, you’ll be more use gone than you will here.’
‘OK,’ she said. ‘I’ll bring another tray of cakes.’
‘That would be helpful,’ said Sam, ‘but wait until you’re ready. You’ve had a massive shock.’
‘All right,’ said Kitty. ‘Thank you. And I’m sorry.’
‘You’ve nothing to apologise for,’ said Sam. ‘Just go.’
Kitty walked to the school, struggling to put one foot in front of the other. From the corner of her eye, she saw Nick wave at her again. She didn’t respond, concentrating on getting her trembling legs to move.
A tiny part of her was relieved James had finally turned up in person.
The not knowing, the waiting, the agonising over each unfamiliar car, jumping at shadows, had been unbearable.
By far the greatest emotion weighing on her was fear.
She’d escaped him once. She didn’t think she’d have the strength to do it again.
Kitty fumbled with the handle on the classroom door and stumbled inside. She didn’t make it as far as the chair. She collapsed on a cushion in the reading corner, pulled her knees up to her chin, and rocked back and forth.
She had to calm down. She couldn’t lose it in front of all these parents, all these children.
Kitty closed her eyes and practised the breathing technique her counsellor had taught her.
While her heart rate slowed, the bubble of fear stayed, lurking deep inside.
She wiped the back of her hand across her eyes, smoothed down her hair, and climbed to her feet.
She rolled her shoulders and took a deep breath.
She would fetch another tray of cakes. She would walk to the stall. She would put a smile on her face and pretend nothing was wrong. And in an hour’s time, she would hold her head high and prepare to meet her fate.
Was she walking into a conversation or a trap? Whatever it was, she couldn’t keep running.