Chapter 36
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
W hen I return Jake is wearing a mischievous smile. Something is going on and that smile is a giveaway. He hands me a tiny slip of paper. ‘This is for you.’
I take it and uncurl it. Gasping I see that it reads:
Meet me down by our rock in Blue Cove Bay right now, Noah x.
Jake’s face has gone blurry. I ask, ‘Is this a joke?’
He shakes his head. ‘I’ll cover for you. Go now.’
I hand him my apron and race out of The Little Love Café. Once I am on the beach, I yank off my shoes and sprint towards the distant figure by the rock. My legs burn as I pick up speed, but I don’t care. All I can think about is Noah’s come back to me. He gets closer and soon he’s jogging across the sand towards me. We meet and he lifts me high into the air.
‘You came back.’ I wrap my arms around his neck. ‘You’re back.’ His lips find mine and we engage in a long and sensuous kiss. He breaks away first. ‘I promised you I would.’
Hot tears spill down my cheeks. He laughs and wipes them away with his thumbs. ‘Come up here.’ Without hesitation I slip my hand into his. Holding Noah’s hand again has a warm, reassuring feel to it. My hand feels like it’s come home. He lets me go first as we climb up our old rock.
I can’t believe what’s up there; a pink and white gingham picnic blanket containing two Little Love Café coffees and a plate of Cuddle Muffins. Once he’s clambered up, he grins. ‘Thought we could celebrate.’
I fall into his arms. ‘I’ve missed you so much, Noah.’
I’m back for good, Alice.’ He kisses my hand. ‘I never stopped thinking about you when I was over there.’ His summer blue eyes study my face. ‘Will you be my girlfriend again?
‘I want to wake up with you; I want to cook your dinner; I want to play Batman with Lucas and I want to walk on this beach with you.’ Noah’s eyes are dancing with excitement. ‘I want to drink wine with you; take you out, watch films with you and I want to wake up with you by my side.’ He presses his lips against mine. ‘Well?’ He murmurs.
‘Yes, Noah, I will be your girlfriend again.’ After we have kissed and hugged, I rest my head on his shoulder. ‘What happened in Ireland?’
Noah fiddles with the top of his plastic coffee cup. ‘Becky was better than I expected. She’d also met someone while I have been away. He’s a local farmer and they’ve been spending a lot of time on his farm.’
I take a sip on my coffee. ‘How do you feel about that?’
Noah turns to me and smiles. ‘I told her I was happy for them both which is true. She deserves some happiness.’ He squeezes my hand. ‘She was happy for me too.’
My heart has swelled so much I think it’s close to pushing out my ribs. ‘This is like a dream come true.’
Noah kisses my forehead. ‘I know what you mean. Listen, I also talked to my father.’
My shoulders sink as he reaches over to his rucksack. He takes out his phone and places it beside us. ‘I went back to Ireland to talk to Becky and to my father. With my father, I wanted to tell him my news, that I was moving to be with you, and to find out what went on with him and your dad all those years ago.’
My heart is thudding. I have this awful sinking feeling Noah is going to tell me something which is going to hurt. Taking a deep breath, I regain composure. I must stay strong and believe in Mum’s love for Dad.
‘As you can imagine things got intense with Dad. This is not one of his favourite subjects. We came close to having a fight and if it wasn’t for Becky’s farmer friend I think Dad would have floored me.’ Noah runs his hand through his blond hair. He takes a deep breath. ‘Before your mum died, my dad got close to her.’
This is excruciating. My hands are gripping the blanket so tightly my knuckles have gone white.
‘Apparently on one walk your mum gave him a hug as he was upset. He got carried away and he kissed her.’
‘He kissed her?’ My heart grinds to a halt.
Noah lets out a heavy sigh. ‘Dad said it was his fault. He was emotional and he misread your mum’s signals. A few of the hiking club saw and that’s how the gossip began.’ He pauses and stares at my face. ‘Dad assured me it was just a kiss. Nothing more. And your mum didn’t speak to him for a few weeks after it happened.’
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. ‘I cannot tell Dad this.’
Noah continues. ‘Dad was with her when she died, and he told me that she told him to tell your dad and you that she loved you. Those were her last words.’
I blink away tears and find myself looking up at the cliffs towards the coastal path. Noah gives me a moment to gather my thoughts.
‘What happened at that wedding reception?’
Noah fidgets and squirms. ‘Dad was really cut up when she died, and he admits things got out of hand at that wedding. There had been a lot of gossip in the town about him and your mum. Your dad was also grieving and he lamped my dad before he could explain what happened. His pride took over and here we are.’
‘But why did it drag on for years?’
Shrugging, Noah nibbles at a muffin. ‘My dad was a proud man back then and didn’t like the fact your dad had nearly knocked him out.’
Noah pulls me to him, and I rest my head against his broad chest. ‘We have to talk to your dad, Alice.’