Chapter 14
‘You’ve been hard at work again,’ commented Jake as Beth walked into the blessedly cool entrance of Welcome.
Beth searched for the disparaging tilt to his lips that always seemed present when he spoke to her, but her eyes became distracted by the dimple in his chin before she remembered he was waiting for her to answer.
‘Er, yes,’ she stammered, wondering if he’d noticed her staring. ‘There’s a lot to do.’
With the help of Sam, she had managed to reattach the door to the one remaining hinge but they’d both concluded that it was beyond repair and a new one was needed. At least she had found Lizzie’s old toolbox and Sam had shown her how to lift a floorboard with a chisel and a hammer, so much easier when she wasn’t using an old fish knife or a rusty screwdriver.
Jake was frowning. ‘You seem to be in an awful hurry to get it finished,’ he commented. ‘Wouldn’t it be better to plan it out, take your time. Just commenting,’ he added holding up his hand in mock surrender. ‘It isn't an accusation.’
Beth rubbed a dirty hand across her face. ‘It would make much more sense,’ she agreed. ‘But I’ve only got two weeks.’
As his eyebrows arched questioningly, she gave a gusty sigh.
‘The Beach Hut Club have complained to the council about how unsafe the hut is. They will be inspecting it at the end of next week and I need to bring it to an acceptable standard for the visit, or they’ll take it away from me.’
Unwillingly, her bottom lip trembled slightly and she bit down hard to halt its quivering.
‘I won’t let them take Aunt Lizzie’s hut,’ she said mutinously. ‘So I need to get it repaired. In two weeks.’
He was staring at her as his frown deepened.
‘Why didn’t you say so?’
Beth’s chin lifted. ‘Why should I?’
One hand raked through the dark hair flopping onto his forehead and Beth noticed that despite them both returning home from a day of building work, his hands were a good deal cleaner than her own.
‘I don’t know,’ he admitted. ‘But if I’d known you were up against such a tight timeframe I would…’
‘You would what?’ demanded Beth. ‘Not be so unpleasant? Not laugh at me quite so much? You said I was the sort of girl used to having things done for her,’ she reminded him, still stung by the accusation. ‘Remember?’
His head dipped.
‘I remember,’ he said solemnly. ‘I wasn’t very nice.’
At least he wasn’t trying to defend himself, decided Beth as she nodded. ‘You weren’t.’
He was peeping from beneath his lashes. ‘You probably thought I was being objectionable.’
She stiffened. So he had overheard her complain to Lavinia about his manner.
‘Er, well….’
‘I was very rude.’
It was Beth’s turn to blush.
‘You’ve apologised,’ she said stiffly.
‘Maybe I need to apologise again?’ he suggested.
She scowled at him. Even when he was being nice, he irritated her.
Shuffling to one side, she decided she needed to start coming home at a different time so their paths didn’t collide.
‘No need,’ she mumbled as she tried to edge around him in the direction of the stairs and the safety of her room.
‘Oh, but I insist,’ he said, watching the colour flood into her face with interest. ‘I judged you too harshly. Especially now I realise you have a time limit.’
But Beth had heard enough and she unceremoniously pushed him out of the way. ‘Absolutely no need,’ she insisted and closing her ears to the soft chuckle he gave, she flew past him, taking the stairs two at a time.
Sally: How’s it going?
Beth examined the new scratches on her hand and the bruise on her thumb where she’d caught it with a hammer. It was going slowly and painfully
Beth: Okay. I have someone helping me now
Sally: Ooh, is it the guy you were telling me about? The one at the B&B? I thought you didn’t like him
Beth: Jake? I detest him. It’s Sam who’s helping
Sally: Sam? Ooh -tell me all about Sam
Sitting on the window sill, Beth smiled as she typed
Beth: He’s lovely. Got blue eyes, very twinkly
Sally: And?
Beth: He’s charming and funny and kind
Sally: Sounds promising!
Beth: He knew Aunt Lizzie and wants to help me with the hut
Sally: Sweet
Beth: He was born in Welby
Sally: Perfect
Beth: About 70 years ago
Sally: What? You mean he’s 70?
They had spent the afternoon chatting about so many things, Beth had said goodbye to him by the slipway feeling as though she had known him forever. His old-world courtesy had thoroughly charmed her and the relief of having someone by her side had cheered her up no end, at least until she’d arrive home and bumped into Jake.
Beth: Yes. And he’s charming!
Sally: I’m not sure he’s what I had in mind as Matthew’s replacement! What’s wrong with Jake anyway?
The smile left Beth’s face.
Beth: He’s arrogant. Rude. He asks far too many personal questions and judges people too quickly
Sally: What type of personal questions? Is he a creep?
Beth: No! not like that. I mean he’s polite, just in a rude way
Sally: Huh?
Beth: He did apologise for being unpleasant. It turns out his girlfriend has just done the dirty on him so he’s a bit sensitive atm
Sally: I’m not surprised she left him if he’s as unpleasant as you say
Beth: Well, not unpleasant exactly. Infuriating
Sally: Oh?
Beth: Yes. Very. The sort that gets under your skin and annoys you for hours.
Sally: Really?
Beth: Yeah, you know the sort you can’t stop thinking about because you want to punch them?
Sally: Beth Carter- you sure you don’t like him because that’s not what I’m hearing!!!
Beth stared at her phone. What a suggestion to make. She couldn’t care less about Jake Balfour.
Beth: I DO NOT LIKE HIM
Sally: If you say so!
Throwing her phone onto the bed, Beth huffed. As if she would fall for someone like Jake. Just because he’d got gorgeous eyes, dark hair and a chiselled chin with a quite irresistible dimple. She was still heartbroken over Matthew, even if she was finding that she didn't have much time to dwell on the pain he'd caused her. And even if she wasn't quite off the idea of all men at the moment, there was more to a relationship than looks, she thought loftily. And that was about all Jake had going for him. His personality certainly wouldn’t win anybody over and she stepped into the shower, turning the dial to extra cold so she gasped in shock.
*
Taking a deep breath before she walked out onto the balcony the following morning, Beth readied herself for another confrontation with Jake, only to find that she had the place to herself.
‘No Jake?’ she asked casually as Lavinia appeared with a fresh pot of tea for the table.
‘Oh, he’s already had his breakfast and set off for the day,’ Lavinia told her, as she bustled around producing more toast and a jug of milk. ‘He’s working for someone up top and he wanted to get an early start.’
‘Up top?’
‘On the cliff top. All the posh folk with their big houses keep him busy. They’re always wanting something changing, a new walk-in wardrobe or a sauna. One woman up there has had three kitchens so far, just can’t make up her mind according to Jake.’
Not quite the same as renovating an old beach hut thought Beth. No wonder he looked down on her efforts.
‘Missing him are you?’ asked Lavinia cheekily and laughed as Beth snorted indignantly.
‘Absolutely not! He irritates me if you must know. It’s quite wonderful to have the balcony to myself actually,’ and she snatched a piece of toast, munching enthusiastically as though to prove a point.
‘I think you would make a lovely couple,’ smiled Lavinia, ‘but probably best that you’re not interested. I hear he took Portia out for a meal last night. To the fancy French restaurant up there.’
Beth rolled her eyes. A fancy restaurant to feed the fancy people in their fancy houses.
‘Probably wanted a bit of space, wouldn’t want folk in town listening in,’ continued Lavinia. ‘That’s the problem with Welby. It’s a small place and everyone soon gets to know what’s going on. At least up top they will have had more privacy.’
Not that much more. Everybody in Welby seemed to know they had been out for a meal. They probably even knew what they’d had to eat.
‘Are they back together?’ asked Beth casually.
‘Well, Elaine Greenwood’s daughter is a waitress up there and she told her mum, who told Mr Tripp who delivers my milk, who told me this morning that Jake had a face like thunder throughout most of the meal. Portia was all fluttery and touching his hand and trying to win him round, according to Elaine. But he didn’t look as though he was having any of it so I think she’s got a way to go before he forgives her. He did put his arm around her as they were leaving, but Elaine said that was because Portia pretended to trip as she left the restaurant and then grabbed onto him.’
Beth was beginning to understand why people went up top for a private conversation in Welby.
‘But I expect he’ll forgive her eventually,’ Lavinia added matter of factly. ‘Now, you must have some bacon and egg, you’re working so hard all day and you need a good breakfast inside of you.’
‘Why?’
‘Why? Because of all the energy you must be burning and all the…’
‘No! I mean, why do you expect him to forgive her?’
‘Because he loves her! Adores her, always has. He’ll forgive her and the wedding will be back on and she’ll soon be swanning around Welby again looking like the cat that’s got the cream instead of keeping her head down and staying indoors. He loves her and she loves him. So, bacon? Eggs? And a sausage!’ and she bustled off, leaving Beth to wonder whether refusing to forgive Matthew meant that she hadn’t loved him enough in the first place
Back at the hut, she had only been there a matter of 15 minutes when she heard a cheery hello.
’You came back for more!’ she announced delightedly, helping Sam step over the hole.
‘That really needs sorting out,’ they said in unison, only to begin chuckling.
‘I need to bite the bullet and get a new door and some more planks,’ admitted Beth. With Sam’s help the previous day, a great deal of the rotten boards had been removed. ‘And I need to get these old kitchen cabinets moved so I can rescue the sink and check the state of the walls.’
‘Then let’s get on with it, my dear,’ proclaimed Sam. He was taking off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves. ‘Make the most of me while I’m here.’
Together they pulled the kitchen cabinets from the wall, which wasn’t as difficult as expected because there was little holding them in place. Unfortunately, as well as the cabinets, half the outside wall came away leaving Beth peering through a hole that gave them a fine view of the beach hut behind.
Beth could see Jemima’s shocked face peering over her railings, champagne in hand as she watched the lack of progress Beth was making.
‘I say,’ she screeched. ‘Was that supposed to happen?’
Pretending she hadn’t heard her, Beth pulled her head hastily back inside.
‘Oh dear,’ she groaned. ‘More work. And money.’
Sam scratched his head. ‘It does look bad,’ he admitted. ‘But by the time you’ve replaced all the wood, you’re going to have a wonderfully sturdy hut.’
He tilted his head to one side as he spoke, defying Beth not to see the bright side of this particular cloud.
‘I suppose so.’
He helped her patch up the hole until they could repair things properly and then, despite her aching muscles Beth decided she would take advantage of an extra pair of hands and remove the rusty old sink dangling from the wall.
Together they lifted the sink and Sam held it upright and as still as possible while Beth looked underneath to see how it was held in place.
‘How long are you in Welby for, Sam?’
‘Oh, I don’t know. I originally thought I’d stay here for a few weeks but now I’m not sure.’
There seemed to be one bolt left fixing the sink to the pipe that disappeared under the floor and supplied the water. Beth looked through the box of tools Aunt Lizzie had left behind.
‘Do you have any friends here still?’ she asked, wondering what tool was needed to undo a bolt. Watching her eyes roving over the toolbox, Sam reached out and handed her a wrench.
‘Do you want me to have a look?’
‘No, I’ll do it. You just keep the sink steady.’
Much as she appreciated his help, Beth wasn’t having him climbing beneath rusty old sinks. She had noticed the day before the effort needed to get him upright after he had been kneeling down.
‘I have a few friends I kept in touch with. It’s been wonderful catching up with them all.’ His voice was sad and Beth paused, peeping up at him.
‘Wonderful?’ she queried.
He smiled. ‘You have your aunt’s intuition, my dear. It’s been wonderful and at the same time reminds me how foolish I was to be in such a rush to escape. I couldn’t wait to get away from Welby.’ His voice was dreamy. ‘I was convinced there was so much more waiting for me outside of this little town. It took me years to realise how wrong I was and that everything I needed was here all along.’
Not for the first time, Beth wondered if Aunt Lizzie was the reason he had come back. Had a young Lizzie Brandon captured his heart? Was she the reason he had returned to the place of his youth only to find she had gone?
She bit her tongue and continued to loosen the bolt. He would tell her in his own time, she decided.
‘Coming back has made me realise how different my life could have been. And it’s painful, to say the least. Which is why I might cut my visit short and return home.’
‘Oh, Sam! I’ll miss you. I’ll miss your advice but I’ll also miss you.’
Reaching out from beneath the sink, she squeezed his hand. She may have only just met him, but she had taken the elderly man to her heart.
‘I’m not going anywhere just yet,’ he mumbled, his eyes suspiciously bright. ‘At least, not until we’ve got this sink out of the way. Now put some effort into it, young lady, get that bolt undone or I’ll be forced to start telling you stories about my youth. And nobody deserves that!’
Giggling, Beth returned to the job in hand. ‘What did you do in Welby when you were young?’ she asked with interest. Her mother just sniffed when she spoke of Welby. ‘It was a boring little seaside town, quite common,’ she had told Beth on numerous occasions. ‘I couldn’t wait to leave.’
‘Well, the highlight of the week was Friday night when a group of us would buy chips and sit on the harbour wall by the slipway,’ began Sam with a chuckle. ‘That’s as exciting as it got in Welby. There would be me and…aaghh!’
His yelp was echoed by Beth who gasped in shock as a torrent of water suddenly hit her square in the face. Closing her eyes against the murky geyser and gasping for breath, she scrabbled at the bolt which she’d finally managed to undo.
‘I can’t stop it,’ she yelled. Free of its confines, the sink and pipe had separated company and now the pipe was waving happily in the air, pouring its contents into Beth’s face. ‘The pipe is undone and I can’t put it back!’
Twisting her head out of the way, she blinked rapidly trying to clear the water from her eyes. She had one hand raised to protect her head, worried that Sam would let go of the precariously balanced sink with the shock of being soaked to the skin. Her other hand still grasped the pipe which was pumping out water.
Thankfully the sink suddenly disappeared, lifted upwards now nothing was holding it down and a hand reached down to take hold of hers, pulling her away from the pipe.
‘It’s okay, it’s just the residual water in the pipe. It will stop in a minute.’
He was right, the gush had already slowed to an energetic trickle. One hand reached around her waist and hauled her to her feet with a surprising amount of strength, pulling her close as she slipped on the drenched floorboards.
Goodness, she wouldn’t have thought Sam had the energy to pull her clear like that. He was right, he was stronger than he looked.
‘Jake!’ she gasped, sweeping her wet hair out of her eyes and looking upwards. ‘What on earth…’
‘Beth, my dear girl! Are you okay?’
Sam’s anxious face was peering around Jake’s shoulders, which Beth had just noticed were surprisingly muscular, and very wide.
She coughed, half from the unexpected intake of water and half from shock at finding herself wrapped in a pair of very strong arms.
‘I’m fine,’ she spluttered. ‘Er, thank you, Jake.’
Pulling herself free she tried to smooth down the hair that was plastered across her face and tugged at the t-shirt that she realised was now clinging to every part of her body.
‘What are you doing here?’ she demanded, wincing at how rude she sounded. ‘I mean, thank you, but why are you here?’
Jake stood back, his eyebrows twitching slightly as Beth struggled to regain her composure.
‘I came to help,’ he announced as though it was the most natural thing in the world to happen. ‘I decided an apology was just words and what I should do was help you with the hut. So here I am.’
Grinning, he extended a hand in Sam’s direction. ‘Hello. My name is Jake Balfour. I’m not sure what part you are playing in this but I’m Beth’s new handyman.’