Chapter 31
Summer seemed to have come to a crashing halt and Beth shivered in the cool, early evening air. Rain had lashed the dry pavements for the last few days and the languorous warmth of long sunny afternoons seemed a long time ago.
She was nearly there, she realised thankfully and walked quickly along, head bent against the breeze that was beginning to build. Despite the extra layers she had slipped on, the cold damp air was seeping through to her bones, and it was with a sigh of relief that she stepped inside and out of the rain that had soaked her hair and caused tiny tendrils of curls to appear around her face.
Inside it was warm and dry, and blessedly quiet. Over the last few weeks, Beth had taken onboard an almost manic hunt for a new flat, a new job, in fact, a whole new life. She had seen glorious apartments that she would never be able to afford, tiny little bedsits that were akin to living in a cupboard and a great deal more in between. The job was just as difficult. It had to be just the right job in just the right place, and Beth had begun to despair that she would be able to pull off what Sally was referring to as The Big Move.
As her notice period drew to a close, Beth’s panic had started to mount. She was homeless and would soon be unemployed. She had lost the love of her life and other than Sally, who cheered her on every day and constantly reassured her that everything would work out, she felt quite alone.
But with only days to spare, Sally’s predictions had come to pass and suddenly everything fell into place. A new job. A new flat. A new start.
Dropping her suitcase to the floor, Beth closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The rest of her things would be arriving soon and, in the meantime, her suitcase was stuffed with everything she thought she might need over the next few days.
This was the moment.
Hearing the soft murmur of voices, she left her suitcase where it had dropped, pushed open the door to her left and stepped into a room which despite the cold, miserable day, was warm and cosy.
‘You’re here! Oh, my goodness, we were just beginning to worry.’
Smiling, Beth stepped forward, allowing Lavinia’s plump arms to wrap themselves around her and squeeze gently.
Waiting for his turn, Sam stood to one side, his gentle face happy and content.
Having hugged the pair, Beth sank into a chair, stretching her feet out in front of her with a small sigh. It felt so good to be back in Welby.
‘You two look cosy,’ she observed with a grin.
Back on the settee, side by side, their hands joined amongst the folds of Lavinia’s dress, they looked perfectly at home with each other.
‘Well,’ began Lavinia, with slightly pink cheeks. ‘We do have some news.’
She looked rather nervously at Sam who gave her an encouraging smile.
‘We’ve moved in together. Or rather, I’m not moving anywhere but Sam has moved in here, to Welcome .’
She gave Beth an anxious look. ‘I know some people might say we’re far too old for such nonsense and that we’re moving too quickly, not having seen each other for so many years.’
Beth shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t say any of those things actually.’
‘And some people might say that we were being impulsive and foolish.’
‘I wouldn’t say that either.’
‘But the thing is, we love each other. Always have if the truth be known.’
‘I would say that’s clear to anyone who has seen you together,’ offered Beth.
‘Not that I didn’t love my husband,’ added Lavinia firmly. ‘Because I did. But he’s been gone a long time now and I think Sam and I both deserve another chance of love.’ Her chin tilted defiantly. ‘Regardless of how old we are.’
‘Couldn’t agree more,’ said Beth cheerfully.
‘So, regardless of what you or anyone else might think, we’ve moved in together.’
‘Excellent news,’ beamed Beth. ‘Absolutely the right thing to do.’
Lavinia sat up a little straighter. ‘You don’t think we’re being foolish?’
‘Of course not.’
’Or impulsive?’
‘Nope.’
‘Or that we’re old enough to know better?’
Grinning, Beth leant forward, reaching out to take Lavinia’s hand.
‘I think that you are both old enough to know exactly what you want. And that is each other. I couldn’t be more happy for you. Don’t waste any more time regretting what might have been. Enjoy the rest of your lives, together.’
Sniffing loudly, Lavinia searched for a tissue.
‘I told you she would be happy for us,’ rebuked Sam mildly. ‘Everyone you have told so far has been happy for us.’
‘I know, I know.’ Wiping away the tears from her eyes, Lavinia gave them both a watery smile. ‘I’m just expecting someone to …’
‘Take a leaf from my book,’ interrupted Beth. ‘Stop worrying about what other people might think or say and do what makes you happy.’
Nodding, Lavinia dried her eyes and settled back down, allowing Sam to recover her hand and enclose it in his own.
‘And how are you, my darling? Excited?’
The smile slipped and Beth grimaced. ‘Yes. And worried and apprehensive and fearful that I’m the one that’s being foolish and impulsive and making all the wrong decisions.’
Sam shook his head. ‘Speaking from experience, I think you’ve done exactly the right thing. I left Welby-on-the-Sea thinking the world would offer me more. You’ve had the sense to realise that your heart is here and you’ve made the decision to come home. Very sensible I’d say.’
Taking a deep breath, Beth tried to remain calm. She agreed it was the right decision, but it was still a scary feeling and one that had kept her awake the previous night.
‘You were so lucky getting a job in Welby,’ beamed Lavinia. ‘It’s not exactly a big place.’
‘I know. What a stroke of luck!’
Beth had phoned Sarah and told her of the plan, the one where Beth changed her life, found a job and a flat in Welby and moved there permanently. Sarah had been delighted and promised Beth that she would start job hunting for her straight away. But it had been Jemima who had phoned Beth a few weeks later.
‘My friend is looking for someone. He’s just set up a new business and needs help in the office,’ she’d announced. ‘Sarah said you might be interested.’
Beth couldn’t believe her luck. ‘Really? That sounds wonderful. Thank you so much for thinking of me Jemima.’
‘It’s okay,’ Jemima had said. ‘I can't blame you for wanting to move to Welby.’
‘But jobs there are few and far between, I can’t thank you enough! Once I've settled, you’ll have to join us for a drink and a catch-up. Me, Sarah and you.’
‘Me?’
‘Yes. You.’
‘You're inviting me out with you and Sarah?’
‘I am.
The phone had fallen silent and Beth was just about to ask if Jemima was still there when a small voice asked, ‘Like friends? You want me to go out with you because we would be friends?’
‘Yes, Jemima. Exactly like that.’
There had been another long pause.
‘Okay. I'll think about it,’ Jemima had sniffed, sounding a little croaky all of a sudden. ‘If I'm not too busy, I’ll come with you.’
And then she’d hung up, leaving Beth hugging herself with glee at the prospect of having found a job.
‘And what will you be doing?’ asked Lavinia, pouring a cup of tea for Beth and handing it over to her.
‘A bit of everything,’ answered Beth cheerfully. ‘I’ll be working for someone who needs a PA, come secretary come office girl, come tea lady to cover anything that’s needed.’
‘And you won’t miss your old office?’
Not in the slightest, Beth had decided. It had been a wonderful place to work for a while but it had been time to leave.
‘No,’ she said slowly. ‘Oh, I’ll miss some of the people, especially Sally. But she can’t wait to come down to Welby to visit. She wants to see the hut and walk along the beach. And she’s desperate to sit on the balcony and take in the views.’
Beth pushed away the memories of the many mornings she had sat in exactly that place, her view dominated by a pair of green eyes and a smug smile. She had thought long and hard about returning to Welby knowing Jake would be here. It was such a small place it would be impossible for them to never bump into each other. One day she would walk into a restaurant and find him sitting there with Portia, holding hands across the table.
But she would cope, she decided. It wasn’t as though they had been in love or anything. It wasn’t as though they were even friends. They had simply been thrown together by circumstances and for some strange reason, his presence had been particularly hard to forget. Maybe it would do her good to see him. Buying his groceries at the local supermarket, in the post office, walking briskly down by the harbour wall. She would realise that he was just a person, an ordinary person whom she had once spent some time with.
She had slipped into silence and looked up to see both Lavinia and Sam watching her curiously.
‘I’m looking forward to starting again,’ she said firmly. ‘In a place I love and that already feels like home.’
‘And your new flat?
‘Oh, I was so lucky! I can’t thank you enough for giving me Tony’s number.’
When Beth had phoned Lavinia and told her, somewhat tentatively that she planned to live in Welby, if only she could find a job and a flat, Lavinia had given her the number of the local estate agent.
‘He doesn’t even have an office,’ she had told Beth with a chuckle. ‘Anyone who is selling in Welby, or within a couple of miles along the coast, goes through Tony. He never has more than a handful of properties on his books, which suits him fine because he spends most of his day out on his boat.’
Beth had called him, and been lucky to catch him just coming into the harbour and with a signal. She’d been thrilled to hear him say that only that morning he’d been told of a flat coming up for rent.
‘It’s not big,’ he’d warned her. ‘In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s tiny. But that’s reflected in the rent. And what it lacks for in space, it makes up for with views. It’s only a few doors away from Lavinia’s place and the view from the window will make you feel as though you’ve got all the space in the world.’
He’d been right, and Beth had taken one look at the huge window in the tiny living room and decided she didn’t care that the kitchen was the size of a shoebox, and the bathroom was barely big enough for both Beth and her towel. The window opened onto a minute Juliet balcony with only enough room for a couple of potted plants, but which let her eyes roam over the vast horizon beyond. Rain or shine, she would sit by that window, curling up in the slightly shabby but comfortable old armchair to relax at the end of each day and let the beauty of Welby soothe her.
‘Won’t you miss having…company?’ asked Lavinia delicately, interrupting Beth’s reverie.
‘You mean a man? She answered with a twist of her lips. ‘No, I won’t. I’m quite off men at the moment, I’m looking forward to a little time to myself.’
Which was true, sort of. She was over Matthew. And she was trying to be over Jake. Maybe one day she would yearn for the feel of someone’s hand in hers as she sat on her settee. But not anytime soon.
‘I’ve got a new job, a new flat and a new life to get used to,’ she added reassuringly. ‘I won’t be lonely!’
‘I suppose so. It’s such a shame,’ sighed Lavinia. ‘I always hoped that you and Jake might get together.’
Beth’s heart gave such an almighty jump she was surprised not to see it hurtling across the room.
‘Me and Jake?’ she said, hoping her tone was suitably light and amused. ‘Oh, I don’t think so. We didn’t get on you know.’
Sam blinked in surprise. ‘Didn’t you? I always thought there was real chemistry between the two of you.’
Beth stiffened. ‘No there wasn’t! Not at all. We irritated each other.’
Lavinia and Sam exchanged a mystified look. ‘Well, you certainly hid it well,’ said Sam. ‘Like Lavinia, I hoped that the two of you would carry on seeing each other after the hut was finished.’
Beth frowned. ‘Of course we wouldn’t! Lavinia told me how much in love he was with Portia.’
‘He was,’ agreed Lavinia, a small frown appearing on her forehead. ‘But sometimes love doesn’t work out. It should never stop you from finding someone else. You and Matthew didn’t work out but you still deserve to find someone who will make you happy.’
Beth stared. ‘But Matthew and I split up.’
Lavinia looked at her, with a mystified expression. ‘Yes, dear. I remember. And that’s why I hoped you and Jake would get together.’
‘What I mean is…’ Rubbing her face with her hand, Beth wondered what she was missing. Why were they both looking at her so strangely? ‘Jake and Portia didn’t split up.’
‘Yes, they did. That’s why Jake moved in here…’
‘I know that! But they got back together. So Jake and I would never become a couple, not when he was already with Portia. I don’t approve of breaking up other people’s relationships,’ she said sternly. ‘Look what happened with Matthew and Laura.’
Lavinia and Sam exchanged a slow look.
‘Beth,’ Lavinia began gently, ‘Jake and Portia didn’t get back together.’
‘Yes, they did! Jake told me. He said that …that…’
What had he said exactly? He said that he’d sorted things with Portia and was going back home. Hadn't he?
‘He said that he was back with Portia.’ Her brow was creased as she struggled to remember. ‘And you told me the same thing.’
‘I did?’
‘Yes! When I came back, after the flat had flooded. I asked where Jake was and you said he’d gone back home. And that it was for the best. Because he loved Portia.’
Actually, now she thought about it, Lavinia hadn’t said it was for the best because he loved Portia. She had just said it was for the best. But she’d told Beth right at the beginning how much Jake had loved Portia and that they would probably get back together. So, it amounted to the same thing. Didn’t it?
‘I told you he had gone back home,’ admitted Lavinia, her brow creasing as she recalled the conversation. ‘And I said it was for the best. He had worked so hard on his beautiful cottage and he was letting Portia take advantage of his past feelings for her. It was right that he asked her to leave and reclaimed his home.’
‘Reclaimed his home?’ echoed Beth faintly.
‘Yes. It was too easy for him to let things drift on and stay with me. Of course, I suspected that part of the reason he remained at Welcome was because you were here.’
‘Because I was here?’
‘Beth, are you okay, my dear?’
‘Er, yes. Yes, no. Sorry… he didn’t get back with Portia?’
‘Oh no. I think having a fling with one of his best friends was a step too far. They discussed a reconciliation, he tried very hard to be reasonable. But it became clear that Jake wouldn’t be able to forget what had happened. He finally told her it was over and she needed to leave the house.’
‘And he went home. Because he lived there?’
‘That’s right.’ Lavinia gave her another puzzled look. ’Are you sure you’re okay Beth, you’ve gone very pale.’
‘I’m okay. So let me just get this right. Are you saying that Jake and Portia broke up? That he went back to his house because she had left it. That they are over. Finished.’
‘Yes. I don’t know why you thought he had reconciled with Portia but they are definitely over. Jake is free and single.’