Chapter 2
‘We will shortly be arriving in Port Petroc where this service will terminate. Please ensure you have all of your personal belongings with you before you depart the train. Port Petroc is our final stop.’
Ed jolted awake and stared blearily around as he tried to orient himself.
The few remaining passengers in his carriage were on the move, pulling on coats, lifting down their bags and hurrying towards the doors in their eternal quest to be first off the train.
Groggy and feeling a little bit woozy, he rubbed his hands over his face, wishing he hadn’t fallen asleep.
The gin-in-a-tin and train beers were another source of regret as a dull ache registered in his temples.
Well, there was nothing he could do about that now other than grit his teeth and get through this final bit of his journey home, where his comfy king-size bed awaited him.
After months sleeping on a narrow bunk, being rocked by the waves, he couldn’t wait to fall face down on it and sleep for the next twenty-four hours.
The sharp slap of cold as he stepped off the train chased most of the fuzzy feeling out of his head as Ed joined the small line of people heading up the stairs and over the footbridge towards the car park and taxi rank.
There were several cars waiting, their headlights doing a better job than the sickly orange glow from the scattered lamps overlooking the small tarmac square beside the squat station building.
Plumes of white trailed from their exhaust pipes, adding to the misty murk of the heavy air.
The handful of people in front of him streamed towards the waiting cars as their drivers climbed out to greet their friends and relatives with hugs and good wishes and urgent instructions to get in out of the cold.
Once again Ed regretted his folly in not replacing his phone, because any one of his brothers would’ve happily turned out even at this late hour to collect him.
Ed sucked in a deep breath, welcoming the salty tang into his lungs.
It was a sensation so familiar it gave him the burst of energy he needed to quicken his step towards the lone car idling in the taxi rank.
He leaned down as the passenger window glided open and the driver turned towards him with a smile.
‘I was just about to give it up as a bad job and knock off for the night. Where you going?’
‘Halfmoon Quay, if that’s okay?’
‘Looks like my bed will have to wait a bit longer.’ The driver must’ve seen Ed’s crestfallen expression because he broke out into a broad grin.
‘Don’t fret yourself, lad, a fare is a fare and I’ll see you home, no worries.
Do you need a hand with your case?’ The driver didn’t look in any great hurry to get out of the car, not that Ed could blame him, given the freezing temperature.
‘No, I’ll stick it on the back seat next to me.’ Ed pulled open the back door and shoved his case in before jumping in after it and quickly shutting the door behind him. ‘God, it’s cold.’
‘That happens in the winter,’ the driver said in a dry tone as he grinned back at Ed via the rear-view mirror. ‘Lose your coat somewhere?’
Ed laughed. ‘Not much call for a puffer jacket in the Caribbean!’
The driver’s eyes widened in the reflection for a second before he turned his attention to manoeuvring them out of the car park. ‘Well, that should make for an interesting story for the drive home!’
They had a good chat as they wound their way along the coastal road and it didn’t come as any surprise that Len was a keen sailor and knew Ed’s dad.
Anyone who lived locally and had any interest in boats was familiar with Jago.
By the time they’d pulled up outside the cottage Ed shared with his cousin Matt, he knew all about Len’s grandkids and their plans to visit for Christmas.
‘Nice little spot you’ve got here,’ Len said as Ed dug in his pocket for his wallet and paid him.
He was running low on cash, but he had enough to cover the fare and a decent tip by way of thanks.
‘My cousin and I are very lucky to have it. It belongs to an old lady who lives up Blue Horizons. We’ve been doing it up for her in return for a lower rent.
’ Well, Matt had been doing it up for her in Ed’s absence, but he’d put his fair share of effort in when he’d been around.
He’d have to see if there was anything new Matt wanted to tackle while he was home that needed a bit of extra manpower.
Having put away his wallet, Ed snagged his keys and grabbed the handle of his case with his other hand. ‘Thanks again, Len, and I hope you and the family have a lovely Christmas together.’
‘Cheers, lad.’ Len reached down and picked up a card, which he offered to Ed. ‘My number’s on there. You give me a call when you’re ready for your return trip and I’ll see you right. Don’t mind what time it is, you just give me a bell.’
Ed shoved the card in his pocket then popped the handle on the rear door.
‘Thanks, Len, that’s much appreciated!’ Hopefully someone in the family would be able to give him a lift but it didn’t do any harm to have a back-up just in case.
He climbed out of the car and shut the door, and instantly began to shiver.
With so few buildings around to provide shelter the wind blowing in off the ocean was that brutal kind of cold that sank deep into your bones and threatened to stay there.
All he wanted to do was get inside, but he was still the boy his parents had raised, so he waited patiently on the pavement while Len performed a three-point turn on the narrow lane before waving him off.
The moment the headlights disappeared, Ed was plunged into total darkness and he had to rely on muscle memory to guide him the few steps to the path at the front of the cottage. His progress was halted when his thighs collided with something hard.
Since when did Matt shut the gate?
He fumbled along the top of the wooden barrier until his cold fingers located the latch.
He swore under his breath as the cold metal seemed to burn his skin, and it took more effort than it should’ve to wrench it open.
He shoved the gate open with a swing of his hips and hurried down the path as fast as he dared move in the pitch black.
It took several attempts and more swearing before he got his key in the lock and the door open but the comforting wave of warmth that greeted him was enough to instantly soothe his bad mood, and he closed the door behind him with a relieved sigh.
As tempted as he was to head straight upstairs for bed, Ed’s mouth felt as dry and rough as the bottom of a parrot’s cage.
It was far too late for coffee but a cup of tea would hit the spot perfectly.
The urge for a proper brew swept through him.
It was so odd how he could barely think about something for months and then be overwhelmed by a craving the moment it popped into his head.
If he was really in luck, there might even be a packet of digestive biscuits in the cupboard.
He flipped the light on and headed towards the kitchen door, his mind barely registering the pretty floral scent in the air as he hurried through the front room.
Tea. Biscuits. Bed.
God, it was good to be home.