She removed her gloves and rubbed her hands together to warm them. ‘Give me the fish.’ She sheltered herself between the rocks and placed the small red thin fish shape on her palm.
‘I think you’ve lost it, so you have.’ Conor was now watching intently.
‘It’s moving.’ Sabrina shrieked. ‘Oh no.’ Her voice lowered.
‘What?’
‘Curling sides means I’m fickle.’
‘Poco loco, you were right there.’ Conor shook his head.
‘Phew. Curling sides and heads means passionate.’
‘Yes, phew indeed. So can we please get off this fecking freezing cliff and play out what your fish mate is telling you, so.’
They had kissed for so long in the warmth of her car in the cliff car park that the windows and windscreen had completely steamed up. When they eventually broke free, Conor looked over to her and took her hand.
‘I can’t actually believe you’re here.’
‘Well believe it, honey. I’m here to stay.’
‘I’m so worried I won’t be enough for you. I don’t have a fancy job or car. I could take you to the VISTA again, though, if you fancied.’
‘Stop, those words.’ She brushed his lips with hers. ‘I love you, Conor Brady. Everything about you. That material world is behind me, now. I want the sea and the sky and the birdsong but most of all, I just want you. You are everything I want and need in human form. And I’m sorry I left you hanging, but being away for this time allowed me to think. I had to go through all the emotions surrounding Dom, surrounding my future career, and of course about my feelings towards you. But whatever I was thinking, or surmising or trying to work out what would be the right thing to do, all of my thoughts kept coming back to you and to Hartmouth. My heart lies here with you and this beautiful setting.’ She took one of his hands. ‘From the minute I met you, Conor Brady, I felt an inexplicable safety around you. You made me laugh and more importantly you made me lovely dinners. Shit, sorry… I promise to be serious about my emotions from now on.’
‘You eejit,’ Conor laughed and kissed her forehead.
Sabrina lifted his hand and kissed it. ‘You are very different to anyone else I’ve ever dated and that’s a good thing, as I’ve never felt the way I feel about you about anyone else.’ Conor had tears in her eyes as he held Sabrina’s hand tighter. ‘You really are my Action Man and we all know that actions always speak louder than words. You have literally held me through thick and thin and not given up on me with all my dramatics and uncertainty. And for that I am truly grateful.’
‘Aw, you softy. I told you I’d wait. Maybe only for a couple more weeks, though.’
‘Oi.’ Sabrina laughed and poked him in the ribs.
‘I love you, too.’ Conor kissed her forehead. ‘And I’m so happy you are here. That feeling when I pulled that cracker in Tinsel Town– honestly, I thought my heart was going to burst when I knew you’d come home.’
Releasing his hand, Sabrina blew out a big breath. ‘It’s been a lot.’ She bit her lip.
‘It really has.’ Conor kissed her nose. ‘But I’ve got your back… and your front… and those tits…’ He gently squeezed her right breast. ‘Oh Dickens, those glorious tits!’
‘Oi, mister.’
‘Quick, change the subject.’ He put his hand over his groin. ‘I read all the newspaper stuff.’ Conor blew out a huge breath. ‘Well done you.’
‘I didn’t have a choice, and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. My social media is cancelled forever as “Sabrina Swift, actress” from now on. And I didn’t ever explain about my name, did I? My mum was Gillian Swift, too. God knows why she wanted us to have the same name. She’s Gillian with a G, I’m with a J, as you know– she thought changing the letters would make it easier. I was a born actress and a character called Sabrina was in a TV show I watched as a child. From ten years old I was adamant that everyone called me by that name, and amazingly it just stuck with my friends and family, too.
‘Bless mum.’ Sabrina sighed. ‘She’d love it that I’m so happy now and that I’m using the name, she chose for me.’
‘Aw.’ Conor softly kissed her on her forehead. ‘Jilly Swift is a cool name. I like it.’
‘I’m glad. So, when I do set up the acting school down here for kids I can have a whole new persona– but it will be my right and actual one.’
‘So, you really are going to do it? That is such amazing news.’
‘I need to find premises and work out how to legally set it up, but yes, that’s my dream and I’m going to follow it.’
‘You don’t think you’ll be sad or frustrated not acting again?’ Conor enquired.
‘Well, if that Tinseltown role comes rolling in, then who knows.’ They laughed. ‘But the joy of teaching my craft and seeing other people go up through the ranks will make me happy, I’m sure. I also don’t want to be going off anywhere and leaving you for long lengths of time. A month was long enough.’
