He didn’t say anything for a few seconds, tucking his hands deeper into his coat pockets.
“Why? They’re looking forward to meeting you.” He looked at me, confusion on his face.
“Do they know what I’ve asked you to do?” I figured it was that which was bothering me more.
“I haven’t told them. I will do when we’ve decided for sure that’s what’s happening. They’ll be worried for me, but not because of you. I think if you are going to move here, they’ll be less worried. They’ll understand it too. They’re not going to think it’s a stupid thing for me to do.” He sounded absolutely certain about that which settled me somewhat.
“I want them to like me. And Ruby and Freya. And Amelie and all the rest.” I felt like a thirteen year old again who was starting a new school.
“What makes you think they won’t? They’ve heard a lot about you over the last few years – the only thing they’ll say will be why you haven’t come here sooner. They’ll want to talk about Ivy too but they’ll be nervous about that at first because they won’t want to upset you. But they’re going to like you.” He stretched out an arm and pulled me into him in a side hug which felt good. He was warm and smelled of the scent he always wore.
“Do they know we slept together?”
“No. They might assume we have, but they’re not going to judge you for that. I didn’t tell anyone what happened in New Orleans.” He didn’t look at me as he spoke. “Did you?”
“No.” I kept those details for myself. “We both seemed to pretend it didn’t happen.”
He said nothing again, still looking out over the sea.
“Who’ll be in the Puffin Inn now?” We needed to change the subject.
“Some of the older residents go in for lunch. It’s Friday, so the walking club will be in there by now – every week they doa walk for three or four miles which ends with a meal in the pub and a few pints. It’s mainly the retired folk, but some of the working from home people do it now too. Amelie will be there, and I guess Roman will be around, and maybe Caleb.”
We were getting closer now, veering off the coastal path onto a road lined with stone houses. Some were shops, others homes.
“Caleb’s Roman’s son – have I got that right?”
“He is. He’s twenty-two now and studying for his doctorate in marine biology, which involves him doing various research tasks across the world. I think he’s back for a few weeks now before he heads to the Galapagos or somewhere. Do you want to go straight to the Inn?” He paused, stopping for a second. “My brothers will probably end up there in another hour or two, and if we’re there, they’ll see if Ruby and Freya want to come and bring the kids, so we can eat with them.”
“That sounds good. Is your mum around too?” I knew Gully’s mother had moved to Puffin Bay recently.
“She’s in Oxfordshire at the moment with her sister, but she knows you’re here. It’s probably best you get to meet everyone else first as everyone together can be a lot.” He actually looked nervous.
I stood a little stiller. “Do you want me to meet them? I get it if it’s too much? We can rethink - ”
“I want you to meet them. They’re a lot, but my family is actually okay, just don’t tell Roe and Finn that. I hope you like them, which is why I don’t know, I just want to get it over with.” He shrugged. “How about we walk to the lighthouse first and I show you that, then we get to the Inn in an hour or so?”
“Sounds good.”
We carried on through the town, Gully pointing out where different people lived, including Clover and her husband, thetown’s doctor, and Mavis, who was watching us through the window. It turned out she was expecting my arrival as Gully had talked about me before.
“Should you introduce me?” I glanced over at the twitching curtain.
Gully grinned, a little more like he usually did. “She’ll be in the Inn in about an hour anyway, having her medicinal sherry, so you can meet her then. Don’t let her scare you. She’s just very protective of her town and her people.”
“By people, you mean you, correct?” That was obvious. I’d heard more about Mavis than anyone else recently when we’d spoke on the phone.
“Pretty much. Although she’s got other favourites. This way.”
We rejoined the coastal path, turning towards the lighthouse which dominated the horizon with its thick black and white stripes. A line of cottages stood aside from a path that became wide enough for a car to get down, two children’s bicycles in the garden.
“That’s where Thane and Fleur live. The girls will be at nursery now, and Thane and Fleur will either be in work or having a quickie at home, so we won’t knock on and say hi. We’ll probably see them later.” His hand landed lightly on the small of my back, guiding me closer to the lighthouse.
“Does everyone go to the Inn on a Friday?”
He laughed. “Kind of. There’s not much else to do unless you drive out or get a cab. A lot of my friends pick the kids up from school and go there for dinner so the kids can play games and the adults can relax and chill. I generally see my brothers there most Fridays, then Ruby and Fleur and the rest of the women go out on a Saturday together or do something where no men are allowed. You’re there tonight, so there’ll be a crowd.”
“Do newcomers usually have such a fanfare?”
