‘Are you ready to set sail?’
‘I am, captain.’ She gave a tiny salute and wondered where they were heading.
‘There’s a life jacket behind you.’
With a few long strokes they quickly moved away from the edge of the river and were now heading upstream. Bea relaxed and looked around. The water taxi was ferrying people on sightseeing excursions and there were children standing on rocks swooping their fishing nets into the water. She noticed that Nolan kept stealing glances in her direction.
‘You’re looking at me,’ she said, noticing his eyes glinting in the sunshine.
‘Your face is glowing and those freckles…’
Bea knew that yesterday’s sun, when she was kayaking, had brought the freckles out right across her nose. She’d already noticed them this morning when she was getting ready. Usually, they would be covered with make-up, but she’d decided to goau naturelfor the next two weeks and hopefully catch the sun more whilst she was here.
‘They always come out in the sun,’ she replied. She noticed a string of not so run of the mill boats coming up the river, each oozing expense and class. ‘Look at those.’
‘They are something else, aren’t they? I noticed a couple more boats arriving this morning for the River Festival.’
‘It’s so exciting. I think I’m going to have my work cut out at The Little Blue Boathouse for the next couple of weeks.’
‘I didn’t know you were working there.’
‘I have a trial shift tomorrow.’ She crossed her fingers and held them up. ‘The method to my madness was keeping myself occupied so I didn’t sit and mope.’
‘And look at you now, there’s no moping at all.’ He smiled warmly at her.
‘And it seems I’m going to be successful in getting the job.’
Nolan was still smiling but narrowed his eyes. ‘And how would you know that?’
‘Because that’s exactly what Martha predicted.’
‘Interesting, so I’m assuming you told her about the trial?’
‘Actually, I didn’t.’
‘Even more interesting.’
Bea began to think about the other things that Martha had said. ‘Apparently, I’ve found my forever home – though I’m not exactly sure where that is – and my life is about taking chances and not settling for less than I deserve.’
‘All very generic then.Icould have predicted that.’
‘Life will not be smooth sailing,’ she added with a grin. ‘So, I’m hoping this boat doesn’t sink before we reach our destination.’
Nolan was still rowing, the oars in sync and his biceps flexing at every turn. ‘Still all very generic ... we have nearly reached our destination.’
‘That’s good because Martha predicted danger and a chance meeting that is going to change my life. Time will tell what any of it means.’
‘And did you believe any of it?’
‘Obviously, I’ve taken everything with a pinch of salt. My destiny is in my own hands. Have you met Martha?’ asked Bea, knowing that she thought the reading had come to an abrupt end because she’d mentioned The Hemingway.
Nolan shook his head. ‘No, I haven’t, and unless she can predict the lottery numbers, I’m keeping hold of my money.’
Bea gave a tiny laugh. With her hair wafting in the breeze, she tilted her face up towards the sun. ‘I’ve never been in a rowing boat before. This is a first for me.’
Nolan raised an eyebrow. ‘I think I could row before I could walk. My grandfather had me in boats from a very early age.’
Impressed, Bea looked behind her to see how far they’d come. The boat was coping well with the slap of the waves and The Little Blue Boathouse was still in sight. She could even make out Wilbur standing in the doorway. She cast her eyes upwards to the craggy white cliffs behind Nolan and the gulls circulating above them in the clear blue sky. Then she noticed a familiar figure standing on the cliff path: Martha. She did a double-take then narrowed her eyes. It was definitely Martha, still dressed in her mystical outfit, and her binoculars were pointing straight towards The Hemingway. Or was that just Bea’s imagination?
