ChapterSeven
Bea was sitting back enjoying the view. Everywhere was so peaceful. They’d rowed past children splashing at the water’s edge, and dog walkers ambling along the coastal paths, and she was mesmerised by the colourful houses dotted along the Glensheil bank of the river.
She kept snagging a look back towards the cliff, intrigued by Martha, but she’d disappeared now. Nolan’s tanned arms had rowed the boat to calmer water where there were expanses of sand and taller cliffs, with impressive views and the coastline becoming more indented by coves and estuaries. ‘It’s beautiful. It’s like something out of a romantic novel.’
‘It is, sort of, and that’s the reason we’re heading to where we’re heading.’
‘Huh?’ replied Bea.
‘My grandfather’s diary.’
‘Your grandfather had a diary?’
‘Not so much a diary, but on the back pages of the sailing logbook there were further entries. You’ll never guess what today’s date is.’
‘Is that a trick question?’ replied Bea, knowing it was the 2nd of August.
‘It’s the day my grandfather, Morgan, took Patsy to Castaway Bay on their first date of the summer.’
Bea brought her hands up to her heart. ‘Castaway Bay. What an utterly romantic name.’
‘And that’s exactly where we are heading.’ Nolan gave her a heart-warming smile.
‘Is this our first date of the summer?’ Bea was teasing but also curious to hear his answer. She wasn’t even sure how she could think about going on a date so soon after what she’d been through, but maybe a little fun over the summer couldn’t hurt. A holiday romance with a drop-dead gorgeous male was maybe just what she needed to boost her confidence a little and get her back on the horse.
Nolan gave her a cheeky wink. ‘Ha, you never know.’
For a moment, they stared at each other in contemplative silence, both smiling. Bea could feel the spark between them. She’d felt it the second she’d laid eyes on him. Wondering what his story was, she watched him closely whilst he rowed. Nolan was handsome, his thick chestnut hair wild on top. His lashes and deep hazel eyes were to die for. His face was tanned and he had that unshaven thing going on, which Bea found super sexy, and a beaming smile that showed a perfect set of teeth.
‘And according to the log, they spent most of the summer in Castaway Bay. Nights in front of a fire, sleeping under the stars, fishing for their food.’
‘It sounds like heaven.’ Bea had never experienced real romance. Carl had never swept her off her feet. Before she began to work nights his idea of a romantic night out was to sit in an old men’s pub and drink real ale. At times Bea had suggested the trendy new wine bar in town or even a cocktail at the local Slug and Lettuce for a change, but he never took her feelings into account. Bea was beginning to question how she’d stayed in the relationship for so long.
‘Do you know why it was only a summer romance? Why didn’t they continue to see each other?’
Nolan shrugged. ‘I’m not entirely sure. Sometimes you might not be on the same path, or at different stages of life…’ He shrugged. ‘I do know my grandfather still spoke about her on many occasions. Like I said, she was still in his thoughts near to the end of his life.’
‘She must have been a special person. Do you know if they ever met up again?’
Nolan shook his head. ‘Not to my knowledge. I would love to know what happened to Patsy. Did she remember my grandfather? That’s my reason for being here. I want to find out more about her, if possible. But there’s just one problem, I don’t have a surname. And who knows, maybe she was only here for the summer with her family.’
‘That is indeed a possibility. I never thought of that,’ admitted Bea. ‘It would be nice to find out more though.’
‘It would, so I hope something comes to light before the River Festival.’
‘I’ve got everything crossed for you … and, by the way, this is all so surreal!’ She spread her arms wide and rocked the boat.
‘Woah, keep still. I’m not going in twice.’
‘Sorry!’
This was the first time in ages she’d felt like she didn’t have a care in the world. She was enjoying every second of being in Nolan’s company. ‘Forty-eight hours ago, if anyone had told me I’d be in a rowing boat with a handsome stranger heading towards Castaway Bay, I’d have thought they were dreaming.’
‘Did you just call me handsome?’ There was a spark in Nolan’s eye as he asked the question.
‘Maybe…’ Bea bit her lip to suppress her smile. ‘And I wish I was more like you.’
‘In what way?’
