‘No, you throw it,’ she said.
Nolan threw the bottle and then took Bea’s hand again.
With a splash it hit the water and bobbed a little. They watched in silence for a moment.
‘I wonder if anyone will ever find it,’ Bea mused.
‘You never know,’ replied Nolan, turning to face her. Staring deep into Nolan’s eyes, Bea held up a fist in front of her chest. Nolan did the same and they gave each other a fist bump.
‘I declare this Hemingway and Fernsby cased officially closed,’ murmured Bea, her voice cracking with emotion.
After hugging each other tightly, they turned back towards their picnic.
‘Look!’ Bea dropped Nolan’s hand and began to chase away the cheeky flock of gulls that had landed on their sandwiches.
‘It’s too late, there’s hardly anything left.’ She shook her head in disbelief but deep inside was thankful for the light-hearted moment because all she wanted to do was break down and sob her heart out.
‘Shall we take a walk by the festival huts on the riverbank? I’m sure we’ll pick up some food there.’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ replied Bea, picking up the leftovers and wrapping them up in the foil again.
‘And I’ve just had another thought – should I offer to sail Martha and the rest of the family and friends to The Lakehouse this afternoon in The Hemingway?’
‘I think that sounds perfect. And if we time the end of the meal right, we could all join the parade as planned,’ enthused Bea.
‘Come on, let’s get back.’
* * *
As they rowed away from Castaway Bay, Bea looked for the bottle but it was nowhere to be seen. People came into your life for different reasons, she thought. Nolan was someone who had taught her she could live again and change what she wasn’t happy about in her life.
If only she could change that he would be leaving by the end of the day.
ChapterTwenty-Six
Bea and Nolan had spent a couple of hours packing away the floating gallery to make room for Martha and her guests. Martha was over the moon to sail on The Hemingway and thanks to Isla there were balloons and banners – left over from decorating The Lakehouse – adorning the deck. The boat looked magnificent and neither Bea nor Nolan could wait to celebrate Martha’s special birthday.
Bea had then disappeared back to the attic room to get ready and was engulfed with pure panic. Searching through the rail of clothes she’d packed for her two-week holiday she realised there was nothing suitable for today’s special occasion.
Julia picked the phone up after three rings.
‘Julia! I need help and fast! Unless I’m going to Martha’s birthday in a red bikini, I have nothing new to wear!’
Bea was met by laughter. ‘And you will be the talk of the town.’
‘Do you have anything I could borrow?’
‘I’m actually just about to walk down to the river and have a browse around the stalls; I’ll bring you a selection and if there isn’t anything suitable, there’s only one thing for it – you’ll have to be the talk of the town. I’ll see you in ten.’
Hanging up, Bea felt relieved. Anything that Julia could muster had to be better than the clothes she’d packed. At some point, she knew, she would have to travel back to Staffordshire to collect her belongings, but there was also excitement at the thought of starting afresh with all new belongings and clothes, and making her new life all about her.
Sitting in the window, waiting for Julia, Bea watched the River Festival in full spate. The river-bank was heaving. Set up outside The Little Blue Boathouse was a number of different carnival games, like hook-a-duck and ring toss. The Old Bakehouse was selling pretzels, chocolate-covered apples and mini doughnuts, Bumblebee Cottage was selling their wonderful homemade chutneys and honey, and Layers Treats, the chocolate shop, had a long queue of children who were holding their money in one hand and a colourful balloon tightly in the other. Bea smiled at the sight of the marching band and the flags flapping in the light breeze. Looking across to The Hemingway she noticed Nolan walking over the ramp towards the jetty where Flynn was waiting for him. They disappeared on to Flynn’s boat and Bea wondered what that was all about, but she didn’t think about it for long as Julia shouted up to her.
Bea poked her head through the hatch and was met by the sight of Julia laden with an armful of dresses.
‘We have every colour under the sun!’
‘You’re not wrong,’ remarked Bea, hurrying down the ladder. ‘Look at these, you could open up a clothes shop.’
