Verity was hit with surprise. ‘How do you know that?’
Clemmie grinned and pointed to the brown-paper-wrapped book in Verity’s hand. ‘Everyone knows everything on Puffin Island!’ She laughed. ‘My best friend is Amelia. You think she’s sat there typing away, creating her first novel, but the nine texts I’ve received in the last ten minutes would suggest she has time on her hands in that bookshop. She’s not a gossip but she told me that if a girl – so tall, messy bun, wearing shorts – walks in with a twinge of green to her complexion, then I need to be extra-special nice. I take it the ferry crossing got you?’
Verity laughed. ‘Good and proper. I’m not sure I can face it again so soon but I’m due back to the port tomorrow to catch a fifteen-hour ride to Amsterdam.’
‘I have to say I don’t envy you, but there is a simple solution.’
‘Which is?’
‘Just stay on Puffin Island! Park your van at the bay. What could be better than waking up to the waves crashing against the sand and the gulls circulating up above.’
‘You make it sound so appealing and easy.’
‘It is easy. We have a hundred and sixty residents on the island, but we’re always looking for more recruits. Unfortunately, it’s very rare that a property comes up for sale.’
‘Is everyone this lovely on Puffin Island?’ Verity replied, her imagination running wild. ‘It would be living the dream, waking up to that view.’ She glanced out of the open window towards the bay.
Clemmie pulled out a chair for Verity at a table in front of the window. ‘This is the best seat in the tearoom and as your visit to the island is a short one, you deserve it.’
‘Amelia really didn’t miss anything out, did she?’ said Verity with a smile, taking the seat. ‘Apparently it won’t be my last visit.’
‘Everyone comes back.’ Clemmie smiled. ‘I can’t ever imagine living anywhere else.’
‘It’s utterly stunning and picturesque. I honestly feel like I’m on a movie set.’
‘It is a very special place.’
‘But I have to say I’ve not seen a puffin yet, which is a bit disappointing.’
Clemmie pointed. ‘You head over that way before you travel to your next destination and you won’t be disappointed any longer. Believe me, there are thousands. Though I’ve always thought that when you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. I can’t tell them apart. Now, you’re booked in for a traditional afternoon tea, so there’s a choice of traditional finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with strawberry preserve and Puffin Island clotted cream made right here, along with delicate sweet treats and for the touch of elegance, we can add a glass of prosecco.’
Verity’s mouth was already watering. ‘That sounds like the perfect plan.’
‘In that case, all that’s left for me to say is welcome to The Café by the Coast, aka Betty Rose’s Tearoom. I’ll be back with you very soon.’
Verity watched as Clemmie walked behind the counter and pushed open the swinging kitchen door. This had been a good choice. Pulling on the string around her recent purchase, Verity opened the book and read the opening paragraph before turning to the window and watching the people wandering down Lighthouse Lane towards the sea.
Clemmie soon reappeared, holding a tea stand with three individual floral china plates.
‘Woah! Look at this! This can’t be for one person.’
‘It sure is! You take your time though, the table is yours for as long as you’d like it. Sit back and enjoy the best afternoon tea I can guarantee you’ll ever have. I’ll bring you a pot of tea and a glass of prosecco, but is there anything else I can get you?’
‘I think you’ve covered everything,’ replied Verity, taking a cucumber finger sandwich from the plate. ‘This is definitely the life,’ she murmured as Clemmie hurried off, soon returning with the drinks.
Verity held up the prosecco glass. ‘Cheers, and thanks for making me feel so welcome. I’m so glad I decided to jump on the ferry to come and check out the island. Would you believe my granny used to tell me stories about Puffin Island when I was a small girl? I thought it was make-believe and it was only yesterday I discovered that this place actually existed. My granny described it so well I actually feel like I’ve been here many times.’
‘Wow! How did you discover we aren’t all make-believe?’
‘Funnily enough, a postcard from the past! I’ve rented out my house for six months and in preparing it for the renters I removed an old, sealed postbox. Inside I discovered a postcard from Puffin Island that had been lying there, unread, for decades.’
Clemmie’s eyes widened. ‘A postcard from Puffin Island. Decades old. Wow!’
‘And that’s when I realised this place must be real and my granny must have been here at some point. I don’t know whether it was for a holiday or whether she stayed for a while, so I was hoping to do a little digging whilst I’m here.’
‘Who was the postcard from? Everyone knows everyone here so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find out.’
‘That’s the thing, it doesn’t really say. But whoever it was from apparently can’t imagine their life without her.’
