‘I bet your mum is proud of what you’ve achieved.’
‘I wouldn’t think so.’ Sam stared out towards the restaurant, his cryptic comment leaving an awkward silence.
Verity sensed that his relationship with his mother might just be as unhealthy as the one she had with hers. Jimmy was now clambering out of the water and up onto the ramp. After shaking his body several times, he barked at the restaurant door. The door opened and a woman appeared. She waved across at Sam before letting Jimmy inside.
‘Wife, girlfriend?’ asked Verity, the words leaving her mouth before she could stop them.
‘That’s Robin, owner of Beachcomber Bakery. She’s dropping off the freshly baked bread for this evening.’
‘I’m a little disappointed that I won’t get to eat at the restaurant.’ What Verity didn’t add to that was that she was also a little disappointed that it was more than likely she wouldn’t see Sam again before she left, if he was working at the restaurant tonight. ‘I’m leaving in the early hours of the morning. I was thinking I’d park my van here tonight in the meantime.’ She pointed to a parking space just in front of the bay.
Sam looked up at the sky. ‘Now the black clouds have moved on, you should have the perfect view. It’s an amazing view at night, the harbour is lit up with fairy lights along with The Sea Glass Restaurant, it sparkles like diamonds on the water. I bet you won’t get any sleep – the view will be just breathtaking.’
‘Then I’ll try and sleep on the ferry tomorrow. It’s going to be a very long crossing.’
‘If you need a coffee and an early morning croissant, the Cosy Kettle is open throughout the night because of the early morning crossings.’ He pointed towards the coffee hut on the edge of the bay.
‘I’ll remember that.’
They both stared out to sea in a contemplative silence before Verity finally spoke. ‘It’s been lovely meeting you, Sam,’ she said. ‘Maybe I’ll call back at the island on my return journey and book a table at your restaurant.’
‘Maybe you should do that.’
Savouring the moment, Verity briefly closed her eyes and inhaled his woody, masculine aroma, which made her heart beat a little faster. When she opened her eyes, his blue gaze flashed towards her.
‘It must be nice knowing where you belong, especially in a place like this,’ she murmured. ‘I bet you want for nothing.’
‘I wouldn’t quite say that,’ he replied, running a hand through his hair, but he didn’t elaborate.
‘I’d best be off.’ Reluctantly, Verity turned and walked away with a little sashay. She suspected he was watching, so she gave him something to remember her by. When she dared to look back over her shoulder, she saw she’d been right. Her heart thrummed with adrenalin, a feeling she hadn’t experienced in ages. For the first time since planning her trip, Verity found she didn’t want tomorrow to come. In fact, she wished she could stay on the island for a little longer.
ChapterSix
Verity was parked for the night in a great spot overlooking the harbour. It was such a different view from her living room back home, which overlooked nothing more than number 50 on the other side of the street. For a little under an hour, she’d been sitting in a deck chair in front of the van, hugging a brew, staring out over the water and thinking what a difference a day makes.
The whole place had a sense of calm about it and for the first time in ages she felt happy being exactly where she was. She was no longer on edge, she could walk about freely without feeling anxious about bumping into her ex, she’d left the old street behind, and now, without the constant reminder of the ex’s betrayal, he was beginning to slip firmly out of her thoughts. Puffin Island was already beginning to heal her.
She planned to walk over to the pub a little after seven p.m. but for now she carried on people-watching. Along the beach children were running in and out of the sea, squealing with delight as the cold water splashed against their legs. Further on people dived from the boats that were moored a little way from the harbour and there was activity around the lighthouse – it looked like some sort of lifeboat drill. Verity couldn’t believe she was sitting here. She wondered once again what had brought her granny to Puffin Island in the first place. She wished she could find out more about the past. She hoped Clemmie would be in contact as soon as she’d spoken with her grandmother.
Meanwhile, she wondered if there was any other way to find out the names of the residents of the island in 1972, in case there was an islander whose initial was W. She also thought of Pete. He wasn’t the most approachable character but maybe she could blame that on herself for being nosey. He seemed around the right age to have been here that summer. Perhaps, if she took a stroll back to the cottage and apologised again, he might soften and they could chat about the postcard. But the more she thought about it, the more she feared a second shouting-match, and she decided against it. No, her main hope was Betty, as Clemmie had been adamant that she was a person who remembered everything.
Taking the opportunity to enjoy the warmth of the sun, Verity grabbed a small bucket from the back of the van and kicked off her shoes. She wanted to hunt for keepsakes along the sandy bay to remind herself of her first visit – first, because she already knew she would be back one day. It was like a treasure hunt, walking up and down the shore edge, scanning it for glass gems. Dozens of beautiful sea gems sparkled at her. It reminded her of a time her granny had taken her to the beach. They spent the afternoon on the sand and after a picnic they’d collected a bucket full of sea glass. To Verity’s amazement, her granny had turned those gems into a bracelet. She glanced at her wrist, which that very bracelet still clasped. She treasured that day; it would always be one she remembered. Even though her granny had passed a long time back, she was suddenly awash with emotion. In this moment, here on Puffin Island, she felt so close to her.
* * *
A couple of hours later, Verity had changed her clothes. She opted for a simple striped summer dress that stopped above her knees, along with a loose cardigan, and slipped her feet into her battered white Converse. She enjoyed the walk to The Olde Ship Inn, chirping ‘Good evening’ to everyone she passed. Outside the pub, the wooden tables and benches were full of people enjoying the last of the sun before the warmth ebbed away. The clear azure sky was a perfect backdrop for the traditional pub, with Blue Water Bay in the distance, and Verity took a moment to stop and admire the view before stepping inside. The pub was exactly as she’d imagined it, full of nautical charm and olde-worlde character, with its low oak-beamed ceilings and open fireplace, which no doubt roared all day every day in the height of winter. The ambience was perfect, a proper pub, with tourists drinking the local beer and dogs sprawled out at their owners’ feet under the tables.
She immediately spotted Amelia at the bar, serving customers. Amelia beamed and waved her towards an empty stool at the end of the bar.
‘We’ve saved you a seat here next to Clemmie.’
‘We’re glad you’ve made it,’ Clemmie said warmly.
‘A night in the local? I wasn’t going to miss that.’ Verity climbed onto the high bar stool as Amelia slid a couple of beers over the bar towards them. ‘Puffin Island beer, not just for puffins, and on the house. I’ve already cleared it with the owners, Cora and Dan. I know your trip to Puffin Island is a short one, but have you enjoyed your day?’
‘Thank you, that’s very kind. I have! And this is the perfect end to my visit. I actually don’t want to go home. Not that I’m going home for six months, but you know what I mean.’
‘This place captures the heart,’ agreed Amelia. ‘I don’t want to wake up anywhere else in the world. I see you’ve parked over at the bay. You’ve picked a great spot.’
