‘Drivers must take more responsibility and read the tide times. Oh, and stop ignoring the signs that it’s not safe to cross. They don’t take it seriously, and lives are at risk. Not forgetting the fact that the cost of rescues is increasing every year,’ added Sam.
‘Barriers would make no difference.’
Verity realised the voice coming from the front of the hall was Pete.
‘You’re always going to get people who think they know better.’
‘I second Pete. Automatic barriers on the causeway will disrupt lives and cause potential problems in emergency situations,’ stated Cora.
‘Hear hear,’ said Pete and everyone sitting on the right side of the room voiced their agreement.
‘It’s a risk living on the island,’ Sam replied, ‘because ambulances can’t get through when the tide is high, making it difficult getting people to hospital in an emergency. We all know that, and accept it. The fact of the matter is that barriers will help to save lives.’
Pete stood up and pointed towards Sam. ‘We all know what happened many years ago. The tide was high when that tourist suffered a heart attack and the ambulance couldn’t get across the causeway, and neither the rescue helicopters nor the inshore lifeboat was available. That man was saved because the coastguard Land Rover was able to drive through three-feet-deep water on the causeway to the waiting ambulance on the mainland. If there were automatic barriers it wouldn’t have been able to get through and that man would have probably died.’
The argument was beginning to get heated.
‘It sounded like you cared there for a moment, Pete. It’s a shame people died onyourcoastguard watch.’
The crowd fell quiet and Verity could hear sharply indrawn breaths all around the room. She wasn’t sure what was going on here but it was obvious this had nothing to do with automatic barriers anymore.
‘There’s no need to get personal, Sam,’ said the woman Verity had followed from the antique shop. ‘That was a bit below the belt.’
There was a murmur of agreement around the room.
Red-faced, Pete stood up. ‘I can’t listen to any more of this.’ Clutching his flat cap, he walked straight out of the hall, catching Verity’s eye as he passed. There were tears in his eyes and she could see that he was genuinely upset. She cast a glance back towards Sam, who raked his hand through his hair.
‘Automatic barriers will help to save more lives than not. If it wasn’t for me seeing yet another tourist without any common sense driving along the causeway this morning, then they would have been stranded with no means of communication. Their own stupidity could have resulted in their death.’
Verity didn’t want to hear any more. She stood up and immediately caught Sam’s eye. She stared at him with a cold expression. She wasn’t stupid; the clock had stopped. He knew it had been a genuine mistake and yet he’d made her out to be a complete idiot. She was fuming. People were inevitably going to find out it was her, because no doubt word would get round the island very quickly. From the look of surprise that quickly registered on Sam’s face, she knew he was shocked to see her there. They continued to stare at each other for a brief second before she haughtily turned and walked out of the hall. He had no right to talk about her in that way, and it was unkind to talk to Pete that way in front of everyone, no matter what was going on between them. Pete was entitled to his opinion, just like everyone else.
Already striding across the bay, Pete was heading towards the cliff path when he stopped, wiped his handkerchief across his brow and sat down on a nearby bench. Verity was a little unsure what she had witnessed but she knew that was a side to Sam she didn’t like at all, and she felt bad for Pete. She walked towards the bench.
‘Pete, are you okay?’
He turned and looked towards her. ‘Do I know you?’ he said, stuffing his handkerchief back in his pocket.
‘I was up on the cliff top yesterday and you asked me to leave. I shouldn’t have been on your property and I want to apologise. And…I’m not sure what was going on in there but I don’t like to see anyone upset.’
‘You’re not a resident; you shouldn’t have been in there.’
‘I’m this morning’s idiot.’ She hoped admitting to it would soften Pete a little, but unfortunately that didn’t seem to be the case.
‘It’s people like you that help his cause to get those barriers installed. It’s not difficult to understand that you shouldn’t drive on the causeway at certain times. If there’s water over the road, stay clear.’ He stood abruptly and walked off, leaving Verity standing there in silence, watching him head towards the coastal path. She perched on the bench wondering what the hell Sam and Pete’s argument was really about. She really didn’t like the way Sam had spoken about her, or spoken to Pete.
Being a professional businessman, Sam should know there were ways of getting your point across without making personal attacks on others. Hearing voices behind her she turned to find that the islanders were beginning to spill out of the building and disperse. She spotted Sam immediately but he quickly turned away. She didn’t mind; he was the last person she wanted to get into conversation with at the minute.
‘Here she is, the village idiot Sam has just been talking about. There’s always one, you know.’ Clemmie gave a chuckle. ‘Nice outfit, by the way. I used to wear something similar.’
Verity’s two new friends were grinning as they plonked themselves either side of her on the bench.
‘You’re not funny! And don’t try and make me smile. I’m livid. Who does he think he is, calling me an idiot in front of the whole island? It was a genuine mistake.’
Amelia nudged her elbow. ‘It’s a little funny. Fancy driving over the causeway when you could actually see water on the road.’
‘Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I honestly just thought it must be really shallow as I had checked the tide times but…’
‘Ahh, don’t worry about Sam, he’s just very passionate about saving lives. Though sometimes he expresses it a littletoopassionately. It doesn’t help that the island is completely divided about what to do.’
