‘I’m just enjoying spending time with him,’ Verity replied, but she knew it was more than that. Already Sam was constantly on her mind and every time she set eyes on him every inch of her body began tingling.
‘Mmm. I’ve known a lot of women stranded on that causeway over the years but he’s never taken any of them in.’
‘What can I say?’ She grinned. ‘But…can I ask you something in confidence?’
‘Of course.’ Clemmie took a step closer and leaned in.
‘What happened between Sam and Alice?’
‘It’s no secret that Sam was engaged to Alice. Sam could have the pick of any girl, and many tourists had tried, but when she walked on to this island, she managed to get his attention. They were in the same line of business – they both had restaurants – and it seemed she fell in love with Sam, but Puffin Island wasn’t enough for her. They had a very public proposal but their engagement fell apart when she chose her career over him.’
‘Could she not have had both?’
‘You need to ask Sam that. Anyway, since Alice there’s been no one. He’s thrown himself into work, become part of the Puffin Island committee, which is all about doing what’s best for the people that live here, and stayed away from women…until you.’
‘He’s not interested in me. He’s quite clearly stated he’s better off on his own.’
‘And you believe that? I saw the way he was looking at you in the pub.’
‘Any type of heartbreak is difficult to get over,’ replied Verity. The past six months had been difficult for her, but Puffin Island had started to put her heart back together so quickly. She was excited about the future for the first time in ages. ‘I’d best get going. I’m off counting puffins!’
‘I wouldn’t like to be in your shoes if you’re late. Pete is a stickler for timekeeping. I’ll let my grandmother know you’ll pop in later.’
‘Perfect.’ Verity couldn’t wait to hear what Betty remembered about the past and she couldn’t wait to ask her about the postcard’s secret.
* * *
It took a little over ten minutes to reach the top of the cliff. Surrounded by such stunning views, the walk was very therapeutic. Verity could hear nothing except the slapping of the waves against the rocks and the shore below, and the calls of the gulls circling above the whitewashed cliffs. She took in the magnificent view and thought about her conversation with Ava. She’d joked about staying on the island, which prompted a host of other questions. Where would she live? What would she do for a living? And what did she have to go back to Staffordshire for? Yes, she had a house, but she didn’t have to live in it for the rest of her life. Home was where your heart is, after all, and she was coming to realise that her heart was no longer in that place. Twelve months ago, if anyone had told her she would be single, giving up her job and renting out her house, she would have thought them deluded. But now here she was, and the street she’d left behind couldn’t compare in excitement with this island. Ava had convinced her to be brave and embark on this journey, and now being here seemed like the most natural thing in the world.
Hearing voices carried by the breeze, Verity looked ahead to see the group of rangers standing outside Cliff Top Cottage, each holding a clipboard. As soon as Pete spotted her he smiled. ‘Here she is, I told you she wouldn’t let us down. Everyone, this is Verity, a fully qualified veterinary assistant who will be helping us over the next few days.’
After all the introductions were made, the rangers began walking slowly towards the cliff top. ‘We’re going to be working together,’ Pete informed her as he handed her a clipboard and a pen. ‘Have you got a drink? And you may need sun cream.’
Verity held up her bag. ‘Drinks and snacks are in here and I smothered myself in sun cream just before I left.’ She pulled on Sam’s hat and they followed the other rangers. ‘Have you always been involved in the census?’ she asked.
‘Yes,’ Pete replied, looking out over the cliffs. ‘And always been obsessed with puffins. I can sit and watch them for hours and most days that’s exactly what I do.’ He pointed. ‘We’re heading that way. We have the same routine each year: we split off into the different areas and each take a section. We start at the lowest point and work our way up to the highest.’ Verity noticed that the rangers had scattered in different directions. ‘Watch your footing as we descend – sometimes the gravel can cause you to slip.’
He pointed to the route they were taking and they began to follow the narrow path.
Suddenly Verity stopped in her tracks and grabbed Pete’s arm. She swung a glance around the cliff top, petrified.
‘What is it?’ Pete’s eyes widened in concern.
‘Cows, I can’t do cows. I’m terrified of cows.’
‘Cows?’
‘There it is again! That loud mooing. Pete, I really can’t do cows. Why are they up here on a cliff?’ Verity was still clutching Pete’s arm for dear life. ‘They chased me once through a field and I honestly thought I was going to die. Like they say in the movies, my life flashed before my eyes. I ended up scrabbling through a pile of nettles to escape.’
‘What are you going on about? When was the last time you saw cows up on the cliffs?’
‘It’s not that unusual, surely? You get sheep and goats all the time.’
‘Usually in the mountains, not on the cliffs on Puffin Island, otherwise we would have had to rename this place Cow Island.’ He smiled at her. ‘And you can let go of my arm. It’s about to be bitten to death by puffins, never mind you squeezing the life out of it first.’
‘Sorry, sorry… Woah! There it is again.’
Pete was still smiling.
