‘I manage the account. I couldn’t believe it when I came into work that day and saw your tree – and the next two –andthe forest.’And the girl… ‘You’re really talented.’
He looks embarrassed by the praise. ‘Nah, I was only messing.’
‘They were incredible!’ I enthuse. ‘Don’t underplay it! But you said you’re not an artist?’
He shakes his head. ‘I used to draw when I was younger. I haven’t in years.’
‘Why not?’
He wrinkles his nose cutely. ‘I guess because my parents discouraged it.’
‘Why?’ My thoughts divert to Mum and Dad, who alwayssupported my choices, even if they weren’t always the ones they would have made for me.
‘They wanted me to get a proper job.’ He doesn’t seem upset by this. His tone is accepting.
‘And did you?’ I can’t resist asking.
He gives me a small nod, but doesn’t meet my eyes as he opens up Seaglass’s Instagram account. ‘I was in the navy for a few years and then I moved to search and rescue.’
His voice is low as he scrolls through the images on his screen.
‘Wow! Doing what?’
‘Helicopter pilot.’
‘That’s so cool!’ I eagerly lean forward. ‘Where? Wales?’
He glances up, but his eyes don’t mirror my excitement. ‘Mostly the area in and around Snowdonia and the Irish Sea.’
‘You don’t sound Welsh. Where’s your accent from?’
‘Norfolk.’
‘Ah.’ It’s mild, only a slight lilt.
He drops his gaze to his phone again. I move the conversation along.
‘We don’t usually get that many comments on an Instagram post, so youaretalented, whether you like it or not,’ I point out, picking up my mug and taking a sip.
He glances up and full-ongrinsat me. He’sspectacularlyattractive when he smiles.
‘Did you write these posts too?’ he asks, tilting his phone to show me the second of his sand-art drawings.
‘Yes.’
‘Soyousaid, “We’d like a whole forest, please”?’ He reads from his phone and lifts his eyes once more to meet mine.
‘Yes.’
His expression is incredulous.
‘My friends and I thought you must’ve seen the post.’
‘No.’ He shakes his head. And then he chuckles and the sound is warm and deep andlovely.
‘Did you see me walking along the path you’d drawn?’
I suspect that he was the man sitting up on the cliffs, but he was so far away, I can’t be certain.
