Perry stared up at the man towering above them.
‘This is Perry, Daddy!’ trilled Bunty excitedly. ‘He’s come to meet you.’
‘Has he indeed,’ Hamish said flatly, then proceeded to walk past onto the landing into an upper room, clearly dismissing them and leaving Bunty a touch embarrassed.
‘He’ll come down later,’ she tried to smooth over the situation. Perry didn’t want him to. In fact, he’d rather not have to see him at all. He’d caught the man’s measure; he was clearly trespassing onhisterritory and withhisdaughter.
Now matter how much Bunty had tried to coax her father into liking or even accepting Perry, Hamish refused point blank to cooperate. He rebuffed the boy’s presence and eventually banned him from the house. Hamish’s control over his only child was unhealthy – obsessive even. He had attempted to forbid Bunty from seeing Perry, on the grounds he was ‘simply not good enough’ for her, but not even he had the power to stop his formidable daughter. Bunty still met him, albeit in secret, something Perry had resented.
And that resentment began to build momentum. Bunty was forever clock watching, anxious to return home when she was with him. Her father had way too much influence over her; it wasn’t natural for a woman of twenty-one to be treated in such a way. When he’d voiced his thoughts, Bunty became defensive, eager to protect her father. Daddy was on his own; Daddy didn’t have Mummy any more; she was all he had.
What about him?Didn’t they have a future together? Would they constantly have to meet in hiding, only enjoying snatched time? Why shouldn’t she be able to live a normal life, have a boyfriend, one day get married? The whole scenario verged on the ridiculous and was totally unfair on Bunty.
Then it had all come to a head one summer’s evening. They were having a picnic on his little fishing boat. Enjoying the champagne he had bought, they sat together on the deck, gently bobbing up and down, listening to the water as it lapped against the sides. Perry had suddenly presented a ring, a stunning aquamarine diamond which glittered in the last of the sun’s rays. Bunty gasped at its beauty.
‘Marry me, Bunty,’ Perry had said, praying this time it would be different, that by producing a ring, it would sway her. For a brief moment, the light in her eyes told him it had – thathecame first – but then the shadow of defeat cast over her face. And it was at this point he knew he’d lost. Hamish Deville would always come first place.
He had to leave, get out of Samphire Bay. There was no way Perry could carry on with the status quo, pretending he was happy, or even tolerated the impossible situation her father had callously created. It wasn’t natural. It was toxic. Two young people in love ought to be allowed to be together. Of course they should. But Perry knew that was never going to be, not with Bunty and her controlling, vindictive father.
In the end he sailed away. He collected all his belongings from his rented fisherman’s cottage, put them in his boat and set off for a new beginning. The only possession he left was his trunk containing some of their most treasured memories.
He’d seen her though, waving frantically, calling out for him. Too little, too late. Bunty had made her choice. He raised his hand and flicked the side of his head, an acknowledgment and a final goodbye.
Hamish Deville was delighted at the boy’s move. He even bought the fishermen’s cottages, thereby making sure Perry could never come back and live there again. He took Bunty away on holiday, the French Riviera, in an attempt to cheer her up. It didn’t. As the years went on, even Hamish had to admit that his daughter would in fact never get over losing the wretched boy.Sucha waste to see Bunty so miserable, but still, at least she was here with him.
Chapter 15
Jack saw the transit van drive up to the cottage, pulling a trailer with the digger he’d hired. He went out to help direct the machinery into Jasmine’s back garden. She was out, so all was quiet. Robin was due to arrive later that morning, so he’d be the one levelling the garden. Jack was going to be busy installing the cast iron bath he had finally found in a house clearance.
After the trailer had safely been parked at the bottom of Jasmine’s garden, Jack gave the driver the thumbs up.
‘OK here?’ called the driver, getting out of the van to unload.
‘Yes, thanks mate,’ nodded Jack.
Soon the Bobcat was being slowly driven down the slope of the trailer onto the lawn. Once finished, Jack went to join the driver.
‘Cheers, we’ll be done with it by tomorrow afternoon I’d say.’
‘No worries, just give us a call,’ he replied, climbing back into his van.
Jack looked at the brand new vehicle.
‘Business doing well, Adrian?’ he asked, tipping his head toward the shiny, new van.
Adrian turned his head sharply.
‘Er… yes. The old one was knackered, sold it for scrap,’ he answered a tad abruptly, then quickly started up the engine. Without any hesitation he drove off, and Jack frowned. Clearly a busy man, he thought.
Later, when Jasmine came back from her swim, she was pleased to see the Bobcat had been delivered. She was keen to get on with the studio and was looking forward to creating her very own workspace.
Meanwhile, Robin had just arrived next door. He too was pleased to see the digger in situ, ready to start work.
‘Hi, Rob, the digger’s arrived,’ Jack told him as he entered the kitchen.
‘So I see,’ Robin said, peering out of the window.
‘Fancy giving me a hand with this bath before you start next door?’ asked Jack.
