I recalled Noelle saying that parking in town on a Saturday took time, and she would know all the best places to park whereas I would have to search for them. It was such a beautifulday, so I decided to walk. I’d checked the map and it didn’t look that far.
I threw my jacket, scarf, and gloves back on and headed towards the wooden bridge.
From the car park, the lane I’d driven up earlier, led back down to a fork, and one of those was the way to Fairlight Bay. But there was also a footpath that took a route across the fields and hills and that would be much shorter, so I followed that rather than take the lane.
Despite all the recent rain, the ground was firm underfoot and the walk was pleasant and peaceful, only improved by the wonderful birdsong that serenaded me most of the way. Although the path was longer than I’d anticipated and I was pleased to finally reach the town. I was also glad I’d worn my low-heeled ankle boots today.
Memories came flooding back and I recognised several buildings, shops, and restaurants as I walked. I spotted Fairlight Bakes Café, where Adele had told me she worked as a waitress, and I noticed it had a bakery attached. That was clearly where the Artisan loaf in my welcome pack had been baked. I now knew where to come each day if I wanted freshly baked bread. Or perhaps I could simply ask Adele to bring some back with her after her shifts. Or would that be rather cheeky? I didn’t recall seeing the place the last time I was in Fairlight Bay, but at eighteen, bread had been the last thing on my mind. Especially after I’d met Sam. Its navy and white frontage looked pristine, but the swinging signage of a baker and some bread could easily have been ten years old, or more. I could simply ask Adele the next time I saw her.
The town was heaving with people, the glorious weather having no doubt brought everyone out after so many dreary days of nothing but rain. Assuming Fairlight Bay had experienced similar weather to that in Kingston upon Thames. So much forgetting away from the hustle and bustle of my own town. I don’t remember this place being that busy the last time I was here.
I stopped and admired the window display of a bridal shop called Fairlight Brides. That was definitely a new addition. It was smaller than the shop I helped run with my mum, but the window display was equally impressive. I couldn’t stop the loud and lengthy sigh from escaping. Would I ever be a bride?
‘You’d looked beautiful in that dress.’ I was lost in my thoughts and I hadn’t seen the elderly woman, and her little Dachshund, approach until she stood beside me and spoke. ‘When’s the big day?’
‘What? Oh! Erm. There isn’t one. That is, I’m not engaged.’
‘Forgive me, my dear.’ Her expression was apologetic, tinged with a hint of sadness. ‘My hubby always says I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. But there was a look on your face that … Oh well. There’s no harm in dreaming, is there?’
I snorted somewhat derisively. ‘I don’t even have a boyfriend now, so there probably is.’ I hadn’t intended to be rude, so I forced a smile. ‘We broke up a couple of days ago, but we’re still friends. The reason I was admiring the dress was because it’s similar to one I designed. My mum and I own a bridal shop in Kingston upon Thames, and an online business together, and I design a few wedding dresses from time to time.’
‘Well I never,’ the woman said, her eyes wide and her smile matching. ‘I run a bridal shop too. This one, as it happens.’ She chuckled and, although I might have imagined it, so did her dog. But perhaps he was simply chomping on the toy he was holding in his mouth. ‘What a small world!’
‘It’s a beautiful shop.’
‘Thank you, my dear. Are you here on holiday? You mentioned Kingston upon Thames. My hubby took me there once, many years ago now. We went to the Royal Park at Richmond, andtook a boat trip to Hampton Court. We often said we’d go back, but we haven’t done so yet.’
‘That’s a shame,’ I said. ‘And yes. I’m here on holiday. I’m renting a cottage in Midwinter.’
She glanced up towards Midwinter Ridge. ‘On Midwinter Lane?’ Her grey brows knit together and her silver curls danced as she shook her head. ‘Stock up on provisions, my dear. There’s a blizzard on the way.’
‘Really?’ I looked up at the bright blue sky and then closed my eyes at the sun, feeling the warmth of it on my face. A blizzard seemed highly unlikely. Even rain didn’t seem possible today.
‘Mark my words.’ Her tone was serious, and when I opened my eyes and met hers, I could see she was sincere. Even her Dachshund shook his head, his long ears flapping as if he were shaking off the bitter cold to come. ‘We’ll have snow this weekend.’
‘Thanks for the warning. I’ll be sure to stock up.’ My stomach rumbled as if on cue, and I laughed. ‘I arrived today and I was on my way to have lunch. It was lovely to meet you.’
‘It was lovely to meet you too,’ she said. ‘I’m Tilly, and this is Billy.’ She grinned. ‘My hubby’s name is Willy.’
I almost spat out a laugh. ‘I’m Lucy,’ I replied, maintaining as much of my composure as I could.
‘Pop in for a cup of tea if you’re passing this way again.’
‘Thank you. That would be lovely. Weather permitting, of course.’
She winked at me and smiled as she took out a bunch of keys and slid one into the lock of her shop door, having clearly closed for lunch, and probably, to walk her Dachshund, Billy.
‘You’ll see,’ she said, stepping inside with Billy trotting in behind her. ‘Just make sure you’re snowed in with someone you like.’
‘Chance would be a fine thing,’ I replied, waving as I turned to walk away.
Market Square was just ahead, although there wasn’t an actual market as such, there today. And it wasn’t really a square. The market was only held on Thursdays, although I remember Sam saying that during the festive season it was held on Saturdays too, and Market Square was more of a rectangular shape, with shops dotted around the edges.
Still smiling from my encounter with Tilly and Billy, and wondering what Willy looked like, I made my way towards the promenade. When I was last in Fairlight Bay the promenade housed several shops and restaurants. It would be lovely to have lunch overlooking the sea on a beautiful day like today. Although inside a restaurant rather than outside. The sun was shining, but a slight chill hung in the air as I walked towards the sea. Or perhaps I was imagining that.
Fairlight Bay Sailing Club, the place where I had first met Sam, sat in the middle of the long expanse of the paved promenade. It was a three-storey building with a shop front on the promenade level, an upper storey with the clubhouse and a wide balcony on which members could sit, and a lower storey where the boats and sails and all the ancillary equipment was stored. Large metal doors opened from here, onto a long concrete boat ramp that sat atop the pebbled beach and led right down into the sea.
Sam had not only been a member of the sailing club, but a sailing instructor when I met him, so I didn’t want to go as far as the sailing club today, just in case, by some quirk of fate, I should bump into him. Seeing him again after all these years, on my first day here, would be difficult to say the least.
