Page 4 of Snowflakes Over Micklewick Bay

She sensed the weight of his gaze on her as she checked the road was clear before she dashed to the other side. She didn’t look back as she raced along the path, taking a left onto Resolution Row. She didn’t stop running until she got back to her car.

Her brief visit to Micklewick Bay had been nothing if not eventful.

FOUR

It was only once she was in the small confines of her little car that relief swept through Hannah. She flopped back into her seat. It didn’t matter that the metal roof of her vehicle intensified the volume of the hailstones, making it sound as if hundreds of tiny bullets were raining down on it, she was just thankful to be out of that savage Baltic wind and, more importantly, away from Lachie. She gave a shiver as she tucked her bag into the footwell behind her seat. That done, she pushed the key into the ignition and turned the heater and air vents on full blast; it would take a while for the warmth to kick in and the condensation to clear from the windows. Grabbing the chamois leather-covered sponge she kept in the driver’s door pocket, she swiped a porthole shape in the windscreen big enough for her to see out of before turning to her side window and doing the same there. Hannah couldn’t remember ever feeling so cold; it was as if it had seeped into her bones, chilling her to the core. Her coat and jumper were drenched, and her trousers were sticking to her legs, triggering a rash of chilly goosebumps, which didn’t help. Her teeth were chattering noisily as she nosed out of the junction from Resolution Row and onto the top prom. She couldn’t wait to get back to Fern Cottage and the peace and quiet of Beckinthwaite.

Her heart was still thumping after her dash up Resolution Row and her near miss with Lachie. She winced at the reminder of how angry he’d been with her. Of all people, what were the chances she’d run into him – or, more accurately, his campervan? Whatever it was, the moment had acted as a reminder of just how out-of-the-way attractive he was and the feelings she’d once had for him, how deep they’d run. Though that particular thought made a hasty exit as a worry flashed through her mind, sending panic wriggling in her stomach. Did he know Darryl? Is that why he was here in Micklewick Bay? Her stomach clenched. Had Lachie moved here since she’d last lived in the town? If so, there was a chance he could know all about her family situation. She quickly told herself she was being paranoid – why would he even think to associate me with Darryl? – that she was worrying unnecessarily and blowing everything out of proportion, which was understandable after what she’d just learnt that morning. All the same, it made her determined to get out of Micklewick Bay as quickly as possible.

‘Forget about him, Hannah, he’s not worth it. Move on! You’ve got too many other, more important things to think about,’ she told herself sternly, as she peered through the windscreen and took the junction for the top prom. The one saving grace was that though Roly had clearly recognised her, Lachie hadn’t. Talk about a lucky escape.

Hannah hadn’t got far when she spotted Florrie and Gerty hurrying along, both sporting an impressive covering of hailstones. It pushed all thoughts of Lachie from her mind. For a fleeting moment, Hannah toyed with the idea of driving straight on, but the kindness Florrie had shown meant that her conscience kicked in. She slowed the car as she drew alongside her, carefully pulling into one of the many vacant parking spaces. She gave the horn a couple of toots, causing the young woman to glance over, squinting through her glasses as she continued on her way. It struck Hannah that Florrie wouldn’t recognise her car so wouldn’t know the beeps were to attract her attention. She quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and jumped out of the car.

‘Florrie! Florrie!’ Hannah had to shout to be heard above the noise of the hailstones. ‘Florrie!’ she called again, relieved when the other woman stopped and turned to look at her. Hannah waved. ‘Can I give you a lift to the bookshop?’

Florrie hurried over, Gerty trotting alongside her. ‘That would be lovely, but are you sure you don’t mind? Gerty’s a bit soggy.’

‘I don’t mind at all, I’m soggy, too! She’ll be fine in the back; it’s just a short journey – but a long one if you have to walk there in this weather. Come on, jump in.’ Hannah and Florrie exchanged a smile as Hannah opened the rear door and Gerty hopped inside. The look of relief on Florrie’s face said it all.

‘Blimey, I’m glad you turned up when you did; Gerty and me would’ve been drenched not to mention absolutely nithered by the time we got to the bookshop. Just goes to show how the weather can change in a heartbeat on the North Yorkshire coast.’ Florrie got herself settled into the front passenger seat, placing her backpack in the footwell and fastening her seatbelt.

‘Yeah, it’s the same on the moors.’ Hannah checked the road before carefully reversing her car out of the parking space. She hoped conditions weren’t too bad back in Beckinthwaite. If Florrie thought the weather could change quickly here, then she’d be in for a shock at how dramatically it could swing from sunshine to snow blizzards in a heartbeat on the moors, making the roads treacherous for driving, and at times impassable.

‘Oh gosh, I’d forgotten you live over that way now – Beckinthwaite, if I remember rightly?’

Hannah nodded. ‘Yeah, that’s right.’

‘Thought so. I should imagine it’s much worse there, with it being on higher ground than Micklewick Bay.’ Florrie paused, thoughtful for a moment. ‘Are you heading straight back there now?’

‘I am; thought it best before the weather gets any worse.’ In truth, Hannah had nowhere else to go except for the home she’d shared with her Auntie Colleen, but she decided Florrie didn’t need to know that; she didn’t want to come across as feeling sorry for herself and she certainly didn’t want the other woman’s pity.

‘Well, that’s all the more reason for you to let me know when you’re back home and tucked up safe and cosy in front of the fire.’ Florrie reached into her backpack and pulled out a tissue. She took off her glasses. ‘Will you be okay?’ she asked, as she proceeded to dry the lenses.

Hannah could sense Florrie looking at her as she drove. ‘Granted, my little banger’s ancient but it’s a four-wheel drive and I had winter tyres fitted last November when it was in for its service, so it should be fine.’ At least, she hoped it would be. Much as she’d lived on the moors for years, she still wasn’t a fan of driving in the snow, especially on the exposed spots high up on the moortop where the drifts could bring you to a sudden halt, not to mention the steep hills and sheer drops down valley sides. She slowed the car as she approached the junction at the top of Skitey Bank; the steep, winding road that linked Micklewick Bay with the bottom prom and the quaint fishermen’s cottages of Old Micklewick had a worrying sheen of hailstones covering its surface. She indicated to take a right, giving the circle she’d cleared in the steamed-up side window another wipe. ‘But I’ll be sure to let you know when I’m back.’

‘Thanks.’ Florrie slid her glasses back on and flashed her a smile which Hannah found herself returning.

It struck her that though she barely knew Florrie and hadn’t had a conversation with her for more years than she could remember, Hannah was unexpectedly touched by her concern. It felt bizarre, particularly as she was someone who kept people at arm’s length – well, most people, anyway.

Her thoughts travelled back to their schooldays, searching out memories of Florrie and her group of friends. They were known for being inseparable, with Florrie exuding an air of quiet kindness. That evidently hadn’t changed if what she’d seen today was anything to go by. It made Hannah wonder if the others were still the same, if their friendship was still as strong, and if they still lived in the town.

Silence hung in the air for a couple of moments, Florrie peering behind her to check on Gerty. Satisfied the Labrador was okay, she turned back and asked, ‘So, have you got a few days off work?’

The question pulled Hannah out of her musings. ‘Yeah, something like that.’ She felt a twinge of discomfort; she wasn’t one for sharing too many personal details and hoped Florrie would leave it at that. It was one of the reasons she preferred to keep people at a safe distance. That way, you didn’t get hurt or, at least, you could minimise the risk. The only person Hannah had ever completely trusted since her mum had died was her Auntie Colleen, but she was gone now, too. Of course, there was Birdie, their neighbour, who was a sweetheart, but still, it wasn’t the same.

‘So, d’you have a good boss? Are your work colleagues a decent bunch?’ Florrie continued. It was obvious to Hannah she was trying to be friendly and make conversation, but Hannah wished she’d choose a less personal subject.

‘Um, well, it’s me, actually. I’m my own boss. I’ve given myself some annual leave.’ Hannah racked her brains for something else to talk about to lead the conversation in a different direction, but before anything popped into her mind, Florrie spoke again.

‘Oh, cool, and what is it you do? From what you’ve just said, I’m guessing you have your own business?’

Hannah’s discomfort cranked up several notches, but there was no way of wriggling out of answering without sounding rude. ‘I have a burger van; there’s just me now’ – she felt a dart of pain shoot through her – ‘so I decided to close it for a few days. It’s a quiet time of year and I rarely take time off.’ In truth, she’d never taken time off until recently. ‘Thought now would be a good time to have a break. It’s no biggie, really.’ She deliberately didn’t share the name of her burger business or that the van had remained closed since her aunt had passed away in early January, that she hadn’t had the heart to plaster on a happy smile and face customers, particularly the regulars. They’d know in an instant that something was wrong when she appeared at the hatch in place of her Auntie Coll, and the prospect of explaining why filled her with dread. Just as it was doing right now, but for different reasons.

‘Oh, right. I assume that’s over Beckinthwaite way?’ Florrie asked cheerfully, clearly oblivious to Hannah’s concerns or reluctance to share details.

‘Yeah, it’s the big roadside parking place on the Middleton-le-Moors road, just near the turnoff for Lytell Stangdale. It’s quite a few miles from Beckinthwaite, but the location’s good for passing trade.’ She hoped providing this amount of detail would stop Florrie from quizzing her further. Experience had taught her that sharing personal information was akin to giving bits of yourself away, that it could be used against you, or as fodder for spiteful gossip no matter how innocuous it may be. Or hurt you in the worst possible way, as her ex, Evan, had. It had made her wary and, at times, aloof. Hannah would be the first to admit that her suspicious, untrusting nature ran deep; it was why she was so guarded and usually cautious about opening up to people. But, right at this minute, logic told her Florrie wasn’t the type to do anything unkind or turn on her. There was no edge to her; she was someone who could be trusted. And, after all, Hannah told herself, she was only sharing details of where she parked her burger van, which was hardly a state secret! What harm could that possibly do? It wasn’t as if Florrie had ever been tempted to call there before, so she was hardly likely to now. It struck Hannah that she needed to keep things in perspective before she risked sounding unfriendly, which was something she didn’t want after the kindness Florrie had shown her earlier.

‘Oh, I know the one. Bougie Burgers, or The Bougie Burger Van, is it? Cool name, by the way. And I love your gorgeous retro-looking van, it’s so cute!’