‘I thought you loved living in, where was it?’ Bella asked, as they leaned against opposite wooden worktops in her galley kitchen.
‘Mirissa,’ Claire said, fiddling with the coloured glass beads on her bracelet.
‘What about your boyfriend? Last time you wrote, you said you two were blissfully happy. Is he coming to stay, too?’
Claire shook her head. ‘No. I’ve left him.’
Bella could see her mum was upset and her irritation towards her lessened. ‘I’m sorry to hear that. What happened?’
‘His vile mother never took to me,’ she said quietly. ‘She hated that he wanted to marry a woman who was…’ she hesitated, glancing up at Bella. ‘Well, I’m a year or more older than him. She was hoping he’d marry a younger girl and produce a large family.’
‘How much older?’ Bella asked. ‘If you don’t mind me asking.’ Bella knew she would mind but wanted to be certain of all the details before she felt she could criticise the man’s mother.
Claire shrugged. ‘Twenty-one years.’
‘So, that makes him twenty-seven. Mum, he’s younger than I am.’ She couldn’t help feeling slightly impressed. She liked the idea that her mother had enough confidence to date a man so much younger than her. ‘I suppose I can see his mother’s point of view though,’ Bella admitted. ‘But if he’s happy then surely his mother shouldn’t mind?’ When her mother didn’t reply, she added. ‘Hang on, why are you here and not trying to make things work with him in Sri Lanka?’
Claire stood up. ‘Because there are times, Bella, when you hope the man you love bloody stands up for you. I thought I’d get away from it all and come back here to catch up with you. While I’m away he can ponder on whether or not I’m going back.’
It made sense. ‘Good for you. Well, I hope it all works out in the end.’
As annoying as her mother could be at times, Bella still hated seeing her upset. ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t a bit more welcoming,’ she said. ‘It’s been a trying day. I know that’s no excuse, but you caught me off guard.’
‘That’s all right. Can I have a hug now? A proper one, mind.’
Bella smiled and stepped into her mother’s outstretched arms, breathing in the familiar patchouli-based scent she always associated with her. She couldn’t help wondering how long it would be until her mother became bored of life on the boardwalk and yearn to return to Sri Lanka. She just hoped she didn’t get too used to her being back, only to be devastated when she suddenly announced her departure, as was usually the case.
The front door closed, alerting her to Jack’s return.
‘Bella?’ he bellowed. ‘Fancy a quickie?’
She froze, stepping back from her giggling mother.
‘He means a drink,’ she whispered through clenched teeth. ‘Through here, Jack.’
She could hear his heavy footsteps as he neared the kitchen. ‘Well, look who it is,’ he beamed, recognising Claire. ‘The happy wanderer returns.’
Bella’s heart contracted watching his handsome tanned face as he kissed her mother on the cheek. ‘You’re looking amazing, Claire.’
‘She does, doesn’t she?’ Bella said. ‘But she’s kicked poor Alessandro out of his bedroom.’
‘He offered,’ Claire nudged her in the ribs. ‘You make it sound as if I insisted.’
Bella pulled a face at Jack. ‘Put it this way, he’s too much of a gentleman not to offer.’
‘So that’s why I saw him at the Sea Breeze?’ Jack said, enlightened by this news.
‘You didn’t speak to him?’
Jack sighed heavily. ‘Too busy listening to Nicki’s speech to be able to chat with anyone else.’
Bella pictured Jack’s sleek ex cornering him. He was a free spirit and she still couldn’t imagine what had attracted them to each other in the first place. ‘Didn’t go too well then?’
‘She still insists that we should give it another go, despite me telling her that I have no intention of returning to the mainland.’ He walked into the kitchen. ‘Drinks, anyone? I know I need one.’
Bella couldn’t help smiling at this news. Jack was happiest on the beach. When he wasn’t helping Sacha run the café he was surfing, or rock climbing. She doubted he could stand living in a city for too long. ‘Surely she doesn’t expect you to go back and live in London, not really?’
‘She does,’ he said, reaching into the fridge and taking out three bottles of lager. ‘Claire?’
Bella watched her mother take her drink and then, taking one from Jack, followed her into the living room and sat down. ‘Sacha will be glad that you’ve decided to stay here.’
Jack took a mouthful from his bottle. ‘Not really. She’s already told me that she’ll be reducing the opening hours for the café in the next two weeks. She wants to keep young Milo on for Saturdays, which is great, but there’s no point keeping it open when fewer people come to the boardwalk now summer’s over.’
‘I’m sure you’ll find something though?’ She tried to come up with a suggestion.
‘We’ll see.’ He stared into the cold fireplace. ‘I was offered work by Tony Le Quesne this morning when he overheard me and Sacha chatting.’
‘Who?’ Claire asked.
‘He’s a fisherman who moors his boat down here,’ Bella explained. ‘He’s a widower, sadly. He has two small children.’
Jack added, ‘His wife died a while back. Must be eighteen months or so now. He’s finding it a bit difficult without her, poor bloke.’
Bella pictured the handsome man who took his children to eat at the café most days. Sacha had spoken about him many times. Bella had seen him several times too and he always looked as if he was trying to put on a happy face for his children’s sakes. ‘I gather from Sacha that he and his wife were very much in love.’
‘Poor sod.’
They fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Bella wondered if there was ever a time when a bereft person could truly move on from losing the love of their life. She sighed miserably. Would she ever find a love that strong? She hoped so.
‘Hey,’ Jack said, making Bella and Claire jump. ‘Enough wallowing. How about I treat you ladies to a bite to eat at Summer Sundaes? You must be famished if you’ve only just arrived, Claire?’
The words were barely out of his mouth when Bella remembered that she had been supposed to go there to try Sacha’s new soup with him.
‘That would be perfect,’ her mother said. Never one to miss an opportunity, she finished her drink within seconds and, standing up, linked her arm through Jack’s. ‘Come along, Bella, before he changes his mind.’
Jack ruffled Bella’s hair. ‘Bella knows that when food is on my mind I’m not easily distracted.’
‘I do?’ Bella smiled, putting down her half-empty bottle. She got up and, pulling on her puffy jacket, followed her mother and Jack outside and locked the door. She walked behind them as Claire chatted to Jack, almost slamming into the back of him when he suddenly stopped.
‘Come on,’ he said, putting his free arm out for her to take. ‘Let’s get a move on. We don’t want to get there after closing time.’
Sacha was standing at the café window, her arms folded across her chest, staring out to sea thoughtfully when they arrived.
‘You okay, Sis?’ Jack asked, leading Bella and Claire to a nearby table.
‘Hi,’ Sacha said, eyes widening as she spotted Claire. She rushed over to give her a hug. ‘When did you get back? Bella didn’t tell me you were coming home.’
Bella pulled out a chair and sat down. ‘That’s because Bella didn’t know either,’ she joked.
Sacha frowned. ‘Where are you staying? Prince of Wales? Sea Breeze Hotel?’
‘Never mind that.’ Jack motioned for her to be quiet. ‘I’ll explain everything while Claire and Bella decide what they’re going to eat,’ he said, leading her away to the counter.
Bella didn’t have to look at the menu, she knew its contents by heart. ‘I was wondering if you wanted us to try your new soup?’
Sacha shook her head. ‘No, don’t worry. I’ve decided I need to tweak the recipe just a little, though I’ve yet to decide exactly how.’
She chose a tuna and cheese toasted sandwich and glanced at Jack, assuming he was explaining about Alessandro giving up his room for Claire. He always tried to be the peace-keeper if he thought there was going to be an argument. She was grateful to him. She didn’t want to be angry with her mother. She really was happy to see her again, but knew her well enough to be aware that with her mother came drama. She just hoped that this time things would be different.
* * *
They finished their meal and Bella wiped her mouth on her napkin, surreptitiously watching her mother doing the same. Her heart swelled with love for the woman who had spent little time with her growing up, but who livened things up whenever she was around. She noticed her mother’s attention had wandered and followed her gaze out of the window onto the boardwalk. Seeing nothing, she asked, ‘Everything okay?’
Claire squinted and peered into the darkness, lit only by the café’s interior lights now that the coloured bulbs, strung from lamp post to lamp post during the summer, had been taken down for the winter.
‘I was sure I saw someone walking along out there.’
‘I didn’t see anything,’ Bella said, scanning the area. ‘I doubt anyone will be strolling along the boardwalk tonight, not with the storm forecast later. Was it one of my neighbours?’
‘No idea. Probably my overactive imagination.’ Claire looked unconvinced by her own words.
‘Does it feel strange to be back here again?’
Her mother looked thoughtful for a moment as she ate the last mouthful of fish from her plate. Setting her knife and fork down at twenty-five-past four, like Bella recalled her Nan insisting she always did at the end of her meal, Claire eventually said, ‘It always feels a little strange coming back. It’s like stepping into a childhood memory, a bit like entering a protected bubble. It always revives my spirit to spend time here.’
Bella liked her mother’s sentiment and wondered why she didn’t return more often. ‘I’m glad.’
They finished their drinks and after arguing briefly with Sacha about paying for their food, prepared to leave.
‘You can come and help me set up in here for the Halloween party I’m giving for the boardwalk locals early on Friday evening before the children go out trick or treating,’ Sacha suggested, as Bella helped her clear their plates.
‘It’s a deal,’ Bella said, following Sacha to the kitchen.
‘Leave these, I’ll sort them out.’
They rejoined the others in the café just as spray covered the window.
Claire gasped. ‘It really is getting nasty out there tonight.’
‘And it’s just gone high tide.’ Jack grabbed hold of their jackets. ‘If you’re okay for us to leave, Sacha, we’d better get back to the cottage before we all get swept away.’
Sacha put down the plates and followed them to the door. ‘Please pull down the metal shutters for me, Jack, I don’t want any broken windows.’
‘No problem.’ He turned to Bella and Claire. ‘If you wait a sec, I’ll close the shutters. Sacha doesn’t need any pebbles shattering the windows.’
‘I’ll do that with you,’ Bella said, pulling on her gloves. ‘You go up and close the ones over your upstairs windows.’
‘Will do,’ Sacha said. ‘Then you must go and do the same at your cottage.’
Jack opened the door, holding it tightly as he and Bella went outside.
What a difference from a month ago when the summer was still in force and storms meant thunder and lightning, without this chilly wind, Bella thought, grabbing one of the shutters and pulling it closed so that Jack could fasten the catch.
They went back inside.
‘I didn’t realise it was going to be so bad,’ Claire said, zipping up the cloth jacket that Bella reasoned wouldn’t keep out a shower, let alone a storm and sea spray.
Bella saw Sacha had begun cashing up her till. ‘You’ll be okay tonight?’
Sacha looked up. ‘As soon as you three have left I’ll lock up and go to bed. I love hearing storms from inside my flat, especially if I know everything is secure down here.’
‘Right, if you’re okay for us to leave,’ Jack said, staring out of the window with concern. ‘We’d better get going.’
Sacha gave each of them a hug. ‘Thanks for coming. Now, go home before it gets even more dangerous out there. This wind is getting stronger by the minute.’
Jack held the door open, waiting for Sacha to lock it behind them. Then, taking Bella and Claire by the hand, the three of them hurried along the boardwalk. The wind almost took Bella’s breath away. She tucked her chin and mouth into the neck of her jacket, blinking back the sandy spray of the incoming tide. It was stupid of them to venture out on such a night, she reasoned, shivering as she jogged to keep up with Jack’s large strides. They could be hit by debris from the waves at any point.
She heard her mother yelp and Jack’s concerned tone as he checked that she was okay before pulling them onward once again towards the cottage.
Within two minutes they were home. Bella fumbled in her pocket for the key and unlocked the front door. As she turned the handle, a strong gust of wind forced the heavy door open, smashing it against the wall inside her living room.
‘Go in,’ she shouted. ‘I’ll quickly close the shutters.’
‘No, you stay in here,’ Jack said, pulling her inside the cottage. ‘I’ll do it.’
‘I can manage perfectly well,’ she argued, indignant that he thought she might be incapable.
‘Both of you can do the bloody shutters,’ Claire shouted, windswept and wet from their walk. ‘Just get a move on, you’re letting all the rain and cold in here.’
Jack hurried to the furthest window and carefully undid the metal clasps holding each shutter back, before making sure they were firmly secured. Secretly relieved he was saving her time by helping, Bella did the same with the window closest to the door. He waited for her to walk ahead of him and when they were both inside they took off their dripping coats.
‘I must look such a mess?’ Claire asked, brushing her messy hair and tying it back in a band.
‘I think we all probably do,’ Bella said. ‘I’ll light the fire and get some heat into this room.’
She walked over to the small wood burner and bent down. Reaching out for some newspaper to screw up to help to get the flames going, she heard Jack zipping up a dry, hooded jacket.
‘Where are you going?’
‘Betty,’ he said, his face taut with concern. ‘I need to check on her and see if she’s okay.’
She couldn’t believe that she hadn’t thought of doing the same. Bella always checked on the oldest resident on the boardwalk. Or, if she was away, one of the other locals called in on her to ensure everything was secure and she had all that she needed.
‘Shall I come with you?’ she offered guiltily.
‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘You set that up. I shouldn’t be too long.’
‘If you’re not back in fifteen minutes I’ll know something is wrong and will come down to find you.’
Jack shook his head. ‘Stop panicking, Bella. Betty has a phone and I’ll ring you if I need to. Now, you concentrate on setting that fire and I suggest you change into something warm. You’re soaked through.’
Bella took off her jacket and held out her hand waiting to take her mother’s.
Their wet hair and soaked clothes clung to their bodies and she noticed her mother’s teeth chattering. She took the jackets and hung them in the small boiler room at the back of the kitchen. Then, coming back into the living room, Bella drew the curtains.
‘I don’t know why you’re bothering to do that,’ Claire said, frowning. ‘It’s already dark in here.’
‘It makes it feel cosier though, don’t you think?’
‘I suppose so.’
‘You look frozen, Mum,’ she said. ‘Why not go upstairs, take a hot shower and change into something dry? By the time you get back down here, this room should have heated up a bit. I’ll do the same and then I can make us a couple of hot milky drinks.’
‘Sounds wonderful,’ Claire said, rubbing her arms.
Bella watched as her mother left the room. She looked even more petite than Bella recalled. Then again, her mother had such luscious wild curls, and always wore floaty skirts and tops so that it was difficult to decipher her exact size.
Seconds later Claire shouted down from the upstairs landing. ‘Do you mind if I borrow something of yours to wear?’
‘No,’ Bella replied, trying to think what best to suggest. ‘You’ll find several tracksuits in the large cupboard in my bedroom. Help yourself.’
She could hear her mother’s footsteps as she walked across the creaking bedroom floorboards, amused to imagine her looking through the clothes in her cupboard and discarding most of them as too tatty. Bella screwed up a couple of pages of the local newspaper and pushed them into the wood burner, then placing a few pieces of kindling and a couple of pressed lighters she had bought from the nearest garage, set about lighting it. She heard the light click on in the upstairs bathroom and then the water in the shower splashing against the tiles.
Too cold to wait for the fire to get going, she went into the small galley kitchen, half-filled a saucepan with milk and placed it on the Aga to heat for their drinks.
She heard the bathroom door open. ‘All yours, lovey,’ Claire shouted before her footsteps could be heard running along the short corridor and into her bedroom.
Bella ran up to the bathroom and locked the door. Peeling off each of her items of clothing, she let them land on the floor in a wet puddle. Bella was glad of the steaminess of the usually cold bathroom as it made the room pleasantly warm. She turned on the shower and stepped in, sighing when the heat of the water coursed over her, instantly warming her.
After washing her hair, she stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her wavy dark hair, before drying herself with a larger fluffy towel. She tidied up the room so that it was ready for Jack to shower when he returned and, bracing herself for the cool of the corridor, opened the door and ran to her room.
Dressed, and with her hair roughly dried and tied up in a ponytail, Bella hurried downstairs to check on the milk. She reached the kitchen in time to see the milk boiling and rising up the sides of the pan. Only just managing to rescue it before it overflowed, she quickly placed it on the back of the Aga to cool slightly and took out three mugs. She was spooning powdered hot chocolate into the third mug when Jack made a noisy entrance.
‘It’s Baltic out there,’ he said, shaking his head and sending droplets around him in an arc. ‘Betty’s fine though. I said I’d call on her at nine-thirty tomorrow morning and treat her to breakfast at Summer Sundaes. You and your mum are welcome to join us.’
Bella concentrated on pouring the hot milk carefully into the three mugs and stirring the liquid. There was just enough, she was relieved to note.
‘Glad to know Betty’s okay,’ she said. ‘Mentally she’s very tough, but I suspect she hides her frailties from us a bit.’
‘I agree.’ He took off his jacket.
‘Give that to me,’ she said, taking the dripping article. As she lifted it to hang it on a peg near the boiler, rivulets of water ran up her sleeve. ‘Yuck.’
‘Sorry about that.’
She laughed and shook her arm. ‘Fine. I’ve made us all a hot chocolate, so if you want to jump in the shower quickly while it cools a bit, then we can all sit down by the fire.’
‘Perfect,’ he said, giving her a smile that made her heart melt and face redden.
Seeing he was oblivious to the reaction, Bella added, ‘Give Mum a call when you get upstairs, will you? Ask her to come down to the living room.’
‘Will do.’
Bella took the drinks and placed them on an antique oak table near the fire. She added a couple of logs to keep the fire at its peak, ready for her mum and Jack to join her. Switching off the overhead light, she clicked on two table lamps, satisfied with the warm glow they gave the room, despite the howling wind outside.
Sitting down, Bella picked up her mug and cupped it in her hands, breathing in the milky chocolaty scent of her drink, and listened to the waves crashing against the sea wall, and pebbles hitting the shuttered windows. She loved stormy nights like these, but only when she was warm and cosy inside her cottage. She couldn’t help feeling sorry for Alessandro, aware how much he would have enjoyed being with them, rather than in a hotel with strangers.
Thinking of the hotel, her mind wandered to Nicki. Would she become friendly with Alessandro? Knowing what she did about Nicki, she wouldn’t put it past her to spend her time working on Alessandro until she found out all she could about Sacha and her café. From what she knew of Nicki, the woman wouldn’t hesitate to use any underhand tactics to keep Jack from staying on the island.
When Claire joined her, Bella laughed at how baggy her tracksuit was on her mum. ‘I didn’t realise I was taller than you by that much,’ she giggled as Claire sat down. ‘You’ve even had to roll up the bottoms.’
‘Yes, several times, and the sleeves.’
She was also wearing Bella’s favourite fluffy bed socks. Bella didn’t mind. In fact, it was heart-warming to see her mother dressed in the fleecy tracksuit and looking so relaxed.
‘This is yours,’ she said when Claire had made herself comfortable on the chair nearest the fire. She handed her mum a mug and watched her breathe in the delicious scent, just as she had moments before.
‘Hot chocolate,’ Claire beamed. ‘I haven’t had this since the last time I stayed here when your nan was alive. Do you remember?’
Bella allowed herself to think back to a particularly freezing March when snowdrifts had blocked the roads, stopping Claire’s flight from leaving the island. She cleared her throat, determined not to get emotional at the memory. ‘I do. I remember you panicking that you’d miss your connecting flight when your plane was grounded.’
Claire laughed. ‘I couldn’t even get to the airport, so I don’t know why I was so bothered about the plane taking off.’
Each lost in thought for a few seconds, they then smiled at each other. ‘Your nan loved nights like these,’ Claire reminisced.
‘She did.’
‘One of those mine?’ Jack asked, breaking their sentimental thoughts.
‘I didn’t see you there,’ Bella said, glad for the interruption before she gave in to her still present grief. She handed him his mug. ‘Take a seat.’
He sat down in the middle chair facing the fire, stretching his long legs out in front of him, his feet only inches from the metal log burner. ‘This is perfect.’ He took a tentative sip of his drink. ‘I don’t often drink hot chocolate, but this makes me wonder why the hell not.’
Bella laughed. ‘Probably because you’re too lazy to make it.’
‘Or,’ Claire added. ‘Because you only think as far as a bottle of beer.’
‘Hey, steady on, you two. No ganging up. Anyway, that’s not true.’ He grinned.
‘Okay,’ Claire said, shuffling her bum to sit up straighter in her chair. ‘Tell me, when exactly was the last,’ she winked at Bella. ‘Or even the first time you made hot chocolate?’
Jack contemplated his answer, taking a few sips of his drink as he did so to keep them waiting. ‘Fine. I don’t think I’ve ever made it, but I will do from now on, that’s for sure.’
Bella doubted it. ‘I look forward to tasting your efforts,’ she said. She closed her eyes for a moment, warmed by the heat of the log burner and being in the company of Jack and her mum. It was an unexpected treat.
‘I’m a little peckish,’ Jack said, sitting upright.
‘We only ate an hour ago,’ Bella laughed, unsure whether or not she was ready to eat more food.
‘Anyone want to join me in a few rounds of hot buttered toast? I bought a cabbage loaf from Sacha earlier today,’ he added unnecessarily.
‘I dream of cabbage loaf when I’m in Sri Lanka,’ Claire said. ‘Only one piece for me though, thanks.’
‘Do you want any help?’ Bella asked, relishing the thought of her favourite snack.
‘Nope,’ Jack said, finishing his drink and standing up. ‘You two stay here.’
Claire and Bella looked at each other and nodded. ‘Fine by us,’ Bella said.
She and Claire sat sipping their drinks, listening to Jack opening and closing drawers and cupboards in the kitchen as he searched for knives, plates and butter. Soon the tantalising smell of toasted cabbage loaf emanated from the kitchen and Jack appeared, carrying three plates of perfectly toasted slices the size of small doorsteps.
‘Now that is what I call a treat,’ Claire laughed when he handed her a plate with a huge slice of toast dripping with Jersey butter. ‘And served by such a handsome waiter.’
‘Get your neck around that,’ he laughed. ‘Then tell me I’m not the best toast chef in the business.’
Bella shook her head. ‘Big head,’ she teased, taking her plate and biting greedily into the huge slab of toast in her hand. She chewed and swallowed the delicious confection. ‘Yes, you are now officially King of the Toasted Cabbage Loaf. Better get used to making it for us.’
He gave a slight bow before sitting down and eating. Groaning in pleasure, he swallowed a mouthful. ‘I missed this stuff when I was living away too, Claire. This is my favourite bread of all time.’
Bella couldn’t help being amused by his rapture. She looked across at her mum who had a similar expression on her face as she ate in silence, relishing every mouthful.
‘Perfection,’ Claire said eventually.
When they had finished, Bella cleared away the plates and joined them in the living room. ‘Why don’t you tell us a little about Jayvani, Mum. I don’t know much about your life in Sri Lanka.’
‘I’ve never been but I’ve always wanted to go,’ Jack said. ‘Nicki hated the thought, but now we’re no longer together there’s nothing to hold me back.’
Bella briefly pictured accompanying Jack on his travels.
‘You’ve never come to visit either, Bella,’ Claire said with a hint of accusation. ‘You really should make the effort.’ She stared at the flames dancing wildly in the fireplace for a moment. ‘We could show you around. I’m sure you’d fall in love with the place.’
‘I’d love to,’ Bella admitted. ‘But I’d have to find someone to look after the shop while I was away, or close it, and I couldn’t leave the cottage with lodgers staying here.’
‘You could make some sort of plan though,’ Claire said, a hopeful tone in her voice.
‘Yes,’ Bella agreed, not sure how she would manage it. ‘I’d need to save to come. I don’t have any spare cash at the moment.’ She didn’t ever have any spare cash, but didn’t need to let her mum know that. She didn’t want Claire to worry about her unnecessarily.
‘You have a decent amount of antiques here, Bella,’ her mother said, looking around the room. ‘Surely if you make a concerted effort you could sell a few and make some money?’
‘Essentially, that’s true,’ she agreed, stroking the wide arms of the forties chair, enjoying their softness. ‘But this is a quiet time for sales. Hopefully, I should get a few closer to Christmas.’
They descended into a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
‘We need a party,’ Jack announced. Claire stared at him, looking happy at the thought.
‘Really?’ Bella asked, listening to a thunder clap. The last thing she felt like doing was having to trek out in the cold to a party. She was happy at home. ‘I’m happy with a good book and hibernating in front of the fire until spring.’
‘At your age I never turned down the offer of a party,’ Claire said.
Bella resisted looking at her. She doubted her mother’s party lifestyle had changed much since she was in her late twenties. ‘Why, though?’ she asked, waiting for Jack to answer.
‘Because it’s nearly Halloween and it’ll be fun.’
‘I’d rather celebrate bonfire night,’ Claire said. ‘I get spooked by all those ghouls and ghosts.’
‘I suppose Halloween isn’t too bad, but I’m not so sure about bonfire night,’ Bella said, thinking of Mrs Jones’ little terrier, Teddy. ‘I worry about the animals around here and how terrified they’re made by noisy fireworks. Anyway, don’t forget Sacha is organising something for Halloween for the locals, before the kids go trick or treating.’
Claire nodded. ‘She has a point, Jack.’
Jack slapped his hands down on the arms of his chair and grinned. ‘Why don’t we source noise-free fireworks for the fifth then?’
Was there such a thing? ‘Do they exist, or are they something you’ve imagined?’
He pulled a face at her. ‘I wish I had thought them up, I might have made some money out of the idea. No, they are a reality. What do you think? If we get them, no one can complain. Babies and pets won’t be frightened, and we don’t have to feel guilty.’
Bella mulled over his words. ‘Well, if you can get them then I’d be up for it,’ she said, unable to resist his enthusiasm for the idea. ‘Where would we have the bonfire?’
‘The beach.’ Jack looked delighted at his suggestion.
Bella wriggled her toes in front of the fire. ‘But what about high tide twice every day. How do you suggest getting around that?’
‘Let me think about it.’ He rubbed his chin.
Bella watched his long, tanned fingers grazing lightly over his stubble. How could being messy make Jack seem even more attractive to her? ‘I’m sure you’ll come up with something, you usually do.’
‘What was the best bonfire night you remember?’ Claire asked.
They had a good think.
‘Probably when I was a kid and my dad took Sacha and me to a massive bonfire party at a farm somewhere in St Peter’s,’ Jack said, smiling. ‘Not sure where it was now though. You?’
‘I’m trying to choose,’ Claire said. ‘When I was young we had smaller family parties with a few Catherine wheels, rockets and sparklers. Dad was alive then and we usually went to one of his work colleagues’ homes. I remember the smell as they served hot dogs for the children, while the adults ate plates of curry and drank mulled wine.’
‘It sounds fun,’ Bella said, enjoying hearing her mother reminisce.
‘It was. The funniest I recall was when it was foggy and us children could only see a glimmer of a firework in the distance, and the dads were shouting at us from the end of the garden to concentrate and look at the misty display.’
Bella and Jack laughed at her memory.
‘We’ll do something. Get everyone from the boardwalk involved and each of us can either prepare food, drink or something to do with the fireworks. What do you say?’
‘I think it would be fun,’ Bella said honestly. ‘It’s good to have things going on at this time of year, otherwise it’s too quiet,’ she said, warming to the idea. ‘It’s always a little too quiet on the boardwalk after the noise and excitement of summer.’
‘Then it’s agreed,’ he said enthusiastically. ‘I’ll come up with a plan. We can chat about it tomorrow after I’ve seen Sacha and Betty at the café and find out what they have to say about it. You two can join us for breakfast too, if you want?’
‘I’d love to.’ Claire smiled at Bella. ‘What about you?’
‘I won’t, thanks. I’ve got too much to do here. You can fill me in when you get back though,’ Bella said, excited at the prospect. ‘Now, I’d better get started with a manicure before I’m too tired to bother.’
‘Now?’ Claire asked. ‘Your hands look perfect to me.’
Bella was used to people commenting on her hands and how perfect they were, but to her they were tools of her part-time money earner and needed constant care. ‘Thank you, but I never know when I’m going to be contacted for a shoot and need them to be immaculate at all times.’
‘She’s the only person I know who has to wear gloves for most of the summer,’ Jack said, glancing at Bella’s hands. ‘I would have no idea how much work it takes to keep them looking so good if I didn’t live here.’
Her mum looked astonished. ‘Well, who knew you could make a living from having your hands photographed. Serves me right for not keeping in better contact with you, Bella. It seems there’s a lot about you that I’ve yet to learn.’
Bella shrugged. ‘Likewise.’
She was part way through oiling her right hand when there was a knock at the door. She looked at the wall clock and noticed it was nearly eleven. ‘Who can that be at this time?’
‘I’ll go and see,’ Jack said, getting up from his chair and answering the door. ‘It could be some nutter.’