‘Westerly wind four to five. Seas slight to moderate …’
Gareth relayed the weather report to a yacht that was on its way into Porthmellow. Sometimes vessels phoned the station on their own dedicated channel to receive the latest local conditions, knowing they’d be up to the minute.
Marina was pleased with his progress; he’d lost some of his excitability and was more professional in his responses to radio calls. He’d almost finished his formal training and was approaching the stage where, if she had no choice, he could be left alone in the station. Solo watching was never ideal, and they always aimed to have two of them, but one was better than none. The day that no one was there was the day when disaster was bound to strike.
Talking of disaster … Marina’s thoughts drifted to Lachlan and his reaction to the helicopter fly-past. She’d spotted him a few times since the fundraiser but, however much she’d wanted to ask him how he was, there never seemed to be a good moment. The first time, she’d seen him outside Aaron’s office in the back streets of Porthmellow when she’d been in her car, and had waved, but he hadn’t seen her.
She’d seen him yet again as he’d been jogging towards his cottage. He definitely saw her that time but didn’t even smile and rushed inside. She wondered whether to push a note through the door but came to the conclusion he wanted to forget all about the incident.
Apart from Lachlan’s meltdown, the fundraiser had gone well and the Wave Watchers and the lifeboat crew now had some money in the kitty to help them keep going. Funds had been boosted by the addition of Tiff’s auction lots. A businessman who was on holiday had forked out a grand for the Ed Sheeran package and, after the event, Tiff’s editor friend had come up with two hospitality tickets to an England Test match. They’d sold them on eBay and had raked in another eight hundred pounds.
Then there was Tiff’s own personal ‘lot’. Marina still broke out in a grin when she recalled the look on her cousin’s face the moment Evie’s gavel had banged down.
It had taken a stiff G&T and a lot of swear words before Tiff had finally calmed down. Marina wondered what Dirk had in mind: probably nothing, if the truth were known. He most likely wanted to wind up Tiff while making a donation. Still, tongues were wagging all around town. No one could be in any doubt of the chemistry between the two of them, even if it was of the kind that might end in an almighty explosion.
When the relief crew arrived at the lookout station in the shape of Doreen and Trevor, who were retired hoteliers, Marina trudged home. With Tiff out, she sat down with some tea and opened the latest letters from her solicitor discussing her options as the seventh anniversary of Nate’s disappearance drew nearer.
Even after so long, reading legal language about her loss felt cold and formal. She felt as if she was hammering the final nail in his coffin and it would be a sad day, not only for her but for his few remaining relatives and friends. Filing the latest papers in a ring binder, she reminded herself that application for the presumption of death wasn’t an ending, it was the beginning of the next part of her life.
It didn’t make any difference to her vow to never forget him, and her love for him would always be rock solid. Maybe, with everything behind her ‘officially’, she would also find it easier to look to the future with fresh hope. It was surely what Nate would have wanted, because he’d loved her too …
As she had many times before, she resorted to her garden for solace. It was a beautiful evening, with the sun glinting on the harbour far below, where all manner of craft bobbed up and down on the high tide. The evenings were drawing out rapidly and summer was just around the corner. Porthmellow would soon be thronged with tourists, which meant there would be more of a need than ever for the Wave Watchers. It was a constant battle to find enough people, as some had had to give up due to ill health or had moved away. Fresh pairs of eyes were not only welcome but vital.
She tugged some bindweed from the hedge and watered the tubs she’d planted with Tiff, enjoying the fragrance of the honeysuckle growing up the fence. The salty air wasn’t the ideal environment for some plants, but others thrived in it, like the clusters of agapanthus which had yet to emerge. By mid-July, their stunning blue-violet heads would burst into flower, giving the garden an exotic air.
She decided to fetch some plant food from the garages and saw Lachlan doubled over outside one of the units. He was in his running kit, breathing heavily and glistening with sweat. He didn’t see her at first so she slowed down her approach so as not to startle him.
He straightened up and tapped the FitBit on his wrist. Marina decided to call out to warn him she was around, to avoid startling him. ‘Evening,’ she said cheerfully, though inside she was very unsure of the reception she might get.
He was still out of puff so she spoke for both of them. ‘I’ve come to fetch some Baby Bio,’ she said, in the absence of anything else, and smiled. ‘Don’t worry about replying.’
‘It w-would be h-hard to answer t-that anyway.’ His polite smile morphed into a grimace as he regained his breath.
She turned the handle on the garage door. ‘I’ll leave you to recover,’ she said as he waved an apology at her. She walked inside, finding the plastic bottle in less than a minute and exiting, expecting him to have left, but he was still there.
He was upright now, hands on hips. ‘Marina? I wanted to apologise for what happened at the fundraiser …’ He paused again, whether to get his breath or be cautious, she couldn’t decide. ‘And for not acknowledging you since then.’
‘It’s fine. Don’t worry.’
‘I don’t want you to think I’m being an arse or I’ve been avoiding you. You must have been wondering why I freaked out when that coastguard helicopter flew over the harbour?’
‘First, I don’t think you’re an arse.’
He smiled though it was more of a grimace. ‘That’s very generous of you.’
‘And you don’t have to explain about the helicopter if it makes things worse for you. Aaron told me you’d been in an accident. I don’t want to invade your privacy.’
‘You’ve not invaded my privacy.’ He faltered. ‘You’re one of the people who hasn’t invaded it. People are curious, you see, as to how I came by these …’ He touched his cheek fleetingly. The exertion had made the scars redder and more livid.
‘It’s none of my business.’
‘But you have wondered?’
‘No …’ She checked herself, sensing that polite evasion was probably not what Lachlan was looking for. ‘OK. Yes, I have wondered what happened to you, but you shouldn’t feel forced to tell me or anyone. I know how people can be if they think someone’s an object of curiosity. The outright stares, the whispers in shops, the conversations that stop when you walk into the pub, the pity, spoken and unspoken …’
He held her gaze. ‘Aye.. The pity. That’s the killer.’ His eyes were beautiful, and she thought she recognised something behind his expression. It was a knowledge that life could never be certain again. ‘You sound as if you know what you’re talking about,’ he added.
‘You mean with Nate?’
He nodded. ‘Aaron told me a little more about the circumstances. It must have been very hard for you, not having any closure.’
‘Thanks … it was a long time ago now.’ She went on, trying to sound firm but upbeat. ‘It’s a time I don’t want to dwell on.’
‘No.’ His tone softened. ‘I get that … Look, I’d love to ask you round so we can talk some more, and show you I can be a normal – well, partly normal – human being, but I’m in no fit state at this particular moment.’ He wrinkled his nose but Marina didn’t think she’d mind that much and she wanted to hear more about his background to help her understand him better.
‘You don’t have to show me you’re “normal”.’ She laughed. ‘Who is, anyway? I like people who are different.’
‘That’s good …’ He hesitated. ‘Maybe another time when I’m fit for company and you don’t have your hands full?’ There was hope and apprehension in his voice. She liked that. He hadn’t assumed she was going to say yes but clearly wanted her to.
‘Yes. I’d like that.’
‘What about next Sunday lunchtime. If you’re free?’
‘I have some marking to do early then a Wave Watchers shift but I should be free by half one, if it’s not too late?’
‘Not too late! I can do a basic roast? Although I ought to warn you, I’m no chef.’
‘A basic roast sounds perfect. I’d probably have made do with a sandwich.’
He nodded. ‘Great. See you on Sunday, then.’
‘Yes. I’ll look forward to it.’
Lachlan left and Marina strolled back to the cottage with the plant food, trying to look as if she’d merely had a chat with a neighbour and not been invited to lunch with the first man she’d been truly attracted to since Nate. The way she was already willing the weekend to come, she had to admit that Lachlan McKinnon had most definitely made a big impression on her.