Page 23 of My Summer of Magic Moments

She took it over to a corner table near the fireplace, which, it being summer, wasn’t lit, and took a slow sip. Magic. It tasted herbal, almost perfumed – truly refreshing. She settled down with her guidebook, delving into the history of Bamburgh Castle once more.

‘Hey, haven’t I seen you here before?’ A voice startled her.

A man with dark wavy hair, who looked in his mid-twenties, was standing right next to her table.

‘Ah, I don’t think so. This is the first time I’ve been in.’

‘Ah well, maybe it’s from the beach, then … Do you surf?’

‘Nope.’

‘But I have seen you on the beach, yeah?’

‘Maybe. I’ve been walking there most days.’

‘That’s it. I knew it. I’m not one to forget a pretty face.’

Claire felt herself blush. The guy was tanned, fairly good-looking, and years younger than her. But although it was flattering, all she really wanted to do was sit quietly and read her guidebook. She knew there was a reason she didn’t venture into pubs on her own. She lifted her book pointedly.

‘I hire out the surf boards. You might have seen my van,’ he continued.

Ah, yes come to think of it, that was something she’d spotted in the beach car park. She nodded.

‘You here on holiday, then?’ He was persistent, she had to give him credit for that.

‘Yep, and it’s nearly the end of it.’ No chance of getting to know me more, was the subtext. The book was still perched before her.

‘Right-o. Live far away?’

She held back a sigh. ‘Newcastle, Gosforth area.’

‘Busy down there.’

‘Ah-hah.’

‘Tried that for a while – city life – but I’m way happier up here. Space, fresh air, catching the waves.’ He mimed a surfing action.

She couldn’t help but smile. He was probably only making conversation, after all, not about to kidnap her. She needed to lighten up a bit.

‘Right, well, I’ll leave you in peace. Have a good trip back to the metropolis.’

‘Thanks. And nice to meet you.’

‘You too.’

With that he gave her a friendly wink and went back to chatting to his mate at the bar.

Claire resumed her reading for a while, finished her G&T, and thought it time to head back to the cottage. It was gone four o’clock already. Dipping into the ladies’ loos before she left, she saw that her face was slightly red – a touch of sunburn from her nap in the dunes, no doubt. Oh well, she’d go back with some colour in her cheeks, at least, and a host of warm, Bamburgh memories.

9

Lying on your back watching the clouds drift by

It was the last day of her holiday, and Claire woke with a strange sinking feeling in her tummy.

She got up early and sat for a while on her balcony with a soothing cup of Earl Grey, watching the sun arc up over the sea. No sign of any early-morning swimmers by the looks of it, so she wasn’t going to get a last glance of Ed, not even from a distance. Oh well.

After a breakfast of strong coffee and buttered toast and jam, she took a stroll along the beach and popped into the deli to buy some local pâté and cheese for lunch and to say her farewells to Lynda.