Page 81 of The Seaside Cocktail Campervan

Lucy looked up at him and gave a tentative smile. ‘Yes … okay.’

‘Can I pick you up? At yours? Ah … there’s somewhere I’d like to take you.’

‘Okay, sure. Just say a time.’

So, they arranged that he’d come to the cottage for ten o’clock.

Jack knew he couldn’t mess this up. Not anymore.

Chapter 44

Jack arrived outside Lucy’s cottage at ten on the dot. His heart beating like a drum in his chest, as he gave the door a firm rap. Finally, he felt like he was doing the right thing … the only thing he could.

‘Hi,’ he greeted her.

‘Hi there.’ Lucy opened the cottage door; looking gorgeous in pale denim shorts teamed with a yellow spotted T-shirt. Her hair was loose, with dark curls bouncing beneath her shoulders. Her deep-brown eyes held his as she gave a nervous smile.

Ruby, who’d been given an extra polish this morning, was parked up outside, gleaming in the sunlight.

‘Your carriage awaits.’ Jack gestured towards the campervan and gave a silly bow.

‘And what a beautiful carriage she is too,’ Lucy answered sincerely. She’d grown so fond of the characterful vintage campervan. ‘Morning, Ruby.’

‘Right then …’ Jack couldn’t help but feel anxious.

‘Oh, hang on, can Daisy come too?’

Lucy didn’t yet know where they were heading.

‘Yeah, of course. I’ve grown to quite like the little mutt now. But don’t let on to the Devil Dog, mind, or she’ll be taking all kinds of liberties.’

They both laughed; the tension dissolving a little.

‘Hah, come on then, Dais. You’re coming too,’ Lucy called out, and the dog soon appeared eagerly at her feet. Lucy swept her up in her arms, locked the door, and walked over to Ruby, where she climbed in, placing Daisy in the footwell. And, off they set.

‘So, where are we off to?’ Lucy asked, intrigued. ‘This is all very mysterious.’

‘Ah, now that would be telling … It’s not far. Just somewhere that means a lot to me.’ Jack needed to show her the place before he told her about it.

‘Ah, okay.’

Lucy was curious, but didn’t push for any more information, sensing that Jack needed to do things his way today. Last night, the two of them together, talking up on the battlements, had held a hint of magic, of new possibilities, but she was also afraid. Afraid of assuming anything, afraid of letting herself get hurt again, and afraid of getting this new second chance all wrong. She needed to tread carefully.

The journey passed in a pleasant meander through the coastal country lanes. They made light conversation en route, about how lovely the function had been last night, the good spell of weather they’d been having, Daisy’s latest antics and so on. Finally, they turned into the small beachside car park at Morwick Sands.

So, this was it, Lucy mused.

It was a pretty sandy beach that Lucy knew well; she’d often come here for a stroll or a picnic with a friend or her parents, before she lived in her own seaside cottage. It was very scenic, but Lucy didn’t think there was anything particularly unusual or surprising about it. But you never quite knew what was going to happen next with Jack. And Lucy suddenly realised that was one of the things she loved about him. Oh, bloody hell … Was this love or friendship? Perhaps an olive branch, or something more from Jack?

They left Ruby, and wandered along a track in the dunes that ran parallel with the beach. The dunes then rose to a steep mound far higher than any of the others, with several sandy tracks winding up to it, that made it look like a mini volcano, or perhaps an ice cream, dribbling as it began to melt. Though her mind was whizzing, Lucy tried hard just to focus on the moment. The feel of the warm sun on her back. The spiky fronds of marram grass catching her bare calves. The sense of relief that at least she and Jack had found some level ground.

There were several people strolling down on the beach, but no-one else was in this part of the dunes. And, just a step ahead of her, Jack had gone awfully quiet.

‘Are we going up?’ Lucy asked, breaking the silence and bracing herself for the climb.

‘That’s right, come on.’

Daisy found this part tricky, her little dachshund legs soon beginning to slip in the steep and shifting sands of the path that meandered to the top. Lucy scooped her up, helping the short-limbed dog on her way, bless her.